I read with interest your article about the two new Puerto Rican steel flags now anchoring Division Street from Western to California Avenues (Tempo, June 4).
Contrary to your headline, the construction of these “flags” at a cost to city taxpayers of nearly half a million dollars has nothing to do with raising the hopes of those of us who live in this neighborhood. Were that the goal, the city could well start with cleaning the garbage- strewn vacant lots, towing the abandoned junk cars and cracking down on the dope dealers who still live among us. The truth is, these steel arches are a monument to area Hispanic politicians attempting to maintain their constituencies. Hispanic service agencies are staking out their turf too.
Neighborhood gentrification has encroached to within a block or two of Clemente High School at North Western Avenue and West Division Street. The gentrification of the Grand Avenue corridor is continuing its westward march, and Wicker Park and Bucktown are blossoming. So the powers that be are, at considerable expense to the taxpayers, pushing hard to stake out their territory. After all, there’s not much need for a Casa Central, the Puerto Rican Parade headquarters or Latino cultural centers in a neighborhood that isn’t Hispanic anymore. Not to mention the Hispanic aldermen and congressmen who count on Hispanic votes.
Frankly, the new Puerto Rican “neighborhood” is already rapidly moving west to the Brickyard area. These counterfeit efforts at making Division Street resemble old San Juan is all too little, too late.
