Harlem as you know it dead and buried.
``Whatever they build on that site will be a plus for the neighborhood,'' Crain's New York Business quotes Eugene Giscombe, chairman of 125th Street Business Improvement District, ``It will be better than what is there now.''
Tear it down. Tear it all down. Make room for Major League Baseball,who already has plans to open up its headquarters in central Harlem, Toys 'R US and grotesque shopping complexes. It has been reported that either real estate giant Vornado Realty Trust(which owns a 32.7% stake in Toys 'R Us) , General Growth Properties and Thor Equities, the latter of which own hundreds of urban shopping malls between them, will be given the contract to develop the recently rezoned 125th Street Corridor. Just as long as the current residents, who have lived there for decades and whose ancestors built Harlem are gone and forgotten.
Coming to a neighborhood near you
Whether it be in Occupied Territories in Palestine, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, or right here in New York City, the world is witnessing a new wave of corporate seizure and destruction of already scare affordable housing. This is just one part of Mayor Bloomberg's plan to transform New York, albeit the most ambitious. The government is subsidizing this with taxpayer money. The corporate media has failed to hold elected officials accountable. Under the current plan, 70 local businesses and hundreds of minority local residents will be displaced to make way for multi-billion dollar corporations to set up shop and continue to exploit our communities.
The failure of the corporate media.
As the corporate media reported, Dickens initially opposed the plans to develop Harlem. ''Displacement, overdevelopment and gentrification are serious concerns,'' Ms. Dickens wrote in a statement. ''There will be no rezoning plan signed into law if I do not get the protection for my community.'' The corporate narrative continues that after a brave fight, Councilwoman Dickens was able to get major concessions from the Bloomberg Administration. The New York Times, the so called "paper of record", states as much, in the second to last sentence of a May 1st article covering the story.
"The Bloomberg administration and Ms. Dickens have said that an agreement they negotiated reserves 46 perfect, or 1,758, of the 3,858 total new residential units that would be permitted to be built in the rezoned area as moderately priced housing."
The New York Daily News, in a May 4th editorial went as far as to pat Dickens on the back for her efforts to preserve the area's character.
Shamelessly, however, the Times waits for the last sentence of the same piece to expose the truth of the agreement between Bloomberg and Dickens.
"...According to the formal agreement, signed on April 15[th] by Deputy Mayor Robert C. Lieber, only about 5 percent of the housing- or about 200 units- would be affordable for families earning $30,750 or less."
Dickens was able to claim such relying on statistics encompassing all of New York City residents. If Mrs. Dickens wasn't aware, the average income for Harlem residents, her constituents, is less than $24,000 only a fraction of the $76,000 that is the medium income for New York City Residents.
Dickens’ Chief of Staff, Lynette Velasco, agreed that the number was 200 units on paper, but put the total number of affordable housing units at 900, and assured this reporter the residences would be affordable through subsidies provided by Housing Preservation and Development. Pressed on the details, Velasco said the"programs are being worked on as we speak" and refused to give further details. She stressed that Councilwoman Dickens is " confident they wll be completed" and that she believes affordable housing is "the most critical issue of our time".
"Its never over till its over"
Community groups and activists simply do not share her confidence. One of the most outspoken critics of the plan, comes from what some might consider a surprising source, the Chair of Zoning and Franchises for the City Council, Tony Avella. He was elected in 2001 and represents the 19th District, which is Northeast Queens. Explaining why he was one of the two to vote against the plan, he states, "Based upon the concerns off the community . A number of groups and leaders came to me expressing their concerns that the rezoning will dramatically and forever change the character of Harlem. And they are absolutely right. We need real community initiated development. This is planning from the top down. "
The current plan "will change 125th street into Madison Avenue. I don't think that's what the community wants". Councilman Avella has a number of other issues with the plan, including the "affordable housing component, and the money set aside for businesses to relocate". In reference to the $750,000 councilwoman Dicken's agreement with Bloomberg allocates for helping the displaced businesses relocate, Avella comments: "By City Planning's own studies, 70 businesses will have to go, if you divide 70 into $750,000, its a little over $10,000, its nothing. This is destroying mom and pops, destroying the character of the neighborhood".
In response to critics who say that the council vote has already taken place and it is too late to change the path now, Avella has a strong message: "Its never over till its over. Even though the vote has taken place, there are number of lawsuits which have been filed. The lawsuits, if successful could overturn the vote. To give up now would allow the developers and bureaucrats to win. When people come together and speak out they can move mountains, I don't think its over by a long shot".
"Complete and utter destruction of Harlem's economic, social, cultural, and political history, future, and potential destiny".
