NTI

URGENT URGENT URGENT

You are invited to a meeting to build opposition to a dangerous bill recently introduced by Darrell Clarke (060902) that affects all communities in the city. There will be a hearing on February 7th, unless we act now. (We also need to oppose a companion bill, #060901.)

WHO's Invited: Community activists of all political persuasions from around the city

WHERE: Songhai City Cultural Center, 3117 Master Street, 215-769-3333

WHEN: Thursday, January 25, 2007, from 6:00 PM thru 7:30 PM

The City Planning Commission when they meet this Tuesday will review a proposal by Darrell Clarke to rezone 2 areas within his district. One area is directly adjacent to the Westrum development and includes the community center of the African American Business and Residents' Association. Below is Al Alston's (of AABRA) research on the matter:

Folks,

I want to alert you to two dangerous bills introduced by Darrell Clarke. They are the latest blows by the pro-developer contingent in the ongoing gentrification wars in Philadelphia and we simply cannot let them pass if we want to stay in our communities. 1. There will be a Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday at which these bills will be discussed. I know it's short notice (we just learned about these bills early this morning!), but it's worth attending. The meeting will be at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, 1/16/2007, in the 18th Floor Conference Room (Room No. 18029) at 1515 Arch Street. Make sure you bring your drivers license or PA Identification; you'll need it when you sign in at the security desk.

This from Al Alston:

In case you missed this, there is big trouble at the "non-profit" Brewerytown CDC. And, our sources tell us that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/business/16331806.htm

The Philly Inquirer did a 2 part series on NTI -it was pretty disappointing. HOwever, some of the comments people posted about NTI ain't bad - some are below. To read others you have to go to the article.

This is another archival clip from November 6, 2003 from a forum called "Revitalization or Gentrification?" hosted by Bread and Roses Community Fund in Philadelphia. In this clip, Rosemary Cubas (Community Leadership Institute) explains how the Mayor's controversial Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) has effected people in her community in North Philadelphia, as well as other parts of the city. This archival footage documents some of the thinking and organizing Rosemary was doing around this issue.

Hello and welcome to the "all for the taking" blog.

Look for many more posts and interesting information in the future.