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Urban revival is a religion and view of life pushed upon those who do not like it by those worshiping this god.
Calling homes in suburban locations McMansions is a typical tactic used by to shame those whose view is not shared. In too many cities, transportation infrastructure (roads and mass transit) are not maintained as that spending is boring and does not progress things as some seem to feel we need more than maintenance.
The things driving many to live in the suburbs is magnified with the impacts of density during a pandemic we see now as well as with the riots and ignoring law and order in many cities. Peaceful protests are not what I am talking about, just violence against people and property. Yes violence against people includes murder by COP as we see too often. I think the those who feel more at risk of violence by cop may question living in cities and move to suburbs or smaller cities after this mess settles down. Change in law enforcers and all citizens in attitude toward those different than themselves comes too slow, More diverse suburbs with integration not pockets of sameness will speed this change some but not as much as is needed
They are McMansions.
I live in the Dorchester section of Boston in a 3600 sf home that was built in 1888. It was built like a fort and every door, drawer, and window, still swings, slides, and closes. None of those McMansions will be around in 140 years and while I won't, I'll bet my 1888 home will be. I understand what you are saying regarding the slur of McMansion being a slur on suburbanism but for me, it is because the majority of them are not well thought out and they are cheaply built.
As far as the topic goes, If I hadn't read the news, I wouldn't have even known that there were riots in Boston. Most cities have huge swaths of single family homes that, while fairly close together, are still healthily far enough apart. After all, these were America's first suburbs.
Here in Philadelphia, our four collar counties have been drifting leftward for several decades now. None of them went for Trump in 2016, while the hollowed-out industrial counties around Allegheny (Pittsburgh), former Democratic strongholds like Pittsburgh itself, went deep red.
Trump's style and attitude doesn't play well among the affluent professional class by and large. If they dominate your suburbs, they've probably already turned purple. In the most recent midterms, the most Republican of Philadelphia's collar counties, Delaware (which is also the most working-class of them), elected a Democratic majority on its county council for the first time in anyone's living memory.
And if that liberal Democratic exodus to more conservative suburbs materializes, the result will be that even more of them become political battlegrounds now than are already.
"McMansion" is not a term applied willy-nilly to large suburban houses; it's architecturally more than geographically based. There's a pretty popular blog written by an architectural historian called "McMansion Hell" that offers people a very good introduction to the basic principles of architecture — the rules that make a building or house pleasing to the eye — and how McMansions rip them up. I'd recommend you give the links I provide here a once-over.
Including this one, which is to a house in a middle-class, heavily Italian-American South Philadelphia neighborhood I recently trashed in my section. You can find McMansions anywhere, as this should prove; the reason most of them are in the suburbs is because (1) that's where you can find lots large enough to build the sprawling architectural mashups that go by that term and (2) that's still where most of the new housing is being built, and McMansions are a very recent phenomenon, historically speaking. (Feel free to browse my section after you get there. You will find that I usually showcase very attractive houses both in Philadelphia and in its suburbs. BTW, thanks to the role the railroads played in shaping them, Philadelphia is blessed with a slew of very urbane, very walkable, rather lively suburbs, several of which this urbanophile would be very much willing to live in.)
After meandering about the suburbs yesterday evening looking for a branch of my bank with an ATM where I could make a cash deposit — thanks to a rash of ATM bombings that took place Monday night, a coordinated theft attempt attributable neither to the protesters nor to the random opportunistic looters who attempted to break into three of the four stores currently in the strip mall three blocks from me and successfully trashed its drugstore, my bank had disabled cash deposits at its ATMs in the city — I drove the Zipcar I had booked for the purpose past National Guard troops and into the parking lot of that same strip mall, where it lives when not in use. My neighborhood is one of those low-income, heavily African-American neighborhoods that have been hardest hit by the lootings and torchings (no fires have been set in my neighborhood, nor in several others I know of in North Philadelphia; those were largely the work of white anarcho-socialists (and maybe some white nationalists disguised among them, looking to spark that race war they want) who rampaged through Center City's toniest shopping streets the Saturday after the protests began.
Prior to that day, by the way, there were no incidents of violence in Philadelphia's protests. That event seems to have given the opportunists permission to pillage.
But the streets of East Germantown (and Central Germantown, for that matter) aren't seething.
lrfox is basically correct. What you are witnessing now is the result of a cumulative process where (mostly) black folk have pointed out where the people who are supposed to serve and protect them are actually killing them instead, and a higher propensity for crime among young African-American men does not excuse the behavior. There was a scandal here a few months ago where hackers exposed several Philly cops who had been spewing racist filth on a closed Facebook group; most of the officers were dismissed from the force — but thanks to the way police discipline is handled in Pennsylvania, there's a good chance that some, or maybe even many, of them will get their jobs back through arbitration.
