Harlem to Clinton: You're Ruining Us

[DYouth]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article1191869.ece

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Published on Sunday, July 23, 2006 by the lndependent/UK
Harlem to Clinton: You're Ruining Us
Gentrification since former president moved in sees rents rise by 100 per cent, forcing poor black families out
by Nicholas Wapshott in New York


Bill Clinton's decision to site his office in the largely black Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem, as a gesture of solidarity with African-Americans, appears to have backfired.

Dozens of angry blacks demonstrated last week outside the building that houses the former president's staff, claiming that his move had led to the gentrification of the area and increased the price of homes beyond their reach.

Mr Clinton's empathy with black Americans is well known. His humble family circumstances, as a penniless white boy raised among poor blacks in rural Arkansas, gave him a rare insight into the African-American community. It led to his being dubbed "Bubba", a term of affection among impoverished Southerners, and, without irony, "America's first black President".

But his move to Harlem, known as the Black Capital of America, has had unintended consequences. The protest march by 40 mainly elderly people to 125th Street was organised by the Harlem Tenants Council to protest at property prices, which have rocketed since Mr Clinton moved in.

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At first I thought the title may refer to Hilary, who's also ruining New York.

[Jim Sagle]

1. Oh really? How is she ruinng NY?

I thought that was just a Republican talking point. Please enlighten us.

[rodeodance]

30. I would like to know also. (too many broard brush strocks at Hil. lately).

[Miss Chybil]

34. "She" who? nt

[redirish28]

2. I honestly believe Bill had no real malice intent to cause trouble

Unlike Hillary who's recent votes really make one wonder.

[napi21]

3. Oh geesh! What is the problem?

He moves his office there and their property values go up, and they're pi**ed about that?????

I understand people not being able to afford property there now, but isn't it a good thing for those who now own it?

This sounds like a damned if you do and dmaned if you don't thing!

[redirish28]

7. The problem becomes if people in one area generally make 18,000

Let's say for example and proterty value averages around 15,000 and by Clinton having an office there causes property value to go up to let's say 50,000. How can anyone making 18,000 can afford to have a home?

[jobycom]

12. It also drives up property taxes

Gentrification is a complex issue. Property values go up, which means that people who own their homes have a more valuable property, but that leads to higher taxes, which can make the person have to sell. And if they sell, they can't afford housing in their area, and have to move elsewhere. This splits up families and friends who may have lived in the same area for generations.

Also, rents go up, so if you don't own a house, you may have to move. And if you grew up in the area, you have to move away when you move out. And if you lease a business, rent goes up. In the particular case of Harlem, as in many traditionally black neighborhoods, the new people moving in are white, and don't earn a living or shop in the area, so business goes down, until eventually the older businesses sell out to Starbucks, and soon it's a different neighborhood. Historic houses and businesses are sold, people are forced to sell family homes. The increase in property values doesn't bring an increase in wages the way a regular economic boom would.

[pitohui]

18. new york city has rent control

so it doesn't drive up rent for those who are actually living there

[SensibleAmerican]

28. Not every place in NYC has rent control

n/t

[jobycom]

35. I've heard that, but how does it work? Does it lock in prices based on

region, or rental history, or per lease, or what? I mean, an apartment in Harlem will be far lower than one in Manhattan, so if the cap is based on Manhattan prices, the apartment in Harlem can go way up before hitting the cap. If it's based on leases, then when a new apartment is leased, it will go up. I just don't know how it works.

[SensibleAmerican]

26. These people aren't property owners, they're renters

n/t

[Cocoa]

4. what do you think about the story?

about gentrification?

Any thoughts on the subject matter you posted, or was it just about Hillary?

[blondeatlast]

5. A moderate rise in rent is of course the Clenis' fault.

:sarcasm:

From the article, which is filled with stupidity and RW talking points--or are they the same thing?
A one-bedroom flat which used to rent six years ago for $800 a month now costs $1,400, according to Valerie Orridge, president of the Savoy Park Tenants Association.

[DYouth]

8. Hey is supporting the poor a RW talking point?

I misseed that one at the Young Republicans meeting!

[brentspeak]

32. You didn't miss that one because you were too busy going over your notes

on how to infiltrate Democratic websites. Last week's get-together was on how to quickly come up with pathetic reasons to explain away Young Republicans' refusing to enlist in the war in Iraq.

("Hillary is also ruining NY" gave you away immediately, Chuckles.)

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. On what planet is a nearly 100% increase 'moderate'?

[MGKrebs]

20. If 75% is "nearly 100%", then I guess you have a point.

But 75% over 6 years is 12.5% per year. Sure, faster than inflation, but there has been a dramatic increase in the cost of housing everywhere.

