De-Gentrify New York and Give Her Back to the World

April 27, 2011 | Old Gym | New York City

With Hanif Kureishi, Tracie Morris, Luc Sante, and others; moderated by Sarah Schulman

LISTEN | Download the mp3
 

CLIPS: Hanif Kureishi | Tracie Morris | Luc Sante

 PHOTO GALLERY | View the photo gallery on Flickr

In the 1970s politicians and real estate developers promised New Yorkers that an expanded tax base was necessary to pay our bills. Now, NYC is overflowing with rich people and we are losing hospitals, teachers, and bus lines by the day. The rich got richer, and subsequent gentrification produced a homogeneity that undermines urbanity, which is dependent on the dynamic mix to thrive. As a result we have a gentrification of the mind as well as neighborhood. The panelists imagine how to de-gentrify New York and take her back as a place of refuge, insight, and a key global headquarters for the production of new art ideas and political movements for the world to enjoy again.
 

PEN BLOGS

• Deji Olukotun: I am now going to try something entirely new: pre-emptively post before an event. This could result in me appearing prescient, or prophetic, or like a nincompoop. [More]

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• Antonio Romani: Sono ormai tre anni che vivo in questa città, in Park Slope, e comincio a capire come New York sia molto più delle celebrate cartoline turistiche, o delle locations dei film di Woody Allen, che hanno colmato l’immaginario degli europei. [More]