That sort of thing has happened repeatedly. Maybe if we hadn't all been cooped up for a couple of months thanks to COVID, the reaction wouldn't have been quite as fierce or as widespread as it has been, but the breadth and depth of the response should clue someone into the fact that this was a "straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back" incident.
It also had the added virtue of capturing punishment that was both extrajudicial and clearly excessive given the crime committed, which was passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. I'll have a little more to say on this below.
It did not go unremarked here that most of the businesses that were looted along South 52nd Street, a busy commercial district in West Philadelphia, were black-owned, and more than a few African-Americans were scratching their heads in disbelief over this fouling of one's own nest. (One of those doing the head-scratching was me.)
I see lots of evidence that there are fewer people who are following your logic this time around than there were in 1968.
Corporate America usually doesn't respond to events like this with statements of sympathy for the protesters. Yet I've seen company after company, and organization after organization, issue statements that sound like milder versions of something Black Lives Matter might have said. I just got such a statement in my email yesterday from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, for Chrissakes.
We've now had one of Martin Luther King's less well-known quotes dusted off and trotted out because it fits the occasion: "A riot is the voice of the unheard." The riots of 1968 did set cities back and plunge many low-income black neighborhoods into a persistent state of disinvestment that only recently began to be reversed, but they also provided impetus for the passage of the Fair Housing Act of that year, the one civil rights bill LBJ couldn't easily push through Congress because it threatened to step on too many toes (and remains less than fully realized for the same reasons).
The reactions I see around me aren't those that you express; they're more like someone who might have gotten whacked out of a stupor with a two-by-four upside the head. But another difference between this time and 1968 is that many, including many cops, realize that what's going on is a legitimate expression of frustration over a long-running wound that we've failed to suture. And while there are those who excuse the looters as an extension of the protesters, more this time (like the Floyd family) are making a distinction between the two. Neighbors have come out to clean up after the looting rather than retreat inside. And some of those hard-hit businesses, like the large supermarket in West Philadelphia that was ransacked for four hours Tuesday night, have announced that they will reopen already.
I'm an optimist by nature, but it does appear to me that this time, when confronted with a crisis, many people are opting to choose voice over exit. That bodes well for the "urban revival," as it suggests these events will prove to be a speed bump rather than a cliff off which the cities fall.
You have some valid observations there, but I disagree on a few counts. If you believe this is a 'the straw that breaks the camel's back" situation, you will be disappointed because there will be more killings of blacks by cops and it's only a matter of months, maybe a year at most before another one with circumstances that can blow up as a national news items. This is simple logic - there's 700,000+ cops out there and unfortunately a fairly large % of the nation's criminals is black. Blue-black interactions under contentious circumstances occur daily. Incidents are going to happen on a fairly regular basic. If this is the straw that broke the camel's back what type of violent actions will take place the next time?
I actually think the fact that now BLM rhetoric is accepted at face value by the media, many churches, even corporations, pretty much every politician with a (D) and even a good few with an (R) next to their name, almost guarantees more riots. Because it means that every time something like that happens the mainstream narrative is one that implicitly justifies violent action by declaring the situation is caused by systematic white racism on which America supposedly was built. If a society, a country is irredeemably evil - then what wrong is rioting against it? If white folks are irredeemably racist then what's wrong with going after them and what they value?
The narrative pushed here is one in which the only real cure to racism is wholesale economic and political change of a radical, redistributionist nature that most people aren't willing to sign up for - including in final consequence even many of the left-liberal gentrifiers who now post in solidarity of the protests (who typically are among the 'haves' not the 'have nots', if not the 1% at least the top 10%). And once they realize that posting a black box on social media doesn't exempt them from the physical consequences - because after all they're still wealthy and white (or Asian as they seem to get lumped in with white people today) - then do you reckon they will want to stay in the situation? We live in a situation where gentrifiers declare solidarity while living in luxury apartment complexes guarded by security companies within a short walking distance from public housing projects. I'm not even judging this one way or another, I'm saying that there's a gap here that denouncement of racism can't close.
Nothing I have seen so far is designed to actually pacify the situation in any permanent sense. The problem is declared so massive, so deep-rooted that no practical measure could be seen as a resolution. This is going to be a festering wound even after this particular set of riots is over.
Nothing I have seen so far is designed to actually pacify the situation in any permanent sense. The problem is declared so massive, so deep-rooted that no practical measure could be seen as a resolution. This is going to be a festering wound even after this particular set of riots is over.
