Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Gentrification

I've got a love/hate relationship with gentrification. I miss funky old Abbot Kinney, but I do love all the yummy restaurants there now. Am I sad that they shut the XXX video store near my house? Yeah, not really, Just about anything would be a welcome improvement. Still, I can't stand the sterilization. I hated watching Santa Monica fall to it. It starts with the buildings but then it works it's way into the people. Remember the Soviet Republic of Santa Monica, well it's more like Manhattan Beach now. No more Homeless in the parks, rent control, liberal politics....and when you're raised on that stuff you miss it when it's gone.
BMW's (with the exception of really old ones) give me hives and I know they are coming. I was run out of south side Santa Monica by them years ago, and I know the signs. I really don't know where I could go to escape them now. Venice is gasping it's last breathes. I thought I was safe here in the flats of Mar Vista, but alas every community council meeting talks about how to get rid of the motor home people and the graffiti. Maybe I just don't know any better. It's not like I don't get that it's hard to look at that stuff. But shouldn't we...just because it's no longer in our city doesn't mean it's not still happening. People are still homeless, rent is still to high, and George f...ing Bush is still president. I think it does people good to see the real world instead of some white washed version..Maybe it will motivate them to do something about it, other then run them off.
I'd rant more but I need to go to the new coffee shop for a latte and a croissant.

1 comment:

Sarah Auerswald said...

You're hilarious with that last line!

But of course this is a serious issue. I have to say I don't mind the motorhomes when they're not on my street, but when they are -- I get reactionary. And you've seen my blog -- that's not what I would have thought I'd do, either.

I know there are solutions, like designating church parking lots safe havens for the motorhomes. But when it comes to fixing up the buildings and raising the rents, it will mean the end of some of the businesses, and it will bring in the latte crowd. Mixed feelings.