Today Santa Claus Joined Peoplestown Residents Fighting to Stay in Their Homes.
Residents in Peoplestown who have been fighting to stay in their homes, despite the cities continued threat to us eminent domain to remove them, plan to brought Christmas cheer to Atlanta's City Hall. Residents were be joined by Santa Claus as they sang rewritten Christmas songs around the giant Christmas tree on the first floor of city hall.
Residents and supporters then joined Santa as he delivers a lump of coal to Mayor Kasim Reed's office. Unfortunately Mayor Reed made Santa's naughty list for refusing to work with residents that are desperately fighting to stay in their homes and their neighbors who want more transparency in development projects in the Turner Field neighborhoods.
As of now eminent domain proceedings have not begun, and there is speculation that the Mayor is reluctant to do this because the part may include some sort of non flooding related development, which is what many in the community have feared from the beginning.
The
picture above is the view from my kitchen window last week as the 3 houses next
door to me were torn down by City of Atlanta bulldozers. To the City
these were simply parcels in the way of their plans to build a park and
pond. To me these were homes filled with families, with whom I had
relationships and I miss them. Despite the City of Atlanta's
misrepresentations, THESE HOMES DID NOT FLOOD, and that makes
the loss that much more profound. My remaining neighbors and I are
determined that our homes and families will not meet the same fate. WE
SHALL NOT BE MOVED!!
After
weeks of protest, Mayor Kasim Reed finally agreed to meet with
us. The meeting will take place on Tuesday Dec. 1 and we
are asking supporters to be with us during the rally, press conference and
meetings from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. If you can't be there please call the
Mayor's office on Nov. 30 and/or Dec. 1 (404.330.6100). There
is a phone script below for the call but feel free to freestyle :-)
Weeks
of media pressure, sit ins, press conferences and rallies inspired the
Mayor to decide that our neighbor Ms. Mattie Jackson (93) will stay
in her home. He said the City's plan would be worked around her
house. We are delighted for Ms. Mattie and we are meeting
with the Mayor to demand the same treatment. We demand that the
Mayor DO THE RIGHT THING! Thank you in advance for
your support. Together we can make the difference!!
Please
mark Tuesday Dec. 1 on your calendar and circulate theevent and the
enclosed Face Book event posthttps://www.facebook.com/events/1644760795812832/widely and encourage others to stand with us at 9:30 a.m. on
Dec. 1 on the Trinity side of City Hall (55 Trinity Street) or make a call
on our behalf.
Peace
and Gratitude,
Tanya Washington and Mr.
and Mrs. Darden
(Peoplestown
Residents, Atlanta, GA)
Phone
Script for Call to Mayor's Office (404.330.6100) on Monday Nov. 30 and/or Tuesday Dec. 1
from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
My
name is ____________ and I am calling in support of the Peoplestown residents
who are meeting with Mayor Kasim Reed to demand that they remain in their
homes. I want the Mayor to do the right thing and allow them stay in
their homes just like he decided that Ms. Jackson can stay in her home.
Thank you!
Today the remaining residents of Peoplestown descended upon City Hall and the Mayor's office to demand the meeting he promised them weeks ago. A group of 50 people held a sit-in at the Mayor's office until his Chief of Staff scheduled a meeting with James and Bertha Darden and Tanya Washington, whose homes bookend the block that the Department of Watershed has slated for demolition to build a park and pond.
After holding a spirited press conference on the steps of city hall and then a three hour sit-in the Mayor office finally agreed to a meeting with terms the residents were happy with.
The meetings are scheduled for Tuesday December 1 at 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. The Mayor's office has agreed to direct the Department of Watershed to refrain from threatening the residents with legal action until the meeting takes place. The residents are grateful that they will be able to enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays without fearing being pushed out of their homes. They are looking forward to a meeting with the Mayor focused on their demand that the City's plan accommodate their homes and that they, like their neighbor Ms. Mattie Jackson, be permitted to remain in a community they love and helped build.
