County Stalling on Tent City Permit Request

Greetings:

First off, the Umoja Village Shantytown and the issue of gentrificiation in the housing boom has been featured in an AP story as well as on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Please follow the links for the stories.

AP- Glitz and Glamour Overshadows Majority of Miami's Population

NBC Nightly News


As part of the Week of Action Against Gentrification and For Low-Income Housing- which is coordinated among several groups- Take Back the Land and others applied for a permit to build a tent city at County Hall, at 111 NW First St. in downtown Miami. The objecitve is to highlight the crisis of gentrification and low-income housing and the role the Miami-Dade County government has played in exacerbating that crisis. A similar tent city was put up in September 2006 by the Emergency Housing Coalition to protest the same.

The County, however, does NOT want the Week of Action or Take Back the Land to erect a tent city.

Building manager Carol Dickson, who is responsible for granting such protest permits on county property insists that only two groups are eligible for those permits: 501(c)3 organizations (federally recognized non-profits) or those sponsored by the county or a county commissioner (which means groups who protest in favor of the government). That means in Miami-Dade County, non-human compilations of professionally organized paperwork have a greater right to free speech and petitioning the government than you do.

In addition, Dickson wants to charge for insurance, security and janitorial services. Free speech is not so free. She has also ignored the request for a copy of the regulations which govern these permits.

The ACLU is on the case, but we need your help! Please, call Carol Dickson and tell her to stop stalling and grant us our permit. Call the new strong mayor Carlos Alvarez and tell him to show his strength by supporting peoples right to free speech. Call your commissioner and tell them that people have a right to protest.

If the County does not want us to protest the housing scandal, then they should stop stealing the housing money and do their jobs instead of denying people their right to protest. This impacts us today, but if unchecked, it will impact YOU tomorrow!

Carlos Alvarez, Miami-Dade County Mayor, 305-375-5071, mayor@miamidade.gov
Carol Dickson, Building Manager, 305-375-2616, dickson@miamidade.gov
 
Here is the Miami New Times story on our permit fight.

Please support the work of Take Back the Land and the Umoja Village by dropping off a donation of money, bottled water, canned meat, dish soap, bleach, food and anything else needed to run your own household, at the Umoja Village on the corner of 62nd St. and NW 17th Ave. Of course, you can always make a much needed financial contribution donation via our paypal account: Make a Financial Contribution.

forward,

Max Rameau
Take Back the Land
a project of the Center for Pan-African Development
takebacktheland.blogspot.com

Time.com on Shantytown

Greetings:

This busy week for the Umoja Village Shantytown is capped by a story on Time.com.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1580473,00.html

This national spotlight on the crisis of gentrification and low-income housing in Miami-Dade County is important, especially as the powers-that-be try to polish the image of South Florida as a trouble free playground. We cannot allow the illusion of glamour and glitz to dominate the reality of poverty and public corruption. Local governments- particularly Miami-Dade County- are largely responsible for making South Florida the least affordable area in the country.

Worse still, the Board of County Commissioners have displayed no shame or remorse about their own role in exacerbating the crisis. The BCC, especially the Black commissioners, on the one hand are telling us that we need balance in government and therefore, we should allow them to keep their powers, while they use the other hand to vote for sweetheart deals for their developer friends and contributors. What is the point in having strong commissioner representation and power if they only use that power to benefit developers, not the community they are supposed to represent? If you are getting gentrified out of your neighborhood and not getting any jobs, does it really matter if the cause is a corrupt mayor or a corrupt commission?

Dorrin Rolle wants us to vote to defend his power, but he has only used his power to dislocate thousands of poor people from their homes and delay rebuilding. You don't hear many developers complaining about him, though. He wants us to defend him, but far from defending us, he sold us out, and the other commissioners followed gleefully. So, while most people think the real question is should powerful lobbyists have to bribe one official or 13, the real question actually is

Finally, early next week watch for the calander of events for the Week of Action Against Gentrification and for Low-Income Housing. The Week of Action will take place between January 29th and February 3, 2007, also known as Superbowl week.

