Living in coronavirusworld 222: Building the Blessed City

 12/3

72nd Street Subway Station, Yoko Ono

Go to 72nd Street to visit my doctor. It took over three months to get an appointment for my annual check up. Maybe more, it’s hard to remember. I’m used to seeing him in normal work clothes but in coronavirus world, he’s wearing blue medical scrubs, a mask and full face shield. It feels strange. I get tested and am happy to learn that after five months, I still have Covid antibodies. 

 

                                                ****

The Interfaith Assembly holds a virtual “gala” honoring “Builders of the Blessed City.” As expected, the tightly planned one hour schedule slides over to an hour and a half. A subtext of the night is that three honorees have all been related to the controversy over housing homeless men in a boutique hotel, the Lucerne, in the Upper West Side. The old school liberal elite community rose up in arms to try and drive the men out and the “progressive” mayor DiBlasio quickly caved. But another group of local residents, One Heart Upper West Side, just as quickly came out and organized in support of the men.

Larry Wood, of Goddard Riverside, the neighborhood “settlement” house, is here to introduce one of the honorees. He worked to bring Goddard’s resources to the men and even had a day program set up but the mayor’s stalling closed off that possibility. Larry introduced Manhattan Borough President and former Upper West Side City Council member Gale Brewer, long time homeless advocate, showed up in person and brought the power of her office to the struggle. She helped find legal advocacy for the residents as the court battle waged back and forth. The removal of the men was forestalled at least three times and the mayor pushed back every time. A third honoree was Peter Cook of the New York State Council of Churches who was able to bring the faith community together to support the men in various ways.  Gale and Larry were happy to announce that the latest legal appeal was granted and the men will not be removed. (At least for now.) Meanwhile the hope is that enough funding can be brought together to purchase one of the boutique hotels devastated by the pandemic. 

The final honoree is one of the residents,Shams (Da Homeless Hero) DaBaron who has become  the public face…and voice…of the residents. He tells his story of childhood abuse and homelessness from teen age years until now. And what he has learned through this process. Most importantly that you can fight city hall. Through organizing. He is also living proof that we can be allies but we should never think of ourselves as speaking for those who have no voice. The work is to enable and empower people to speak for themselves and to stand with them. That above all is the beauty and power of this night. And why I have supported the Assembly, founded in 1985, since my arrival ten years later. It's the only organization I know that goes beyond the usual basic needs meeting for people who are homeless and works for transformation of the individual and society. And actually succeeds. (https://www.iahh.org)

But the work at the moment is nearly overwhelming.  The number of homeless is now a record 60,000. My friend and colleague Father Clyde Kuemmerle reports that due to the pandemic, the comic devastation and coming tidal wave of evictions when the moratorium ends, the number cold reach 100,000.

I introduce my friend Rabbi Steve who sings his song “Bridge to Hope” as a final blessing. Then he and my friend “Violizzy” Taub and vocalist Esther Ready and me share music while the silent auction continues. Six years ago, Steve, Esther and I performed live at the Assembly’s fundraising event. Along with three others, it was the first iteration of my band.(

                                                              concert 201

 Tonight we do what we can with the limitations of ZOOM, sharing Lizzy’s video and poem, Esther and I teaming on “Light of the Stable” and all of us sharing “Hard Times Come Again No More.” I seem to be  struggling a bit this week, musically. But all things considered, a pretty good way to spend my birthday, 

Living in coronavirusworld 188: The day begins and ends with music

 

10/14

heading out  to record

Spend most of the day in a recording studio in Queens. Recording my first collection of “topical” songs. One basically anti-trump, “We don’t roll that way;” one against walls, Berlin, the Rio Grande or Israel/Palestine; one about Covid 19 and another about Black Lives Matter. The hope is to get it done before next week’s “Vote” concert on Thursday night next week. I enjoy the process and Paul of Side Car Studios is bringing his own unique touch to the songs. It’s hard work, but as I listen to what we did, it’s getting  there. When I returned to writing music a few years ago, I didn’t write these kind of songs. Or sing them. I started feeling the need to start singing them with the 2016 Republican Convention. And this President pushed me into writing. Three this year. I feel more than ever the responsibility of artists to use their work in resistance to the power that stand in negation of beauty and truth. 

The President has called a halt to the census by which proportionate numbers of Congressional representatives are assigned. One more move dismantling democracy. Something new every day.

My mother has been moved to  a rehab facility. For her its completely disorienting. We can’t be with her to help her adjust. Covid quarantine. 

