NYC's Unsung Heroes

Here's a bit of good news! Rob Solano, Executive Director of Churches United for Fair Housing, was selected by the Village Voice as one of New York's Unsung Heroes for all his work he does in Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Bed-Stuy! Check it out here:

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-11-24/news/a-thanksgiving-honor-roll-lauding-nyc-s-unsung-heroes-in-a-city-of-celebrity/

Congrats, Rob! And thank you for all the good work you do!

And, don't forget to note that Marty Needelman, another friend in the neighborhood, fighting for affordable housing was recognized as well!

BROADWAY TRIANGLE CITY COUNCIL HEARINGS

Tomorrow, Monday, November 30th, the City Council will hold hearings on the re-zoning of the Broadway Triangle, and Churches United for Fair Housing would like to encourage and enlist as many readers as possible to come.

As most of you know, all community organizations except Ridgewood-Bushwick Senior Citizens' Council and United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg were intentionally left out of the original planning for the Broadway Triangle. And the re-zoning and development proposed by HPD ignores the needs of many members of the Broadway Triangle community who are not involved in either of those organizations. So, now, Churches United for Fair Housing and other community organizations are calling for an open process to plan development in their neighborhood.

If you would like to help us in this process, please come with us to City Hall tomorrow morning to rally and sit in on the hearing! Buses will be picking up at 10 am from:
* All Saints Church 115 Throop Avenue off Flushing Ave
* South 4th Street and Roebling Avenue
* 609 Metropolitan
* 260 Powers off Bushwick Avenue

If you are interested and want more information, contact rsolano@churchesunitedforfairhousing.com

A Message to our 2009 Annual Awards Attendees

On behalf of the Officers, Directors and Members, I thank you for attending our 2009 Annual Awards Dinner. I want to personally thank our Officers and Members of the Board of Directors for their selflessness and continued dedication to make Churches United for Fair Housing an organism for the betterment of all those who love Brooklyn.

This year, Churches United for Fair Housing is undergoing a strong and positive revitalization. And each week, our organization writes a new chapter of service through the efforts of many volunteers from all over our community working together to help those most in need.

Thank you from all of us to each of you--you should each be proud to call yourself a "Churches United for Fair Housing Member." This year, Churches United for Fair Housing had the pleasure of honoring Father Jim O'Shea, Juan Ramos, & Herb Santiago; they have distinguished themselves in courage, leadership, & generosity in the community at large. Finally, to our financial supporters, I thank you for believing in us, in your community, but most of all in believing that the old adage is true: "There is strength in numbers, and that strength is even greater when the Spirit of God is our rock."

Sincerly,


Rob Solano
Executive Director
Churches United for Fair Housing, Inc.

Churches United for Fair Housing will host a dinner at Nino’s Restaurant in Greenpoint Thursday, September 10th to raise funds to continue their work serving thousands in the Brooklyn community.

Churches United for Fair Housing will honor Father James O’Shea with the Person of the Year Award for his devotion to truth and justice for all. Juan Ramos will receive the Leadership Award for his outstanding direction in the Broadway Triangle Community Coalition. Herb Santiago will be honored with the Solidarity Award for his exceptional achievement and continued leadership throughout the community.

WHO: Churches United for Fair Housing members and guests
$100 for CUFFH members
$125 for non-CUFFH members

WHERE: Nino’s Restaurant
173 Kingsland Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11222

WHEN: Thursday, September 10th
6 pm

CHURCHES UNITED FOR FAIR HOUSING TO HOST 34TH COUNCIL CANDIDATE DEBATE

Churches United for Fair Housing along with co-sponsors, El Diario, El Puente, and the Brooklyn Gazette will host 34th District Council Candidates Maritza Davila, Gerry Esposito, and Diana Reyna in a town hall style debate, next Monday, August 31st at Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana from 7—9 pm.

The debate will be preceded by free food and followed by free music and a raffle.

THE VOTE

So things have been swinging along quite well for Churches United for Fair Housing. Many successful community board meetings, housing application workshops, ulurp meetings, etc. And we got the community together for a beautiful barbecue on Sunday afternoon. Its encouraging to know that there are so many of us fighting for the neighborhood!

