Overview
Right to the City was born out of desire and need by organizers and allies around the country to have a stronger movement for urban justice. But it was also born out of the power of an idea of a new kind of urban politics that asserts that everyone, particularly the disenfranchised, not only has a right to the city, but as inhabitants, have a right to shape it, design it, and operationalize an urban human rights agenda.
In the realm of ideas, a key resource and touchstone is "Le droite à la ville" (Right to the City) a book published in 1968 by French intellectual and philosopher Henri Lefebvre. In the sphere of human rights, this powerful idea was adopted by the World Urban Forum and elaborated into the World Charter of the Right to the City in 2004.
Building from this powerful idea, international principles, and forward looking grassroots organizing, the Right to the City Alliance was established in January 2007.
Timeline
January 2007 – Miami Workers Center, Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (LA), Tenants and Workers United (Northern VA) convened over 20 grassroots organizations, allies and formal intellectuals as part of the Right to the City Conference in Los Angeles. The Right to the City officially launches as a new alliance that unites our struggles for housing, health care, public space to fight neoliberalism and build an alternative for our cities.
June 2007 – Over 300 leaders from grassroots organizations in seven different cities converge in Atlanta for the first ever US Social Forum as part of the Right to the City Alliance. The Alliance holds its first business meeting. Membership structure is ratified.
February 2008 – The Alliance convenes its second business meeting to plan for the year's work. Core members ratify to organize the Alliance's first national mobilization: the March on the Mayors in Miami - a march and alternative summit to the annual US Conference of Mayors.
June 2008 – Over 200 leaders of RTTC member organizations converge in Miami for the Alliance's first national mobilization. Over 300 people participate in a march to the Intercontinental Hotel to confront US mayors and organized an alternative People's City Conference to begin discussions on a national urban strategy.
August 2008 – Seven local coordinated actions occur on August 29 to commemorate the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. RTTC member cities/regions organize marches, teach-ins, and fundraisers highlight the connections between New Orleans and cities across the country and call for the right of return and just redevelopment of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
September 2008 – The Alliance doubles its membership to over forty member organizations from 9 different cities.