Friday, February 06, 2009

"Stop picking on the white people!!!"

Or so a regular and active Hispanic attendee of the Cole Neighborhood Association meetings says from time to time. (Please note again, I do NOT represent or speak for CNA, nor am I a frequent attendee of their meetings. Again, my posts don't claim to be anything than my personal opinion)
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"Everydaylife" writes in the Denver City Data Forum: "We moved to the Cole/Whittier last year because we were looking for affordable housing close to downtown in an area that is turning around"

A reply from "Frank in Denver": "Turning around from what? Is socio-economically cleansing a neighborhood of those with less income and forcing them further out from the city core something to be proud of? What I often run into are young white couples who are very happy to say they are a part of "bringing the neighborhood back", which is in many ways a very racist perspective. Do you think everyone who lives in said area wishes for home prices to rise?"

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Anyone else catch the assumption that our friend Frank made here? Notice anywhere in Everydaylife's post where s/he says s/he's white? What, do no blacks or Hispanics move to Cole seeking affordable housing? Do no blacks or Hispanics hope the neighborhood changes from its checkered, crime-ridden past, to a cleaner, safer place to live? Wow, sounds like Frank is stereotyping here... And what would it matter if s/he was white, black, or any other race? Does a certain ethnic background allow you to have an opinion about your neighborhood, while another forbids you to?

Racism anyone?

"Kettle, it's the pot--You're black." (Pun intended)

No, of course, if anyone doesn't think Cole/Whittier is just perfect just the way it is, they simply must be an evil white person--Oh, and their opinion doesn't count. You know, those dangerous, Starbucks-wielding Caucasians. No self-respecting minority or lower income resident could ever want an affordable grocery store, more commerce within walking distance, more trees and beautification, less violence, or a safer place for their kids to live and play.

I for one would guess that "Everydaylife" is suggesting that Cole/Whittier is "turning around" because crime is decreasing, homes are getting cleaned and fixed up, and in general the area is becoming a safer place for all (white, black, Hispanic, ALL) to live.

But Cole/Whittier still have a major way to go (as evidenced by recent shootings a block from my house)--But instead of thinking about gang violence, assaults, and murders, Frank is already busy lamenting the socio-economic "cleansing" and "forcing" of lower income residents "further out from the city core".

While we're here, I do feel it's my duty to mention the fact that I'm pretty sure this neighborhood was originally Eastern-European, and Asian (I can't find a link to support this assumption, but this is what I've been told--Original Cole residents were workers brought in to build and maintain the railroad). So Frank, while you're fretting over displacement, why not shed a few tears for all the Poles and Czechs that somehow got "displaced" by the blacks and Hispanics that live here now. I'm actually part Czech--Should I start telling every black person I see that I'm pissed that they "took over the neighborhood" from my people, like somebody told my wife the white people are doing today?

Frank goes on to say "Do you think that everyone living in said area wishes for home prices to rise?"
Whoah, slow down there, Chachi. No, but I sure hear a lot of my neighbors, that have lived here for years and years and years, telling me how the neighborhood has changed for the better: That there are fewer gang-bangers and drug dealers, fewer shootings, less violence, and that they feel that the neighborhood is improving--And that they're glad about it.

Know the only person that I know that has gotten "displaced" in my 4 years here? My neighbor, a Hispanic guy that grew up in the Curtis Park projects. But it wasn't the evil Starbucks crowd that displaced him--He told me he moved out because the neighborhood hadn't changed enough yet as he thought it had when he moved in two years ago with his wife and kids. Where did he move? The Suburbs... where he didn't have to worry about shootings, gangs, and drugs.

Perhaps "Frank in Denver" should stop generalizing about what whites think and do, what the poor think and do, and actually get out "in Denver" and actually talk to some people that live in the communities in question.

I think he likely would be surprised how happy residents are about the progress the neighborhood is making, into a safer, cleaner, yet still ethnically diverse area. And how most residents, regardless of economic status, feel there is a long way to go yet. So much so that the number one reason minorities are leaving, is to find a better place to live--Not gentrification or displacement.

