Posted on 07/20/2006 8:45:04 PM PDT by auzerais
Clinton Wears Out His Welcome
Remember the fanfare when Bill Clinton decided to house his offices in Harlem after the end of his presidency? The community turned out in droves to welcome the man that some called "the first black President," declaring that his decision to lease offices in the area would spark an economic resurgence. His decision and the $354,000 lease created headlines for weeks.
Today, that decision has created different headlines. His formerly enthusiastic neighbors now blame him for the increasing gentrification of Harlem, raising rents and displacing the disadvantaged:
Harlem residents gathered outside President Clinton's office yesterday to protest against the former president as a symbol of Harlem's gentrification and the displacement of its residents.
The Harlem Tenants Council hosted the protest at 125th Street between Lenox and Park avenues that was attended by about 40 mostly elderly, African-American residents of the area. A HTC co-founder, Nellie Bailey, said the primary goal of the protest was to draw attention to what she calls a "housing crisis in Harlem," due in part to displacement because of price increases by landlords and evictions.
"We're hoping to have a dialogue with a president of enormous influence," Ms. Bailey said, "so he can understand the concerns of Harlem tenants," including the lack of a comprehensive, beneficial housing policy and legal services. A Clinton Foundation spokesman, Jay Carson, declined to comment on the protest.
Economic resurgence has its problems, and gentrification qualifies as one of the biggest. As property values increase, landlords have to get better rent and lease terms to keep up with bigger mortgages and tax bills. Property values tend to increase when high-profile tenants start taking up available lease space, such as Bill Clinton did in 2001.
It's unfair of Harlem residents to target Clinton for their woes, or at least him alone. New York has a number of factors that play into the sharp increase in housing costs, most of which have to do with their high tax rates and top-down rent control. The latter comes from a market that has too much demand and too little supply in the first place. Eventually that market effect would have driven people to Harlem for better prices; Clinton just made it trendy to do so.
It's a bit more than ironic that Clinton would get the blame, after the reams of fawning press he garnered for his move to Harlem and the interminable PR of how much the African-American community loved him. Apparently, Harlem residents would love Bill Clinton to go to the Upper West Side for a while.
Once again, the Clinton curse is to leave behind loss and destruction for those who hailed the favored one while Mr. and/or Mrs. Clinton rake in the benefit for their own coffers.
Nothing to do with this story but somebody posted a golden oldie that made me chuckle:
Q: What is the difference between Monica Lewinsky and a Hoover vacuum?
A: Where the dirtbag attaches.
It makes sense, he's worn out his welcome everywhere else. :')
Oh yeah, and boo-freakin'-hoo.
Gentrification of Harlem? That explains the "Easter parade" style and grace that's so pervasive there.
Haha, priceless! Anyone who welcomed Bill Clinton into Harlem is an idiot.
As I remember it. The Clintons origianlly tried to setup the offices in some really expensive area of mid-town Manhattan and have the US tax payers foot the entire bill for the rent and furnishings. After a lot of bad press about how much money they were playing to spend on all this, they, then with much deliberate publicity, annouced they were moving the offices to Harlem. This brought many laughs because everyone knew that the Clintons were caught in another scam and only picked Harlem to appear like they really cared about hanging with poor minorities.
You are probably right. I heard that clinton had a glory hole cut out in the wall of his office that adjoins the bathroom.
Why did I suddenly think of that old expression, be careful what you ask for you might just get it?
" arrival of trailer trash "
He has never lived in a manufactured home, but the young woman he exposed himself to, which led to his impeachment has.
Disinfranchized!
Has Bill had the same effect in your neighborhood?
Correct me iffin' I'm wrong but it occurs to my puir female brain that if the landlord is already purchasing the property an increase in the value of the property only changes the tax bill and not the mortgage. Right? Other than that, this is funny.
In antibiotics if nothing else.
Oh, please. He doesn't care about you. It's all about him.
i heard that when you open the door to the office, a black light turns on and 70's porn music starts playing.
I can't confirm this but this is what I heard.
". . . old stained pull out couch . . . ."
. . . saturated with DNA . . . .
Use. Discard. Repeat.
I'm surprised the headline wasn't "Clinton opens office in Harlem. Women and minorities to suffer most."
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