tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12896191.post116585638469662758..comments2023-07-19T19:17:26.493+08:00Comments on La Luchita: Paz, Justicia y Libertad: The Rich Ejecting the Poor: Gentrification in BaltimoreUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12896191.post-1167424779279156602006-12-30T04:39:00.000+08:002006-12-30T04:39:00.000+08:00thanks emptyman, I'm a "dumbass." Thank you for y...thanks emptyman, I'm a "dumbass." Thank you for your cogent analysis.<BR/><BR/>In closing, gentrification is a double-edged sword, welcome to the flip side of the blade.Si Fitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06757481800094720328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12896191.post-1167258259467033282006-12-28T06:24:00.000+08:002006-12-28T06:24:00.000+08:00You're a dumbass.Your paraphrase of "colonial Mary...You're a dumbass.<BR/><BR/>Your paraphrase of "colonial Maryland" as "colonialism in Maryland" is blatantly incorrect. The two phrasings have neither the same meaning nor the same intent. It is a vestige of English common law, but most of the ground rents in question were created long after Maryland had ceased to be a colony.<BR/><BR/>People who can't afford an attorney can get pro bono attorneys to represent them in ejectment proceedings. The problem is that osme people claim that they don't know an action in ejectment has been brought. Such an action cannot ensue until notices have gone out over the course of a year or more. Therefore, I don't understand how people can be unaware that there is an action pending unless they wilfully refuse to look at their mail.<BR/><BR/>I agree that ground rents are silly and archaic but there is a law which allows you to buy back your ground rent from the holder even if the holder doesn't want to sell, at a pre-ordained (and pretty low) price.<BR/><BR/>Moreover losing a house because you didn't pay your taxes has nothing at all in common with losing a house because you didn't pay your ground rent. I can understand why you might not know you owe a ground rent if you inherit a house (although it says so on your deed, and moreover of course you get a notice if you miss a payment.) If you don't know that you have to pay property taxes, you're an idiot.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, gentrification has led to houses in formerly blighted neighborhoods in Baltimore City becoming more valuable than houses in nice, stable suburbs. Therefore people who have little money but are fortunate to own a house in a gentrified neighborhood can sell their house, reap a huge profit, and move to a place with better schools and less crime.<BR/><BR/>Gentrification has increased the tax rolls of Baltimore City. Thus there is more money for the city to use to help those neighborhoods which have not seen an increase in property values. The affluent, mostly white homeowners who have moved into the gentrified neighborhoods are still a distinct minority in the city, meaning that the political decisions on what to do with all that extra tax money are still made by people who are elected by the less affluent, mostly black citizens who make up the majority of the city's population.<BR/><BR/>By State law, there is a cap on how much one's property tax assessment can go up in a given year, so a long-time resident in a gentrifying community is not necessarily forced to sell the house due to rising property values -- and the presence of affluent homeowners in the neighborhood brings improved educational and economic opportunities to that neighborhood.<BR/><BR/>Ground rents can be abused and gentrification is not an unmitigated good... but neither are the obvious evils your article suggests.Emptymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03766435186634560211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12896191.post-1166380730071195472006-12-18T02:38:00.000+08:002006-12-18T02:38:00.000+08:00Jeziz can you imagine families and neighbors in Ba...Jeziz can you imagine families and neighbors in Baltimore fending off evictors with burning torches?<BR/><BR/>Actually I CAN-- that's probably the real reason why they don't notify people!<BR/><BR/>It is really screwed up.<BR/>Always a good idea to do a property search on a house before you buy it!Maurice Bradburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12143777490997450728noreply@blogger.com