Harlem Tenants Protest Against Massive Evictions and Gentrification June 1, 2006

Harlem Tenants Protest Against Massive Evictions and Gentrification

On Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 9 AM to 10 AM at the Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park at 123rd & Fifth Avenue hundreds of Harlem tenants and their supporters will rally in opposition to massive evictions, displacement and rising homelessness fueled by gentrification before marching to 135th Street & Broadway, the site of an affordable housing rally that is schedule to begin at 11 AM.

A growing number of long time Harlem residents including tenants from Delano Village, the Dunbar, Lionel Hampton Houses, the Riverton, Lenox Terrace and Public Houses are calling for a united front of tenants in Central Harlem to preserve the “historic legacy of Harlem” that is being threaten by real estate speculation, the corporatization of Harlem’s local economy, Columbia University expansion, a glut of luxury housing, inflated rents; illegal evictions; shrinking housing subsidies, and public policies tilted overwhelmingly in favor of landlords/developers.

According to Valerie Orridge, President of the Delano Village Tenants Association, “We are concerned not only about the displacement of Black people from their community but also about the psychological trauma that accompanies and is collectively felt by such an event.” She further said, “It is anxiety producing to be uncertain about the absence on one’s basic need, shelter.”

The group cited a 2004 study of the Vera Institute of Justice documenting Central Harlem as producing the highest number of homeless families in Manhattan, mostly through evictions.

In addition, according to Nellie Bailey of the Harlem Tenants Council, there were 17,413 residential eviction proceedings in Central Harlem and Washington Heights in 2005 and as of March 2006 a total of 21,991 evictions warrants issued in Manhattan Housing Court. “Harlem is a hotbed for real estate development and speculation,” said Bailey, “Without a doubt there is ample evidence that long time Harlem residents are being pushed out and there is no relief in sight unless tenants take to the streets. Tenants are calling for either a moratorium on evictions or rent strike!”

The Feeder March from Marcus Garvey Park organized by the Harlem Tenants Council along with a coalition of Central Harlem tenant groups and New York State Assemblyman Keith Wright. Protesters will rally from9 AM to 10 AM at the Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park before marching across 125th Street to Broadway and northbound to 135th Street for the11 AM kickoff Affordable Housing March/Rally with Project Remain/Nos Quedamos based in Northern Manhattan.

Harlem Tenants Council
207 West 133rd Street Room 118
New York, NY10030

Contact:
Nellie Bailey: 212-234-5005/212-663-5248
Brenda Green: Cell: 347-220-5305