And if we want to protect those on fixed or low income from property tax increases, then we should do that, but we don't have to stifle real estate values to do it. We have homestead exemptions here in Georgia for the retired/elderly/fixed income. Does New York not have that? Fer' cryin' out loud, there's rent control in NYC, isn't there?

[SensibleAmerican]

27. And those poor scumbuckets are just ungrateful pigs

:eyes:

[Mugsy]

6. I bet those who already owned homes there are happy.

Few "renters" in "Central Park East". If you own a place there, it'll finally be worth as much as the rest of the property in Manhatten.

[lithiumbomb]

14. property taxes increase

Assuming NYC has property tax, and the taxes are aligned with your property value - if the area you're in has property values rise 100%, that's exactly what happens to your taxes. It doesn't matter if you own your home. Pretty much a standard side effect of gentrification.

[jobycom]

9. Hillary gets high marks as senator. How you figure she's ruining NYC?

The main complaints I hear about her are from people who mistakenly believe she's a conservative.

[Hardrada]

11. Or shudder at the possibility of Hillary/Biden etc. ticket.

[jobycom]

13. Well, I'd shudder at the Biden half, but

now that you mention it... That's an interesting ticket. As long as Hillary is healthy.

[DYouth]

23. I'd shudder at the warmonger 100% nt

[buff2]

24. HEY..............IT'S GOING TO RAIN HERE TOMORROW

NIGHT. And it's all the CLINTON'S fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eyes:

[jobycom]

33. That's what I said. But the Clinton half would be beautiful.

Unless you're one of those people who believes the smears against Clinton, and think she's a warmonger. You're not, are you? You're smarter than those people, aren't you? I mean, we Democrats have to be. We've watched them do it Bill Clinton, Gore, Kerry, Dean, now Hillary Clinton. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me... let's see... five times, shame on me. Well, I won't get fooled again, I look at records and listen to entire speeches instead of Republican-edited sound-blurbs, so I know Hillary's a liberal.

[FastHorizon]

36. Different Clinton

check out the link..

[jobycom]

38. Read last line of the OP

And welcome to DU!! :hi: :patriot:

[last1standing]

15. What a stupid thing to argue over.

Of course Clinton's decision to establish offices in Harlem would lead to it's gentrification. That's why he did it in the first place. And of course, left to their own devices, landlords are going to raise prices for apartments when the area becomes nicer. That's just the way of capitalism without safeguards. Does the author of this piece want Clinton to move out and have Harlem descend back into slums and unsafe streets? Is that really what he's wanting?

It's very strange to me that someone who supposedly cares about Harlem would want that. Why isn't he instead calling Clinton's move a success but railing against greedy landlords? Better yet, why isn't he attacking the lack of regulations that allows rents to skyrocket in neighborhoods, disenfranchising large groups of poor people and leaving them without homes? I guess it's just easier to blame Clinton for using his fame to help bring an area out of blight. Shame on him.

[Barkley]

16. You'd never see this description in the mainstream white media:

"Mr Clinton's empathy with black Americans is well known. His humble family circumstances, as a penniless white boy raised among poor blacks in rural Arkansas, gave him a rare insight into the African-American community. It led to his being dubbed "Bubba", a term of affection among impoverished Southerners, and, without irony, "America's first black President."

You might see the story but not written this manner.

I like the British approach.

But I think laying the gentrification on Clinton alone is
an exaggeration.

[pitohui]

17. they have rent control, don't they?

i don't believe this for a minute, as the nyc area is famous for having rent control for long term residents and homeowners are surely DELIGHTED at a 100 percent increase in the value of their homes

i would look into who paid these 40 old folks to march

this story smells of day old fish!

[Renew Deal]

19. Yeah, it's Clinton's fault.

Bullshit. Has anyone been around NY lately? Real estate is out of hand. People are moving to neighborhoods they can afford.

[buff2]

21. Her name is HILLARY,not Hilary

and is this a Clinton bashing thread? :wtf:

[kskiska]

22. Clinton's first choice for his office was in midtown

but the wingnuts all went batshit over that, saying it was too expensive, and he decided on Harlem. Do you suppose rents would have increased if he'd decided on midtown? Where would you suggest President Clinton maintain his offices?

[Jose Diablo]

25. I don't think there are any large corporations based in Harlem

so why should Hilary care about Harlem?

[w4rma]

29. I'm sorry but their protesting someone living in their neighborhood is BS.

I'm absolutely appalled.

[Demoiselle]

31. This is absurd.

The price rise in Harlem is also happening all over New York City. What a ridiculous excuse for a story.

[JI7]

37. right wing spin on something happening all over the country

or at least the larger populated areas.

[maddezmom]

39. locking

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