Podcast / July 20, 2025
Kai Cogsville on Housing Equity
Housing activists and organizers are still deeply unhappy with the affordability level in the One45 development on 145th Street and Malcolm X BLVD. A group gathered at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building on West 125th Street last Friday, July 11, to protest at Councilman Salaam’s office, led by Kai Cogsville and other activists in the "Defend Harlem" coalition. More on them at https://defendharlem.org/This touches on a broad affordability issue pitting progressives against progressives with the Housin
Housing activists and organizers are still deeply unhappy with the affordability level in the One45 development on 145th Street and Malcolm X BLVD. A group gathered at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building on West 125th Street last Friday, July 11, to protest at Councilman Salaam’s office, led by Kai Cogsville and other activists in the "Defend Harlem" coalition. More on them at https://defendharlem.org/This touches on a broad affordability issue pitting progressives against progressives with the Housing Justice advocates on one side and the YIMBY (yes in my back yard) advocates on another, but it doesn't have to be. In 2022/23 we negotiated a 50% deeply affordability plan with the developers of One45 and in 2025 the city council adopted a 30% plan. We don't know exactly what changed. This is happening all over New York City.