I have always pondered about the rapid gentrification throughout New York City over the past decade. This city, founded on the values of an immigrant working-class, has evolved into a gilded butterfly, whose wings cast shadow on the lower-class of New York’s sprawl. Through the reign of the Guiliani and Bloomberg eras, Wall Street benefitted greatly whereas the lower class was gradually depraved of social welfare. As mentioned in the article The Zeitgeist Tracked Down Bill de Blasio written by Bob Master, the plethora of events occurring in the late 2000’s through the early 2010’s has birthed the public desire for change. I never followed politics that much, but the assigned readings allowed me to understand how important these times are. There is so much riding on de Blasio for reshaping New York City into a more equal city. This city’s greatness should be reflected by all its classes. The working-class is the backbone of New York, thus should be treated as valuable assests to the function of the city. Even though the one percent maintains power within the city, it baffles me that they cannot realize the necessities of the remaining 99 percent. I can only hope that de Blasio is able to be that mayor who instills change within the fabric of the city.

Considering all of this, I can reflect on my personal upbringing. Both of my parents have been strong supporters of both Guiliani and Bloomberg, yet I only understood all of the “positive” things they have done for New York City. Yes, both of their reigns converted New York City into the glittering tourist attraction it is today, yet in doing so they reduced social welfare and taxes on the wealthy all for what was believed to be a socially beneficial economic and governmental system. My parents are considered middle-class, they appreciate the city’s transformation from grunge to glits as they witnessed it for themselves. They are supporters of stop-and-frisk, granted neither of them have been stopped-and-frisked. I cannot blame them for wanted to be protected and to live in such a beautiful city. Yet they don’t like discusses the misfortunes of the lower-class, and I can tell they don’t believe that increasing their social welfare and providing easier access to higher education will help the lower class dramatically. Which causes me to ask, Why is there such a stark difference of opinions on how to aid the lower class from a middle-class perspective?