I Went To The Worst Place In Arkansas

[@NickJohnson]

Here's my entire Deep South Road Trip Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqiVYnuOr7J1aNU

[@backroads-cars]

Not all the credit goes to Clinton... It was Messiah H.W. Bush who drafted NAFTA to begin with... Gotta place the blame evenly there, Nick.

[@alllifematter5187]

I think I need to go over there and help her with my idea 💡

[@autisticexpressiongenx]

this town looks like back to the future in the future with bif world

[@rogerburn5132]

This Town looks So So So Bad that even"" Mappy " didn't Want to go there 😀😀😀😀

[@lawrencewheeler7837]

The only jobs in Arkansas is Walmart distribution.

[@ootsie601]

Smart young woman speaking at the end. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Good for her and everyone who is collaborating with her to improve the city.

[@dangrimes5078]

She is awesome. I hope her vision becomes reality.

[@TheBokey]

Hopefully her energy and optimism can rub off on some people in Pine Bluff.

[@carlyyoung3481]

You're a sweetheart.

[@alvashoemaker8536]

THIS is genuine enthusiasm…I wish them luck…. 😃‼️

[@eriq54321]

She seems like she is wifey material, looks like someone already put a ring on her finger

[@lindabruce355]

Aw Nick, I feel empathy for Lori. It was hard to see another woman upset at how whole neighbourhoods have become run down. For what its worth, I'm in Scotland. As you know we are in the grip of the hardest cost of living crisis I can remember and Im 60. And its happening here , all the shops in the towns are closed, it started before covid but that didn't help. At the moment we have 15 pubs a day closing down because costs have tripled. Its sad cos we are the generation that remembers the enjoyment of going round the shops. Lori, this is for you, hold your head high sweety, , and love to all from Scotland

[@annhowcroft9493]

I wonder if all these rich people are ever going to realize that they need us before it's too late.

[@lorirobertson643]

Thank you, Linda. It's hard to watch places that were once thriving & vibrant fall to ruin. I returned to Pine Bluff to care for an aging mother. I think about leaving again. But this is home. The economy is tough everywhere. Far too many people one paycheck away from living on the streets. I understand the sadness that comes from watching the place you love wither & die. Hold tight, Linda. & thanks again for your kind words. Hugs from Arkansas 💜

[@laikanbarth]

@@lorirobertson643 I live in Texarkana Arkansas and it looks horrible too but if you go over to the Texas side it is alive and thriving and everything is sparkling new. The roads are all fixed and they are building new infrastructure. I don’t understand why Arkansas looks so horrible? Our governor needs to bring more jobs into the state. I’m embarrassed of Arkansas. I met Bill Clinton when he was running for President. I also remember several people from Arkansas begging him not to sign NAFTA!! He didn’t listen!! I don’t know what the answer is. I grew up in Camden, AR. They took away the paper mill and that city died 😢. It makes me so sad.

[@rb032682]

Wow. It is sad that GREED is also trumping Scotland.

[@lorirobertson643]

@@laikanbarth Truly a small world. I lived in Txk AR & still have a daughter who lives there. You're definitely right about clean side & dirty side. Is the TX side still dry? Maybe thats it. Also - I lived at East Camden across from the fire dept in a small apt while my husband was driving cross country. I never got used to living there. & no matter what my experience & job history - never found a job except waiting tables at Pizza Hut. (Thank you, but no) You're right about it being a sad little town. Holy cow - the flooding!! Wowza! Paper Mill closings have killed several small towns. Just like Walmart opening. Same affect. Take care & hold tight. I feel your pain. Hugs from Pine Bluff 💜

[@OwlingDogDesign]

The world needs more people like Angie Walton!!

[@Davo-gj7gl]

100%

[@Red-Wolf-Ben]

No kidding!

[@Silver86777]

I feel insurmountable sadness for America. I really really hope we can bring back what used to be, but everywhere I travel in this country shows signs of decay and societal collapse. Some worse than others, of course, but it’s all coming in everywhere, slowly but surely.

[@turtleanton6539]

It is. Fentanyl from china

[@l.ls.8890]

The Angie interview was sincerely refreshing to watch. She is so up on the vibe of the city and has the social and political insights to explain what could be and is needed.

[@andyvega5584]

Angie needs to be mayor or county representative or something. She is awesome, God bless her.

[@acazyahdotmh7306]

I agree! After watching most of the video and then seeing her interview changed my entire view of the city.

[@lorrainehogle7998]

Ross Perot railed about 1 thing and was absolutely right- NAFTA would be a disaster.

[@kimjohnson8471]

Yes Mr. Perot warned us about the "...giant sucking sound.. " of jobs leaving the USA.

[@whitewolf3201]

Watching old Perot videos today, he seems like he's Nostradamus.

[@perfectallycromulent]

depends on where you live. it's not a disaster if you're Mexican, and obviously a whole lot of this country is happy buying the cheaper imports. and plenty of people who left places like this went to places like Austin where they've got high-paying jobs in IT or whatever doesn't exist in Pine Bluff.

[@beavistechrock]

In my opinion nafta just sped up the inevitable. The vast majority of older uaw workers I've met are just unbelievable. They are some of the laziest most entitled people on this planet. It was not uncommon for employees to take a week off work and have there buddies punch them in and out. I've seen many a garage filled with anything that could be stolen from a plant. I've heard numerous accounts about the parking lots at these plants on break being just one big open air drug market. On top of all this they'd have to pay insane retirement benefits for these lazy turds. At one time unions served a purpose. Then they derailed to just taking care of their own while demanding more and more money. I think eventually these companies would've had to either move or close down anyways. It always easier to point the finger and have a boogieman. If you ask me we need to take responsibility for what we accept as work ethic.

[@lorrainehogle7998]

Agreed. The globalization of manufacturing would have eventually occurred regardless.

[@chas3304]

YOU GO GIRL, THAT'S WHAT THIS STATE NEEDS, NOT POLITICAL OR CROOKED LAWYERS.

[@loosilu]

What the heck has Sarah Huckabee Sanders doing? Isn't this her job?

[@snoodlebug1800]

@@loosilu I think SHS has been doing a great job. She’s only been in office for a bit, give her some time and a chance.

[@jharvey9898]

What each person needs is to do what is right in God’s sight. Not corruptocrats filling their own pockets at the peoples expense.

[@jharvey9898]

@@loosilu everyone has free will. You can’t make people do right even if it’s in their own best interest.

[@jackieallen3344]

@@snoodlebug1800 , Well what did her father do ? How long was he governor of Arkansas.

