SPRING 2012- WEEK 8 (4/29/12)
Gentrification and Chinatown
Here was our agenda:
1. Icebreaker: Whoosh, Whoa (Jeffrey)
2. Teambuilder: Mine Field (Lauren)
3. Lecture – Gentrification (Nick/Mae)
4. Activity – Chinatown and Economy Skits (Bernice/Linda)
5. Project Development Time
6. Reflection writing
7. Announcements
Danny Chen Birthday Cards:
We began the session by each writing a birthday card for Pvt. Danny Chen as part of OCA-NY’s campaign for justice and a fair trial.
To get involved with this campaign check out the birthday card tumblr at:
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/justice-for-danny-chen
AND
Submit your own birthday card.
Team Building Activity:
Minefield
Purpose: Group Building, Communication
Procedure: Facilitator, in a large square area, will split the group into pairs. One person will be the communicator the other person will have their eyes shut. The object of the activity is to successfully direct your blind partner across an area with “mines” (here we used crumpled up paper) using only verbal communication. If the blind person steps on a mine they have to return to the beginning of the mine field.
Lecture: Gentrification
We began our discussion on gentrification by breaking down a complicated but cohesive definition developed by Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence
Gentrification: a physical, economic, and cultural process in which private developers, aided by City policies, invest in low-income neighborhoods, causing high-income people to displace low-income people, often people of color, form their homes and business.
We then looked at the players in gentrification, specifically:
- Residents/Tenants
- Investors
- Government
- Community Organizers
- Second Wave Residents
- Small Business Owners
- Building Owners
Gentrification: a physical, economic, and cultural process in which private developers, aided by City policies, invest in low-income neighborhoods, causing high-income people to displace low-income people, often people of color, form their homes and business.
We then looked at the players in gentrification, specifically:
- Residents/Tenants
- Investors
- Government
- Community Organizers
- Second Wave Residents
- Small Business Owners
- Building Owners
Finally, we looked at strategies to combat gentrification and ways gentrification is spurred (as pictured)
Combat:
1. Direct Action (media); protest
2. Data Gathering
3. Rent Control Laws
4. Re-Zoning
Strategies for Development:
1. Physical Displacement/Force/Money
2. Raise rent
3. Issue repairs
4. Demolition
5. Land use/government
6. High-end development
Mae then led an activity where she asked the students to estimate the percentage of people living below the poverty line and the average household income in Manhattan in comparison to (Community District) CD 1, 2, and 3. Lastly, she compared this information with the number of rent regulated apartments in the same areas.
Here was the data:
Combat:
1. Direct Action (media); protest
2. Data Gathering
3. Rent Control Laws
4. Re-Zoning
Strategies for Development:
1. Physical Displacement/Force/Money
2. Raise rent
3. Issue repairs
4. Demolition
5. Land use/government
6. High-end development
Mae then led an activity where she asked the students to estimate the percentage of people living below the poverty line and the average household income in Manhattan in comparison to (Community District) CD 1, 2, and 3. Lastly, she compared this information with the number of rent regulated apartments in the same areas.
Here was the data:
Housing in Lower Manhattan | |
File Size: | 83 kb |
File Type: |
Our students were surprised to see the number of de-regulated apartments in Chinatown (600,000) as well as the impact in the number of Chinese residents leaving Chinatown (6,000) from 2000-2010.
Activity: Economic Development Skits
Group one preparing their skit
Scenarios:
1) There have been talk of opening up a WalMart in Chinatown which will affect local businesses.
Characters: 1. Store owner(s), 2. local residents, 3. tourists/visitors, 4. Community Organization (Chinatown Manpower Project rep.), 5. WalMart rep.
(Group Members: Hong, James, Ke Xin, Ming, Ru, Suzanne, Zhoufeng, Linda, Nick)
2) Affordable Housing-- Chinatown building owner wants tenants who are not willing/able to pay increased rent to move out so that new tenants who can pay to move in.
Characters: 1. Tenant(s), 2. Chinese Progressive Association rep., 3. Professional person(s) looking to rent apartment, 4. Building Owner/landlord
(Group Members: Bernice, Fang, Hao, Jasmine, Kily, Terran, Jeffrey, Lauren)
1) There have been talk of opening up a WalMart in Chinatown which will affect local businesses.
Characters: 1. Store owner(s), 2. local residents, 3. tourists/visitors, 4. Community Organization (Chinatown Manpower Project rep.), 5. WalMart rep.
(Group Members: Hong, James, Ke Xin, Ming, Ru, Suzanne, Zhoufeng, Linda, Nick)
2) Affordable Housing-- Chinatown building owner wants tenants who are not willing/able to pay increased rent to move out so that new tenants who can pay to move in.
Characters: 1. Tenant(s), 2. Chinese Progressive Association rep., 3. Professional person(s) looking to rent apartment, 4. Building Owner/landlord
(Group Members: Bernice, Fang, Hao, Jasmine, Kily, Terran, Jeffrey, Lauren)
Reflection Writing
1) Consider gentrification in the neighborhood you live in or in an area you know. What is your role in the
scheme of gentrification? What changes do you see in your own neighborhood?
2) Develop your own skit based on the forces of gentrification. What will be your situation? Who will be
your actors? What are their desires/needs/motivations?
Homework: Work on your group presentations and send the final draft to your mentor by Saturday. Be prepared to present at the next session.
Answer the following question: Why does the future of Chinatown matter to you?
Answer the following question: Why does the future of Chinatown matter to you?