{"id":236,"date":"2017-08-22T20:07:13","date_gmt":"2017-08-22T20:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/publicknowledge.sfmoma.org\/hit-parade\/?p=236"},"modified":"2017-08-22T20:09:47","modified_gmt":"2017-08-22T20:09:47","slug":"the-politics-of-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicknowledge.sfmoma.org\/hit-parade\/the-politics-of-space\/","title":{"rendered":"The Politics of Space"},"content":{"rendered":"

Richard Florida, the influential theorist and writer responsible for popularizing and lionizing the existence of what he called \u201cthe creative class\u201d and in doing so, many would argue, helping transform American urban centers into playgrounds for wealthy professional classes, has now decided he was all wrong. Jacobin Magazine reports<\/a> that Florida\u2019s newest book, The New Urban Crisis, is a \u201clong mea culpa,\u201d acknowledging that \u201cThe rise of the creative class in places like New York, London, and San Francisco created economic growth only for the already rich, displacing the poor and working classes. The problems that once plagued inner cities have moved to the suburbs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The problems of gentrification and their endlessly multiplying ramifications are hardly new for San Francisco residents and visitors alike and Hit Parade has been contending with the ways in which these changes have once again changed the shape of the city\u2019s musical identities. We\u2019ve posted about it at length and discussed it during our Live Rehearsals. But in this moment, when Florida, the posterchild for waterfront condos, fancy ballparks, high-priced housing, and disappearing local arts spaces, has decided to rethink his dangerous policies, the connection is worth revisiting directly.<\/p>\n

Every one of the musicians we interviewed for this project spoke about the loss of performance spaces, the loss of rehearsal spaces, clubs and bars closing, and what the lack of all-ages spaces has done to SF\u2019s musical landscape. Here is Tanya Yule, musician, former Program Director for Blue Bear School of Music in SF, and co-founder of SF Popfest<\/a> talking about Caf\u00e9 Du Nord:<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething that affected the music school greatly was the loss of Caf\u00e9 Du Nord\u2026 We had ran our showcases, we put bands together and we have shows\u2026 We used to do them at Caf\u00e9 Du Nord for years and when they closed, that was a huge upset\u2026 The loss of Caf\u00e9 Du Nord was a loss for the city. It was a great venue. It was like the nice\u2026 kinda like you could still take your parents there but you could see\u2026 indie shows or jazz shows. They were really awesome support of the communities\u2026 And we\u2019ve been struggling to find places for all-aged bands to play. And that\u2019s the other thing. We have\u2026 20s, 30s, 40s somethings in bands. But what we need to be concentrating on as a city is the 15 year-olds that are in bands and that\u2019s getting harder and harder. Parkside, Bottom of the Hill, Brick & Mortar\u2026 And if these places can\u2019t make money off of booze sales\u2026 they don\u2019t want to take these kids\u2019 bands\u2026. That\u2019s what I worry more about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Tanya Yule being interviewed by Inna Arzumanova at the Western Addition Library. Photo: Beth LaBerge<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Richard Florida, the influential theorist and writer responsible for popularizing and lionizing the existence of what he called \u201cthe creative class\u201d and in doing so, many would argue, helping transform American urban centers into playgrounds for wealthy professional classes, has now decided he was all wrong. Jacobin Magazine reports<\/a> that Florida\u2019s newest book, The New Urban Crisis, is a \u201clong mea culpa,\u201d acknowledging that \u201cThe rise of the creative class in places like New York, London, and San Francisco created economic growth only for the already rich, displacing the poor and working classes. The problems that once plagued inner cities have moved to the suburbs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The problems of gentrification and their endlessly multiplying ramifications are hardly new for San Francisco residents and visitors alike and Hit Parade has been contending with the ways in which these changes have once again changed the shape of the city\u2019s musical identities. We\u2019ve posted about it at length and discussed it during our Live Rehearsals. But in this moment, when Florida, the posterchild for waterfront condos, fancy ballparks, high-priced housing, and disappearing local arts spaces, has decided to rethink his dangerous policies, the connection is worth revisiting directly.<\/p>\n

Every one of the musicians we interviewed for this project spoke about the loss of performance spaces, the loss of rehearsal spaces, clubs and bars closing, and what the lack of all-ages spaces has done to SF\u2019s musical landscape. Here is Tanya Yule, musician, Program Director for Blue Bear School of Music in SF, and co-founder of SF Popfest talking about Caf\u00e9 Du Nord:<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething that affected the music school greatly was the loss of Caf\u00e9 Du Nord\u2026 We had ran our showcases, we put bands together and we have shows\u2026 We used to do them at Caf\u00e9 Du Nord for years and when they closed, that was a huge upset\u2026 The loss of Caf\u00e9 Du Nord was a loss for the city. It was a great venue. It was like the nice\u2026 kinda like you could still take your parents there but you could see\u2026 indie shows or jazz shows. They were really awesome support of the communities\u2026 And we\u2019ve been struggling to find places for all-aged bands to play. And that\u2019s the other thing. We have\u2026 20s, 30s, 40s somethings in bands. But what we need to be concentrating on as a city is the 15 year-olds that are in bands and that\u2019s getting harder and harder. Parkside, Bottom of the Hill, Brick & Mortar\u2026 And if these places can\u2019t make money off of booze sales\u2026 they don\u2019t want to take these kids\u2019 bands\u2026. That\u2019s what I worry more about.\u201d<\/p>\n[caption id=\"attachment_237\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"700\"]\"\" Tanya Yule being interviewed by Inna Arzumanova at the Western Addition Library. Photo: Beth LaBerge[\/caption]\n

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