The Techie Gentrification Generation Strikes Again

“One latte for here and can I have the WIFI password? Also, where is the nearest outlet?” says a zip-up hoodie clad man with his face buried in his iPhone 6s Plus.

As a neighbor to the largest technology companies, De Anza College sits in the pivot of the world’s tech capital: The Silicon Valley.  In the surrounding areas of the college, students have the unique experience of mixing with employees of the forerunners of the technology industry.

While neighboring a company like Apple may seem exciting, the introduction of the company and many similar to it have come with a huge issue known as gentrification. According the Merriam Webster Dictionary, gentrification is the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. 

The Silicon Valley is a mere stone’s throw from San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose whose rapid gentrification landed them on the list of the most gentrified cities in America on the Gentrification in America Report released by Governing.com in 2015.

Maria Zaragoza, 21, a business marketing major said, “I know it happened a lot up in the city, but I can definitely see it coming here... it’s all the techies.”

Zaragoza places the blame in the “techies”, but her friend Joe Palermo, 20, a computer engineering major rebuts by stating how the area has always been a “tech area”. “You can’t just blame them”, said Palermo.

The tech industry as the sole cause of the rapid gentrification remains debatable, but the issue and concern remains.

Royce Kropff, 18, a creative writing major, laments the loss of his favorite restaurant in his neighborhood and disdains the new Starbucks that took its place.

“I never smile at corporations kicking out the little guys”, said Kropff.

The concern for local businesses facing rising rents is shared by Zenya Diaz, 22, an English major.

“The big companies don’t care about closing down, but if a family-run cafe establishment closes... it’s devastating”, said Diaz

The advantages and disadvantages of the techie influx and rapid gentrification may be listed out, but it is clear that with one comes the other and that change is inevitable.

Esteban Cisneros, 23, says, “You win some you lose some.”

Further Reading

Gentrification in America Report

2016 Silicon Valley Index
Shows statistics and numbers of the Silicon Valley including income, employment, housing, etc.

Silicon Valley’s Sex Workers Are Being Priced Out Of The City By Their Own Clients

San Francisco tech worker: 'I don't want to see homeless riff-raff'
An entitled man in the tech industry is no impaired by his immense privilege that he is unable to show any compassion for the homeless and impoverished.