Another RNC, another “ March for Our Lives.” (Hard to believe that four years ago, this was kind of how I spent my summer vacation.)

The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) has completed two extremely successful and nonviolent protests during the Republican National Convention, one in 2004 in NYC, and in 2000 in Philadelphia. Another is planned this year in Minneapolis, after a month-long bus tour of poor families traveling around sharing their stories. I know I’m going to be watching how things progress on their blog.

The message of PPEHRC is more relevant than ever these days. And I gotta say, much as Cheri Honkala is a pill, I wish we had someone like her here in Rhode Island to make life hell for Carcieri and the DINOs.

Keep on keeping on, old friends. Now, if only I could find my copy of “ Battle for Broad“…

I’ve often seen gentrification as a difficult problem to tackle. For many of my friends—young, working people trying to live in diverse areas and support themselves on small, non-profit or public service salaries—it is a struggle to find housing without becoming an agent of gentrification. But a New York Times piece today about Mount Morris Park, a traditionally-black Harlem neighborhood, explores one of the uglier examples of that phenomenon.

Timothy Williams chronicles the recent dispute over the neighborhood’s Marcus Garvey Park where, since 1969, drummers from Africa and the Caribbean have played an important role in shaping the social fabric and dynamic of the place. “The musicians,” he explains, “who play until 10 p.m. every summer Saturday, are widely credited with helping to make the park safer over the years.”

Across the street from the park however, at 2002 Fifth Avenue, is “a new seven-story cream and red brick luxury co-op with a doorman, $1 million apartments and a lobby with a fireplace.” Predictably, there have been some disputes about the character of the neighborhood.

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Rhode Island will receive $10.4 million dollars in federal funding from HUD programs to help with affordable housing….and yet, I still don’t qualify under HUD standards, so what about the rest of us?

I’ve been apartment searching for the past 2 years, trying to find a nicer apartment in a better area for less money. My situation isn’t bad. I have a charming 2 br near a golf course for only $600 a month. The problem is the stench - that and the traffic. Oh, and the newly finished bike path that connects my neighborhood to the Hartford Ave projects is a problem (and I know it’s a problem b/c they stole our moped).

So, the price is right; the size is right; but the location stinks. Last night, I went to look at what sounded like a perfect apartment over the phone. I totally would have been cool paying the $1125 a month to live on Tenth Street in Prov. too. It has all the amenities I’m lacking - dishwasher, free laundry (which I easily spend $150 a month on), hardwoods, first floor, etc. Sounds great, right?

Well, I go to see this apartment and walk into a hug dining room. Great! I walk through into a large living room. Perfect! Then, I think, did I miss the kitchen? Oh, it’s a galley - at least there’s more storage than I have now, but where’s the bathroom? Come to find out, bathroom is between the bedrooms. I can deal; we don’t have people over often.The bedrooms are the problem. They’re barely big enough to fit a bed in - let alone myself, my hubby, my 2 yr old, and a baby on the way.

$1125 for this? I’d been looking at communities with club houses for little more than this. I’d give the guy his price if the utilities are included. If not, there’s no way I’d pay more than $900. Herein lies the problem.

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Matt Jerzyk’s post about the insularity of the Rhode Island affordable housing community has generated 60 or so comments.   His concerns were spurred by the rejection of funding for an innovative and important project on Providence’s South Side:

The bad news is that renewable energy innovation is not coming to the urban core.  For instance, the HRC bypassed, for the second time, the 1040 Broad St. project which would have created affordable ownership opportunities for residents and business owners while using solar power to eliminate electricity bills.  Even though all of the rest of the project financing was in place, 1040 Broad St. was rejected.

As the Governor moves to slash funding for affordable housing, and the historic tax credits land on the chopping block, it’s more important than ever that we make sure that every penny spent on housing is doing the most possible good.

From the Housing Network: Housing and Homeless programs are hit hard in the Governor’s proposed supplemental budget that ends in June 2008 and next year’s budget that ends in June 2009.Proposed cuts in the supplemental budget include the elimination of the Neighborhood Opportunities program (NOP); $26 million from RI Housing which will eliminate their program budget and a cap on the historic tax credit which puts into jeopardy a number of affordable housing projects. The 2009 budget isn’t much better with again no funding for NOP and a $300,000 reduction in the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP).

PLEASE JOIN US AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE STATE HOUSE ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 AT 11 AM IN THE BELL AREA (off of the Rotunda). Following the press conference, the House Finance Committee will hold a hearing on the proposed cuts to RI Housing budgets and the Historic Tax Credit beginning at noon. (we will have some snacks available so please plan to stay for the hearing as well). .

BUILDING HOMES, BUILDING LIVES. See you on Tuesday!