Frances Goldin

Last updated

Frances Axler Goldin (June 22, 1924- May 16, 2020) was a housing rights activist and literary agent in New York City. [1] She was a founding member of the Metropolitan Council on Housing [2] and the Cooper Square Committee. Beginning in 1959, she led a successful campaign to defeat an urban renewal plan of Robert Moses, which would have replaced historic, affordable housing with a freeway in the Lower East Side. For decades, Goldin was associated with the Lower East Side, where she was a neighborhood preservationist and community figure. [3] The 175 Essex Building of Essex Crossing is named in her honor, [4] and she was profiled in the documentary It Took 50 Years. [5]

Contents

Early life

Frances Goldin was born on June 22, 1924, and she grew up in Springfield Gardens, Queens. Her parents were working-class Jewish immigrants from Russia and Ukraine. [3] [5] Her father, Michael Axler, was a toolmaker and mechanic for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). [6] [7] Frances described him as a "freethinker" and "very much a union man." [8] Her mother, Sophie (Saslowsky) Axler, was a homemaker and former seamstress who had been fired due to her union activity. [7]

Frances had a difficult youth; she described her childhood as "miserable." Her neighborhood was almost entirely Christian. She experienced antisemitism, and bricks flew at her family's window when they lit candles on Friday night for Shabbat on at least two occasions. [9] She also experienced class discrimination as a child. Many of the neighborhood families were wealthier, and neighborhood fathers often worked in business capacities. [5] As she later explained, "I hated where we lived... We were one of nine Jewish families. The other eight Jewish families were shopkeepers. My father was a worker. So we were shunned by the non-Jews and shunned by the Jews, because my father worked with his hands." [8]

As a teen, Goldin attended Andrew Jackson High School, where she was valedictorian. Her parents expected her to become a traditional Jewish wife. Her mother wanted her to go to secretarial school rather than college. [7] During this time, Goldin met communists while working at the War Shipping Administration, [6] and "they quickly converted me." When Goldin was 19 years old, she joined the Communist Party. She enrolled in the Jefferson School of Social Science, an adult education school that was founded and managed by the Communist Party USA. At Jefferson, Goldin studied the history of capitalism and socialism, and she read Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. [8]

In 1944, when Frances was 20 years old, she married Morris Goldin. [8] The couple had met through the Communist Party. [8] Morris was also a party member, [5] and he was a leader of the Government Workers’ Union. [6] The couple moved to the Lower East Side in Manhattan, where they lived in a one-bedroom apartment in the fourth floor of a building. [8] In the Lower East Side, she found "nirvana." [9] She explained, "It was amazing to see people of different nationalities, colors, opinions, living together in harmony. And what bound them was poverty." [9] [5]

Early activism

Goldin first became involved with housing rights activism when she visited the Lower East Side Tenement and Consumer Council. [8] At the time, she wanted to confirm that she was being charged the correct rent ($65 per month) by her landlord. After confirming that this was the case, "...they said, 'You seem intelligent, would you like to come work in the tenant council and help us out?' I said sure, and I’ve worked with the tenant council ever since. I never left," as she explained in an interview. [10]

In some of her early work, Frances helped translate and interpret for Yiddish speakers at the tenant clinic. She also met with local American Labor Party organizers. [8]

In 1950, when she was 27 years old, Goldin ran for the New York State Senate, as part of the American Labor Party. [1] [2] The ticket also included W.E.B. DuBois. Due to these political activities, the Goldins were blacklisted and under surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This resulted in her husband losing his job, and Frances became the sole income earner in the family. [5] She supported the family by working as a secretary. [3]

Cooper Square activism

In 1959, she led an effort to oppose a Robert Moses plan to bulldoze twelve blocks of the Lower East Side, which was marketed as "urban renewal." The plan was to build a proposed Cross-Manhattan Expressway, so that wealthy residents could more easily commute to Wall Street. [1] [10] Through these efforts, Goldin co-founded Cooper Square Committee, along with Thelma Burdick and Walter Thabit. [9] The Committee advocates for affordable housing and tenant rights. [1] In 1961, the Committee released Alternate Plan for Cooper Square, which proposed the building of public housing on vacant lots. Through their pressures, a vote was made by the New York City Board of Estimate, which adopted the Alternate Plan for Cooper Square. [9] In total, the work of Goldin and the Committee saved 328 tenement apartments, and an additional 530 income-restricted apartments were later built in Cooper Square. [6]

