—URGENT—URGENT—URGENT—

We just received an update this afternoon that NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will issue a list of sites that are slated for development on Monday January 12, 2015.  HPD confirmed that some of the sites that have been selected do currently have interim use activity happening on them (“interim use activity” often/usually means community gardens).  Currently only 6% of HPD’s approximately 1,000 vacant lots have gardens.  We strongly feel, therefore, that with over 900 vacant lots representing 94% of HPD’s inventory of available land, there is no reason to have the destruction of even one community garden on the table.

What we are doing: We have previously raised the issue of the vulnerability of the lot with elected officials.  We have made the office of Council Member Inez Dickens (our local representative) aware of this issue late last year, and contacted her office again today, 1/9/2015.   We have also discussed this issue with Council Member Mark Levine (Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Parks and Recreation) as well.

What you can do: To start, it’s important to immediately contact the office of Council Member Inez Dickens.  Please send an email to us immediately at electricladybuggarden@gmail.com and we will send you the proper contact information (email and phone number) along with simple draft text to include.  Speak up and let them know that we are watching, and we want the City to preserve our garden for the community!  And don’t forget to “Like” our Facebook page here to get updates on what happens next!