What is Gentrification and its effects on communities?
Gentrification is a process where wealthier individuals such as developers, move into low-income communities and flip homes, causing a significant displacement of families who have been living there for years. It's a form of modern-day economic conquest of the low to middle-income class.
-I live in Boyle Heights and I see change on the horizon. There are already coffee shops and trendy restaurants with wine-tasting. It may seem normal but that is exactly how it started with Highland Park. Once affordable, the price of living has now skyrocketed. Echo Park is also heavily affected by this issue.
- Affects family and local businesses
When small businesses that have been in your neighborhood for years suddenly changes into a coffee shop or yoga studio overnight, It's a sign that more change is coming to your neighborhood. Mom and Pop stores are going under as a result of high rents and property taxes caused by gentrification.
(Weird Wave Coffee Shop in Boyle Heights, 2017)
This Coffee shop was the subject of gentrification protests back in 2017. It still remains to this day but no other coffee shops have sprouted for a while after this protest
The Community recognizes this as a precursor to what may or will happen if this goes unanswered.
I can concede and say that this is unfair to the shop owner who just wants to make a living by running a coffee shop, but It should also be known that these types of businesses attract a certain demographic that has deeper pockets than the residents of this low to middle-income community. Before you know it, Other businesses are bought out and converted into bookstores or yoga studios leaving the original shop owners with no other job to turn to. It is a domino effect that disproportionately affects minorities and people of color.
Protestors on the sidewalks (July 17th, 2017)
Aaron Galan
"The whole situation is just messed up, It's a problem for those who struggle to get by and this just makes matters worse. I know someone who was affected by that and he says that he never expected to be ousted from his neighborhood."
Michael Hernandez
"I think that this neighborhood needs some sort of cleanup because it really isn't the safest neighborhood, especially at night. The only thing that would be a bad thing though, is the rising rent. The rent is already high enough as it is so why raise it even more?"
Angel Ledesma
"Boyle Heights is full of culture and vibrant people with lives going from place to place every day, This would impact their daily routines if more and more local businesses close down."
(Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights)
Despite gentrification bringing in money to the community, the cons heavily outweigh the pros as forced displacement and economic conquest, disproportionately affect marginalized groups of people. There are better ways to improve a community without causing all this unnecessary suffering. City programs and funding, in general, can help to improve the lifestyles, and of those living here.
Sources Cited
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