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The Elimination Of Commercial Areas: DSN Example: The Dudley Street Neighborhood had been "lagging behind" in economic development and the DSNI had been working to place its residents in public and private sector jobs. However, in one of the economic summits held by the DSNI, it was explained that, "people of color are not getting fair access to the contracts and jobs in the massive Central Artery highway and Third Harbor Tunnel construction projects paid for by tax dollars." (Medoff, 187) Before the DSNI had its summit, they were told that two major commercial areas were being eliminated; Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Stride Rite shoe corporation. The elimination of the two areas would cause 340 employees from the Dudley area to lose their jobs. A "city document noted that 'The DEC and Stride Rite facilities accounted for fully 17% of the manufacturing jobs in Roxbury. Not only will the job loss exacerbate the already staggering proportions of unemployment in Roxbury, but the ripple effect of the closings throughout the neighborhood pose a severe threat to its viability. Local merchants will lose between 5%-10% of their business and over 500 men, women, and children in Roxbury will loose their principal source of income as a result of these two plant closings.'16" (Medoff, 189-190) |
