gentrification mostly
So, listening to a rap song railing against gentrification (immortal technique is worth listening to for smart rap) and wondering about it. I dislike gentrification 'cause it robs neighborhoods of their character (Williamsburg has no personality outside of the ethnic neighborhoods) but it's the only reason I've got a good grocery store within walking distance. Gentrification leads to the type of crowd that's gonna pay for organic, vegan, kosher, and other wise varied food; the other options in the neighborhood are bodegas, delis, (a good number of which are probably selling drugs) and a grocery store where none of the food looks fresh. The places trying to appeal to yuppies and hipsters look so much cleaner than almost anything else in this neighborhood, and I can't say that's such a bad thing. (Non-skeevy is so much more appealing than skeevy, and I've seen both going to school here for so long.)
So much of the gentrification debate has a racial tinge, and it's just sort of weird for me 'cause my only motivation for choosing this neighborhood is that my school's here. My apartment is smaller and more expensive than the average place here (it's worth it 'cause my building and location are awesome) but it's still a tiny room in a converted brownstone so it's not changing the character of the neighborhood. In theory my skin color changes the character of the neighborhood, but that's one of those anti-gentrification arguments that bothers me on a few levels, 'cause well no one community is entitled to any neighborhood, and other people could be moving in for reasons of convince, not 'cause it's hip or whatever nonsense. The whole "robbing profit argument" amuses me, 'cause I wonder if it even applies if the landlord is black (mine)/Hispanic/whatever race gentrification is hurting in the specific community.
One of the most interesting things about moving into any non-new residence is learning about the habits of previous residences through figuring out what needs to be repaired. I just got a range hood put in 'cause I kept setting off the fire alarm, whereas the guy who lived here before me probably never cooked (judging by how clean the stove/oven was when I first moved in.) An outlet in one corner of the room should get installed soon-been running an extension cord over cabinets 'til now-and it's kind of bemusing that noone ever thought of it before. The floors aren't level, so the desk and table shake-but the guy who used to live here had neither, instead having couches, chairs and other big solid furniture. The oven's also not level, but that'll get fixed with shims asap. So don't have time for the zillion little home repairs that need to get back.
On a totally different note, I'm incredibly happy/lucky that the computer engineering adviser actually likes his job and therefore goes the extra step and calls/emails people to get answers and documents. Most of the administration will say no to anything that requires 'em to do anything.