By Bill Parry
Nearly a hundred protesters from all over Queens joined forces for a rally against gentrification at the 46th Street subway station in Sunnyside Thursday evening.
Organizers called on City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) and other elected officials in western Queens to oppose three major projects: the Long Island City Core Rezoning, the Brooklyn-Queens Connector and the Sunnyside Yards development. They contend these undertakings will raise rents and displace residents.
“We’re trying to bring attention and raise awareness about these three huge proposals that will change the landscape in western Queens forever,” Queens Anti-Gentrification Project founder Michael Forrest said.
Woodside resident Dee Raymond was the main speaker during the rally. He warned that the city was working with real estate companies at the expense of the working class.
“In New York, we see giant real estate companies driving city policy while the people are disregarded by sell-out politicians like Bill de Blasio who tell us lies about their appreciation for diversity and inclusion and their new-found love for immigrants in the age of Trump,” Raymond said. “We see white-supremacist City Planning policies that protect the richest neighborhoods while specifically targeting working class communities of color for luxury real estate in what can only be accurately described as ethnic cleansing.”
After the rally, Forrest led a march past Van Bramer’s office on 48th Street and Queens Boulevard and through Sunnyside Gardens, ending at Van Bramer’s home on 46th Street.
“We’re asking Mr. Van Bramer to come out against these projects and stand with us before it’s too late,” Forrest said.
Van Bramer was not home at the time. He was out of town attending to a death in the family, but he had his staff distribute a letter he wrote to the protesters.
“Making sure our neighborhoods remain affordable for all kinds of families is important to me. Further gentrification is a real threat,” Van Bramer wrote. “I share many of your concerns, and I have been publicly critical of plans the city has put forth that would do more harm than good.”
Van Bramer had offered to meet with the group prior to Thursday’s rally and march and discuss their concerns, but his offer was rejected.
“I’m a proud progressive. And I’m proud of all the work my office has done these last seven years,” Van Bramer wrote. “I’ve led the resistance to Trump since his election, and I’ll continue to do so. Again, thank you for your efforts. I look forward to sitting down and talking about our shared goals in the near future.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
