<div dir="ltr"><div>Racism plays a fundamental role in the gentrification process, but I think in the opposite way you are thinking of. The 1st comment on the article above puts it nicely: todays whites are less racist, they are more willing/ think it's normal to live around black people or other ppl of color. </div>
<div>One of the many factors that depresses and as been depressing property values in black neighborhoods is racism. Black neighborhoods are perceived by both whites and blacks as "worse" than white neighborhoods with similar income levels and similar crime rates. As people get less racist, their perceptions of working class black neighborhoods improve. Property values can rise, people can start to feel like opening a business is a good idea etc. </div>
<div>Let's remember how the black ghettos in American cities were created in the first place: blacks moved into working class white neighborhoods in the 40s, 50s, 60s. The racist whites on the one hand wanted to get away from their new neighbors, and on the other hand had access to easy credit to buy brand new houses in the suburbs. So they fled. The sudden mass sell offs tanked property values, leaving the remaining black homeowners owners of newly depreciated assets. </div>
<div>If we could go back in time, and be magicians, would we say, "hey whites, don't be racist and leave! Hey government, don't build a bunch of sprawl!" We would prevent the creation of the ghettos we now have: neighborhoods characterized by LACK of diversity, under-maintained buildings and a lack of businesses. Instead we would have neighborhoods with many races, many business, no abandoned houses, and houses well maintained because property values are steady.</div>
<div><br></div><div>That is what a neighborhood looks like in the absence of racism, and that is what neighborhoods formerly decimated by racism are starting to look like, now that we're a few generations beyond Jim Crow. Ironically, progressives are somehow heartbroken by these results of the decline of racism, instead of seeing a long awaited correction, it looks like a new injustice. </div>
<div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 3:16 PM, Sam Tepper <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:sam.tepper@gmail.com" target="_blank">sam.tepper@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
Thanks for the link, Ryan. I don't think people doubt that
gentrification has its upsides - that's why it's so sought after for
so many people - but there are two main downsides, I'd say, that are
against the values we generally try to hold at Sudo Room.<br>
<br>
1. Gentrification and its benefits target white middle-class
families. Even if many or most original residents who stay are
financially better off, those who are left are far less diverse, and
racism plays a fundamental role in the gentrification process.<br>
<br>
2. Gentrified neighborhoods are generally home to fewer artists,
immigrants, and even aspiring hackers because these people can
frequently be poor to the point of destitution, even when their
skill level is high.<br>
<br>
We do need to address the positives in order to have a dialog, to
educate and address the problems behind most gentrification efforts,
and try to increase financial health and stability in more positive,
socially responsible ways.<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
-Sam</font></span><div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<div>On 05/11/2014 02:38 PM, Ryan
Bethencourt wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
I'm intrigued by this discussion, what's seemed odd to me for a
while is that the conversation seems to be very one sided, i.e.
all gentrification is bad, yet what about if it isn't? What if a
rising tide lifts all boats?<br>
<br>
I came across an article a while back that was published on NPR
(not known for being biased one way or the other) which discussed
the data which actually tended to support the positive aspects of
gentrification for residents of poorer neighborhoods. It's worth a
read:<br>
<br>
<span>
<p style="font:1.6rem/1.5 Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;margin:0px 88.82px 1.3em auto;padding:0px 15px;border:0px currentColor;width:690px;color:rgb(17,17,17);text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:0px;vertical-align:baseline;float:none;white-space:normal;min-height:1px;max-width:690px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">
<small><small>"We're
finding that the financial health of original residents in
gentrifying neighborhoods seems to be increasing, as
compared to original residents in nongentrifying,
low-priced neighborhoods," says Daniel Hartley, a research
economist with the bank."<br>
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/01/22/264528139/long-a-dirty-word-gentrification-may-be-losing-its-stigma" target="_blank">http://www.npr.org/2014/01/22/264528139/long-a-dirty-word-gentrification-may-be-losing-its-stigma</a><br>
</small></small></p>
I would also make the argument that spaces like Sudo Room,
Public Schools, LOL space, Counter Culture labs and etc actually
make a net positive impact for the entire community and yet do
have a gentrifying effect. </span>We have much work yet to do
but communal spaces, open education and the maker movement have
the potential to empower many communities and I say that as
someone that hopes to do more to help lift others up, I think most
of us are of the same mindset?<br>
<br>
Upwards and Onwards!<br>
Ryan<br>
<br>
<blockquote style="border:0px currentColor" type="cite">
<div style="margin:30px 25px 10px">
<div style="width:100%;padding-top:5px;border-top-color:rgb(237,238,240);border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;display:table">
<div style="padding-right:6px;vertical-align:middle;display:table-cell"><img name="145ed5bca12fdfdf_postbox-contact.jpg" width="25" height="25" src="cid:part2.01040403.07050403@gmail.com"></div>
<div style="width:100%;vertical-align:middle;display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap">
<a style="color:rgb(115,127,146)!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none!important" href="mailto:sonja.trauss@gmail.com" target="_blank">Sonja Trauss</a></div>
<div style="vertical-align:middle;display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap">
<font color="#9fa2a5"><span style="padding-left:6px">May
11, 2014 at 10:43 AM</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);margin-right:24px;margin-left:24px">Quick point - you
guys know that it was the housing market crash (sudden
DECREASE in home values) that set off waves of foreclosures,
right?
<div><br>
</div>
<div>In other words, suppose you're in one of these loans.
