The Movement To Protect The People “MTOPP” was formed out of a love for our community. Many of us have lived in Brooklyn for 40+ years. We’ve created a life of beauty, tranquility and peace right here in this urban landscape and we want to hold on to it. We want our children to be able to live here and take advantage of the thriving Brooklyn community we helped create.
In 2014, we mobilized to protect Crown Heights South and Flatbush from the ravages of gentrification: accelerated out of context development, rising rents and property taxes, the displacement of residents and local businesses and the desecration of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park.
We are the only community of color to stop a district wide rezoning, when Community Board 9 in Brooklyn attempted to submit a rezoning (increase heights of buildings) request to the City to rezone almost 50 blocks along the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park, without due process, community engagement and in violation of many laws that govern community boards. We demonstrated, got arrested, conducted civil disobedience, town hall meetings and filed lawsuits.
We fight to give people back their voices and their power. Our initial focus was on keeping people informed of their rights and shining a light on the dealings of our elected officials and the Community Board 9 board members (all who are appointed by the Brooklyn Borough President). That focus expanded to using our legal system to literally fight City Hall to protect this community by saving our affordable housing stock and green spaces.
We love Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden! We are inspired by their beauty, generosity and energy. Thus we are willing to fight for them, to preserve their beauty, their gift of health and wellness and our right to enjoy them without any obstructions as they were intended to be experienced.