Strategies

I'm sure this is not the first you've heard of this, but alternet offers a short analysis of what is going on in LA:

The LAPD's "Safer Cities Initiative," launched on Skid Row last summer, is based on the "broken windows" theory of law enforcement... What the theory is doing is reading poverty as disorder and using those 'signs of disorder' as an excuse to bring additional police attention and additional sanctioning to areas where poor people live."

Full story >>

This is the first installment of the most recent addition of the newsletter of the African American Business and Residents Association in Brewerytown. They have uncovered some of the pro-gentrification bloggers in the city and have tracked their conversations which are reproduced here, preceded by AABRA;s own community strategy as well as some basic background information.--------

While most new residents in North Philly live in peace with their neighbors, AABRA has uncovered an insidious network of other newcomers who are anti-community soldiers in the campaign to replace the poor of North Philly with the upper-income. Curiously, they have been documenting their contempt for North Philadelphians – and plans for your home – even as they smile at you in public. Today, we invite you to crash their secret party. Special Edition.

Community organizations and public housing residents from across the nation, along with Miami Workers Center and Power U Center for Social Change, stormed the Housing Agency of New Orleans (HANO) office at around 12:30 PM today. The organizations we are acting in solidarity with displaced residents of New Orleans public housing.

HANO, under federal HUD leadership, has fenced off four public housing projects and will not let people return to their homes even though the units were not damaged by the storm two years ago.

Wachovia Bank has played a major role in funding 'community planning' in various neighborhoods in Philadelphia. I think the relationship between the city, community development corporations/developers, and community organizations needs further exploration. I know of several community organizations that I feel are being bamboozled in their alliances with CDC's and developers. Especially when this is happening in neighborhoods in the early stages of gentrification, or next to neighborhoods that have already gentrified, I believe that residents should do more research before they enter into agreements to put their names on 'community plans' and therefore imply the community's consent. Here are some things to look out for:

NPRinterview with president and CEO of the Center City District in Philadelphia, Paul Levy, and his group's plans for the development of Center City.

Listen to this show via Real Audio

Levyarguesthat what's good for Center City is good for all of Philadelphia.He laysouta vision of a further 'transformed' Center City and details specific plans that the Center City District will push for.

PHILADELPHIA'S BALLOT BOX

They expected us to give up when they threatened our vote. Instead, we will implement the most ambitious voting campaign in recent Philadelphia history.

If the referendum is taken off the ballot, we will hold our own election. We will set up tables at polling locations on May 15th so that people can vote on ballot question #1.

We call it: Philadelphia's ballot box.

People's Hurricane Relief Fund makes a breakthrough on price gouging and tenants rights in New Orleans! How did they do it?

-From the December Newsletter of the African-American Business and Residents Association in Brewerytown

At a time when the city and wealthy developers are creating conditions for the removal of current residents from this historic corner of North Philadelphia, a 40-year Brewerytown resident has saved his home from foreclosure. This is the story of how he was victimized, how he survived, and how you can protect your home.

A Quiet Victory over Eminent Domain

(this article taken from the most recent edition of the newsletter of the African American Business and Residents Association in Brewerytown)

Redevelopment Authority reverses seizure of Songhai City Cultural Center at 3117-27 Master Street after intense public pressure and an uncertain future in Commonwealth Court.

On Friday, July 28, 2006, the Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia (RDA) signed an agreement to withdraw the eminent domain taking of 3117-27 Master Street, returning the property to its former owner, Al Alston, who is President of Brewerytown' African-American Business & Residents Association (AABRA). This effectively ends one of city' most bitterly contested and controversial eminent domain cases. AABRA' use of the facility for cultural enrichment, career training for residents, business and job creation, community meetings and disaster preparedness is now uncontested.