I sat on the short wall on the street in front of the Newtown Presbyterian Church for an Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing ZOOM meeting. The mayor is determined to remove the persons housed in the Lucerne Hotel. And have them  moved to the Wall Street area. I thought this might  be happening when I was in the Wall Street area Saturday and saw recruiting posters for the  Guardian Angels to “protect our neighborhood.”  Just like they did on the Upper West Side. A NIMBY (not in my backyard) group is forming in the Wall Street area with more money than the UWS NIMBY group.  The homeless persons in need of shelter are not wanted in Manhattan. And probably every other borough as well. If the mayor couldn’t handle the Upper West Side, how will he handle Wall Street?  Where else will our people in need of safe shelter be shuffled? 

Timmy's back

The egret may have gone, but Timmy the trombone player is back again. 

After 6 months of no music, Michael Geffner, former Village Voice music critic and open mic impresario with his Inspired Word series, has finally gone virtual. His shows draw almost equal numbers of spoken word and songwriters. And maybe the most reflective of the city’s diversity of any of the mics. Michael himself was down for several weeks with Covid. He considers himself blessed in his recovery.  We keep moving on. But so does the virus. 

The day begins and ends with music.

Living in coronavirusworld 168 : It continues to shape our lives

9/15

a gathering of turtles

 The biggest issue facing the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and. Housing right now is the ongoing controversy over people who were homeless taken from covid dangerous overcrowded shelters and placed in unused boutique hotels in the traditionally liberal elite Upper West Side. Aggressive backlash from entitled neighbors, even when countered by good hearted groups like Open Heart UWS, bolstered by hiring a former deputy mayor as their attack dog attorney, was enough to push a lame duck vanishing mayor into declaring their removal. This unfortunately meant setting off a domino effect, forcing people with disabilities from housing specially designed for them and then scattering them throughout the boroughs disrupting others’ lives. Thankfully, the Legal Aid Society stepped in. The exodus was halted. To date, 40 persons have been removed for the Lucerne Hotel and 240 still remain. Even though homeless advocates have raised owe $200000 to provide services for the hotel residents, the city will be spending over $100000 to litigate to get them out. This is happening when there was a record nearly 70000 homeless persons in New York City. And now there are already 14000 pending evictions in the system with another flood to come in 4-5 months. Yet another crisis brought on by the virus. We’ve got to try and rally a scattered faith community to try and bring more support for the hotel residents and their advocates over against those who just want then out. Sometimes in a crisis, in this city, we don’t take care of each other. 

New York City Presbytery, the governing body for Presbyterians in the city, is wrestling with the pressure for churches to reopen. To allow those renters to reenter because so many depend on the rental income for survival. Presbytery only has 40% of the income it did a year ago, Staff cuts would seem to be imminent, but those who would be most likely to be terminated are the BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) employees. Personnel committee recommends status quo, even without sufficient funds. The next Presbytery meeting is set to be all virtual. All on ZOOM. But the Black Presbyterian Caucus maintains this will disenfranchise people of color and low income persons who are less likely to be computer owners or tach savvy. That makes for the longest debate of the evening, We know from experience that phones just don't provide an adequate participatory experience , voting is not possible in ZOOM with a dial in phone. So many issues and conflict of values to sort this one out. Eventually, we decide that we  will seek to secure smart phones for those without computers and teach them how to use them. Easier said than done. 

 Taco Tuesday. The owner of Cantina tells me already 10 percent of restaurants have permanently closed. Even with limited capacity reopening scheduled for September 29, it still looks like 40% of our owners will go out of business. Two exhausting ZOOM meetings and even my dinner, all controlled or impacted by the virus. It continues to shape our lives.We step towards normal, but it’s way beyond what we can see.

Living in Coronavirusworld 152: Open Hearts

8/29

Neighbors

The threat of rain hovers over the day but aside from a few raindrops early afternoon, never happens.

Go to the farmers’ market at Morningside Park. Fresh ground family farmed Colombian coffee.  But to drink a cup, you have to “Step outside of the market.” Because no unmasked people allowed. 

at the Lucerene

'"Hope"

Housing Justice is racial justice

community support

Housing justice

Black lives matter

'Homeless can't stay home"

Open Hearts organizers

Walking to the Lucerne Hotel to join’s rally in support of homeless residents of the hotel.  Fredrick Douglass at the entrance to the Historical Society’s “…Hope…” exhibit.  

