Boyle Heights Gentrification: "activist" use intimidation threat tactics to scare UCLA students walking tour (Los Angeles: real estate, 2013)

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by l1995

Harassing small business owners, that's just pathetic. Maybe it's resentment that stems from jealousy.

Yes , there is a strong anti landlord, anti business attitude of resentment in this city.
"The landlords are GREEDY!"
"The business owners are GREEDY!"

We need the government to help us!

[I Love Buildings]

As the OP, i just wanted to state i'm all for the changes gentrification brings. Call me pro-house value but I want to live in an area where i'm surrounded by other professionals in my income level. We can still be a diverse society living amongst each other while renovating neglected neighborhoods in urban cores.

[socal88]

Most of the people complaining are probably renters worried about being priced out who identify strongly with the area despite high crime and other negative aspects. If you're a homeowner, you want to see your property value go up and if you've got more people coming you aren't poor folks just scraping by, it's better for the community.

Obviously, given that the area is pretty much almost 100% Hispanic, I get that people probably find comfort living in an area with customs/food/culture they're accustomed to and don't want it to be destroyed despite the fact that the area is rampant with crime and aesthetically looks awful.

The ironic part is that you had Japanese, Jews, Italians, and other groups who used to live there before Hispanics came in. I understand there may be some negative side effects of gentrification, but usually it's for the better. As LA becomes increasingly expensive, people are going to start considering neighborhoods they wouldn't have previously considered.

Also, I think it helps to have diversity in the community. I read some startling statistic that under 10% of individuals in East LA have a bachelor's degree. Maybe having college educated professionals mixed in will be a positive influence, especially for youth aspiring to go to college and better their lives. There's a saying that you are the average of the 5 closest people around you, which I think rings very true. Everything is relative and when the norm in East LA is to live in a gang neighborhood with next to no educational attainment or decent career prospects, the average youth will think that's ok. When you start surrounding yourself with people who aspire to become more and thrive in a career, you'll generally push yourself to do the same.

[jm1982]

Good post !
that is something a lot of people don't think about.
If these people cared about current and future generations you would think they would be supporting plans to develop and improve the area .
I mean none of the develop plans have been anything that should be negative or controversial
I didn't hear about people wanting to open strip clubs in the area .
It's housing and retail ...
But oh no ... God forbid someone wants to live in nice new housing versus a falling apart building from 100 years ago that hasn't been maintained!

[Cream1]

Originally Posted by quixotic59

Except your situation is political and racial.

This situation is economic. A more reasonable example would be comparing the reaction of Holmby Hills residents to the introduction of Section 8 housing in their neighborhood.

Right. Only whites are racist.

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by Howiester

Right. Only whites are racist.

Sadly there are many that hold that belief.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by jm1982

I've said for a while that Boyle Heights was going to be the next area for gentrification.
Lot's of ignorance.

"Activist Xochitl Palomera was more blunt: "Gentrification is a violent threat," she says. "When we feel it we may react in an angry way, through fear.""

What do they fear?
Personally I'd be more afraid of gangbangers versus some moustached guy drinking a cold brew coffee.

Gentrification is a violent thread? Really? That's absurd.

If Ms. Palomera wants to live somewhere without gentrification and a non capitalist economy maybe North Korea might be a good option for her?


Here is another article regarding Boyle Heights anti gentrification..
Boyle Heights residents force a fresh start on Mariachi Plaza project - LA Times

""We've already lost Echo Park, Silver Lake, downtown and now we're being squeezed out by prices," said Adriana Alvarez, a psychiatric social worker who grew up in the neighborhood. "We want our paleteros [ice cream vendors] and our taco stands. We don't need glitter and glamour. That's what this looks like — arrogance and colonization.""

"The people who were most vocal were those who believe that outsiders who don't understand the joy of rancheras streaming from cars or the aroma of menudo on a Sunday morning will destroy their neighborhood's way of life."

If they are worried...I have some good suggestions of places they can move. It sounds like they want to live in Mexico?

Also glitter and glamour in Echo Park, Silver Lake, DTLA? ....All areas are pretty rough around the edges and gritty.

I find it scary to think that the one 'activist' is a psychiatric social worker...sounds more like she needs a psychiatrist..

Yes...the white people are coming...and they are coming to take your menudo and ban ranchera music..what a joke!
Are these people serious?

I think a safe place for these people to move might be Pacoima, probably not likely to get gentrified anytime soon versus Boyle Heights..

They live in a high crime area that has a pretty active number of gang homeboys..and this is their main concern?
Looks like their have their priorities mixed up..

I wish the Mayor and City Council would stop trying to appease these ignorant folks.
If someone can find me the stats of all the people that have died due to gentrification , I'd love to see them.
On the other hand there are tons of stats on the violence that gang members create in these areas.
Gentrification has been proven to lower violent crime (including murder) in cities across America.
I'd argue that gentrification saves lives.

One of the groups organizing these protests are outright Maoists.

"The STPLA is an offshoot of the Red Guards, Los Angeles, which aims to build a communist Maoist party and deliver “complete liberation from the capitalist state”.

"It formed in April 2015 and has sister groups in Austin, Portland and Washington DC, said a spokesman, Alex Brownson, 25. Confronting uninvited outsiders was part of a strategy to rebuff an “onslaught of development”, he said.

“Our emphasis is not on hipsters and white people walking our neighbourhood but when they come here … perhaps these folks should feel uncomfortable. Boyle Heights is not a poverty zoo for wealthy people from west LA.”

'Hope everyone pukes on your artisanal treats': fighting gentrification, LA-style | US news | The Guardian

And yes I agree - they can always go to Pacoima or Panorama City both of which won't be gentrified any time soon. I also agree that the mayor and city council shouldn't kiss these peoples' rears.

[l1995]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Yes , there is a strong anti landlord, anti business attitude of resentment in this city.
"The landlords are GREEDY!"
"The business owners are GREEDY!"

We need the government to help us!

Which is funny because the business owners are also subject to the landlords

Originally Posted by majoun

One of the groups organizing these protests are outright Maoists.

"The STPLA is an offshoot of the Red Guards, Los Angeles, which aims to build a communist Maoist party and deliver “complete liberation from the capitalist state”.

"It formed in April 2015 and has sister groups in Austin, Portland and Washington DC, said a spokesman, Alex Brownson, 25. Confronting uninvited outsiders was part of a strategy to rebuff an “onslaught of development”, he said.

“Our emphasis is not on hipsters and white people walking our neighbourhood but when they come here … perhaps these folks should feel uncomfortable. Boyle Heights is not a poverty zoo for wealthy people from west LA.”

'Hope everyone pukes on your artisanal treats': fighting gentrification, LA-style | US news | The Guardian

And yes I agree - they can always go to Pacoima or Panorama City both of which won't be gentrified any time soon. I also agree that the mayor and city council shouldn't kiss these peoples' rears.

That's just really ignorant of them.

[jm1982]

Yes because communism has worked out wonderfully around the world!
Why not try it out in Boyle heights or L.A

It's hard to believe these people actually believe the nonsense they are saying .
They are really nuts !
Problem is the city council actually listens to these hate groups .

[boulder2015]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Sadly there are many that hold that belief.

Its becoming codified by academia as well. It used to be totally lunatic fringe, but has now become mainstreamed. Meanwhile, south korea and jordan routinely win the "most racist country" award year after year. Another new pcism is to claim that slavery was invented by whites during the colombus era... thus negating the history of slavery by ALL groups for millenia.