The Tenderloin

“Repeatedly described in most tourist guides as "the worst neighborhood in San Francisco," the Tenderloin thrives despite its bad rap. Sure, there are Tenderloinloads of drug dealers, addicts, prostitutes and mentally unstable street people, but if you can get past that, you'll find it is also one of the city's most exciting and diverse locales.”

- SF Gate



Issue:

The city is trying to rework the reputation of the neighborhood in order to attract more tourists and better the conditions of those who live there.


Want the locals to be proud of where they live


How?

The Tenderloin has now been recognized as a historical district. All of the historical buildings in the neighborhood will now have a plaque that proclaims it as historical as well as s brief summary of the buildings story.



Marx would say:


The Tenderloin is a clear example of class polarization.

- The conditions of the working class have worsened over the years because of the capitalist system

- TL is a hub for degradation and crime


Naming it a historical district and asking the locals to feel pride because of it is simply asking them to adopt another ideology.

This ideology simply obscures reality and distracts attention from the real problems.

- The neighborhood still won’t be getting renovated, but locals should be ok with it because it’s historical.

The ideology is a justification of the existing norms.



The tenderloin has become a historical district because it has been ignored by the city. Over the years, resources have been channeled to the neighborhoods of the rich.

- The advancement of one class means the neglect of another.

The working class needs to unite and revolt against the unfair distribution of resources.