Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-8) meets with a Bed-Stuy resident during his “Congress on the Corner” series

On Thursday, May 28, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-8) was at Fulton Park in Bed-Stuy for one of his “Congress on the Corner” meet ups, an opportunity for residents of his district to discuss one-on-one with the congressman the issues that concern them most.

Thursday’s outdoor office session was the second in a series he will hold over the next few months— the first was in East New York, outside of the New Lots Library.

Jeffries said there are a host of issues raised at each meet up, all of which vary across each neighborhood. But, he pointed out, a significant issue of concern amongst Bed-Stuy residents seems to be the overly aggressive behavior by developers and potential buyers soliciting homeowners to sell their properties in ways that “cross the line of legitimate commercial activity.”

“We’re going to have to work together in partnership with all of the local elected officials in response to this aggressive behavior that is taking place in Bedford-Stuyvesant,” said Jeffries.

“Bed-Stuy has probably become ground zero for gentrification that has occurred in Brooklyn over the last ten years. As neighborhoods like Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Prospect Heights have been almost completely consumed, all of the action now is in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and we’re going to have to push back aggressively.”

He said he plans to return to Bed-Stuy in June, where he’ll hold another “Congress on the Corner” at Restoration Plaza and again in July or August in front of the Shirley Chisholm Post office.

For future “Congress on the Corner” dates with Rep. Jeffries in more neighborhoods across his district, check back in with The Brooklyn Reader or visit Rep. Jeffries’ website here.