Reading Response Oct. 5th

This weeks readings brought a lot of new and interesting perspectives on the topic and issue of Gentrification. In the first reading I thought it was interesting how it brings up gentrification as a human rights problem. I understand the point trying to be made but I don’t know if I agree completely with it being considered a human rights violation. The phasing and pushing out of people from a neighborhood is a terrible thing, and I am sympathetic to that but I don’t think it falls under a law that can combat the problem. There needs to be initiatives with city and government policies to increase rent controlled buildings in order to maintain the existing community but also leaving room for new residents to move in. It is healthy when a community has all walks of life coexisting instead of having predominantly one or another type of community. As cities continue to grow in population and culture, cities should be melting pots and not segregated communities. Lines should be blurred from segregated communities and cultures should be shared, not closed off.

In the second reading, it presents a very interesting take on modern day living. I had never thought of co-living spaces as a possibility to combat gentrification. It does give an interesting take on how people can find comfort in such a big city like New York. As stated in the reading, New York can be a very lonely place for someone who is moving here from a Kentucky or an Arkansas, and this type of living makes the city seem more comfortable…with also a rather hefty price-tag that comes with it.