In this oral history interview, Tom Angotti reflects on his personal journey, professional career, and deep-rooted activism, offering insights into his involvement with the Cooper Square community. The interview begins with Tom discussing his early life, heritage, and upbringing in Brooklyn, followed by his education and high school years across New Jersey, California, and Connecticut. He delves into his experiences in higher education and his post-graduate career, emphasizing his lifelong commitment to grassroots organizing and activism.
Tom recounts his connection to the Lower East Side and his early involvement with the Cooper Square Committee in the 1970s, working alongside Fran Goldin and the influence this had on his book New York for Sale: Community Planning Confronts Global Real Estate (2008). He reflects on joining the Mutual Housing Association II (MHA) and Cooper Square Community Land Trust (CLT) in 2007, detailing his time on the MHA board and the internal tensions he observed.
The interview provides an in-depth analysis of the strategic role of the Cooper Square CLT in protecting the Cooper Square MHA II during difficult times and preserving the legacy of the Cooper Square community. Tom discusses the stabilization of the MHA II and the strengthening of its relationship with the CLT through the involvement of new leadership. He shares key lessons learned from navigating conflicts in community development, emphasizing how common such challenges are in this field.
Reflecting on the values of the Cooper Square CLT, Tom highlights the organization's crucial role in preserving affordable housing and sustaining the Lower East Side community. He also speaks to the solidarity of the Puerto Rican and Latinx communities and the significance of multigenerational living and learning in community building.
Toward the end of the interview, Tom shares his thoughts on the growing community land trust movement in New York City. He recounts the early days of the New York Community Land Initiative (NYCCLI) and its expansion over the years, underscoring the importance of CLTs in shaping city policy and deepening understandings of land ownership. He connects this to contemporary discussions about Lenapehoking and land relations in the city.
In conclusion, Tom emphasizes the importance of the Cooper Square CLT's history for the broader CLT movement and offers recommendations for the future, urging engagement with new generations, prioritizing open spaces alongside affordable housing, and keeping the community at the heart of the CLT movement.
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