This month’s episode features the first part of a two-hour discussion on There Goes the Neighborhood, “a feature-length documentary about the people’s fight to save New York City– three years in the making”. AAD is joined by filmmaker Ian Phillips and housing justice organizers Arnette Scott and Dannelly Rodriguez, both of whom are featured in the documentary. Dannelly and Arnette are, respectively, key members of the successful fight against Amazon HQ2 in Queens and the current ‘No Towers, No Compromise’ campaign against a luxury residential development in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Listen for a behind-the-scenes look into the making of There Goes the Neighborhood and a thought-provoking reflection on the state of affordable housing in New York City.
Art Against Displacement ยท There Goes the Neighborhood Documentary Interview, Part 1 (AAD on Montez Press Radio)
Ian Phillips was born and raised in New York City, where he studied filmmaking at the School of Visual Arts. His first Feature Documentary “Coach Jake” premiered at the Urbanworld Film Festival in September of 2017 and was distributed by First Fun Features. @ianewyork
Dannelly Rodriguez is from Astoria, Queens New York. He is an activist lawyer and organizer for his community. He fights everyday to ensure the liberation and empowerment of all oppressed peoples through lawyering and community building. @dannelly.rodriguez
Arnette C. Scott is a Longtime Lower East Side resident and Community Advocate. Current sitting executive board member for the District One Community Education Council and newly appointed member of the Community Board 3, which covers the Lower East Side. I am passionate about my Community and empowering my community with civic knowledge. @blackvoiceslowermanhattan
Based in Manhattan’s Chinatown and Lower East Side, Art Against Displacement is a coalition of artists and arts workers that seeks to amplify the demands of those whose lives and livelihoods are placed at risk by predatory development and resettlement, and to work in solidarity with grassroots organizations toward community-led rezoning. The group affirms that gentrification is not an inevitable effect of urban development, and refuses to let the work of cultural producers be instrumentalized towards the displacement of long-term residents and businesses. @aad.nyc