Will you find some that are fearful of gentrification? Sure, you will. But these same people are already reaping the benefits of the improvement in the area, whether they've realized it or not. Oh, and the "new neighbors" (as some "old neighbors" call the newer white residents) are responsible for a lot of it: As the Hispanic resident I mentioned first in this post said at one meeting, "It's the white people that clean up the trash... that plant trees... and clean up the graffiti..."

With vacant housing abundant in Cole, crime still a regular occurrence, and folks leaving not because they're being forced out, but because they seek a cleaner, safer neighborhood, perhaps we can stop beating up on the white people about gentrification for a while.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Too funny... and too true...

Anonymous said...

Amen, brother...

Anonymous said...

I have to start by saying that I've gotten a kick out of your blogging. My boyfriend, I, and another friend of ours is looking to move to your neighborhood since it's so close to downtown where I work but I must say I have a lot of mixed feelings. We will be the young minority of the neighborhood if we decide to move into what they call the "castle". I'm really just interested in wether or not its a good idea to move to Cole. I'm not one to be "pushing" people out of there homes but I also want to live somewhere that I know I can walk down the street at night and not be scared. Any advise? Do you know the "castle" that I'm talking about? Is Marion a good street to live on? I need some insight...

ColeMemoirs said...

Thanks for reading and glad you don't judge me as a gentrifier or racist.

Cole is a great neighborhood t obuy in right now, if you have thick skin. It's the city, so shit happens, you know? As I've written about, there are some in the area that think that crack heads and gang bangers are victims of the Starbucks crowd's queest to gentrify urban Denver. But they're just fighting the inevitable change of the neighborhood, good or bad (and I think it's a pretty good thing when folks move into the 'hood, and help make the area a cleaner and safer place to be.

I guess I'd ask why you are considering moving to Cole in the first place? a couple on our block moved here from evergreen, and seem consistently put off by the urban nature of the area. To some extent, I wonder why they moved here originally. If you're a suburbanite, you'll likely be like a fish out of water, at least for a while.

But it's pretty safe over here. I almost never feel unsafe, it's just that I get tired of the trash, the ghetto-fabulous antics of some residents, and being portrayed as a bad person by certain "activists" in the neighborhood.

If you stick it out 5 or so years, I think the neighborhood is really going to take off. There are plenty of things happening over here: redevelopment, the "40th-40th" station, and the upcoming redesign of 38th that will change the uglier, industrial part of Cole into a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly corridor.

I know the house you're talking about and Marion, especially just south of thast block (3400) is a pretty nice block to live on, as far as Cole goes. No section 8 houses or ghetto apartment buildings nearby, and some responsible, committed homeowners next door. Cool house too...

What other neighborhoods are you considering? I had a friend that almost bought that house but instead bought in Cap hill... where if anything there are more burglaries on average. And there is more crime in Whittier, which to many is considered "safer", than Cole.

It's a good place to buy right now, if you can stand the city and can stick it out for a few years.

Hope this helps.

ColeMemoirs said...

I should also say, there are PLENTY of residents just like you here, and more moving here every day. If you do end up moving in, shoot me an email, as I live a block or two away... coleneighborhoodmemoirs@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

Cole isn't unsafe, it's jus rough around the edges. Gang members just shoot each other, which is fine with me.

Anonymous said...

I don't judge, I think you tell it like it is and people can't deal with that.

We aren't looking to buy right now. Being in Denver for 9 months now I haven't really researched what's around me. We were looking at the Cole neighborhood cause it's only 5 minutes from where I live now...22nd & Market. I work downtown and I can walk to work. I like the city feel and not having to deal with traffic to commute is nice.

But thanks for the insite to Cole. I'm not sure where we'll end up but keep up the good blogs! Who knows, maybe I'll be buying a house there in a couple of years.

Anonymous said...

Funny Shit.