Big Changes at CB9
Comments
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IMO comparing MTOPP to anarchists is grossly unfair to the latter.
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Mug -
When people view gentrification as a homogeneous group of invaders (as opposed to newcomers and long term residents pursuing their self interests), conspiracy is the only paradigm that works.
Bob -
You have a point, anarchists can at least understand the motivations of their opponents. They also seem to understand that inaction is not a realistic option in the face of a threat.
Because MTOPP members seem to believe that a conspiracy is behind gentrification, they have the luxury of looking for an enemy.
I envy them. -
For those of you who have cable, you can see News 12's report.
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Thanks W-N. I have a fairly high regard for anarchists, even if their greatest success was Spain in 1936 [and we know how that turned out–come to think of it, MTOPP sort of reminds me of the Spanish Stalinists, who turned on the anarchists, rather than concentrating on the real enemy].
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Not all anarchists have similar skills. A few of the ones at my college were found guilty of manufacturing LSD in their apartment, which I do not believe the Spanish ones you refer to managed to master.
mug -
The Ch12 report was pretty tame.
I expect Rachel at DNA.info to publish her account soon. She is often under fewer editorial constraints.
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Here is my report from Brooklyn Brief:
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Most of the article sits well with me, but I don't agree with this part:
"The original room reserved at Medgar Evers College to hold the meeting proved too small, demonstrating poor planning and necessitating a move to an auditorium across the street."
I don't think its reasonable for the board to have expected as many people as showed up.
I am glad the larger space was available and MEC and the Board were able to move the meeting to it by 7:20, when it became apparent the smaller room wasn't going to accomodate everyone.
With the exception of the cop who stated "you all live in affordable housing and should be thankful", I also think the NYPD did a pretty good job. They accurately ascertained that arresting or removing disruptive people would have escalated the situation and made the NYPD the enemy.
It was far smarter to have the MTOPP people make incremental progress toward the conclusion some will eventually reach: "The enemy is not in this room. It is society at large, and we can not keep it at bay".
Note: Many will not successfully reach this conclusion. -
Note: Many will not successfully reach this conclusion.
Not sure if I care; as long as they end up leaving as a result of this "natural process of neighborhood change." -
Caring is completely optional.
Many people don't think the change is a "natural process" when it involves zoning, but they are using a more restrictive defintion of natural process than me.
My definition involves individuals using EVERY TOOL at their disposal to advance their self interests.
This includes the supporting and/or adapting how city agencies do their jobs (police, sanitation, DOE), as well changing regulations like the zoning code.
If enough people have means and preferences that involve bike racks, craft beer, sit down restaurants, and apartments with glass facades on Empire Blvd such things will arrive. -
I'd like to say the same thing, but if they were to get forced out, I'd probably be right behind them (except for Alicia Boyd, who reportedly owns her house).Note: Many will not successfully reach this conclusion.
Not sure if I care; as long as they end up leaving as a result of this "natural process of neighborhood change."One of the speakers last night mentioned that Upper West Side residents were able to somehow get some proposed changes altered. How was their approach different from MTOPP's? (I mean substantively. It wouldn't surprise me if someone from the MTOPP camp were to say that color or economic background would have something to do with it.) -
With the exception of the cop who stated "you all live in affordable housing and should be thankful", I also think the NYPD did a pretty good job. They accurately ascertained that arresting or removing disruptive people would have escalated the situation and made the NYPD the enemy.
It wouldn't have surprised me if those officer's comments didn't incite a near riot at that point. A significant population of the crowd were already riled up. I was expecting them to go over the edge.I think those officers in question are from the community outreach unit (I don't remember the exact title/name)!It doesn't take much for some people to regard the NYPD as "the enemy". I don't know how one can reasonably argue that the officers didn't do the right thing if the officers had removed the rabble rousers without incident -
Ms. Boyd owns a home on Sterling I and is president of the block association.
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Okay, for those of us keeping score what do PPEN and MTOPP stand for?
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Bob-
I also suspect that many of the past and present members of the board are renters.
Above, I use the broad bush of MTOPP to characterize each as homeowner and renters.
Um, oppressor and oppressed?
I hope that most people are aware the world is much more complex. -
@homeowner -
PPEN is the Prospect Park East Network. They were recently defeated in their attempt to stop an "as of right building" (626 Flatbush), and wish to change the zoning code before future building are built as of right. They are concerned about displacement, but seem to be very interested in contexual zoning. Some are preservationists. I bet a few enjoy watching birds in the park. http://www.ppen.org/
MTOPP is the Movement to Protect the People. http://www.mtopp.org/
They chant things like "What about the revolution?!" and "This Black community is not for sale!", and many seem convinced the rzoning is 99% about wanting to rid the community of black people.
