4 ms·
It's interesting watching it unfold in real-time. I've expressed opinions that could be considered 'anti-gentrification' in the past, but the process itself is
by bronbron 12y ago
It's interesting watching it unfold in real-time. I've expressed opinions that could be considered 'anti-gentrification' in the past, but the process itself is basically unstoppable. Attempts to stem the flow of gentrification arguably cause much more harm in the long run (e.g. as the author notes, disallowing high-rises most likely just increases the cost of existing units considerably).
The cynic in me wonders whether existing residents are just attempting to (and succeeding in) increase the value of their real-estate investments (however small) under the guise of protesting gentrification, though that might be a little far-fetched.
Ultimately it's an incredibly fascinating process to watch. I don't know that I'd exactly call it xenophobia, but it is incredibly interesting to see the gentrified residents use arguments very similar to larger anti-immigration arguments (e.g. 'they dont fit in with the local culture, they dont even try to integrate, they ruin my livelihood'), arguments that are often used to target those same resident populations on a national scale.
- optimusclimb 12y ago> The cynic in me wonders whether existing residents are just attempting to (and succeeding in) increase the value of their real-estate investments (however small) under the guise of protesting gentrification, though that might be a little far-fetched. The realist in me doesn't "wonder."
- wutbrodo 12y ago> The cynic in me wonders whether existing residents are just attempting to (and succeeding in) increase the value of their real-estate investments (however small) under the guise of protesting gentrification, though that might be a little far-fetched. I honestly didn't even realize this was the cynical view, I thought it was quite evident. The fact that people protesting high housing costs could also be against development seemed so insane that the only rational explanation was low-information anti-high-rent voters being bamboozled by all the advertising etc that the homeowner crowd puts out (and election advertising is made even more potent by SF's referendum system).
- watwut 12y agoAren't they two different groups living in the same area through? Some are happy with rising houses and do not want new buildings (most of them owners, but not only them) and some are not (most of them renters, but not only them).
- wutbrodo 12y agoYup, that's what I'm saying. You have passionate, low-information voters in Group 1 voting against their interest due to extremely well-run PR campaigns by Group 2 (asshole homeowners* and others who benefit from high housing prices). *Note that this doesn't imply that homeowners per se are assholes, but is a modifier indicating that I'm referring to the intersection of SF homeowners and assholes.