Today's bold resident led action is a reminder that regular everyday people can stand up against gentrification and mass displacement. At American Friends Service Committee we believe that communities should be controlled by those that live in them, not developers or other entities in search of new profit streams. Today is a small victory in a much broader fight.
"When the Mayor decided Ms. Mattie's home can stay, he acknowledged that flooding in Peoplestown can be addressed without demolishing an entire block in Peoplestown", stated homeowner Tanya Washington, whose home is one of the homes slated to be demolished.
The remaining residents whose homes bookend the block are requesting that the Mayor direct the Department of Watershed to amend the plan so they can also stay in their homes.
Last week, the residents and their supporters held a rally and camped out all night on the steps of City Hall to emphasize the point that if Ms. Mattie stays they stay.
After holding a 10am press conference this morning they presented a letter to the Mayor, supported by a petition with 5395 signatures, respectfully requesting that he meet with them to address their right to also stay in their homes.
Ms Mattie joined them in solidarity and told her City Council Representative, Carla Smith, that she wants her neighbors to be treated as fairly as she's been treated.
The Mayor's office refused to even schedule a meeting with the residents, who had camped out all night in anticipation of getting some word from the mayor’s office about their homes. The residents and their supporters plan to return to the Mayor to demand the meeting which he promised.
"We've been here going on 30 years, we've raised our children and our grandchildren here. This is our home and we have no intention of leaving", state Bertha Darden who lives in one of the homes in question with her husband Robert Darden.
We are of course disappointed with Mayor Reed's continued dismissive stance towards these Peoplestown residents but we remain hopeful that he will do right by them as he did right by Mattie.
Peoplestown Residents and allies spent all night on the steps of Atlanta city hall to bring attention to their fight to avoid losing their homes to development project
"When the Mayor decided Ms. Mattie's home can stay, he acknowledged that flooding in Peoplestown can be addressed without demolishing an entire block in Peoplestown", stated homeowner Tanya Washington, whose home is one of the homes slated to be demolished.
The remaining residents whose homes bookend the block are requesting that the Mayor direct the Department of Watershed to amend the plan so they can also stay in their homes.
Last night, the residents and their supporters held a rally and camped out all night on the steps of City Hall to emphasize the point that if Ms. Mattie stays they stay. American Friends Service Committee was excited to be the in support along with leaders from Occupy Our Homes Atlanta. Most who committed to stay though the night had never done anything like it before and what was initial nervousness about the bold tactic quickly turned into the joy that often comes with participating in collective action driven by a righteous goal; in this case, saving the homes of residents that helped build the community they love.
After holding a 10 am press conference this morning they presented a letter to the Mayor, supported by a petition with 5394 signatures, respectfully requesting that he meet with them to address their right to also stay in their homes.
Ms Mattie joined them in solidarity and told her City Council Representative, Carla Smith, that she wants her neighbors to be treated as fairly as she's been treated.
The Mayor's office refused to even schedule a meeting with the residents, who had camped out all night in anticipation of getting some word from the mayors office about their homes. The residents and their supporters plan to return to the Mayor to demand the meeting which he promised.
"We've been here going on 30 years, we've raised our children and our grandchildren here. This is our home and we have no intention of leaving", state Bertha Darden who lives in one of the homes in question with her husband Robert Darden.
We are of course disappointed with Mayor Reed's continued dismissive stance towards these Peoplestown residents but we remain hopeful that he will do right by them as he did right by Mattie. After last night a few things are clear. This fight will not go away, it will continue to escalate as residents make it clear they will not leave their homes. It also seems clear that these residents have already won and they know it, their supporters know it, it's just going to take city council and Mayor Reed some time and possibly more creative direct action to figure it out.
After two sit-ins at his office and over 5k signatures on a petition Mayor Reed agreed to take hands off Miss Mattie Jackson’s and allow her to stay.
While this is an exciting development other residents are still fighting to exist in the community they helped create. Miss Mattie has committed to stand with remaining residents against the displacement of her neighbors. Tanya Washington, a resident fighting for her home states, “If they can build a plan around Miss Mattie’s Home, they can build a plan around all of our homes.”
