Take Back Gowanus
A Truly Democratic Community Led Forum on the Future of Gowanus This Wednesday!
Please join your neighbors this Wednesday and let's show our elected officials what democracy really looks like.
Take Back Gowanus!
Wednesday, July 9th, 2014
at 7pm at the Green Building,
452 Union Street at Bond
Brooklyn
From the ever-eloquent PMFA Blog:
"A consortium of several neighborhood groups that include Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus, Voice Of Gowanus, Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development, and Save Kentile, have organized a "Take Back Gowanus" forum on Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 at 7pm at the Green Building, 452 Union Street at Bond.
The purpose of the meeting is to bring local residents, business owners, and manufacturers together for a true democratic discussion on the future of Gowanus. The goal of "Take Back Gowanus" is to create a manifesto of what the community wants to see in the neighborhood they live and work in.
The need for such a forum arose from the dissatisfaction and suspicion felt by many who have attended "Bridging Gowanus" community planning meetings convened by Council Member Brad Lander together with several other local elected officials...
The year-long process was touted as a real chance for community stakeholders to jointly shape a vision for the future of the neighborhood.
In reality, the "Bridging Gowanus" community meetings have been highly curated affairs, seemingly designed to divide stakeholders at small group tables, making a more inclusionary discussion impossible. Facilitators at each table stuck to rigid scripts that seemed expressly designed to get specific comments and a pre-determined outcome.
That outcome likely will involve changing the zoning of much of the area from manufacturing to mixed-use which will allow developers to build more housing along the Gowanus Canal.
"Take Back Gowanus", on the other hand, will allow the community to engage in a real, honest conversation and to demand a real collaboration between our community and the City of New York.
Please join your neighbors this Wednesday and let's show our elected officials what democracy really looks like.
