Demand YOUR Right To The City!

The Luxury Condo Boom is over!

Empty Apartments are everywhere in our neighborhoods. So are stuggling families. So are the Homeless.

STAND UP for universal housing rights for all (not just the rich)
STAND UP against developers who warehouse empty apartments in our neighborhoods! ACT NOW!!

WHAT: RALLY, press conference, live music and speak out.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 27th from 4-6 PM
(Meet at MOM's Office @ 2pm)

WHERE: ALBEE SQUARE (right off Fulton Mall in Downtown Brooklyn) 2, 3, 4, 5 trains to NEVINS ST

Join MOM and our allies in Right To The City-NYC to fight to convert EMPTY Condominiums into housing for low, middle & fixed Income and homeless families!

Brought to you by Right to the City NYC, an alliance of local grassroots groups including: CAAAV, Community Voices Heard, FIERCE, FUREE, Make The Road NY, Mothers on the Move, NYC Aids Housing Network (NYCAHN/VOCAL), Picture the Homeless, Teachers Unite, JFREJ and many wonderful allies and supporters like you!

For more info about Right To The City, go to: www.righttothecity.org

Wanda Salaman Receives "Uptown Girl" Award

Majora Carter's work in the South Bronx has long provided an example of the kind of fierce leadership which Bronx women manifest in the community and larger world.

On Wednesday, September 16, Mothers on the Move was thrilled to celebrate the life and work of one of our own. Executive Director Wanda Salaman was recognized at the Majora Carter Group's inaugural Uptown Girl Power event for her tireless work as a community organizer for social justice, and for the leadership she inspires in women of all ages.

Wanda was in good company, joining fellow Bronx natives and critically acclaimed actresses Kerry Washington and Joy Bryant as “Uptown Girl” honorees.

The event raised funds for a large-scale environmentally-themed mural at a major intersection in Hunts Point. The mural will be coordinated by the Groundswell Community Mural Project, and will engage people from the Bronx of all ages - especially women.

See event coverage from NY1 HERE.

¡Felicidades Wanda!

Housing Justice Committee takes off at Forest Houses!

This past Wednesday, September 2, the MOM Housing Justice Committee held a basebuilding meeting at Forest Houses (NYC Housing Authority - NYCHA), with resounding success.

Thanks to the outstanding outreach efforts of Forest residents (through doorknocking, phonebanking and street outreach), over 100 neighbors showed up for a meeting to air out concerns with NYC Council Member Helen Diane Foster. Folks commented that there hasn't been a turnout like that in 30 yrs, which made it even more special.

The government's disinvestment in Forest & other NYCHA Public housing developments is an everyday nightmare for most residents, who experience the constant failure of elevators, myriad severe repair needs in apartments, unkempt grounds and playgrounds, lack of usable public space, and constant plumbing issues.

The focus of the Housing Justice Meeting was to discuss the allocation of money to NYCHA through the Federal economic stimulus package, and to identify its use and misuse as it relates to the South Bronx in general, to Forest Houses in particular.

In addition, the meeting sought to gain the support of District 16 NYC Council Member Helen Diane Foster to secure a meeting with NYCHA's Housing Comissioner John B. Rhea, and to host a tour of Forest Houses for her NYC Council colleagues.

Residents chat with CM Foster after the meeting

Forest resident leaders crafted a letter that will ask the Council Member when we can expect these actions to take place. Please check back for updates as MOM will keep you posted on the outcome.

Thanks to the work of the MOM Housing Justice Committee, NYCHA residents around the South Bronx are realizing that taking leadership and building unity around a strategic campaign can have real results. NYCHA Residents want Change!!!

Right To The City-NYC Platform Released

This week saw the release of the Right To The City-NYC's policy platform document. Along with our allies in RTTC-NYC, MOM has been working hard for more than a year to bring the perspectives and experiences of South Bronx residents to this important project. Looking ahead to the important citywide elections this Fall, this platform represents the needs and vision of working class and low-income communities of color around NYC and gives a concrete set of demands for how they can be achieved. Despite the development priorities and track record of our billionaire Mayor, working class and low-income people around the City will continue to organize and fight to ensure our survival in the future of NYC.

DOWNLOAD THE RTTC PLATFORM

More about the Platform:

The Right to the City-New York City policy platform is a result of an in-depth, collaborative, and participatory process. The alliance created this document to articulate the principles and document the policy concerns most important to low-income communities of color. This platform will be shared with elected officials as the 2009 citywide elections approach, to ensure that the needs of low-income people in New York City will be met.

This platform has six sections, including: Federal Stimulus Funds; Community Decision-Making Power; Low-Income Housing; Environmental Justice & Public Health; Jobs & Workforce Development and Public Space. Right to the City emerged in 2007 to halt the displacement of low-income people, LGBTQ, and youth of color from the neighborhoods they have been living in for years.

We are a national alliance of racial, economic and environmental justice organizations. RTTC-NYC is a local chapter, made up of 16 grassroots organizations as well as policy groups, academics and other allied individuals. Urban Justice Center’s Community Development Project sits on RTTC-NYC coordinating committee and serves as a coordinator for the local alliance.

