Gentrification is a highly debatable issue with passionate opinions on both sides. Many bemoan gentrification, to the extreme of referring to it as 'modern-day slavery.'

It's been said that gentrification leads to the original inhabitants moving out of the neighborhood and having little or no impact on poverty levels. This is not true. Research from Quentin Brummet of the University of Chicago and Davin Reed of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed the effects of gentrification on economic prosperity. The researchers found that 70% to 80% of residents move out of their neighborhoods without gentrification. With gentrification, the percentage bumps by a mere 5%. The effect of gentrification, as Quentin and Davin found, is negligible.

The benefits, however, are too numerous to mention. As higher-income households move into lower-income neighborhoods, they bring economic opportunities. Some entrepreneurs come with their businesses, thus boosting the local economy with jobs. They come with college degrees and expertise to specialize and use their skills in local companies. They also attract good schools to the town. Not to mention that the real estate value of properties in the region increases substantially, meaning the houses of low-income households rise in value.

Another study on Medicaid data by New York University found that gentrification did not displace low-income Americans. They found that residents of low-income neighborhoods in New York move a lot. However, those who remained experienced a change in their fortune and economic growth. 

Gentrification is an efficient way of reintegrating America. The government should not intervene in stopping gentrification in New York. It is a way of reducing poverty in low-income neighborhoods and fostering unity among people of different backgrounds.