[@tonybloomfield5635]

Angie Walton would be a great asset to any community. The world needs a whole lot more Angie's.

[@redpine8665]

Having a great attitude is fine, but the older woman said when new businesses have gone in there, abanteeism, near illiteracy, failed drug tests, theft...and the companies say "see ya!". I would never move a company there and deal with that.

[@martymartin1683]

I grew in Pine Bluff and left after high school to enter the Army in 1983. At that time, the city was thriving economically but as you mentioned as the jobs left, so did most of the working and managerial class. Pine Bluff was known for great baseball back in the day and produced several MLB players. They opened the PB Convention Center in the mid 70's where every major act from Elvis to Kiss to Hank Williams Jr. played there. It was proclaimed as the Concert Capital of Arkansas until the 90's. As industry moved to Mexico, PB quickly became an entitlement community, with too many citizens on government assistance, which led to rampant drug use, gang violence and so on and so on until we arrived at the present. Thank you for your expose on my hometown. Like many who grew up there, I'm saddened by it's demise.

[@jamesjones4607]

Theres a guy who moved there in 2020, bought one of the factories and 2 motels, every time he applied for permits to do anything the city council denies it, then takes those plans, quarter asses them and has the city "do them" funny enough hes buying the city council's houses at tax sales because they cant be bothered to pay their property taxes, he is currently the single biggest land owner in PB, and has plans to revitalize it into a maker, art, tech town

[@chadhero37]

I grew up there and left in 1992. It's not "Capitalisms" fault, it's crime's fault. Crime went up, whites left town and it went to total shit. The city government is 50% corrupt and 50% incompetent. It will never ever go back to being a good city. It's a mathematical impossibility

[@MelloKing1]

I lived in Pine Bluff for 7 years and went to University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. It may have been rugged but it was a family atmosphere. I love that place and miss it so much

[@neighborhood6814]

You must have been raised in the hood.

[@kathleentewksbury3634]

then go back and make something of it

[@buffbuff5016]

NAFTA killed jobs in Canada too…loads of manufacturing jobs gone. Nothing replaced those jobs. We are reaping the consequences of greed.

[@FranceGaulGallia]

So you are greedy for Jobs only for your part of the world? Everyone is greedy. Greed is good.

[@jeffbueler5387]

Thank the democrats for NAFTA,and the unions, yes the unions they sold us out too

[@MattsScaleModels]

​@Jeff Bueler NAFTA followed policies started by Reagan, and the whole process was run by Bush Sr. He even tried to fast track it before the election that saw Clinton come to power. Bush Jr did nothing to change it, even though he knew what NAFTA was doing to American jobs. So, anyone who believes that both parties aren't firmly in the pockets of the billionaires and big business, is sadly deluded.

[@hoppes9658]

@@MattsScaleModels Amen to that. All the elites sleep together.

[@guitarpaul3645]

​@@FranceGaulGallia That is nonsense. Of course people overseas will put in hard work, for a $1 an hour in a sweatshop. Uf you sign trade deals like NAfTA it is obvious that many companies will leave, or go bust as they can't compete with the foreign imports. It has nothing to do with people overseas working harder. The international trade deals the US has signed has been utterly disastrous. The US should be much more self sufficient and should not outsource production it can do domestically.

[@BookofJob3XVII]

America is in a decline. So many empty abandoned cities, jobs are disappearing.

[@jharvey9898]

Honest question. What would you do?

[@NoNORADon911]

Thank them>✡

[@REMBRANTTUBE]

@@jharvey9898 create economic growth here by making everything here again! It’s our own rules & regulations that are crippling our abilities to be successful

[@laikanbarth]

So many kids going to college and accumulating a lot of debt and there will be no jobs for those kids to go to. Those manufacturing jobs just didn’t hire blue collar workers. There are a lot of white collared workers who lost jobs too.

[@pookiewookie7679]

It has been since after the 80s

[@Caffeine_Club]

To everyone blaming Clinton for NAFTA, pick up a book, or try looking at history without a political agenda - it began way before Clinton came into the picture. Reagan first proposed NAFTA in its original form in 1980. In 1988, under George Bush, the Canada-United States Trade agreement was signed, and it was agreed upon at that time to ratify NAFTA in the following years to include Mexico. During this time, it faced significant opposition in both the United States and Canada, but was finally ratified in 1993 after some additional agreements were added to it (the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) and the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) ). The shit show began and continued, even after Trump made some small revisions to it, and called it the United States - Mexico - Canada Agreement (USMCA). So Clinton (innefectual as he was as a President) is not solely to blame for it . Where the shit really hit the fan was during the Reagan years when he let American companies pack up and move their operations overseas to China, Taiwan, etc, and did not place any meaningful tariffs on incomming imports. This occurred long before NAFTA whi h focused on reducing tarriffs between the North American nations, and having nothing to do with overseas industry. This destroyed the manufacturing base of the nation and made the US reliant on cheap goods by foreign powers. We just want our shit cheap. Unfortunately, the consequences are that all of our manufacturing and factory jobs are sacrificed because of it. India, China, etc. essentially run slaving operations so you can buy all that cheap shit at Wal-Mart. Meanwhile, the US lumber industry is toast, with Canada not being far behind, our fisheries are poached, we rely on foreign gas rather than investing in our own supply (we export tons of fuel to other nations.... go figure). The only winners are the fat cats in power - both Democrat and Republican and their Wall Street cronies. God Bless America. 👍

[@Dr.Ranita]

And who made money in all this? Like I said GREED!

[@bhair50]

Too right! You should be commended for your research. Personally I believe it started with Nixon. We should have never normalized relations with the Chi-coms.

[@raydaniel2490]

Reagan is the root cause of many of our current problems. 1980 was the beginning of the collapse of many towns and cities.

[@nyki7fykxtjxyi]

$0R0S

[@karenrussell3326]

@Caffeine Club you nailed it.

[@ironweedstudios]

That person, Angie Walton? with the “Rebuild The Block” shirt…is the most amazing, articulate, passionate, and motivated person I have seen on KZbin. Just amazing…

[@YoBoyMarcus]

I was a tour guide in Canada 30 years ago and we had a group of retirees from Pine Bluff. I remember them to be such kind and friendly people. Sad to see their city has been decimated.

[@truecrimeboozer]

25:32 Once again, Nick giving his guests *all* the time needed to express their thoughts without interruption 👍

[@davidarmitage289]

Best You Tuber hands down!

[@scottcoleman2876]

Sharp positive woman who seems to be fighting a losing battle.

