Twitter Tweets

@Prisonwatchint

http://www.propublica.org/article/are-california-prisons-punishing-inmates-based-on-race

I read an article they posted about how in California they are separating inmates by color in an attempt to reduce gang violence. At a glance this plan might sound good but when you look closer you realize that gangs aren't necessarily organized by race. While its true that some are that doesn't make all gangs strictly based on race. One argument they make is "One state court judge concluded in 2002 that “managing inmates on the basis of ethnicity” was counterproductive, and instead increased hostilities among prisoners." which means that the tactics they are using to reduce gang violoence actually may increase it. By segregating prisoners you are enforcing the idea that they are different and that they should stick to their own kind. This can lead to the belief that on racial group is better than another and in turn increase hate crimes within the prison system.

I am not one to look for news regarding the prison system. But perhaps someone who is concerned about the prison system would find this twitter account useful and find it as an outlet to discuss their concerns and share their own articles etc.

@lobojost

 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323741004578418682347182750.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet

I was scrolling and saw this article about housing prices. This is something that interests me since I do want to relocate hopefully soon. My issue like many new yorkers is the rising rent prices in the safer and convenient neighborhood. This articles discusses the price of owning a home in the Bronx versus other boroughs like Manhattan or Queens. It also states that more people are moving into the bronx than moving out which is funny to me b/c I am always trying to get my fiance to agree to renting an apartment in the bronx simply because the prices are a bit more reasonable (he doesn't like the idea b/c of the bronxs reputation and how far it is from our family and friends in Queens). I also found that this articles relates to our groups focus of gentrification. It also talks about how lower income families are being "pushed out" and that is our groups interest.

I found that simply b/c this was a topic I was interested in that this Twitter account was useful. However I have yet to feel that Twitter overall is useful to me as individual but I do acknowledge that it has the potential to be.