Protest Over 'Economic Segregation' in Downtown
According to The Eagle, there was a protest last week organized by Families United for Racial & Economic Equality (FUREE) to bring attention to the “the unmet needs of low-income residents” in Downtown Brooklyn. The group says the Downtown rezoning has resulted in plenty of high-end residential construction but not the affordable housing and supermarket…
According to The Eagle, there was a protest last week organized by Families United for Racial & Economic Equality (FUREE) to bring attention to the “the unmet needs of low-income residents” in Downtown Brooklyn. The group says the Downtown rezoning has resulted in plenty of high-end residential construction but not the affordable housing and supermarket that was supposed to come with it, thus resulting in “economic segregation.” Lillian Green, a member of FUREE, is quoted as follows: ‘Businesses along Willoughby Street have been closed for three years; public housing residents have been without a nearby affordable supermarket for four years; and the only affordable housing in Downtown Brooklyn [on Albee Square] is slated for demolition to make way for a parking lot and a park with possibly a dog run.” The protest was attended by around 75 people.
75 Protest Unmet Promises of Downtown Brooklyn Rezoning [Eagle]
Nokilissa;
Where do bike-lane advocates fit into this new social order?
Sorry, I did not mean to say “upper” in my rant. I meant to say “upper-middle”, which I think means anything under 200k per year, but has some cultural capital such as college and graduate degrees etc.
So true, Montrose. So true. This kind of thing, particularly in the face of the current political/economic climate escalating throughout the country, nearly decimating the upper and middle classes and burying the lower and working classes, is truly getting frightening to me.
And people who reduce it to “Ah, just a bunch-a whining” are part of the problem. A BIG part.
We are heading toward an economic climate in which the country is divided up into three segments: The Have-nots’ The Have-a-Little-but-have-to-work-twice-as-hard-for-its’, and the Have-it-All’s-but-demand-more-still’s.
“75 people was an impressive turnout though, dontcha think?????”
If there had been more, you’d see comments about those lazy, non-working poor people out demonstrating instead of looking for jobs, or working. So damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
there is no such thing as reverse snobbery!!!! just like there is no such thing as reverse racism! i’ll admit im a flat out snob but on the other end of the spectrum!
*rob*
“electronics and sneaker stores > lame ass frou frou vanity project boutiques and 15 dollar slices of pizza.”
reverse snobbery!!
What bxgrl said, at least for understanding the context for the demand for a supermarket. The residents of Ingersoll had one, and a laudromat and a chain pharmacy. Now they’ve got a big parking lot.
To answer BHS’s question, the only promises of affordable housing and a supermarket I am aware of were at this location, Myrtle between Flatbush and Ashland. Unfortunately, the council member did not lock in the promise from John Catsimitides (sp?).
In response to the comment above – the Associated markets are actually very expensive, definitely more that TJs for comparable items.
These folks are exercising their freedom of speech to complain about something affecting their community and neighborhood. They are asking for a grocery store that was demolished to be replaced.