Despite these efforts, the Committee struggled to find wider support in local government until David Dinkins became mayor. In 1990, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which stated that they would oversee affordable housing development in neighborhood under the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association. [9]

Finally, in 2012, the Committee's plan came to fruition, after years of activism, when the city decided to develop a housing cooperative, where residents could buy their apartments for as little as $250 per unit. [9] She said, "We organized and demonstrated and finally beat [Robert Moses] 50 years later." [10] The story of Cooper Square Committee has inspired other local groups that advocate for the poor in New York City, such as Picture the Homeless.

Goldin was also a founding member of the Metropolitan Council for Housing, and she became an advocate for squatter rights. [2]

Seward Park activism

In the 1960s, Goldin was involved in the movement that advocated for former tenants of Seward Park. In total, 1800 residents had been displaced by Seward Park Urban Renewal Area on Delancey Street, with the evacuation process largely completed by 1959. The effort was initially led by Robert Moses, as part of his Slum Clearance Committee, and then continued to be led by other organizations and interests. [11] [6] Goldin advocated for the right of the former tenants to return to their homes. The elite figures of the neighborhood represented the interests of the primarily assimilated, middle-class tenants. Meanwhile, the primarily Asian and Latino immigrant tenants represented a newer generation in the neighborhood. In 2018, after fifty years of struggle, a 100-unit low-income senior citizen building was completed in the area, where 50% of the units are allocated for affordable housing. The building was named Frances Goldin Houses in her honor. [6]

Literary agency

Beginning in the 1950s, Goldin began to work in a small literary agency, so she could begin to understand the publishing industry. Eventually, in 1977, Goldin launched Frances Goldin Literary Agency, which focused on left-wing writers. Her clients included Dorothy Allison, Staceyann Chin, Martin Duberman, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Barbara Kingsolver, Adrienne Rich, Robert Meeropol, Juan Gonzalez, and Mike Wallace. [3] She said, "I do not market any material that is sexist, racist, homophobic or gratuitously violent." Many of the authors were included in Imagine: Living in a Socialist USA, published by Goldin, in 2014. [12] [6]

Protests

Goldin was a recognizable figure in multiple protest movements and marches. She was a longtime advocate for LGBTQ rights and participated in the NYC Pride March for 35 years. She was known to carry a sign that read, "I Adore my Lesbian Daughters KEEP THEM SAFE," [13] and she became a recognizable figure of the parades. [14]

As she aged, Goldin continued to protest. In 2011, Goldin was involved in the Occupy Wall Street protests. She was known to carry a sign that said, “I’m 87 and MAD AS HELL." [14] In 2018, when she was 92 years old, she participated in the Women's March in a wheelchair. She raised her fist and chanted, "92 and Comin’ Through!” [6]

For many years, Goldin was known for her outspoken personality and distinctive style. In her old age, she had a neon purple streak in her white hair, and she wore a pin that said "TAX THE RICH," which was pinned to a purple sweatshirt. [9]

Personal life

Goldin was married to Morris Goldin, a staff member of the New York State American Labor Party and advisor to Congressman Vito Marcantonio in East Harlem. [5] Frances and Morris divorced in 1971. [3] The couple had two daughters, Sally and Reeni, who are both lesbians. They both came out after their first pride parade in 1970. [14] Every year since then Goldin attended the NYC Pride Parade where she was always seen holding the same banner: "I Adore My Lesbian Daughters- Keep Them Safe." [15]

