THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
of the Urban
Dear Friends:
I'm writing to ask once more for your support for our work on behalf of grassroots organizations in low-income NYC communities, and to thank those of you who have already generously donated. This year, CDP has provided crucial support to community organizations in their campaigns against gentrification, negligent landlords, abusive employers, predatory lenders and debt buyers, ruthless developers and many other individuals and entities that affect their homes, neighborhoods and livelihoods. Some of the highlights of our work in 2010 include:
- Providing free legal services to more than 2,000 low-income New Yorkers, all in collaboration with grassroots groups that are organizing communities around these issues.
- Filing suit against JP Morgan Chase for trying to foreclose on three low-income homeowners in Queens after promising them permanent loan modifications. Chase agreed to the modifications after the lawsuit generated unflattering press coverage in such publications as The Wall Street Journal , The Nation and The Huffington Post .
- Seeing the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights signed into law, culminating 6 years of advocacy and organizing in collaboration with domestic workers' groups both state- and citywide.
- Producing six community-driven reports in collaboration with grassroots organizing groups, on topics as diverse as gentrification, harm reduction, labor rights for domestic workers, public housing, and a grassroots vision for development in the South Bronx.
- Winning $3.1 million in judgments and settlements for 72 low-wage workers whose employers committee numerous labor violations, including stealing tips and failing to pay minimum wage and overtime.
- Releasing a report in collaboration with community and legal organizations that shows how debt buyers prey on low-income New Yorkers by abusing the legal system to extract billions of dollars in judgments without having proof of their claims.
- Spearheading the formation of the NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives, which brings together member groups every month to discuss licensing, incorporation and governance. CDP has also contributed to a forthcoming handbook on legal issues affecting worker cooperatives.
None of this work is possible without the help of our generous donors and supporters. We hope you will consider making a donation to support these important efforts on behalf of low-income New Yorkers. You can give online via credit card at www.urbanjustice.kintera.org/cdp , or by sending a check using the form at the end of this email. As always, you can visit our website at www.urbanjustice.org/cdp or contact us directly to learn more about our work and about opportunities to participate as a pro bono attorney or volunteer. Finally, if you'd like more regular updates on our work, please consider subscribing to our Community Development Update emails at http://urbanjustice.kintera.org/CDU .
As always, thank you for your support, and we look forward to sharing more about our work in the coming year.
In solidarity,
Harvey Epstein
CDP Director
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Mail to: Urban Justice Center
Community Development Project
123 William Street, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10038
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