Hope wanted

Fredrick Douglass

A crowd has gathered at get Lucerne. Chalked messages of support on the sidewalk. Signs linking Black Lives Matter and housing justice.The event has been organized by Open Hearts Upper West Side, an organic grassroots effort of supportive neighbors. My friend Larry Wood of Goddard-Riverside speaks of their efforts to create a day space for residents to hang out in an enclosed patio of a currently unused, due to covid19,  Senior Center. 

Larry Wood speaks

When Larry rejoins me, a man comes over and begins to argue  with him about people destroying the neighborhood. Crazy people. Drug addicts. Larry reponds and also talks about the need for safe needle exchange sites. The man says, “Are you a radical Jew?” Larry looks at him in disbelief. “Are you. Jew?” Larry says, “Actually Episcopalian.” I step back, not wanting any part of the conversation. The man recognizes me and talks about “Twenty people shooting up” at West Park. I tell him “I haven’t seen that,” then see two people I recognize and excuse myself. Larry continues the conversation. 

My friends are long time neighborhood residents. They tell me in this virus world, they basically stay home except for grocery store trips and walks to the park. They saw a crowd and assumed it was “NIMBYs,” i.e. “Not in my backyard” They were moved to see it was a neighborhood support group.  I see my friend Pastor K from the church where we served meals  to the women’s shelter once a month. In BC time. K tells me most that most of his people are supportive. They are looking to join another church in supporting the hotel around the block from them. Just up the street from West Park. 

a resident speaks

Several resident speak, telling their stories. One lost his apartment wen the city ended its rent subsidy program. In the city’s upside down policy, it  pays over 3 times the cost of his subsidy to keep him on one bed in a shelter instead an apartment.  Another speaks of his recovery from addiction. Another his desire to get a job and  be back on his own.  My friend Marc Greenberg of the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and  Housing is here  to promote programs to assist people in reentering society. Which the Assembly has done, year after year.  Some people are getting ready to distribute baga of food to those who might be in need. 

Pastor K and Marc

Rabbi Steve comes from across the street where people from “the anti-side” are filming the rally with their cell phones. We talk with K and Marc.  

Rabbi Steve and I 

He offers to treat  me to a gelato. We go around the corner, enjoying the vibe of the outdoor cafes, sparkling lights in the early evening cool. I share my worry that when I watch Fox News, I realize the depth of the President’s support and fear his reelection. 

There are violent confrontations in Kenosha and Portland. 66 days to go.

Living in coronavirusword 147: the egret is back. Reflections on homelessness, housing and Community Board 7

8/24

Back again

As I enter the park today,  I see the egret is back. I haven’t seen it for weeks.   Was thinking maybe  I had to do some research on migration patterns. But here it is, back again. My sense of order restored.

Tonight is a much anticipated community board meeting. Community Board  7 is the popularly elected advisory group on public policy for my old neighborhood, the Upper West Side. The controversy is this:  New York City had record numbers of homeless people even before Covid19.   With the onset of the virus, shelters with overcrowding , no social distancing or rudimentary  prevention measures became hotbeds of Covid19. In the meantime, demand for hotel rooms plummeted. So the city, without really informing the neighborhood, began transferring homeless people for shelters to hotels. Neighbors began complaining about public masturbation, defacation  and urination and harassing cat calls. Among other complaints. The neighborhood is up in arms. A Facebook Page, Upper Westsiders for Safe Streets, now has over 12000 signators!  Meanwhile, the r old vigilante group, Guardian Angels, has entered the neighborhood and is recruiting new members for "Safety patrols." A new community organnization has hired an attorney to sue the city. It has truly become a cause celebre.  Leaders from churches  have contacted me.They/ we are trying  to figure out what the role of the faith community  is in light of this issue. While there have been no Christian rooted communications so far, leaders from one local synagogue have released a statement to  their  members. Among other things it says:

Though the process was flawed, we are deeply pained by the vitriolic response coming from some Upper West Side residents, including nasty comments on social media, active harassment of the men and also of Project Renewal staff (largely because people confuse them with residents due to the color of their skin), and photographs of the residents being posted online without their permission. 

Regardless of how one feels about the city’s decision, such rhetoric runs contrary to the fundamental Jewish principle that all people are created in the image of God, deserving of being treated as such. Further, dehumanizing these men makes the problem about them instead of seeing homelessness as a systemic issue that needs to be addressed through policy and societal change. 

We have  canceled Bible Study tonight so that any can participate in the online ZOOM meeting. 

For over two hours I listen. I am glad that my friend  Pastor K Karpen from St. Paul and St. Andrew Methodist Church speaks. As does Rabbi Lauren Grabelle-Herrmann of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism. (Neighboring West Park on 86th Street.) And Marc Greenberg of the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing ( an organization I chair) also speaks.