Death

On May 16, 2020, Goldin died [12] at her home on East 11th Street, where she had lived for nearly 50 years. [16] She had endured years of declining health before her death. She was 95 years old. [17] The New York Times called her a "...protester, provocateur and voice for lost causes" in its obituary. [3] The Indypendent dedicated a full page obituary to her, in which they wrote, "Frances Goldin was relentless, her enthusiasm infectious. And her life shows the value of being a long distance runner." She is survived by her daughter Reeni Goldin and daughter-in-law Marge Burns, daughter Sally Goldin, and her grandson, Morris Goldin. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Jacobs</span> American–Canadian journalist, author, and activist (1916–2006)

Jane Jacobs was an American-Canadian journalist, author, theorist, and activist who influenced urban studies, sociology, and economics. Her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) argued that "urban renewal" and "slum clearance" did not respect the needs of city-dwellers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Village, Manhattan</span> Neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City

The East Village is a neighborhood on the East Side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is roughly defined as the area east of the Bowery and Third Avenue, between 14th Street on the north and Houston Street on the south. The East Village contains three subsections: Alphabet City, in reference to the single-letter-named avenues that are located to the east of First Avenue; Little Ukraine, near Second Avenue and 6th and 7th Streets; and the Bowery, located around the street of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabrini–Green Homes</span> Public housing development in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Cabrini–Green Homes was a Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) public housing project on the Near North Side of Chicago, Illinois. The Frances Cabrini Rowhouses and Extensions were south of Division Street, bordered by Larrabee Street to the west, Orleans Street to the east and Chicago Avenue to the south, with the William Green Homes to the northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Square Park</span> Public park in Manhattan, New York

Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre (39,500 m2) public park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City. One of the best known of New York City's public parks, it is an icon as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. It is operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village</span> Neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City

Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village, sometimes shortened to StuyTown, is a large post–World War II private residential development on the east side of the New York City borough of Manhattan. The complex consists of 110 red brick apartment buildings on an 80-acre (32 ha) tract stretching from First Avenue to Avenue C, between 14th and 23rd Streets. Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village is split up into two parts: Stuyvesant Town, south of 20th Street, and Peter Cooper Village, north of 20th Street. Together, the two developments contain 11,250 apartments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deborah J. Glick</span> American politician

Deborah J. Glick is a member of the New York State Assembly representing the 66th Assembly District in Lower Manhattan, including the neighborhoods of Alphabet City, Greenwich Village, Noho, the East Village, the West Village, Tribeca, and Battery Park City. She is a Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Gardens, Queens</span> Neighborhood of Queens in New York City

Springfield Gardens is a neighborhood in the southeastern area of the New York City borough of Queens, bounded to the north by St. Albans, to the east by Laurelton and Rosedale, to the south by John F. Kennedy International Airport, and to the west by Farmers Boulevard. The neighborhood is served by Queens Community Board 12. The area, particularly east of Springfield Boulevard, is sometimes also referred to as Brookville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Housing Authority</span> Public development corporation responsible for New York Citys public and leased housing

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is a public development corporation which provides public housing in New York City, and is the largest public housing authority in North America. Created in 1934 as the first agency of its kind in the United States, it aims to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs of New York City. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments. NYCHA developments include single and double family houses, apartment units, singular floors, and shared small building units, and commonly have large income disparities with their respective surrounding neighborhood or community. These developments, particularly those including large-scale apartment buildings, are often referred to in popular culture as "projects."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Garvey Park</span> Public park in Manhattan, New York

Marcus Garvey Park is a 20.16-acre (81,600 m2) park on the border between the Harlem and East Harlem neighborhoods of Manhattan, New York City. The park, centered on a massive and steep outcropping of schist, interrupts the flow of Fifth Avenue traffic, which is routed around the park via Mount Morris Park West. The park is also bounded by 120th Street to the south, 124th Street to the north, and Madison Avenue to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margot Gayle</span>

Margot McCoy Gayle was an American historic preservationist, activist, and writer. She led the effort to designate the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District, which preserved Victorian era cast-iron architecture in New York City.

