Hands Across 125th Street! Rezoning Foes Plan River-To-River Protest
The Coalition to Save Harlem is planning on Saturday to create a human chain stretching the entire length of 125th Street to protest the city's plan to rezone the neighborhood's main commercial corridor.
Dubbed “Hands Across Harlem," the demonstration is one of dozens of local protests aimed at halting the rezoning proposal that was approved by the City Planning Commission in March before it comes up for a City Council vote this month.
If passed, the rezoning would accommodate denser development along 125th Street, and according to the Coalition “lead to irrevocable displacement of local businesses and residents” in a neighborhood where the median income is $25,000.
“The people of Harlem are being evicted from the neighborhood they have made internationally famous, only to be replaced by a plan that rewards the wealthy real estate industry with the development of high-rise luxury condominiums, completely defacing the unique character of this historic community,” said a release issued by the Coalition today.
One of the events’ organizers, Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts, said the zonign proposal under review does not address Harlem residents’ concerns, and deals with the issue of affordable housing “only as an afterthought.”
The plan has certainly had its fair share of opposition, but will they really be able to rally enough people to create a human chain river-to-river across 125th? Ms. Rhodes-Pitts said they are expecting a good turnout, but admitted it will be a “challenge to show our unity as a community.”
Meanwhile, over the weekend, an East Harlem tenants group that battles abusive landlords, the Movement for Justice in El Bario, protested the neighborhood’s gentrification on the steps of City Hall, Metro New York reported.
At the rally, El Bario claimed that since the London-based investment bank the Dawnay, Day Group bought 47 rent-stabilized buildings in Harlem last year, conditions for residents have deteriorated.
The group is planning to take their fight against Harlem’s gentrification global in the next few months with a series of trips to England, Spain, France and Scotland.
This is ridiculous! Community Boards 9 and 11 (West and East Harlem) also voted for this rezoning. Clearly a majority of Harlemites want to see this happen. It is a disgruntled and disruptive few that want to stop this. They continue to use "affordable housing" as a shield to stop this. Folks, the area in question has nothing but affordable housing in the form of housing projects ( which have oversaturated the area in "affordable housing"). This area needs to move forward and bring about progress. It is terribly stagnant. Enough with these distracting tactics, focus on the future of this area for the greater good.
Opposition to the rezoning is not limited to a "disruptive" few(disruptive of what, the developers' cash flow?)but is widespread and well-founded. The proposed rezoning will make 125th St. a uniformly white, affluent strip mall and office corridor indistinguishable from midtown and the 'burbs. There will be no Harlem. Its history and culture will be eradicated. The proposed rezoning is for the "greater good" of developers and the wealthy, not for that of most Harlemites, and Harlemites know it. Whenever I hear talk of an "oversaturation of affordable housing" I know who's talking and about what. Too many poor black folks. Depresses property values. Move 'em out and convert those public housing units to luxury condos. Why waste those views?
The first anonymous comment referred to a "stagnant" environment. Man, that is known around here as a community. If you lust after our real estate, go someplace else, because we are not leaving. We have lived in and fought for this community for decades and we have earned the right to stay. You try to justify your greed, but we have seen your ilk come and go. Time to go now, fool. Our community will be here long after you move into your McMansion out of town. Bye-bye!
Stagnation? Sure there is! There is a stagnation of economic leadership in the Black community.
If one would concider gentrification as a virus or a parasite, simple biology will tell you no pathoge can harm a healthy host.
Malcom X is someon folks like to give lip praise to without having clue as to what he gave his life for!
The Charter of the Organization of Afro-American Unit clearly dilineated a self detemination basedplan for the edevelopemnt of Harlem and the continuedeconomic and social advancement of the Black Community on all levels.(1964)
Had any of th socalled leaders after his death, clergy or political followed at least 40% of his blueprint for prosprity, Black folks would be in the luxury condos and coops and manage a thriving, business district employing or own, from river to river.
but as you know, most so called Black leaders are ambulance chasers, with no clear cut or long term proactive goals, and are only astute at begging for crumbs from a debt ridden corrupt oligarchy,
while we spend 800 billion a year!
I am a resident of Harlem, Who has lived on west 125th street since I was born in 1960's. This leads me to wonder where will this rezoning place me and my family. Will we be displaced due to all of the changes that are taking place around us. This has been my home for over 45 years No one should be able to evict us from our Home! What if any thing can we do to fight this problem. If any one has any answers please help.