By HarlemGuy<\/p>\n
I came across a story that I had not yet heard, about a London based real estate company that invested in East Harlem a few years ago.\u00a0 As soon as the purchase was consummated they apparently started a campaign to push renters out of their places.\u00a0 Which means they let the apartments and the building and the quality of lives of the people living there deteriorate.\u00a0 Meanwhile the executive purchased fancy artwork and yachts and paid themselves handsomely.\u00a0 And then they went broke.\u00a0 Leaving the residents in perhaps more dire straights than they had been before the bust.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The article quotes the City’s response as follows: “The city said it is monitoring conditions in the buildings. So far, officials said, the financial distress has not translated into wholesale physical distress.”<\/em>\u00a0 But one wonders who is monitoring the distress of the people living in those buildings this holiday season?<\/p>\n Our fellow neighbors, friends and families are in pain.\u00a0 Let’s figure out how we can give them a hand.\u00a0 Perhaps by spreading the word.\u00a0 Providing\u00a0a service.\u00a0 Lending a hand.\u00a0 Wielding some influence.\u00a0\u00a0 Dropping off some clothes.\u00a0 Food.\u00a0 Perhaps a toy?\u00a0 Anything.\u00a0 If you can think of something anyone can do, call – or something that you have done that others can emulate, post a comment with the details, so others may follow.\u00a0 Especially with the holidays upon us.\u00a0 Those parents deserve better.\u00a0 Those kids even more especially.<\/p>\n I leave you with the final paragraph of the article:<\/p>\n “Meanwhile, tenants still carry some share of envy toward their London landlords. They talk sometimes about how they would have used the fortunes that Dawnay Day executives spent on yachts and art collections. As Mr. Rufiles cuddles his 4-year-old daughter and rats squeak faintly from his kitchen cabinet, he marvels at the habits of the rich.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I would do with money is buy clothes for my children,\u201d he said.”<\/p>\n I’m not sure I agree that what they carry is envy.\u00a0<\/p>\n In any event surely we can – and must do better than this.<\/p>\n