Point of View
Effects of Gentrification and Aftermath of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Oakland's Gentrification
The East Bay has seen a lot of changes in the last 10 years, genfrication has both postively and negativley effected the city. It has made nice community gardens, and safer streets, but it has displaced 1000's creating the largest homeless populations this city has ever seen.
Rent increases, and the influx of wealthy people have changed the communities that have made Oakland so unique. In an article on the East Bay Express it states that gentrification is "the result of decades of deliberate actions: disinvestment, redlining, predatory lending, a lack of affordable housing construction and preservation as well as too few tenant protections." (The Forces Driving Gentrifcaion in Oakland) This along with the tech boom in surrounding cities has only made gentrification speed up it's process. Even though gentrification is thought to be a newer idea, many historical examples gives us signs of what is taking place now. For example in the 1930's a new real estate system was used where it effected people of color. They could not get approved for home loans, the Urban Displacement Project state that "83% of today's gentrifying areas in the East Bay were once rated as "hazardous" or "definitely declining" by the federal Home Owners Loan Corporation." (The Forces Driving Gentrifcaion in Oakland) Basically this meant that non-white neighborhoods where they financially refused to give or extend credit to people who wanted to buy homes. Gentrification has led us to a huge decline in diverse neighborhoods, that once had large populations of Black, Asian, and Latino families. Once undesirable neighborhoods historically owned by black and brown neighborhoods in Oakland are now flooded by retail investors and real estate investors, ultimatley displacing the people of color. " "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"-MLK" ( Oakland Tales, pg.79)
The Coronavirus Pandemic
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a newly infectious disease, putting us into a pandemic. According to W.H.O. "most people infected with COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness." (W.H.O "Coronavirus) There is many ways to preven the virus from spreading, social distancing, washing your hands regularly, along with hand sanitzers, and avoiding touching your face. Because it spreads mainly from droplets of saliva and discharge form the nose we wear face masks to ensure that we protect ourselves.
Many business have closed until further notice, and busnesses that must stay open have issued work at home guidelines to limit peoples interactions. Schools have closed down and students must learn by the internet and meet with teachers online through companies like ZOOM. Parks and public spaces have closed off picnic areas, basketball courts, and play sturctures, there are less people on the road and more people practicing shelter in place. CNN10 states that 41% in 36 states Coronavirus cases were connected to nursing homes, this effects primarily the people most at risk.
There are a lot of different outcomes from this depedning on the response of the governments and soicety to the coronavirus, and it's economic aftermath, hopefully this teaches us a more humane and civilized outcome, so we can be prepared for future pandemics. This would include the government putting funds away for distaters such as these that effect jobs, businesses, and home life. Better funding for our front line workers like, doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, and civil service jobs. But this could also have it's negative effects on the world, we may be hesitant to interact with one another, and this could build further distrust with the government and civilian relationship.