Here’s who gets cast aside

There is no gentrification without displacement

RE: Police search for masked ‘Try Hamilton’ protester ( June 27)

So Sam Merulla and Krysta Boyer insist that the process of gentrification will leave “no one behind”? Well that’s a lie. There have already been people left behind.

People who have been — and are being — priced out of their neighbourhoods. People who’ve been left to fight outside investors that purchased their low-rent building and aim to absurdly increase rent. People who, on fixed incomes, can only afford to live in pest-infested buildings. No. No one’s being left behind here. Not those who’ve been intimidated, harassed and ticketed by “community policing teams” installed in newly gentrifying areas. Not those who now work twice as hard to pay rent only to fall further behind on other bills. Who go hungry and rely on empty food bank shelves.

No one should be angry or upset about any of this, right?

Anyone angry is — in the words of Merulla and Boyer — “misguided” and “ignorant”. Lived experiences aren’t reality, because some politician and developer said so.

You know who didn’t leave anyone behind, Sam? Those protesters. From the sound of it, they stuck by each other, fought for each other, and left no one behind. Good for them. But you? No — you have left plenty of people behind. You and every other city councillor, investor, developer, business owner and community member who thinks mixed-income housing is a panacea when it’s really just short-sighted. But we’re the ones who are ignorant? There is no gentrification without displacement. And frankly; it’s exceptionally ridiculous that anyone employed by the city can try to insist such a thing while they simultaneously withhold affordable housing on the waterfront so they can sell to developers.

If that’s not displacement — and a slew of other nasty things — I don’t know what is.

And for once, the city isn’t even the dirtiest game in town. It’s the likes of Try! Hamilton and those similar who claim they are doing what’s best for communities, but fail to actually consult those communities. White saviour complex, anyone?

I wonder; with the intentional targeting and redevelopment of urban ghettos, do you think Merulla or Boyer — or any other fine gems with Ambitious Realty et al — realize their actions are inherently racist? That they are partaking in structural anti-blackness and anti-indigeneity by pushing black, brown and red bodies from their homes and communities? By insisting Hamilton would be better with “new residents” and selling redevelopment to investors by calling our communities “blank canvas”.

And then, of course, attempting to erase those experiences by insisting that’s not the case because that’s not the intention.

People are angry — and they don’t get that way for no reason. It makes sense that they want to defend their communities, their homes, and their futures. To collectively confront injustices done to their families and friends.

That’s what sticking together looks like. That’s what “no one left behind” looks like.

And while maybe the folks on that tour ended up covered in sour milk and condoms, I doubt any of them are facing homelessness tomorrow or going to bed hungry. Because if they were, they’d probably have been holding some signs or throwing the condoms themselves — or at least throwing some tantrums.

If people want to vilify protesters for using some squirt guns and copious amounts of protection against something they liken to the plague, fine.

But to do that while ignoring the even bigger injustices perpetrated by pro-gentrification groups, investors and developers claiming to be victims is hypocritical.

You can’t blame the oppressed for fighting their oppressors.