Anti-gentrification radicals are on the march in Los Angeles. Is Houston next ? (Sugar Land: transplants, sale)

[Jack Lance]

LOS ANGELES — The protest at Mariachi Plaza didn’t seem, at first, like a declaration of war.
In fact, the Feb. 7 event looked like the same sort of grassroots, anti-gentrification gathering that might have taken place in any big American city at any point over the past 10 years as higher-income transplants have increasingly colonized lower-income urban communities, remaking once marginalized neighborhoods in their own cold-brew-and-kombucha image.

But this one was different.That’s because it was organized by Defend Boyle Heights, a coalition of scorched-earth young activists from the surrounding neighborhood — the heart of Mexican-American L.A. — who have rejected the old, peaceful forms of resistance (discussion, dialogue, policy proposals) and decided that the only sensible response is to attack and hopefully frighten off the sorts of art galleries, craft breweries and single-origin coffee shops that tend to pave the way for more powerful invaders: the real estate agents, developers and bankers whose arrival typically mark a neighborhood’s point of no return.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/new-gener...100000522.html

Will efforts to intimidate replace activism ?

[Failed Engineer]

Housing for the poor is much more available and affordable (in a relative sense) here compared to the cities where this is gaining steam. But it probably will make its way here at some point.

[jfre81]

We already have this going on in the Sugar Land election thread on here, pretty much.

[Dopo]

There's 2 things that cause gentrification
1. Government eminent domain
2. Increasing property taxes until people can't afford them

Rich people end up winning by taking a very valuable piece land
and poor people are screwed by getting kicked out of where they lived.

[CommonSenseHoustonian]

I love how many complain about gentrification in their neighborhoods but say nothing about pushing out the middle class that was usually there in the first place. I also dont see these people complaining about the downturn of areas like Spring due to the arrival of lower class residents.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by CommonSenseHoustonian

I also dont see these people complaining about the downturn of areas like Spring due to the arrival of lower class residents.

That's because it appears you just joined this forum. If you were here 10 years ago, it was all over the place. Now it's kind of old news.

Fighting gentrification is like fighting globalization. It's economics at work, and denying reality does not make it not reality.

[marksmu]

Originally Posted by Dopo

There's 2 things that cause gentrification
1. Government eminent domain
2. Increasing property taxes until people can't afford them

Rich people end up winning by taking a very valuable piece land
and poor people are screwed by getting kicked out of where they lived.

Hard to call it screwing a poor person when the poor person buys a house & lot for $25,000 and sells it for $250,000

If they didn't want to leave, sure its unfortunate for them, but getting screwed by making more in the sale of their property than they will in 10 years? No - that isn't getting screwed.

[Houston parent]

Its amazing how these idiots get so attached to a particular crappy neighborhood that they would commit violent crimes and go to jail to stop the neighborhood from becoming nicer. Here's a news flash: lousy ghettos are not in short supply. If your little corner of hell becomes too pricey, there are many other affordable pockets of squalor to choose from. They act like they would physically perish if they had to move to a different neighborhood.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Houston parent

They act like they would physically perish if they had to move to a different neighborhood.

Actually, it's the people who had lived in that "different neighborhood" before who we're hearing from.

[Houston.Texas]

I sure wish Houston would be next for anti-gentrification protest... Im not against gentrification if I was I believe that would mean I am for segregation........ Which I am not however, I do not want to be put out out of my new home because they are building $269,000 townhomes in my backyard and the rising property are simply too much for my landlord to pay (literally what im going through as of now)...... well I guess I am against gentrification with that said, Independence Heights is a colored mans neighborhood simple as that STAY OUT! Sorry not racist but I would like to stay in my home and not be forced out! I would like to continue to live in the city of Houston and not be pushed out of beltway 8 to the suburbs. Who is with me ????