‘You Don’t Have Money To Give, But You Have People Power’: Lessons From The Flatbush Tenant Coalition’s Trip To Albany
As our neighbors ended their day of lobbying in Albany Tuesday and made their way back to the bus, shielding their faces from the clumps of wet snow covering our state’s capitol, it was declared: The day was a success.
True, not every lawmaker had jumped on board with all of their affordable housing policy priorities. Some said the politics of Albany means massive tax breaks for developers will never end.
But despite those setbacks, tenants voiced their opinions to lawmakers who, come June, will have a very real and very important impact on their lives. They spoke about ceiling collapses and black mold. About harassment and displacement. They gave voice to the many people in our neighborhood who are facing eviction from homes where they’ve lived for decades, from communities they have helped to build.
Perhaps most importantly, legislators told them to come back, to continue making their voices heard, so when the roll call comes in (likely) June and a lawmaker is deciding whether or not to support strengthening rent regulations, they will remember the stories of Flatbush tenants.
“You don’t have money to give, but you have people power,” Assemblyman William Colton told neighbors who gathered in his office just before he ran off to the Assembly floor to debate the state budget.
“What you want – it won’t work out unless you raise your voice,” Colton continued.
Tenants agreed – and vowed they would not stop pushing lawmakers to support affordable housing.
“Let’s not forget – Sheldon Silver is where he is because of real estate, and other politicians should remember that,” Flatbush Tenant Coalition member Jean Folkes said of the Assembly’s former speaker who the federal government has accused of abusing his leadership position, including his power over rent control regulation and real estate tax abatements, to pocket millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.
To continue to raise their voices, Aga Trojniak, a coordinator with the Flatbush Tenant Coalition, said the FTC will be sending smaller groups to Albany in the upcoming months, as well as likely making one more big trip in May. To find out more about these visits, you can email the FTC at ftcoalition@gmail.com, call 718-635-2623, or visit their Facebook page.
