Fighting for Control

Abstract

The loss of political influence is an important adverse consequence of gentrification for long-time residents. This study examines why neighborhood organizations in three gentrifying neighborhoods in Atlanta, Georgia, chose to address this potential problem, while organizations in another gentrifying community did not. Organizations of long-time residents, whether formed before gentrification or in response to it, were more likely to address political displacement. Neighborhood organizations with strong track records of providing benefits for neighbors and that adopted accepted organizational forms were more likely to mobilize effectively to protect the political participation of long-time residents. Interorganizational conflict minimized groups' ability to address political changes.

Disconnected in the Mecca? Black social media usage and levels of engagement in Atlanta

“…Curiously, we found no significant relationships between the percentage of African Americans in our respondents' ZIP codes and respondents reporting social media use or engaging in neighborhood activities or political participation. The question of what impact the local racial context has on Black social and political behavior is certainly worthy of further investigation (Gay, 2004;Hoston, 2009;Marschall & Stolle, 2004;McDermott, 2011;Walton & Hanes, 1997), especially among urban neighborhoods experiencing forms of gentrification and other drivers of rapid change (Choi et al, 2018;L. Martin, 2007;Rigolon & Németh, 2019).…”

“…Outside the scope of what we examine in this article, it is important to note that processes such as gentrification may work to make many individuals feel out of place. Scholars argue that housing revitalization, shifting residential segregation patterns, transportation and economic redevelopment efforts, and White middle-class in-migration patterns can act to preserve and/or displace the identities of historically Black Atlanta neighborhoods (Combs, 2010;Hankins & Walter, 2012;Holmes, 2011;Keating, 2009;L. Martin, 2007;Rigolon & Németh, 2019).…”

“…We find evidence that Black social media users are readily connected outside of their immediate neighborhoods (Everett, 2009). This finding is not surprising given American patterns of residential mobility and urban gentrification and the growing segment of Atlanta residents who are nonnative to the city and/or are not long-time residents of their current neighborhoods (Clayton et al, 2009;L. Martin, 2007;Richardson et al, 2019).…”

The Subtleties of Social Exclusion: Race, Social Class, and the Exclusion of Blacks in a Racially Mixed Neighborhood

“…Neighborhood as-sociations are especially important in neighborhoods that are gentrifying, which is the process by which wealthier residents move into poorer neighborhoods in sufficient numbers to change its social class composition and neighborhood identity. Gentrifying neighborhoods are characterized by imbalances among residents in terms of political, economic, and social resources that can exacerbate inequities (Kasinitz, 1988;Martin, 2007;Smith, 1996). Effective neighborhood associations are even more pertinent these days as there has been in US cities a decline in racial segregation and an increase in racially integrated neighborhoods (Friedman, 2005).…”

“…One longtime board member states that the city government, which includes the liquor license board, was more influenced by UNA's opinion than those expressed by club's proponents. When there were hearings at City Hall to discuss renewal of the club's liquor license, she felt that UNA had more of what Martin (2007) calls "external legitimacy" than the proponents: "The whole idea is the neighborhood (association's) concerns carry a lot of weight with city council… because they… are the official… representative (of the neighborhood). "…”