I found this most interesting...

Quoted Text

Median Household Income  $29,378

Low/Mod Income Households 66.9%

Very Low Income Households 45.8%

Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing $71,200

Quoted Text

The City of Schenectady, like
other large upstate New York
urban municipalities, is struggling
with a declining population,
increasing number of low and very
low income residents, and a
shrinking labor force qualified for
21st century jobs.   The loss of
population in the City puts
neighborhoods at risk for
increasing rates of abandonment,
vacancy and absentee ownership
of investment property. Tax
burden is distributed among fewer
tax payers, threatening the
delivery of basic city services.

So, what do we do? Everyone move to the suburbs and put a fence around the city? The supply vs. demand makes for low housing value. Would it be crazy to start a "magnet" k-12 school for the more studious kids? Parents with kids don't want to live n the city if they can afford to live n the suburbs. Maybe if there was a separate school for the kids of parents who care the real estate market would get better.

Its over. Face facts.

Quoted from Jaystreet

So, what do we do? Everyone move to the suburbs and put a fence around the city? .

That is pretty much what our city employees did, the majority do not live in the city and they got out the minute they could afford to.

Exactly right, Henry. And they will argue with you that it is "nobody's business" that they get a paycheck that is out of line with what other residents get, but get to drive home in a free vehicle to somewhere with lower taxes and better services. This is crazy!
As for the schools, they keep on trying with the "put them all in one place" nonsense, which is based on the idea that if you have more than one school,people might see one school as better than another. No, you can't weed out the children how are violent and disruptive, because you might get an "imbalance" , and that means that people are bigots, and the schools are not about learning anymore, they are about social engineering. We have hired a superintendent that would much rather do social work, and he has decided that 'poverty' is the problem, so until every child's family has exactly the same income, some kids have an excuse for not behaving like civilized humans in school.
The only solution is for people to sell their houses and move somewhere with "better" schools, and that is what people do. Saratoga county does not offer anything better in their schools, btw, they can just do it cheaper because they don't have to spend so much time and money on problems that aren't the school's to deal with, or waste money constantly shifting kids around, which has nothing to do with learning.
Kids from places like Hamilton Hill, or the Bronx, really, can learn just as well as other kids, if SOMEBODY EXPECTS IT OF THEM.

I see it if teachers are dealing with kids who have disciplinary issues, can't read, have no money for food and so on, they are not teaching. The kids who do want to learn are not an an environment where they get the right kind of attention. A magnet school may be the answer.

First we need the stats on exactly 'how many' kids, who have pro-active parents would benefit from a magnet school.

Quoted from Madam X

Exactly right, Henry. And they will argue with you that it is "nobody's business" that they get a paycheck that is out of line with what other residents get, but get to drive home in a free vehicle to somewhere with lower taxes and better services. This is crazy!
As for the schools, they keep on trying with the "put them all in one place" nonsense, which is based on the idea that if you have more than one school,people might see one school as better than another. No, you can't weed out the children how are violent and disruptive, because you might get an "imbalance" , and that means that people are bigots, and the schools are not about learning anymore, they are about social engineering. We have hired a superintendent that would much rather do social work, and he has decided that 'poverty' is the problem, so until every child's family has exactly the same income, some kids have an excuse for not behaving like civilized humans in school.
The only solution is for people to sell their houses and move somewhere with "better" schools, and that is what people do. Saratoga county does not offer anything better in their schools, btw, they can just do it cheaper because they don't have to spend so much time and money on problems that aren't the school's to deal with, or waste money constantly shifting kids around, which has nothing to do with learning.
Kids from places like Hamilton Hill, or the Bronx, really, can learn just as well as other kids, if SOMEBODY EXPECTS IT OF THEM.

BINGO!!!!!!

madam x - "Kids from places like Hamilton Hill, or the Bronx, really, can learn just as well as other kids, if SOMEBODY EXPECTS IT OF THEM."

maybe teachers should expect more instead of less

Quoted from exit3

madam x - "Kids from places like Hamilton Hill, or the Bronx, really, can learn just as well as other kids, if SOMEBODY EXPECTS IT OF THEM."

maybe teachers should expect more instead of less

you know that feeling when someone looks at you and you know they are 'uncomfortable' with your different 'situation' and
project their victim-love at you...it ceases to be respect and becomes a 'poor poor human, you don't look, live, act like
me so you must have a lesser brain/body etc than me and I will do all I can to pour my sorrow-fear onto you so you
know I'm not like those horrible people and those horrible situations you have because you are not me.'

that damages the psyche of a human just as much as 'a$$holes' one comes in contact with.....

They have money for gold chains and sneakers.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

They have money for gold chains and sneakers.

Selling drugs is a very lucrative business. It's about the only job in Schenectady that pays well!

and that will be how the legacy of the city goes on...