Tonight, Community Board 1 will be voting on our proposal for the Broadway Triangle Development. And before they vote they will allow speakers from the audience, so we would love to have anyone and EVERYONE speak about why they think our Broadway Triangle proposal represents the needs of our community. Please be there at 5:30 to sign up to speak. The meeting will start at 6:30 pm.

Swinging 60's Senior Citizens Center
211 Ainslie Street (Corner of Manhattan Avenue)
Brooklyn, New York 11211

TONIGHT

Last week, the community presented their plans for the Broadway Triangle development at a Town Hall meeting at PS 250 and it was an overwhelming success! I think everyone present took great encouragement in the potential to come for the Broadway Triangle. This week, the city (HPD) will be presenting their plan at the Community Board 1 meeting. Unfortunately, their plan does not take into interest the needs of the community around the Broadway Triangle, but more so the profitability of the area, so it is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE that we make our presence known at this community board meeting tonight! HPD needs to see the faces of the residents that they will be affecting with their plan!

TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2009"SWINGING SIXTIES"
COMMUNITY BOARD 1 MEETING
6:00PM
211 AINSLIE STREET
BROOKLYN, NY 11211
CORNER OF MANHATTAN AVENUE

DIRECTIONS:
TAKE "L" TRAIN TO GRAHAM AVENUE STOP.
WALK ONE BLOCK TO MANHATTAN AVENUE MAKE LEFT TURN.
WALK TWO BLOCKS DOWN TO 211 AINSLIE STREET
ON THE CORNER BUILDING SAYS "SWINGING SIXTIES" .

Its Your Neighborhood--What Do You Want?

Tonight at 6:30 PM at 41 Whipple Street, the Broadway Triangle Community Coalition and Ron Schiffman and his architecture students from Pratt will meet to discuss the future development of the Broadway Triangle. This meeting is for all residents to voice their desires for the neighborhood and how they would like to see them implemented.

This is such an important meeting. If we want to organize and fight these high-income developments that don't suit the needs of our neighborhoods, we MUST tell them what we want instead!

I Believe, by Rob Solano

I believe in the people of this community who suffer and struggle or who have risen from the ashes of crime and poverty or even those who simply understand the other side of the story, need an online venue. I believe, they need a place that they can be part of something bigger and express themselves in an unequivocal way. I believe, Churches United for Fair Housing blog will be that stage. I believe that this stage will perform the greatest show that has ever been witness, I believe in maximizing affordable housing, I believe in the creation of jobs, I believe in open space, I believe in those most in need, I believe in those who who have achieved in their personal life but continue to help others achieve the same, I believe in high density development that provides for the community, I believe that united people of faith can overcome anything, I believe in anyone that believes in us, I believe that these moment of our lives we will look back and realize that we were on the right side of history.

What do you see?

This blog is an open forum to air grievances, express frustrations, and share in success as Churches United for Fair Housing and the residents of Bedstuy, Bushwick, and Williamsburg fight for affordable housing. So, as you are walking around your neighborhood, noticing the changing landscape of the community, please take note and tell us about it! And ask questions, always ask questions! Why are small businesses being shut down? What is moving into their space instead? What is the new building going up on the corner? How much is it costing the city? How much will it cost to live in?

Tell us what you want to see in your neighborhood; how your needs could be better served in the community. The more we share, the better we will be able to find answers and take back our neighborhoods.

How we started:

Churches United for Fair Housing began in 2003 as a group of concerned members of local congregations who wanted to address the crisis concerning affordable housing. Since our founding, Churches United for Fair Housing has successfully advocated for the creation of thousands of new affordable housing units.

Our first significant victory occurred during the Williamsburg-Greenpoint waterfront re-zoning. The city first began its' proposed development with no planned affordable housing; and through our strategic agenda and mobilization of churches in the area, the final plan included a historic 33% affordable housing. At the end of the campaign, Mayor Michael Bloomberg publicly thanked Churches United for Fair Housing for helping broker the deal.

Since our waterfront victory, Churches United for Fair Housing has advocated for other projects throughout North Brooklyn and we continue to be an effective vehicle to ensure that housing, as well as new job opportunities come to the community. We have found truth in the old adage, "there is strength in numbers." And that strength is evern greater when the Spirit of God is our rock.