By Akosua K. Albritton “Un-‘Fair’ and against the law!” This was the message of a rally of Crown Heights residents at the Bed-Stuy Restoration Plaza recently. For the residents, the unequal bed counts in the communities tell an open tale of inequality: Crown Heights has 1,779; Bed-Stuy 1,527 and Park Slope has 331 while Bensonhurst, […]readmore
City tells families in Section 8 program to downsize apartments or pay more rent By Stephen Witt The sequester in Washington has forced the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to adopt new regulations on residents living in Section 8 subsidized housing to downsize to smaller apartments or risk paying more money. Section […]readmore
Over 700 gardens charm developments across the city; glory blooms in the County of Kings! When does one season end and another begin? Chuck Vasser, a NYCHA Garden and Greening Program consultant, sniffs the air while scanning a new planting at Red Hook Houses as if divining the future. Rituals like these mark the cycles […]readmore
The Incredible Shrinking Promises at Forest City Ratner By Mary Alice Miller In response to Forest City Ratner Companies’ (FCRC) announced plan to sell 70% of its Atlantic Yards equity( worth $3 billion) to Greenland Holdings — a Chinese-based developer — city, state and federal elected officials representing the area are calling for Governor Andrew […]readmore
Day after day of unrelenting heat last week strained parts of the city’s electrical grid. By Friday night, lights were flickering in Brevoort Houses. About 10am Saturday they went out completely in seven of Breevoort’s 26 buildings, including ironically the community center which was designated as the local cooling center. According to Chris Olert, […]readmore