Gentrification Pros And Cons

Yazmon Ector

Moses, Paul. “Gentrification: Who Wins? Who Loses?

Moses Paul’s article concentrates on the effect of gentrification on low-income urban communities in America. He establishes the point that the negative results ___of it on the residents who have been their for extended periods far outweighs the positive that would “revitalize ” the communities involved. Paul states that “in the case in cities across the country, gentrification comes at the price of displacing poorer people who have stuck it out through the high-crime years” and admits that gentrification’s façade is inviting and and marveling “but at what cost to others?”. Ultimately probing for a solution, Paul makes the claim that the challenge resides in making “the poor

visible in the public-policy debate over how to renew America's cities”.
Throughout the article, Paul strongly constructs his argument by various methods such as providing an extensive list of potential consequences of gentrification upon urban communities across America stating “While many low-income residents welcome the revitalization of their neighborhoods, they also recognize the danger that apartments will be priced beyond their reach; that the local companies where they work will be forced out by higher rents and the subsequent conversion of commercial property to residences; and that the stores where they now shop will be closed in favor of much more expensive ones”.

Thus reaffirming that the act of gentrification does in fact have negative impacts. Furthermore, Paul continues to add persuasion to his side of the argument further questioning if the newer residents or “pioneers” that have "discovered" these cities and bring “urban revival” have romanticized their "frontier” and are oblivious to their impact on the residents or if they realize “One person's "pioneer" can be another's "invader" .In addition to his use of the words with American Old West connotations, from he adds a compare and contrast between gentrification in Brooklyn, New York and the American colonialism involving the Native American population eventually conveying that in both situations there was the language of colonial expansionism “that neglects the question of what happens to the natives….It removes any social consequence to the process”. Paul believes that one of the most important negative effects of gentrification is the that new resident’s and businesses’ apathy towards their direct and indirect impact of their native neighbors. His ultimate goal is make America aware of their monopolizing of urban communities as well as the negative effects that it

concerns.
Paul’s opinion is that those causing gentrification in low-income urban America have either a blatant disregard for the citizens it changes the lives of the most in a negative direction or are simply unaware; ultimately, he is asking for acknowledgement that the problems with gentrification do exist.