Editor's note: What follows is a selection of comments posted on Mayday Magazine's website and reprinted within the cover spread of December's issue. To see these perspectives in their original context click here.

Monday, 22 November 2010 posted by Akshobhya
It seems there are several different streams of disconnect and dissonance here.

Firstly, perhaps we have a different perception of what constitutes 'gentrification.'...the idea of gentrification is an amalgamation of several concepts. Some of these concepts include privilege, poverty, capitalism, rights, community, etc.

Tensions Mount as Diverse Community Discusses Downtown Development

BY KEVIN MACKAY

On Tuesday, November 23rd, a discussion entitled Downtown Development: Challenges and Opportunities occurred at the Sky Dragon. I invited people to this meeting based on recent events that have at times enraged, engaged, and polarized members of the downtown community. Art exhibits on the drug and sex trades, increased police presence in the core, covert sticker attacks against James North galleries and businesses, and a controversial article in Mayday Magazine, to name a few examples. These and other incidents have revealed strong differences of opinion among people who are otherwise united in their passion for downtown revitalization.

BY CARLY CIUFO

Gentrification is a powerful word. In the context of downtown development, its mention has the ability to divide anti-poverty activists and business improvement advocates to such polar ends of the discussion that it effectively annuls dialogue. Ultimately, the effects of its use illustrate the class structure in Hamilton clearer than any other term in local political discourse. Importantly, however, gentrification is a threat that we as a city have to be aware of and guard ourselves against. And the best defense against gentrification is maintaining a collaborative and dialogical environment for the community.

BY SETH VEENSTRA AND SUNIL ANGRISH

We at Mayday Magazine believe it's important to acknowledge the controversy surrounding November's issue, "Developing Hamilton". Though dialogue and conflict are not exclusive processes, we were still surprised by the amount of conflict Daniel O'Rourke's article triggered.

The intention was to point to some of the dangers of gentrification with the hope of engaging the community in dialogue on how to address these dangers and avoid the outcomes of other cities.

Regardless of the intention, a number of alternative readings of the article have been voiced. Many community members felt personally attacked by O'Rourke and by Mayday Magazine.

BY PETER ORMOND

November 11th means much more than sporting a poppy and attending a ceremony that honours our past war veterans. Back then, many of our ancestors gave the ultimate sacrifice for the betterment of humankind. My uncle Charlie Adams was one of them. Thanks to him and many others, today we have democratic freedom.

Have we forgotten this responsibility to participate as active citizens?

BY DANIEL O'ROURKE

Let's cut the crap — what's happening on James Street North is gentrification. Phrases like "economic development" and "revitalizing the core" are just euphemisms for the stark reality of replacing one group of people with another, more desirable group

We in the arts scene, along with politicians and business owners, often talk about improving the downtown community. But too often that phrase means "we want our community to exist in the space where yours used to be".