It was a unanimous vote by the Planning Commission. Congrats to Craig Young and ilana Lipset! The public comments were across the board positive, though there was one from an undefined mid-Market “coalition” that expressed concern about the risk of “psychological displacement” as higher-income residents move into the neighborhood.
Psychological displacement. I’m guessing this means that the Tenderloin’s poor, living in protected rooms/housing, will look at the new people moving in – their new apartments with toilets and fire sprinklers, the businesses that cater to them (the Black Cats, the Biigs), maybe the clothes they wear – and feel an immediate need for psychological counseling services?
This, by the way, is a primary reason why the arts are so important. We want a level playing field to counteract “psychological displacement?” Then we should invest heavily in arts facilities, public markets, playgrounds, rec centers where we all can meet, break bread, and share these fundamental human experiences regardless of our backgrounds.
Here’s my admittedly non-scientific take on the situation. Nice people who have money will move into both 1028 and 950. They will be neighbors and interact with the Tenderloin’s nice people who have little or no-money. Have money, have little money, have no money – we will all be nice people together. Of course, there are low-income, middle-income and high-income people that are jerks, but we’ll deal with them. There will be a yellow one that won’t accept the black one, that won’t accept the red one that won’t accept the white one. And different strokes for different folks. And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby.
As a simple guiding principal I propose: New or long-term resident, rich or poor, you respect the Tenderloin – and its residents – or you need to leave.
Poor people are not necessarily helpless people. Quite the contrary; in the Tenderloin you will find some of the strongest people you’ve ever met. No psychological counseling necessary, though moving toward a healthier, more integrated community, sharing the same stuff everybody needs, would be nice. Time for the champions of segregation to step aside. We’re all Everyday People. Oh sha sha. We got to live together.
tenderlion 