>>>>>>I have no problem not giving loans to people who can't pay them back, or whose history shows that they won't pay them back. But blocking entire neighborhoods isn't the way to do that, and prevents those neighborhoods from being rehabilitated. Every borrower and house should be evaluated individually.
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>>>>>>Tamar
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>>>>>I agree, but I think the law was overkill. People should be based on their own track record, assets, etc. Now, having said that, how do you feel about insurance companies charging higher rates for people in the hood, just because it's a more dangerous bet for them?<g>
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>>>>Interesting problem. I see both sides here. Life is more expensive for people in poor neighborhoods in a lot of ways. Insurance is just one of them. They also tend to have to pay more for food, and have less variety and lower quality options. None of this helps those who are really trying to improve their lives.
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>>>>Tamar
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>>>I don't understand the 'paying more for food' and 'less variety.' Here, everyone has access to the same grocery stores and the grocery stores are patronized by all economic groups. Are you referring to specialty shops? We have Asian, Jewis, Arab, Hispanic and other specialty stores but they are patronized by all economic groups (as evidenced by visiting them). The greatest variety from all over the world is actually available on military bases in commissaries to provide choices for the many nationalities and ethnic groups in military families and visiting forces. Military families from other countries are often assigned for a year or two to our military bases.
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>>Maybe this is only a problem in big cities, but there are no supermarkets in many poor neighborhoods, just corner stores and convenience stores. Since many of the residents of those neighborhoods don't have cars, they have to shop locally.
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>>Here's one link on this: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/newsrelease/supermarkets1-01-02.cfm
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>>Tamar
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>I think it is a problem in large cities, and perhaps somewhat a problem in smaller cities. However, I don't think it really is a question of availability in most cases. Most of the poor here actually have transportation, although there are older neighborhoods in some towns where senior citizens may not. What I have noticed though is that those who purchase their food using food stamps make very poor choices. I see this almost every visit to the grocery store. They buy a lot of pre-packaged meals, starchy foods and processed meats and very little fresh fruit, lean meats, and vegetables. They are limited as to what they can purchase on food stamps and select based on the lowest cost and the ability to spread the meals for a family over a month.

Your assumption about food stamps is not quite correct. I live in urban area, and probably I have more experience with 'food' situation here than many on this board. Multitude of 'corner' stores, with higher prices, is partially caused by the fact that food stamp recipients must spend all them at the end of monthly period. It means that they have no reasons to save or try to find better price, e.g. by going to supermarkets. They may just go to the nearest corner store and spend all food stamps there paying 50-100% more. It creates obvious pressure on supermarket revenues, and partially because of that, many chains do not go to inner cities; though saying that these areas do not have supermarkets is an exaggeration.