PP&D 4 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Creative Class, Whole Foods Market, Openair
27 Apr 2018
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WEEK 4 Reading Responses
Is Gentrification Ruining Los Angeles or Saving it? Pick a Side
●Benefits of gentrification that are often ignored by the “hipster haters”
○Helps eradicate gang violence
○Strengthen local economy
○Encourages diversity in neighborhoods separated by race
●Safe is better than nostalgia
○For the past 11 years, LA crime rates have dropped most likely due to
gentrification and better policing
○The invention of these “IKEA-hoods” are saving lives
●How it improves the economy
○These new parks, bike lanes, and redevelopment mean more investment and
increases property values
○However, it lowers the availability for affordable housing and strong rent control
laws
○These new investments could generate 18,000 jobs at stores like Starbucks,
Whole Foods, and open-air malls
○The article states “whose manufacturers hire more people than drug dealers and
sketchy massage parlors” - then what happens to these past gang members and
drug dealers - they lose their jobs and have no money to afford their now more
expensive rent?
●Nothing wrong with finer living
○First wave gentrifiers include middle class gay couples
○These types of people bring with them their tasteful decor, healthy eating, vintage
bookstores, diversity, and fancy condos with high tech. Toilets
○No more corner liquor and gun stores
○Lack of data demonstrating a relationship between gentrification and out
migration of the urban poor
●Desegregation is good for us
○It is not white-washing it’s just cultural exchange which gives an authentic city
experience
○Transportation that connects the creative class with the working class- Expo Light
Rail
●Oppression in Gentrification
○Money is isolated, rich become richer, poor stay poor
○Gentrification is an endless, useless cycle that force people of color to be “phased
out”
Document Summary
Benefits of gentrification that are often ignored by the hipster haters . Encourages diversity in neighborhoods separated by race. For the past 11 years, la crime rates have dropped most likely due to gentrification and better policing. The invention of these ikea-hoods are saving lives. These new parks, bike lanes, and redevelopment mean more investment and increases property values. However, it lowers the availability for affordable housing and strong rent control laws. These new investments could generate 18,000 jobs at stores like starbucks, First wave gentrifiers include middle class gay couples. These types of people bring with them their tasteful decor, healthy eating, vintage bookstores, diversity, and fancy condos with high tech. No more corner liquor and gun stores. Lack of data demonstrating a relationship between gentrification and out migration of the urban poor. It is not white-washing it"s just cultural exchange which gives an authentic city experience. Transportation that connects the creative class with the working class- expo light.
