an open letter to landlords.

But I am white!!!!!!

LeeHo wrote: But I am white!!!!!!

White beard, blue skin?

Who cares what people look like, or what people do for a living? As long as they're good honest people. I'd rather live next to a suit wearing financial banker than some section 8 subsidized crack dealer any day. The fact that new people and new faces are moving into the neighborhood is a positive thing. Intolerance of change is what leads to violence and divisiveness. What ever happened to the concept of loving thy neighbor? I've watched this neighborhood change over the past 10 years, and I welcome the new arrivals. Let them eat Sushi on Washington, let them play trumbones on St Johns Plc and Franklin. The community is only getting better and better. Unfortunately change often results in ignorance and intolerance. leaving the ignorant ones to speak the loudest.

escap wrote: Any i-banker who rents in PH is at one shitty bank.

Damn right.

brooklynpotter wrote: once upon a time, like three years ago, my building was filled with artists and designers and chefs and writers. they all left and in came the bankers and the VPs, et alia.

it used to be a really fun, creative place, not intirely unlike a dorm for those of us who wanted it to be. we kept doors open, we drank tea or wine together, lots of time we cooked for each other.

now, people barely speak in the hallways. it very seriously makes me want to move.

Twice upon a time (I know it's hard to imagine the area might have more than a 3 year history), many the PH bldg was filled with working class families, locals, and the poor. They all left and in came the artists, designers, et alia.

The rest continues verbatim from your original post (except for the tea and wine part).

brooklynpotter wrote: [quote=escap]

Twice upon a time (I know it's hard to imagine the area might have more than a 3 year history), many the PH bldg was filled with working class families, locals, and the poor. They all left and in came the artists, designers, et alia.

The rest continues verbatim from your original post (except for the tea and wine part).

but, at least in this case, the artists/writers that used to live here had done so for at least ten years, some longer. *they* were the pioneers


God bless all those "pioneers" out in Bushwick, living in shitty unheated lofts. I'm gonna buy each and every one of them a coonskin cap.

brooklynpotter wrote: [quote=escap]

Twice upon a time (I know it's hard to imagine the area might have more than a 3 year history), many the PH bldg was filled with working class families, locals, and the poor. They all left and in came the artists, designers, et alia.

The rest continues verbatim from your original post (except for the tea and wine part).

but, at least in this case, the artists/writers that used to live here had done so for at least ten years, some longer. *they* were the pioneers

So your point is, if you live somewhere for at least ten years, you go from "gentrifier" to "pioneer". That's an interesting take.

Well, thanks, since I guess by *they* you are referring to my parents (except in FG not PH). And you've got your time frame wrong, since my parents, who were indeed artist pioneer types, came in around 40 years ago. I'm not sure how this makes them superior to the new pioneers, or to the pioneers before them. Don't the blacks who moved into the area when it was all Italian deserve the "pioneer" mantle? Talk about ballsy. Come to think of it, those Italians were pretty pioneer-like themselves, many having come from an entirely different continent and all. 8-[

Sweet Tea Wrote:

i suppose this is against the rules, but screw you. at least YS's post is about behaviors, not skin color. and funny, too.

I respond:

Please don't get on my heels about saying some things about race/ethnicity. I mean you live in "the jewish," right?

Was it that my post made you sad that I got a "screw you?" Was it because what I wrote was not funny, but maybe true? So, if there was some more humor to the posting, maybe it would have been okay?

Also, about the rules, I think you are entrirely entitled to say screw you to me. At least that is direct. The rules on this site are so arbitrary anyway.

escap wrote:
So your point is, if you live somewhere for at least ten years, you go from "gentrifier" to "pioneer". That's an interesting take.

Well, thanks, since I guess by *they* you are referring to my parents (except in FG not PH). And you've got your time frame wrong, since my parents, who were indeed artist pioneer types, came in around 40 years ago. I'm not sure how this makes them superior to the new pioneers, or to the pioneers before them. Don't the blacks who moved into the area when it was all Italian deserve the "pioneer" mantle? Talk about ballsy. Come to think of it, those Italians were pretty pioneer-like themselves, many having come from an entirely different continent and all.

gosh, i'm sorry.

it never occurred to me that talking about my neighbors having moved here in the 80s/early 90s would make anyone try to make me look like an idiot.

some of them even came from other continents, too.

what ys is proposing is bad as what they said the Corcoran group did with streering people towards diffrent areas.

caaahyoko wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think potter is referring to the cycle of working artists (not "artistic" types) who move into an area for the cheap rent, create a community--which becomes a "scene" when discovered by young professionals who like the vibe--and who finally leave when it gets too lame (ie filled with chain stores). That's pretty much a recurring cycle in this city going back to Whitman, if not before.

