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PUBLIC
STATEMENT
New York, NY
May 15, 2008
To: Our Friends and
Allies
Subject: Testimony and
stand on the fight against displacement and
gentrification in our community.
Reality: The interest
and desire of the community on one side and
the elected officials on the other side:
In every community forums
conducted by the Community Board # 9 (CB9),
when the proposed development plan 197-A was
discussed, over 90% of the participants, all
community members, expressed their support
for this plan, except Councilman Robert
Jackson and other elected officials.
In all (CB9) regular
meetings, whenever Columbia University
(Development Plan 197-C) was presented or
dealt with, also over 90% of the
participants, all community members,
expressed their rejection to this plan,
except Robert Jackson and other elected
officials.
In all three public forums
organized by Manhattan Borough President,
Scott Stringer, when he presented his plan
for West Harlem Special District, most
community members voiced their opposition to
it, except Robert Jackson and others elected
officials.
In two public forums
conducted by the City Planning Commission,
over 90% of the participants, all community
members expressed their support for the
197-A Plan and rejected 197-C, CU Plan,
except Robert Jackson and other elected
officials.
Attitude: contempt and
indifference of elected officials to the
opinion of the community:
The Mirabal Sisters Cultural
and Community Center and the Coalition to
Preserve Community-CPC-, using diverse means
and in countless occasions, made efforts to
ensure that the Councilman Robert Jackson
heard complaints from the community. In
fact, it never succeeded. Therefore, as we
were not heard, our organization chose to
return Jackson his allocation to our group
of $10,000 U.S. dollars as a token of our
disagreement with his unconditional support
to the expansion plan of Columbia
University.
In some of the forums and
public events, the voice and participation
of our Latino community was seriously muted,
since in some cases it was not provided with
translation, in others, it were prevented
from speaking, and in the worst case, in an
open maneuver and in bad faith our voice was
excluded from the West Harlem Local
Development Corporation (WHDLC), despite
having twice won the nomination to represent
grass-roots organizations in the community.
On April 6, 2008, Councilman
Robert Jackson, in an opportunistic manner,
disrespectful and cowardly, stated publicly
that the only opinion that he would take
into account when voting on the 125thStreet
Rezoning Plan was the opinion of
Councilmember Inez Dickens. With this action
Jackson refuses to represent the
constituents of his district to do so in the
interest of Inez Dickens. Each councilmember
is responsible for his/her vote.
Our response and stand of
dignity and struggle:
Elected officials have an
obligation to oppose policies and situations
affecting the community they represent.
Displacement and harassment against
community residents have been increasing
with the support and blessing of Councilman
Robert Jackson and other elected officials.
As we have already
demonstrated, with our colleagues in the
Coalition to Preserve Community-CPC, we
favor the broadest unity with organizations
and individuals who are willing to foster
collective action, a unity that reflects the
community interest in its fight against
displacement and against those who promote
it directly or indirectly. These promoters
and those who support the displacement have
names and surnames.
Under these conditions we do
not believe that there is a space for a
dialogue with elected officials. Rather they
have to propose and implement measures to
reverse the damage that their actions are
causing to the community. They have to
demonstrate with good actions (not speeches
or empty promises) that they really
represent the Community interest. Or should
be any reason to meet with those who have
intentionally ignored the demands of their
constituents?
Our approaches:
To give priority to the
education and participation work of
community residents and members of our
organizations on the process to fight
displacement. Create a broad and sound basis
to empower people so that they can finally
determine how our elected officials should
behave.
At the moment not to promote
spaces for a dialogue with elected
officials, to pause temporarily instead, to
give them an opportunity to do actions with
tangible results that mitigate the damage
caused by their bad actions.
Each organization can
continue to take individual and coordinated
actions against those who promote, benefit
and support the displacement.
To initiate a dialogue
between organizations to, in a long and
short term, participate in joint actions, to
confront those who promote, benefit and
support the displacement. Those
organizations will develop a flexible plan
that allows different levels of coordination
and partnership in joint actions.
To organize a Community trial
to bring charges against el elected
officials for treason and violation of the
community rights to live in peace and in
comfortable and affordable housing.
Sincerely
Mirabal Sisters
Cultural and Community Center
618 West 142nd Street, GL,
New York, NY 10031
Tel.: (212)234-3002 Fax:
(212)234-2005
www.mirabalcenter.org |
