ENYCLT members, volunteers who live across East New York and Brownsville, met with Jewel Streets leaders who told us they had already tried raising their concerns with various government offices for decades to no avail. It is an understatement to say that they were frustrated and jaded, and many felt like giving up. Nevertheless, residents were ready to try again so we formed the Justice for the Jewel Streets Coalition.

We did a physical survey of the nearly 400 vacant, publicly owned lots in East New York, analyzed the findings and wrote our first report Advancing Community-Led Planning and Collective Ownership. The street team spent a lot of their time in the Jewel Streets because of the sheer quantity of its vacant lots and the level of neglect.

ENYCLT partnered up with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation to  survey Jewel Streets residents and business owners about the conditions they were facing. We knocked on every door in the neighborhood and collected resident surveys and stakeholder interviews, in which residents identified their top priorities: a sewer system, flood management, better roads, affordable housing, and public open space. We held several community meetings at nearby schools and on Zoom to discuss residents' top concerns and bring them into the campaign of organizing for city investment to address their demands.

We also dove into quantitative research. Pratt Institute’s maps revealed that Spring Creek once ran through the area before being buried, suggesting chances to daylight it. Our engineering study with Tectonic Engineering showed the homes could tie into the sewer system with modest street elevation and green stormwater infrastructure. After residents shared that septic tanks often overflowed, we collected water from three flooded intersections and sent it to an NYU lab. Tests found high E. coli and other coliforms—clear evidence of sewage contamination and an urgent call for action.

After several months of doorknocking and meetings to discuss residents’ priorities and potential solutions, we developed a set of demands that the whole community was ready to rally around. We collected 60 signatures and delivered the letter to the City.

When no response was received, we engaged the local Council Member Barron, who helped us organize a neighborhood tour for high-level City officials from the relevant agencies as well as other elected officials. This tour was a major turning point in our efforts and it sparked media coverage from Gothamist/WNYC and THE CITY (see media list below). Agency and elected officials committed to finally acting on the long-promised infrastructure upgrades to the Jewel Streets, and committed to developing initial plans within three weeks.

The Coalition held meetings with numerous city agencies every 1-2 months to advance shorter term fixes while tracking the City’s progress in developing long term solutions. The Justice for the Jewel Streets Coalition met biweekly on our own as well to discuss updates and strategize.

The City announced the official launch of a Jewel Streets neighborhood planning process, along with $75 million dedicated to infrastructure funding. This has since been doubled to $150 million. The City’s planning area covers the Jewel Streets and large swaths of the surrounding neighborhoods, including the Stanley Ave site. The plan will lay out sewer and stormwater infrastructure upgrades, resiliency measures, transportation improvements, and new zoning for the overall neighborhood. 

ENYCLT and CHLDC were closely involved in planning and outreach for six community planning workshops held by HPD ensuring resident input on HPD’s plan in the areas of resiliency, transportation, housing and economic development.

ENYCLT participated in Rainproof NYC, a taskforce of City officials, technical experts and community leaders that researched best practices in handling heavy rainfall events and created a blueprint for a pre-disaster buyout program for NYC.

HPD released its final plan for the Jewel Streets in close coordination with other agencies.