[@DrT1250]

I passed through Pine Bluff in the early 1990s on a motorcycle trip. I stopped for fuel there. I swore that I would never get anywhere near that place again. The vibe was a lot like Cairo Illinois... which I shall also never return.

[@marvindevon6417]

I totally agree with Lori. I was born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and it was a very wonderful place to live, raise a family, and go out for pizza, Chinese, and Mexican food, and my mom's and family's personal favorite was ARNOLD'S CATFISH on Blake St. My childhood was great but now it's very sad and heartbreaking to see my beloved town in the shape it's in now. I moved to Conway in 2012 and then moved to Texas in 2017. And, it really do makes you want to shed a few tears because of how it has drastically changed. The 70's, 80's, 90's and very early 2000's were pretty nice.

[@lilrapunzel]

I just went for Chinese Sunday in Pine Bluff and got food poisoning😢

[@karenlacking8738]

Yes it was. Those were fun times growing up there.

[@travishendrix7026]

I'm from Watson Chapel. Arnold's was not 2 miles from my childhood home. We had room to run . The Flick. Big Banjo, butrams, 8 wheels. A good baseball and football fields. We had the river amd motocross track. I had a blast. I also fought at the drop of a hat. There were alot of mean and nasty people in the 70's and 80's. I held my own. Got a reputation because of it. I'm grateful to move to my family in Hot Spring County. It was so odd to have cool stuff and fight to do it. Still strange to me. I have a special place in my heart for the town.

[@neighborhood6814]

I grew up in PB and left after graduating hs in 2004. It’s been a shit hole since the early 2000s. It hasn’t been nice since the 80s and before.

[@neighborhood6814]

@@travishendrix7026Watson Chapel is not the same as Pine Bluff.

[@sothernborn1]

Angie sure is inspiring and I could see the sparkle in her eyes when when talking about pine bluff. What a great smile ..

[@Everythingiskeane]

Angie is a sharp lady...her attitude is contagious. You go girl!!

[@cosac6]

The sad part is that people destroying and neglecting those houses are the ones complaining that they have nowhere to live. If you destroy your home then you have to live outside.

[@lilrapunzel]

One huge issue in Arkansas is that people will have control of this property move away and then never let anybody else do anything with it It's a huge problem. The cities need to take control and clean this up because it looks terrible but they don't have enough money due to corruption and the dismissal of people like that smart young woman trying to help fix this huge problem that she sees in her home.

[@Theywaswrong]

@@lilrapunzel Well that's very misleading. That city, ANY city, can at any time condemn and take over a property even if taxes are up to date. So blame the city for not enforcing codes for allowing a property to become derelict. If an owner walks away, the city can move to appropriate and clean it up. That abandoned motel? Why did that city not take it over and convert it to housing before it got trashed. In the end, it's the locals, the people of a community, that are responsible and to blame.

[@feonjun]

Americans are mostly generous people, regardless of their political leaning. If homeless people/squatters move into one of these houses and kept it clean, both in and outside, people will look the other way because these home are abandons anyway. The problem is that *_these people_* have an extreme sense of entitlement, victim-hood and ultra individualism that it's a waste of time and energy to help them out. Oregon and Western Washington State resident just learned the hard way that helping these type of people is a waste of time, energy and resources.

[@richardwallace1405]

speaks volumes doesn't it

[@drizzey680]

It's kinda hard to keep your house up, when you can't find a fuc*ing job 🤡

[@Mark-hb5zf]

That gal (Angie) has a good head on her shoulders, very encouraging to see young people involved in rebuilding the community.

[@LSU01]

I agree that young lady is smart and well spoken_-She is educated and that's what places like Pine Bluff need to reinvent themselves!

[@Backwoods_870]

(GAL??? NOT COOL)

[@Mark-hb5zf]

@@Backwoods_870 What wrong with 'gal'? It's a common term for a woman or girl. Same as ''guy' for a man/male.

[@Backwoods_870]

@@Mark-hb5zf (It's offensive to certain people, especially if you're using to describe a particular race of female individuals..so choose words more carefully!!!)

[@Mark-hb5zf]

@@Backwoods_870 Nah, I don't subscribe to the list of harmless words that people like to redefine (which now changes weekly). Some words? You betcha, plenty of them that are truly offensive and always will be, and should never be used. 'Gal' does not fit that category.

[@MrJepo100]

Angie was great. Big up Angie, from Manchester, England.

[@Wrenchfist_Studios]

I worked in pine bluff for a couple of years, and I had my car window broken 3 times. One evening when I came out, a dude was crouched next to my car taking a dump and wiping with clothes he took out of my car. Decided it wasnt worth it.

[@The_Remnant86]

I'm grateful you ended the video with that beautiful young lady. Imagine a world with a generation of youth who have her drive and aspirations. I'm encouraged that all hope is not lost .

[@GenXtothe7thPower]

This was a great episode, Nick! While it is disheartening to see what is happening in *many* towns in America, large and small, it was nice to cap it off with Ms. Walton and her positive attitude towards fixing things...makes me wonder if we could turn things around if we had more Angie Waltons in this country. Thanks for all you do.

[@loosilu]

What is Sarah Huckabee Sanders doing? Isn't it her job?

[@GenXtothe7thPower]

@@loosilu hopefully meeting with people like Angie Walton and drafting solutions

[@patriciahogan4705]

​@@loosilu give Sarah a chance she just got there.

[@patriciahogan4705]

Is she one of the Walton's that sold out American workers. After Mr. Walton the founder of Walmart who believed in made in the USA passed the family took over and started selling everything made in Communist China. I never shop there.

[@aro4098]

John Boy would be proud.

[@GreenIvy3834]

Thank you Nick for showing this video. It looks like areas in San Antonio, Texas. Lots of empty houses. If the older homes stay vacant its an open doors for crime. We have our share of beautiful houses, but we are now getting people from California. Also lots of brand new apartments that are expensive at the Alamo Quarry a 2 bedroom 2 bath the rent is $3,000.00. The sad part is the apartments allow for residents to smoke on the patios. So if you live in the second, third, fourth floor all of the smoke will go into your patios. The Corporation USA has left the American people suffer. Shameful.

[@flowergirlabc123]

And the rest of North America.

[@richardzelnick7669]

I blame Walmart and their predatory vendor policy driving jobs to China, and anytime Walmart opens on the edge of a town, the city center loses businesses and declines.

[@dono546]

Happened before that. The merchants didn't want the interstate to Little Rock as it make it easier to shop there. Pine Bluff just never adapted and has always been its own worst enemy. There were a lot of professional people in Pine Bluff once upon a time.

