New York, NY — In the heart of Harlem, a battle for the community is reaching a critical breaking point. Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely – internationally revered as the Queen Mother of Hip Hop, Community Mayor of Harlem, and UN Goodwill Ambassador – is issuing a soulful call to the public. She asks for solidarity as she faces a decisive moment in an 18-year legal dispute to save her home and community centre at 477 West 142nd Street. She’s calling on righteous members of the Global community to support her.
A Legacy of Hip Hop and Harlem Resilience
Harlem has long been the beating heart of Black innovation, from the literary brilliance of the Renaissance to the global revolution of Hip Hop. Queen Mother Dr Blakely is a living pillar of this lineage. For over five decades, she has connected the streets of Harlem to global movements for peace and human rights.
Her home is more than a unit within a building; it is a cultural sanctuary. Dr Blakely moved into the property in 1978 and purchased it in 1982 under a Homesteading initiative designed to empower residents to rehabilitate distressed buildings for affordable housing. For nearly half a century, she has honored that mission and wants to continue it by maintaining the space as a safe haven for children in need, the disabled, and the displaced by polishing this “diamond in the rough” with community support and love.
The Fight for 477 West 142nd Street Press Conference on December 8th, 2025
Despite possessing documentation of ownership – including a stock certificate listing herself, a disabled resident known as her “Angel,” and her organization, the New Future Foundation (NFF) – Queen Mother is battling an investment firm claiming control. She asserts that the firm’s actions threaten to erase a vital community asset, displacing the very people the Homesteading program was built to protect.
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The Queen Mother’s life’s work is immortalised in the Queen Mother of Reality sculpture by acclaimed artist Paweł Althamer. This interactive monument was created not just to honor her, but to serve as a platform for the voiceless, specifically the unhoused and displaced. Furthermore, her impact is documented by scholars at NYU and Yeshiva University, who have chronicled NFF’s decades of youth leadership and peace education.
An urgent message from Dr Kridikel – The Sixth Region Youth Congress ” Stand with Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely to protect this historic Harlem legacy.”
Queen Mother Blakely urges people to look beyond themselves. This legal battle is a microcosm of a larger moral imperative: the duty to protect the elders, care for the disabled, and check on thier neighbors.
PRESS CONFERENCE
When: Monday, December 8th | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Where: In front of 477 West 142nd Street, New York, NY 10031
Why: To defend community ownership, hear the history of the Homesteading legacy, and support the Queen Mother before her court hearing on December 2nd.
Petition for District 30 to support. Senator Cordell Cleare has the jurisdiction and responsibility to sponsor a legislative bill to protect the Queen Mother’s historic property. We want to send her office a signed letter from STOP DEED THEFT and other organizations requesting her to pass legislative protections. Since this effort might take a minute, we should brainstorm on how to send this request to her office before the December 8th press conference.
PUBLIC PETITION
Protect Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely & Harlem Cultural Elders Support the Harlem Cultural Elder Property Protection Act, Sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare
The undersigned residents, elders, youth, families, and supporters of Harlem and New York State, call upon the New York State Legislature to immediately pass the Harlem Cultural Elder Property Protection Act 2026.
Why Support This Bill:
- To protect 477 West 142nd Street (Block 2058, Lot 29) a vital humanitarian and cultural site
- To stop predatory lenders from targeting Harlem elders
- To preserve our cultural heritage and community stability
- To mandate state investigations into fraudulent real estate practices
- To protect elderly people who have contributed to Harlem’s cultural legacy
- To ensure HPD repairs 455+ safety violations.
- To create a registry safeguarding future elder
Call To Action:
Calling on the New York State Senate and Assembly to:
- Pass Senator Cleare’s bill immediately
- Enforce the moratorium on all foreclosure and harassment actions
- Hold predatory lenders accountable
- Protect Harlem’s elders and cultural institutions
- Preserve our historical properties for future generations
Harlem’s culture is not for sale. Our elders are not disposable. We stand united in protecting this legacy.
Office of Senator Cordell Cleare
New York State Senate – District 30
Senator Cleare Introduces Landmark Bill to Protect Harlem Cultural Elders and Halt Predatory Lending at 477 West 142nd Street, Harlem, NY
Senator Cordell Cleare has introduced the Harlem Cultural Elder Property Protection Act, groundbreaking legislation that establishes state-level protections for Harlem elders and cultural institutions facing displacement by predatory lenders and speculative real estate actors.
“Harlem’s cultural elders are treasures,” Senator Cleare said. “We will not allow predatory actors to erase our history, displace our leaders, or dismantle our cultural institutions.”
