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Entries tagged with 'Gentrification'
Posted Oct. 2, 2007,
Ban the Banks
By David Hershkovits
You know how they have these laws which can limit the number of establishments with liquor licenses that can be in business on a single block or within a certain radius of each other. Well, how about a law limiting the number of banks that can open within each other. With banks, the price of real estate is apparently no object, as they continue to multiply like Starbucks in the night. Banks make no noticeable contribution to one's neighborhood other than enabling lazy New Yorkers to get their money fix a couple of blocks sooner than they might otherwise have to. In fact, they do harm by driving out local businesses that cannot keep up with soaring commercial real estate costs. The legendary Second Avenue Deli, which fed tens of thousands over the years has been replaced by a Chase Bank. Racked has been doing a good job tracking this. There must be other good examples of banks replacing venerable neighborhood institutions. Let me know if you think of any.
Posted Jun. 21, 2007,
Freegans, Trash and Whatever Happened to New York?
By Ann Magnuson
This story on "freegans" in the New York Times (coupled with the reappearance of the Summer of Love in fashion - what AGAIN?) got me to thinkin' about the good ole days when it was hip to be poor. Yes, you can file this under "Old Cranky Ex-New Yorker Pines for Syringe-Strewn Sidewalks of Yesteryear" but the fact remains it was a helluva lot easier to live in New York when it was bankrupt. Like these new young "freegans" from the Times story today, eveyone I knew furnished their apartments with free stuff scavanged from the street. But who knew that dumpster diving and Manson Family Chic would capture the imaginations of young people today? There is hope for the world!
Sure life in NYC way back when could be harsh but...that's why God invented heroin! Well, that was the drug of choice for some (mostly dead) people I once knew but not this lightweight (who is currently working on her recovery in her own 12 step program, Putting On A Show Anonymous).
Posted Jun. 20, 2007,
Angelyne Latest Victim of Hollywood Gentrification
By Ann Magnuson
You know the end is nigh when they kick Angelyne out of Hollywood! This story in the L.A. Times chronicles the fight between the iconic (and somewhat fossilized, just how old IS she now?) buxom blonde and city redevelopment leaders and developers of a planned $500-million luxury project near the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. From the Times: