Schyla Pondexter-Moore – United States (b.1977)
Washington, DC
Tenacity, bonhomie, Pondexter-Moore, DC Housing Authority.
2012
In 2010 the DC Housing Authority informed tenants of Highland Dwellings that they would be undergoing “complete, substantial, modernization” requiring all tenants to move out immediately. The temporariness of the displacement was highly suspect to Pondexter-Moore. After researching Hope VI, discovering the scope of the actual displacement that the plan entailed, Ms. Pondexter-Moore took action, founding Highland Together We Stand. Over a year of legal battles ended in 2012, with secure housing for the tenants of Highland.
http://www.grassrootsdc.org/2012/11/gentrification-stops-here/
San Francisco, CA
Stop Jack Spade Commission, San Francisco Board of Appeals, a “Jack Off” event, and a retail clothing chain.
2013
Well into the gentrification process occurring in the Mission District of San Francisco, several community groups were still able to ban together to stop the opening of the retail chain outlet, Jack Spade. The grassroots activism effort was spearheaded by the Stop Jack Spade Coalition, with support from several local politicians including Chris Hwang. In 2009 the neighborhood was able to block American Apparel’s bid to move in, as well. These debates are a clear “indication of a powerful alliance ready to fight all future formula retail invaders.”
https://fireworksbayarea.com/newswire/activists-score-big-victory-as-jack-spade-gives-up-on-the-mission/ – http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2013/10/11/jack-spade-decides-not-to-pursue-s-f-mission-district-location/ – http://missionlocal.org/2014/01/chain-fight-postmortem-how-jack-spade-changed-the-formula-retail-conversation/
London, UK
Mayor Boris Johnson, Westbrook Partners, New Era residents.
2014
London mayor Boris Johnson consistently nudged, urged and otherwise bothered the U.S.-owned, multi-billion dollar asset firm Westbrook Partners on the behalf of New Era residents. His involvement came after the residents were notified of a looming pre-Christmas eviction. The residents turned their pleas into a 350,000-signature petition, aided with the media attention of famous comedian Russell Brand. The extensive hoopla resulted in Westbrook’s resignation of their plan to raise rents to triple the rate of some current tenants. Instead, amazingly, Westbrook agreed to sell the New Era estate to an affordable housing charity, ensuring rent stability for the current residents.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/12/19/new-era-housing.html
California, USA
Numerous electronic ballots, Coalition for Economic Survival, Proposition 98 + 99, Tenants Together.
2008
Proposition 98 would have amended California’s constitution to ban rent control, although the anti-rent control rhetoric was intentionally camouflaged. As such, the proposition read as though it were only out to oppose eminent domain.
In response, statewide organizations coalesced their prowess to wage a successful, two-pronged campaign. They created Proposition 99, which also opposed eminent domain while maintaining rent control. Simultaneously they informed and turned out voters with their message: No 98/YES 99. Their efforts paid off with a landslide victory.
The President of the California League of Conservation Voters board summed up the situation neatly in the Los Angeles Times, “Despite the fact that landlords spent nearly $8 million to fool the voters about Prop 98, the voters once again showed that they see these cheesy schemes for what they are. Hopefully, this will send a strong signal to others that the voters have little tolerance for dishonest tactics.”1.
1. Dreier, Peter. “Californians Defend Rent Control” Rooflines. 2008. http://www.rooflines.org/941/californians_defend_rent_control/
erin christine bell 