MOM wants YOU!

Environmental Justice Committee leader Tanya Fields breaks

down why your support is so important.

This year Tanya initiated the Holistic Hood project, which has been providing holistic health info and yoga classes to women in the neighborhood. Check out more of Tanya's work at Blk Grl.

Details on the Fish Fry & Flea Market are below. Don't Sleep!

Fish Fry & Flea Market Sat 7/25 & 8/1

The MOM Grassroots Fundraising Committee presents a...

Fish Fry & Flea Market!!

Repeal your hunger like Mayor Bloomberg & term limits - come experience Ms. Jesse's Famous Fried Fish!

When: Saturday, July 25 - 2-8pm
Saturday, Aug 1 - 2-8pm

Where: MOM Office
928 Intervale Ave, BX
Train: 2/5 to Intervale, 6 to Longwood

Not only will you find the hottest, recession-proof deals on the block, but you’ll be supporting MOM's ongoing work for fair & just housing, a healthy planet, and youth power.

DONATIONS GLADLY ACCEPTED - if you have gently used/clean or new items to donate for the Flea Market, please call Ms. Cerita Parker at 914.843.6455 or email mark@mothersonthemove.org

Housing Committee Victory!

¡Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!

(AND WE DID)

After enduring many years of poor service and disrespect at the hands of their manager, local NYCHA public housing residents are claiming victory this week after an 8 month campaign to improve management at ER Moore, St. Mary's Park and Bronxchester Houses.

"Wake Up Call" rally to spread the word about the campaign

The campaign was launched in early Summer of 2008, after repeated requests for a meeting with Ms. Larrier to discuss sanitation and elevator issues went unanswered. In response - due to an overwhelming sense of frustration by residents - MOM Housing Committee leaders focused attention on building broad support for a campaign to have her replaced.

Campaign Highlights

1) RESIDENT PARTICIPATION & UNITY

This victory would not have happened without the high level of unity and collaboration between residents from the three NYCHA developments. MOM resident leaders, Tenant Association leaders at ER Moore Houses, and the South Bronx President of NYCHA Tenant Associations (Ms. Joane Smitherman) all worked to pressure NYCHA from different angles to see that the demands of residents were met. Over the course of the campaign, hundreds of residents stood up and let their voices be heard demanding the removal of their manager, Ms. Larrier, because of her lack of respect and accountability to the residents.

November 2008 MOM Housing Committee General Meeting
85 residents in attendance

2) HOLDING OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE
The importance of leveraging support from local elected politicians was vital in getting NYCHA to the table to do the right thing. MOM leaders found support from the office of Congressman Jose Serrano, which helped to set up a meeting between MOM Housing Committee leaders and NYCHA officials in December. In addition, at MOM's November 2008 Organizational Meeting with NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, leaders presented a variety concerns, including the demands of our campaign for better management. At the same time, Tenant Association leaders at ER Moore Houses also worked with NYCHA Board Member Margarita López to air out their concerns.

The power of local residents working together to hold a variety of decision-makers (elected officials and NYCHA officials) accountable let to NYCHA making this long-overdue change.

MOM Core Committee Leaders Maria Quinones, (Bronxchester Houses), Jipsy Vargas, (Bronxchester), Niecy Selby (St. Mary's), Lou Torres (TA President, ER Moore Houses), Geraldine Smith (ER Moore)


Meeting with Carlos Carino, Bronx liason to the NYC Council

3) DOING OUR RESEARCH, USING THE MEDIA STRATEGICALLY
Throughout the campaign, local public housing residents stepped up to the responsibility of leadership and used the media to spread our message about the campaign to the larger community. Through trainings and lots of practice, Housing Justice Committee members crafted strategic messages which brought attention to the campaign and its central demands: remove Ms. Larrier and replace her with a more accessible, culturally sensitive manager who will respect the needs of residents.

On point with our Message: Residents Deserve Respectful Management!

At the same time, the Housing Justice Committee worked with our ally, the Urban Justice Center, to survey the experiences of local residents with their manager and to give her a "Report Card" on her performance, which leaders then presented to NYCHA at its Annual Public Hearing.

MOM Leader Mikkee Watson provides testimony and gives NYCHA
a "Report Card" at the Annual NYCHA Public Hearing, Fall 2008

Click HERE to see the full report on the results of our survey "Improving the Quality of Life in South Bronx Public Housing: A Study of Bronxchester, ER Moore and St. Mary's Park NYCHA Developments."

GETTING RESULTS

In early February Ms. Larrier was replaced with a new manager, Mr. Barry Levine. MOM Housing Justice Committee members will be working with Mr.Levine to establish a relationship to prevent the kind of miscommunication and neglect which residents experienced with the previous manager.

We will keep you updated on any new developments in this campaign... With our first local housing victory it is time to CELEBRATE the power of public housing residents!!! When NYCHA residents join together in unity and take leadership to make change, there is truly no limit to the changes that will can come>>>>