Anti-Gentrification
Equality for Flatbush, defines ‘gentrification’ as the concerted, deliberate effort to price out low-to-middle income residents from neighborhoods by city government, corporations, real estate developers, and landlords in favor of renting, selling, and catering to people of higher and/or more flexible incomes
We see gentrification as an intersectional issue that is deeply connected to the ways that race, class, gender, sexuality, gender identity, age, ability, nation of origin, immigration status, physical and mental capacity, etc. impact individuals and our communities.
We also see a distinct difference between the historic voluntary migration of working and middle class families from cities to the suburbs as opposed to the current situation where existing communities are being involuntarily priced out, bought out and forcibly removed from their neighborhoods by corporate developers and landlords.
We know from first-hand experience that the same unscrupulous property owners who use tactics to force long-time older tenants of color out of their rent-stabilized apartments will turn around and illegally overcharge incoming younger white tenants for the same apartment.
For this very reason, we believe that all of us-long-time and new residents, communities of color and white communities, low-income and middle-class people – have a stake in the urgent struggle to save affordable housing in Brooklyn.
If you are a Brooklyn residential or commercial tenant, or homeowner experiencing harassment or need housing, legal or organizing resources, contact us below.
Current Campaigns
—
Brooklyn Anti-gentrification Network (BAN)
We must raise $40K for Scoops by August 31, 2024 . GO FUND info is coming
LET’S DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER to #SAVESCOOPS & #DEFENDFLATBUSH FROM PREDATORY DEVELOPERS & LANDLORDS
The Brooklyn Anti-Gentrification Network (BAN) is a people of color-led, mass-based coalition of tenants, homeowners, block associations, anti-police brutality groups, legal and grassroots organizations working together to end the rampant gentrification and displacement of low to middle income residents of Brooklyn, New York. BAN was initiated by Equality for Flatbush in 2015.
If you are a NYC resident who wants to be connected to city-wide anti-gentrification movement, Please join The Brooklyn Anti-gentrification Network – BAN Community List : the-brooklyn-anti-gentrification-community-organizing-list@googlegroups.com
CONTACT: info@bangentrification.org or call/text (646)820-6039
WE DID IT! WE #SAVEDSCOOPS !
Our beloved business owner Tony Fongyit just signed a 7-year lease
Our iconic Flatbush Caribbean cultural institution has been saved !!A special thank-you to E4F’s amazing attorney, Ellery Ireland who represented Mr. Fongyit in this matter. Thank-you to the entire Fongyit family for their love and care.
Most importantly Tony Fongyit, and Equality for Flatbush want to thank 3,934 people who signed the petition. All the people and neighbors who came to meetings, showed up to the rallies, signed a letter to the landlord and handed out flyers.
Thank-you to the elected officials who intervened on Mr. Fongyit behalf.
Thank-you to all the reporters who provided great media coverage of this struggle.
Thank-you to all the cultural workers and activists who donated their artistry for the cause.
Special thanks to all the small businesses in Flatbush and Crown Heights that served as flyer drop off spots, put the flyer on their windows, and donated space to have meetings.
Real Estate Watch (REW)
Real Estate Watch (REW) works to hold predatory landlords and developers accountable by providing empirical information and tools to empower Brooklyn residents and small businesses. Real Estate Watch (REW) is the investigative research project of Equality for Flatbush.
REW CAMPAIGNS
Lefferts Capital LLC
Equality for Flatbush releases Lefferts Capital LLC Real Estate Watch Fact Sheet
Predator Developer #OzoneDevelopment, LLC
Equality for Flatbush’s Real Estate Watch creates Map of Properties Bought up by Predator Developer #OzoneDevelopment, LLC https://beforeitsgone.co/stories/Gvdr74
MAXX Properties
Predatory developer Rafael (Rafi) Manor
Since 2017, Equality for Flatbush has been fighting with several Black homeowners who have sustained thousands of dollars of damages because of predatory developers who “house flip”. These predatory develops purchase property next to a long-time Black homeowner, damage the homeowner’s property which leads to lengthy and costly court battles. Several homeowners have reported that they believe the developer had purposely damaged their property in order to get them to sell their homes. Real Estate Watch, Equality for Flatbush’s investigative research team, has released a fact sheet on Rafael Manor who has been identified as one of these predatory developers. Enjoy.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZQQbgN81pjeXGui8fpFH9uzpEqOSs6pF5jD-PYip97g/edit?usp=sharing
Predatory Lender Selene Finance
Selene Finance has been identified to us by homeowners in our community as a key target due to their predatory practices. Real Estate Watch, Equality for Flatbush’s investigative research team, has released a fact sheet to document the key players profiting off Selene Fianance and their fraudulent practices.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15a2R0s4UCwIM3MBhx4kHlsBEftE7ACCx0FpxToqLPRw/edit?usp=sharing
Jonas Equities / Jeremy Properties
Jonas Equities / Jeremy Properties has been identified to us by residents in our community as a key target due to their predatory practices. Real Estate Watch, Equality for Flatbush’s investigative research team, has released a fact sheet to document their fraudulent practices.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S8aMjuv7B9EmrOM1FTXPrkSgycLZ0zrezxVi2t_jlQM/edit?usp=sharing
Before it ‘s Gone/ Take It Back (B4G) is E4F’s Brooklyn-wide anti-gentrification / anti-displacement campaign
A VICTORY FOR THE COMMUNITY!
Brooklyn Abolitionist Home Gains Historic Landmark Status After Decades-Long Battle, Groundswell of Community Endorsements
After years of struggle led by Brooklyn grassroots organizers and activists, on Tuesday Mayor Bill di Blasio will announce that the Landmarks and Preservation Commission of New York City plans to confer historic landmark status on the “Truesdell House” at 227 Duffield Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
The house at 227 Duffield St – which has been renamed 227 Abolitionist Place – was home to Harriet and Thomas Lee Truesdell in the 1850s. The Truesdells were radical anti-slavery activists and hosted other prominent abolitionists in their home. Historians believe that the building is a hotbed of potential research about the Underground Railroad, as many families on and around Abolitionist Place were active in helping to liberate enslaved people.
Friends of Abolitionist Place hopes to turn the building into the Heritage Center at 227 Abolitionist Place, which would teach visitors about the complex history of abolitionist movements in Brooklyn through interactive learning experiences and artist residencies.
Read more on the press release here.
View/download statement on New Park Development on Abolitionist Place (Jan 31, 2022)
#ThisIsFlatbush
A campaign against the corporate re-branding of Flatbush, East Flatbush and Crown Heights
VIDEO Documentary short taking aim at the corporate rebranding of Flatbush through a compilation of interviews with longtime residents, new residents, activists and a professor of urban planning.
In This is Flatbush, the people of the central Brooklyn neighborhood of talk about parts of the neighborhood they’ve long known as Flatbush and the very recent appearance of “Prospect Lefferts Gardens” and “Ditmas Park” on maps. Residents also discuss their fears of losing their homes due to skyrocketing rents as well as how gentrification threatens to destroy the very identity of this largely low-to-middle income migrant community of color.
GET HELP
If you are a BROOKLYN residential or commercial TENANT or HOMEOWNER experiencing harassment or need housing, legal or organizing resources please contact us at:
In English: B4G@equalityforflatbush.org or (646)820-6039
En Español: EnEspanol@equalityforflatbush.org or (732)641-3923
En Kréyol: EnKreyol@equalityforflatbush.org or (929)244-0885
#NOEVICTIONZONE #MYNYCLANDLORD #BeforeItsGone
2273 Church Avenue
POB# 260505
Brooklyn, NY 11226
B4G@equalityforflatbush.org