Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
For the Smokers and the Jokesters
Saturday, March 29, 2008
The Wackest Pastor to hit the Pulpit
Pastor Manning is back! And gets his ASS handed to him on Hannity & Colms. Similar to getting fired on yo' day off you got be a STUPID MUTHAFUCKA to be a black man on a FOX TV News show sounding racist. He's the real life Tyrone Biggums/Uncle Ruckus! hahaha (I crack me up)
Friday, March 28, 2008
When the Revolution Comes...
"USHER, MICHAEL JACKSON IS NOT A GENRE OF MUSIC!!!" hahaha
Real talk I get chills when I watch this...imagine.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Insert Foot in Mouth
tsk tsk tsk...Shame on the LA Times. Shouldn't they have cleared this up BEFORE they printed the story?? Ugggh, watta.
“The Los Angeles Times apologized for using documents that were apparently fabricated in a story implicating associates of Sean “Diddy” Combs in a 1994 assault on rapper Tupac Shakur. Editor Russ Stanton said, ‘The bottom line is that the documents we relied on should not have been used…We apologize both to our readers and to those referenced in the documents … and in the story.’”
Sucks for Remy
Diva Loves T.I.
Ya'll I luuuuhhhss me some Tip Harris. There are only two men in the world who get me giddy Common & T.I. Mind you I've known them both for years! Nevertheless they still seem to drum up butterflies. My homie TIP is in some shit right now though.
“Atlanta rapper T.I. today is expected to enter a plea of guilty to multiple weapons charges. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., is scheduled to enter his plea at 1:30 p.m. today at the federal courthouse in Atlanta.
Rapper T.I. has just plead guilty to federal weapons possession charges -- and will spend one year behind bars!
T.I., real name Clifford Harris, will begin his sentence after completing at least 1,000 hours of community service -- talking to kids about the dangers of drugs, gangs and guns.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
A Word from Deev Pt.2
Someone on the blog made this comment:
Impact i respect.I was going to respond just on the comments but I've been asked it before and felt it necessary to put it here in the larger forum. Thanks for the question "Datmyshit." Here's my response:
A.D i ask you this question before on youtube but i digest and took it back because i thought the question was out of line, this not a question just my comments, with all your intelligence why music? i hear you on what Lauryn should of did, where Bob went and where Kanye is, but it's a Million folks trying sing,
i'm a father of four daughter's and my oldest, wants to entertain the thought of going into the music as a career, and tell her "No Sir" not over my dead body will i let her, and know i'm right.
First I will say this. That's not a comment, it is in fact a question and secondly YOU ARE WRONG. Here's why:
Music is one of the gifts I've been given. I'd be disrespecting my potential by ignoring it out of fear. As a parent you should be nurturing your daughters gifts as opposed to trying to squelch them because of your own inhibitions of the business. Your feeling that "everyone is doing it" is a disrespect to her talent. If she's special none of "them" should matter. That's the beauty of ambition and drive. It separates the strong from the weak, and the wannabes from the real thing. Her talent is not something you can give her but support of it and tools on how to not succumb to the triteness of fame, money, etc. but strive for integrity, creativity, and efficiency in her music and business are things you can provide. And in my opinion (which you asked for) as a parent your goals should be protecting and nurturing which sometimes can become befuddled, but need to be
clarified on the reg. Protecting is does not mean to stifle and nurturing does not mean to enhance delusion.
As for my decision to do music. I will feign insult that you consider my decision to do it a disrespect to my intellectual ability. Rather, I offer you this explanation to better your understanding. Some of the most impactful people in history have been musicians. Music speaks to the soul and melody engages the mind more so than just words. For you to equate doing music as a lack of use of my intellect means you don't truly understand the power of it.I can go on. Music is THE MOST POWERFUL means for change because it is universal. You don't have to know how to read to understand it. You don't even have to speak the language it's done in to feel it. And you don't even need to use words to make it move the masses. Do not let the saccharine nature of the current state of music trick you into believing that what it currently is, is all it can be. In order to improve anything one must recognize where the potential is lacking and build it up to that standard.
- South Africa fought apartheid through music.
- Jamaican political parties rallied their supporters through music
- In the 80s young black people disenfranchised by Reaganomics found their voice and a chance to improve their economic means through music.
- Slaves communicated news & tips for escape through music.
