East Harlem Neighborhood Plan

This two-minute video captures the time, energy, and creativity that residents of East Harlem have invested in setting ground rules for future development in their neighborhood. The plan responds to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s strategy to rezone New York City’s working-class neighborhoods, like East Harlem, in an effort to mitigate the housing crisis. Rezoning would mean a spike in development that, lacking safeguards to preserve or increase affordable housing, could displace longtime residents. The thrust of East Harlem’s community plan is, as resident Pearl Barkley puts it, is to develop “for the people in the community first.” The residents’ effort is a testament to the power of a community to bring public policy into alignment with its own vision for the future. More on the project can be found at http://www.eastharlemplan.nyc.

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