Category talk:Public housing

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Red Hook Projects - Brooklyn, New York

The Red Hook Projects, like most NYC (most US) public housing projects, are inhabited by unemployed/poor African Americans.

There is ONE bank - that just opened (one bank for approx. 7,000 residents)in '06 (approx.) - Independence Bank.

There is ONE supermarket (not really a SUPERmarket - really too small to call it that) for the 7,000 residents.

There are no commerical chains like RiteAid, CVS Eckherts, etc. within the immediate neighbornood.

Residents must go outside of the neighborhood to buy food, medicine (there is ONE small pharmacy), clothing, books, household goods (there is ONE 'ghetto' type store that carries cheap, shoddy merchandise like sponges and giftwrap. They can hike out of the neighborhood; under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, over a drawbridge of the Gowanus Canal and shop at PathMark - a large supermarket with huge lines, bad service and overpriced goods. The prices are classic "redlined" meaning MORE expensive for the unemployed/poor than they are in middle class urban or suburban supermarkets.

The closest subway stop is a LONG, LONG walk - especially for the elderly and for children (and pregnant women). This is typical of most 'projects'. They were built AWAY from everything - including convenient transportation. The walk is intolerable in cold weather.

There are no bus shelters. The wait for a bus is intolerable in cold weather.

There are no movie theaters in Redhook. There are no libraries. There is a small post office.

There is one check cashing place.

Residents can walk to the subway - or take a bus, leave the neighborhood and go to Carroll Gardens or further to Downtown Brooklyn to see a movie - or to go to Barnes and Noble.

There are no restaurants near the Red Hook Projects. Residents must leave the neighborhood to go to a restaurant.

It's like a defacto reservation for blacks - it's US owned public land.

THIS MUST CHANGE.