As a resident in New York City, changes have definitely been implemented into our neighborhoods bringing about privatization. Before moving to the borough of Manhattan, I used to live in the Bronx 2-3 years ago. Although I am a borough away, I always visit whenever I can. As I was growing up in my neighborhood, I loved how it felt like a family. Everyone knew each other and helped each other whenever they could. Until semi-recently, there has been a restructuring of the entire neighborhood. Small businesses were being forced to shut down because companies wanted to demolish it and put something new. It just felt like a sudden rush of different companies began occupying our space. One year a BJ’s opened, the next a self-storage, the next a shopping mall occupied by Best Buy, T.J. Maxx, Aldi’s, etc., and even more shopping corporations taking over our space. The area is still being gentrified today and these corporations continue to take away the financial living of the residents. One of my best friends and her family might become a victim of being kicked out of their territory because a company wants to take over their family restaurant and convenience store. I couldn’t help but compare it to how these graffiti artists were thinking about the NYPD and the mayor prohibiting them from enjoying their art. Although they are two completely different circumstances, the similarities are there. Both feel the need to fight against these large corporations and retaliate because that is the only way to protect themselves. As these graffiti artists continue to showcase their art in public areas despite negativity from the public and government officials, these family-owned businesses protest in their own way just as they do. Just as Dickinson expresses in their article, the lower class today are being forced to privatize their neighborhood and completely change those who reside in it as a result of corporations taking over.
Spring 2022