That is why I'm here. That is why I do music. And I put it off for a long time for the same reasons you don't support your daughter's aspirations to pursue it. Because everybody's doing it, because the money isn't as lucrative as before, and because well, it's HARD! But eventually I didn't choose music. It chose me. And I saw clearly that I had something to bring to the table that was substantial and that meant something. I refused to do this music unless I could be of a greater purpose than just another person makin songs.
If your daughter has goals of bringing her voice to the masses I honor her because it is one of the most difficult things to do. She is brave. Best believe whether you like it or not if she feels strongly enough to do music she WILL do music. It is not something you can sequester and if it makes her happy then you should be supportive of it. There are too many people in this world bitter because they are living a life someone else dictated for them and regretful that they did not follow their heart. Don't let your daughter be one of those people if she truly is committed.
Yes, there a lot of people trying to sing, rap, etc. But none of them are me and none of them can keep my light from shining just like you shouldn't keep your daughter's from doing the same. It only takes flesh and bone to be human but it takes heart and soul to be an individual. The same goes for being an artist.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Guilty Pleasure :/
I have a confession. I LOVE THE HILLS! OMG I FRICKIN LOVE IT! I dunno if it's because I grew up in Orlando around girls just like this. Or maybe it's because it's so bad it's good! Well it started its new season tonight and it was grrrreeeeaattt! I know ya'll are like, "What the hell??? This is NOT like Amanda." But dagnammit if I don't love this show Djimon Hounsou ain't packin!!!
Can We Blame Him??
A 12 year-old boy was arrested in Bloomington, Illinois last Thursday night (March 20) after he threw a rock at the windshield of rapper Soulja Boy’s tour bus. According to the Bloomington Pantagraph, the unidentified youth attacked the bus at around 7:40 p.m. near the Hampton Inn West on 906 Maple Rd. Soulja Boy had performed at the nearby U.S. Cellular Coliseum the previous night.It ain't funny, but it's funny. C'mon folks, that shit is HILARICAL!
Bloomington Police Lt. Pete Avery said that when officers asked the boy why he did it, he replied simply, “I hate Soulja Boy.” None of the passengers on the bus were injured during the incident.
Shout to Natasha at THEYBF.com for puttin me on to this foolery.
Fine Ass Common Talks About Rev. Wright
“He never really was against white people or another race. It was more against an establishment that was oppressing people. I think we all can see that this country has problems and a lot of it starts in the political system,” ….. “What I picked up from being in the pews … was messages of love. Anything that was going against that love he would acknowledge and expose.”
It's wild that the shady Clinton camp is trying to compare Rev. Wright's comments to that of KKK rhetoric. Amazing how shit can get spun. Don't buy it though folks. I'm reposting one his sermons in "question" here and I'll be damned if he's preaching hate. Sounds more like the truth to me and as Gloria Steinhem said, "The truth shall set you free, but first it will piss you off." Folks don't never know how to handle the truth and all this reactionary madness to try to thwart Obama's movement to the top of the Democratic ticket is preposterous! In the word's of good ol' Bob, "DON'T LET THEM FOOL YA!!!"
A Word from Deev
Someone asked me yesterday where I want to go with my music. At first the question was perplexing to me cause it seemed obvious. But then I thought about it all day and it's far from obvious because these days folks definitely want to go to some places with their music that I'm not really interested in (i.e. the strip club! lol). I had a flight from ATL to ponder it and I finally realized the answer:
I want to go where Lauryn was supposed to keep going. Where Bob went and where Kanye is. To the hearts of the people. And make shit that can not only change their mood but their minds. I'm not in this to make songs. I'm in this to make an impact.Just wanted to share that with ya'll. Hope everyone had a good Easter Weekend. Whether you celebrate it or not there was still an air of holiday in the atmosphere. And I'll be God damned if Cadbury eggs still ain't good as jaxx!
Damn these Jacksons!!!
And we wonder why Michael is the "Saddest Moment in Black History" on DivaSpeakTV. Here's a reminder of how dope they used to be. Man, time is a mofo right??Marlon Jackson, 51, an original Jackson Five member who stocks shelves at a Vons supermarket in San Diego, had to temporarily move into an extended-stay hotel.
Randy, 46, does odd jobs, including fixing cars in a Los Angeles garage owned by a family friend. He recently claimed Michael was going to give him $1.7 million - “a pipe dream,” said another brother last week.