Fourth Arts Block (FAB) is the leadership organization for the East Village, Manhattan cultural district in New York City, United States, building a permanent home for the arts and preserving the neighborhood's creative character. FAB advocates for the District, directs marketing and outreach efforts, leads projects that contribute to sustainable development, and supports the development and capacity of its members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Chin</span> American politician (born 1953)

Margaret S. Chin is a Hong Kong American politician who served as a council member for the 1st district of the New York City Council. A Democrat, she and Queens Council member Peter Koo comprised the Asian American delegation of the city council.

Andrew Berman is an architectural and cultural heritage preservationist in New York City. He is known for being an advocate of LGBT rights and an opponent of new construction. Berman was named executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), neighborhood preservation organization in New York City, in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet Freeman</span>

Janet Freeman was an American community organizer and activist for tenant's rights in New York City's lower Manhattan. On June 20, 2013, the corner of Elizabeth Street and Kenmare Street was co-named "Janet Freeman Way" by the New York City Council in her memory and to commemorate her activism on behalf of the community. According to NYC Streets in its listing of street names and their honorees, "Janet Freeman was a community organizer and tenant advocate. She founded the Croman Tenants Association; the Coalition to Protect Public Housing and Section 8; and Co-op Watch, to prevent evictions through phony conversions. She started campaigns to organize tenants against aggressive landlords, phony demolitions, and harassment in and around Chinatown and Little Italy."

Marie M. Runyon was an American activist and former New York State Legislator from New York.

CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center was a neighborhood organization and squatted community center in New York's East Village between 1979 and 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlina Rivera</span> New York politician

Carlina Rivera is an American politician who represents the 2nd district of the New York City Council since 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, her district includes portions of the East Village, Gramercy Park, Kips Bay, Lower East Side, Murray Hill and Rose Hill in Manhattan.

The Metropolitan Council on Housing is a tenant rights organization in New York City founded in 1959. As the oldest and largest tenants' organization in the city," it has focused on issues including rent regulation and affordable public housing.

Dorothy Rosenman was an expert on housing, a lifelong advocate for low-cost housing and an author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Althea Stevens</span> American politician

Althea V. Stevens is an American politician who has represented the 16th district on the New York City Council since 2022. Her district encompasses the South Bronx communities of Morrisania, Concourse, Highbridge, and Morris Heights.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Frances Goldin, Famed New York Housing Activist, Dies at 96". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  2. 1 2 3 "Organizers". Met Council on Housing. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Roberts, Sam (2020-05-18). "Frances Goldin, a Crusader for the Lower East Side, Dies at 95". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  4. ↑ "Frances Goldin | The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side". www.thelodownny.com. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Powell, Ryan Joseph, David. "It Took 50: The Struggle for Cooper Square". It Took 50 - The Documentary. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Weinberg, Daniel (2020-05-18). "Rest in Power, Frances Goldin". Cooper Square Committee. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  7. 1 2 3 Tarleton, John (June 2020). "Frances Was Golden: Legendy Activist & Literary Agent Leaves an Inspiring Legacy". The Indypendent.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gold, Roberta (2014-02-15). When Tenants Claimed the City: The Struggle for Citizenship in New York City Housing. University of Illinois Press. ISBN   978-0-252-09598-6.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kimball, Whitney (2014-05-13). "The Plan That Could Fend Off Real Estate: Frances Goldin and the Cooper Square Committee". Art F City. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  10. 1 2 3 terryhschwadron (2018-10-03). "Frances Goldin, Housing Activist". WorkersWrite. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  11. ↑ Williams, Keith (2017-02-22). "The creation of Essex Crossing, from slum to SPURA to city-backed megaproject". Curbed NY. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  12. 1 2 "Obituary: Frances Goldin". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  13. ↑ Harmeet Kaur; Emanuella Grinberg (2019-06-30). "She's been bringing this sign to New York Pride for 35 years". CNN. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  14. 1 2 3 "92-Year-Old Mother Has Carried Same Sign at NYC Pride for 30 Years". My Modern Met. 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  15. ↑ "Frances Goldin, legendary housing activist, literary agent, dies at 95". The Village Sun. 2020-05-17. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  16. ↑ "News and Events". Cooper Square Committee. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  17. ↑ "Frances Goldin, legendary housing activist, literary agent, dies at 95". 17 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.