getting deeper...

and deeper into the "activist" game (not a great way to put it), cityboy finds himself swamped with commitments over the next few days---all of which involve BAN. Well, come on, cityboy, the march is on September 9---you are getting closer and closer to it---what do you expect? But the intensity...?
Maybe a little too heated for you--nevertheless, we are putting our "feet to the fire...so to speak.
    Last night, I could not make the vigil on Throop and Gates, a little too tired for that, so I went straight to the Crown Heights Tenants Association meeting to present the BAN march, and ask for the Tenants Union to join in sponsoring it. An affable group, mostly white, at last night's meeting--BAN did not speak until the middle of the meeting, so I got a chance to listen to some other issues---this group is really focusing on the Bedford-Union Armory project---that is on stopping it in its current form. They are following every move made by the current City Council Person, whom, they feel, supports it, even if she has pulled back a little because she is fighting for her re-election. They are ON TOP OF IT.  Finally, BAN got its chance to speak around 8:20. Zakiyah, (the lead presenter) Mike and myself, made some statements and answered some questions, but essentially it was an easy vote. That having been accomplished, I left the building, which fronted on Classon Avenue, the very avenue that the bus to take me to Brooklyn was on. It came quickly and I was soon on Lorimer Avenue and Broadway, not far from South Fourth. When I arrived, my friend Molly, an activist in Williamsburg and her husband, Beck, were at the bar; I showed them the flyer for the march, and they became very interested---Molly promised to bring much of her group to the march in solidarity, and hopefully will join the meeting on Monday as we make preparations for the march. I left feeling very pleased, but a little bit over-defined--as I still feel now. But somehow this commitment and this group which every day I am more and more a part of, is defining me more and more. It continues tonight at JACK for a movie and discussion, and then tomorrow, when I go to the Bronx (Jerome Avenue and 167 street---an area with a lot of meaning for me) for a forum about changes there, and to distribute flyers, then I hope to go to the Bronx Documentary Project to leave some flyers there and also participate in a discussion with an author. (Her subject is not gentrification but it should be interesting.) Sunday is the "practice march" with several BAN members, not sure if I will go or not---it will depend how I feel Sunday morning, and then the planning meeting on Monday.
   Two more weeks, exactly to the plane ride to Long Beach, and then my niece's wedding on Sunday the 3rd. Even as all of the above happens, I am very aware of time closing in. After Wednesday, I hope I can see Pipeline and For Peter Pan etc. at least those two theater works, and maybe a last look at Natasha and Pierre, the following week. Any movies---there are some I should see---well, maybe I will have a report for tomorrow.