The Bill Will:
- Designate 477 W. 142nd Street as a Protected Cultural Elder Property
- Impose a statewide moratorium on foreclosure, liens, evictions, or property transfers
- Mandate investigations by the NY Attorney General, HPD, DOB, DOF, and the U.S. Attorney (SDNY)
- Require HPD to complete all emergency repairs and correct over 455 violations
- Establish a Harlem Cultural Elder Registry to protect seniors at risk of displacement
- Impose penalties up to $50,000 per violation.
- Queen Mother Blakely expressed gratitude, stating: “This legislation protects not only my home but the legacy of Harlem’s ancestors, elders, and future generations.”
This bill will be scheduled for committee review in early 2026.
TALKING POINTS FOR MEDIA, HEARINGS, OR COMMUNITY MEETINGS
by Senator Cordell Cleare
Core Message:
“We are protecting Harlem’s elders, preserving our cultural heritage, and stopping predatory lenders from dismantling our community.”
Key Points:
- Harlem’s elders are under attack
- Predatory lenders target seniors, cultural leaders, and historic buildings
- Their practices include deception, coercion, harassment, and fraudulent filings
- Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely is the case that exposes the crisis
- A global humanitarian
- A 50+ year Harlem resident
- Her home is both a residence and a cultural institution
- 477 West 142nd Street is culturally and historically vital
- It has served thousands of youths, families, and global peace programs
- It is part of Harlem’s identity and legacy
- The bill creates concrete protections
- A statewide moratorium
- Multi-agency investigations
- Emergency repairs
- A registry of at-risk elders
- Civil and criminal penalties for violators
- This is not an isolated case — it is a citywide pattern
- Harlem, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens are facing similar attacks
- The bill provides a template for statewide protection
- Harlem deserves stability, justice, and protection
- Displacement destroys culture
- Elders must not be left defenseless
- Harlem’s legacy must be preserved for future generations
Closing Line: “This bill is about justice, dignity, and protecting the soul of Harlem.”
The bill was crafted in response to alarming attempts by Manhattan Lending Partners LLC to seize the home and humanitarian center of Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely, a global activist, educator, and lifelong Harlem resident.
Purpose: To protect 477 West 142nd Street (Block 2058, Lot 29), the home and humanitarian center of Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely, and to establish stronger state protections for Harlem elders, cultural institutions, and properties targeted by predatory lenders
Key Provisions
- Cultural Heritage Designation Declares 477 West 142nd Street a Protected Cultural Elder Property, recognizing its historical, humanitarian, and community significance.
- Statewide Moratorium stops all foreclosures, liens, transfers, evictions, harassment, or lender interference affecting the property until investigations are complete.
- Multi-Agency Investigations Mandates coordinated investigations by:
- NY Attorney General (Housing Unit)
- HPD
- DOB
- DOF
- S. Attorney (SDNY)
- Reports are due in 90 days (preliminary) and 180 days (final).
- Emergency Repairs HPD is required to correct 455+ violations and restore safety at no cost to Queen Mother Blakely.
- Harlem Elder Protection Registry Creates a registry for culturally elderly people at risk of displacement, prioritizing them for legal protections and repair programs.
- Enforcement & Penalties Violations carry civil penalties up to $50,000 per incident, plus criminal liability for fraud, intimidation, or deed theft. Impact
- Protects Harlem’s cultural heritage and elders
- Prevents displacement by predatory lenders
- Strengthens state oversight
- Stabilizes a vital humanitarian institution
- Sets a statewide model for safeguarding cultural legacy properties
Contact & Support Community organizations, elders, youth leaders, and Harlem cultural institutions strongly support this legislation.
For media inquiries, contact: Office of Senator Cordell Cleare, District Office 163 West 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building. Suite 912, New York, NY 10027. Phone: 212-222-7315 or email agray@nysenate.gov
Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely attended the 20th Annual West Side Tenants’ Conference on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the Fordham University School of Law, located on 150 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023, for a day filled with informative sessions and engaging discussions. Attorney General of the State of NY, Letitia James and Queen Mother connected and had a moment together discussing QM’s battle, and she made sure to let the room filled with 250 people know that she knew Queen Mother, and she used the words “predatory lending,” “fraud,” and “deed theft,” in her messaging pledging to offer her support. They were excited to bring together tenants from across the West Side to tackle the pressing issues that impact their community. Whether they are a long-time resident or new to the neighborhood, this conference was a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow tenants and learn about their rights.
This year’s workshops include:
- Older Adult Services
- Immigration & Housing
- Stopping Illegal Overcharges
- Organizing Your Tenant Association
- Fight for Tenant Rights in 2026
- Fighting Landlord Harassment
- Know Your HUD Rights
- Legal Tools for Winning Repairs
Engage in meaningful discussions, ask questions, and share your experiences as they gain valuable insights into navigating the complexities of renting in New York City.
For more information on how to support this noble cause,e contact Yvette Gibbs
Founder & Managing Director, Awujo Consulting
M: +1 (856) 607-5979 or email yvette@awujoconsulting.com
