BY THE VILLAGE SUN | Five years ago, Christopher Marte helped them out. Now they’re returning the favor.
On June 6, tenants of 83-85 Bowery celebrated the fifth anniversary of their victory against eviction and also called on the community to support Marte’s reelection in Lower Manhattan’s City Council District 1 in the June 27 Democratic primary election.
In addition to going to bat for them, the tenants praised Marte for supporting the full Chinatown Working Group rezoning plan to fight neighborhood displacement, plus opposing construction of a new borough-based jail at the current Manhattan Detention Complex (“The Tombs”) site and supersized development in Two Bridges, as well as advocating for opening a new dim sum palace in Chinatown to help revitalize the community.
In the case of 83-85 Bowery, the de Blasio administration had ruled the building, between Hester and Canal Streets, was structurally unsafe inside and that the tenants had to vacate. But Marte fought to allow them to return home to their affordable apartments.
Jin Shuo, a representative of the 83-85 Bowery Tenants Association, said the first-term councilmember has consistently taken the right position on key issues for Chinatown residents and activists.
“City Councilmember Marte has gone out of his way to help us during our most difficult times, especially when he stood with us and our community despite the intimidation of former Mayor Bill de Blasio,” Shuo declared. “We have seen Marte’s efforts against displacement over the years, such as opposing the new jail in Chinatown, fighting against the four luxury towers in Two Bridges, and advocating to open a big restaurant at 88 East Broadway Mall that would make Chinatown thrive again and improve public safety! We, the Bowery tenants urge everyone: Contact your friends and relatives in District 1 to reelect Chris Marte in the upcoming election!”
Be First to Comment