Posted on 05/31/2008 9:33:17 AM PDT by Lorianne
PORTLAND, Ore. — Not every neighborhood in this city is one of those Northwest destinations where passion for espresso, the environment and plenty of exercise define the cultural common ground. A few places are still described as frontiers, where pioneers move because prices are relatively reasonable, the location is convenient and, they say, they “want the diversity.”
Yet one person’s frontier, it turns out, is often another’s front porch. It has been true across the country: gentrification, which increases housing prices and tension, sometimes has racial overtones and can seem like a dirty word. Now Portland is encouraging black and white residents to talk about it, but even here in Sincere City, the conversation has been difficult.
“I’ve been really upset by what I perceive to be Portland’s blind spot in its progressivism,” said Khaela Maricich, a local artist and musician. “They think they live in the best city in the country, but it’s all about saving the environment and things like that. It’s not really about social issues. It’s upper-middle-class progressivism, really.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Oh, yeah, and The Decemberists were playing a concert there that day, too......
Ping for later.
Liberals are obsessed with the color of people’s skin, not by the content of their character.
Whom is "they"?
Many liberals, perhaps most, are clueless about what life in the inner city is really like — or how much damage their “progressive” policies have done there.
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Well stated. Oregon has been in a liberal tail-spin for some time. And they continue. But the public there just keeps voting radical liberals back in who do nothing for the state but TAX-AND-SPEND. I always enjoy listening to the talk shows up there when I visit on business. Between the liberal government and the leftist MSM, Oregon remains in alot of trouble — but the people there have nobody but themselves to blame. Just like California.
I've worked around white liberals most of my life. Virtually none of them lived anywhere near minorities.
I noticed they moved out of the “Diversity Utopia” of North and West Philly pretty fast too...
And the final # was closer to 50,000.
Still a lot of people, but free concert+nice weather in Oregon = huge turnout.
At one point, she also asked blacks what she should call them — blacks or African-Americans.
An older black woman in the front replied, “People.”
Another black woman, toward the back, said, “Donna.”
Sums up the attitude in a progressive city. Symbolic gestures outweigh actual ineraction with individuals. Does this merit one of those "Thank you, captain of the obvious" graphics? ;-)
Portland is generally a safe place to live and doesn’t have big problems with minorities. Despite the fact that it’s quite liberal I like it here. I live in a nice neighborhood, can take a free neighborhood bus to the light rail (MAX) station and go downtown, the airport, Nike, one day Vancouver....etc. The freeways are more crowded than they used to be but fortunately most don’t have to travel big distances on them - like LA.
I think the lack of racial strife here creates sort of bubble where we can be idealistic about problems other areas face while not really understanding how bad it can be.
The taming of the frontier is a fitting analogy for the re gentrification of these neighborhoods . Many suffering from liberalism will be cured by actually making a buck .
If people want real ‘diversity’ they could move to the South, or to cities like DC or Detroit, or Hawaii.
Methinks ‘diversity’ is just an empty slogan. They want a handful of non-Euro-whites in their neighborhoods as basically pets so they can feel good about being part of ‘diversity’.
I find it interesting that the region of the country with the least racial diversity demographically, goes on and on about ‘diversity’ as the holy grail.
Why not offer incentives, say jobs and free homes or tax incentives to lure non-whites to the region until you’ve achieved a REAL level of diversity?
Agreed and well put.
He-he. Right.
Having the option of mass transit when it goes to the right places is a nice asset however. I used to ride the bus to work myself and it was a good thing. Often ride the light rail to the airport in Cleveland.
Somebody pays for that "free neighborhood bus" of yours though...
Homeowner dues pays for it - so, yes...not quite free but still pretty dang cheap.
“Homeowner dues” - please explain. Forced to “join” an organization and pay for the membership’s group benefits? Sounds somewhat like what some might call a “tax”.
It costs $600/year to live in this neighborhood which covers maintenance of the trails, park, landscaping. It’s worth it - the miles of trails alone are fabulous. I take my dog walking along a stream to a pond where there are ducks, geese, marmots, herons and in some spots you wouldn’t even know that you’re in a neighborhood that is only 15 minutes from downtown Portland. I’m not forced to join, I choose to live here.
I also pay almost $200/month for my particular neighborhood’s landscaping and exterior building maintenance - also worth it to me. I had a big house before, I’m saving a ton of money over what that used to cost.
“not forced to join, I choose to live here.”
But if you choose to live there, you are forced to join? And do all nearby enjoy use of the homeowner-dues-supported miles of trails? Or do riffraff hafta jump a fence to visit the ducks, geese, marmots, and herons? I’m getting a whiff of Obama’s Reverend Wright’s gated retirement Mcmansion exclusivity, hayna?
Well, my creme bruelle crepes suzettes are just beginning to simmer nicely - must run. I simply must send you the recipe sometime. Enjoy discussing Portland’s Progressive Racial Shift! Ta ta!
Awww...jeez...
Have a nice day!
1. North and West Philly are not "diverse", nor (aside from the Jewish population that was once common in North Philly) were the prior inhabitants socially liberal. These area are entirely black.
2. In places like NYC and Boston, young "hipsters" tend to move into areas that are racially mixed (hispanic, Asian, black, etc.), although some do homestead in previously 100% black communities. Lots of Europeans especially have been moving to Bed Stuy and Harlem, the latter neighborhood should lose its black majority within 10 years.
From where I stand, the only folks who flee are the lower middle class who are afraid that their $50,000 house will lose its value (see NE Philly).
I've never been to Portland, but according to everything I've read it's a lovely city. That neighborhood bus, however, is not free -- trust me.
you are right....it’s prepaid with homeowner dues.
(Hours later)
Hey, I apologize. I “see red” when I see, or even think I see, gated exclusivity, but I really shouldn’t. Neighborhood covenants and strict zoning would drive me very far away, but, if it’s working out for you, who am I to ... ?
I mean, when I try to step back and look at the bigger picture, I can’t grouse against separated, organized suburbian communities and then turn south to complain about all the illegals sneaking across the border into “my” country, can I?
You assumed it’s gated but it isn’t. We do have covenants that are designed to maintain the ambience that we all came here for and this has the effect of protecting our home values. I’m perfectly happy with this.
Majority White Harlem... Wow. Did you ever think you’d live long enough to see that happen ? Showtime at the Apollo will never be the same again.
This story is unbelievable. Did they really suggest that the whites need to step in and mediate some kind of aid between minority owned property and business owners and the city? Maybe it’s the way I’m reading it but that’s incredibly condescending towards minorities. Do they view them as children?
“...From where I stand, the only folks who flee are the lower middle class who are afraid that their $50,000 house will lose its value (see NE Philly)...”
And rightly so, because the diverse wave that moved in destroyed the neighborhoods.
I lived there. I know. I watched it happen.
They may not be as dangerous as the folks on North Broad or in Strawberry Mansion, but lets not kid ourselves that these folks are the "hard working white working class" of your youth.
And no, nabes that are majority black (or white for that matter) are not "diverse."
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