Gentrification

[opebo]

I have a comical experience with gentrification - when I am back home, cruising around St. Louis looking for a pedestrian female, I often find that the areas they were previously to be found are now full of rehabs, gentry, and real estate agents! 

I liked it better before.  Though in the transition period weird things happen - one can pick up someone offering a $20 service in front of a house up for sale for a quarter million.  Doesn't last long though, and the blue-noses drive the more enjoyable people out.

[opebo]

I think it's importent to make a distinction between cleaning an area up and driving out the drug dealers and all that...

Drug dealers are risking their lives fighting for our personal freedoms - they're practically the only Resistance movement we've got. 

[opebo]

Here's a great story about the ultimate gentrification - the Bowery in NYC is being turned in to high-rises of multimillion dollar condos:
http://villagevoice.com/nyclife/0509,bpress,61613,15.html