Residents, along with Miss Mattie, will lead a rally at City hall, 68 Mitchell St Sw at 7pm Thursday October 22nd. Residents, Occupy Our Homes Atlanta, and allies will then stay ALL NIGHT in front of city hall with a simple demand; “Don't destroy our homes! Find a solution that doesn't displace us!”
The all-night vigil will end with a Friday 10/23 10am press conference and a letter delivery to Mayor Reed’s office requesting he meet with remaining residents.
Our Homes Are Not a Commodity!
No Business As Usual Today -- Shut Em Down!
Today members of Occupy Our Homes Atlanta delivered a demand letter to Blackstone Groups Atlanta Head Quarters. We encourage you to take the time to make a call/email as people around the world take a stand against Blackstone's unfair, exploitative housing practices. Can we count on you to make the call?
Blackstone, one of the world's largest private equity firms, is buying up
housing all over the world and quickly becoming one of the largest landlord's
in our cities. But at the expense of families and communities.
Blackstone buys up our foreclosed homes for cheap, kicks out the residents,
charges exorbitant rents, fails to do proper maintenance and excludes people of
color and immigrants!
Fore More background info on #StopBlackstone campaign see below
CALL CEO Stephen Schwarzman NOW at
212-583-5000
If number is busy, call 212 503 2100, 212 583 5799, see all Blackstone #'s
globally below
SCRIPT -- Tell the Blackstone CEO:
"Mr. Schwarzman, I stand with Blackstone tenants and community
organizations around the world. Stop buying up our foreclosed homes and
public housing, stop all your unjust evictions and make your rents
affordable. I support this important struggle and will not let up until
you meet the tenants' demands. Homes are NOT a commodity!"
TWEET -- #StopBlackstone
By calling in you are part of an international day of action spanning 4
countries and 3 continents! TODAY, Right To The City and PAH in Spain are
organizing protests at Blackstone offices in the US, Spain, Japan and
England! In the US we are doing actions and delivering demand letters in
cities across the country including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Seattle. Our
call in's will be happening in over 40 cities worldwide!!!!!!!!!!!
We are just getting started and in the future, we plan to expand our organizing
and protests to everywhere Blackstone is, including China, Australia, and
India. Our international demands are below and will be paired with local
demands in each city.
For more background info on #StopBlackstone -- Our Homes Are
Not a Commodity see bottom of this email
MORE PHONE NUMBERS:
Atlanta
The Blackstone Group
Phone: +1 404 460 2321
Fax: +1 404 460 2337
Boston
The Blackstone Group
Phone: +1 617 646 2900
Fax: +1 617 646 2905 Chicago
The Park Hill Group
Phone: +1 312 705 3070
Fax: +1 312 705 3079
Blackstone is one of the world's largest private equity firms. Blackstone
made big money in the last housing bubble and now is cashing in again to make
lots more. It is buying up housing and real estate all over the world and
quickly becoming one of the largest landlord's in our cities. They are
raking in the profits. But at the expense of our families and
communities. They buy up our foreclosed homes for cheap, kick out the
residents, charge exorbitant rents, fail to do proper maintenance and exclude
people of color and immigrants!
Our International Demands on Blackstone
1. Stop Buying Our Occupied,
Foreclosed and Subsidized Housing
Do NOT
destabilize our communities by buying homes that should be owned by
individuals, the government or local entities.
End the
purchase of homes owned by banks rescued with public money or homes that
were purchased with sub-prime loans.
2. No Unjust Evictions
Stop
unjust evictions of homeowners or tenants in purchased properties
Stop
forcing tenants out of homes due to harassment, your failure to make
repairs and charging unjust fees.
3. Affordable Rents
Do not
charge unfair rents
Do not
make people pay more than one third of their income to housing
Ensure
that at least 25% of all Blackstone housing in a city is affordable to
poor people who make 0 to 30% neighborhood median income
4. Quality
Conditions and Sustainability
Renovate
all purchased homes to a high quality
Maintain
all properties in good condition
Make
prompt and quality repairs
Ensure
all utility systems and materials used in building and repairs are
sustainable
5. No discrimination
Do not
discriminate against people of color or immigrants including by using
unfair prohibitions regarding former incarceration or arrests, and/or
immigration status.
