Anti-Gentrification Department

Imagine a world where cities take a bold step: the creation of an Anti-Gentrification Department—a dedicated political body focused on protecting communities and reversing displacement.

For too long, critiques of gentrification have lived on the margins, voiced by activists, residents, and grassroots organizations, yet rarely translated into real policy. But what if those voices were institutionalized? What if cities took responsibility for safeguarding cultural identity, housing affordability, and neighborhood diversity—not as afterthoughts, but as central priorities?

An Anti-Gentrification Department could work to prevent displacement, regulate speculative development, and empower local communities. It would signal a shift from reactive policies to proactive strategies, recognizing that thriving cities are built on inclusion, not exclusion.

It’s time to bring these conversations out of the periphery and into the heart of political decision-making. Gentrification isn’t inevitable—it’s a choice. And so is fighting it.