Neighborhood change is complicated: the Bronx

The New York Daily News reports on Professor Mark Naison of Fordham's alternative ego, "Notorious PhD," and his rap about the potential challenge of gentrification in the Bronx, which he did at new student orientation this past week, in "'Notorious PhD', aka Fordham professor Mark Naison, raps against gentrification in Bronx." I think the issue is displacement and change, and the term "gentrification" doesn't fully encompass the nuances and implications of what is happening.

I can't say I like the "music." But it is a forward way to promote outreach.

The article quotes a local housing organization saying the problems aren't that bad. It's interesting because from a longer term Naison is likely right, that as other areas of NYC become more popular and expensive, as the supply of repositionable (revalorizable) land decreases, the Bronx is the next logical candidate for change. Not dealing with this potential for significant change now dooms people of limited means to maintain their access to affordable housing.