Re: <nettime> Gentrification - or a focus on income and wealth?

[martha rosler <navva@earthlink.net>]

 A bit hard to believe that one needs to spell this out, but thanks for doing so. 
Ever since the term gentrification resurfaced (or was coined) in the 1970s, the issue has been a prime concern of the left, at least in the US.
 Working-class populations are driven out of their homes and neighborhoods (often speeded by the withdrawal of essential services on the part of fiscal-crisis-stressed cities and municipalities, though that no longer applies to many major cities)); even while these workers find it increasingly difficult to find accommodation, the costs (and time expenditure) of commuting to their employment increases dramatically. The latter of course has statistically converted from industrial jobs (small shop or large shop manufacturing) to more precarious, nonunion, and ill-paid service jobs, often serving those who have taken over their former neighborhoods.

The homeless population in New York City is the highest ever recorded.
At this juncture, 'conservatives' have expressed no concern over gentrification but rather applaud it as the hand of the market. One can find bourgeois hipsters applauding it as well, since they like Richard Florida's idea?seized upon (despite its aporia) by every possible city and country? that life is tastier with artisanal bread and coffee.

It's a mistake to overlook the costs of maintenance.
 Sexism and ageism (no matter how casual), which seems to negate the entire issue, does not constitute a political argument.
martha r


On May 18, 2014, at 11:20 AM, Alexandre Carvalho <tudoflui@gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear all;
> 
> Gentrification has always been an issue to the people that suffer its
> consequences, namely people from the lower classes, not old ladies
> with eight-room apartments for herself and her cats. in Sao Paulo
> this is very clear in the neighborhood of Belenzinho, East of the
> city, where huge condos are rising up and driving people out of their
> homes. i am a physician working with homeless populations in this
> area, and i can tell you that even the shelters are closing up thanks
> to the massive power of the real estate industry there. there is even
> one avenue, Celso Garcia, where on one side you see the forces of
> capital pumping the condos, and on the other side the old buildings
> and favelas.
 <...>

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