Academic
Safeway and the Trust Fund Hippie
Living in Albany/Berkely sure is fun. I get to spout my opinions and see countless "Trust Fund Hippies" act socially progressive and liberal but really just masking their elitest ideology with Sierra Club Bumper Stickers and Question Authority tee shirts.
This is the latest scuttle in our neighborhood. The Safeway redevelopment...... ohh...... Of course Safeway is a block away and they want condos which nobody in the Peoples Republic could ever support.
See the article http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?issue=11-15-05&storyID=22756
I get so worked up over this I had to write a commentary to the local Albany paper. It should be published in the next week or so according to the guy at the newspaper. Below is my sarcastic look at the Republic.
Recently,I have read all about the new Safeway development and heavens no.... “new condos”. The new trendy dirty word, condo, is a screeching tone to any established homeowner and community group.
This ideology of not creating new units of housing is causing this housing problem in the Bay Area and elevating prices that do not allow first time buyers to afford a shack. These comments from the community of "not good for the community" and "causing traffic" are really masks for this elitist ideology that says "I already own a home here so tough!" What's good for the community is allowing a true mix of incomes to live in the neighborhood and adding new housing units so a rising demand market can meet our short supply. Ironically in the Bay Area, where people view themselves as socially progressive, these attitudes are in fact EXCLSIONARY not inclusionary to others in society and are derived from pure greed.
I live (rent of course) on Curtis St and am in favor this project. Why can't Safeway re-create their store and bring a new and better design to further define the vibrant DENSE street that Solano Ave is? Why shouldn't Safeway be allowed to create homes above their store so that maybe just maybe there might be a home in the $300,000 price level? God forbid that a first time family could actually purchase a home in Albany without making $200,000 a year.
Instead of denying new developments, let's help shape the new developments so that they further enhance our neighborhoods for ALL PEOPLE. Besides, what would happen if Safeway decided to move their store down to some new development in El Cerrito, since their store on Curtis became obsolete and a financial drain.
Well, I guess that would ease traffic…..except we would all drive to the store.
This is the latest scuttle in our neighborhood. The Safeway redevelopment...... ohh...... Of course Safeway is a block away and they want condos which nobody in the Peoples Republic could ever support.
See the article http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?issue=11-15-05&storyID=22756
I get so worked up over this I had to write a commentary to the local Albany paper. It should be published in the next week or so according to the guy at the newspaper. Below is my sarcastic look at the Republic.
Recently,I have read all about the new Safeway development and heavens no.... “new condos”. The new trendy dirty word, condo, is a screeching tone to any established homeowner and community group.
This ideology of not creating new units of housing is causing this housing problem in the Bay Area and elevating prices that do not allow first time buyers to afford a shack. These comments from the community of "not good for the community" and "causing traffic" are really masks for this elitist ideology that says "I already own a home here so tough!" What's good for the community is allowing a true mix of incomes to live in the neighborhood and adding new housing units so a rising demand market can meet our short supply. Ironically in the Bay Area, where people view themselves as socially progressive, these attitudes are in fact EXCLSIONARY not inclusionary to others in society and are derived from pure greed.
I live (rent of course) on Curtis St and am in favor this project. Why can't Safeway re-create their store and bring a new and better design to further define the vibrant DENSE street that Solano Ave is? Why shouldn't Safeway be allowed to create homes above their store so that maybe just maybe there might be a home in the $300,000 price level? God forbid that a first time family could actually purchase a home in Albany without making $200,000 a year.
Instead of denying new developments, let's help shape the new developments so that they further enhance our neighborhoods for ALL PEOPLE. Besides, what would happen if Safeway decided to move their store down to some new development in El Cerrito, since their store on Curtis became obsolete and a financial drain.
Well, I guess that would ease traffic…..except we would all drive to the store.
posted by Frank
at 10:53 AM
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