At least nine community members from Inwood and East Harlem were arrested for protesting the rezoning of their neighborhoods. They were blocking the intersection of Dyckman Street and Broadway for 15 minutes while a crowd of residents and locals gathered.
The arrest marked the end of a march that began at the 1 train station on Dyckman and ended at an Inwood garden, which would be the site of a night-long protest. The members arrested were released within a day. Unfortunately, the rezoning plan has since been approved.
After all of the protesting and demonstrations, including and picketing on the steps of City Hall, dozens who gathered to oppose the Inwood rezoning proposal were escorted out of Council Chambers shortly before lawmakers approved the plan.
The Council voted on Wednesday in favor of the city Economic Development Corporation’s plan to allow larger, residential buildings in Inwood. The changes will be focused on industrial areas and will use up to $200 million for local parks, street improvements and other investments.
Lawmakers were confident in their vote despite protesters, who chanted, “Vote no” and threw fake money onto the Council floor. The disruption caused the City Council Speaker to order security to clear out the balcony.
Source: http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2018/aug/09/community-members-arrested-protesting-inwood-rezon/
Source: https://www.amny.com/real-estate/inwood-rezoning-protests-1.20364324
