On April 15 I traveled to El Barrio Unite’s headquarters on East 116^th Street. There, I conducted interviews with Anne Kadamani and Roberto Anazagasti. The following questions were used:

• What is El Barrio Unite?
  • A newly formed organization of East Harlem residents
  • Goal: to preserve and increase affordable housing in East Harlem
  • Goal: to educate the public about the housing situation in East Harlem and about affordable housing in general
  • Goal: oppose the construction of luxury housing developments
• What is the East River Plaza Residential Development?
  • A new luxury housing development being proposed over the existing East River Plaza mall
  • It will consist of three towers between thrity five and forty five stories on top of the existing mall
• Why and how is El Barrio Unite opposing this development?
  • The development will bring in new, high-income residents to the community. They will be unlikely to shop within or contribute to the community. At the same time, their presence will result in an increase in property taxes in the community, thereby displacing current residents.
  • El Barrio Unite is attempting to educate the public through meetings, social media campaigns, and rallies. The next rally in opposition to East River Plaza is May 16^th at the site of the development.
• What is it about East Harlem that you are trying to preserve?
  • El Barrio Unite is seeking to preserve affordable housing in East Harlem.
  • They are also seeking to preserve the character of the largely Puerto Rican neighborhood. If wealthy residents move in, it will likely lead to the closure of many locally owned and operated businesses, as these new residents are more likely to “shop at Whole Foods and Macy’s” than at local grocery and clothing stores.
• What are some policy recommendations you would make?
  • Make mayor de Blasio understand that his current 80/20 plan regarding luxury and affordable housing requirements is not desirable/working/enough
  • if the 421-A tax exemption is renewed, it would have to be seriously amended to better serve communities
    • add permanency requirements (at the moment, affordable housing created with 421-A is not required to be permanent)
    • disallow double dipping
  • currently, developments may be eligible to double the FAR (floor area ratio) of projects if they set aside space for something that provides a community service
    • however, this can be anything, like a private doctors office or private (even luxury) day care center
    • suggesting stipulation that this community service provider be not-for-profit, and be locally owned and operated if possible

Anne Kadamani also talked at length about the developers behind the project, Blumenfeld Development Group and Forest City Ratner. She noted Blumenfeld’s known relationship with Bernie Madoff, and his being required to pay settlements in the Madoff case. She also talked about FCR’s well known Barclays Center project in Atlantic Yards. She noted their promise to deliver affordable housing and permanent jobs, neither of which they have done.

Roberto Anazagasti talked about the immigrant character of the neighborhood, and why the current exodus of low-income residents is different than those in the past: those residents, he says, left willingly, while the neighborhood’s current population wants to stay and is being forced out.

After the filming session, Roberto also expressed interest in involving El Barrio Unite (who act as landlords for the building containing their office) in the local Community Land trust.