The Right to Common Space
The idea of the Right to the City has been embraced by many social movements and city activists worldwide, using it to push for more fairness and democracy in urban areas. This includes calls for things like affordable housing, public space access, a say in city decisions, and rules to stop people from being pushed out or neighborhoods from getting too fancy. It's all about fixing the unfairness in how cities are laid out. This week's lecture made me realize how we've come to accept the rising cost of space and how spaces have increasingly become viewed as tangible investments. We seem to have overlooked the fundamental right to simply exist in and utilize shared spaces, as well as the fairness of the decision making process regarding access to these spaces.
Reflecting on the $22,000 rental price tag in NYC really got me thinking... Why have we attached such an exorbitant price to mere existence and inhabiting a space? Take, for example, the price discrepancy in renting an apartment or house with a view. Often, if you live in an apartment that offers a view, there's an additional fee for being situated on that side of the building. It's astonishing how we've assigned a monetary value to the basic act of enjoying a view of our surroundings.
It is crazy the amount that landlords and apartment complexes charge for upgraded amenities and nice views when we should all have a right to a decent living space with natural light and views. I know in NYC this isn't always the case as some units don't even have an operable window. I know many justify these lack of amenities in NYC because they're paying to experience the city and that is the main amenity instead of the views or upgraded finishes.
ReplyDeleteYeah I think this ties back to the idea that, in a capitalist system economic value is superior. So, if you cannot afford to live near a nice park or have a nice view, that means that what you do is simply not valuable enough to your society to afford you a decent quality of life. The only way to improve your life then, is to pursue a path that increases your economic value.
ReplyDeleteMia, I understand and agree with your point. It seems as a society we put a number on how valuable certain aspects of our society are, like views into Central Park from your NYC apartment. This almost shows the importance of these green public spaces. So maybe we should have more of them?
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