2. Discussion: Arsons became a tactical tool for Landlords (especially in the South Bronx) to cause forceful eviction of tentants in shrinkage areas in NYC. A majority of the time, landlords purposefully caused the fires that burned down buildings in order to claim insurance payments that would guarantee them the opportunity for them to build newer and more modern buildings that would attract wealthy tenants while simultaneously displacing entire communities, mainly communities of color, out of their homes. Prior to 1980, the number of Arsons were increasingly high due to landlord plans to redesign neighborhoods to attract people of higher incomes. Once that goal began to become a reality, the number of Arsons decreased as the targeted population was driven out opening a path for gentrification. Burning down buildings can be consider the beginning of gentrification because a fire causes the immediate displacement of undesired tenants. While landlords profited off insurance money and rebuild their buildings for people of higher incomes, the poor tenants had no place to live. Comment: (about 100 words) Example: Discussion: There was a huge spike in the number of arsons before the 1980’s. This is because economically, it made sense for landlords to burn down their apartments buildings in order to receive insurance payouts. That money, coupled with high rents charged for terrible living conditions that were created in an effort to force out residents, created a perfect storm of unlivable conditions and the perfect opportunity to make money in the landlords part. Because of how flawed the housing system and insurance system was in this time, burning down an apartment building did make sense for individual landlords. Because it made so much sense, it destroyed housing opportunities for hundreds of thousands of city residents. This sudden spike in burning down buildings can be called the beginnings of gentrification. With old residents suddenly forced out by a combination of unlivable conditions culminating in a burned down building, there is suddenly a great deal of available real estate open where upper and middle class people can move in, rebuild, and begin the gentrification process. The decrease in arsons directly correlates with the amount of upper and middle class residents in these areas. Comment: Yes, it is true that before the 1980's, there were so many fires and arson incidents, especially in the South Bronx. For landlords, fires were a profitable business to them because of the financial bail-out they stood to gain through the insurance money. Additionally, landlords intentionally burnt down their buildings to avoid paying taxes to the federal governments. I agree that other than monetary benefits, building owners used fires as an excuse to get rid of tenants. Indeed fires destroyed housing opportunities for many people. Fires and arson cases opened a passage for the gentrification process. I concur that the gentrification process also led to the construction of new residential housings.
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