Archive for February, 2009
Taking Back Richmond
Taking Back Richmond is a group of local community activists who participated in the takeover of a property abandoned by a local slumlord, Oliver Lawrence. We dispute his claim as owner of 2913 Montrose Avenue because he has shown absolutely no responsibility for the property- not paying back taxes, not upkeeping the property, and not being accountable to the neighborhood.
We understand that the challenge to property rights upsets many people who fear the consequences of property rights becoming fallable. However, we hold that property rights are not inalienable and that in many cases upholding property rights allows individuals to commit property WRONGS in our city.
Now, the activists are working on ways to put pressure on the slumlord as well as on Richmond City Council to change the ways that blighted and abandoned properties are dealt with in the city. In light of the current economy, home foreclosures, layoffs, unemployment and homelessness we say that it makes absolutely no sense to allow homes to sit empty when there are people in desperate need of housing. Instead of properties without paid property taxes going to auction and being sold to real estate speculators essentially the same as slumlords like Lawrence, we propose that a system be set up to sell those properties to low income folks at the price of the back property taxes owed the city under the conditions that the new owners commit to bringing the building up to code and living in the home for a period of time, perhaps 5 years. This would prevent house flippers and folks just looking to invest. Instead, we could fill abandoned homes with people who want to live there themselves and become parts of those communities.
To contact the activists to see how you can help start a powerful movement for housing justice in Richmond you can comment, email, write, or call:
www.takingbackrva.wordpress.com
Mo Karn
Eris Morna
804 300 0023
xveganarchistrvax@gmail.com
Mo Karn
PO Box 6025
Richmond, VA 23222
Article About Our Squat by Style Weekly
Remodeling Anarchy
A band of activists fixes up a vacant home in protest, sparking a debate over squatter’s rights amid a national housing crisis.
by Chris Dovi
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| If Bob Villa and Mother Jones had an anarchist lovechild with a penchant for home repairs, she would be Mo Karn. Karn’s recent squatter’s protest against a notorious negligent property owner also sought attention for her unusual approach to resolving the nation’s mortgage crisis. Photo by Scott Elmquist |
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It’s the kind of extreme home makeover that’d make Ty Pennington stand up and wave his T-square: Caring amateur carpenters descend on a long-neglected house, repair damaged drywall, prime and paint the walls, spend thousands at local hardware stores on new appliances and plumbing, and call city building officials to schedule long-neglected inspections to bring the house up to occupancy code requirements. Read the rest of this entry »
Richmond February Critical Mass
February Critical Mass!
More Bikes = More Fun!!!
| Host: |
Richmond Community
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| Type: | |
| Network: |
Global
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| Date: |
Friday, February 27, 2009
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| Time: |
5:00pm – 7:00pm
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| Location: |
Monroe Park
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| Street: |
Main and Laurel
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| City/Town: |
Richmond, VA
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| Phone: |
8043000023
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| Email: |
Description
We will decide as a group what route we want to take and how we want to organize ourselves.
Helmets, Bike Lights, and Cold Weather Gear Encouraged!!
Zines about Helmets will be passed out!!
Bring signs to wear or horns to honk or bells to ring- lets make a ruckus!!! Anyone have a portable boombox they can bring??
Critical Mass is an internationally used tactic which promotes bike rights and makes cyclists more visible. It is also really fun! We want this to be a safe and positive style ride as much as is possible. Come bring your input this Friday, and let other cyclists in RIchmond know what it is you think is a priority for the Richmond biking community.
RVA Anarchist Black Cross presents: Voices of Three Political Prisoners
RVA Anarchist Black Cross Presents:
Voices of three political prisoners
Educate Yourself About Prison Issues!
Event InfoHost: Richmond Anarchist Black Cross
Type: Party – Movie/TV Night Network: Global Time and PlaceDate: Thursday, February 26, 2009 Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm Location: The William Byrd Community House Street: Cherry Street City/Town: Richmond, VA View Map Google MapQuest Microsoft Yahoo Contact InfoPhone: 8043000023 Email: rvaabc@gmail.com
Description The Richmond anarchist Black Cross presents its bi-monthly movie screening of a movie about prisons and political prisoners. Join us and other members of the RIchmond community to listen to the voices of three political prisoners at 7pm on Thursday Feb. 26 at the WIlliam Byrd Community Center in Oregon Hill (at the corner of Cherry and Idlewood). There will also be free political literature and the opportunity to discuss poltical issues with members of the community. Read the rest of this entry »
Richmond Activists Fight Local Slumlord over Squat
In the midst of record foreclosures and houses left empty all over the country, community activists in Richmond have been trying to clean up a blighted house and make it into a home. Now, they face threats of eviction and arrest from Oliver Lawrence, a notorious property speculator and slumlord.
The activists Jeremy Hawthorne, Eris Morna, and Mo Karn contest Lawrence’s right to the property, pointing to years of unpaid taxes and failure to do basic maintenance. “Mr. Lawrence would prefer this house to be an empty blight on the community rather than a home for someone who needs it. We feel that he has no legitimate claim to the property. At a time when people face eviction and foreclosure daily, we must take a stand against speculators and banks who want to keep perfectly good homes standing empty.” Read the rest of this entry »
