These days New York State and the city are in the news not good news now mind you. It has many problems such as crime, overcrowding, politicians, rundown buildings and many other things.
The story of this place is famous for the price that was paid to the tribe that lived there before there was a New York. The story goes that for a few trinkets and beads the Lenape Indians sold it to the Dutch. All this added up to about a deal valued at $24.00 dollars in good old American terms. The value was because as most people know is that it was unimproved land. Real estate is worth more if it has improvements like denuding the land of trees, and putting up modern trees like telephone poles and stringing wire.
Here is a deal I believe is worth looking at. Was this a rental agreement between the Dutch and the Indians? With New York is in debt could they afford the rent now? I wonder who holds the note for the amount it currently owes? I don’t think it’s the Indians and why would they want it back?
I wouldn’t give $24.00 for it.
Well, I might but they would have to do away with the so, called improvements to it. That would include tearing down the buildings and replacing them with trees. Tearing up sidewalks and asphalt and replanting grass. Unpolluting the rivers and filling in all those subway tunnels they have dug. Not to mean those miles of rails and all those rail cars that would rust away.
That paints a picture of a very unsightly mess.
Progress they call it!
Where would they put all that trash? On some other Indian land? Maybe ship it to Africa?
I don’t think the EPA would help the Indians out with all that cleanup. Then again, we didn’t make the mess.
I do have to admit as civilized tribal, indigenous, first peoples, and so on, we are prone to help pollute and tear up the country too. At least we only build a few small Casino’s.
Just a few at a time though. Right?
We have built community buildings too along with head start schools for the kids. The grownups got ballfields and tribal housing. Although now some houses have seen better times and the yards have a few junk cars in them. We won’t sell the cars because we plan on fixing ‘em up somewhere in the near future. In the mean time they gather dust and getting rustier every day.
Dang I almost forgot about those big tribal headquarters offices. That’s where the important people live and work. Where they drive to work in their fossil fuel burning luxury cars. I’m not sure if there aren’t any of those gas guzzling, Jeep Cherokee’s. Who knows?
So, is it worth it? I guess it depends on what you treasure or value. What does your heart say? Is it worth it?
Would you really want it back now?