Allow
equal access to Blackstone homes for all people regardless of race,
nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, family status, immigration
status, former incarceration, eviction history or credit history.
6. Accountability
Provide
responsive and quality customer service
Provide
full name and contact information for one consistent person from
Blackstone’s property management company who has full authority to address
tenant’s issues promptly and effectively
7. Transparency of information
Provide
to the public business and industry information including:
Names of
all the companies Blackstone has any ownership in/control over and what
properties and real estate they relate to and how
Terms of
purchase of all housing/land/buildings purchased
Regular
updated list of which properties are securitized, and who are the
investors including banks that put up any money
Regular
updated list of properties that are directly or indirectly managed by
Blackstone worldwide
Regular
updated list of all those evicted from each property and why (names can be
withheld if it is required by law)
List of
who's application was denied and why (names can be withheld if it is
required by law)
This past weekend American Friends Service committee was proud to support and participate in a retreat with Occupy Our Homes Atlanta and the newly formed SMP Housing Justice Movement. SMP stands for Summerhill, Mechanicsville, and Peoplestown. The retreat brought together longtime resident fighters from Occupy Our Homes Atlanta and tenant leaders from newly formed tenant associations in Peoplestown, Summerhill , and Mechanicsville. The focus of the retreat was building a stronger structure to build power in neighborhoods surrounding Turner Field. Tenant leaders took time to build a mission statement, organizing principles, a code of conduct, and an organizational structure. The retreat also created space for folks to build stronger bonds with each other, sharing stories over meals and around the campfire, and sharing hopes and dreams for the future of the communities we're fighting to preserve. The communities surrounding Turner Field have the cities eye of development squarely fixed on them. Atlanta intown neighborhoods have seen massive development which has brought mass displacement in places like the Old 4th Ward, Kirkwood, and Reynaldstown. A drive through parts of the Turner Field Communities would tell most that development could be a good thing, in fact most residents would like to see positive development in their communities but not if that means they have to leave. Atlanta needs to find a way to develop without displacing the very folks that have been holding it down for generations and we know it's possible. Gentrification isn't just racist development, it's lazy development that strips a community of its flavor and history.
We're inspired that a group of tenant leaders are stepping up to lead their fight, a fight that could change the way our city is developed in the future, a fight that could challenge the status quo of development deals that benefit a few rich folks and hurt are cities most vulnerable. AFSC is proud to be in their corner and look forward to supporting the housing justice movement soth of I-20. The SMP Housing Justice Movement is hosting a meeting this Thursday October 15th, attendance is encouraged.
As the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks unfold in Atlanta in an effort to finalize the pro-corporate deal, the quickly formed Atlanta #StopTPP Coalition, which includes American Friends Service Committee has come together to organize a number of rolling nonviolent actions to make it clear that the anti-democratic trade deal is not in the best interest of regular everyday people around the globe. The citizens in Atlanta and the global community have continued to nonviolently resist the agreement. We won’t stand for a wholesale auction of our rights, our freedoms and our democracy to multinational corporations who put profits over people.
Community members and concerned citizens from labor, faith, youth, senior, environment, LGBT, and others are coming together and inviting all within our United States and the global community to draw a line in the sand in Atlanta and to demand that the TPP shall not pass!
The Atlanta and global community will not stand for the TPP corrupting our democracy and eliminating our rights by putting corporations such as Walmart, Chevron, Cargill, and McDonalds in greater control of our daily lives leading us into a global race to the bottom. The undemocratic and secretive TPP would threaten good jobs, public services, access to affordable life-saving medicines, the environment and our climate, consumer health and safety and much more in our communities across the world.
Yesterday, during the TPP negotiations, cancer patient Zahara Heckscher was arrested after disrupting the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in a protest aimed at maintaining access to affordable cancer medicines in the 12 countries affected by the trade treaty.
