Re: [UC] City Paper Article: Baltimore Avenue Merchants + L&I + U CD

[Anthony West]

> That has led to criticism from neighbors over just what is a > "good business." Massar pointed to a plywood-fronted bar, > saying that its owner has been chronically late in paying > its city taxes. Obviously, the bar owner is not a UCD fan, > Massar said.   And here's another hypothesis.   If a neighborhood changes demographically, and the incoming population has different tastes than the original population, then neighborhood businesses that cater to the old-timers will see a drop in customers. That means a drop in income.   Small businesses whose income is slipping are apt to do things like not replace windows. They are apt to do things like not pay taxes. They are apt to do things that make them vulnerable to City inspections.   I hear reports like this in Port Richmond, an area where I work. There, ironically, the incomers are recent Polish immigrants while the old-timers are -- Polish too! But third-gen, melting-pot-with-pierogies Polish Americans. Turns out, though, that Polish Americans and Polish Poles have quite different tastes and patronize different networks of corner stores. So even though the neighborhood looks solid and prosperous, all the old-timers are complaining that business is down. And boy, do they complain about the newcomers!   But that's life in the big city.   -- Tony West