Gentrification by definition is the shift in a community
towards wealthier residents, this shift causes benefits such increases in
average income, property values, and increase economic development, however,
gentrification also causes negatives affects such as increased rent and
division of wealth and services between the rich and poor. In this blog post I
will be looking at gentrification primarily from an optimistic viewpoint.
The Google Bus protests that have been going on in San
Francisco have shown that part of the community that live there are not happy
with the transformation that Silicon Valley has brought to the area. In an
article by Julia Carrie Wong, she writes on the topic and in it she quotes, “protesters
drove a fake Google Bus in the annual Pride Parade with props linking the shuttles
to gentrification, eviction and displacement” [1]. Obviously there are parts of
community that don’t believe that they are not being over run by these large
tech companies, however, what is the real issue going on here? Many of the
activists that have protested about the Google Bus are saying it is driving out
poorer individuals, “Housing activists point out that the buses serve people
who are driving up rents, displacing lower-income residents. Pedestrians
and bikers complain of the buses clogging narrow streets.” [1]. Personally, I
can see their situation and frustration but on the other hand I do not agree
with them. I see the busses as a means for Google to benefit their works in a
cool and efficient way. Furthermore, the busses allow more people to car pool
and keep their cars at home, reducing traffic for people who don’t work at
Google’s Campus.
As an Economics Major I strongly believe in the invisible hand where markets for the
most part are pretty good at being self-regulating without government
intervention. I will say that I do believe that self-regulating markets where
individuals and businesses who are trying to maximize their profits and utility
do lead to gentrification but in a mostly positive way. I like to believe that Google,
Apple, Facebook and other tech giants that are in the valley aren’t trying
directly to push the non-techy crowds in the area but that this transformation
is happening because the demand for a very high-tech, cool, young atmosphere is
wanted by their employees and the people that they are looking to hirer.
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| Google 1 |
When you read articles about activists and the communities
they are in it can be difficult to get a clear understanding. When the article
talks about black communities in the Bay Area for example they only talk about
those of low incomes. I understand why they do this when it comes to writing
about gentrification; low-income individuals are hurt the most by the shift. As
I read I felt that these low-income groups opinions were often generalized and
looked at as every low-income person being a victim to these devastating Google busses. Activists are almost
always reported on from the same viewpoint I feel; radical or rebellious types
that choose to complain about whatever they can because they cannot adapt or
just don’t like their surrounding. It’s for this reason that I feel somewhat
bad for them for getting generally such a bad rap from the press. However, in
this particular situation with the Google Busses and it leading to
gentrification, I’m going to have to side with the Google and the tech giants
and believe that Silicon Valley should not have to sacrifice the culture that
it has built because rent and property values are rising in the area.
Sources:
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