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tel/fax:
718.362.4784
Please note our new postal address when sending
contributions to the legal fund:
121 5th Avenue, PMB #150
Brooklyn, New York 11217
About DDDB
Our coalition consists of 21 community organizations and
there are 51 community organizations formally
aligned in opposition to the Ratner plan.
DDDB is a volunteer-run organization. We have over 5,000
subscribers to our email newsletter, and 7,000 petition
signers. Over 800 volunteers have registered with DDDB
to form our various teams, task-forces and committees
and we have over 150 block captains. We have a 20 person
volunteer legal team of local lawyers supplementing our
retained attorneys.
We are funded entirely by individual donations from the community at large
and through various fundraising events we and supporters have organized.
We have the financial support of well over 3,500 individual
donors.
More about
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Weds: Hearing on Columbia's Harlem Land Grab
The people of Harlem need the support of residents, not-for-profit groups, civic
and ecumenical leaders to speak out against Columbia's land grab and the fabrication
of "community support" that will be seen at the hearing (much like last
August's rigged
"Atlantic Yards" Draft
Environmental Impact Statement hearing). We encourage Brookynites facing the
similar Atlantic Yards land grab to attend the hearing. The dots from Brooklyn
to West Harlem are easily connected.
The following (except for our footnote) is from the Harlm Tenants Council:
West Harlem, Central Harlem, East Harlem & Northern Manhattan
Your testimony is needed to Stop Columbia University's 35 acres land grab in West
Harlem)
Community Board #9 Public Hearing on
"Columbia University's application to rezone 35 acres of West Harlem"
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
6:30 PM
Manhattanville Community Center
530 West 133rd Street (Between Broadway & Amsterdam)
Community Board 9 Manhattan is holding a public hearing prior to their vote on
Columbia University's application to rezone 35 acres of West Harlem as a preliminary
step to a $7 billion thirty-year expansion which seeks to forcibly remove longtime
residents and businesses (some through the use of eminent domain),
build a 7-story underground "bathtub" basement in a seismic and flood
zone, demolish historic buildings, and build a biohazard level 3 laboratory in
an area with sorely taxed infrastructure and environment. Most important, this
plan will obliterate one of the most economically and racially diverse neighborhoods
in New York City.
Harlem's political highroller Bill Lynch who also doubles as one of the Vice Chairs
of the National Democratic Committee was hired by Columbia University, the City's
third largest landlord, at the tune of $40,000 a month to build Black community
support for this land grab expansion. Lynch is expected to parade his "coalition"
of community supporters for Columbia University at the Wednesday, August 15th
public Hearing. Already, former Mayor David Dinkins (now teaching at Columbia
along with Lt. Governor David Paterson) and New York State NAACP's* head Hazel
Dukes have publicly supported the expansion plan. However, these same voices are
conveniently silent about the displacement and forcing out of local Black businesses
and low income tenants throughout Harlem, and in particularly Central Harlem.
(* Note fron DDDB: The NAACP has thrown its support behind Columbia's use
of eminent domain for private "economic development". This is in stark
contrast to the NAACP's stance against eminent domain for private "economic
development" which it highlighted in the amicus
brief it submitted on behalf of Susette Kelo in the landmark Kelo v.
City of New London Supreme Court case in 2005.)
Please come early and sign up to speak (3 minutes maximum) about how this kind
of university expansion destroys neighborhoods across the city.
The hearing starts at 6:30 pm but Columbia is expected to pack the place early,
so come by 5:30 or 6:00.
For more information contact Nellie Bailey of the Harlem Tenants Council at 212-234-5005
or harlemtenants@aol.com. Pick up literature
and get more information by attending the Townhall meeting of the Harlem Tenants
Council on Tuesday, August 14th (tonight) at St. Ambrose Church, 9 West 130th
Street (between Fifth and Lenox Avenues) from 6 PM to 8 PM. Visit the website
of stopcolumbia.org
for additional information you might want to review.
Posted: 8.14.07
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