What is gentrification?

Gentrification happens when real estate developers and city governments work hand in hand to push the poor out to make room for the rich.

Affordable housing becomes condominiums, local grocery stores become trendy health food stores, local restaurants become expensive bars and social clubs, small businesses become art galleries and cafes.

For the people who aren't immediately kicked out of their community, gentrification brings higher rent, high costs of living, and increased police repression.

As a city becomes gentrified, the city will crack down on ordinances targeting the poor (500$ towing fee etc) as well as harassing the homeless and immigrants (287g etc).

We will also see more 'improvements' to the city: more "eco-friendly" parks, cleaning the lakefront, bike lanes, police cameras on every block. These sound good until we realize that these improvements aren't for us -- they are there to please the "green" yuppies who want protection from the rest of the city!

Click here to see specific examples of gentrification in our city!

All is not lost! An organized community can fight gentrification, but it will take equal parts hard work and solidarity!

Click here to see how we can fight gentrification!

The Sunrise Collective is involved in the gentrification movement, not only because we live in the areas affected by it, but also because we want to see our communities organize politically and recognize their power.

Click here to see the Sunrise Collective's position on gentrification!

If you'd like to get involved against gentrification and for a working-class Waukegan, e-mail us at directaction@sunrisecollective.org or attend one of our planning meetings.

In Solidarity,

The Sunrise Collective