Voice of The Southern: Cairo searching for its hero

Opinion | Voice of The Southern

The Southern's editorial board members are: Alee Quick, digital editor; Les Winkeler, sports editor; and Tom English, executive editor

Voice of The Southern: Cairo searching for its hero

Let’s cut right to the chase — the situation in Cairo is untenable.

Residents of the city are upset that public housing is being torn down and nobody has been held accountable for the negligence and apparent malfeasance that led to the deterioration of the McBride and Elmwood housing complexes. City leaders are upset that razing public housing could destroy Cairo. And, the state’s elected officials are upset that nothing has been done.

Quite frankly, everyone involved has the right to be angry.

The residents of the McBride Place and Elmwood Place housing complexes must feel that nobody is on their side.

So, now is a time for the people of Cairo to make a stand and rise up above the mess not of their making. And, from what we’ve seen, they’re off to a good start.

“We have to start looking out for our own,” said Cairo community activist Steven Tarver at this past Wednesday’s tenant meeting in Cairo.

We agree. It is obvious the federal government isn't interested in allowing residents of the ill-fated housing complexes to remain in Cairo.

Tarver, who owns an establishment in Cairo called Talk of the Town, has put together a group called “Men of Power-Sisters of Strength” in order to find answers.

We’ve spoken to him and he has a lot of ideas that will help the city. His plan involves acquiring the land after the housing complexes are demolished and building anew.

He’s been in contact with developers and other business organizations in Illinois to see what they can do to help. There are no concrete plans yet, but at least someone is taking positive forward looking steps.

It’s this kind of leadership that gives us faith in the Cairo and its people. This is exactly the kind of leadership Cairo needs right now.

The McBride and Elmwood housing residents are in an unwinnable situation right now.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has stated the housing complexes will be razed and not rebuilt. Residents will likely be forced to find housing outside of Cairo — the place they want to stay because it is home.

Cairo is where their families are. For most of them, Cairo is where they’ve lived their entire lives. Cairo is where there hearts are.

That’s where the community comes in.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Tarver had a message for the angry residents: “I ask that you guys please don’t be fearful. Have hope. Have faith. Don’t rely on the government. Rely on yourself. When you go to these meetings, get your information.”

He’s right — the residents of the McBride and Elmwood housing complexes need to listen.

We get it. You feel angry and betrayed. That’s a perfectly understandable reaction. But, now is also a time to listen. Get all the answers, so that when it comes to time to make a decision, you are prepared.

Anger makes it difficult to look at the situation rationally, but reason is vitally important.

At the same time, Cairo residents have every right to be angry. They have been wronged so many times in the past, it’s hard to feel positive. They want to see justice served to those who created this mess.

And, quite frankly, it’s way past time that somebody was held accountable.

“They’ve had more than enough time to investigate this and the residents are upset and they should be,” said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., after a town hall meeting Friday with residents in Cairo. “We ought to know whether or not there is any action that is going to be taken by HUD or the Department of Justice for mismanagement of this housing authority.”

After visiting Cairo and meeting with the residents there, it’s very evident that the city is not a ghost town like many people think. Residents care about their home. They want to see a brighter future, and they want to help build that future.

Here’s the bottom line: Cairo needs a hero. Whether it be Tarver and his group, the community or an elected official, it doesn’t matter. Someone needs to step up — and someone needs to be held accountable for this mess.