I agree that there will be no quick/easy resolution to this issue. I don't think anyone believes there is. But isn't that the nature of progress? Racial inequity wasn't solved when the Civil War ended. It wasn't solved at the end of the 1950s/60s Civil Rights Movement. But those points marked progress toward the ultimate goal even though, at each point, the problem was still massive and deep-rooted that no single practical measure could fix the problem.
The protests (not the violent riots) are calling for more steps to be taken toward that ultimate goal. Law enforcement won't change overnight. Systematic change takes time and everyone knows that. But tangible steps toward increasing law enforcement oversight on issues of race are progress. If they can even acknowledge that black people are not treated equally in the criminal justice system, that's progress. It's not a magic, wave the wand solution, but that's not what anyone expects. Nobody ever has, and it's a fallacy to assume that only an instant fix will end the current wave of protests. However, if no progress is made (or if progress stops), then you'll see more in the future. But again, that's not something we haven't experienced before.
I haven't been paying close attention to the news for the last few months. So, I might be missing something. But, can these riots really be compared to those of the late 60s? At that time, entire neighborhoods were destroyed. And, from what little I have seen of recent news, these riots seem to be mostly broken windows, some looting, and some burned out cop cars. (to overgeneralize)
Some cities saw the limited scenario you describe, others have much more destruction.
The '60s riots were, as you state, limited to neighborhoods that were destroyed, some pretty much entirely.
Today's events are not limited to a neighborhood. The large blue east coast cities have seen widespread looting and arson. Manhattan's Soho neighborhood was looted, Macy's flagship on Herald Square, the outer boroughs etc.
In Philly, there is no news about the fires, but they have been burning, up to 300+ fires. Explosions echoing throughout the night (ATMs are being blown up) sounded like Beirut, Bagdad, or Belfast...fortunately at least one of these morons killed himself setting off a bomb and at least one looter was shot and killed by a businesses owner.
There is no protection across these cities. No force, no large authority presence, let the riot run its course. Floyd's funeral is next week so expect these disorders to continue.
The blue progressive-sanctuary city mentality is, as expected, a failure. Center City (downtown) Philly residents were left defenseless from Saturday until the looters left on Sunday. Smashing windows, looting, fires, gangs roaming the streets.
The rioting will end but the lasting impression is that residents are on their own. Time to get a gun and leave town once and for all. All those who want to think they live in a socialist, progressive, groovy all is love place can have at it. After Saturday night going forward as this nonsense continues, goodbye for me.
Some cities saw the limited scenario you describe, others have much more destruction.
The '60s riots were, as you state, limited to neighborhoods that were destroyed, some pretty much entirely.
Today's events are not limited to a neighborhood. The large blue east coast cities have seen widespread looting and arson. Manhattan's Soho neighborhood was looted, Macy's flagship on Herald Square, the outer boroughs etc.
In Philly, there is no news about the fires, but they have been burning, up to 300+ fires. Explosions echoing throughout the night (ATMs are being blown up) sounded like Beirut, Bagdad, or Belfast...fortunately at least one of these morons killed himself setting off a bomb and at least one looter was shot and killed by a businesses owner.
There is no protection across these cities. No force, no large authority presence, let the riot run its course. Floyd's funeral is next week so expect these disorders to continue.
The blue progressive-sanctuary city mentality is, as expected, a failure. Center City (downtown) Philly residents were left defenseless from Saturday until the looters left on Sunday. Smashing windows, looting, fires, gangs roaming the streets.
The rioting will end but the lasting impression is that residents are on their own. Time to get a gun and leave town once and for all. All those who want to think they live in a socialist, progressive, groovy all is love place can have at it. After Saturday night going forward as this nonsense continues, goodbye for me.
Gov. Wolf may have been slow on the uptake — maybe the noise from the ATM bombings woke him up — but the National Guard was stationed at looting sites around the city last night.
This actually makes sense: they can protect the property while the police handle the protests and routine crime calls.
If there are that many fires burning, I should be seeing red flashing lights somewhere in my very low-income neighborhood. The only ones I've seen belonged to an ambulance.
And some of those fire reports are bogus. Word had gotten out on the street that the Park West Shopping Center had been torched. It hadn't been: it was just looted, including a 15-hour spree inside the supermarket.
Whose owner, by the way, is one of those guys who wants to do good while doing well for himself; we named him a "Best Philadelphian" three years ago largely on my recommendation. This fellow, who closed one of his Philadelphia supermarkets because he said the sweetened-beverage tax made it unprofitable, said (and is quoted as saying in the report I linked above) that he intends to rebuild the store.
That's good news, but not every business owner who lost everything in the looting will be able to do that.
