New York City tenants fight to save their homes

Sept. 13 — Protesters rallied in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood to defend the Elliot-Chelsea and Fulton Houses from the wrecking ball. These New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) complexes are home to thousands of working-class New Yorkers — but instead of investing in repairs, the city is pushing demolition and displacement.

The area on Manhattan’s West Side in Midtown South has been targeted by wealthy real estate interests who want to build luxury housing. The prime culprit is the Related Companies, which grabbed $6 billion in tax subsidies for its Hudson Yards development, where the cheapest apartment goes for a million bucks.

The outfit even got the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to spend $2.4 billion to extend the 7 subway line to Hudson Yards. Now, Related Companies is moving south from 34th Street to push working-class tenants out of their homes with NYCHA’s assistance.

People marched on the home of City Councilmember Erik Bottcher, who is supporting the destruction of affordable housing. The marchers included many seniors, who are being told they might be able to move back into new housing in 15 years, when most will be dead.

There were plenty of younger folks and children, too. Leaflets in Chinese, Spanish and English had been distributed to build the action.

Among the speakers in front of Bottcher’s home were Chris Silvera, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 808 and Sara Catalinotto from Parents to Improve School Transportation (PIST).

Caitlin Cahill described the plans to destroy public housing as “Robert Moses 2.0.” Moses was in charge of urban removal in the Big Apple for decades. Hundreds of thousands of people were driven out of their homes to build the Cross Bronx expressway, other highways and Lincoln Center.

Activists are also planning to file a lawsuit to stop the housing demolition. Donate to the Chelsea Public Housing Legal Defense Fund at GoFundMe.com.