You realized what is about to happen to you ("FUCK! I can't
afford the mortgage after reset!) let's look at two
scenereos: </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Scenereo one: the value of your house has increased since
you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth more than
you owe on it, and there are many buyers interested in
buying homes like yours in your area. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Scenereo two: the value of your home has decreased since
you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth less than
you owe on it, and there are very few people interested in
buying homes like yours in your area. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Which scenero is better for you? What do you do in each
scenereo? </div>
<div><br>
<br>
On Sunday, May 11, 2014, Autonomous <<a href="mailto:autonomous666@gmail.com" target="_blank">autonomous666@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
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<a style="color:rgb(115,127,146)!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none!important" href="mailto:autonomous666@gmail.com" target="_blank">Autonomous</a></div>
<div style="vertical-align:middle;display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap">
<font color="#9fa2a5"><span style="padding-left:6px">May
11, 2014 at 9:56 AM</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);margin-right:24px;margin-left:24px">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:18px">Oakland
gentrifica</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:18px">tion
is very well planned & executed</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:18px"><br>
</span></div>
<div>Indeed. It is particularly reprehensible that specific
neighborhoods in Oakland were targeted for predatory loans
and fraudulent foreclosures. The attached image shows
foreclosures in Oakland represented by small dots which is
overlaid onto demographic data showing non-white
neighborhoods in red and white neighborhoods in blue. See
a pattern here? This is a form of economic warfare
targeted against people of color who have lost a massive
amount of wealth while investors have moved in to profit
from the resulting increase in real estate values.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The scam involves a loan with very low interest for a
period of two years followed by a dramatic increase in
interest. When people ask for a loan modification, they
are told they need to miss a payment in order to qualify -
it's in the servicing contract. Then, upon missing one
payment, the bank refuses to accept any more payments by
giving the run-around and the home is subsequently
foreclosed upon. If that wasn't enough, people are
forcibly removed from their homes by illegal eviction
proceedings. Typically the unfortunate former homeowner
only learns about the eviction when the police show up to
kick them out on the street along with all their
possessions. This is because they aren't served properly
and have no idea a court action even existed. This pattern
was repeated over and over in Oakland, as you can see in
the attached image.</div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:18px"><br>
</span><img name="145ed5bca12fdfdf_image.png" width="525" height="263" alt="Inline image 2"></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
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<div style="width:100%;vertical-align:middle;display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap">
<a style="color:rgb(115,127,146)!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none!important" href="mailto:patrikd@gmail.com" target="_blank">Patrik D'haeseleer</a></div>
<div style="vertical-align:middle;display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap">
<font color="#9fa2a5"><span style="padding-left:6px">May
10, 2014 at 7:33 PM</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);margin-right:24px;margin-left:24px">
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_extra">
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM,
<span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:batkid@gmx.com" target="_blank">batkid@gmx.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid">
Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons
anytime soon<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truck-near-courthouse" target="_blank">http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truck-near-courthouse</a><br>
<a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-two-west-oakland-neighborhood" target="_blank">http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-two-west-oakland-neighborhood</a><br>
<a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injuries-from-downtown-fight" target="_blank">http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injuries-from-downtown-fight</a></blockquote>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Oh good - I was getting worried about having too
many museum shows and cat video festivals in the
neighborhood...</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Patrik </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid">
<div>-----Original message-----<br>
Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39<br>
From: "Romy Snowyla" <<a href="mailto:romy@snowyla.com" target="_blank">romy@snowyla.com</a>><br>
To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <<a href="mailto:sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org" target="_blank">sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org</a>><br>
Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is
very well planned & executed<br>
The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are
all part of the master plan : P<br>
</div>
<div>
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</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
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<a style="color:rgb(115,127,146)!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none!important" href="mailto:batkid@gmx.com" target="_blank">batkid@gmx.com</a></div>
<div style="vertical-align:middle;display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap">
<font color="#9fa2a5"><span style="padding-left:6px">May
10, 2014 at 7:29 PM</span></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);margin-right:24px;margin-left:24px">
<div>Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons
anytime soon<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truck-near-courthouse" target="_blank">http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truck-near-courthouse</a><br>
<a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-two-west-oakland-neighborhood" target="_blank">http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-two-west-oakland-neighborhood</a><br>
<a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injuries-from-downtown-fight" target="_blank">http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injuries-from-downtown-fight</a><br>
<br>
-----Original message-----<br>
Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39<br>
From: "Romy Snowyla" <a href="mailto:romy@snowyla.com" target="_blank"><romy@snowyla.com></a><br>
To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <a href="mailto:sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org" target="_blank"><sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org></a><br>
Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well
planned & executed<br>
The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part
of the master plan : P<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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</blockquote>
<br>
<div>-- <br>
<span>
<span style="font:small/normal arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:0px;float:none;display:inline!important;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">--<span> </span></span><br style="font:small/normal arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:0px;white-space:normal">
<div style="font:small/normal arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:0px;white-space:normal" dir="ltr">Ryan Bethencourt<br>
<br>
<span>Tel:<span> </span><span title="Call with
Google Voice" style="color:rgb(0,51,187);text-decoration:underline">(415) 825
2705</span></span><br>
<a style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" href="mailto:ryan.bethencourt@gmail.com" target="_blank">ryan.bethencourt@gmail.com</a></div>
<div style="font:small/normal arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:0px;white-space:normal" dir="ltr">@ryanbethencourt</div>
</span></div>
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