Residents Should Be Included In Mesa Gentrification

          Gentrification is the process of changing a neighborhood’s character by improving housing and attracting more affluent residents and new businesses. Unfortunately, a lot of the original residents of the neighborhood are displaced by the rising cost of living. This can have a dramatic effect on a neighborhood’s culture. Families that have lived in the neighborhood for generations, historic and culturally significant art, architecture, and local businesses are all casualties of gentrification. Native residents should be included in gentrification efforts to preserve the culture and history of the community.

          Gentrification is a relatively new idea for residents of Mesa. John Giles, the Mayor of Mesa, told the Phoenix New Times, “I think in some ways, we aspire for gentrification.” (Schwenk, 2021) For many years, neighboring cities were experiencing growth while Mesa development moved at a slower pace. Now, Mesa neighborhoods, like downtown, are experiencing an increase in development. New housing, shops, and restaurants are always opening, and the area is being compared to Old Town Scottsdale.

As neighborhood improvements are made, the costs are often passed to business owners in the form of citations for code violations. Schwenk also found that while landlords were pressured to fix dilapidated housing and businesses for residents and business owners, it was often contingent on new, more expensive lease terms. (Schwenk, 2021) Violations have also been given for displaying signage the city themselves gave the business owners during the pandemic.

As neighborhoods increase in affluence, something else increases, police presence. Mesa has added five new patrols and eight new bike patrols to the downtown district. (Schwenk, 2021) The increased police patrols are out of the ordinary to native residents and cause community members to feel uncomfortable, or even fearful.

Corporate money drives much of the new construction. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) states that some downtown development has been led by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (Stories, 2021) Neighborhoods that were once underdeveloped and underinvested in are now developing market-rate and luxury housing that many displaced residents will not be able to afford. The new housing puts pressure on landlords to focus on properties in disrepair, but the new rates will likely displace many who lived in the properties while they were ignored.

One group is making efforts to keep the community, culture, and history intact. Augie Gastelum of the nonprofit Retail, Arts, Innovation, and Livability (RAIL) states, “The threat of gentrification is right in front of us.” (Stories, 2021) Gastelum and the other founders of RAIL have grown up in the communities they are trying to save. Rail began its work by representing diverse people during the Valley Metro Rail construction. It has continued its work by assisting small business owners and businesses owned by people of color. They have also given direct assistance to many of these business owners during the pandemic. 

Fortunately, there are things we can do to prevent the displacement that arises from gentrification. Williams says to keep residents in neighborhoods we must foster economic growth and opportunities in low-income communities and tear up existing zoning laws. (Williams, 2020) Single-family zoning laws create a shortage of affordable housing. Some states, like Oregon, have passed laws requiring cities over certain populations to allow duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes to be built in areas that were previously zoned for only single-family dwellings.

Another way to resist gentrification displacement is by empowering residents. Williams states that Community Movement Builders in Atlanta, Georgia is working to educate and organize its residents. (Williams, 2020) They help educate people in areas like finance and real estate, so they can organize and stand up to developers and corporations. The organization also provides education about elected officials and voting. They also hope for a change in the way housing is approached, moving towards a more human-rights perspective as opposed to profits and market value.

Residents must be included in development efforts to preserve culture and history. Citizens were often segregated into separate neighborhoods, and they made the neighborhood their own. They should be part of the community when long-ignored problems are finally taken notice of. We need to educate residents and vote for officials who care about communities more than corporate money. Finally, people should come together and feel empowered to stand up before gentrification displaces the rich, diverse communities that make Mesa a unique home.

 

 

Sources:

Schwenk, K. (2021, October 1). As development grinds ahead in Mesa, longtime locals are getting left behind. Phoenix New Times. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/as-development-grinds-ahead-in-mesa-some-are-getting-left-behind-12117250 

Stories, L. I. S. C. (2021, October 13). People over property: A Latino community asserts its historic place in Mesa, AZ. Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.lisc.org/our-stories/story/people-over-property-latinx-community-asserts-its-historic-place-mesa-az/ 

Williams, M. (2020, September 15). Gentrification doesn't have to force minority residents out of their homes. activists say there are 3 ways to protect communities. Business Insider. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-to-protect-longtime-residents-from-gentrification-2020-9 

Campbell, A. (2021, December 13). As ASU expands into Mesa, some residents worry about what could be lost. The Arizona State Press. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://www.statepress.com/article/2021/12/asu-building-at-mesa-center-lacking-outreach 

My Intro to Nonspeaking

When my son was delayed in speech development, I didn't think much of it. My daughter was also a little late, but a lot of friends told me that's how the second kid was. They were right, she now tells me stories all day long. So, I was alright with giving my son some extra time to develop his voice. 

As time went by, I noticed he not only wasn't talking. He would cover his ears when he was anxious and interact with things repetitively. At his next wellness exam I filled out the usual developmental screening with dread. I knew he was behind and this form brought things to mind I never even thought of. 

There were several appointments and evaluations to be done. It was difficult, but we found a great option for therapy and were excited to get started.  But he still wasn't speaking, in fact, he began making more noises to express his wants and needs to us. I started to think he would never speak to me. That he would never call me Mom. 

This thought hit me pretty hard emotionally, so I decided to do a little research. In the article, "Study Shows That Many Nonverbal Autistic Children Overcome Severe Language Delays", researchers found in a study done by scientists at The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, 47% of participants became fluent speakers. Moreover, 70% were able to speak in simple phrases. This was found in children aged over four and five years old, which is the benchmark for seeing speech development in autistic children. 

These statistics helped me change my perspective. Perhaps one day he will say simple phrases or even call me Mom. I have new found hope that he will speak to me one day, but until that day comes, I will keep finding new ways to communicate with him on his terms, not mine. Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer, points out, "These findings offer hope to parents that their language-delayed child will go on to develop speech in elementary school, or even as teenagers." 

Resource: https://www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/nonverbal-child-autism-language-delays