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June 2, 2008

Crown Heights Rally: Don't Dump On Us!


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chts-protest-sign-06-2008.JPGIt seemed like every politician in Brooklyn came to Crown Heights yesterday afternoon for a press conference/rally to decry the Department of Homeless Services' plan to move a Manhattan homeless intake center to the armory at Bedford and Atlantic. The city currently operates a 350-bed homeless shelter at the Crown Heights armory. One of the most forceful speakers at the event, which drew a crowd of about 75, was Borough President Marty Markowitz. As per the video above (apologies for the poor quality), Markowitz said moving the intake facility to Crown Heights would be bad for both Brooklyn and Manhattan. "Manhattan residents agree with us because their fear is that if they move the intake center to here, more of those that need services will chose not to come to Brooklyn and will stay on the streets of Manhattan," said the borough president. Other politicians who spoke included state senators Eric Adams and Velmanette Montgomery and Councilmembers Bill de Blasio and Tish James. Most of them stressed the fact that Crown Heights already shoulders its fair share of social services. "It's not a question of not in my backyard at all, media. We have done our fair share," said Councilmember James. "The need is in Manhattan. They have continued to build up Manhattan, and have accidents and dump on Brooklyn. And we have come here today to say, 'No more dumping on Brooklyn.'" James also talked about how she has been trying to get the city to build a recreation center, a la the one just completed in the Park Slope armory, for many years. Others mentioned that the city has been operating the current shelter at the Crown Heights armory in a shameful fashion. "We have had this ongoing battle to try to clean up this facility for many years, and we have still not gotten the city to pay attention," said State Senator Montgomery. "So now, rather than working with us to help bring the necessary support to the men in this facility...they are now going to dump another number of homeless men in this place that is not fit for the men who live here already." And Councilmember de Blasio spoke derisively about top-down city governance. "Wouldn't it have been nice if the City of New York had come to you and said, 'What should we do here? How can we improve the community?' But that's never the way the City of New York starts the discussion," said de Blasio. "It never goes to people who've been the backbone of the community and says, 'What's the right thing to do?'"
News Columnist: 'Shameful' Crown Heights Homeless Plan [Brownstoner]
Crown Heights Doesn't Want Homeless Intake Center [Brownstoner]




Posted by Gabby at 8:57 AM | Comments (15)
Categories: Crown Heights, Homeless

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Yesterday's rally was a great starting point for the long haul fight. Our local politicians all really stepped up and took a stand. All of them made great speeches, but Marty was at his most passionate and eloquent, and hopefully with all of the Bklyn big guns on our side, we will prevail.

Two things stood out with me: It was an amazing multi-racial, multi-age group. We had young white guys with mohawks and older black church ladies in hats, and everyone in between. This wasn't us vs them, gentrifiers vs oldtimers. The group made me feel good about the future of our neighborhood, as a place where we all can live and thrive.

There was also tremendous support for keeping the existing shelter there, and insisting that the homeless men who live there are helped by real programs to actually aid them into jobs, homes and society. We heard from a man who lives in the shelter who has been applying for an apartment offered by DHS, but doesn't qualify because he hasn't been homeless long enough. He's been applying for over a year. Almost all of the speakers stressed that the existing shelter is necessary, but needs to be better run, needs to be safe and clean, and needs to be a doorway to something better, not just a dumping ground for the unwanted.

All other points are well covered by Gabby's report. It was a good start.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at June 2, 2008 10:05 AM

Aplogies if this is a repeat post, still having log in problems.

Yesterday's rally was a great starting point for the long haul fight. Our local politicians all really stepped up and took a stand. All of them made great speeches, but Marty was at his most passionate and eloquent, and hopefully with all of the Bklyn big guns on our side, we will prevail.

Two things stood out with me: It was an amazing multi-racial, multi-age group. We had young white guys with mohawks and older black church ladies in hats, and everyone in between. This wasn't us vs them, gentrifiers vs oldtimers. The group made me feel good about the future of our neighborhood, as a place where we all can live and thrive.

There was also tremendous support for keeping the existing shelter there, and insisting that the homeless men who live there are helped by real programs to actually aid them into jobs, homes and society. We heard from a man who lives in the shelter who has been applying for an apartment offered by DHS, but doesn't qualify because he hasn't been homeless long enough. He's been applying for over a year. Almost all of the speakers stressed that the existing shelter is necessary, but needs to be better run, needs to be safe and clean, and needs to be a doorway to something better, not just a dumping ground for the unwanted.

All other points are well covered by Gabby's report. It was a good start.

