Critics sound off on new designation of Little Yemen as a cultural district
The Little Yemen neighborhood of the Bronx has officially been recognized as a cultural district by the state. But not all residents who live in the neighborhood are in support of the decision.
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Politicians and members of the Little Yemen community celebrated Sunday as the neighborhood was officially designated a cultural district.
It is the first in the Bronx to receive the distinction and only the third in New York City, after “El Barrio” in East Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance Cultural District. The new legislation means cultural organizations within the district may be eligible for grant assistance from the state.
"The funding could be used for the cultural, for the arts, but it also will bring tourism. It'll expand the businesses. It'll bring more jobs," says Yahay Obeid, president of Little Yemen Neighborhood Council. "It'll definitely be a big benefit to the community overall.”
The district will span from White Plains Road on the west to Bronxdale Avenue on the east and north and Van Nest Avenue on the south.
"When you come to Little Yemen, you feel like you're in your own house," local business owner Mustafa Mustafa said, "and this is why I love Little Yemen so much and I’ve been fighting for Little Yemen so much.”
Not everyone in the neighborhood is in support of this new distinction. For weeks, members of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance have been speaking up against the move.
"If you have something culturally of value and you live in New York City, people will come to you. Why do millions of taxpayer dollars need to be given to nonprofits to make that happen?" asked Sharlene Jackson Mendez, vice president of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance. "That wasn't done for the Italians, the Germans, the Jewish, the Blacks, the Puerto Ricans who sustained Van Nest over 134 years."
The group claims it was left out of discussions between Assembly Member John Zaccaro, who advocated for the designation, and Yemeni community members.
“We were kept in the dark so this could be fast-tracked and get signed," said Bernadette Ferrara, president of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance.
"This is a civil rights violation because we were not treated equitably," Jackson Mendez said.
The group says it now plans to explore legal actions.
In a statement sent directly to News 12, Assembly member Zaccaro wrote:
"It is deeply disappointing that a small group has chosen to overshadow this historic moment by misrepresenting my office's efforts to engage with them.
I would like to emphasize: My office and I met with this group to discuss their concerns and provided written responses to outstanding questions. When they requested another meeting in August, we offered multiple opportunities to meet with senior staff, which they declined.
Furthermore, my office publicly discussed this legislation at Van Nest Neighborhood Association meetings, Community Board 11 meetings, and other community gatherings. The opportunity to raise concerns existed throughout the legislative process, yet this group waited until the legislation had passed both houses to voice its objections."