Jackie, 56, the oldest and most debonair of the brothers, is struggling to manage his son Siggy’s aspiring rap career after an Internet clothing business startup and attempts to produce music failed.
Jermaine, 54, shuttles back and forth from his girlfriend’s home in Ventura County, Calif., to his parents’ mansion in Encino, where Jackie and Randy still bunk.
Tito, 55, is the only brother still making music, but it’s a meager living. The guitarist fronts a blues and jazz band that plays small venues and nets him $500 and $1,500 per occasional gig - a far cry from the days when the Jacksons could pull in 50,000 people at $30 a ticket.
Family patriarch Joseph Jackson, 79, spends most of his waking hours conjuring up schemes he hopes will replenish a bank account that once had more money than the FDIC cared to insure. Peddling musical girl groups in Las Vegas and a book about his family in Germany, Joseph, despite evidence to the contrary, is not convinced that time and the music industry have passed him by.
“We can get back out there and set the world on fire,” he told The Post last week. “If the Rolling Stones can still rake in the money, so, too, can my boys.”
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Hater Status?
We Have to Do Better pt.7
I'm not saying this woman is absolved of responsibility for leaving her kids to sell crack but you have to wonder if things were better in this country for young black women would she even be in that situation? Just sayin.A Kansas City teenage mom faces child endangerment charges after hospital tests revealed that her 2-year-old son and two other young children ingested crack cocaine. Jackson County prosecutors on Thursday charged Tasha Cole, 17, with four felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child. They requested a $75,000 bond.
The children apparently sampled crumbs that the mom left behind when she darted out to sell drugs, court records allege. Children’s Mercy Hospital staff contacted police after one of the children suffered seizures earlier this week. After giving police several false stories, Cole admitted that she left the children with a friend while she sold drugs, according to the affidavit filed in court to support the charges.
Cole told detectives that when she put the plate down earlier, it had crumbs of cocaine on it. She told police that she picked up the razor blade but left the plate. About 10 minutes later she realized the children were playing with the plate, and she took them across the hall and told relatives what happened.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Diva Speak TV Ep:10
We're going on a 2week break to come back FRESH FOR DA OCHO! SUCKAAAASSSS!!!!
So make sure you mark your calenders for April 9th! BUT I'ma do some mini DivaSpeaks thanks to my I-Cam just to hold folks over;) Tell a friend!
Dick Gregory Got Jokes
Part 1
Part 2
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Miss Rap Supreme
Put You On! *Justice*
XAVIER de ROSNAY & GASPARD AUGE |
New Wassalu
Monday, March 17, 2008
"To Live and Die in L.A...."
Pulitzer prize winning journalist Chuck Phillips has put together the pieces of a story that many in the hip hop community still find intriguing and conspicuously mysterious...the shooting of Tupac Shakur. In today's LA Times he reveals the results of his research into the fateful night of the infamous Quad Studios shooting in which Pac was shot 5 times and afterwards began the beef between him and Biggie that splintered into the watta as hell "east coast vs. west coast" feud. Peep Chuck's story. Tell me your thoughts. Agree? Disagree? Or who cares, let em Rest In Peace?
An attack on Tupac Shakur launched a hip-hop war
In 1994, Tupac Shakur was ambushed, beaten and shot at the Quad Recording Studios in New York. He insisted that friends of Sean 'Diddy' Combs were behind it. New information supports him.
By Chuck Philips, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer 6:00 AM PDT, March 17,
2008
NEW YORK -- Cameras flashed as paramedics carried the victim into the glare of Times Square on a stretcher. Blood seeped through bandages from five gunshot wounds.Tupac Shakur had been beaten, shot and left for dead at the Quad ecording Studios on New York's 7th Avenue. As he was borne to a waiting abulance through a swarm of paparazzi on Nov. 30, 1994, the rap star thrust his middle finger into the air. t was a portentous moment in hip-hop -- the start of a bicoastal war that would culminate years later in the killings of Shakur and rap's other leading star, Christopher Wallace, better known as the Notorious B.I.G.
The ambush at the Quad remains a source of fascination and frustration to music fans and law enforcement officials alike. No one has ever been charged in the attack. Now, newly discovered information, including interviews with people
who were at the studio that night, lends credence to Shakur's insistence that
associates of rap impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs were behind the assault.