[@JimmyMcCormick]

I'm a life long resident of Arkansas. I'm 54. All of my life Pine Bluff has been a place to stay away from. Nafta killed Pine Bluff. I sold my home in western Arkansas to a retired teacher from Pine Bluff. She echoed what this lady said. A friend of mine is a emergency room doctor that was in Afganistan that came to work in Pine Bluff hospital emergency room. She said the intake was similar to Afganistan. She said sending doctors to the emergency room thier would make a good training for combat doctors.

[@msudoc]

The breakdown of the family is a universal cancer in this country. “Kids raising themselves.” Inevitable violence and teen pregnancy, and decay. Loss of jobs is a huge problem, of course, but culture matters.

[@SpenceCurry]

Poverty and ignorance go hand in hand

[@jimrossi7708]

But there are a lot of people who don’t want us to know that, but if anyone has half a brain should know that just by adding 1+1 !!!

[@bluerfoot]

That the breakdown of the family was done for political and vote getting purposes is evil.

[@rb032682]

Only 5% of the USA population owns 90% of the USA. What kind of culture can those of us in USA's BOTTOM 95% of the population expect?!?

[@msudoc]

@@rb032682 🤡

[@TheBokey]

If you wanted to film a post-apocalyptic movie, no need to build an expensive set. Just film it in downtown Pine Bluff. I half expected to see zombies walking down the street. DON'T STOP YOUR CAR, NICK!

[@lorishoe12]

Yeah, that would have been the perfect place to film some of the Walking Dead.

[@InteloPL]

That place looks like Fallout 4 scenery.

[@InteloPL]

@@lorishoe12 oh please... Fallout.

[@horatiodreamt]

Add another "map" to the DayZ game: DayZ -- Pine Bluff

[@peterbehringer63]

Was thinking exactly the same ..just commented above.... Currently in Venezuela, scriptwriting and film site scouting (in decayed urban areas and run-down towns) for a possible post-apocalyptic fiction adventure series .

[@jherod2024]

What a contrast in the two women, but like Angie said at the end, she understands the people who’ve lived there for decades and how they can be bogged down. A new generation of people can make things happen if they want it bad enough. I hope there are more people with her enthusiasm.

[@boudicacelticwarrior1481]

Loved that last lady to be interviewed. What an asset to the area. I hope she is successful

[@randkamza1206]

Pine bluff is garbage. My friend worked there, used to read electric meters on houses. Literally within a year and a half of working he was jumped three times. Multiple guys hitting him behind with 2x4, stealing wallet, that kind of stuff.

[@boothwodensen4897]

I am so tired of people saying stuff like 'the jobs left, then the drugs came'. Being unemployed is not a license to become an addict. I fell on hard times, the worse thing I did was have a couple gas station cans of beer after a long day. My one friend lost his job, was unable to find one.... so he fished A LOT. He was proud, he'd tell us how even though he had no work he could at least give his family a full belly of fish.

[@Morgan313]

It’s probably more accurate to say that the companies left, then the unemployed left for opportunities elsewhere, then the tax revenues that funded the police force disappeared, and THEN the drug dealers and criminals came and squatted in the empty houses and buildings left behind.

[@andrewmastrandonas5123]

@@Morgan313 I think that's exactly right.

[@charlesphilhower1452]

When the jobs leave, the workers leave and the people that are left are are more apt to become addicts😊

[@ArkansasGamer]

Being unemployed is not a license to become an addict ,but what I think you may not understand is that many people have had a harder life than you and that is a huge cause for becoming an addict.

[@bluerfoot]

@@ArkansasGamer so you know what type of life the poster had?

[@btetschner]

I thought both of the interviewees were great in their own regard......BUT..... That Angie is a winner! God Bless her for really pushing for a better community.

[@gregleavitt1255]

Angie's a diamond in the rough and she's inspired, so more power to her!

[@stevegird7706]

I agree with the diamond part. Not so sure about the rough.

[@michaelhargrove5930]

I lived near Magnolia in southwest Arkansas as a teenager in the 70s a nice town and i remember we once went to pine bluff for a convention one weekend.I remember going to a supermarket there where everyone in the store looked homeless,this was over 40 years ago so i was a bit puzzled seeing the the lady much younger then me crying about what a nice town it once was.Arkansas is a beautiful state but Pine Bluff was an armpit even 45 years ago as i remember it.

[@jetpilot3714]

Very true. The decline started much earlier than the 1980s as stated in this video.

[@calvinballew5411]

Agree, I was born there in 57, and I wouldn't live there now for all of Gods money!​@jetpilot3714

[@em843]

Great video. As someone from Pine Bluff, it sucks seeing it in this condition. My mother grew up on East 2nd Ave and would tell stories of my grandmother giving plates of food to the hobos that came off the trains at the Union Pacific Rail yard. My Grandfather worked on the trains back when it was Cotton Belt after serving in the Army. By the time I can remember, my family had relocated out to White Hall (between Pine Bluff and Little Rock) but we still had family in PB and used to go visit them.

[@janareeves7482]

I have commented before that I moved to Arkansas 20 years ago and live less than an hour from Pine Bluff. For a few years after we moved, I shopped at that mall regularly. It was clean, well-lit and full of franchise stores. The decline, however, was swift. You also drove past some retail areas that used to have nice franchise stores that have since closed. I frequently pass right by Pine Bluff on the way to Little Rock, and I still go into PB for doctor appointments and to shop in stores on the periphery. Even twenty years ago, however, I was told to not venture into downtown. I have still only seen it through online videos. Just a side note, a few years after we moved here, we stepped outside early one morning and thought that we smelled a gas leak. A gas company employee came and investigated but found nothing and smelled nothing. The wind shifted and he had an "aha" moment. When the weather and wind direction are just right, the smell from the PB paper mill can travel many, many miles.

[@teresapribilski1493]

The smell from paper mills is putrid. We also moved to Arkansas a little over 20 yrs ago, but live in the southwest part. The first time, I smelled a paper mill, I thought there was a giant gas leak. Crime Bluff has been in decline since we lived here. I used to go to prison there for trainings. The women's minimum security prison relocated to West Memphis. What 5 or 7 yrs ago? Downtown was already blighted, but you could see some of the dilapidated houses & buildings were once majestic, being the gateway to the Delta.

[@erniegibbs4002]

Living in Warren,growing up,mom drove us to Sears and JC Penneys to shop .

[@Theywaswrong]

And why does any city or town allow it to become so dangerous that you can't go into town.

