Some view gentrification as a good thing, a way to improve our community. The reality is for most East LA residents, it’s not raising rent, loss of culture, or even force of displacement. Here’s a view at how gentrification is and will change our community, affecting local families.
According to NCRC, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition found over 135k residents forced to be displaced because of the rapid raising of rent, property values, and taxes. In LA, places like Boyle Heights can now be seen having the same effect. Residents are struggling to keep up with rising rent, threatening the economic stability of our communities. Can you manage losing a place you call home with all your memories tied to it?
On top of this, the rapid growth of rent and property value makes it difficult for future generations to move out of their parents’ place and find a place of their own. CA rent statistics show from May 2022 to May 2023 rent for an apartment has increased from $2533 to $2784, a 10% increase in LA. This doesn’t only apply to apartments; payments for houses have increased 84%—almost $6,000 a month since January 2020 for a mid-tier house, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Not being a problem for wealthier people, benefiting them by having safer streets and allowing them to start new businesses in the location past residents were forced to move out.
If people are struggling to keep up with rent alone to stay with a roof over their heads, they certainly can’t keep their businesses open. Without family businesses, we will lose our culture, removing traditional foods representing us. Losing memories we’ve made in our business, connections we’ve made with business owners New businesses such as McDonald’s or Starbucks are a big threat to family-owned companies since these large companies are able to attract more customers with their already-known names. These companies do not look out for the good of the community, often barely paying their employees the minimum wage and buying poor-quality food for cheap simply to make the most profit they can.
Future generations will be affected the most, having to deal with all the increased prices of rent, groceries, and living expenses. According to imoving.com, the average age people move out of their homes is between 24 and 27. They state reasons being economic factors make it difficult things like finding a job with sufficient living wage or affordable housing.
As students in East LA, gentrification affects our whole community, our family, friends, and our future. Understanding the negative impact it will have on us will allow us to take action; we can protect the places we hold dear to us and the people who make our community us.
Cesar Perez is a senior at East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy, having transferred from Mendez High School his junior year. He enjoys watching scary movies, NBA games, and playing basketball. He also cares deeply about school, family, friends and his future.