Sun 7 Jan 2007

14 Responses to “Feedback on the KERA Screening - what are your thoughts?”

1. TheQueenofLakewood Says:
   January 4th, 2007 at 10:21 pm

   BRAVO!!! Loved the broadcast tonight. Congrats!
   My husband and I lived in Carrollton from 1993-1996. We never really met our neighbors, the few we did know didn’t really ‘get’ us. “So, how’s that acting thing you do Linda?” “Gee, you mean my career?” I would quip. We wondered where the suburban welcome wagon was. We would sit at the kitchen table looking out the big bay window and yell, “Hey neighbor! Where are our zucchini muffins?” to the dog walking neighbors who couldn’t hear us. About two years in we went to NYC to see some shows. We walked out of our apartment and I said, “Look honey, we’re somewhere!” We were lucky enough to buy on Anita Street in Lakewood. We are now in the conservation district process due to the arrival of soul crushing McMansions. The first one on our street broke ground last week. The ones on other blocks are… are…well they just defy description. I can’t wait to see how high our property tax goes when the 5,000 square foot house on the 50X100 lot one block over goes for the $990,000 they are asking.
   I hope you will consider sending your DVD to all the members of the Dallas City council.
   Best,
   Linda Marie Ford, HRH The Queen of Lakewood

2. Marianna Says:
   January 4th, 2007 at 10:22 pm

   I heard you on NPR today, and just caught your show… have to say it was very interesting, and glad you’ve created this documentary. It’s something I have thought for a long time, while wondering what our American society is lacking. I lived in Europe for a number of years, and it’s a uniquely American phenomenon that needs to be addressed, as I think it divides us as a society.

3. Stargazer3XO Says:
   January 4th, 2007 at 10:27 pm

   How do you get involved when the community you live in is mostly drug users, meth addicts, alcoholics, wife and child abusers, or people who just don’t want to associate because they think they are better than you, or vice versa?
   Also these people scam, break in and steal from people in their own neighborhoods, lie bald faced, flat out cheat people, use people and then turn on those people willing to help.
   They talk a good game, but trust me you get involved and the sheriff begins to take a hard look at you. Worse these people are suspicious by nature and any comments you might innocently make can turn them against you instantly.
   We’ve maintainewd good relations with the community in spite of staggering odds. But our outreach is limited to helping a little here and there, tutoring, counseling, and prayer but only on request…we are not intrusive…not unless you want a gun in your face, attacked by a pitbull, threatened with lawsuits, have your animals shot or poisoned, even your house burned to the ground. Yes, we live in the worse community around…but they are still people and there is always hope. Any ideas?

4. fly Says:
   January 4th, 2007 at 10:59 pm

   Was not Little Forest Hills once the outer sprawling reaches of Dallas? How were these houses not originally built for the same concern for conformity and profit as new homes today? Perhaps, what gives a neighborhood distinction is nothing more than what the passage of time leaves behind.

5. Dean Terry Says:
   January 5th, 2007 at 11:34 am

   [from a comment sent via email - dt]

   Last year, my wife and I moved back to the North Dallas area after 14 years in another city. Due to housing prices, we spent the last 4 of those years commuting 45 - 60 minutes a day, between a house in smaller town and our jobs. All so we could afford a modest 1700 sf home, most of which we never used.

   Upon moving to Richardson, we leased an apartment that is 4 minutes from my wife\’s office, and 10 from my office. Each of us has recovered 40 hours per month of free time — time we used to spend in the car. That doesn\’t include the time I save by not having a yard to care for. We have used that recovered time to take classes, pursue other interests, and spend time together and with family. Without going into detail, the change in lifestyle (smaller but totally sufficient living space, less gasoline expense) has resulted in a much better financial picture — no consumer debt. In fact, the change from owning (with the bank) a home to renting an efficient, well-located apartment has only benefited us. I can think of no negative effects at all.

   During our years of commuting, we spent so much time on the road there was literally no time to form and maintain social connections. Most of our neighbors were the same way — commuting, working, sleeping — a never-ending cycle.

6. Dean Terry Says:
   January 5th, 2007 at 11:37 am

   [another comment sent via email -dt.]

   saw the film last night. how awesome.

   it inspired me to email a neighbor… where i live and say \”thank you\” to her for doing awesome stuff for all the neighborhood kids. she calls the city on occasion and gets permits to shut down entire blocks for 4 hours on a pretty fall day so all the kids can run wild and play hopscotch and bike ride in the street. there\’s lemonade and cookies and top 40 radio\’s involved. it\’s terrifically nostalgic, even as it occurs. another time she did the same thing but for a huge block party… with a permit for a keg in the street and everything. tons of people showed up and we all were commenting, \”where else in Dallas is THIS happening right now?\”

7. Dean Terry Says:
   January 5th, 2007 at 11:40 am

   another email comment:

   I think that besides stealing a lot of time, sprawl/housing steals a lot of money. People purchase way more home than they can possibly use. Then comes the furniture and junk to fill the homes. It is very strange. The housing industry has tapped into peoples aspirations of wealth, and sold them the illusion of wealth. Yes - you too can have a 5000 sf home with granite counters and an olympic-size, marble bath tub.

