LOWER  EAST SIDERS  SAY "NO" 

TO  MASS  EVICTIONS 
Demonstrators Hit Conversion Of Tenement To Private Mansion
By A. Kronstadt

On the evening of July 11, 2008, more than 100 people assembled outside 47 East Third Street, where they staged a noisy protest against threatened evictions of tenants of that building by their landlords, Alistair and Catherine Economakis, who claim they want to convert the building into a private mansion [See the tenants' web site <http://47e3.org/> for more -- Ed.]

The modest neighborhood event drew a heavy police presence, and, as is common at New York City political rallies since the Giuliani era, cops limited the growth of the protest by moving along anyone who stood outside the police barricades trying to make conversation with the demonstrators or even trying to find out what was going on.

Neighborhood activist and photographer John Penley was the driving force behind the event, which was built in part with flyers bearing the words "Let Them Eat Cake," referring to Alistair Economakis as a "malaka," an obscenely famous epithet in the building owner's native Greek. (Economakis is the son of Greek shipping magnate Alexander Economakis). 

Continuing the French Revolution theme, which Alistair Economkis termed "threatening" on his web site, the rally featured a model guillotine, but was otherwise rather mellow. Several pizza pies had been provided free by Two Boots Pizza, and as people enjoyed the food they were entertained by David Peel, who sang his classic refrain "Die Yuppie Scum," as well as an impromptu song about the 47 East Third Street landlords, called "Economakis Sucks." Performance artist Penny Arcade took to the soapbox to denounce the exorbitant rent increases handed down last month by the Rent Guidelines Board, which, along with loopholes in the rent laws like the one that the Economakises are using to clear out the residents of 47 East Third Street, have been making affordable housing a thing of the past in New York City. There were also speeches by residents of 47 East Third Street and other residents of the block, all of whom would be adversely affected if the Economakises prevail. 

The rally was followed by a march around the Lower East Side, focusing particularly on the Bowery, once New York City's Skid Row area par excellence. The first stop was the New York University dormitory at the Bowery and Second Street, where there was a verbal but nonviolent confrontation with a security guard. Mocking the continual police orders to "clear the street" in the vicinity of the demonstration, the crowd chanted "Yuppies Clear The Street," and continued past the over-priced John Varvatos boutique located in the space once occupied by legendary punk venue CBGBs. Finally, the remaining demonstrators turned the corner and assembled outside the Bowery Wine Bar on East First Street, chanting "Out With The Wine Bars; Bring Back The Winos." 

At one point during the rally, 47 East Third Street resident Honey West told a police officer: "The yuppies had better start working out because there's not gonna be any cops or firemen to protect them, because they can't afford to live here either." The officer told West that he had grown up in the Bronx and now must live on Long Island because the city is too expensive for him, adding "Hey, we're on your side!"

In answer to a question as to whether demonstrations like this do any good, Honey West told the SHADOW: "It does show that real estate has not completely destroyed our community."

[For more on the plight of the residents of 47 East Third Street, as reported by the SHADOW, see <http://shadowpress.org/third_st_tenants.52.htm> and <http://shadowpress.org/third_st_tenants.53.htm>]

[Photo by A. Kronstadt]
 
[NOVEMBER 11, 2008 UPDATE: On November 10, 2008, as they were about to go to trial against the  Economakises, the eight remaining residents of 47 East Third Street accepted a buy-out offer from their landlord and have agreed to abandon their legal battle and vacate their apartments. See <http://shadowpress,org/third_st_tenants.54.htm> for the entire story]