[@teresapribilski1493]

@rickjones784 It's a prison town that has a strange vibe. Up until recently, they had two prisons & now it's down to one. It's still the same vibe. PB peaked in the 1800s. Then there were two massive floods & the Great Depression. Also, the river commerce & cotton industry took a big hit. Add to it the Delta is poor poor and beyond poor. It's been bleeding people losing around 8000 people since the last census. That's not sustainable. The gorgeous Victorian houses are mostly dry rotting now. No one is investing in that train wreck. Fun fact, Martha Mitchell, who helped blow the Watergate scandal, is from PB.

[@aintdatsnipes177]

Pine Bluff used to be (Like most US cities) a thriving manufacturing powerhouse, until DC sold the country out to WS and they offshored and outsourced pretty much everything of any real value leaving this ....Thanks again DC!

[@Rhaegar19]

Ok, but what about the companies that chose to go for the cheap overseas labor?

[@asajayunknown6290]

Really sad part is that it started with Reagan, then got on the fast train with Clinton and then Obama. Corporate greed above all else

[@asajayunknown6290]

@@NewHaven203 Reagan, the revered Republican, was the one who first started dismantling The New Deal. His policies started the financialization of almost every aspect of life, to the detriment of Main St America. Clinton, and his ilk, were also terrible for small-town America. But blaming Democrats is a simplistic, unrealistic, statement. Corporatization, the MIC, ... are the evils. Those things are not based on political party.

[@MagicM1KE420]

The people voted for the corrupt politicians and they don't hold them accountable

[@willbass2869]

@@MagicM1KE420 certain demographics vote for handouts......handouts that soon drive out the most productive parts of an economy & society

[@Mr_Don1]

I'm a Little Rock native. Pine Bluff has been awful for a long time. It's also pretty common for abandoned buildings to stand for many years in Arkansas. I don't think it's a matter of socialism or capitalism that is the cause for any of it. I just don't think there's enough of an economic base to really do much of anything there. It's just poverty and people leaving.

[@Tyme_flies]

I left this same comment on a previous pine Bluff video. I was born & raised in Hot springs Ark. My best friend moved to pine Bluff and i went to join her not knowing what i was getting myself into. Comparing the two is comparing apples to oranges! Needless to say i stayed for 2 yrs. I worked at SAJ Distributors untill it closed and then JRMC . All i can say is i had to go . I called a acquaintance in LA and begged for a ticket. I haven't been back since and i have no plans to go back. However I will say this, i met some really good people there. And i often think about them . ❤

[@sharonp6468]

This brought tears to my eyes. I lived in Watson Chapel from 1997 - 2002. It was bad then, but what a difference 20 years can make. I keep thinking about the people trying to cross the Rio Grande to get here. They have no idea the destitution. Wondered if they ever made the Sunbeam girl swing again on that billboard at the end of town. She was kind of a bright spot for decades. A landmark. It's like when Pine Bluff stopped swinging, so did she.

[@Theywaswrong]

Before the criminals destroyed, so many buildings could have been repurposed for housing, including for immigrants. Too late after the city sat on their butts and did nothing, zero.

[@MaRodney07]

They redid the sign a few years ago and made her swing again!!! But it's since broke down again and not swinging...but swinging or not, she's still there as our beacon of hope!!!!!!

[@btetschner]

That shot with the single grocery cart in the dead mall parking lot is amazing, like one straight out of a a sophisticated drama.

[@arnoldvialpando6754]

Or rapid dystopian nightmare

[@btetschner]

@@arnoldvialpando6754 Well put!

[@bayoulafourche]

I remember when the pines mall was built. It was so pretty back then. Its easy to talk about self control unless youre in it. I knew i had to leave Louisiana or i would die a slow death. There was no way to get ahead when your parents had nothing. This was before internet and we couldnt afford a phone. So the only way i could see to go, was in the military. Got my degree and so much more.

[@bayoulafourche]

@@lorrie5881 lol I'm from "the parish." My grandmother married into a family who's names end in vowels. My dad was already born but it was interesting. I moved back to nola in 2016 and because of the crime where I live in the quarter, I'm in the process of moving to another state. I'm ready for boring.

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

Many of the towns you visit and label “worst” usually have failed due to several factors. To say we need to blame Socialism or Capitalism is attempting to simplify complex issues that go beyond one economic model. Cultural decay, demographic shifts and offshoring manufacturing are just a few examples of the problems many parts of our Country need to face.

[@PM-vv3uc]

True. I don't think it'll be the solution to blame one side and cheer up the other side. This country is already too divided.

[@patsymoore-ff2gz]

At last someone with a brain you are so right this actually started when automation was held in grander above the people to create the monopoly and the chain and the golden calf worshipping. The killing of the small business

[@bendover992002]

I agree. Has nothing to do with capitalism or socialism.

[@WANDERER0070]

I blame incompetent Gov that waste money on MIC and wars such as Ukraine instead of creating JOBS at home

[@ladybug3380]

Demographic shifts is a big one.

[@stevenhower1228]

Great videos documenting the decline and deterioration of the middle class throughout the United States. I have also been to most of these places while driving truck for the past 20 or so years. One thing that always intrigued me is that if you were to rent an apartment for a couple years and then decided to move out, a cleaning fee would almost immediately would be assessed against you. My point is that if you own these abandoned run down buildings you as the owner of the land should be required to either clear out the land or sell it to someone else or the city and have them clear it. A limited amount of time should be granted to whomever owns the land before fines or civil penalties would be assessed. if no actions are taken in that allowed time limit then the city should step in. if a bank owns the land then it is their responsibility to return the land to the way it looked before anything was built there. Basically returning the land to the earth. If I were to live in one of these communities and decided to run for a local office, this is how I would solve this problem.

[@superblindeye1]

I love Angie's enthusiasm! She is awesome!

[@MartinScreeton]

Angie Walton could head up the Economic Development Department for the city of Pine Bluff! if there isn't one.. she should create it with the mayor and town council! She is the champion of Pine Bluff!

[@OliveMule]

She needs to get an investor

[@Dr.Ranita]

There is one. I just contacted one of the members, Jimmy Cunningham. Hopefully, they can connect.

[@ulfthegoon]

Hello Nick, You really bring attention to what is happening across this country. One thing you overlook is the harsh climate of Pine Bluff. So many oppressively hot, humid days in the summer. I don't know how people tolerate those conditions. I'm sure there is a lot of potential for this small city since so many folks are getting priced out of other areas. I like the energy of this young lady you had at the end of the video. She has positive anergy and I hope people like her can help bring the city back to life. Wishing the best for the folks of Pine Bluff.

[@shannonbailey7580]

You got that right I'm dying here. 100° in the shade with 94% humidity I've got to get out. I don't know where to go tho, it's just me my mom refuses to leave. I can't breathe outside it's like blasting radiation when you open the door.