Heckscher, in a t-shirt reading "I HAVE CANCER. I CAN'T WAIT 8 YEARS", and holding an IV pole that read "TPP: Don' t Cut My IV,” refused to leave the Westin Hotel, the site of the negotiations between U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and the other TPP trade ministers. She demanded that they show her the secret TPP text to verify for herself and other people living with cancer around the globe that TPP would not include a "death sentence clause," the text of the U.S. proposal to extend de facto monopolies on biological medicines by up to 8 years.
Heckscher, a seven-year breast cancer survivor, calls herself a cancer thriver. She has been treated by biologicals including trastuzumab (Hercepin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta). She is currently undergoing chemotherapy as part of a clinical trial, and continues on denosumab (Xgeva) treatment as well.
According to Heckscher, "For thousands of women to die unnecessarily of breast cancer because of the TPP is a horrible, cruel, premeditated, and avoidable catastrophe. The provisions being decided by TPP ministers today could allow drug monopolies on biologics for 8 years. Some of these medicines cost up to tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars a year."
"When you have breast cancer today, you can’t wait 8 years or 7 years or 6 years for a treatment to become available or affordable. When you have cancer, even a one-year delay in affordable medicine can be a death sentence. That is why we call this proposed provision of the TPP a 'death sentence clause.' If it passes, thousands of women like me will die waiting."
As the day progressed there were dozens of creative actions including a disruption of a TPP reception hosted by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the use of high powered projection devices to project images on the hotel negotiations are taking place in.
Today community members disrupted the lobby chanting, "Stop TPP, no corporate greed" as longtime human rights activist Daniel Hanely attached himself to a railing on the floor that negotiations were happening. Daniel was eventually arrested and is still incarcerated. Daniel made sure that these trade negotiators got the message that the people across the world absolutely will not stand for these corporate dominated trade deals. Daniel took a big risk today, and his bail is likely to be high, please consider contributing and sharing his to his bail fund by clicking here.
The City of Atlanta, under the direction of Mayor Kasim Reed, is displacing residents to create a new park and a pond. The plan is being billed as a solution to flooding that the targeted residents don’t experience. However, the proposed park and pond will displace Peoplestown residents to make room for the development anticipated after the Atlanta Braves move out of Turner Field. The City’s plan tracks the demolition of the nearly 100-year old African-American church in 2014 to make room for the construction of the new Falcon’s stadium.
The human impact of the City’s plan, which independent engineers and environmental organizations have described as fundamentally flawed, is to displace families and to destroy a community. In fact, the City rejected a proposal submitted by an engineering firm it hired to turn parking lots in Turner Field into permeable space to absorb the water that floods the area, during intense storms. The City rejected the proposal in favor of one that would destroy a historically black community. The City’s priorities are clear: development is more important than neighborhoods and parking lots take precedence over people.
Despite the City’s promises that residents “would be made whole” and people would be “happy” with the offers they received; the City has reached out with offers to people that don’t even allow them to pay off their mortgages, let alone move into comparable homes in comparable neighborhoods. Furthermore, the settlements are communicated against the backdrop of a disturbing threat: if you don’t accept these insultingly low offers we will take your homes. Displacing people for a plan that will not work is irresponsible government. Destroying black neighborhoods is unconscionable. The City says it is taking homes to save residents from phantom flooding they don’t experience. But, who will save the people of Peoplestown from the City?
This past Tuesday 93
year old Mattie Jackson and the remaining residents on her block held a press
conference declaring that they will refuse to leave their homes despite the
City’s threat to demolish their homes and build a park and a Japanese style retention pond. Immediately
following the press conference residents and supporters, including dozens of
children marched through the community passing our yard signs and advertising
a “Save Our Block” BBQ Thursday 9/17 at7pm at 163 Ormond Ave SE.
Peoplestown residents attended an Urban Design Commission
meeting last week to express outrage that their homes, which do not flood and require no flood insurance, are
slated to be demolished to make way for an Old Fourth Ward style park and
pond. It has become clear that the City
does not plan to budge, despite the community’s concern over mass displacement
and gentrification and concerns expressed by several members of the Urban
Design Commission about the efficacy of the proposed plan.
