• I WRITE to express sadness at the death of Eric Gordon, a true pioneer of fearless journalism, and to send condolences to his family, friends and employees, (Eric Gordon: Tributes to Camden’s great chronicler as founder and editor of CNJ dies at 89).

Eric used the pages of the Camden New Journal to highlight a range of injustices that sprang from global, corporate, and municipal wrongs.

He was a tireless opponent of over-development and the consequences that flowed from voracious global property speculation impacting mostly those living in the poorer neighbourhoods of the borough, not least in the area our District Management Committee represents in Somers Town and Regent’s Park wards and the twin threat of the over-specified, eye-wateringly expensive, supersonic bulldozer smashing its way through Regent’s Park and negatively impacting the lives of so many in our neighbourhood, HS2.

He had a healthy scepticism of Camden’s flagship Community Investment Programme and rightly so. He was a relentless foe of exploitation in the workplace.

He was a friend to many local groups and organisations including the formal tenant movement in Camden.

He was not afraid to call out our borough and frequently questioned the underlying agenda and lack of genuine, meaningful, consultation, scrutiny and democracy.

I know many individuals in our much-threatened communities north of the Euston Road will want to support and echo this tribute.

Arguably the greatest tribute we could endow to Eric Gordon is to ensure that his work at the CNJ is a lasting legacy that continues to thrive and challenge injustice.

It must be financially independent to have a strong independent voice. This is vital and non-negotiable. How can we make sure this happens?

FRAN HERON
Chair Camden Town District Management Committee