Their alleged motives: to punish Shakur for disrespecting them and
rejecting their business overtures and, not incidentally, to curry favor with Combs. The information focuses on two New York hip-hop figures -- talent manager James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond and promoter James Sabatino, who is now in prison for unrelated crimes. FBI records obtained recently by The Times say that a confidential informant told authorities in 2002 that Rosemond and Sabatino "set up the rapper Tupac Shakur to get shot at Quad Studios."
The informant said Sabatino had told him that Shakur "had to be dealt with. "The records -- summaries of FBI interviews with the informant conducted in July and December 2002 -- provide details of how Shakur was lured to the studio and ambushed. Others with knowledge of the incident corroborated the informant's
account in interviews with The Times and gave additional details.
According to this information, Rosemond and Sabatino, infuriated by what they saw as Shakur's insolent behavior, enticed him to the Quad by offering him $7,000 to provide a vocal track for a rap recording.Three assailants -- reputedly friends of Rosemond -- were lying in wait. They were on orders to beat Shakur but not kill him and to make the incident look like a robbery, the sources said. They were told they could keep whatever jewelry or other valuables they could steal from Shakur and his entourage. A member of Shakur's posse cooperated with the rapper's enemies, relaying their offer of a $7,000 payment and keeping them informed of his whereabouts on the night of the assault, according to the informant and the other sources.
Rosemond, who has served prison time for drug dealing and weapons offenses,
has been described by Vibe magazine as "one of the most respected and feared
players in hip-hop." His Czar Entertainment represents rappers Shyne, Too Short,
Gucci Mane and the Game.Rosemond has long denied any role in the Quad incident.
He declined to be interviewed for this article, but his lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, dismissed the new information as "ancient double-hearsay allegations."Lichtman noted that Rosemond had never been charged or questioned in connection with the attack -- a sign, Lichtman said, that federal authorities have "discounted" what the informant told them. Rosemond "was not involved in the assault and will not be prosecuted for it," Lichtman said. Sabatino declined to comment. Combs, whose business empire includes Bad Boy Records and clothing and fragrance lines, also declined to comment.
The FBI documents do not name the informant. The Times learned his identity and verified that he was at the Quad on the night of the assault. When contacted, the man said the FBI records accurately convey what happened, and what he told investigators. He and the other sources interviewed for this article discussed the events of Nov. 30, 1994, on condition that their names not be published.Their accounts are consistent with Shakur's own. In interviews and on recordings, the rapper blamed Rosemond, Combs and their associates for the attack and promised to get even.
Yes Lawd!!!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Put You On! *Janelle Monae*
Thursday, March 13, 2008
SOB'S WAS LIVE!!!!
And ROCKED OUT WITH THE KIIID!
Last night's show was absolutely phenomenal. Period. I am someone who worries. I am a chronic worrier. And the more energy I've put into something the more I worry about it. I put A LOT in to this show so you know I was on the verge of an ulcer. The weather report said snow. I woke up and my voice was at like 55% (sooooo watta) and I had no word on ticket sales. BAD B.I.! But alas my worries were settled when I walked into the venue and alls well ends well. The DivaWorks Inc crew was in full gear from jump street and had the vibe right for folks coming in and that vibe stayed right! I put together some pics below to take ya'll through the night:)
In the dressing room with one of my best friends from high school (GOOOO DP!) Michael and my wonderful make up artist Jan Jay. Ya'll know Diva got jokes and ya'll don't understand how crazy me and Michael can be (we've known each other since '94 for God's sake!) so I'm sure I was sayin something funny right here, lol.
Kweli took the stage and did a few of his classics, "The Blast," and "Get By" and gave me a dope introduction.
We started the show with my AMAZING background singer, Chandlar (a dope soloist in his own right by the way) singing the all-time favorite, "She's your queeeeennn to beeeee..." from "Coming to America!" LOL Ya'll know I got jokes!!! We then hit it, James Brown stylee and got into a rendition of the classic jazz joint, "God Bless the Child," before moving on to "For the Love," and "Better Way." (go cop that Life Experience album!)
We be on our hip hop shit but ya girl got soul too and we slowed it down by going into "This Too Shall Pass." A joint for all my ladies that know what it is to be down for somebody.
