On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 1:31 PM, Frank <_fcarr...@pobox.com_ (mailto:fcarr...@pobox.com) > wrote:
I just passed and someone had thrown paint at their beautiful new sign. Sad. In a message dated 6/3/2009 1:41:23 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, dill...@dillernet.com writes: I was there this morning, it was specific vandalization, it said "fuck gentrification" or words to that effect. I guess the squatters are feeling a bit of pressure these days, like rats on a sinking ship. Really sad, I guess they don't keep up on area history to know that GS has been around a lot longer than most of them...... Don't get me wrong, here. I strongly disapprove of vandalism and other acts of destruction as a form of protest. And I'm certainly sorry that Roger and the others who put a lot of sweat and money into setting up their new cafe now have to spend more to fix up the sign. Recognize, though, that a lot of people who make this neighborhood their home feel threatened by gentrification because it means things like displacement, rises in the cost of living, loss of the conveniences they find important, and disdain by people who think they're better than everyone else. Some may, in fact, be squatters. I'd venture to guess, however, that many of those who find gentrification threatening are legitimate owners or renters worried about making ends meet and maintaining whatever quality of life they happen to have. To liken them to rats on a sinking ship reflects the anointed (you didn't think I dropped this adjective from my thesaurus, did you?) attitude that justifies and reinforces their fears. You read it here, first, on the ever-popular Popu-List Al Krigman **************Shop Inspiron, Studio and XPS Laptops at Dell.com (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222616459x1201464730/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.d oubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215218145%3B37264238%3Bd)