Montrose Morris

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 10:10 AM

Wow, only 75 people attended? I figured that the turnout would be larger, given how much this protest was mentioned on various blogs. I wonder if the opposition is strong enough to block the city's plan.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 10:15 AM

I really really wanted to attend the protest with husband and toddler but for numerous reasons could not make it. Even though I didnt attend I will do my part and join the below letter writing campain. I urge others to do the same....


....Join the letter writing campaign if you haven't already.
In the crowhill link you will find a letter that you can print out on your letterhead.
You are welcome to personalize it.
Please sign it and return it to us so we can cc it appropriately.
You can mail it to:
CHCA - c/o F.B. Enterprise/714 Washington Ave, suite #89/Brooklyn, NY 11238
or
dropped it off at Msnap - 721 Franklin (betwn Park & Sterling)
Please make copies for your neighbors!!!

All this information is on our website: http://www.crowhillcommunity.org/

Thanks for your help
CHCA

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 10:25 AM

some of those people were there representing groups and churches too and will now go back and spread the word. I did hope it would be larger but maybe Sunday is not the best rally day. But all in all it was good, a lot of politicians showed up and the people who were there were very united in their opposition to the intake center. And they were also adamant that the purpose is not to shut down the existing shelter but make sure the city does right by the men who are there.

Posted by: bxgrl at June 2, 2008 10:31 AM

I feel it was a good start also M.M. It was nice to see all of the diversity that makes up our neighborhood. I felt proud to be a part of it.

Posted by: faithful at June 2, 2008 10:48 AM

Brownstoner:

I haven't lived in Brooklyn in a long time, so I forgot what its accent sounds like.

Marty Markowitz brought it all back to me.

Wow!

Keep it real, Marty! (And before you go, be sure to leave a taped history. Voices like yours are disappearing fast.)

As for MM, bxgl, faithful and everyone else at the rally, congratulations on pulling such a great group together. The still at the top of the post, showing the pair of "church ladies" and the "hipster" in black t-shirt, warms the heart.

Something new is happening in Crown Heights, and it's great to see.

Nostalgic on Park Avenue

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 11:24 AM

I don't understand. I thought this rally was scheduled for this Tuesday...tomorrow. What happened? I meant to go to this.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 12:20 PM

Side Note: crane anology (see photo) = poor taste

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 12:30 PM

Sharp eye, 12:30 - I hadn't noticed that. I agree that this is in very poor taste, but illustrates the hysteria common to NIMBYs.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 12:48 PM

As a member of the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement (CHRM), the organizers of yesterday's rally, there was a final count of people yesterday just under 200. It was enough to bring all elected officials in Central Brooklyn, and will, if all of us can keep up the momentum, be enough to stop this. This is just the beginning, and we have the City's attention.

Go to the CHRM website--www.revitalizecrownheights.org--to download letters to the Mayor and to find out other ways you can join this fight.

Thanks.
rpratt

Posted by: Rachel Pratt at June 2, 2008 3:43 PM

200? You must have pulled a Patti Hagan and counted the homeless people that you are working so hard to exclude from the neighborhood.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 9:49 PM

my guess is that the count of 200 was gotten by tallying the names on the sign in sheet.

don't know how long you stayed but people kept coming and signing letters until about 3;
news 12 showed up later as did Assemblyman Camara.

Posted by: neene at June 3, 2008 9:45 AM

Sunday early afternoon is difficult and there were a number of competing activities--the various house tours, the flea and of course, Church. It is important to remember when organizing these rallies that Bed Stuy and Crown Heights have a community that faithfully attends Church--I know the majority of people on my block were unable to attend for that reason. That said-Rachel's estimate makes sense,I was there for the entire rally and we def. had at least 150 there. The thing is that we need to keep it up and continue to promote awareness as well as keep bloomberg's mailbox full. Rachel--Please let us know what else we can do!
Did anyone go to the CB3 meeting yesterday? I know it was going to be a big topic of conversation but got stuck at work and was unable to attend.

Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at June 3, 2008 12:57 PM

Thanks for all of the support and good feedback.

Choosing a time that would work for everyone for the rally was very difficult (NYS reps in Albany all week, Friday a bad press day because few read Saturday papers, Sunday good for press but have to make it early enough for them to meet deadlines...). Alas...CHRM is now working on several large initiaves:

1) Letter writing campaign (if you haven't signed a letter yet, go to www.revitalizecrownheights.org, download, customize, sign, and return to CHRM)

2) Mobilizing through community organizations including schools, churches, daycare centers, block associations, senior centers, other (if you have experience, contacts, or the willingness to participte, send CHRM an email at www.crownheightsrm@gmail.com)

3) A second rally, in a few weeks (we will definately need help organizing!).

To volunteer or make a donation to help defray some of the costs of all of this, visit www.revitalizecrownheights.org

Thank you!
RPratt

Posted by: Rachel Pratt at June 3, 2008 2:21 PM

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