Cleveland businessman John Williams has a pretty unique investment strategy.
He buys old houses and fixes them up.
Okay, that part isn't that unique, but did I mention that he's specifically looking for crack houses to fix up? He's letting everyone know it with an advertising blitz across the city.
There's been some outcry about his strategy, namely some are calling him a racist.
Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin said,
‘Whenever you talk about, 'Your house is trash, we pay cash,' and whenever you talk about, 'We buy crack houses,' and you come into a predominantly poor, African American community — you're sending a clear message,' Griffin said. ‘You're being condescending, you're being demeaning, and you're being disrespectful.'
It sure seems like that city council guy is making some sort of association between African Americans and crack houses; doesn't it?
Griffin isn't the only one:
See that sign above? See how it says "ninja"? You'll never guess what Dems think that word means.
Cleveland Councilman Richard Starr called out investor John Williams Tuesday in a video posted online, saying the new advertisement was another attempt to disparage Cleveland's Black neighborhoods to spark outrage and gain attention.
Starr told cleveland.com that he believes Williams is using the word "ninja" in place of the n-word, something that is commonly done on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Yes, you may think that a word like "ninja" is slang for someone being a smooth-operating expert, but it's ACTUALLY a placeholder for the N-word!
Williams, meanwhile, insists his strategy is helping these communities.
‘When you mention crack houses or abandoned houses it gets attention. It brings attention to the issue, and it also brings in leads, which we could acquire these properties that are just sitting there. It's a big win for everyone,' Williams said. ‘Some people may say using that specific word is not good, but the properties do exist. We all see them. We all either chose to accept that it is that, or ignore it. It looks like it's been a problem that's been ignored for decades.'
I don't know what's racist about that.
It sounds like the man is trying to make a living improving otherwise uninhabitable houses. Signal Cleveland reported in 2023 that residents are growing frustrated with the number of rotting homes filled with drug needles, which the Cleveland Building and Housing Department estimated to be between 1,000 and 3,000.
Vacant properties overall (both residential and commercial) make up 25% of all lots and buildings in the city, according to News 5 Cleveland. In 2023, a whopping 1,400 buildings were labeled "an immediate safety hazard."
You'd think that might be important context!
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