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* New York Times…
Ms. Ostaszewski, a 32-year-old energy efficiency consultant, has accumulated a modest following of more than 36,000 TikTok followers for her posts about affordable houses and things to do in Peoria.
She first moved to Peoria from Bloomington, Ill. about a decade ago to be with her partner. She purchased her first home for $33,000 in 2017, when she was 27. “I didn’t know if I would ever achieve homeownership, let alone before I turned 30,” Ms. Ostaszewski said.
Then she started to wave other people in: her brother, her sister and an estimated 300 strangers from across the country.“I’m trying to show people that they can move here and actually have a reasonable mortgage, while building on the progressive community that is here,” Ms. Ostaszewski said.
Her pitch is attracting people who didn’t believe they could ever own property. “For a lot of people of color and queer people, there is this generational poverty that continues to get passed down. They don’t have family that can pass down housing or other assets,” said Ms. Ostaszewski, who is of Filipino and Polish descent. “I’m bisexual, and I’m a woman of color. I’ve been able to find a lot of community here through both of those aspects of my identity.”
* Buzzfeed reported on Ostaszewski last year…
Though she doesn’t work for the town itself, Ostaszewski sets potential transplants up with job boards, moving resources, real estate agents, and lenders, and she has also organized a Facebook group for new residents that is “400 members strong.” Members have organized a kickball team, crafting clubs, and Dungeons & Dragons meetups. They have regular “transplant parties,” too.
She rebuked any concerns of gentrification by noting that Peoria doesn’t currently have enough residents to support its vast infrastructure. Bringing in more people would “grow the tax base,” and she said she would stop recruiting future Peorians if data suggested that residents were being displaced.
The Times article provided a history of Peoria’s housing market, explaining why the median home price, $128,100, is considerably lower than the national average of $328,600. The story also delved into the city’s political leanings, pointing out the fact that the population is more liberal than those of surrounding communities. Two local politicians weighed in on the fact that Ostaszewski’s efforts may be making the city even more liberal.
“I don’t care what side people are leaning to. If they’re going to come in and help rebuild neighborhoods and be good neighbors, I think that’s great,” former Peoria City Councilman Jim Montelongo told the Times.
Republican state Rep. Ryan Spain also said he’s not worried about a wave of liberal transplants.
“I think Peoria is an attractive place, whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, a conservative or progressive. … Really, an ideal community is one that you would have people of diverse views.”
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 2:04 pm
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That’s a great story and kudos to Jim Montelongo and Ryan Spain for saying exactly the right thing.
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 2:19 pm
==Republican state Rep. Ryan Spain also said he’s not worried about a wave of liberal transplants.==
Probably because they might be living within Booth and Koehler’s side of the map?
Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 2:21 pm
I’ve been following this story for a while and it’s truly an awesome effort by Angie. There are great walkable neighborhoods in central Illinois.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 2:28 pm
Never thought I’d be cheering on someone described as a “TikTok influencer,” but here we are. Small cities deserve some love, too.
Comment by Benjamin Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 2:47 pm
Good for her! Peoria is a beautiful city with great people, an active theater, art, and music scene, parks, and the Illinois River.
Comment by chitruth Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 3:31 pm
I think this is the first influencer I’ve ever encountered where I thouht that’s cool. The fact that she offers support services (setting people up with job boards, moving resources, etc.)
Peoria is a neat place. Though the Germans on Medical detectives pronounce it kind of funny (Pe-OR-ia) it took me a bit to figure out what they meant. They got Illinois (Bundesstaat Illinois) right.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 3:32 pm
The human brain is a funny thing. You have a typo in influencer (infulencer) and I didn’t even notice it at first.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 3:33 pm
This seems like news from the pre-Gingrich US when the flamethrowing and political standoffs started. I know that social media aren’t completely reflective of our current political climate, but it’s still nice to be reminded once in a while that we all live here and, for the most part, can function as a society despite our differences.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 4:05 pm
I feel like this is nothing new and yet a great thing. Even some of those local blogs this blog had covered over the years - most of them are still running - had been doing the same thing as this young lady. Promoting their particular neighborhoods as wonderful places to work, play and shop. I know people don’t like social media but this is one positive thing about it. Good on this young lady for being part of making Peoria a better more vibrant place.
Comment by Levois Thursday, Mar 30, 23 @ 5:14 pm