12/25/2008 The Sankofa Expeirience Radio Talk Show hosted by Brian E. Muhammad with guest Philip Muhammad, Founder of F.R.U.A. & Jacques Leandre,City Council Candidate-District 31, NY - A look at Far Rockaway,NY. & the problem of urban renewal & the ugly methods used to take back the inner cities from the people.
What is F.R.U.A?
The Far Rockaway Under Attack Foundation othewise known as F.R.U.A. is a non-for profit philanthropy. F.R.U.A. provides an array of programs and resources for the communities in which we serve. We do not believe in providing services to aid in the effects of ill treatments without taking a step towards making a change which will prevent problems which result in a need for programs which help heal the wounds of a community. Riding the community of the causes which allow gentrification and other forms of inhumane and tactical activities to destabilize poor residential communities are of our highest concerns. Our focus at this time is in the area of Far Rockaway Queens along Beach Channel Drive where the ill effects of deprivation induced by such ongoing processes are at an all time high.
These conditions have given rise to climbing death tolls and shattered dreams of our many hopeful youth. This community is crying out for assistance. With your help we can now take action. We have several programs which we offer to community centers of housing projects which can be incorporated to assist in bridging the gap between the youth and available resources which are needed to insure services are provided.
F.R.U.A. Manhood and Womanhood Training Programs
Our Manhood and Womanhood classes address the needs of the community in particular the youth. Our certified staff members are able to provide the best in training. These programs are designed to help prepare our youth for the future in order that they would be able to provide for their families and protect the stability of their communities. F.R.U.A.'s employment outreach system provides links to job opportunities for young adults ranging from 16 years old to 24.
In order to raise awareness and funding for our organization we have extended our services by making them available to also to and for community centers, schools, and other youth orientated establishments of the 5 boroughs of New York City.
Our current programs include the following:
Our Long Term commitment to providing services will include the "hopeful" construction of a new facility in the neighborhood of Far Rockaway Queen New York City, where such programs can be maintained on a secure location by your support. This facility will contain meeting rooms, a gymnasium, and auditorium, swimming pool, music and video production room, and more.
You can help by sending your donation to:
God's Water Entertainment, PO Box 2085 New York NY 10025 Please note: "F.R.U.A. Project" in the memo area.
F.R.U.A. PROJECT FOR DISPLACED RESIDENTS OF OCEAN BAY HOUSES
The F.R.U.A. Mission Statement
Our Mission is to help expose the major flaws in the Housing Development Projects which have crippled the life style of innocent men, women, and children. It has become harder for them to survive and cope in their community. Many lower income families are living in condensed areas where crime is overlooked and goes unchecked.
With the great faith and commitment we would like to exault the talent of the area and help expsose tyrants who feed on the ignorance of common people. Many of the victims are innocent and have done no wrong to themselves or society other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We believe that in this community where many are suffering lies the future and hope of many social issues.
Our focus will highlight places that are deemed dangerous by the media and show there is light in our neighborhood. With your help we will accomplish what we will, success will fall into the hands of the faithful.
We will aim our first project at Edgemere, now known as Ocean Bay Apartment Houses where for over 5 years the residents have lived in a literally bulldozed complex of shattered dreams and dimmed hope. It's been hell for decades, the streets have renamed the grounds "Vietnam" and now its time for justice!
We urge professionals to join us in this crusade for a better life for the people in what may be one of the most deprived neighborhoods in New York City.
Our goal is to put together a team of professionals who can help to determine the factors which can lead us into correcting these critical issues. We believe that the people of this community deserve what everyone deserves which is the right to live in a safe commujnity that will forster and invironment that children can thrive in and reach thier potential.
These minds must not be trampled upon but rather nourished through promising programs.
What We Want
Effective Immediately
1. Continued work by the NYS Housing Authority and additional immediate funding if needed for man power and machinery. Such should provided to complete of the construction and renovation of the former Edgemere Houses. The now Ocean Bay Apartments are to be completed in full by June 26, 2009 or not later than 6 months of this date. All major construction is to take place during 9-5 hours of the weekdays, with no work which will disturb the peace to be taken place during the night or on weekends. Painting and other light renovations can take place during the off hours.
2. All areas where construction is taken place are to be refined so that no dangerous wires dust or debris of any kind can pose a hazard to men, women or children.
3. At least 20 percent of the workforce used to complete the construction should include residents who live in Ocean Bay Apartments regardless of any prior criminal offences in their history. Employers must provide documents on a company letterhead to all employees of Ocean Bay Houses to be utilized by them future job searches for reference.