One of the most ambitious lawsuits comes from the organization Vote People, which is headed by activist Craig Schley. Schley is undertaking this effort because the rezoning will bring, in his word, "Complete and utter destruction of Harlem's economic, social, cultural, and political history, future, and potential destiny". The "issues surround the suit involve lack of notice to business and the community to be displaced, and due process issues, conflict of interest issues, and other related issues," Schley writes.
"On April 30[th] we filed a our lawsuit in State Supreme Court, and that same afternoon filed an appeal in the New State's 1st appeals department, and will on June [30] make several oral arguments asking the court to either annul the vote or the proposal or to start the process over again." Schley uncovered a 100 year old law which states that if if 20% property owners signed a protest it would force the city council to wait at least 30 days before they could vote on the proposal, and would require a 75% majority. "We in fact invoked the proposal, the city had to wait until 30 days before voting. [Vote People] organized the community to gather signatures, did a statistical analysis of the area, challenged the city to have actuate information, rallied the businesses, residents and organization to assist in the matter. Vote People came within single digits of the 20%. The city's continued efforts to frustrate Vote Peoples efforts is also in the lawsuit.”
Upcoming Action
A coalition of groups, spearheaded by the Harlem Tenants Council, and its co-founder Nellie Hester Bailey has been planning major march and rally in Harlem for June 21st. The other major sponsors include the East Harlem Triangle, Delano Village Tenants Association, Buyers and Renters United to Save Harlem (BRUSH) and Harlem Fight Back. It is being endorsed by dozens of other organizations from all over New York City. Hundreds are expected to turnout for the event.
Bailey, an outspoken critic of the current plan, is not opposed to idea of development, just in its current manifestation. "Although development is a welcome relief from abandoned buildings", she writes, "garbage-strewn empty lots, few service amenities such as supermarkets, rampant drugs and crime, the "revitalization" of Harlem is displacing tenants, driving out local businesses and will impact Harlem's ethnic, political and socio-economic makeup for decades to come if not permanently."
She points out that "While Dickens negotiated not a penny for anti-eviction services, including emergency rental assistance, youth jobs/programs and support services for Harlem's most vulnerable population --senior citizens on fixed income -- she saw fit to allocate over $5.5 million to upgrade Marcus Garvey Park, funds to cover broker fees and $100,000 plus cost for benefits for an "economic development consultant" whom she will hire. " She adds "Columbia University no less got Bloomberg to allocate $150 million for an affordable housing program in its expansion deal; no such luck with Dickens!"
"Harlem is the Mecca of Revolutionary action in New York"
Among those in attendance on Saturday will be Harlem resident and Hip-Hop activist Immortal Technique. Born in Peru, Technique was raised in Harlem. "When my father left Peru for the US, Harlem opened it's arms to us" Technique said in an interview. "It was not a perfect place in the 80's and 90's there was lots of violence and crime, and I am not saying that this gave it more nostalgia or made it better because it will always be home, but I think that there is way to clean up a neighborhood without exiling it's residents." Technique is also quick to point out Harlem's historical role as a center for Black thought and culture: "Harlem is the Mecca of Revolutionary action in New York. The place where people from all over the world have converged to discuss and plan proactive solutions to the problems that we face not only in a physical struggle but also in a spiritual sense of our oppression."
He has words of caution for the organizers of the event, "The leadership of the movement must give way to youth to the immigrants, and to the residents that are already here struggling as well. There can be no politburo for a struggle against gentrification, if this is not an equal unified front, a round table with no Arthur, we will fail. They are counting on us to fall apart and into this mind frame." Technique reserves criticism for protests as well , because "sometimes they are marginalized because the organizers don't reach out to the community so they are full of people who look like they have no connection to the community, or people who were bussed in." But he does have reserved optimism for the future of Harlem, "It rests on the shoulders of the organizer to reach out and make contacts, contacts that span generation, racial and religious lines to bring people together. There are ways to combat the ruling, nothing is final, there are appeals, there are overturning mechanisms.Occupation is not victory."
Another activist who will be present on Saturday is University of Maryland Graduate and New York City native Daniel Lewkowicz. Lewkowicz is a co-founder of the grass-roots organization Community-Roots, which will comprise a major youth component of the march, and whose artists will be performing alongside Technique. His organization will be making its presence felt at the event because, as he puts it, "we support local communities in their fight for self-determination and we support the Harlem community in their fight to have voice in the changing climate of New York City. Communities are composed of working people who share a common culture, heritage, history, and purpose. Income levels and rising property values should not be a justification for the displacement of a people and community. "
``Whatever they build on that site will be a plus for the neighborhood,'' Crain's New York Business quotes Eugene Giscombe, chairman of 125th Street Business Improvement District, ``It will be better than what is there now.''