We then threw folks right quick by kickin an R&B version of "Umbrella" (eh-eh-eh). And i can't front it was MAD fun to get on my pop shit for a sec!
We then took it uptown Harlem World! With the new single "Windows Over Harlem" and even previewed the video which will debut online next week!!!
Then the fun went to a WHOLE nother level when we brought my ace boon coon, da man himself, the Abstract, QTIP! The band brought him to the mic with a lickle , "Check the Rhime," and he kicked a lil, "Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden." You know I was HYPE! We jumped into "40 MCs" and murdered it. It was so dope to be on stage rocking with one my idols and also my good friend:)
The energy didn't stop as we dropped "Hip Hop Chick" off the It's Bigger Than Hip Hop Mixtape Volume 1 (my favorite song to perform live)! I broke out all my old school dances on folks!
And then the homie DJ Wonder got on the 1's and 2's and turned that motha out!! It became a straight house partayyyy playin hits like, "It Takes Two," "Reminisce (T.R.O.Y.)," "Poison," and "Flashing Lights" to name a few.I got on my b-girl shit and even did a one arm handstand!!!
Wonder put that classic hip hop joint, "Camp Lo's" Luchini and each band member did a solo.SO DOPE!
Last song of the night. You know what it is, "SUPAAAA-WOMAAANNN!!" I can tell ya'll right now this pic is me pointin the mic to crowd on "When I say supa ya'll say WOMAN!" And the crowd was definitely with me. I've been going to SOB's for many years so I was honored to finally be rockin the stage with my own solo show. Definitely a seminal moment in my career that I'll never forget. I couldn't have asked for a better night. It didn't snow! My voice came all the way to 85%! and it was PACKED! The music and the vibe was so so so strong. Shout to Proton and Peter Hadar for getting the stage right for me. Also big ups to Green Lantern, Ebro, Shyheim Reid, Sean Malcolm, Hakeem from Channel Live, Michaela Angela Davis, Tracey Moore of The Jazzy Fat Nastees & Black Lily, and all my peoples who came through to show love and support. I don't want to be a rapper I want to start a movement towards better music and better thinking and last night felt like a giant leap in the right direction. :)
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Shout to All My Sneaker Pimps!
The folks at Nike delivered an exclusive Black History Month take on the seminal Air Force 1, and it's a winner. Features included ill tweed mud cloth design on the heel and chocolate and caramel colors. Not sure how I feel about the swirl on the toe but nonetheless these joints are serious.
(shout to Allhiphop.com for puttin me on!)
Quotes from the good Dr. Carter G. Woodson are featured prominently on the box and in the inner sole of each shoe. If you are not familiar, please add The Mis-Education of the Negro to your personal library not now but right now. These treats are not available at retail, so good luck finding a pair.
Friday, March 7, 2008
I Smell Some BULLSHIT!
Not sure what to make of this other than, it seems quite coincidental that as Bams leads the race, this lickle pickle would come up. Read and share your thoughts on this:
(CNN) -- Democrats agree that new voting is needed to determine convention delegates for Florida and Michigan, but they can't figure out how to pay for it.
Both states held their Democratic presidential preference primaries early, in January. For that, the Democratic National Committee followed through on its warning and stripped both of their delegates for violating party rules by scheduling their primaries too early.The Democratic candidates agreed not to campaign in either state, and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who won both states, was the only top-tier candidate on the ballot in Michigan.
Florida and Michigan moved up their primaries because the states wanted to be sure their political clout was not lost to the four states that had Democratic Party permission to vote before the official kick-off of the primary season on February 5. Those four were Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
Now, neither Illinois Sen. Barack Obama nor Clinton will be able to attain the 2,024 delegates needed to clinch the nomination without delegates from Florida and Michigan.
"People are now looking to Florida and Michigan as overtime, that we're going to finish a sense in a tie, and Florida and Michigan could actually help tip the balance one way or the other," Democratic strategist Dan Gerstein said.
"With two outstanding candidates battling so closely for their party's nomination, there's no way you can tell nearly 2 million Florida voters they don't count," Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, said. Watch Florida Gov. Charlie Crist discuss primary options »
Talks late Thursday in Michigan failed to yield a plan for new voting after hitting the big snag of "Who pays?" A spokeswoman for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, D-Michigan, said cost and logistics may prevent a primary re-do there, according to The Associated Press.
