Courtesy Eugene Patron
Bonnie Brower, right, with friend and late housing activist Frances Goldin in 1991.
Harry DeRienzo, president emeritus and special advisor at the Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association, reflects on the legacy of New York City housing organizer and advocate Bonnie Brower, who passed away on June 2.
‘In a recent discussion, some very basic assumptions of our sector were challenged.’
‘Real change only comes through the devolution of more decision-making power to the local level combined with accountable local decision-making bodies and elected officials.’
‘Social division serves those who need to divert attention from the injustices that play out daily in our political and economic systems.’
The current community preference system may have its flaws, the writer says, but simply calling for its elimination is irresponsible and callous after centuries of race-based zoning.
The distrust that has greeted Bill de Blasio’s rezoning proposals in some neighborhoods stems partly from a long history of racist policy of which the mayor is not part but needs to be aware.
In this op-ed, a veteran low-income housing developer says an ‘impending tsunami’ of federal budget cuts must force a rethink of Mayor de Blasio’s housing and zoning vision.
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