Monthly Archives: May 2015

First Houses

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

Better housing happens where determined campaigns meet political will. That’s what produced the UK’s first council estate, the Boundary (1900) in Bethnal Green and the first public housing in the US, ‘First Houses’ (1935) on 3rd Street in the Lower East … Continue reading →

Stop the Blocks

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

The purpose of my visit to the US is to do the research for a book I’m going to write about the historic and current parallels between US and UK housing policy. Yesterday I joined a demonstration in the Lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bill de Blasio, Gentrification, Lower East Side, New York, Public Housing | 1 Comment

We need to talk about Suburbia

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

Suburbia stalks and haunts the housing debate. Nowhere are the suburbs more physically, economically, politically, culturally and ideologically ingrained than America. It’s hard to overstate their significance as a symbol of how this country thinks of itself. The idea of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Planning, Radburn, suburbia | 8 Comments

Start Spreading the News

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

I arrived in New York yesterday. I’m staying in Harlem, an area I know a little and it’s great to be back. The reason for this trip is not just to bemoan the misery caused by trans-Atlantic neoliberal housing policy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Affordable Housing, Co-Op Housing, New York, Trade Unions | 2 Comments

South Boston

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

I wanted to try to put some skin on the bones of the issues being raised at the campaign meeting on Thursday, so on Friday I met with a public housing tenant who showed me around her neighbouhrood in South Boston. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Boston, Displacement, Gentrificationj, Public Housing | 4 Comments

Bostonians

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

My trip has begun, appropriately, in Boston, the place where this strange idea of ‘America’ really got started. There are buildings to remind you this was once a British colony, but now the colonisers come in different, but very familiar, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged BHA, Boston, Boston Housing Authority | 2 Comments

40 Days and 40 Nights

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

I’m not suggesting the trip I’m embarking on tomorrow will be of Biblical significance, but I hope to return from the USA on 29th June with a deeper understanding of the country and its housing. I’ll be visiting nine cities … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Housing, council housing, Housing, Public Housing | 4 Comments

Rabina Khan for Tower Hamlets Mayor!

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

Politics in Tower Hamlets is rarely dull. No sooner does one election campaign end than another begins. Following Richard Mawrey’s decision of 30th April, a new borough Mayor will be elected on 11th June. Rabina Khan is standing as an … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Lutfur Rahman, Rabina Khan, Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Council, Tower Hamlets Mayoral Election | 2 Comments

48 hours to restore hope, unity and democracy in Tower Hamlets

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

Thursday’s election isn’t about me, it’s about us and the future of our community and country. Locally, we’re seeing an unprecedented attack on local democracy. Nationally, the mainstream parties have taken us to a boring political stalemate. In 48 hours … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bethnal Green and Bow, Democracy, General Election 2015, Glyn Robbins, Left Unity, Lutfur Rahman, Tower Hamlets, TUSC | Leave a comment

Where has politics in Tower Hamlets gone?

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Glyn Robbins

I’ve just sent the following letter to Tower Hamlets Council, protesting against the physical, as well as the political, removal of local democracy. Dear Head of Electoral Services Thank you for your letter of 30th April. As a candidate, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bethnal Green and Bow, ExCel Centre, local democracy, Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Council | 3 Comments