The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has moved forward with a request for proposals for housing development on one of the garden sites that the Mayor's office, HPD and NYC Parks announced were being permanently preserved in December 2015: Green Valley Community Farm and Market. The garden has been on this site for decades, first as a Powell Street Block Association Garden since the 1990s and in the last five years, as "Green Valley," operated with USDA support by the volunteers of Isabahlia Ladies of Elegance.
We need to remind the Mayor and HPD that they promised permanent preservation for this garden last year and to hold them to their promises.
You can help!
1. Adapt, print, sign and mail a letter to the Mayor
It's worth the stamp. Send a copy of what you are signing to organizers@596acres.org. You can take a photo with your phone if you don't have a scanner handy. A few great samples:
2. Get 25 people to sign the petition by December 20th!
Send to 596 Acres, 540 President Street 2E, Brooklyn NY 11215 or email scans to organizers@596acres.org.
You can also sign this online petition
3.Tell the City to keep their promise! Rally to Save Green Valley.
Saturday, December 17th, 10am
New Lots Avenue & Sackman Street
New Lots Avenue & Sackman Street
The garden received warning from HPD that as of December 31, 2016, it will be treated as a trespasser on the majority of the property. You can also read the original letter telling them they are "encroaching".
Let's show our mayor that lots of people will be very unhappy if he starts 2017 with a garden eviction.
