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Comment by SeoxyS | Hacker News Reader

It's pretty sad that the local community has been so self-destructively negative about the benefits of a major tech company moving in. This could've meant new jobs, new housing, and new life to what is currently a pretty crime-ridden and sad part of the bay area…

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Would it though? It sounds like a great example of gentrification. Those develops and such that move in will just drive up the rent, bring in restaurants and such that cater to their desires, and then push out who was there with higher prices.

I mean, I'd like this not to be the case, and love to hear of examples where things actually got better for people already there but I just haven't heard it.

I think gentrification is awesome. I fully support improving the area with new restaurant, bars, stores, housing. Local housing values will improve as the area becomes more desirable. Also key is cleaning up the crime.

Frankly I don't see any long term benefits of a self-driving car company to the local community. If they're willing to invest that's one thing; otherwise, they jack up prices and force out locals. This is just gentrification with little benefit.

Personally, I'd rather be mugged than force my neighbor to move. It's really quite difficult to get the former without the latter.

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Their current office is in a crime-ridden and sad part of the bay area (mid-market).

Mid-market has vastly improved since Twitter, Uber, Square, Zendesk, Microsoft, etc. moved in. It's no longer a crime-ridden sad part; it's now vibrant with grocery stores, restaurants, cafés, bars, housing, etc. It's a great success story for redevelopment.

Some people call it gentrification.

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