At Mallenche, a taqueria at 1621 Church Ave, Jennifer Berkley orders two tacos and sips on a pineapple jarritos, squeezing in a quick meal before heading to a rally around the corner. She looks out of the glass doors at the crowds moving along the sweltering avenue and reflects on the future of the neighborhood.
“When you look to see how many rent regulated units have been lost in District 40 in the last ten years, under the current Council member’s watch,” said Berkley. “We’re losing a quarter of our community. And to me that’s not okay.”
Berkley is one of three Democratic challengers to City Council Member Mathieu Eugene in the District 40 primary covering Flatbush, Prospect Lefferts Gardens , East Flatbush and Ditmas Park. She says among the things she likes best about the neighborhood are the people, the history, and the homes themselves, from “older Victorian homes” to “prewar apartment buildings.”
“Overall, what I love the most is the juxtaposition of the history of the community and the people who live here,” said Berkley. “Just to know that so many different people from so many different generations have shared the beauty of this area.”
But Berkley warns that the long-standing population of the district is at risk of displacement. She says that over 25 percent of rent-regulated units in the district have been lost in recent years.
Berkley argues that while the district is in dire need of solutions and resources when it comes to education, health care, work opportunities, care for local seniors, and protection for the immigrant communities, it is the need for affordable housing that is the main priority.
“The issue of housing really overshadows everything else that is happening in our community,” said Berkley, who is on a leave of absence as an organizer with Tenants and Neighbors. “If we can’t get the housing part right, how are we going to improve people’s lives?”
She says that policymakers too often focus on housing court issues, and that while providing legal assistance is crucial, solutions must start even further down the line.
“You hear candidates and council members in office talking about putting more money into having attorneys in housing court, but the problems are starting way before they get to court.” said Berkley. “If the tenants are organized, and mobilized, and informed of their rights, they can nip some of these things in the bud, before it turns into a potential eviction case.”
Berkley advocates for a “working, accessible database” of landlords who have high rates of “no-cause or holdover evictions” in housing court. She says that a way of publicly monitoring evictions might discourage new tenants and help the city track down landlord abuse.
In addition to protecting tenants from unscrupulous landlord practices, Berkley would also like to support local homeowners, who she says are under increasing pressures as local costs go up.
She says that a tax credit for homeowners, perhaps one that increases the longer a homeowner has been in the area, could prevent displacement.
“A lot of these folks have weathered really bad storms in some of our neighborhoods,” said Berkley, citing the struggles of many local communities in the 80s and 90s. “It’s just a way of saying thank you. Thank you for staying in our communities, for stabilizing our communities by keeping your property in good condition, by being a good neighbor.”
Berkley moved to New York City 20 years ago from New England and has lived in the district for seven years. She says that from the moment she came to the area, “this has felt so much more like home.” She argues that to be a part of a community, you must be involved.
“You can live somewhere your entire life and never be an actual member of a community,” said Berkley. “You have to make a conscious decision to be an active participant in your community.”
Also running in the Sept. 12 Democratic Primary are Pia Raymond and Brian Cunningham.
