Update on the Bedford Armory Homeless Saga
When we last checked in with the Bedford Armory, nearby residents were trying to fight efforts by the Department of Homeless Services to move the city’s main intake center from the East 20’s in Manhattan to the historic armory in Crown Heights; more recently the city announced its intention to also increase the number of…
When we last checked in with the Bedford Armory, nearby residents were trying to fight efforts by the Department of Homeless Services to move the city’s main intake center from the East 20’s in Manhattan to the historic armory in Crown Heights; more recently the city announced its intention to also increase the number of homeless beds at the nearby Sumner Avenue Armory from 200 to 1,000. Shortly after last August’s confrontational meeting on the topic between residents and DHS’s George Nashak, a spokesperson for DHS said that the agency would add an additional intake center in Manhattan to lighten the Armory’s load. In hearings later in the year, however, DHS retreated to the position that it was “considering” the Manhattan location. As far as we can figure out, DHS has yet to clarify the situation. In addition, when DHS announced it would be expanding the number of beds at the Bedford-Atlantic Armory, it tried to placate locals by saying it would close down the Peter Young Shelter across the street. Well, they did close Peter Young, but they turned it into a 24-hour detox center, which is always good for the neighborhood quality of life. To protest the treatment the neighborhood is receiving from the city and to announce that a law firm has been retained to fight the city, City Council Members James, Vann and de Blasio along with a number of other elected officials and neighborhood organizations are holding a press conference at City Hall on Sunday at 2 p.m. As we’ve said before, Crown Heights and Bed Stuy already shoulder more than their fair share of these kinds of social services and don’t deserve to be dumped on again.
Shelter Woes Spread From Crown Heights to Bed Stuy [Brownstoner]
Homeless Intake Center Plan Provokes Broad Opposition [Brownstoner]
Pols Gather to Pan Crown Heights Homeless Plan [Brownstoner]
Crown Heights Rally: Don’t Dump On Us! [Brownstoner]
The primary reason that there is so much visible opposition to the proposed use of the Bedford Armory is that there have been several changes in political leadership. The community learned to organize itself when it wasn’t being heard. Another reason is that the recently elected pay close attention to where the prime voters (voters who vote in ALL the elections)are located and cater to them. Of course, their local. Beyond Borough Hall, nobody cares.
I don’t think they’re residents of that area, CrownHeights2007. That’s my point.
“i’d rather have a roommate and live in a safe neighborhood than be stuck with my own studio way out in the bronx.”
GROW UP, work harder and show SOME evidence of responsibility, and maybe one day you’ll be able to introduce some choice into your life and have a place of your own. But hey, that’s just the way I see it.
ame raleed- omig-d. This is horrible. Can he legally do this? I’ve always had the feeling he wanted to sweep the homeless under the rug (not pretty enough for Manhattan, you see) but this is utterly moronic. And unconscionable.
rob- the bronx wouldn’t have you. YOu aren’t good enough.
It is good to see that this is getting some attention, but in general I think folks are missing the forest for the trees. The mayor is orchestrating a wholesale shift in the way that the homeless are dealt with, and chances are his policies will make folks like “r” happy on most counts. The story is hard to piece together, but it seems that the mayor is pulling back support for all the small programs, including many traditional “faith-based” groups which operate largely on volunteer efforts. These serve many of the homeless population today in ways that are better than the shelter system. There is not much press on this conversion from “boutique” to “big box” homeless services, but the best description I have seen is here:
http://www.nypress.com/article-19475-no-soup-for-you_.html
whatever ENY. i’d rather have a roommate and live in a safe neighborhood than be stuck with my own studio way out in the bronx. and i think a lot of people feel that way too. i only have one roommate now and he’s great with my dog. it’s not like when i was living in harlem before that and had four other roommates ahhahah. now THAT was pathetic.
*r*
“And, having a roommate as an adult does not make one pathetic.”
That’s a matter of opinion.
well, he did show up at the first rally and make a nice, rousing speech. After that? Nowheres.