93 year old neighborhood hero Mattie Jackson stated, “I’m
not leaving, if I have to sleep on the floor I will.” But it’s not just Mattie
Jackson who plans to stand her ground. Tanya Washington, a law professor who
lives at 148 Atlanta Ave states, “I’ve worked with engineers who say the City’s
plan is flawed and reflects outdated engineering. The City rejected a plan presented by the
firm it retained that would not require displacement. We’ve been told by the City if we don’t
accept insultingly low offers they will take our homes. Displacing people with
a plan that does not work is irresponsible government, and I shall not be
moved!”
On Tuesday the remaining Peoplestown residents made it it
clear why they have decided not to leave their homes and presented the press
with information on alternative plans to deal with flooding that wouldn’t
require demolishing a block in the heart of the Peoplestown community.
The Dept of Watershed's own expert, other engineers and
environmental organizations have proposed plans that will be less costly, more
efficient, and more sustainable and will not call for the displacement of
homeowners.
The Urban Development Commission expressed concerns about
the City's plans to demolish homes in Peoplestown and about the City's failure
to provide residents with any notice of the petition hearing. Despite these concerns, the City is moving forward with its
plans which includes demolition of several homes that the City does not own and
which do not flood.
Residents of Peoplestown, including 93 year old civil rights
activist Mattie Jackson, are opposed to these plans and refuse to give in to
the City's threats to take and demolish their homes.
American Friends Service Committee is excited to be working alongside long term residents in Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, Summerhill and beyond in an effort to build and strengthen tenant associations in low income apartment complexes. Atlanta is many decades behind other cities it's size when it comes to a culture of tenant associations and tenant rights.
Last month with the help of Right to the City Alliance we launch a monthly training curriculum specifically for tenant leaders designed to help them build and strengthen tenant associations in the area. Mass displacement is a dynamic problem that happens when communities are developed too fast. It's not a simple problem, and there's not one way to combat the issue. One way mass displacement happens is the destruction of low in complexes, but with strong tenant associations residents can fight back and in some cases force owners to sell the property to tenants at a fair current market price. We've already had some success and we're really excited to be working with a new group of strong emerging tenant leaders in the area!
Right now the project could use support. One way you can support this important work is by making a contribution of any size to our fundraising drive by clicking here!
This past Sunday American Friends Service Committee had the pleasure of working with the Atlanta chapter of Zulu Gatekeepers to facilitate a community organizing 101 workshop. Participants learned the basics of how to build a new group, develop and launch an issue based campaign, identify allies, and build power in Atlanta communities.
The turnout and energy was so great that we have decided to start offering regular organizing workshops again in partnership with Zulu Gatekeepers. Workshops will focus on base building strategy, media messaging, the art of activism, and campaign development. We will work to keep workshops free to community member's and grassroots organizations.
What happens to Turner Field once
the Braves leave has been a hot topic in Atlanta. Will that land become a
Casino, will new stadiums replace Turner Field, will an Atlantic Station type
development go down? One thing that’s for sure is that the communities
surrounding Turner Field can’t afford another development project that benefits
a few well connected folks while further cutting off and displacing long term
residents that have been living here long before it was cool to move into the
area.
We need strong, organized
communities to make sure that development that happens in the area benefits
those that have been holding down the community for years, but we also need to
have time to relax and enjoy each other, to enjoy the community we love!
Building a movement takes a lot
more then neighborhood meetings and strategy session. Active base building
should include cultural events, house parties and other social events that
bring people together.
Our giant home defender pledge!
Slip n Slide was a hit!
This past Saturday we had the
opportunity to work with community partners to do just that. Community Day
brought hundreds of residents together at Four Corners Park in the heart of
beautiful Peoplestown. Although the event is in Peoplestown it's a celebration
of all the amazing Atlanta neighborhoods south of I-20. Families came out for an
afternoon filled with music, entertainment for the kids, community education, and
lots of give aways!
Lots of painted faces!
With the help of the J dillaFoundation and a ton of local businesses that volunteered to put out donation
boxes we were about to give out close to300 back packs filled with school supplies and dental packs! We also had
music all day, food for all, a slip and slide for the kids, free ice cream, and
a whole lot more.
