The December 3, 2016 fire at a 10,000 square foot warehouse in Oakland, California is a clear example of the effects of gentrification, homelessness, and skyrocketing rents as a recurring feature
of capitalism in the 21st century.
At least 36 people, the majority of which were under 40 years of age, died during a rave concert in a building known as the Ghost Ship, an artists space in a Latino neighborhood of Oakland, where people not only did artistic work and partied, but also lived, paying rents of $400 or more per month to the building’s lessee, Dereck Amena. Almena reportedly did not have legal permission to sub-lease space, according to news reports. The building’s owner,Chor N. Ng, has been quoted in newspapers claiming that she knew nothing about the subletting by Almena. Ng is the owner of many properies in Oakland, according to various capitalist news outlets.
of capitalism in the 21st century.
At least 36 people, the majority of which were under 40 years of age, died during a rave concert in a building known as the Ghost Ship, an artists space in a Latino neighborhood of Oakland, where people not only did artistic work and partied, but also lived, paying rents of $400 or more per month to the building’s lessee, Dereck Amena. Almena reportedly did not have legal permission to sub-lease space, according to news reports. The building’s owner,Chor N. Ng, has been quoted in newspapers claiming that she knew nothing about the subletting by Almena. Ng is the owner of many properies in Oakland, according to various capitalist news outlets.
It is estimated that 80,000 of Oakland’s 406,000 residents live in poverty. Rents increased in Oakland almost 70% over the past nine years, bringing rents to an astonishing median level of $2200 per month, the fourth highest in the United States, according to news reports.
The warehouse that was gutted by the December 3 blaze had not been inspected in 30 years, says the Los Angeles Times. There were no smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and it possessed very few ways of escaping.
The warehouse that was gutted by the December 3 blaze had not been inspected in 30 years, says the Los Angeles Times. There were no smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and it possessed very few ways of escaping.
People would live in a space such as the Ghost Ship only if they were forced to. Skyrocking rents in Oakland force artists, teachers, and low and moderate-income workers into precarious housing situations, with some living in their cars or in tents in homeless encampments, others crowding into one-bedroom or studio apartments, and others finding refuge in ‘artists spaces’ in warehouses in the Oakland area, such as the one that went up in a blaze on December 3. Whenever possible, capitalists come to Oakland to convert warehouses or other buildings into luxury apartments for yuppies and other monied, social parasites. Uber is said to be coming to Oakland to occupy such spaces for its corporate headquarters.
The City of Oakland’s application for an local state of emergency declaration Tuesday, December 6 allows the city to receive money from federal and state agencies to cover its cost to investigate the fire, and also allows Oakland to give money to businesses who have lost money because people are not shopping in the area as a result of the fire. This is a bribe to local capitalists to buy them off as the social criticism increases towards the city and gentrification as the real source of the Ghost Ship fire. Government exist to serve the capitalist class.
Man-made disasters are closely linked to the development and maintenance of the capitalist system.
Man-made disasters are closely linked to the development and maintenance of the capitalist system.
Red Flag calls upon the working class to fight back against the Ghost Ship warehouse fire and other man made disasters by organizing to fight for communism by building the International Communist Workers Party (ICWP). Reforms to the capitalist system will not stop the occurence of such avoidable calamaties. If the working class rules its society, it will be able to struggle, organize, and fight for spaces for workers to live, create, and prosper. Capitalists only want to create and steal profits from the working class and the oppressed. This is the real reason for the Ghost Ship fire:the capitalist system. Eliminating money, markets and profilts will free the creative energy of our class and allow us to build the safe housing we need.
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Authors comment -
What makes the artist community a social group that deserves sympathy, solidarity or respect?
Why is the city of Oakland hellbent on supporting artists and gentrification and the displacement of the poor and the working class?
Twenty five percent of Oakland's black residents have been displaced due to gentrification.
Does the fact that all of the victims of the fire were white skinned give social media and the capitalist system license to show sympathy?
The author will keep an open mind towards creating a class-based analysis of the Ghost Ship fire, but there are American, capitalist historical and class forces at work which cannot and should not be overlooked.
Authors comment -
What makes the artist community a social group that deserves sympathy, solidarity or respect?
Why is the city of Oakland hellbent on supporting artists and gentrification and the displacement of the poor and the working class?
Twenty five percent of Oakland's black residents have been displaced due to gentrification.
Does the fact that all of the victims of the fire were white skinned give social media and the capitalist system license to show sympathy?
The author will keep an open mind towards creating a class-based analysis of the Ghost Ship fire, but there are American, capitalist historical and class forces at work which cannot and should not be overlooked.