My thoughts:

* Our city council rep representative Helen Rosenthal speaks clearly and to the point dispelling rumors, especially related to  sex offenders.

* The bureaucrats speak but soun, unfortunately, like bureaucrats in the face of stirred up passion.  Only in her last statement does one city official go off script and share her true feelings.

* Even though, I’m glad Marc from IAHH spoke, I wish he would have said more about our Life Skills program which helps people prepare to reenter society.

* Very glad to hear Rev. K and Rabbi Grabelle-herman speak, though we need a united neighborhood voice.

* There is no distinction being made between the residents moved here and the preexisting unprecdented  homeless population of the city, and especially our neighborhood

* In response to the furor, the mayor has said he will move people back to shelters which is no solution in the midst of a  pandemic. Or to be honest, any time. Sigh. My mentor always told me liberals were the real problem. 

* Most disturbing is to follow the chat stream online. The constant refrain of “save the children” has an almost Qanon quality to it.

* The complaint about lowered property values doesn't own up to the fact that Covid19 lowered property values as people  fled the city long before any homeless people showed up.

* Homelesspersons, many who are employed and work, were not allowed for speak for themselves. 

* Many of the angry neighbors still  do not listen to facts and their emotional responses are literally Trumoian in form and content

* The local police precinct captain could  have been less neutral reagarding Guardian Angel intervention. 

* Turns out Guardian Angel founder Curtis Sliwa now lives in the neighborhood. His public gadfly persona has served him well. 

* I’ve known for over 10 years that my old neighborhood, the former “people's republic of the upper west side,” the congressional district of Bella Abzug, may she rest in power,  was no longer what it was. The more than our share argument gets made over and over. As does the send them to the east side or out to the airport arguments. Anywhere but here 

Aa a father of a son named Micah, and a member of the faith rooted activist group Micah faith leaders table, I have to object to the use as a  perjorative acronym MICAH to mean Mentally Ill Chemically Addicted Homeless. It's offensive. Micah was a working class prophet, not of the neoclassical  liberal elite. He said do justice, love mercy  and walk humbly with God. ( That is like, 
it.)

The theme is somehow fitting for the opening  of the Republican National (virtual) Convention where Donald Trump will once again be announced by acclimation for their nominee as President of  the United States. 

There is so much work to be done. And I am tired. 

I’m glad the egret is back. 

Housing Our Future:Now

10/25

It was a beautiful day for a march. Though it felt a bit more like Thanksgiving than Halloween. Crisp fall air. And sun. We gathered at 86th Street and Second Avenue to march to Gracie Mansion, Mayor Di Blasio's home. The march was in support of the "House Our Future" campaign...a call for 30,000 new homes. The point was obvious, I think. The mayor  has his home. A lot of New Yorkers don't.

A crowd that would grow to 250-300 or so is gathering. Marc Greenberg, Director of the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing (which I chair), asks me to help hold our banner.

Bob Brashear and Marc Greenberg with the banner

"Looks like a good crowd," he says. His broad smile reminds me that this is what Marc lives for. The gathering  of people, the marching, the chanting, the never ending struggle for housing justice that he has remained faithful to for decades.

The housing crisis which blossomed under Bloomberg has only worsened under Di Blasio. We now have record numbers of homeless, approaching 61,000. One third of those are working poor. Ten percent of city school children are homeless. It is scandalous. More so because Di Blasio campaigned as a progressive, promising 30,000 units, a promise yet to be delivered. (In more ways than one, Mayor Di Blasio, not unlike President Obama, came into office with a strong progressive base. And instead of using that base for truly progressive change has instead fallen into more traditional liberalism. Sad because the base is there...)

The march winds down 86th to East End. What do we want?Housing. When do we want it? Now. If we don't get it...shut it down..Hey, hey, 30K...and more chants. The crowd gathers.

In the crowd

A bombastic heckler is barely heard. There are homeless people working people, faith community people. People sharing their own stories. What will it take to be heard?

The Interfaith Assembly has been faithful to this witness since the "Kochville" occupation of City Hall Park thirty years ago in 1988. (See John Jiler's Sleeping With the Mayor ....https://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Mayor-Story-John-Jiler/dp/1886913145.) Founded by a faith community trio of steadfast witnesses Marshall Meyer, Dan Berrigan and my predecessor, Bob Davidson, Marc has led the IAHH through these many years. There would be no better way to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Kochville than action on the 30000 badly needed homes.