In unit 1 of my class, Policy, we focused a lot on the Legislative Branch, such as who runs it, who makes it up, and what they have to do with making policies. For an FE we went to a city council meeting in Chicago, this was to audit a meeting they would have and see if what kind of stuff they like to discuss. For the action project we had to pick an issue that we were interested in, and then write a letter to a government official about the issue. I chose to pick gentrification because it is a very confusing topic, of whether it is good or bad in the long run. Also, I chose to write to Governor Rauner, because gentrification is a big issue in Illinois, and mainly Chicago. Something I liked about this project was that these letters are actually being sent to the government officials, which shows that we will possibly be heard.
April 25th, 2016
Governor Bruce Rauner:
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Governor Rauner,
What would you think if you were literally forced out of your house, because of other people’s likings? Everywhere more cities are growing, becoming more middle class suitable, with tensions of race and culture rising. Well this all has to do with gentrification, something that is happening a lot and needs to changed or altered to become a good thing.
Gentrification is tearing neighborhoods apart, and leading to many problems, like racial tensions. People are being forced out of their homes, because they can no longer afford it. It has made racial tensions grow because neighborhoods become whiter and push different races out to another area. The website Governing says, “Neighborhoods gentrifying since 2000 recorded population increases and became whiter, with the share of non-Hispanic white residents increasing an average of 4.3 percentage points.” - Miciag, Mike. "Gentrification in America Report." Gentrification in America Report. Feb. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. Also the people that previously lived there are the ones that have made the neighborhood what is it, and are the ones that made it so good. Then soon, because of rising prices they will eventually be kicked out. PBS says, “Earlier residents may feel embattled, ignored, and excluded from their own communities. New arrivals are often mystified by accusations that their efforts to improve local conditions are perceived as hostile or even racist.” - "Flag Wars." PBS. PBS, 17 July 2003. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. This is true, and as I said makes more tensions grow, because the people that built everything are being ignored by the new people. Then because of the price increase the people that wanted and liked that the neighborhood was shaping up, they, because of the new people rising prices, are eventually bought out. How Stuff Works said, “While long-time residents may benefit initially from cleaner, safer streets and better schools, they are eventually priced out of renting or buying.” - Roos, Dave. "How Gentrification Works." HowStuffWorks. 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. This says what I said, but it is true, and we need something to stop this from happening.
Now I am a person who lives in a middle class neighborhood, and the majority of the people that live in my neighborhood are white are white. I look around and I barely ever see anyone of another race, and I always ask why can’t those people live here, or why can’t they go to another neighborhood like mine. I have learned it’s because they can’t afford it, they have been pushed out of all the areas slowly through generations to the point where they now have their own part of the city, that is very bad. I know many people that can’t live in certain places because it has become too expensive for them, and they have literally pushed, even when fighting not to, to live in a certain area. What I am saying is sounding a lot like segregation, no? People having to go from one place to another, just because people with more money think that this area is better for them. Maybe they don’t physically kick you out, but it’s time that does it, it gets to the point where they can’t deal with the prices of everything around them. It’s like when a new piece of technology comes out, which is an area being gentrified, it takes over the older pieces of technology, the people previously living there, and soon the old pieces are pushed away to go somewhere else. I think we really need to show how bad gentrification is, and show what it does to people that live in certain areas.
You might be wondering, then what should we do? Well I have a plan, there should be a policy put in place that says if an a neighborhood grows to the point where it can, by definition be called gentrification, the people living their beforehand, that were lower than middle class, can have the option of buying/renting property at the original property rate. The owner of the property that was there first also gets a bigger tax rate savings.
Now I can see how gentrification could be good, it does get ride of crime in more areas, and cleans up the neighborhood to look better for everyone living there. It also opens up better places to eat, better education, and better places to live that are very visually appealing. But how should we let all that happen, and not let the people that were originally there have some of that, and let them stay for the original price they were paying. Because once they basically forced out, they will have to go to neighborhood that even worse than the one they were previously in, making it worse for food options, education, and job opportunities.
I, a student, leave off by saying that we need this policy, were people that are lower than middle class can have the option to pay the original price, not only for the people that are being forced out, but for everyone in the community, to be a better one. To have school with true diversity, and culture, where the kids can grow in a great environment. Where this policy will end the race tensions, and bring everyone together and learn to respect each other. To have it where people can have fresh groceries and not depend on cheap junk food. To really end our modern day segregation issue.
Sincerely,
NVA
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