---> Note as mentioned above, the groups had more in common than then they do today. And, I suspect, more overlapping memberships. -
So help me understand this because I am confused. As far as Community Board 9 goes - all of the Board members are from the CB9 coverage because that is requirement. But when it comes to Pearl Miles - the District Manager for Community Board 9 it is OK she lives in Long Island but runs CB9 because she is a city employee? Help me understand.
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I believe you are correct.
Note, CB8 has a city employee as well. I'm not sure where she lives.
I don't think they can cast tie breaking votes.
...but I also don't really care. -
Even if Pearl Miles were living on Long Island, does anyone have anything to support the assertion that somehow she is selling this community down the river?
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This makes it sound as if living outside the district is permissible if you meet other criteria:
"No person shall be appointed to or remain as a member of the board who does not have a residence, business, professional or other significant interest in the district. The borough president shall assure adequate representation from the different geographic sections and neighborhoods within the community district. In making such appointments, the borough president shall consider whether the aggregate of appointments fairly represents all segments of the community."
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/nycode/NYC/70/2800
...so, one could conceivably live outside the community and be disliked by large numbers of the community, as long as the borough president isn't bothered by it.
Board members are not appointed via general elections of community board residents. With the exception of the city employees, I do not believe any of them are paid. -
@Lilern, there used to be a residency requirement for city employment (you had to live in the five boroughs). The city got rid of that requirement back in the late 60's- early 70's when whites started to move to LI, Westchester, NJ, etc. In the late 80's the rule was changed to once again require NYC residency for city employees except uniformed services and chaplains. There was an exception for employees that were hired before the date the law went into effect. There is however an exception for non-mayoral agencies, which I believe the CB's are. So either Ms. Miles was hired before the change in residency law in the 80's or she doesn't have to be a resident because she doesn't work for a mayoral agency.
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Ahhhhh - OK - thanks for giving me some clarification on this!@whynot_31 you are correct in that the criteria was written just loosely enough that you could live outside the area and still serve on the Board representing it
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Why Not,I'm sure the reference to limiting the number of City employees on CBs refers to unpaid board members, who happen to be City employees. Each board has a paid District Manager who is a City employee but NOT an appointed board member. IIRC they are employees of the Borough President's office [an independent elected official–not a Mayoral agency.Homeowner,Excellent explanation of residency rules. I'm a retired NYC HR manager and know how confusing these matters can be.
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@bobmarvin - so the District Manager of any CB is a City employee - they have to apply for the job - and the 'best' person will get that job but said employee does not have to be a resident like all the others who are do NOT apply but are in fact appointed? Now I think I get it - this is why the 'head' of CB9 - in this case Pearl Miles - can live in Long Island
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Bob-
Thanks. Can the District Manager vote? If they can't vote and are just a person paid to answer the phones and file forms, it seems as if they may be a pretty marginal player in oppression and hegemony.
...one not worthy of attention. -
"District Manager" is a Non-competitive title. Anyone hired must meet the published qualification requirements even though there's no civil service exam, or other competitive process as there would be for a Competitive class title.Here's a link to a Vacancy Notice for a Bronx CB which I found on line. The actual requirements would be the same City-wide:
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They cannot vote why not. OTOH their role is far from marginal and much more than answering phones and filing forms. After all, District Managers are often the only people at CBs who actually know how anything works. Pearl is the only District Manager I know and I can assure you that she's very knowledgeable.
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Ahhhhh - thank you. From the job description I can certainly see why residents would question having a District Manager from outside the respective CB zone - they do far more than answer phones and file forms......
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@bobmarvin, that's high praise. I'm a NYC public policy wonk so unfortunately my brain is full of minutia around residency requirements, the history of the city council (and the Board of Estimate), and the impacts of ethnic politics on NYC.
Distric Managers know where the bodies are buried and who's put 'em there. The position, like many other small overlooked governmental positions, has more power than what appears from the outside looking in. -
Ahhhhh - thank you. From the job description I can certainly see why residents would question having a District Manager from outside the respective CB zone - they do far more than answer phones and file forms......
Indeed they do.
But their powers seem to stop short of oppression and hegemony.
Damn it, who it responsible for that! How do we get rid of them!
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