Sunday, June 8, 2008

Oh Gentrification......Who's Turn To Watch It??

Portland in the Neeewwwssss....I love Portland, You know that.....but sometimes......progress is not so progressive. I think about this as I drive up McKinley to shop or to hit the PO....
All is not so well in P-Town.....gosh, white people are upset at white people. Welcome to my world !
This post from Things White People Love is soooo funnnnny
because Tacoma is trying so hard to be funkyurbanhipcool....and the gentrification must be done properly.
Here is a list of Comedy Topics.....

Things Mentioned


That whole Take Back Frost Park..while colorful.....is just hilarious!!
You wanna take back a public park from uh, the public?
I double-dog dare ya to show up at 11:49 PM....on Saturday night.....and start chalking. Bring the kids! It's fun !!

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, this is great! Our first naysayer. Thanks for noticing. While "Taking Back the Park" at night would be more appropriate to the "initiative", the Chalk-Off competitions part would be a disaster since we nor the public could see really well. Silly :p !

What, you don't like this pro-Tacoma stuff? Hmm...

propriatress said...

I Love the Chalk Off...but it began as Take Back Frost Park...which is um, well, you know. The only part of the current gentrification effort that I find really amusing (different from the part that I find grotesque) is the idea that nothing has gone on in Tacoma (ever!)towards growth or improvement.....and that is myopic. Tacoma moves slow...but it has always been a rocking little town. It knew it was pretty and functional. But being Seattle's punching bag, that free-spending slutty younger sister that she is, has left Tacoma being the town that goes to work every day and cleans up in the morning, after the party that Seattle throws.
Gentrification is not a panacea. It creates nearly as many problems as it solves, and once again, it is an exercise that benefits the rich, rather than the not-rich...except for the crumbs that fall off the table. This time, I'll admit, feels different. This Uplifting Time feels permanent. It is more citywide, tho concentrated downtown. I think that will make the difference. So Chalk On my downtown funkytown compadres.....I'm already walking among you.....

kevinfreitas said...

Glad we amuse but we starting "taking back the park" from all the crap that does indeed go on during the day there. Without tackling the small things progress of any kind will be moot. It's easy to activate/use a space -- all you have to do is show up. No one who was "taking back Frost Park" thinks Tacoma's always been a dead zone but this spot was. Not exactly a hopping place to be. We used it and it's turned into something more with all the chalk art that folks get to enjoy for days after it's created.

Oh, and I'm completely down with a midnight chalk off sometime.

propriatress said...

Hi Kev! It's just the Take Back part that was a bit over the top. I love that you and your merry band of bloggers and stuff are down there having loads of fun...Since I've been a downtownie for a long time....and have written about the issues for at least 15 years, I love to see positive changes. As Spud Goodman said-- For anyone to become uppity about Tacoma....is a bit silly (paraphrase)
I used to write about how folks should go to the Farmer's Mkt. and don't be scared of the downtown !!! when the Market first started.
I used to write about 6th Ave years ago too.....suggesting that it was ripe for more great places and independent businesses.
It's great to see it come true.
I guess since I identify more with the not-middle class, I have a different perspective than most.
Yes, It Is All Amusing. Isn't that the whole point of R R ??? To be amusing? Well, congratulations! You're amusing.
I'm serious about the night time chalking. Do it! Meet up downtown, have a nice meal, amble up the street and begin the picturing...by flashlight??

Anonymous said...

I'm already down there at that time, drinking

Anonymous said...

Actually, there has been a permanent change that you can see. The money that was allocated for a fence around Frost Park has now been shifted away from that purpose. There is no longer a fence planned for Frost Park. I don't know if our timing was just good with the whole "Take Back the Park" idea or not, but you can't argue that it's nice not to have a big gnarly fence going up around the minute green space in downtown.

propriatress said...

intacoma.....we Knew that...maybe you could bring refreshments...or flashlights.....
ensie.....yes ! that idea for a fence is grotesque. A pretty fence with blooming vines for a sense of enclosure maybe....but I think openness is a better plan. I watched the Chalking bloom.....I applaud it. I know "chalking bloggers" have goodness all about them....An urban experience,tho, includes people of all walks of life. Otherwise, it's a gated community. Which reveals a shrunken heart and a fearful sorry ass mindset.(a secure bldg. is not a gated community...I lock my doors..)
And as far as chasing crime away....It's the crime in boardrooms rather than the petty crimes... I am reminded every time I buy food, buy gas, and read about dead soldiers.