These stores are necessary because small business ownership from local residents is precisely what can improve the economic base of a neighborhood. The bigger, badder tax base that's needed doesn't have to be completely imported from the burbs. How could supporting small, independently owned businesses possibly contribute to urban decline?
-Hilary
----- Original Message ----- From: "Wojtek Sokolowski"
> Unfortunately, much of the anti-gentrification rant is of the same homey
> small -town (or "neighborhhod" as it is called in Baltimore) localism.
> These folks like their little niche with a corner mom-and-pop store and
> seldom notice that it is surrounded by a sea of dilapidated housing,
> lack of any services, reatil an durban decline in general.
>
> My main argument againts this kind of localism is that contributes to
> urban decline and makes US cities unlivable.
>
> The only way to revere that sad trend is to attract people back to the
> cities, and the only way to do it is throuh the dreaded
> "gentrification." Personally I do not like the new-age yuppies and
> would not befriend one, but I like them for their neighborhood effect,
> or externalities if you will. When the yuppies move int, theiy do not
> move to the burbs, their taxes go to the city, the retail outlets and
> service start coming back, new jobs are created and most folks benefit.
> It may not have the old homey small town feeling anymore - but that is a
> different story.
>
> Wojtek
>
>
>
>
>
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