Tear it down. Tear it all down. Make room for Major League Baseball,who already has plans to open up its headquarters in central Harlem, Toys 'R US and grotesque shopping complexes. It has been reported that either real estate giant Vornado Realty Trust(which owns a 32.7% stake in Toys 'R Us) , General Growth Properties and Thor Equities, the latter of which own hundreds of urban shopping malls between them, will be given the contract to develop the recently rezoned 125th Street Corridor. Just as long as the current residents, who have lived there for decades and whose ancestors built Harlem are gone and forgotten.
Coming to a neighborhood near you
Whether it be in Occupied Territories in Palestine, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, or right here in New York City, the world is witnessing a new wave of corporate seizure and destruction of already scare affordable housing. This is just one part of Mayor Bloomberg's plan to transform New York, albeit the most ambitious. The government is subsidizing this with taxpayer money. The corporate media has failed to hold elected officials accountable. Under the current plan, 70 local businesses and hundreds of minority local residents will be displaced to make way for multi-billion dollar corporations to set up shop and continue to exploit our communities.
The failure of the corporate media.
As the corporate media reported, Dickens initially opposed the plans to develop Harlem. ''Displacement, overdevelopment and gentrification are serious concerns,'' Ms. Dickens wrote in a statement. ''There will be no rezoning plan signed into law if I do not get the protection for my community.'' The corporate narrative continues that after a brave fight, Councilwoman Dickens was able to get major concessions from the Bloomberg Administration. The New York Times, the so called "paper of record", states as much, in the second to last sentence of a May 1st article covering the story.
"The Bloomberg administration and Ms. Dickens have said that an agreement they negotiated reserves 46 perfect, or 1,758, of the 3,858 total new residential units that would be permitted to be built in the rezoned area as moderately priced housing."
The New York Daily News, in a May 4th editorial went as far as to pat Dickens on the back for her efforts to preserve the area's character.
Shamelessly, however, the Times waits for the last sentence of the same piece to expose the truth of the agreement between Bloomberg and Dickens.
"...According to the formal agreement, signed on April 15[th] by Deputy Mayor Robert C. Lieber, only about 5 percent of the housing- or about 200 units- would be affordable for families earning $30,750 or less."
Dickens was able to claim such relying on statistics encompassing all of New York City residents. If Mrs. Dickens wasn't aware, the average income for Harlem residents, her constituents, is less than $24,000 only a fraction of the $76,000 that is the medium income for New York City Residents.
Dickens’ Chief of Staff, Lynette Velasco, agreed that the number was 200 units on paper, but put the total number of affordable housing units at 900, and assured this reporter the residences would be affordable through subsidies provided by Housing Preservation and Development. Pressed on the details, Velasco said the"programs are being worked on as we speak" and refused to give further details. She stressed that Councilwoman Dickens is " confident they wll be completed" and that she believes affordable housing is "the most critical issue of our time".
"Its never over till its over"
Community groups and activists simply do not share her confidence. One of the most outspoken critics of the plan, comes from what some might consider a surprising source, the Chair of Zoning and Franchises for the City Council, Tony Avella. He was elected in 2001 and represents the 19th District, which is Northeast Queens. Explaining why he was one of the two to vote against the plan, he states, "Based upon the concerns off the community . A number of groups and leaders came to me expressing their concerns that the rezoning will dramatically and forever change the character of Harlem. And they are absolutely right. We need real community initiated development. This is planning from the top down. "
The current plan "will change 125th street into Madison Avenue. I don't think that's what the community wants". Councilman Avella has a number of other issues with the plan, including the "affordable housing component, and the money set aside for businesses to relocate". In reference to the $750,000 councilwoman Dicken's agreement with Bloomberg allocates for helping the displaced businesses relocate, Avella comments: "By City Planning's own studies, 70 businesses will have to go, if you divide 70 into $750,000, its a little over $10,000, its nothing. This is destroying mom and pops, destroying the character of the neighborhood".
In response to critics who say that the council vote has already taken place and it is too late to change the path now, Avella has a strong message: "Its never over till its over. Even though the vote has taken place, there are number of lawsuits which have been filed. The lawsuits, if successful could overturn the vote. To give up now would allow the developers and bureaucrats to win. When people come together and speak out they can move mountains, I don't think its over by a long shot".
"Complete and utter destruction of Harlem's economic, social, cultural, and political history, future, and potential destiny".
