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November 4, 2007
A quick, free way to help the Abolitionist homes (deadline 11/5 5 pm)
Our friends at Duffield St. Underground forwarded this action you can take. Sample letter after the jump.
New York City profited handsomely from slavery, and pro-slavery sentiment was so strong, that New York remained pretty much neutral during the Civil War. The most extreme opponents of slavery were often victims of mob violence, but these Abolitionists stood their ground in Downtown Brooklyn. Some of their homes still exist on Duffield Street, and the owners want to turn their properties into a museum. Historians who have examined these properties even think that there is strong evidence of a connection to the Underground Railroad slave safehouse movement. As Dr. Cheryl LaRoche says, "Duffield Street represents the most exciting site to research the Underground Railroad IN THE COUNTRY."This could be a fantastic cultural attraction to Downtown Brooklyn. This country could use more celebration of our history of resisting oppression. Instead, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development has a different plan. It wants to confiscate the homes through eminent domain, demolish them, and replace them with an underground parking lot and small park.
The City held public hearing Monday 10/29 and gave until Monday 11/5 at 5pm for the public testimony regarding the use of eminent domain. We need your help in letting the City know that this is not a smart way to promote New York City.
Of course, it gets worse. Using eminent domain, the City also wants to destroy a newly opened African-American owned cultural hotspot... and replace it with a "cultural center." The City wants to demolish low-income housing, and even wants to destroy a high-tech company that employs over 100 people. All in the name of "progress."
How can you help? Simple. Copy and paste the text below and email, fax or hand deliver it to the HPD. And for a bit of comic relief, the real, actual name of the person you send this to is Jack Hammer. Sounds like a Mel Brooks joke, don't it?
Dear Jack Hammer,
I am proud of the history of Abolitionism in Brooklyn. I am proud that the residents of Duffield Street opposed slavery, and I believe the best way to develop Downtown Brooklyn is by celebrating this history with a museum at the site. It is exciting to hear that Dr. Cherlyl LaRoche believes that 227 Duffield Street is the most promising site of Underground Railroad research in the country.
I am glad that Downtown Brooklyn has seen so much new economic activity, but we should insure that the City promotes a diverse economy for everyone. I oppose the plan to destroy our history- MY history- and replace it with an underground parking lot and 1.25 acre park. I also urge HPD to reconsider the use of eminent domain to destroy the diverse businesses and homes in Downtown Brooklyn.
We have a chance to make Downtown Brooklyn a great place. But the current plan to use eminent domain is wrong. Please adjust your plans so that you do not destroy the businesses and homes of people of Downtown Brooklyn.
Sincerely, [your name here]
Send this to: Jack Hammer Director, Brooklyn Planning Department of Housing Preservation and Development Tel: 212-863-8667 Fax: 212-863-5052 Email: hammerj (at) hpd.nyc (dot) gov
Posted by amy at November 4, 2007 9:38 AM