[@ulfthegoon]

@@shannonbailey7580 Hi. It’s so hot everywhere right now! I’m ready to go to live in a city like Copenhagen where it still never gets hot!

[@MaeCheek3]

I've been watching your videos for a while now and everytime I think America can't get any worse, but each time I realize how wrong I've been.... At least the homeless people in Pine Bluff can hide out in the mall.

[@koilamaoh4238]

Kinda pointless to exist homeless in ark, cause whos gonna give you free handouts?? free money$$? its why they all leave, considering they have strict laws/prisons, against homeless and drug addicts, they are smart to leave. A smart homeless, would use their welfare check and rent a home lol..but considering some don't understand responsibility, sometimes its a lifestyle for them, or they were abandon by family(most cases), and mental cases , theres no mental wards for them to exist in..

[@drunkensailor112]

Lol

[@Theywaswrong]

Why wasn't the mall and the motel converted to housing BY THE CITY??? They could have condemned and appropriated both before the criminals took over. In the end, it's all on the politics and the people of Pine Bluff.

[@koilamaoh4238]

@@Theywaswrong Thats nice but thats like a communist housing tho.. Whos gonna manage it/invest in it? And manage it for who? Housing should be already cheap as it is in ark; most major gentrified city areas actually need "affordable" housing, which they'll never get. Giving it to homeless, doesnt help much as, they need mental help, thats long gone, since the nixon/reagan era, when they got rid of the insane asylums and mental institutions. Kinda pointless for converting, unless someone is willing to pay $$$, and I mean a person or actual business, which is rare. Its better just to bulldooze down and start anew, to avoid any costly reconstruction issues.

[@Suzanne-f4x]

The OWNERS of the mall are responsible for cleaning it up or tearing it down and carting the remains away. Corporations go to court and delay, delay, delay until the city just gives up. Not a lot of taxes collected in poor cities and towns. Not enough to allot a lot of money to tearing buildings down or for going to court forever.@@Theywaswrong

[@noelleagape8684]

This is the most tragic thing Ive seen. It hurt my heart. Hurrah for Angie Walton!

[@hmcdude1027]

I love her. We need more youths like this in our country.

[@cosmokramer1987]

That is just god awful.

[@brianfuller757]

Yup

[@davet9708]

Sinking empire lovely.

[@jharvey9898]

Look at all the poisonous kemtrails.

[@ILoveLibertyJustice]

Love where you live is Angie’s Motto! Thank you Angie! Thank for being you !

[@debmusic3520]

What a wonderful young woman, Angie. Enthusiastic and caring, and if she can't rally the city, no one can! Any former residents who are now successful business people or celebrities to invest or lend support?? If so, seek them out.

[@joerob3449]

Are you insane pb is full of corruption the money would just disappear. Why would anyone invest here it literally has no good part none. It stinks of paper mill and cotton poison and full of mosquitoes it to mention rampant crime so no one is going I flush their money down the crapper of pb

[@Leschelle22]

My Uncle Sonny Spharler ran the longest family owned jewelry store in downtown Pine Bluff for 75 years “ Spharlers Jewelry”. He passed in 2013. I have great memories there as a child. Went to eat at Woolworth in downtown soda fountain. We were always excited to see the train come through town because the jewelry store was right in front of it. My Mamaw passed away in 1980 and our trips slowed down. I miss those days and breaks my heart to see how desolate the town is now. My Father would be sick to see this if he were still here. The Lord called him home in 2012. Thanks for the video and prayers to your friend 🙏🏼

[@kathleentewksbury3634]

then go back and do something for it

[@A_Legal_Immigrant_1776]

White (non-Hispanic) 7,284 18.30% Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 31,744 76.90% Native American 117 0.20% Asian 314 0.80% Pacific Islander 54 0.30% Other/Mixed 982 2.20% Hispanic or Latino 758 1.30% This might explain.......

[@hellacatsFB]

Precisely - this is the only comment that mentions the actual reason for PB's decline.

[@chloeew4627]

Same everywhere in the world mate.

[@carrieebling7160]

We moved to Pine Bluff about8 years ago when my husband was "promoted". We had a neighbor tell us how wonderful Pine Bluff use to be. He explained to us that when the prisons opened that the families of inmates assigned to those units would move to town and once they were released, they stayed in town and many return to crimal lifestyles. In a matter of 2-3 weeks, I learned of the death of 3 homeless people who would attend our church. GFPB has tried to make down town better, but they mist evident sign of that is the fancy new street lights. To be honest...the new street lights are like putting new ornaments on a dead Christmas tree. Personally, I would work on making the tree healthy before adding the ornaments.

[@NickJohnson]

Wow ⭐️ 🤩

[@alexandercoffman8319]

I agree in full..

[@robbiem4624]

It's not just nafta but the crash of 2008 and the jobs that came back after the recession were low wage high school jobs.

[@lydieluck7753]

This was really fascinating! I’m glad you included Angie’s part at the end so the vid didn’t end on a depressing note. It really does take dedicated people to make change!

[@reb1050]

My wife was from Pine Bluff. Up until 2 yrs. ago, her still lived there. However, her sister moved North of Little Rock and her brother lives outside of or Pine Bluff city limits (he works at the paper mill). My wife left home when she was 18 back in 1976 and never looked back. Pine Bluff started going downhill even back then. Of course, we went to spend every Christmas with her family and we always carried our dogs. Her mother's house had a yard, but the fence was in poor shape so we kept the dogs inside and had to walk them 4 times a day. When we did, not only were the dogs large and protective, both she and I carried a concealed weapon. Her mother lived about 4 blocks from the mall and she had been mugged 3 times...twice in the parking lot of the mall. Crime, unemployment, and drugs took over the town. The main reason can be summed up in two words....White Flight.

[@aconcernedcitizen5852]

Or it could be summed up in one word… 🧲igger 🎉 you have your utopia idiots!

[@monetisisife2488]

Generations of my family lived and attended college there. Most left in the last 8 decades, especially during the great migration. There are a small fragment of my family left there. However the grandchildren and great grandchildren of those who left so many years ago were born and raised in places like CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, OAKLAND DETROIT. Now we're trying to FIND A WAY OUT. So Pine Bluff vs all those cities I mentioned...... I like the enthusiasm of the Young woman at the end! She's on the right track. Maybe other educated and motivated young people will follow her lead. God bless her and her efforts!

