City Councilman Al Vann says an effort is underway to keep a healthy balance as Brooklyn's preeminent black community -- Bedford-Stuyvesant -- undergoes significant demographic and other changes propelled by money-hungry developers and an influx of young white residents.
There are many in Bed-Stuy, especially its fearful old-time residents, who believe plans are afoot to displace the loyal oldtimers and clear the way for large scale development of the kind that is transforming and gentrifying Downtown and other neighborhoods.
The fears are being expressed as the City Council approved (on Monday) a re-zoning of Bed-Stuy that is (according to elected officials) designed to control large-scale development on side streets while directing it to the larger commercial avenues.
What's clear is that Bed-Stuy is going through terrific changes, a gentrification, and some residents complain that city officials are not paying attention to their concerns.
Already many black homeowners are facing foreclosure proceedings that are a result of sub-prime (or predatory) loans made, on burdensome terms, to minority home purchasers.
Other homeowners say that city inspectors harrass them with petty violation notices even as they fail to take action against wealthy investors and developers.
Today's New York Times reports on the re-zoning approval.
Comments