Meet the Sad Face of Brooklyn Gentrification's Human Toll

[Photo courtesy of UNO]

We came across this on the blog started by UNO (United Neighbors Organization), which is working to protect tenants from displacement and eviction in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. The picture touched our hearts--as it was certainly intended to do. No to be dramatic or emotional, but it simply breaks our hearts that a 90-year-old woman would have to grapple with losing her home of 50 years. Every day, we see something that makes us say that there is something very, very, very wrong with the New York City of the early 21st Century. That "something" generally has to do with deprivation and struggles that we see in a city with so much mindboggling affluence. The other night, it was a group of children on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope. They were probably six to twelve years old, and out by themselves. A girl, who was 10 or 12 was "in charge." They were loud and a little rowdy and were trying to pool together some money for a slice of pizza. It upset us to see children that young out on their own, pretty much scrounging for food in a neighborhood where spoiled and pampered children can be found in abundance.

Today's sad story (and it's still so very early) is that of Marie Tinghitella. Here it is from the UNO blog:

Her name is Marie Tinghitella a 90 year old resident of Williamsburg. She just received a Marshals Notice of Eviction to vacate the apartment that she called home for the past 50 years.

With the Support of UNO, Saint Nicholas and Legal Aid for the Aging she was able to vacate the eviction notice for a couple months while she can find an affordable and decent place to leave, and hopefully in the community that she call home: Williamsburg.

According to our records, at least one Senior Citizen a month is displaced or is facing harassment from their landlord.

If you want to get more information on tenant’s rights or know a senior that is facing harassment please call us at 718-388-5454 xt. 123 or xt 107.

When we look at that face, we see a thousand grandmothers, including our own. It is so, so, so wrong.