Its not the same as people who were "artists" or "musicians" in college but are no longer actively pursuing that as a career. When they move somewhere--they're not pioneers--as I think she is using it in this context. Then again, pioneers is pretty much a term used after the fact. When you're working a crappy job and out touring half the time, you're not really thinking about being a pioneer. You're more occupied by finding $2 tacos so that you can save some $$ to get your amp retubed.

edit: Or of course--while buying shit loads of clay for making cool pottery.

Are you implying something about my story about my parents in particular, or just speaking generally? Because no one in my family was an "artistic" type in college who gave that up to pursue a "career". I only used that term mockingly--what, you think my dad played in a college band and then hung up his guitar to become an accountant? :x

Anyway, my point is that all this talk of pioneers is bullshit. I know many an i-banker who would consider moving into Bklyn Heights a bold adventure. People who pat themselves on the back for being gutsy enough to enter a fringe neighborhood, then act with outrage that a new wave comes behind them who dress and talk differently, are about as scummy as they come. The idea that the hipster's intrusion into the ghetto is any less "lame" or unwelcome than the yuppie's intrusion into your supposed kumbaya enclave is dizzyingly pathetic. How do you delude yourself so completely? Do you hear your own words? Artists come into cheap areas and "create a community?" Wow!!!!! That's astonishing to me, as I was under the impression that communities perhaps existed in most of these areas well before the arrival of potters from Iowa!!!!

Racist and ignorant of the communities they come into, scornful and intolerant of those who come after, and yet fully secure in their own superiority, their own greater contribution to society because they wrote a poem, knit a sweater or took a couple photos. Yeah, what an admirable bunch. You're all so cool I can barely contain myself.

escap wrote: People who pat themselves on the back for being gutsy enough to enter a fringe neighborhood, then act with outrage that a new wave comes behind them who dress and talk differently, are about as scummy as they come. The idea that the hipster's intrusion into the ghetto is any less "lame" or unwelcome than the yuppie's intrusion into your supposed kumbaya enclave is dizzyingly pathetic.

Well said, escap.

It's the arrogance of YS's original posting that drains the humor. As does the length....sarcasm is only good in small doses. It's like those stand-up comics that can only make jokes about their own race. You might laugh at the first cliche, but then it gets old mad quick. There must be a large degree of sincerity to warrant a rant so long. And again, the feelings may be warranted (we all hate gentrification even when we ARE gentrification), but there's nothing funny about being proud to share them. With neighbors you may be attacking, no less.

Is there really any question that many neighborhoods in nyc have been made desirable by artists and then wealthier people have moved in--g.village, lower east side, soho, dumbo...??

findcate wrote: Is there really any question that many neighborhoods in nyc have been made desirable by artists and then wealthier people have moved in--g.village, lower east side, soho, dumbo...??

Yes, gentrification usually kicks off when artistic types start moving into fringe areas when they are priced out of whatever neighborhood they lived in last.

caaahyoko wrote:
You're not talking about the people I'm referring to, so sorry to confuse you. I'm referring to people out there on the fringes doing the art they feel overwhelmingly compelled to express. Its not about being cool. Those are not the people who push the envelope. There's a distinct difference. I have met many of "cool musicians" whom I do not confuse with people doing something really new and gutsy.

The artists I'm referring to aren't trying to push out anyone. They're just trying to accomplish something with their life, just like working class parents. Its as simple as that. I'm just trying to make sure that not all artists are lumped into this negative category you've created.

Let's get things straight, I am not anti-artist whatsoever. Like I've said, I come from a family of artists (the real kind, not the cool kind), and I have absolute respect for anyone who pursues a creative talent, and self expression.

What drives me bananas is intolerance and snobbery, not creative ability. In fact, the thing that really makes those frat boys we're all teasing so detestable is not their bad fashion, it's their tradition of exclusiveness, prejudice and intolerance. And when I hear bohemians holding their own community on a pedestal but closing the door on newcomers, the hypocrisy makes me apoplectic. The "my way is better than your way", "my group is better than your group" argument is just so tiresome, so pathetic, and so insidious. Why do we all have to believe that we are superior to some other group that is different?

And btw, the yuppies who so often follow the artists into places like PH are also not "trying to push anyone out", and are also "just trying to accomplish something with their life, just like working class parents". But the effect of both groups moving into new areas is that in fact people do get pushed out. Now we can choose to live in a static, frozen city or one that is fluid and dynamic, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.