I often wind up being focused on Brooklyn over development schemes, fighting such excessive plans as Atlantic Yards. But we have to remember that the entire city is plagued with these excessive development plans that destroy whole neighborhoods and benefit wealthy develpers more than communities. And, more often than not, they are shoved down our throats practically by force...or at least using the threat of eviction.

Harlem is another neighborhood threatened by overdevelopment that could destroy its historic character. As with Atlantic Yards, the Harlem development plan will displace lower and middle income families, driving them from the center of NYC and replacing them largely with luxury high rises.

VOTE People is a community organization that, in its own words:

...works to manifest the needs and intent of the people of communities in which policy and legal reform is proposed, through a holistic approach including legal and political advocacy and social and cultural movements.

Our goals are to empower people to recognize and use the strength of their collective voices to achieve lasting respect, protection, and promotion of their social, cultural, economic, and political rights and to realize true political oversight and accountability for elected officials charged with representing those rights.

Our most immediate project, to oppose the proposed rezoning of Harlem's cultural center, 125th Street, and the related proposed expansion of Columbia University, we invite individuals and organizations working to protect cultural and historical Harlem and to address the needs of the Harlem community to join us.

They are teaming up with civil rights attorney and former executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union (and candidate for Public Advocate) Norman Siegel to fight the Harlem rezoning. You can think of it, perhaps, as "Develop, Don't Destroy Harlem..."

They are announcing their plans this Thursday: (from their press release)

HARLEM GROUP FIGHTS 125th STREET REZONING
Attorney Norman Siegel to serve as counsel

Harlem-based advocacy group VOTE People will announce its plan to defeat the rezoning of 125th Street. An organization working with communities facing political, economic and social injustice, VOTE People is launching a concerted effort to oppose the "River-to River" plan, the city's brazen attempt to take over the most legendary street in Harlem. The drastic rezoning plan threatens Harlem's historic character and unique cultural landscape, allowing reckless development of luxury high-rise condominiums in a community facing a severe shortage of housing for the middle class and the working poor.

Harlem residents have vehemently rejected the city's proposal in town hall meetings. Citing the mass displacement of current residents and businesses that will result if the plan is approved, VOTE People Executive Director Craig Schley condemned the "River-to-River" plan as "the Katrina-fication [of Harlem], done by the swipe of a pen rather than a hurricane." In a position paper to be released on January 24th, VOTE People calls for an immediate halt to the rezoning plan; outlines the destructive social, cultural, economic, and environmental effects of the city's proposal; and challenges the city to join VOTE People in developing a new plan that reflects the rights and wishes of Harlem residents.

Attorney Norman Siegel will speak about his role in the effort. "People who want to remain in Harlem should have the right to do so," he said. "Currently the plan is not acceptable and needs to be opposed."

WHO: Norman Siegel, civil-rights attorney and former director of the NYCLU; Craig Schley, Executive Director, VOTE People; Concerned Harlem Residents

WHAT: Harlem-based advocacy group VOTE People (Voices Of The Everyday People) announces its plan to defeat the rezoning of 125th Street.

WHEN: Thursday, January 24, 2008; 11:00 A.M.

WHERE: Salem United Methodist Church; 2190 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue @ 129th Street), New York, NY 10027

Remember those radical words from American history: United we stand...and all that.