Anti-Gentrification Protesters March Through Brooklyn
The demonstration targeted “gentrification, racism, and police violence,” according to a press release from the Brooklyn Anti-Gentrification Network (BAN), which helped organize the march. Protesters stopped at Barclays Center, Ebbets Field Apartments, and the Bedford-Union Armory, all of which have been at the center of debate over gentrification in the borough.
Eric Adams Officially Recommends Condo-Free Bedford-Union Armory Project
For starters, Adams called for the project to ditch the 58 luxury condos currently included in developer BFC Partners. In the place of luxury housing, Adams suggested a larger number subsidized apartments for both extremely low and extremely high earners.
In the case of the upper-tier affordable units, Adams says that they “could offset some of the operational costs incurred by the recreational center.” He also called for all of the affordable units to be made permanently affordable, and for a larger share of the apartments capable of housing larger families.
BP Adams to make recommendation on controversial Bedford-Union Armory this coming week
Details of the recommendation are currently being worked on, according to Adams’ office.
As part of the effort by developer BFC Partners to garner Adams’ support, Rev. Daryl Bloodsaw, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, is scheduled to deliver nearly 400 letters backing the project to Borough Hall on Monday.
At a dramatic press conference in May, joined by Councilmember Laurie Cumbo and other city officials, Adams came out against the development as it stands. The plan, however, is supported by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Heated Rematch in Central Brooklyn, Where Incumbent Seeks to Hold City Council Seat
Candidates include Democrats Cumbo, who hopes to continue the work she has done over the last three-plus years if given another term by the voters, and Ede Fox, who lost to Cumbo in 2013 but is running again, seizing on community anger over the future of the armory and related issues of affordable housing and gentrification.
Cumbo won in the 2013 primary with 7,561 votes. Olanike Alabi came in second with 5,369 votes and Fox was just behind with 5,340. Cumbo then ran uncontested in the general election, which will not be the case again this year as she is slated to have a Republican opponent and a Green Party opponent.
De Blasio, Cumbo Teams Mum on Campaign Aid
As Gotham Gazette sought to clarify what campaign help was being provided to Cumbo by City Hall, perhaps blurring or crossing lines meant to separate government and political work, the response was silence. Mayoral spokesperson Eric Phillips refused to comment, as did a spokesperson for Cumbo’s campaign. De Blasio’s own reelection campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Over the years, the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board has issued numerous advisory opinions on the restrictions on political activity by public servants. Perhaps one of the most pertinent, from 2012, prohibits city employees from working on political campaigns on city time or with city resources.