[@paulaward2075]

I lived in Arkansas when I was little. My family and I lived in Benton, just south of Little Rock, from 1969 to 1975. I loved the little town of Benton and the people. We moved to Benton in 1969 when my dad took a job driving a truck for Arkansas Best Freight in Little Rock. My mom divorced my dad in 1975 and me, my mom and brother Paul moved back to Tyler Texas. My brother Paul and I are still living in Tyler. Our mom and dad have died. Just wanted to tell a quick story about living in Benton Arkansas when I was little.

[@brianmatthews4149]

Like a scrip for a movie. Sad story I bet no one was any better off after the divorce but no reason to stay together if your heart isn't in it.

[@snoodlebug1800]

The young lady at the end should be the future mayor of Pine Bluff!

[@Elevation_Station]

If I were in charge of Pine Bluff (or any similar city), my first priority would be to remove all the abandoned, burned-out, and trashed houses and commercial buildings of any kind. Leave empty dirt. The image of the city would improve within a few months. The re-building that Angie envisions would begin much more easily. Find the funds to do this somewhere. Angie...what a great motivator.

[@Rhaegar19]

Good point. It's probably cheaper to rebuild from scratch anyway. I'm always surprised by how much money demolition costs. Whoever comes up with a quick, cheap way to clear out old buildings could be really successful, it's something the world desperately needs.

[@sewer_8512]

Without providing decent jobs you won’t attract anyone wanting to relocate to a dead/dying town. Clear out all the trash you want it won’t attract new money

[@Frindleeguy]

There's no money for that. That's the whole point. Demo is way more expensive than you seem to think.

[@screaminghellbeast6399]

That would pretty much mean bulldozing Pine Bluff. The town's a shit hole. It needs to be razed and rebuilt from scratch.

[@joerob3449]

Lol you would have to push the whole town into a hole and bury it

[@davidsmathers5621]

God bless this lady she is what every city and village need

[@willbass2869]

She's personable and positive but she's incredibly naive. No large scale investor or person with capital is going into an area with high crime, high illiteracy, social dysfunction, startling displays of trash/derelict buildings and faltering infrastructure. The remaining people of Pine Bluff ARE the problem.

[@timothyheinz5693]

As long as there is one beautiful soul like Angie in a town, that town has a a future.

[@mattcrispin6737]

Just subscribed to this channel and I'm from the U.K. I have watched another video about this town and it has haunted me ever since. I couldn't believe that this was possible in the world's largest economy. This was I think a generally very well balanced and informative video and the young lady at the end is brilliant. There is always hope. It goes to show when something starts to die it's very hard to save it. A domino effect. Its not just a warning to the U.S but the world over. We have a saying in England. A heatwave in New York will reach us a week later. Have heard a local business man is looking into investing in the town centre. A good start I think.

[@ibezzant]

1 in 3 people tested positive for meth!? It's almost impossible to fathom that level of city-wide addiction. That is really, really crazy.

[@bethrains3105]

The only people who would be tested are people on probation/parole or recently arrested.

[@thomasrussell7135]

TIA, this Arkansas

[@krystnyoung8152]

It's a lie. I live here

[@cassiemontgomery45]

It really does happen. I live in a small town in Idaho and the county I live in as well as next has a huge meth problem. Now I hear that street Fentanyl is making the rounds. All kinds of problems with the "meth lifestyle ". We do have some decent jobs here in agriculture and industry, but many people don't even qualify for an entry-level position due to criminal background and no GED/ HS Diploma, plus the need to pass a drug test. Drug addiction and the breakdown of the family unit has been a cancer to many areas.

[@wae2lil]

Thats in White Hall

[@don-tomisleonhardt6062]

Impressive young girl at end. A scintilla of hope for Pine Bluff.

[@marshamcdonald7618]

Husband and wife both have to Work to pay for housing , food , car, Clothes . Children are left at home Alone to complete their homework Etc. Common good people can’t Afford America .

[@davidarmitage289]

Nick your videos really should been shown in schools to show kids the importance of education and getting involved in your community.

[@NickJohnson]

They would like Mappy

[@MartinScreeton]

Well... looking at the map, what wiped out the mall and 60-70% of downtown businesses was Walmart Super Center at 5500 Olive street. ;)

[@Dr.Ranita]

Yep...that is exactly one of the factors.

[@raydaniel2490]

Walmart has been the demise of many small towns.

[@patsymoore-ff2gz]

It's what's being sold in the Walmart, slave labor products

[@MrChologno]

Not from the US but is hard for me to comprehend how can an entire city that has seemingly good infraestructure can go to hell like this. I guess bad governing can lead to that and they failed to attract new business for a long time. It's so sad because it looks like with some economy reactivation it could be restored...

[@iamjohnporter67]

As an Americna myself I really don't understand how all these years later the US Infrastructure has gotten this bad. You would think by now we would've gone more futuristic but apparently we are not quite there yet.

[@payday1862]

I heard her say predominantly black,do this mean it’s run by democrats or republicans or something else,it all depends 😂

[@chloeew4627]

Couple of words.. Clinton and NAFTA .. Google it mate.

[@pablotupone4190]

If US Goverments be more focuaed on their own country in spite of invest money in wars and wars and wars...,probably this not happen

[@etow8034]

Bad governing leads to bad education, bad parenting, bad habits and bad morals which equates to a declining society !

[@susan5301]

Another informative video Nick! So sad to see another city fall apart. I don't know how all those houses fall apart so badly! There is no way to repair the majority of them, too bad the fire department can't burn them down when they need to practice. Angie would be a wonderful person in charge to bring back the city!! Thanks Nick! Thanks Angie!

[@daone4093]

This information is incorrect, alot of info he gave was for shock and views

[@MattManProductions]

When basil bonds and liquor stores are closed, you know it's pretty bad.

[@torisimmons1909]

Arkansas native here, and man, Pine Bluff has always been a depressing town for as long as I can remember. I grew up in the Little Rock metro area, and our family avoided Pine Bluff unless we absolutely had to. (Apparently, these days, it has a Dillard’s that has formal dresses at ridiculously cheap prices, so I know some people who have chosen to “boost” the PB economy during prom season 🥲) Unfortunately, gang activity and overall crime has deterred many from choosing jobs in that area, and with the way it looks these days, it definitely looks like it’s still on the downhill slope. I hope to see it thrive, but it’s going to take a lot of elbow grease, money, and change to get it a fraction of the way it once was. As always, thank you for your informative videos! 😊

[@edwardchesser8133]

Oroville, California looks like heaven in comparison to what you have showed us in the South.

