God damn yuppies take over every thing! I miss the NE Ghetto. It makes me sick to see how the white bread eaters are quietly forcing the blacks out of North Portland, and congratulating themselves for "cleaning up" the neighborhood. Give me a break. Some call it community improvement, I call it politically correct racism. True community seeks to include people not exclude them. I would rather live in a community with cultural and economic diversity than live with a bunch of pretentious Fashion Fascists.

Just a comment, but I would guess that other than buying up all of those huge NE homes and businesses at somewhat affordable prices - the white and other ethnic non-blacks doing it are also more likely eating trendy organic whole wheat bread. Times change, and so should the insults.

Thatguy,

really? no obvious drinking? the reason a lot of us were lead to discover last thursday was not for the art itself. though i and most of my friends bring trinkets and crafts to display. it's the drinking. sure, you aren't walking around with tall boys anymore.. cause there's more cops. but it's definitly the thought as last thursday rolls around: who's heading to the liquor store? break out the flasks. soda pop half full of liquor provides shot-strength drinks that aren't considered "open containers" to the naked eye. There is much drinking, it's just been subdued a bit. but take that away and you take away the spirit of freedom provided by last thursday. maybe you're not a binger ... but lord knows there's many who are

As sad as gentrification is it is not a conscious act carried out by these horrible horrible white people. It starts with people who are poor themselves coming to an area where they can afford to live and work. Often Artist are the first to take this step because they see a place free from these so-called upper class citizens(and their high prices). Artists make it interesting, and then the people with the money come to get a taste. Which often drives the artist out to a new area and the whole thing starts all over again. It is too bad that the log time res don't enjoy the fact that people have brought art and music to there streets. These people weren't exactly making anything happen there themselves before the artist came. bla bla bla bla...

So what could be done to make Last Thursday more inclusive? Rent controls? Encouragement to allow minority business owners to participate?

I'm wholeheartedly for the idea of fighting or challenging gentrification as inevitable, but I'd really like to hear some ideas as to how both sides can commit towards preventing forced demographic change.

Minority business owners can participate. As was noted above ANYONE can participate. There is nothing about Last Thursday that is excluding or pushing out anyone that wants to participate.

Gentrification is only sad if it replaces a rich and thriving community with something not rich and thriving. What is going on in the Alberta area is anything but sad.

You can still catch some of the old neighborhood any night of the week after about 10:00pm just by hanging around the corner of 18th and Alberta. If that's the type of activity you prefer over an art festival that, really lets be honest here, cannot be accurately described as anything but peaceful and is helping the continued thriving of business and real community ( as in community not simply bound together by skin color ) than I hope your ass gets gentrathefuckedoutta here soon.

I live in the neighborhood and I love Last Thursday! Not for the booze, not for the party. But for the art, culture, people watching and a great community event. Yes, I said culture. Culture is not defined by white or black, rich vs poor. Take a look around up there- the culture also represents an eclectic group of people in all terms. The tall-bikers, the street performers, the tourists, the locals, the jewely makers, the woodworkers, the crazy-stuff builders. It is a celebration of how unique Portland is and why this is a city we all love.

But then there are people like "Pinki" up there creating and fueling this fire, unable to resist adding the negativity. "Yuppies" and "White bread eaters" wanting to "clean up the community"- Cleaning up the community doesn't mean "forcing the blacks out of the community." It means we want a safe neighborhood to raise our families and promote this great community. Everyone is welcome in that mission, any color, rich or poor. Developing a community is the normal life cycle of a neighborhood. People move to an area, more people move there, property values go up, commerce flourishes. Look outside your little bubble, this isn't some hate-filled "politically correct racism." This is how the world works.

I find it ironic Paige Coleman and the Northeast Neighborhoods Office talks about equity with so little integrity, ethics or action. Seems they should put their words to work and get more directly involved.