Bags, and more bags!
In an effort to bring more
residents into the movement to protect, improve, and expand affordable housing
we asked folks to sign the pledge to defend their homes and the homes of their
community member, hundreds signed the pledge! We’re excited to continue to work
closely with the newly formed resident led SMP Housing Justice Movement and
Occupy Our Homes Atlanta as the lead the way in the fight to stop mass
displacement in the Turner Field area.
This event simply wouldn’t have
been possible without the support of:
Yesterday American Friends Service Committee joined the TurnerField Community Benefits Coalition at city hall to hold a press conference and
deliver a letter to Mayor Reed. Over sixty residents from the neighborhoods
surrounding Turner Field showed up on Tuesday morning to send a clear message
to the Mayor and city official. One of the residents, Doristine Samuel who’s
lived in Mechanicsville since 1957 stated, “We used to have a beautiful
community. We had everything we needed. Big development has destroyed our
neighborhoods, from the highway to the Olympic stadium, to Turner Field. We
need development done right, with community members involved. We know the Mayor
wants a legacy, but it must be a legacy we can live with.”
The letter asks the Mayor to make a public commitment to
completing the Turner Field Livable Centers Initiative Planning Study (LCI)
process before negotiating any development deal. It requests that Mayor Reed
use the recommendations from this study to initiate a competitive bidding
process for the massive redevelopment project. “Our communities have suffered
long enough as a result of top-down development,” says Summerhill resident John
A. Colabelli. “We don’t want a quick fix solution. This is a
once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore the surrounding neighborhoods and
reconnect downtown to the entire south side of Atlanta.” The LCI Planning Study
grant was awarded to the City of Atlanta in February 2015 and represents the
largest LCI grant ever-awarded by the Atlanta Regional Commission. The study is
due to be completed by July 31, 2016.
After delivering the letter to the Mayor’s office in mass the
group split up into teams and made sure every city council member, every county
commissioner, and every Atlanta County recreation authority representative had
a hand delivered letter by the end of lunch.
American Friends Service Committee is excited to continue to
support this important coalition work. We are informed by the idea that communities
should be controlled by those that live in them. We can no longer afford to
have a few well connected folks who already live in overabundance make massive
profits off public-private development deals while the surrounding communities
fall into decay. We have the coalition effort can turn the tide of bad
development deals in Atlanta and encourage all to get involved!
The Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition is a coalition
of 42 neighborhood associations and advocacy groups representing thousands of
residents in the communities surrounding Turner Field. The Coalition seeks
community participation in decisions related to the redevelopment of the Turner
Field Stadium area.
This week tenant leaders from multiple apartment complexes came together to learn how to organize tenant associations across the Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, and Summerhill communities. We were excited to the room absolutely packed with residents ready to organize against what some see as the coming displacement that often comes with big development or low income communities and build strong tenant associations that have the power to improve their living conditions. It's not only exciting that tenant associations are emerging in these communities, they're emerging together as a rising tide. The room was absolutely packed and clear next steps were made for each complex represented. AFSC has partnered with Occupy Our Homes Atlanta over the last two years to a listening project designed to launch organizing work that's informed and led by residents. The tenant organizing project is one of the results. By the end of the year we hope to see seven new tenant associations in the three neighborhoods, two have already formed! Issues raised by tenants included black mold, deplorable conditions, poor treatment by property management, retaliation for individual attempts to organize from property managers, and displacement of long term residents. Despite that fact that there is still a degree of fear of retaliation from property management, it was exciting to hear that when residents act as a collective , as was the case recently with Boynton Village, they win! AFSC is exciting to continue to support this important work as the eye of development becomes more and more fixated on the Turner Field neighborhoods.
Residents in Peoplestown who have been fighting to stay in their homes, despite the cities continued threat to us eminent domain to remove them, plan to brought Christmas cheer to Atlanta's City Hall. Residents were be joined by Santa Claus as they sang rewritten Christmas songs around the giant Christmas tree on the first floor of city hall.