[@Andrew-tx2ib]

Love the gal from PINE Bluff what a great attitude and we need more people like her in the world. Refreshing to see

[@flowergirlabc123]

Vote for her!! 😊 ❤️

[@holeefuk413]

Angie is a breath of fresh air

[@nancydavis_]

Thanks for posting Nick! I like watching your videos.

[@ChrisMacEnany]

They need a lot more people like Angie she's so positive and nice❤

[@lisataylor8796]

I remember when I went out of state one time and was at a mall and told some folks where I was from and they were shocked. Arkansas and places like Pline Bluff and Little Rock have always gotten a bad rap. Me personally I love Arkansas. I am from Lake Village but I live in North Little Rock and I have spent a lot of time in Pine Bluff. I love Arkansas. I have hope for Arkansas. I've lived in Hot Springs for several years also. Arkansas is just my place.

[@lorirobertson643]

I love Arkansas. No other state I would be comfortable in. The slow demise of my hometown is just sad

[@sharonp6468]

Arkansas, You Run Deep in Me 🎶

[@joanbarkdull543]

NAFTA is just one of the gifts Bill gave us. Maybe he should have inhaled.

[@decacards5250]

Another gift: His "3 strikes" law put many Blacks and Latinos in prison back in the '90's.

[@danooc1]

Yet Arkansas has been under Republican control for over 20 years now. Nothing has changed. This is bigger than party

[@Cycology_Major]

@@decacards5250 What happens when you can’t count past two.

[@pinkcat4591]

I live in Arkansas in a small town, I've always known all my life not to move pine bluff because of the crime even when it was the "better days". It's never changed and I'm 50, not sure if it ever will. Very sad & depressing town. Thank you for traveling around and showing us everything it's quite informative

[@rosemarydolliver]

I’m 72 and live in Arkansas and always have heard that about Pine Bluff.

[@bonitahobbs2374]

By chance, he knows about the folk who flew out to the burbs?!!

[@christophermarlar9004]

Yea that guy is brave going to pine bluff. Anyone from Arkansas knows better than to go there!

[@neighborhood6814]

I’m 38 and it’s pretty much been a shit hole my hole life. I left after graduating hs in 2004. Also I’m a white male so not much for me there

[@justplanebob105]

Thank you so very much, Angie. Stay motivated. When I was growing up we came to Pine Bluff to shop instead of Little Rock. The Pines Mall drew us back some years later. It can be a hub of commerce again. Don't give up.

[@richardhighsmith]

I remember being excited to go to Pine Bluff on weekends with my Dad to help him at work downtown at the Coke plant. Of course I was traveling from Bastrop, and anything was a step up from Bastrop.

[@billiep4338]

This town should sue the Clinton’s. Good luck young lady, I love your optimism ❤

[@madonnajacobson4108]

😂😂😂😂😂. Omg

[@TargaWheels]

The good thing about Pine Bluff is, if there's NO people/civilization in town, then there's NO homeless issue there either. Its weird how almost all homeless people want to have access to everything/anything, but where there's literally nothing...you probably won't find them either.

[@holeefuk413]

When you have nothing you need everything

[@chas3304]

YOUR NOT MUCH ON INTELLIGENCE, HOMELESS MOVE SOUTH FOR NICER WEATHER, THAT'S WHY CALIFORNIA HAS 179,000 HOMELESS AS WELL AS FLORIDA AT 168,000., TEXAS RUNNING THIRD FOR THEM.

[@jeep19]

Or could be a dream 🤔 at least nobody would bother them.

[@TargaWheels]

@@chas3304 If you read into what I was saying, for homeless people its about access. If you take away access from what they need, they will move closer to where they can get it. Weather may be a contributing factor to where they live. But if that's the case, why are homeless still living in northern states like New York, Washington state? Its because of access. They can get what they need without having to walk 5, 10 or 20 miles to get it. If Pine Bluff had free-food trucks coming into town every day to feed the homeless, guess where the homeless would flock to? You take away access, the homeless problem goes away.

[@lorirobertson643]

There is a homeless camp in PB. Just gotta know where to look. Not a huge homeless population like big cities. Many of the burned out houses are because of squatters starting fires to keep warm.

[@angelawiley9713]

We call it CrimeBluff, lol!! Even santa doesnt visit bc his sleigh was put on blocks! 😂😂🎉

[@ajf5823]

I recently drove through Arkansas on my way to Florida. The northwestern part of the state is booming and then you get to Little Rock, which is bad. After that is Pine Bluff, which is scary! I made sure to gas up before driving through so l wouldn’t have to stop. The Southern part of Arkansas past Pine Bluff was actually nice with lots of farmland and small towns. I stayed in a nice little town just before the Mississippi border.

[@Dubinski2382]

It's a city run by certain people inhabited by certain people. Certain people just can't live in a civilized way.

[@showmestatefinest5412]

​@Dubinski2382 those certain ppl u speak of once had thriving neighborhoods like the 100s if black wal streets until a certain group of ppl fot jealous and bombed,burned and destroyed them then passed laws and policies that made it difficult to recover

[@bugman2509]

Oh you also missed the three Wal-Marts that where built there. One large one that they shut down when they built one to anchor the Pines Mall that you showed closed which they shut down to build a larger one on another side of town.

[@xoxoxoxoxo7997]

The evening news never shows this sadness. That was a tough but real interview to watch. I feel for her. The second interview wow she is so well spoken. If they get more ladies like this that community has some hope

[@Dr.Ranita]

Being a native of AR and my husband a native of Pine Bluff you are correct about some of your analogies. It is pure capitalism. It was a nice place..one of the best places to Live in AR. Was the 3rd largest city in Arkansas a some point. So when the state decided no funds for the schools, the schools failed and the people pulled out. Education is the key. You must educate EVERYONE! It was not NAFTA. This is what happens when you teach the majority of your population how to only work in factories. I could go on and on. I hate poor people and children who are affected. But again this is what happens when you educate people that they are only capable of working at a factory and you encourage the educated folk to leave. While I don't agree with everything said, I hope this video makes everyone stand up and take action to change the trajectory of Pine Bluff, AR. Just my opinion.

[@ChadSimplicio]

At least she's making an effort to turn things around. One tiny step at a time.

[@reginaldpitifuqmcgee420]

I stay out of Pine Bluff, most of North LR, Helena and West Helena, and TK. Especially at night time. I would suggest most of you do the same. I used to run around all these places and it's gotten worse in the 3 and a half years I've stayed out of em. Hot springs is getting terrible too.

[@hendo337]

I spent some time growing up in Fort Smith Arkansas and there are definitely areas that resemble Pine Bluff there, since I was a kid and we moved to Tennessee the area has been overrun with illegal immigrants.