Fighting Gentrification in Silver Lake
Today, November 28th, 2023, I was displeased to discover that Cafe Tropical, an iconic Silver Lake cafe, will permanently close. Cafe Tropical has been a haven for artists like Yesika Salgado and community organizers for nearly five decades. It was also a space for recovering people with a substance use disorder, hosting AA meetings for decades, not to mention its fantastic food and drinks that I frequently indulged in for longer than I can remember.
Cafe Tropical is not the first casualty of the gentrification mauling Silver Lake in recent years. Iconic comic store Secret Headquarters, favored by indie artists and animators like Lisa Hanawalt, was also pushed out last year due to rent hikes. Pazzo Gelato has also been fighting to stay in business since the chain Salt & Straw opened next door.
Numerous other Silver Lake locations are constantly closing or being pushed out by developers and realtors who want to turn Silver Lake into a new 3rd Street promenade. It’s disgusting to watch my neighborhood gored by people like Tracy Do and companies like Compass, and I have genuinely had enough.
To fight against these developers, we must speak as locals with our votes and wallets.
Voting
If you want to fight against gentrification, vote not just during national but during local elections as well. Vote for propositions that would ensure rent security, increase access to affordable housing, and take power away from large developers.
We must also vote for community leaders who will fight for our values and push agendas that benefit residents and businesses instead of large companies. Vote for city and neighborhood council members who understand the community’s needs and who live here, not just have a stake in the neighborhood.
Voting out individuals who misuse or abuse our trust is also essential. I was encouraged to see our community oust Mitch O’Farrel, but now we must watch Hugo Soto Martinez keenly, making sure he makes decisions that benefit us, not him.
Who to support and who not to?
Whether you live in Silver Lake or want to visit our wonderful neighborhood, knowing who you support here is essential. Please support local small businesses that have helped our community thrive. Thrift shops like Berda Paradise, cafes/bakeries like Cafecito and United Bread & Pastry, and restaurants like El Cochinito. Most especially support our Farmer’s Market, which comes to the Sunset Triangle every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning.
Equally important is to boycott large chains/cooperations that provide little for our community in favor of turning a profit. Places like Salt & Straw, Shake Shack, Erewhon, Tartine, and Madewell are all overpriced, alienating companies that invaded our neighborhood, actively trying to push out not only small businesses but POC and lower-income residents. Supporting places like these tells developers that we want more expensive chains that attract wealthy transplants instead of locals. This will increase the cost of living and push more residents out.
An admittedly more difficult but necessary task is to refrain from working with significant realtors and developers. Agencies and agents like Tracy Do, Compass, Century 21, and Victoria Beliso are all dangerous to our community. They are constantly favoring more affluent white clients and companies. They demolish beautiful historic homes and businesses, turning them into “streamlined” generic buildings that appeal to specific demographics they want to attract. They constantly harass home and business owners, trying to buy them out to create “luxury” (though poorly made) apartments that no one can afford. If you have to sell or want to move to our community, please try to find community-focused smaller agencies.
If you plan to open a business, please be conscious of our community. Make your business accessible, affordable, and engrained in our neighborhood. Revenge Of Comics & Pinball is a new business that has done a great job integrating into the Glassel Park neighborhood. Creating a welcoming environment, free and open events, and free communal spaces for all to enjoy
Conclusion
Silver Lake isn’t the only neighborhood struggling with gentrification. Highland Park, Glassel Park, Echo Park, Inglewood, and countless others are all areas that realtors and developers continuously ravage. The methods mentioned above can apply to any neighborhood struggling with gentrification. It doesn’t stop there; there are many ways to fight back, including being active at council meetings, participating in community activities, and organizing at public places like local parks and libraries. If you love your neighborhood, show up and fight back.
