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Since most of these threads end of going to this topic anyways, I figured I should just start one specifically about this.
Anyone who's has been here a hot minute, know that I'm all for gentrification. I say if people don't want to take responsibility for their own communities and neighborhoods, who let is go to waste, and who let crime take hold of it, have no right to tell others to mind their own business.No one single group has a "right" to the city. Just because you lived here for years doesn't give you the authority to decide on who can live here and who can't. Nobody has a right to live here. I wish I could live in a million dollar penthouse in Manhattan, but I can't. I'm not going to chalk it up to racism.
Another thing I don't get is when many long time locals say they are losing their "culture". So crack houses, run down buildings, and hobos are part of DC culture? I don't get it. I'm sick of people justifying dangerous communities. Weren't historical buildings like the Ford, Lincoln and soon to be Howard theater left in ruins? Wasn't U Street a meccas for black culture but turned into a crime ridden avenue? Where were the local DC residents back then? And now because of gentrification they are finally back to their glory. But according to some, since you weren't born in DC, you are invaders and don't deserve to enjoy the renaissance...
Why does it take others who aren't from DC to take the initiative and make DC a livable place for all?
So am I, city looks much better, crime is way down, and it doesn't belong to black people like the whiners and complainers in that video think, it belongs to everyone who lives here.
When no one invested in the city, they complained. When people invested in the city, they complained. Now it's time for them to do what Marion Barry advised white people to do in 1994 - Get Over It!
Good idea, jmusmc. I was just thinking the same thing - all these threads end up in the same place.
I'm trying to figure out these socialist folk on here who want people to be able to live wherever they want without any concern of money (I have no disagreement with sexual orientation, race, gender barriers disappearing).
On one hand, they complain about wealthy people in these allegedly horrible condos with no kids (or kids that go to private schools) pumping tons of tax dollars into the system and asking for very few services in return (few are on public health care, public schools, subsidy programs, etc...). Then, on the other hand they want massive tax subsidies for housing througout the city so everybody can afford to live anywhere.
If you don't have wealthy or at least a solid middle class pumping taxes into the system, who's going to pay for all this subsidized housing? The people who are receiving it?!?
Just a strange sense of ownership over a city that exists for the sole purpose of housing a government, not a culture. I can't afford to live where I grew up, but I don't complain about it. Just a strange entitlement mindset to me.
I just watched that video. Thanks for posting it to get the truth out, jumsc85. It's unbelievable what those residents in the video are having to do just to survive. The woman is correct about the "Green House" -- everytime some new non-government related private industry (dotcoms, etc.) tries to start in DC it's a flop. And now the city and it's real estate is being artificially inflated by funding for idiotic "war on terror" bureaucracies, financed by debt from China.
I just watched that video. Thanks for posting it to get the truth out, jumsc85. It's unbelievable what those residents in the video are having to do just to survive. The woman is correct about the "Green House" -- everytime some new non-government related private industry (dotcoms, etc.) tries to start in DC it's a flop. And now the city and it's real estate is being artificially propped up by funding for idiotic "war on terror" bureaucracies, financed by debt from China.
That made no sense at all. And I guess you didn't bother to read the rest of my post if you think I'm on your side.
I just watched that video. Thanks for posting it to get the truth out, jumsc85. It's unbelievable what those residents in the video are having to do just to survive. The woman is correct about the "Green House" -- everytime some new non-government related private industry (dotcoms, etc.) tries to start in DC it's a flop. And now the city and it's real estate is being artificially inflated by funding for idiotic "war on terror" bureaucracies, financed by debt from China.
Being a foreigner, it amazes me that the US is one of few first world countries where the poor still live and congregate around cities. It should not take a engineering degree for someone to realize that manufacturing is gone and that if you do not posses a trade skill, own a business, or have a college education, you're basically S.O.L in the cities.
Surely it cannot be that hard for someone to utilize their brain and realize they need to move to where the jobs are; which could be in a another city, state or even country. There are many in US cities that live in third-world equivalent conditions, so the lack off common-sense to pack up and move is just mindbogglingly.
Lets not beat around the bush to why this is the case either, as it is much easier to put your hand out and demand things than actually get up and make a difference yourself. Then these so-called representatives end up keeping entire communities down and in squalor, by having people believe change is not in their power, that they're the victim, and that someone else is to blame for their personal situation.
Being a foreigner, it amazes me that the US is one of few first world countries where the poor still live and congregate around cities. It should not take a engineering degree for someone to realize that manufacturing is gone and that if you do not posses a trade skill, own a business, or have a college education, you're basically S.O.L in the cities.
Surely it cannot be that hard for someone to utilize their brain and realize they need to move to where the jobs are; which could be in a another city, state or even country. There are many in US cities that live in third-world equivalent conditions, so the lack off common-sense to pack up and move is just mindbogglingly.
Lets not beat around the bush to why this is the case either, as it is much easier to put your hand out and demand things than actually get up and make a difference yourself. Then these so-called representatives end up keeping entire communities down and in squalor, by having people believe change is not in their power, that they're the victim, and that someone else is to blame for their personal situation.
You hit the nail on the head. And in DC, that one person, or at least main instigator, is Marion Barry....
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