Banana Kelly is honored to be featured, along with JOE NYC, in the latest LISC e-newsletter for the recent closing on BK Union HDFC, Please see the article below. We are so very grateful for the support of LISC NYC and the National Equity Fund in the ongoing efforts to preserve affordable housing.… Read more...
From the Subtle Nuances of Ingrained Racism to Neo-Fascism?
By Harry DeRienzo
On April 25th, the United States Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson, announced this administration’s proposal to raise the tenant share of subsidized rent to 35%. At present, the tenant share is 30%. … Read more...
$1.65 Million to Support Community Land Trusts
ENTERPRISE AWARDS NEW YORK CITY $1.65 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE FORMATION AND EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS Grant awarded to fund four initiatives citywide, including a new CLT to promote affordable homeownership in southeast Queens and Brooklyn
To read the full release please click the link below:
… Read more...Historical Racism and Current Skepticism: Why Fighting Rezonings Makes Perfect Sense By Harold DeRienzo
There is a deep, pervasive history of racism in this country. Over time and in varying forms, much of this racism has found expression in land use actions, including zoning actions. As such, it is not surprising that given the current push in New York City to rezone 15 neighborhoods – neighborhoods of color comprised of working and lower income families – there is a lot of angry resistance and outright rejection of zoning proposals. … Read more...
Historical Racism and Current Skepticism: Why Fighting Rezonings Makes Perfect Sense – By Harold DeRienzo
There is a deep, pervasive history of racism in this country. Over time and in varying forms, much of this racism has found expression in land use actions, including zoning actions. As such, it is not surprising that given the current push in New York City to rezone 15 neighborhoods – neighborhoods of color comprised of working and lower income families – there is a lot of angry resistance and outright rejection of zoning proposals. … Read more...
Time for a Housing Plan Reset
Blog by Harold DeRienzo
In the Spring of 2014 Mayor de Blasio announced his ambitious 10-year housing plan to “build and preserve” 200,000 units of “affordable housing.” At the time, the city was in good fiscal shape. The economy overall was doing well, and there was every indication that no radical economic or political development would threaten that stability in the near term. … Read more...
First Elevator Building in Bronx Defies History and Completes 25-Year Construction Term
850 Longwood Avenue has a long and varied history. When first built, it represented the best in luxury rental housing that the Bronx had to offer. Built beside the #2 and #5 IRT elevated subway lines, the building boasted spacious apartments, light, air, and the borough’s first elevator building when it first opened in 1925. … Read more...
Right to Counsel Hearing at City Hall
On Monday, September 26, 2016, over 300 hundred people came to City Hall to rally on the steps to demand passage of Right to Counsel, which would guarantee legal representation in housing court for low income New Yorkers. This day was historic.… Read more...
Are We Genetically Wired to Be Racists? By Harry DeRienzo
EDITOR’S NOTE: We are delighted to publish the second installment of Harry DeRienzo’s essays on racism. This second of a three-part essay is entitled, “Are we Genetically Wired to be Racists?” It is interesting and thought provoking but like all treatments of such a complicated and emotionally-charged topic, there is a need for other perspectives and follow up discussions. … Read more...
Power and Self Interest by Brian Sahd
Well, as a matter of fact I do wonder why Bernie Sanders chose not to directly take on Hillary Clinton’s challenge. Let’s expand the philosophical discussion a bit and try to understand what is going on in this round of presidential elections. … Read more...