It rained in several short but intense intervals yesterday. The air was muggy with temperature hanging around 90 during the entire day. Foreheads of several people were covered in a gloss of sweat as they climbed the stairs to the Cathedral of Joy at 43 George Street for Town Hall Meeting about the community action regarding the reluctance of the developers to include promised affordable housing at Rheingold luxury condos. About 200 of Bushwick residents were already sitting in a dimly lit large room, which usually serves as a house of worship.

“All we’re asking is for Rabsky to deliver on the commitments made to the community,” two men from Churches United for Fair Housing said first in English and then in Spanish. The lively crowd responded with a chant and a cheer. “The rezoning would have not been allowed without these benefits, and we cannot allow the construction without them,” the men continued and more hum and noise followed in agreement.  “Without affordable housing many of will be displaced.”

Men and women, both young and old; hispanic, black and white, all murmured and clapped emotionally, ready for action — just tell them what the action is.