Journal Entry 3: Gentrification in New York After migrating to the United States from Puerto Rico many Puerto Ricans found themselves living in uninhabitable buildings (Suarez 277). “ By 1955 seven hundred thousand Puerto Ricans had moved to the continental United States, and most of them went to New York” (Suarez 275). During this time the New York City was being rebuilt in other words gentrification was occurring. According to the Merriam- Webster Dictionary gentrification is defined as the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. Ray Suarez touches upon how the Lincoln Center was built and displaced thousands of families in an area
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Gentrification is occurring right before our eyes. The government is rebuilding neighborhoods and as they rebuild them the cost of living in area is increasing. Although, rebuilding communities may seem like a great idea the increase cost of living is driving families out of their neighborhoods and forcing them to leave. Many families have nowhere to go and sometimes end up in the shelter system. Working in a shelter I get to experience firsthand what these families go through. I have learned that displacement causes trauma to family as a whole. From my perspective I would go on to even say that gentrification could be correlated with mental health issues, depression, stress, and anxiety. It may sound like a stretch however when families are displaced they no longer have a sense of belonging which therefore can play as an underlying cause to the other issues they may be experiencing. Ie: no self-autonomy or low self-esteem. It is sad to see how families are stripped away from what they know and their comfort. As I think about it I understand how the government is trying to oppress and alienate needy families. For the most part the areas that are targeted for gentrification in
Gentrification is occurring right before our eyes. The government is rebuilding neighborhoods and as they rebuild them the cost of living in area is increasing. Although, rebuilding communities may seem like a great idea the increase cost of living is driving families out of their neighborhoods and forcing them to leave. Many families have nowhere to go and sometimes end up in the shelter system. Working in a shelter I get to experience firsthand what these families go through. I have learned that displacement causes trauma to family as a whole. From my perspective I would go on to even say that gentrification could be correlated with mental health issues, depression, stress, and anxiety. It may sound like a stretch however when families are displaced they no longer have a sense of belonging which therefore can play as an underlying cause to the other issues they may be experiencing. Ie: no self-autonomy or low self-esteem. It is sad to see how families are stripped away from what they know and their comfort. As I think about it I understand how the government is trying to oppress and alienate needy families. For the most part the areas that are targeted for gentrification in