We have a friend that has hired a couple of Mexican gentlemen to do some brickwork for his house. It's very likely they're illegal immigrants from what I know, as they don't speak much English, don't have local addresses, bank accounts, drivers licenses, etc. Nice enough guys, and they seem to know what they're doing, as several "white" households on our friend's block have similarly hired them to work on their homes and have been happy with their handiwork.
I had a Carlos Mencia moment as it struck me that while many affluent whites in these neighborhoods make it clear they'd like all the illegal immigrants and non-English speaking Mexican families to move elsewhere, they're sure not averse to having them in the neighborhood--To work! Every time they pay an illegal some cash under the table, they're providing a story to be told to hundreds of other potential immigrants in Mexico, of how easy it is to come across to America (illegally) and make a living. By providing them work, they're reinforcing the "American Dream" of the typical illegal immigrant, and giving more of them the motivation to come to our country.
As I shared these thoughts with my wife, she pointed out something even more ironic. Each house that lower-income, illegal immigrants help fix up hastens the gentrification, and thus, hastens their imminent departure from the neighborhood as property values climb and they're "driven out" (as some people put it).
Which, again brings me back to the questions: Whose fault IS gentrification? Or is it even really a bad thing (or just progress)?
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