8. Dean Terry Says:
   January 5th, 2007 at 4:46 pm

   From Michele Nickerson, UTD historical studies professor:

   Subdivided is outstanding. In fact, I\’m a little worried for Forest Hills…wondering how many people like I took their cars down there to have a look. I echo Fred Turner\’s observation on its beauty. I caught myself marveling, actually, at how lovely Dallas looked through your camera. I\’m guessing that wasn\’t necessarily your intention, but it really took me in. The social/political historian of suburbia in me was hoping to hear the voice/see the face of maybe a McMansion dweller and/or developer, just to get a sense of the impulse/feelings that drive this trend, but nevertheless your creation still stands on its own legs. And you made excellent use of the talking heads. I love Dolores Hayden.

   Anyway, bravo! I am honored to be your colleague.

   Thanks Michelle!

9. fly Says:
   January 6th, 2007 at 7:12 am

   So sprawl is bad. It’s way out there, you’re far from anything, and it takes longer to get anywhere. Then the more sensible McMansion buyer decides to build it inside the older city, closer to things, not to drive so far etc. But, NO, don’t build it in my old neighborhood!

   I think I would prefer developers recycle old neighborhoods than keep on pushing toward the Oklahoma border. And, it’s not like anyone is forced off the property. Rather, the buyer pays pretty well for your good location close to things.

10. Dean Terry Says:
    January 8th, 2007 at 10:27 am

    From an email:

    I grew up in Europe and came to live here as a young woman. I spent the majority of my time living in Florida. We relocated to Frisco a few years ago for my husband’s job.

    We live in a standard cookie cutter home in a subdivision built by a volume builder. I could touch my neighbor’s brick home by opening the window and extending my arm out. I have noticed the lack of concern that people exhibit, the coldness and the total lack of interest that have in their community. We have an HOA meeting twice per year, typically about 12% of the folks show up!

    I am a walker and long distance runner. The sidewalks are practically non existent. The Mc Mansions are being built (I call them “Chậteaux de la Loire”) all over town. We live with mud, construction, barrels, traffic, cement, and very impatient people. The whole picture makes me want to take a deep breath, close my eyes and forget I live here!

    I enjoyed your documentary very much. I am very glad you brought up this subject. I think it is crucial that people start to question their way of living and the impact it has on the environment.

11. credwine Says:
    January 9th, 2007 at 4:06 pm

    I am so glad that this documentary made it to public television. I was also thrilled that it focused on the Dallas area. Things have gotten so out of control in this country and I feel that it is one of the worst problems in this country as most of our other problems (environment, crime, education, declining civility, etc.) can be directly connected to it. I have spent time in Europe, and it opened my eyes. I have not seen America the same way since. Dallas is a perfect microcosm of this problem. Now, if we can only get this information out on Network and cable TV and to more people, so we can all start to wake up and see what is going on. Everytime I turn on the TV, I see news about Global Warming, but then I see a commercial for Hummer or Wal-Mart. This disgusts me. I see nothing about redesigning our cities to make them liveable
    or trying to do away with cars. Thank you for making this documentary and caring.

12. credwine Says:
    January 9th, 2007 at 7:49 pm

    I am so glad that this doc was on PBS. Now, if we can only get this information out to Network and Cable TV so more people can be aware. I constantly see TV coverage about global warming, but then I see commericals for Hummers and Wal-Mart. this frustrates me so much. I’m glad that at least we are starting to acknowledge the real issues.

13. CoalMine_Canary Says:
    January 13th, 2007 at 10:20 am

    I’m a native Dallasite in mourning for the dissolution of human warmth & connectedness in this city. Yes, the anonymity & coldness of sprawl & subdivision are endemic to our whole country, but Dallas has a far worse case of it than any other city I’ve lived in.

    I’d like to suggest that readers contact KERA-TV 13, as I did yesterday, and ask them to please air this show once a month for the next year. There’s already a buzz, but more showings will launch a wider dialogue in Dallas about the forces of dehumanization in our city.

    Some of us could also voluntarily purchase copies of the Subdivided DVD for our city council representatives. And, of course, we could all initiate patterns of connectedness in our neighborhoods.

    Sensitive people are canaries in coal mines. Thank you, Dean, for singing your warning song so beautifully and for creating this film as your offering and rally cry to help us raise our collective consciousness.

    Anyone interested in another canary’s experiences in one of Dallas’ older neighborhoods under seige can read View From a Canary Perch: www.canaryperch.com

14. Subdivided Documentary Film Blog » Feedback from June KERA Screenings Says:
    June 27th, 2007 at 9:18 pm

    […] If you’d like to comment on the recent KERA screenings please use the comments section below, or send a note to list@subdivided.net. Comments from previous screenings are here. […]

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