Citizen-Led Engagement: Subway Evangelist

I recently had an interesting experience on my morning commute to Karp Strategies, where I am a Graduate Associate. On the 4/5, I became the audience of an impromptu community engagement session.

The man began speaking directly to commuters from Lefferts and East Flatbush, asking them to play a game of jeopardy, with question themed around knowledge of various city representatives. “Elections are coming up he said” after listing the names, “and you need to know who these people are because they’re robbing you.” What came next was information I wasn’t expecting. “Rezonings mean the community is being sold to developers. It means those big luxury buildings you can’t afford, and those stores you can’t shop in. And if they tell you it will bring affordable housing, it’s a lie. Those of you waiting for affordable housing can stop, because it doesn’t exist.”

It was 8:30 AM, but this man succeeded in engaging at least one commuter on the train, even though the message wasn’t for me. Did he reach others in the car? Did they believe him? In that forum, I doubt anyone with a different perspective would speak up, especially pre-coffee. In a time where people are witnessing their communities change, and more people are rent burdened and facing displacement pressures, can rezonings help? Many see them as a solution to a rapidly growing population citywide, and as a key mechanism in increasing affordable housing, land-use mix, and open space. If rezonings are a solution, why do some people see them as a threat? Is it that some communities are burdened with absorbing the growth of the city, building affordability for everyone, more than others?

Here at Karp Strategies, we think deeply about how policy change impacts us. How can we help developers advance their initiatives? How do we make sure the community has a voice and kept informed? The questions go on and on. Through our community and stakeholder engagement practice, we strive to engage New Yorkers in fun, creative ways and meet them where they are. While few enjoy morning commute disruptions, I wonder if our subway evangelist is onto something.

#guerillaengagement #nycsubway #rezoning #urbanplanning

Inclusive Public Spaces on Staten Island's North Shore

How can we design vibrant public spaces that support communities, not displace them? Karp Strategies is currently working with the Staten Island Economic Development Corp. (SIEDC) to ask this question in Port Richmond, a North Shore neighborhood struggling with disinvestment. The area has a half-mile stretch of retired elevated rail line and SIEDC is exploring the idea of a ‘Skyway’ to create a community park that serves as a space for physical activity, transit, and safe and healthy events. Stay tuned for more details as we hear from the Port Richmond community next week!

#adaptivereuse #stakeholderengagement #economicdevelopment

Transforming Community Engagement with PLACE IT!

How do we engage historically excluded voices from planning and community engagement processes? This week, the Karp Strategies team explored the PLACE IT! methodology with James Rojas, whose groundbreaking community engagement tool uses memory and tactile model-building to foster a sense of belonging amongst participants. “People talk about problems, but they build solutions,” he remarked. PLACE IT! is one of the most effective and beloved engagement tools that we use to build community members’ voices into the design process. The firm is tremendously excited to present PLACE IT! along with James at International Economic Development Council (IEDC)'s Annual Conference in Atlanta this September.

#design #planning #communityengagement