Comments on: Gentrification: A Not-So-Subtle Racism

By: The Rest of the Story

The Rest of the Story — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:39:52 +0000

That might make sense (but wouldn’t change my opinion of why it’s all of a sudden a race/gentrification issue when it never was before), but in actuality, the first move from the south end to the east end was in the 1970’s. The next move from the east end to the north end was in 1996, when the affordable housing apartment buildings were built over there. The moves were always as a result of residents’ requests, since it is such a loud activity.

Despite all of the back and forth, the point is really moot. A mutually beneficial solution has been worked out with the parks department and both sides are happy. Which is what we should really want here, right?

By: D. Bell

D. Bell — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:31:47 +0000

Part of what people without background don’t understand is that this process for gentrifying that particular area has been happening for about 5 years. If we were to do a timeline, I think it would make it more clear as to when all the moving around started. Likely it was around the same time the area started changing. About 6 years ago there were vacate properties around the park. Now the area is almost completely redeveloped.

By: The Rest of the Story

The Rest of the Story — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:27:06 +0000

The concept of “there first” is not a particularly serious argument. Especially when - as the reporter made vague reference to, but did not really elaborate on - the drummers have moved all over that park in the 30 years they’ve been drumming there. They started out on the south end of the park and the folks who lived in the buildings across the street asked them to move - and they did. They then went to the east side of the park and were there for a number of years until a couple of affordable housing buildings were put up and the folks who moved in there asked them to move - and they did. Now, a building was put up in a vacant lot (the building in the article) and the same request was made - and unlike the prior requests and moves, it became an issue other than residents vs. aural rights. A little strange, no?

Nonetheless, the drummers and the parks department worked together to have a permanent spot for the drummers in a more central spot in the park - unlike each of their former locations where they were always on the exterior of the park near residences. Now, all of the residents living around the park can live peacefully and the drummers and the community that want to hear them and participate can do so.

I think the problematic thing about this whole thing, to use your word, is how people - the author of the article included, apparently - are trying to make this something that it is not: a referendum on race issues and gentrification. Especially when we have found a way to come together for a mutually beneficial solution to the original issue.

By: Ariel Werner

Ariel Werner — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:40:56 +0000

Thanks a lot for your input, The Rest of the Story. Good to know that people responded appropriately to the hateful e-mail.

But isn’t it still problematic that the drummers’ circle was moved at all? Like Roberts said above, ‘the musicians were there first’…. no?

I also think articles like this, while they may ‘fan the flames,’ call important issues that many people are facing in America to the forefront, and force a conversation like the one we’re having now.

By: Ariel Werner

Ariel Werner — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:36:10 +0000

i think it’s harder to find examples of the displacement to which you refer, P. this is probably because wealthier neighborhoods have surreptitious ways of excluding those ‘poor blacks and hispanics,’ such as tax brackets and zoning laws and whatnot. meanwhile, there are far fewer barriers preventing yuppies and artists from being gentrifiers.

By: The Rest of the Story

The Rest of the Story — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:27:33 +0000

The thing about the NYT article that doesn’t make any sense is its timing. It makes it appear as if this “battle” is still going on. In fact, a compromise was reached months ago that both parties are happy with. (I’m a resident of the building and when this reporter called residents of the building for comment, my spouse told him the same thing - I guess he didn’t care. I guess you really can’t believe everything you read - but its sad that it’s the NYT and not a “gossip rag” that proves that point.)

The new drummers circle has been constructed with consultation by the drummers on location, design and landscaping, and is far enough from the building that the residents no longer have any issue. So why do this article now?

The thing that makes me the most angry about the article is the way this reporter presents the email that was sent - when that awful email hit my inbox, I was horrified, angry and offended, and I immediately emailed the resident back (and everyone else on the list) to express my outrage. Most of my neighbors did the same. But I guess the reporter didn’t want to report about those email responses. Instead, he paints us all with the same brush, and implies we all had a hand in those terrible words.

Articles like this only serve to fan the flames…and in this case the flames had long been reduced to nothing but a few simmering embers.

At the very least, readers should know that there are many “innocent bystanders” here in this building who had nothing do to with that email, and rejected its terrible racist comments immediately. It would have been nice to have a reporter do their job correctly and report that this conflict is resolved.

Also, on a side note - he didn’t even locate the drum circle on the map properly. (The former location was immediately across the street from the building and the new locationis opposite from where he showed it.)

By: P.

P. — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:16:37 +0000

why is it wrong for yuppies and artists to move into poor neighborhoods and displace the native residents?

for the past 50 years (and it is still happening) poor blacks and hispanics have moved into formerly middle class neighborhoods bringing some pretty serious problems.

both groups displaced native residents.

yet no one talks about those residents who left due to higher crime, crappy schools, trash, etc..

parts of mount pleasant, silver lake, and the north end are just the most recent victims, today these neighborhoods are shells of what they were just 15 or 20 years ago. the south side, smith hill, and olneyville before them.

i’m not racist but i just see a HUGE double standard when it comes to discussing the other side of neighborhood transition. not gentrification but decline and ghetto-facation.

By: JOE BERNSTEIN

JOE BERNSTEIN — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:08:56 +0000

And another thing-the developers aree trying to drop a monstrosity called the Atlantic Yards project into an old industrial/residential area just south of Downtown Brooklyn.The whole borough that I remember will be turned into Leggo-land before they’se done.Just check out Manhattan.

By: Roberts

Roberts — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:17:54 +0000

What’s so hard about realizing that the musicians were there first?

By: JOE BERNSTEIN

JOE BERNSTEIN — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:54:39 +0000

Gentrifiers completely fucked up NYC and they are doing a pretty good job on Providence.In Brooklyn,where I grew up,they have pushed people out of liveable space in Williamsburg and now they’re even moving into Bushwick,where it used to be you lived there because it was cheap.
And they complain when they become crime victims.What did they expect,Welcome Wagon?

By: ethan

ethan — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:56:40 +0000

When the drummers occupy a spot nearby, residents say, they are unable to sleep, hear their television sets, speak on the telephone, or even have conversations with their spouses without shouting. Some say they cannot even think straight.

Then DON’T MOVE THERE. Jesus.