PPEN Reclaims High Ground

Been looking for some statement from the good folks at the Prospect Park East Network, the group who really transformed this sleepy neighborhood seemingly overnight and organized the reasonable and legal response to what it saw as an overgrown injustice growing from the ground at 626. Little did the Q know all those months ago that he'd learn so much about the way the City and State do business, and the way people REALLY feel about what's transpiring. It's been an intense year of larnin.' The Edumucation of Mr. FlatBed.

Tonight, I've been doing a lot of thinking about what went down this week, and looking up at the stars in the middle of nowhere as I am right now, no moon in the sky, shooting stars abound, the Milky Way as plain as the chill in your bones in mountain air, I'm reminded that this is actually not my people's holiday, this New Year, but for today I'm an honorary member of the Tribe, sneaking out of the City for last weekend of r'n'r and apple pickin due to the holiday at the Public Schools. What a luxury. It is a New Year. Things feel different. There's unfinished business, and there's a lot left to learn, listen and engage.

To put it simply, it's clear that one way or another, people's voices will be heard, whether they "win" or "lose." For that, we can begin this new year with gratitude for the human spirit, feisty, loving and always looking for a better alternative. It's never too late to get it a little more right.

From PPEN:

Prospect Park East Network is a group of residents from PLG.We came together out of the need to protect our community from the effects of the luxury development that has penetrated our neighborhood.

The most glaring of these projects has been the development of the 23 story luxury tower at 626 Flatbush Ave. that is being built by Hudson companies. We are very much aware of the racial, economic and class overtones and undertones of such a building and have never sought to hide these facts. As a matter of fact, these ideas have always been at the forefront of our mantra.

We are unwilling to allow any misguided accusations to lead us from our primary purpose which is to band together as one in an effort to maintain the beauty, diversity and uniqueness of our community.

We cannot afford to be confused or distracted by those who have defined us based on their own fears and limitations. To do this would be to play right into the hands of those who do not have our best interest. As we destroy each other with unfounded accusations, we weaken our strength as a community. The developers and the powers that be look forward to such a blundering mistake. It allows them to strategize even further for their own benefit as we fight each other.

It is real simple; there is a 23 story luxury tower going up before our very eyes. By the very definition of the term "luxury" in the grand scheme of today's developers, most of us in this community will be excluded from the grand opening in the "community center" and most of us will be excluded from any schools that may be provided by Hudson companies.

And how many of us will qualify for the 250 apartments of which only 50 are slated as affordable units and of course the affordable is questionable.

Again, Prospect Park East Network  is a group of sincerely concerned residents who do not wish to exclude any of the members of our community who are willing to work along with us to provide the best living conditions for all. In the words of the late great Ruby Dee "we are in this thing together"

PPEN