Please support the work of Take Back the Land and the Umoja Village by dropping off a donation of money, bottled water, canned meat, dish soap, bleach, food and anything else needed to run your own household, at the Umoja Village on the corner of 62nd St. and NW 17th Ave. Of course, you can always make a much needed donation via our paypal account:
Take Back the Land Paypal Donation

forward,

Max Rameau
Take Back the Land
a project of the Center for Pan-African Development
takebacktheland.blogspot.com

Umoja Village on NY Times

Greetings:

The link below is the New York Times (yes, that NY Times) story on the Umoja Village Shantytown in Liberty City:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/us/16umoja.html?ex=1169614800&en=e4e7c717c2560a57&ei=5070&emc=eta1

The Umoja Village Shantytown was started on October 23, 2006 in response to the crisis of gentrification and lack of low-income housing and the local government's role- particularly Miami-Dade County- in exacerbating the crisis. Bad public policy and the outright stealing of money earmarked for the poor by Miami-Dade County  has made a bad situation worse. A group, calling itself Take Back the Land, took control over a vacant public land, which formerly housed a low rent apartment building, and built a full-blown shantytown in the US. There are currently over 40 residents who sleep and eat there.

The shantytown is protected by the landmark Pottinger Settlment, in which the city of Miami conceeded that it was not a crime to be homeless. Therefore, anyone who is homeless, when there are no free shelter beds (which is everyday), and on public land, cannot be arrested for engaging in "life sustaining conduct," such as eating, sleeping, bathing, responding to calls of nature and building "temporary structures" to protect one from the elements.

A key component of this model is that the residents must run their own village, doing most of the work, providing security and making decisions through consensus during group meetings.

In addition, check the newest Youtube.com documentary on the shantytown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJnafqFm3-s

Visit our blog for all of the latest updates, including a new media coverage list:
takebacktheland.blogspot.com

Of course, you can always make a much needed donation via our paypal account:
Take Back the Land Paypal Donation

forward,

Max Rameau
Take Back the Land
a project of the Center for Pan-African Development
takebacktheland.blogspot.com

Rally at Umoja Village Shantytown

Greetings:

On Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 6:00pm, everyone is invited to a rally against Gentrification and for Low-Income Housing for all at the Umoja Village Shantytown, on the corner of 62nd St. and NW 17th Ave., in the Liberty City section of Miami, FL.

As you know, because of overwhelming community support, the city of Miami has pulled the anti-shantytown ordinance from its agenda. We invite everyone to join us to celebrate today and prepare to resume work tomorrow.

At the rally, meet other supporters of the shantytown and others in the fight for low-income housing. Hear from other organizations and get involved in the movement for social justice. We will also announce plans for a Week of Action Against Gentrification and for Low-Income Housing, set for January 29th through February 3rd, also known as Superbowl week.  While Miami-Dade County wants to maintain the illusion of glamour and glitz, many of us are forced to deal with the reality of poverty and government corruption. During Superbowl week, everyone will be reminded of the reality.

The Umoja Village was founded on October 23, 2006 in response to the crisis of gentrification and affordable housing and the government's role- especially Miami-Dade County- in creating that crisis. The Shantytown currently houses and feeds over 40 otherwise homeless people.

We are asking everyone who can to come with a side dish (rice, potato salad, fruits, veggies, anything) and a donation of some sort (money, bottled water, clothes, canned food, blankets, hand soap, paper plates, plastic forks, etc.). The village runs entirely from donations, so you can write a check to 'Take Back the Land' or make a paypal payment by clicking here.

forward,

Max Rameau
Take Back the Land
a project of the Center for Pan-African Development
takebacktheland.blogspot.com

Victory for Umoja Village Shantytown!

Anti-shantytown ordinance is pulled, will not be voted on

After initially sponsoring the item, city commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones pulled the "anti-shantytown" ordinance from the January 11 agenda. This means the new law will not be voted on and, therefore, the Umoja Village Shantytown is safe- for now.

Take Back the Land is organizing a press conference to announce the legal victory and next steps. The press conference is scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2007, beginning at 4:00pm at the Umoja Village, on the corner of 62^nd St. and NW 17^th Ave. in the Liberty City section of Miami. We will also host a rally at the Umoja Village on Thursday night at 6:00pm. See details at the end of this message.

There is no two ways about it: this is a clear and major victory for Take Back the Land and our supporters. This item was pulled due to the tremendous and overwhelming opposition to the ordinance. We thank each and every one of you for your support, calls, emails, petition signatures, support and contributions of time, goods and money.

