Encampment:
When: Join us Afternoon Sunday October 26th through the Morning of
Monday October 27th to stand for our community gardens! Every morning
from then a strong protective presence is essential to preserve the garden.
Where: 3138 Park Avenue between 159th & 160th
161, Yankee stadium 4 & D train or 149th and Third Avenue 2&5 train
call cell 917-518-9987 for more info or questions
What:
Morrisainia Senior Citizen community garden
3138 Park Avenue between 159th & 160th
Garden Contact Person: Mr. Randoliver Lebron 718-992-3689
Threat of Bulldozer
One of the South Bronx United Gardeners, Mr. Lebron (88 years young) of the
Morisainia Senior Citizen Garden on Park Avenue was told that all
belongings were to be removed from the garden by Monday because the
community garden was to be bulldozed.
No official letter, no real time lines or alternatives were offered
which is a pattern of short sighted city agencies.
Mr. Lebron was approached by a group of people (developers?) on Saturday
October 18th, who he welcomed in to the community garden. They preceded
to take measurements and left. On Wednesday October 22nd a European
American male in his sixties, possibly working for a NYC agency
approached Mr. Lebron and gave him the ultimatum
to get out by Monday October 27th. The man also said he did not care
that Mr. Lebron and other elder tenants had gardened for 14 years, that
the garden feeds many senior citizens or that Mr. Lebron worked for the
NYCHA's Morisainia Tenant Patrol for 25 years. He stressed that all
possessions be removed from the garden by Monday morning when the
bulldozer is going to knock down everything.
To Do:
1. Come to the garden and help especially Sunday the 26th
2. Phone Calls to make a difference:
Help over 20 community Gardens in the South Bronx. Call Nos Quedamos'
director Yolanda Garcia, phone # 718 585 2323. Thank her for starting a
dialogue to make All the Melrose Community Gardens Permanent side by
side with real affordable housing! - Tell her to support the Morrisainia
Senior Citizen Garden, and KEEP the Rincon Criollo Community Gardeners
WHERE she is.
Also please call Councilmember Serrano (718) 402-6130 tell him to help
negotiate the Morrisainia Senior Citizen Garden and keep her permanent,
that he has the power to tell HPD what the people want and to make all
the endangered community gardens especially the beloved Rincon Criollo
and Jardin Criollo permanent "where they are"! Tell him we are counting
on his leadership and action.
History:
For fourteen years, Sr. Lebron of the South Bronx has run the
Morrisainia Senior Citizen community garden in the Melrose section of
the South Bronx. It is a GreenThumb garden which has gone out of
tracking due to unknown reasons. Next door is a fire station now used
for Emergency Medical Services and across the street is the Morrisainia
Senior Citizen residence. The community garden is blooming with life and
greenery even as the cold of winter begins to set in in New York City.
Rows of basil, eggplant, red and green peppers, tomatoes, okra, pumpkin,
sunflowers, and carrots sprout up like green gems in the midst of high
rises and concrete. A humble tool shed gives shelter to gardening
tools, buckets, a folding chair, and - somewhat surprisingly - several
wheelchairs and walkers.
"I get them from my building," Mr. Lebron explains. At a deceptive 88
years of age himself, Mr. Lebron seems far from needing any of these
things himself. "When someone dies and leaves a wheelchair or walker
the building manager gives them to me and I store them here in the
garden. Then when someone else needs one they know I have them here.
" Seniors in the community know Mr. Lebron gives out wheelchairs and
walkers, and for many without adequate medical care, he is a vital
source in the neighborhood. The garden's role goes beyond that of
storage space for medical equipment, however. Community members (and
especially seniors) come to the garden for companionship, social
events, respite from the harsh atmosphere of the urban environment, and
- very significantly - they come to the garden for food. "I'm here
almost every day from 6 o'clock in the morning on," Mr. Lebron
commented. "Everyone knows I'm here. They know they can come get
food." His role in the community has been pivotal around the community
garden, and reflective on the mutual, interdependent relationship
between Mr. Lebron and his neighbors. The fire station / EMT next door
has always been supportive of Mr. Lebron and his garden, helping him
along the way with the water hose.
Facts:
There are many empty lots which are not community gardens and do not
serve a large population of senior citizens. No effort was made to thank
Mr, Lebron for his 14 years of volunteer community service and to push
for his garden to be made permanent.
Housing is a must and those for the low income and homeless are what the
gardeners been fighting for. There are now vast fields newly built
prepared, leggo style, concrete box, Partnership housing. They are
wasting much needed units of housing with only 3 floors. Each unit
costing $300,000 each to own does not come close to serving the real
housing needs of the neighborhood with a $14000 median income. Build
higher, keep the gardens, and make housing for the needs of the
neighborhood residents.
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The More Gardens! Coalition is a group of community people, gardeners,
and environmental and social justice activists committed to revitalizing
and enhancing existing community gardens and making more gardens!
Questions, Donations, and Help Call 212 533 8019 & www.moregardens.org
