Developments

In the fight against displacement and gentrification the Harlem Anti-Displacement Task Force held it's 3rd Annual March.

Katrina Pain Index 2009 is a solidarity message from Bill Quigley to Hurricane Katrina survivors in NYC at the Katrina Remembrance Aug. 29, 2009. Bill Quigley is a human rights lawyer on leave from Loyola University to serve as legal directior for the Center for Constitutional Rights. For a pirinted version of the article "Katrina Pain Index 2009" contact Bill Quigley at quigley77@gmail.com. This video was shot by Johnnie Stevens and Dalia Grinan. mayibue2@yahoo.com

This afternoon, people from all over the city gathered at the brand-new No Slots Spot, right across the street from the proposed slots parlor, for an Anti-Casino Circus. "Because when it comes to bringing slots to Philly, it's not a democracy, it's a circus!"

I came across this mind blowing article in The Bulletin newspaper about a new high-end real estate project on Rittenhouse Square. One thing that is particularly surprising is 300 people showed up for the unveiling including Dwight Evans, Chaka Fattah, Lynne Abraham, and Michael Nutter. What a strage array of folks for the opening of a condo building. What kind of interests are really involved here? Where is the money coming from? As one of the new purchasers quoted in the article "The general rules don't apply in this case". Fascinating!

Asfolks in New Orleans are fighting to keep public housing alive, and as we here of the attacks on protesters by police today in New Orleans during a city council meeting,here is some info on what the fight is really about.

Erika

Click on any link below.

Save New Orleans public housing

New Orleans Indymedia

In the May election Philadelphians voted on a referendum to overhaul the Phila zoning code (more on why this is a good thing). A reformed zoning code could potentiallyhelp developers and average people avoid the Kafkaesque red tape of the current zoning system but also give communities a healthier role in developing their neighborhood.

Some of you might be interested in this discussion happening on the Young Philly Politics blog about the city's declaration of the area around Broad and Washington as a redevelopment zone.

Following is from the New York Times:

By MELODY SIMMONS Published: June 17, 2007

BALTIMORE, June 16 — For nearly three decades, Charlotte Johnson witnessed the drug dealing and violence on the streets in front of her modest row house in East Baltimore. She rode it out only to face a new challenge today — the community' transformation under the largest planned urban renewal in the country, which could soon drive her out of the neighborhood.

Business owners and merchants of the 1100 and 1200 blocks of S. 9th street responded to a City Council bill that would look to redevelop an area that they say is no longer blighted. A broad coalition of concerned community membersaddressed CityCouncil, TuesdayApril 23rd, to contesta bill that would allowfor the redevelopment oftwo blocks of the Italian Market south of Washington Ave. The project is part of the 9th & Ellsworth Urban Renewal Area. City Council Bill No. 070168 was passed through the rules committee despite the community's resistance.

Opposition to the redevelopment plan centers around the labeling of the neighborhood and business area as blighted. A report compiled by the Mexican community organization, JUNTOS/Casa de los Soles and researchers from the University of Pennsylvania shows that only 1 of the 15 properties listed as vacant on the city's land use map is actually vacant. The rest of the properties are under construction and being prepared to open for business or are newly renovated, recently openedbusinesses. Those opposed to the planned redevelopment point out that this area has been a sucessful location of investment and growth by local entrepreneurs and those that they serve.

One suchbusiness owner addressed City Council and invited them to come visit the area. To read his comments in English followed by Spanish, click here

here is a message from some friends:

do you think philly's "success with blight" should be exported to new orleans? if not, here's an easy way to speak out against gentrification in philly AND in new orleans. ray nagin, the mayor of new orleans, recently visited philadelphia in order to learn from our city’s “success with blight” and is now hoping to emulate some of the programs which many of us have organized against. penn alexander (the private/public school near upenn) and the brewerytown condos are named explictly as the kind of projects nagin wants to see happen in new orleans. here’s the link to the article in the Times-Picayune:

full article