WE WON THE BATTLE, BUT THE WAR IS NOT OVER! The ordinance was pulled, but it was not voted down. As such, it can be revived at any time in the future, or different tactics can be used to try to bring down the village.  Our support network and legal team remain intact and ready to activate.

In response to the crisis in gentrification and low-income housing, and the role local government policies and corruption played in exacerbating that crisis, on October 23, 2006, several organizations and individuals took control over the vacant publicly owned lot on the corner of 62nd St. and NW 17th  Ave. in Liberty City. Using the legal protections afforded in the landmark Pottinger Settlement, the Umoja Village currently houses and feeds over 40 otherwise homeless people in wood frame shanties.

Acknowledging our legal rights to the land, the Miami city attorney crafted the ordinance to outlaw "assemblies" of any size on vacant public lots. In addition to restricting the public's right to free assembly, the ordinance would have, theoretically, outlawed the shantytown and set up a showdown and potential raid of the village.

The pulled item allows Take Back the Land to refocus energies on improve the quality of life for residents of the Umoja Village and taking on new initiatives, some of which will be discussed at the press conference on Monday and rally on Thursday. Please come to the events and check your email for important updates.

In recognition of this new development, Take Back the Land is hosting a celebration rally on the day the vote was to take place. On Thursday, January 11^th, 2007, at 6:00pm, at the Umoja Village, we rally in celebration of our victory and continue our march forward. We ask that you bring a side dish to share and bring a donation to the village, such as money, bottled water, canned meat, blankets, dish soap, bleach, large trash bags (39 gallons or larger), clothes and money. All are invited and welcome, so come rally in support of the village, against gentrification and for housing for all and celebrate our victory- YOUR victory- with us on Thursday.

Take Back the Land runs entirely off of donations, so please contribute generously in person or by donating online via a secure paypal payment.

Forward,

 
Max Rameau
Take Back the Land
A project of the Center for Pan-African Development
Takebacktheland.blogspot.com

 

 

Shantytown Support Grows

Greetings:

As you are aware, the Umoja Village Shantytown, home to about 40 otherwise homeless people is under raid-watch. On January 11, 2007 the City of Miami Commission will vote on a new ordinance which would outlaw the shantytown. In classic Miami style politics, when the housing crisis boils over, instead of passing a law which deals with housing, they are passing a law to keep us from talking about the housing crisis.

As we build our campaign to fight this overt attack on the shantytown and the continuation of cruel policies against the poor and homeless, we are picking up support. Check out these stories:

Editorial from local journalist Kathie Klarreich

Miami Commissioner Regalado Supports Shantytown and will Face Arrest in Support (CBS 4 News Video)

Daniel Ricker's Watchdog Report on Commissioner Regalado's Support for the Umoja Village Shantytown

Open Letter to Miami Commissioners from South Florida Peace & Justice Coalition

Again, we urge you to do four things:

1. Sign our petition . Either online or in person, sign the petition to oppose this ordinance and other attempts to raid the shantytown.

2. Contact Miami Commissioners and Mayor and tell them to vote 'NO' on the anti-shantytown ordinance. Below are the ones who support the ordinance, so we must change their votes:
Mayor Manny Diaz (tell him to veto the anti-shantytown law)
phone: 305-250-5300    fax: 305-854-4001     email: mannydiaz@ci.miami.fl.us

District 5 Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones
phone: 305-250-5390     fax: 305-250-5399     email: mspence@ci.miami.fl.us

District 1 Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
phone: 305-250-5430     email: agonzalez@ci.miami.fl.us

District 3 Commissioner Joe Sanchez
phone: 305-250-5380     fax: 305-250-5386     email: jsanchez@ci.miami.fl.us

3. Speak out on January 11, 2007. The city commission will vote on the ordinance. Come make your voice heard by speaking at the commission meeting. Start time will be posted on our blog ( takebacktheland.blogspot.com) early next week.

4. Make a financial contribution to the shantytown. We need funds to keep housing and feeding people for free, as well as run our campaigns. Please contribute generously. Payments are made through paypal.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

forward,

Max Rameau
Take Back the Land
a project of the Center for Pan-African Development
takebacktheland.blogspot.com