All stories are taken from Unnatural Causes please use the link to read more
Unhealthy Neighborhoods
- L. L. de la Paz, San Diego, CA
Here in San Diego, a place called Barrio Logan is at the crossroads of shipyards, small industrial companies and freeways. The air is unhealthy, leading to breathing problems among school children and people living in that area. Ironically, a new downtown ballpark promised revitalization but still has not materialized. High-rise condominiums sprout downtown with magnificent views of the bay but looking down you can see the dilapidated neighborhoods surrounding the area.
Barrio Logan is always showcased when politicians come to visit but they always use it simply for photo ops and nothing gets done after they leave. San Diego fosters the image of paradise but underneath the glitter is a sad and dark reality. As gentrification of the old neighborhoods happen, a lot of people and small businesses are also being displaced. Some neighborhoods are starting to resemble Tijuana which is just 15 miles to the south. Street vendors are ubiquitous in some areas as zoning laws become too stringent for businesses. A few miles south on I-5 is National City which is running amok with eminent domain that if left unchecked will turn it into nothing but a playground for speculators and developers.
Living at the Bottom
-Sylvia Mcwhite, Atlanta, GA
I was totally enthralled with the PBS airing of your series. I am 38 years old and I have high blood pressure and diabetes. I have these conditions because of the ridiculous amounts of cortisol that flow through my body on a daily basis. My husband used to have a good paying job with the post office. Due to a geographical move, he switched jobs. Things just got worse from there and now we are among America’s working poor with six kids to take care of.
We don’t fit the stereotype. I homeschool my kids, I am highly intelligent, my kids are gifted, I love Latin and literature. None of that matters when you are at the bottom of the social ladder. We eat organic on food stamps.
I’m sicker since I became poor. I live with an unbelievable amount of stress. Right now we’re facing eviction. How can this happen in the richest country in the world? The idea that I have no control over my life and have no resources or power is depressing to me. I hope for change but…. I want so much for my children and I will fight to the death for it. Too bad it may be a death much sooner than should happen.
