Blacks and whites remain divided on many key issues, but those differences seem not so great or quite so sharply personal as in the recent past. Residents believe city services have improved, virtually across the board. Even the much-maligned Department of Motor Vehicles is getting better reviews. Three years ago, only 38 percent of residents expressed such a favorable view. Everyone's talking about it.
People are really optimistic. . . .
People are talking about moving back into the city. Thompson had only to look out her window to see the evidence of a turnaround. Last summer, a water main broke outside her co-op. But on a Saturday night at 9 o'clock, there were three trucks out there and they worked till 12 noon to fix it. When Mayor Barry was in office, I didn't see as many people working in the community.