I was yesterday. There were closer to 20 people on the walk--still no great shakes, but we were escorted by police and accompanied by several camera crews and newspaper journalists (Channel 7, Channel 12, the Daily News...). People driving in cars noticed and honked and cheered. People walking by signed letters and took fliers.

Those who couldnt make the walk were invited to join on the City Hall steps, where there was a really good showing for a weekday of about 75 people.

Sometimes things need to get done to get the attention of the 9-5 lawmakers and the press. And other times we can have larger gathering on weekends. There is a a multi-pronged approach to stopping this plan--at the City and State level. If this one rally were it, it wouldn't be enough.

For those who want to do something, email me (crownheightsrm@gmail.com) or visit the CHRM website (www.revitalizecrownheights.org). We have other rallys coming up, are working on a letter-writing campaign, and are regularly meeting with elected officials and government officials.

RPratt

Posted by: Rachel Pratt at June 13, 2008 1:43 PM in response to March, Rally Held Over Crown Heights Homeless Plan

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 in response to Crown Heights Rally: Don't Dump On Us!

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 in response to Crown Heights Rally: Don't Dump On Us!

I am a part of CHRM because I believe that people can mobilize and together make things better. I am also a member because I am a mother, woman, and homeowner living in Crown Heights. I work from home, I raise my children here and want to make the right decisions to keep them safe. I am tired of apologizing for wanting a better quality of life and safe streets for my children. Don't we all want that? I know we live in NYC, and the City is often a dangerous place, but if I have any power to minimize the danger for my family, I will do it. There was another shooting right in front of my house last Saturday--the second in two years. It happened in the middle of a sunny afternoon, about 15 minutes after I came inside with my children. In my opinion, police need to focus on policing the neighbhood, not on maintaining order in a City-run shelter and intake center. It is DHS's job to run that shelter well, and we have to hold them accountable to higher standards.

I believe that the proposed changes to the Armory are wrong for so many reasons. First, of course, is that that place is no way for anyone to live--no services, crime, violence. And then there is the fact that 60% of homeless men are in Manhattan, and those in Brooklyn (16% of the City's homeless men are in Brooklyn) are in Downtown Brooklyn, not Central Brooklyn. How will they get here in the middle of a winter night?

And finally, we are all entitled to safety, order, and our fair share--just like New Yorkers from other neighborhoods?

Rachel

Posted by: Rachel Pratt at May 23, 2008 4:32 PM in response to Crown Heights Group Still Doesn't Want Homeless Center

Now it is the Real Rachel Posting (not the imposter). The rally is on June 1st at 12:30 at the armory. It is NOT on June 3rd, and we have no intention of changing it.

Please join us.

If you want more information or want to join our email list for the most current info, email me at crownheightsrm@gmail.com

Thanks.
RP

Posted by: Rachel Pratt at May 23, 2008 3:28 PM in response to Crown Heights Group Still Doesn't Want Homeless Center

As one of the founders of the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement (CHaRM), I am very much opposed to the City's plan to move the intake center to the Bedord-Atlantic Armory. It is bad for homeless men; it is bad for our neighorhood which already has more residential social service beds per acre than any other Brooklyn neighborhood. Not to mention how poorly served the men are already at the Bedford-Atlantc Armory!

If you are interested in joining with CHaRM to organize and give voice to our neighborhoods, please contact me at crownheightsrm@gmail.com or rpratt6@optonline.net.

Posted by: Rachel Pratt at May 9, 2008 1:33 PM in response to Crown Heights Doesn't Want UES Homeless Center