A source close to the discussions told CNN that the state party agreed not to spend any taxpayer dollars on a re-vote, which in Michigan could cost $10 million or more.
Discussions in Michigan were to continue Friday, the source said, and included the state's senior Democrat in the Senate, Sen. Carl Levin.
Another contest in Florida could cost as much as $25 million.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says the national party won't pay as Florida and Michigan cannot be given passes for violating rules that were clear to them.
"The rules were set a year and a half ago. Florida and Michigan voted for them and then decided that they didn't need to abide by the rules. When you're in a contest, you do need to abide by the rules," he said."You cannot violate the rules of the process and then expect to get forgiven for it," he said.
Dean said he has to run a process that yields an honest result, and, "The only way to do that is to stick to the rules that were agreed to by everybody at the beginning."
But Granholm said a solution will be found.
"I can assure you that Michigan and Florida are going to be at the convention. Our preference is not to have to storm the Bastille," she said.
State Sen. Tupac Hunter, Obama's co-chairman in Michigan, has doubts about any re-vote.
"From a timing perspective, a financial perspective, as well as a logistical perspective, I am not sure the options of a new primary or a caucus are feasible at this point," Hunter said.
But if there is one, he said, the national party should assume both financial and operational responsibility.
But Dean, while conceding a re-vote would be in the best interests of Florida and Michigan voters, said the national party's main interest is winning in November and it would save its money for that battle.
"[The DNC's] job now is to elect the president of the United States and we're not going to have the resources to run a primary in Michigan or Florida," he said.
Robert Ficano, Democratic executive of Wayne County, Michigan, suggested on PBS' "Newshour" Thursday that the Obama and Clinton campaigns split the cost for re-votes.
"They said they want something fair. And this is something that probably gets pretty close to fair, if they both put in an equal amount and we're able to conduct both elections," Ficano said.
Both Clinton and Obama have said they'll abide by whatever solution the DNC comes up with.
But CNN analyst John Dickerson said in the tight nominating race, half the party may be outraged with whatever the outcome.
Hunter said Democrats must take responsibility for the situation.
"We have our bed. We're lying in it," he said.
E-mail to a friend
ps-peep Obama's co-chairman in Michigan's name: TUPAC!
Diva Loves Dru Hill
So this morning Dru Hill hit up Baltimore radio station 92Q apparently to get back together. But er uh, Woody had other plans. I can't front Woody has always been my least favorite Dru Hill member. Remember his lil whiny ass rant before Angel on the their 2nd album? Uggh. Well, now he gon' and f'd shit up again. Watch the whole video for the foolery. I love me some Dru Hill and it would be dope as jaxx if they got back together but it looks like watta guy Woody got to go be a pastor...AGAIN.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
TEXAS AND OHIO LET'S GET IT!!!!
TO DO THE DAMN THING IN THEIR SUPPORT OF OBAMA!!!!
ALL THE TEXAS FOLK UNDERSTAND THIS:
EVEN THOUGH YOU VOTE
YOU MUST STAY TIL AFTER 7PM
FOR THE CAUCUS
IN ORDER FOR OBAMA
TO GET THE FULL IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!!
LET'S GET IT FOR BAMS!!!!
We MUST Preserve!
Check it out! Hip Hop's birth place saved! :)
Allhiphop.com
By Chris RichburgEfforts to save the birthplace of Hip-Hop culture proved successful as the New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) rejected a proposed sale of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue to a developer Mark Karasick.
According to Sen. Charles Schumer, the HPD cited the fact that current rents could not be sustained if the sale of the property had gone through.The decision is the latest chapter in the struggle for Sedgwick Avenue tenants to preserve their building.
Tenants enlisted Hip-Hop co-founder DJ Kool Herc last year to help save the property after word got out that the 100-unit apartment building’s owner planned to leave an affordable housing program known as Mitchell-Lama.
The Mitchell-Lama program presents owners incentives that include low-rate mortgages and tax breaks in exchange for charging tenants low to moderate rents over a certain period of time.
With the HPD’s decision, tenants have the chance to negotiate directly with the owner, Schumer stated Monday (March 3).The building has also been deemed eligible to be listed on national and state registers of historic sites.
Put You On! *Proton*
Monday, March 3, 2008
We Have to do Better Pt. 5
OUT OF HAND I TELL YA!!!!