phantom tollbooths in Davis Sq. ...

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

apropos of nothing and not a serious proposal but I was thinking about sales taxes last night, the discussion of tolls on 93 south and something to do with all the border violence going on in the world these days. Suddenly I had this image of tollbooths/checkpoints on the roads entering Davis Sq. Weird but interesting to speculate on.

The growth in popularity of the sq. has brought higher rents and housing prices, higher prices in stores and bars and general gentrification. The city of Somerville and the property owners benefit but the residents don't. Would be interesting to have a toll that went to offset the costs of gentrification to people who actually live here.

Comments

[artic-monkeys.livejournal.com]

I would be very interested to know what everyone thinks and see how they would vote on that. I would like to apply what you are saying to the cape wind project. Those folks in gated communities can do this but we can't. That sucks!

The folks that started Davis fought hard to stop 50 houses from being torn down and fought to stop park-ride communter parking lots. Now the biggest champions for change – the original residents – cannot afford to stay.