Someone commented recently that gentrification and displacement are the new Ronald Reagan of punk rock, which is both funny and true. Working in DC in the construction industry, this puts me decidedly on the wrong side of the argument, and I have some pretty major thoughts on that. It seems that a lot of the criticism is misplaced or equivocal. Renovating buildings filled with toxic, outdated materials, no fire/life safety protection, energy-hogging equipment, poor to no insulation and major pest problems is not a class issue -- its a basic responsibility one. Saying its better to have a cheap, dangerous roof than no roof! is the equivalent of its better to be paid slave wages than none at all! in response to pushes for a more realistic minimum wage. The fact that someone has to cover the costs for that renovation and said costs are handed to the buyers/renters, who shift toward the affluent, is not a problem of the new buyers/renters, nor really of the for-profit developers. This isnt to say that skyrocketing costs of living and stagnating wages are not a problem -- but the above situation is a symptom/effect, not a cause. Discouraging people from leaving the incredibly energy-intensive suburbs in favor of revitalized cities (however contentious that term may be) will not change the situation at all. Ghettos (in the literal sense) left to their own devices will not magically become safer or more sanitary; abandoned buildings wont suddenly become more structurally stable. The idea that these places have their own charm and rules, are equally desirable in their own way and should be left to it is a romanticization and ultimately an excuse to ignore what is a very real, deadly situation. Left to their own devices, these buildings become the Dhaka fire in Bangladesh, and the system as it exists now offers gentrification as the only alternative. You dont like it? Campaign for higher wages and income caps. Tackle poverty and excess wealth accumulation. Your city lost its quaint boho art scene? Support artists. Lobby your government to change the way property taxes work. Dont discourage the people* that most want to invest in an area emotionally and financially from being there -- thats how these areas of poverty developed in the first place. (And when I say people, I mean PEOPLE, not corporations. The builders are just reactive mechanisms to the system. Change the system and youll automatically change the way they react in it.)
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:20:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015