Welcome to Harlem’s Newsletter
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Black Parade Harlem
A great video with amazing production values and choreography is out from HarlemParade.org Harlem Parade notes that: The Harlem Parade initiative launched via HARLEMPARADE.ORG on September 17, 2020 with an innovative protest art video – Black Parade Harlem. Led by Harlem native and principal dancer for Beyoncé, Dnay Baptiste, and Founder and Creative Director that produce unique content and event…
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Nieuwe Haarlem > Lancaster > Harlem
Harlem has, since the Dutch settlement of Manhattan, been known by 3 names. Nieuwe Haarlem, Lancaster, and Harlem. The name Lancaster was imposed (unsuccessfully) by Richard Nicholls, the governor of New York, in 1666, during the brief period between May 1688 and April 1689, during which New York was part of the Dominion of New…
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WTF Should I Do?
Living in a blue corner of a reliably blue state can be frustrating when looking at the electoral college system which rewards states that seem to have more cows than people. DemCast is a great outlet for the “WTF can I do?” question that bedevils many of us who would like to engage in this…
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What Now? (After the storm)
After Hurricane (or Tropical Storm) Isaias tore through New York City, the city, businesses, utilities, and neighbors have all been struggling to deal with the loss of mature trees. This tree on Randall’s Island (just over the 103st Bridge) is one example: Before the storm and before COVID, the city had been marking-up, grinding out,…
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Schools+COVID+Apps…
For everyone, not just families with children, the potential for schools to be vectors for the explosion of winter COVID cases is huge. The DoE has a useful map to help everyone, but parents in particular, learn about COVID impacted schools. 🔴 A red dot indicates a building that has been closed. 🔵 A blue…
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Credit Union
If you’ve ever considered putting your money in a Credit Union, the LES People’s Credit Union which has for years worked out of the Union Settlement House on East 104th Street, is moving closer to us at the north-west corner of 117th and 2nd Avenue. The credit union has low fees, flexible terms, and is…
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Cleaner police garage on 118 St and Park
Inspired by the discussion in HBNA’s September meeting, the folks on the block of 118 Street and Park helped clean up the pile of trash in the police garage under the metro north rail. The trash picked up completely fill one large trash bag. Please help to keep the area clean for our children and…
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1619 and 1658
The New York Times and its 1619 Project has brought forward the centrality of Black Americans to United States history to many of its readers and beyond. The core thesis of the 1619 Project: “aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very…
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2020 Debate Tonight!
A number of HNBA members had a great time in June of 2019 when we joined the first night of the Presidential Primary Debates in Harlem, NYC. Tonight it’s the (first) Election 2020 debate! Instagram: @newyorkforbiden2020 / Facebook: @newyorkforbiden / Twitter: @newyorkforbidenhttps://www.mobilize.us/joebiden/event/331934/ Our democracy, humanity, and sanity are on the ballot this November. #NewYorkStrong #ItsUpToUs Cemeteries of…
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Dutch Open Urinals and Planters
A Dutch company is marketing an open air urinal that also functions as a planter while reducing the urine to water and fertizer. The idea is that men are already peeing in the open – next to planters, in doorways, between cars – and perhaps this would alleviate some of the issues. The installation of…
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New FOIL Data from OASAS
In August I submitted a FOIL request to OASAS, the NYS agency that licenses every single addiction program in New York State (and who refuses to meet with HNBA, State Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez, or The Greater Harlem Coalition…) in order to discuss their decades-long practice of locating addiction programs in Black and Latinx majority…
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19th Century Views of East Harlem
Some of the images of East Harlem’s shanty towns that were soon swallowed by the grid and development, are remarkably striking. This one is from 1870: And is looking at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 117th Street. This photo (above) is not located, but dated 1894 and called East Harlem Shanty town. Debate Watch…