Both Jackie and Liz bring up important points when it comes to the authors’ perspectives on the slums of New York. Like Jackie, I agree that the author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, has a negative view of the work being done in order to prevent slums. Jacobs believes that although attempts are made to make the poor of the cities thrive again, these attempts are futile. All the money that goes into these “public works” are supposed to make the city a better place, yet it only turns the cities into areas divided by economic backgrounds. For example, “the projects” are made to make housing more accesible to lower class people, however, these areas are slum-like and scary, making it a feared place to travel to and therefore stunts the growth of these areas. Yet, at the same time, I agree with Jackie’s idea that there are also many places, like Times Square for instance, that used to be “bad neighborhoods” and have turned into more glamorized and safer areas naturally through tourism. I believe that the gentrification of areas is almost a natural occurrence that happens in many neighborhoods, and is not something that needs to be planned or worked out, like Jacobs stated.
Liz, on the other hand, brings up many interesting questions. The most thought provoking one is whether there is an underlying prejudice towards the people who live in five points. I think that there definitely is a sort of condescending attitude when people view it as the “worst neighborhood in NYC.” Who are we to judge what is good and what is bad? Can’t it be true that some of the most inspirational stories of people working together, overcoming treacherous situations, happen in cities that are “not-so-nice”? Wasn’t it Harlem (one of the most notorious neighborhoods in NYC) that went through its own renaissance, producing novel artwork and music unlike anything else created during that generation? Therefore, it is unfair to judge a city based on its economic status or on how others people view the neighborhood. Although the area might be a slum, it doesn’t mean the people in the slum are not worth while or important. People should not be looked down upon, no matter where they live.