4. The release of all records related to evictions particularly those which occurred in the double buildings (ex. 445 and 444) of Ocean Bay Apartments from the start of the reconstruction and also 5 years prior to its start.
5. Immediate freeze of leasing and renting apartments at Ocean Bay Housing to accommodate the following.
- Rights of all those whom have been evicted or have left for any other reason since and before 5 years of the start of the ocean bay project and construction to be re-activated and allowed to return to their apartments or other available apartments on the complex when the construction is complete at no higher rent rate than they had before they were put out.
- No other added stipulation of irrational provisions can be added to their new or current leases to further irritate or weaken their original lease agreements.
- If families have grown in number since then after their eviction or otherwise (as stipulated) accommodations must be made for their immediate family members with like and affordable rates of rent applied.
- All returning residents who were either evicted or moved for reasons related to uncomfortable and inhumane conditions which were educed by prolonged and diabolical construction work on the part of Ocean Bay Management must be given their first 2 months free in rent to help defray the cost relocation and moving. This can be issued in the form of a Grant from the Government or other private sources.
6. The institution of Sensitivity Training for all law enforcement officers of the 101 pct and other neighboring precincts which are involved in operations within the entire area of District 41 with emphasis on Beach Channel Drive 40th to 90th streets. There will be no bidding for trainer positions. F.R.U.A. will commit to researching and recommend a qualified company or trainer on behalf of the people who must be given a fair chance to prove their work is worthy.
7. Qualified residents must be awarded first opportunity to apply for currently available and future administrative, maintenance, or other ground keeping related jobs which are in conjunction with the Ocean Bay Apartment project.
8. We want all current charges dropped and prior cases removed from public records for any and all non-violent criminal offenses made by all residents of Ocean Bay Apartments which were applied since the start of construction and 5 years prior to the Ocean Bay Apartment project commencement which was during the time it was then known as Edgemere Houses. This rule should apply as well to all residents and non-residents of Far Rockaway who were arrested within this period of time within a 2 square mile radius of Ocean Bay Apartments. This should also apply to the other 5 Housing facilities in the area of Redfern, Nordeck, 40's, Ocean Village, & Hamels. Releases of any whom are currently incarcerated for non-violent crimes and the sealing of records from the public are guaranteed to be effective immediately, cleared and without any added stipulations or aggravation.
9. All permits for gatherings such as (cook-outs, and ball games) should be readily available on the grounds and accessible during normal business hours at the Housing Office. Printable forms should also be made available online via the internet. Filling for such applications shall take place on the premises and handled by Ocean Bay personnel in a timely fashion. Residents who apply for such outdoor function permits need only provide proof of residency or one form of identification (with current and corresponding address noted) in order to apply.
10. Current legislation's which forbid privately owned security firms from bidding for contracts in public housing under HUD or like facilities should be lifted and disbarred. Our recommendations for security firms should be considered 1st, and no contract is to be rewarded without the consent of the residents of Ocean Bay Apartments.
11. We hearby state that the current securirty provided by NYC is ill-effective to the residents at Ocean Bay Houses. F.R.U.A patrols should be allowed to commence immidiatly to assist via volunteer staff members. These patrols are to assist in the security of the Ocean Bay Apartments. And through these patrols the potential for a contract to be awarded to F.R.U.A. to work on behalf of the people should be awarded, and to be negotiated with The Housing Authority.
12. Overcrowding in Public School 105 located on Beach 51st Street has made it more difficult to teach children. We demand that it be returned to a 1st to 5th Grade only establishment after a period only of 1 year and plans and erection of new grammar, Jr. High and High Schools be built to accommodate the new students as needed in the area of Beach Channel Drive. Such changes should not effect negatively the employment of any employees (teachers, faculty or other) of P.S. 105. All new schools which are built to accommodate this ruling should be built within 1 mile of Ocean Bay Houses and free busing should be provided to all students regardless of age should any school location exceed 1/2 mile or the equivalent of 10 blocks from Ocean Bay. Funding for such schools should be provided by New York City.
13. Equal Opporutunity Employment and Training for residents of the former Edgemere Houses and neighboring residents
who live on Beach Channel Drive.
14. F.R.U.A. is requesting land or adequate office space to conduct its operations on the property. Such land or office space should be no further than 1 block from Ocean Bay Apartments. Ocean Bay Apartments covers approximately 1/2 mile in diameter. On site space would be more sensible to accommodate our much needed service to the people.
Online Petition
F.R.U.A thanks you for signing our petition which is entitled "Concerned People In Support of F.R.U.A." Your support will help inspire support for our cause. To access it "Click Here"
To make a donation use this link below.