One of the most ambitious lawsuits comes from the organization Vote People, which is headed by activist Craig Schley. Schley is undertaking this effort because the rezoning will bring, in his word, "Complete and utter destruction of Harlem's economic, social, cultural, and political history, future, and potential destiny". The "issues surround the suit involve lack of notice to business and the community to be displaced, and due process issues, conflict of interest issues, and other related issues," Schley writes.
"On April 30[th] we filed a our lawsuit in State Supreme Court, and that same afternoon filed an appeal in the New State's 1st appeals department, and will on June [30] make several oral arguments asking the court to either annul the vote or the proposal or to start the process over again." Schley uncovered a 100 year old law which states that if if 20% property owners signed a protest it would force the city council to wait at least 30 days before they could vote on the proposal, and would require a 75% majority. "We in fact invoked the proposal, the city had to wait until 30 days before voting. [Vote People] organized the community to gather signatures, did a statistical analysis of the area, challenged the city to have actuate information, rallied the businesses, residents and organization to assist in the matter. Vote People came within single digits of the 20%. The city's continued efforts to frustrate Vote Peoples efforts is also in the lawsuit.”
Upcoming Action
A coalition of groups, spearheaded by the Harlem Tenants Council, and its co-founder Nellie Hester Bailey has been planning major march and rally in Harlem for June 21st. The other major sponsors include the East Harlem Triangle, Delano Village Tenants Association, Buyers and Renters United to Save Harlem (BRUSH) and Harlem Fight Back. It is being endorsed by dozens of other organizations from all over New York City. Hundreds are expected to turnout for the event.
Bailey, an outspoken critic of the current plan, is not opposed to idea of development, just in its current manifestation. "Although development is a welcome relief from abandoned buildings", she writes, "garbage-strewn empty lots, few service amenities such as supermarkets, rampant drugs and crime, the "revitalization" of Harlem is displacing tenants, driving out local businesses and will impact Harlem's ethnic, political and socio-economic makeup for decades to come if not permanently."
She points out that "While Dickens negotiated not a penny for anti-eviction services, including emergency rental assistance, youth jobs/programs and support services for Harlem's most vulnerable population --senior citizens on fixed income -- she saw fit to allocate over $5.5 million to upgrade Marcus Garvey Park, funds to cover broker fees and $100,000 plus cost for benefits for an "economic development consultant" whom she will hire. " She adds "Columbia University no less got Bloomberg to allocate $150 million for an affordable housing program in its expansion deal; no such luck with Dickens!"
"Harlem is the Mecca of Revolutionary action in New York"
Among those in attendance on Saturday will be Harlem resident and Hip-Hop activist Immortal Technique. Born in Peru, Technique was raised in Harlem. "When my father left Peru for the US, Harlem opened it's arms to us" Technique said in an interview. "It was not a perfect place in the 80's and 90's there was lots of violence and crime, and I am not saying that this gave it more nostalgia or made it better because it will always be home, but I think that there is way to clean up a neighborhood without exiling it's residents." Technique is also quick to point out Harlem's historical role as a center for Black thought and culture: "Harlem is the Mecca of Revolutionary action in New York. The place where people from all over the world have converged to discuss and plan proactive solutions to the problems that we face not only in a physical struggle but also in a spiritual sense of our oppression."
He has words of caution for the organizers of the event, "The leadership of the movement must give way to youth to the immigrants, and to the residents that are already here struggling as well. There can be no politburo for a struggle against gentrification, if this is not an equal unified front, a round table with no Arthur, we will fail. They are counting on us to fall apart and into this mind frame." Technique reserves criticism for protests as well , because "sometimes they are marginalized because the organizers don't reach out to the community so they are full of people who look like they have no connection to the community, or people who were bussed in." But he does have reserved optimism for the future of Harlem, "It rests on the shoulders of the organizer to reach out and make contacts, contacts that span generation, racial and religious lines to bring people together. There are ways to combat the ruling, nothing is final, there are appeals, there are overturning mechanisms.Occupation is not victory."
Another activist who will be present on Saturday is University of Maryland Graduate and New York City native Daniel Lewkowicz. Lewkowicz is a co-founder of the grass-roots organization Community-Roots, which will comprise a major youth component of the march, and whose artists will be performing alongside Technique. His organization will be making its presence felt at the event because, as he puts it, "we support local communities in their fight for self-determination and we support the Harlem community in their fight to have voice in the changing climate of New York City. Communities are composed of working people who share a common culture, heritage, history, and purpose. Income levels and rising property values should not be a justification for the displacement of a people and community. "
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