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I am about to say the G-WORD right now. . . .

GE-GE-GENTR-

GEN-GEEEENNN

GENTRIFICATION!!!!! ALERT!!!!

what?!?!? Who? Who did it? Where? WHHHHYYY?

I will tell you all about it in this brief update but first let me explain what gentrification is by using an excerpt from Tom Wetzel's 2004 article on the G-Word itself.

"In other times and places an inflow of investment fuels gentrification. Upscale condos are erected, houses are rehabbed. Candle-lit restaurants and stores catering to people with higher incomes displace bodegas and used appliance stores. Rents rise as landlords realize they can attract professionals and business people as tenants. An area of "valuable city real estate" is being cleansed of its working class residents."

There was no question in my mind that Brooklyn's Infamous Coney Island is on its way to G-Land. A disney style amusement park with a neighborhood of tourist attractions to match. Sounds great right? Yeah sure if you are an ATM. If you are the Asian, Russian, Black and other minorities here in Coney Island that have been dealing with crime and graphitti filled neighborhood sitings the change may be a good site for soar eyes as well. But quite frankly my experience with gentrification has proven that it rarely assists the people even though the outer appearance is great because you can get your "Mc Fatty" with the gracious smile of a local who is making minimum wage and happy to at least have a job in these trying times. When can a change for the better feel like a real change for the better? Why are the liberal anti-capitalist, and non-profit outreach do littler's always complaining? What is their solution? Hmm well maybe instead of another corporation infiltrating the landscape of what use to be the best city in the world (until capitalism and false logo idols replaced realism and the spirit of true diversity) Instead of that same old solution how about this. Corporations pay money to educate folks in the rural neighborhoods how to develop their own franchises and infrastructures in order to address their needs and the needs of the natural habitat surrounding them. You mean to tell me with an aquarium near by no one is an expert on how to turn the beach into a hydro-electric nature preserve that will bring jobs and educate tourist on taking responsibility of our planet and communities? I don't know. Maybe I am just a humanitarian with a visionary rising but I just feel that gut feeling when I see another Mc Donald corp popping up in a neighborhood that can use some empowerment that I seen this movie before and already know how its going to end.

Whats your thoughts on the G-Word and Coney Island?

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