Review

     This book is a shocking commentary on the economic and social conditions of people living in New York City's Bronx neighborhoods. Despite their reputation for violence and drugs, it is an American neighborhood full of families and hard-working people. It also has a higher infant mortality rate than many third-world nations. Why is this? The author of the book seemed to argue that these problems are inevitable in a section of a city created by enforced segregation. Indeed, is it an economically sound idea to group all of the homeless and hopeless in one small area? Do housing projects actually solve any problems, or do they just create more? Are the intense religious beliefs of these people actually preventing them from upward mobility? Is lack of funding the only problem in their schools? Should money be spent beautifying other sectors of New York when so many people are living in such squalor? Who is to blame?

     This is a book that raises more questions than answers about the economic decisions of the 9-11 hero Mayor Giuliani. Even though Kozol does not offer many solutions, I came up with a few of my own. How about training and hiring building inspectors, doctors, firefighters, police, and social services agents from among the neighborhood residents? This would solve the problem of outsiders who are too afraid to come in, so that important services would be maintained and would strengthen the community within itself. Another thing that seems ridiculous is the fact that they spend ten times as much money on a youth in jail than one in their public schools. If this was reversed, isn't it conceivable that less people would have to go to jail in the first place?

     If you are interested in the social impacts of various economic policies and programs, this book is one that you won't be able to put down!

Kelly L. Bryan
Editorial Correspondent
theshortrun.com

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