skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Protest Tower Block
Reaching high into the sky behind Sao Paulo's historic market is a huge, empty tower block. It is one of several that we noticed in the city. This all too common sight is due to buildings owned by private companies falling into disrepair and then a combination of the taxation system and the cost of maintenance meaning that it is much cheaper to leave them empty and boarded up. Homelessness is a massive problem in Sao Paulo with an estimated 10,000 people living rough on the streets around the center. There are enough empty blocks to provide accommodation for these and more people if the government were brave enough to take action. This might sound hopelessly idealistic, but until fairly recently the block was fully occupied by previously homeless families in what was the biggest single squat in the whole of South America.
The 'Prestes Maia', a 22 storey tower block, housed 486 families, a library, workshops, and a venue for numerous educational, social and cultural activities. People of all ages and upbringings, children, elderly, disabled, artists, activists and students, had all been working together to create a new understanding of how the city should and can work. However, the 'lawful owner' wanted it emptied, despite having accumulated a debt in municipal taxes of some 5 million reais (approx. 1.5 million pounds) during the last 15 years of 'ownership'. This enormous debt (more than the value of the building), together with long years of abandonment, could easily justify (even according to law) a claim for the building to become public property by the local municipality, but nevertheless major José Serra used public money to mount a massive police operation and make 1,600 people homeless for his 'gentrification' plans.
Today the building looms emptily with only the graffiti to remind us of what an inspiring place it was. It can't be too often that a social movement has succeeded in taking so many people from the streets and giving them self-respect and a safe place to live. When the inhabitants asked where they should go they were told 'back to the streets'. So now instead of having a world-leading example of social reform, Sao Paulo has yet another empty tower block and 1600 people once more added to the homeless statistics.
The 'Prestes Maia', a 22 storey tower block, housed 486 families, a library, workshops, and a venue for numerous educational, social and cultural activities. People of all ages and upbringings, children, elderly, disabled, artists, activists and students, had all been working together to create a new understanding of how the city should and can work. However, the 'lawful owner' wanted it emptied, despite having accumulated a debt in municipal taxes of some 5 million reais (approx. 1.5 million pounds) during the last 15 years of 'ownership'. This enormous debt (more than the value of the building), together with long years of abandonment, could easily justify (even according to law) a claim for the building to become public property by the local municipality, but nevertheless major José Serra used public money to mount a massive police operation and make 1,600 people homeless for his 'gentrification' plans.
Today the building looms emptily with only the graffiti to remind us of what an inspiring place it was. It can't be too often that a social movement has succeeded in taking so many people from the streets and giving them self-respect and a safe place to live. When the inhabitants asked where they should go they were told 'back to the streets'. So now instead of having a world-leading example of social reform, Sao Paulo has yet another empty tower block and 1600 people once more added to the homeless statistics.
No comments:
Post a Comment