Report from Uptown Tent City

Latest

The Murray’s have lived under a Chicago viaduct for a long time. They do not go to shelters because they cannot stay together as a married couple in a shelter.
PHOTO/KATHY POWERS

CHICAGO, IL — In the Chicago neighborhood of Uptown, under the viaducts of Lake Shore Drive, there are encampments, “Tent City” or “Uptown Tent City”, they are called. The homeless always deal with bigotry and bigoted hatred from the not homeless whereever they are, but in Uptown we are a symbol and political football, emblematic in a much larger struggle taking place in Uptown and many other neighborhoods in the city and in many cities in the U.S. That is the struggle of the poor and working classes to survive in the face of gentrification.
That struggle may be more intense and more charged with meaning in Uptown than anywhere else. Uptown has a long tradition of such struggles as previous mayors have seen the neighborhood as a repository for “undesirables” in their racist, bigoted view of the city and of the world, and declared war on it by various means, sometimes in the most literal sense.
Uptown offered defiant resistance in this war from City Hall and  created a tradition for itself of tolerance and welcoming of all types of people and acceptance, accommodation and of aid and service to the poor.
There is, however, a growing element of residents in Uptown that is not native to the neighborhood but much more moneyed than the original residents and seeking to personally exploit and profit from the neighborhood by buying property extremely cheaply and driving those already living in the area out through the raising of property prices, and thus all prices, in what is gentrification. This new element is not at all appreciative of the local traditions of tolerance, acceptance and service. They have, in fact, a great disdain for them and are extremely intolerant of anyone who is not of their privileged background and status and have not only a profit motive but a great personal animosity toward such persons in an almost blatant, bigoted hatred.
This newer, invasive, and would be successive, element puts tremendous pressure on the local alderman and mayor (both of whom are of similar ilk and whose sympathies are decidedly with this group and who actively and vigorously work to serve them and to the neglect and often willful harm of other groups of people not in this “in clique”) to have us and all homeless and poorer people removed from the neighborhood in their frank “urban cleansing” campaigns.
Thus the pressure is always on and the almost Nazi like intolerance and wish to eradicate the less fortunate and less well off like so many insect pests in near open class war is ever present always looking for an opportunity to advance its purpose and ultimate goals with one malicious act or other against its declared “enemies”, the less fortunate who are only trying to make it and survive.
Intolerance, however, is only a symptom, a tool of the exploiters against the exploited. The real cause of homelessness is its profitability to real estate firms, developers and property owners in the economics of exclusivity. Until we as a society, through democratic government, genuinely address the problem and change the conditions that cause homelessness it will not go away but will ever increase.

+ Articles by this author

The People’s Tribune opens its pages to voices of the movement for change. Our articles are written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Articles entitled “From the Editors” reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: peoplestribune.orgPlease donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement for change. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff. The People’s Tribune is a 501C4 organization.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

“No Kings” Protests Set to Sweep US Even as Trump Increases Attacks on Activists

Republicans are already smearing the protesters, but their intimidation tactics are out of touch with reality.

ICE Fears Put Pregnant Immigrants and Their Babies at Risk

Fear of deportation is deterring people without permanent legal status from critical care. Doctors are worried for the health of pregnant immigrants, and the health of their pregnancies. This story was originally reported by 19thnews.org.

Government Shutdown and the Blame Game

Using a bold-faced lie President Trump and Vice President Vance blamed immigrants, particularly the undocumented, for the government shutdown now in effect throughout the country. The Republican plan would increase Obamacare payments and make Medicaid cuts.

Emmy-Winning Journalist Deported After Reporting on Anti-Trump Protest

Emmy award-winning journalist Mario Guevara was deported to El Salvador – a country he fled over 20 years ago — in retaliation for filming law enforcement activities, says the Committee to Protect Journalists.

A Salute to Chicagoans Fighting ICE

A salute to Chicagoans fighting ICE and to the food delivery worker on a bicycle who outrode ICE agents after they tried to kidnap him on the streets of downtown Chicago.

More from the People's Tribune