Five quick tips to solve gentrification

After nearly a decade of writing about the gentrification of East Palo Alto (EPA), my hope is that the next generation of youth and community members can implement the tips in this article to help mitigate the negative impacts of gentrification now and in the future.  In my opinion here are five quick tips to solve gentrification: 

1. Get clear about the definition of gentrification.  Gentrification: “the buying and renovating of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper or middle-income families or individuals, raising property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses” in the process (www.dictionary.com). Warning: This is a loaded term. 

2. Get clear about the myths of gentrification, so you can de-bunk them. 

   Myth #1: “Gentrification is inevitable.”  Reason: Because gentrification isn’t a force of nature (such as a hurricane or flood), it can't be inevitable. More often than not, it is a process brought about by human actions (intentionally or unintentionally). 

   Myth #2: “Gentrification is insignificant.”  Reason: Based on its definition alone, gentrification is quite significant.  Side note: If you think it’s insignificant, perhaps you simply haven’t been directly and/or negatively impacted by gentrification.

   Myth #3: “Gentrification is insolvable.”  Reason: Because community organizing is a valuable tool at our disposal gentrification can be solved on some level. Community organizing: “The method of engaging and empowering a group (of people) toward a specific goal with the purpose of increasing the influence of historically underrepresented groups of people” (www.britannica.com).  Side note: If you’re questioning whether or not community organizing is a valuable tool, perhaps you simply haven’t researched and/or lived through EPA’s historic Incorporation movement during the 1960’s.

3. Get clear about helping locals (otherwise pushed out by gentrification) find affordable housing.  

   Solution #1: Are you a renter in EPA? If you are a local who grew up in the area (pre big-tech) and you want to stay in the area, consider room-mating with other long-time residents or signing up on housing lists to be notified when new units become available for rent. Hint: Use your networks.

   Solution #2: Are you a homeowner in East Palo Alto? If you are a community elder or long-time resident who owns property (pre big-tech), consider opening your home for rent to long-time residents at an affordable price. Hint: The cost to rent a room in your home or an accessory dwelling unit on your property should not be the same as the cost of a monthly mortgage payment.  Otherwise, locals will rent in cities outside of EPA that are more affordable (this is the definition of housing displacement). While I understand this option, unfortunately, it doesn’t meet the bottom line of keeping locals… local. 

4. Get clear on the importance of designing policies which lessen housing displacement caused by gentrification.

   Solution #1: Attend city council meetings and stay informed about housing issues in the community and in the region.

   Solution #2: Advocate for policies on the ballot which keep EPA’s housing market affordable for renters and homeowners alike, especially for working-class, long-term and/or legacy residents. Maintaining access to affordable housing is one of EPA’s founding pillars.

5. Get clear on what accountability looks like when addressing gentrification.  From my perspective, accountability boils down to response-ability (responsibility).  We must ask ourselves on an individual as well as a communal level: “What will my/our response to gentrification be?”  Only after we’ve answered this question can we begin to organize and implement strategies which mitigate its negative effects once the process of gentrification has begun (i.e. as with EPA) or prevent it from starting if the process hasn’t yet begun (i.e. in cities outside of EPA).

In summary, without a clear understanding of the definition of gentrification, solving it becomes harder.  Without a clear understanding of the myths of gentrification the negative impacts of gentrification become the overarching narrative for why communities like EPA may become culturally and ethnically unrecognizable now and in the future. Without a clear and consistent networking strategy to keep locals from being pushed out by gentrification, ourselves and our neighbors will keep being displaced from EPA.  Without a clear and consistent policy platform at the local government level for the long haul… “affordable housing” in EPA becomes a nostalgic memory.  Without a clear and consistent plan of accountability for ourselves and our community (in the face of gentrification) our beloved city of EPA becomes… a cautionary tale.