[pas]

> Everyone in this area

Everyone in this area should have bought the flats they live in, or should have signed long term leases with inflation-pegged rent adjustments.

Other than that it's simply people trying to tell someone to not eat their cake, because they want it.

[steenreem]

Well, I think I can make a simpler argument. Google will change this neighbourhood. The culture will change, the cost of things, not just rent, will increase. Assuming that the author is very happy with how his neighbourhood currently is, I can see how he doesn't want Google's change.

I think that, if the majority of the people in the area side with the author, there is an argument to be made to, through political means, block bringers of gentrifications such as Google from entering this area.

[pas]

I'm all for self-determination of individuals and groups. And the delicate quest for the balance between those.

If the majority wants Google out, I want them to be able to do that. Currently, that decision is very likely not up to them.

> The boroughs of Berlin are not independent municipalities; the borough governments' power is limited, and subordinate to the Berlin Senate.

And even if it were up to the district/borough, there are 270+ thousand people there. They should hold a referendum, and let's hope for a high brow campaign.

Also, singling out Google is easy, and important. It's a milestone. It means that gentrification is already - very likely - going to continue to happen with full force there. Google picked the place because it's full of "talent", small startups, "cool places/parties", etc.

[tomxor]

> Everyone in this area should have bought the flats they live in.

Don't you think they would have if they could?

[pas]

I'm aware, that they are at the mercy of the owners.

But that's a general problem, completely orthogonal to Google.

Gentrification is just a big sign, that renting as a means for providing shelter is a very fragile system without proper market controls.

Of course, in general the inequality of the situation leads to exploitation of those who don't have enough money to buy something to hedge against rising rents.