And note that while everyone in the article says they understand things need to change, including the former police chief of Upper Darby, none of them defend the looters.
Gov. Wolf may have been slow on the uptake — maybe the noise from the ATM bombings woke him up — but the National Guard was stationed at looting sites around the city last night.
This actually makes sense: they can protect the property while the police handle the protests and routine crime calls.
If there are that many fires burning, I should be seeing red flashing lights somewhere in my very low-income neighborhood. The only ones I've seen belonged to an ambulance.
And some of those fire reports are bogus. Word had gotten out on the street that the Park West Shopping Center had been torched. It hadn't been: it was just looted, including a 15-hour spree inside the supermarket.
Whose owner, by the way, is one of those guys who wants to do good while doing well for himself; we named him a "Best Philadelphian" three years ago largely on my recommendation. This fellow, who closed one of his Philadelphia supermarkets because he said the sweetened-beverage tax made it unprofitable, said (and is quoted as saying in the report I linked above) that he intends to rebuild the store.
That's good news, but not every business owner who lost everything in the looting will be able to do that.
And note that while everyone in the article says they understand things need to change, including the former police chief of Upper Darby, none of them defend the looters.
So now we have fake news about fires. Interesting.
And who is going to defend looters, let alone a former police chief and residents who didn't loot. Kind of a given.
Get a gun if you live in any of these blue socalist progressive city-states. The local leadership will not protect you.
15 hours of open looting says it all. Lots of these cities have 1st floor commercial retail etc with apartements, condos etc above.
The peaceful protest has been beautiful & getting that large number of people together, which only happens in urban city is very inspiring and powerful & makes one feel proud of their city. Much better than the small to no protest happening in suburbs. Who wants to live among people who don't care & have no voice. The riot and looting on other hand is terrible but from what i see in TV it is mostly commercial distract where it was hit & not residential. I hope the riots/looting stops because if that goes on for while, people will look to escape.
Allow me to offer a different perspective. Maybe the protests are "beautiful" if you support their cause, or if you have loads of time on your hands to spend marching. But what if you don't support the cause? Or what if you do, but you still have pressing matters to attend to? The protests aren't beautiful then; they're annoying, and inconvenient, and troublesome. Personally, I like being able to go here and there, without having my streets and highways blocked by protesters. I have my own life to live, and I don't want it shut off by people foisting their cause on me, whether I agree with it or not.
So yeah, a lot of people who have chosen to live in the suburbs have done so for reasons such as this. They don't like the chaos, the messiness, the disorder of city life. They enjoy the mundane, the routine, the predictable. And they enjoy having the confidence that the grocery store in which they buy their food will still be standing, and the shelves will still be stocked with food, next time they go there.
In the short term, I think we're going to see the progressive urbanites dig in their heels and spout off contemptuous barbs at the suburbs, while the conservative suburbanites dig in their heels and cast apprehensive glances over their shoulders at the cities. In other words, business as usual. But the people on the fence, trying to weigh the pros and cons of each type of lifestyle, will come down hard on the side of not wanting to risk having a riot break out on their doorstep. Thus, in the short term at least, I think we will see fewer people choosing to live in the cities than we otherwise would have.
Here's a sample of the results of Philly's core urban revival under a progressive democratic socialist regime. The results of diversity and inclusion in this democractic socialist city-state are evident in the mobs. This video is thought to be evening towards sunset as the Walnut Street mob is thinned out from the massive mobs there earlier.
The buildings with Wells Fargo-to-McDonalds (at :15) were later burned; hopefully all can be salvaged but the ones with doc martens and vans sustained heavy fire damage:
Cities like Philly have no control, leadership are a bunch of immature adults controlled by emotional hemophiliacs undet the guise of diversity, identity politics, fighting racism.
The Philly 'hoods are still taking a much worse hit than this disturbing video.
So now we have fake news about fires. Interesting.
And who is going to defend looters, let alone a former police chief and residents who didn't loot. Kind of a given.
Get a gun if you live in any of these blue socalist progressive city-states. The local leadership will not protect you.
15 hours of open looting says it all. Lots of these cities have 1st floor commercial retail etc with apartements, condos etc above.
Protect the 2nd Amendment!
I'm resisting the urge for now.
But I do have a friend who I'm sure could train me should I succumb.
The thing is, the police do need some policing. That's why the two-by-four-upside-the-head of the initial rioting was useful. But once the agenda-hijackers (anarcho-socialists, white nationalists operating undercover) and opportunists (all the other looters, random and coordinated) got involved, the message got muddled, as it often does.
I'm not sure I share your politics, but I do hear you on this. We needed the National Guard two evenings earlier than they were summoned.
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