Send us a text

Here's today's letter:

I'm a gentrifier and I feel guilty about it all the time. Is there a way to spend my money in the neighborhood in a socially responsible way?

Your question isn’t about whether or not you should move into a gentrifying neighborhood, your question is, now that you’re a neighbor, how can you spend your money in your new neighborhood in a socially responsible way?

Well, for one thing, shop at the corner stores! Shop at the little mom and pop restaurants. Read the bulletin boards to find service providers to help with whatever you need- home repairs, lawn care, tutors, fortune tellers. And, even if you were the top student in our negotiating class at Harvard Law School, don’t nickel and dime your neighbors. It may be more expensive to shop locally in your neighborhood, but go with it. Remember that these local business owners are likely struggling to hang on as more and more businesses open up to serve the newly arrived gentrifiers.

A bonus tip: Rather than assume your neighbors are powerless against the forces of gentrification, I’d encourage you to organically get to know the people in your neighborhood and to find out if there’s a place for you as an ally. Find out what the local activists in your neighborhood are concerned about and find out if there is a place for you to help. Again, I’m being very specific here- find out what their concerns are, find out what battles they are fighting and if there is a way they want your help. I’m trying to help you avoid a savior response here.

I also want to encourage you to join the local area council if you have the capacity- you can advocate for your neighbors and be an ally. Don’t decide what your neighbors need, find out from their own mouths.

I think that a lot of money decisions start with our mindsets and if you want a quick read that will make you think, I enjoyed this piece by in Next City, where the author writes about the 4 types of gentrifiers. I especially loved his cautionary tale about not finding yourself romanticizing or exoticizing your neighbors. 
 
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/types-of-gentrifiers-you-see-in-your-neighborhood

To submit your letter to the show, email spenddonateinvest@gmail.com

To support the show visit buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spenddonate)

Support the show