People painted figures on the ground in front of The Lucerne last week to represent homeless people without safe shelter. Photo by Jeff French Segall.
A judge ruled in favor of homeless men staying at The Lucerne Hotel on 79th Street, once again stopping the city from moving the men to another hotel downtown.
The appellate division of the State Supreme Court issued an interim stay, and a panel of five justices will next decide whether the stay can continue throughout the appeal — which could take several months. “It’s very hard to know” when that will happen, said Michael Hiller, the lawyer representing the residents. The court looks like it will “move expeditiously” but “it’s impossible to know for sure when the decision will come down.”
The more than 200 men were expected to be moved starting next week after a judge ruled for the city in the initial suit. The battle over the shelter has roiled the neighborhood for more than four months, with opponents claiming the city’s decision to move the men had caused a decline in the quality of life nearby.
But men staying at the Lucerne said the rhetoric could often be dehumanizing.
“I hope the city realizes this, that we are human beings,” said Larry Thomas, a plaintiff in the suit who has since found placement in an apartment.
Da Homeless Hero (right), a Lucerne resident who is a plaintiff in the suit, urged the mayor to reconsider.
“We’re begging you to stop this,” he said on a Zoom call after the ruling. “You moved us from place to place because there were people who said we don’t want homeless people here.”
“We have a lot of work to do but we’ve gotten closer to saying we do matter,” he said. “In this time of pandemic, let’s do the right thing.”
“This is so important to an invisible people, a voiceless people, a vulnerable people,” he said.
“Today is a great victory for right over wrong,” said Councilmember Helen Rosenthal.
A spokesman for the city’s Law Department said the move is “justified” and the city expects to win.
“The City has a moral and legal obligation to provide safe shelter to all who need it,” the spokesman said in a statement. “This temporary stay has delayed a move which we believe is in the best interests of the men residing at the Lucerne and a justified use of the Mayor’s emergency powers, but we’re confident of prevailing when the Court thoroughly reviews the matter.”
<3
yoyos
This is so pathetic – the city is totally screwed if we have to spend $60k per year to provide housing for individuals without health / mental health support, food, clothing, etc. What a joke.
You are so right. The problem is many thousands are spent and nothing is ever accomplished…e.g. The Thrive program. Absolute waste of taxpayer money.
People keep repeating lies about the Thrive Program, particularly that it has “done nothing” and that its budget is not transparent. Why so much venom towards this office? Because it is run by Chirlane MCCray?
Less than 3 minutes search time will give you a detailed budget and an extensive data dashboard about what the program is doing, including a map.
Budget: https://thrivenyc.cityofnewyork.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FY21-Adopted-Budget.pdf
Data, links, and map of sites: https://thrivenyc.cityofnewyork.us/programs
@CH:
2 things:
The fact that these men are not on the street, whether in a group shelter, the Lucerne or a downtown Radisson is an accomplishment.
Second, you can of course document that ThriveNYC did nothing? It’s highly doubtful that ThriveNYC did nothing, but that doesn’t excuse the lack of solid record keeping.
It has to be done, regardless of where the men are housed.
But it doesn’t have to be so expensive. When the DHS gets $50,000 of taxpayers’ money to provide one homeless person with a really basic military-style bed in a large shared room, a locker, and food for a year, I say the City should instead #JustGiveThemTheMoney.
When we help to better serve members of our community, this support has a direct and positive impact. When we turn our backs on those less fortunate in order to protect our own comfort and security, it has a direct, negative impact. I value the concerns of my neighbors, but if these men are here, in our neighborhood, showing them kindness and support will do wonders. I cannot say that each and every one of these men will become upstanding members of society, but I can say that about anyone. Whether you are in favor of their stay, or are opposed, we need to work together to provide love, support, encouragement, and positivity. For those that shun these men, that say they are scared for the safety of their children, it’s New York City – you can easily choose another street a mere steps away to walk down. As someone who lives on 79th St, I have never felt unsafe, and the more I make eye contact and smile at these deserving individuals, the more safe I feel. It’s the holidays – open your hearts. Trust me, it feels really good when you do.
Thank you, Amy, for your generous heart and compassionate posts here. The world only changes with small acts of kindness, one person at a time, one day at a time.
We all need a little less harsh rhetoric, a little more empathy not only to get through this crisis, but to sustain wellbeing in vibrant, welcoming communities.
Thank you for your thoughtful post.
Always good to be reminded that all people have challenges at some point in their lives, but some much greater and more frequent than others.
If even one of them turns their life around and gets back on solid footing, that will be a beautiful thing.
Best to the hotel residents.
Well said.
Thanks for your beautiful words! I’ve been saying a version of this for months. I’m glad the NY Supreme Court has sided with these folks, although temporarily. I’m sure it’s a step in the right direction.
Stay kind!
It’s a real victory for the hotel owner, and for homeless people’s right to choose what location and building they can occupy. Local residents who have been traumatized physically and mentally, well they’re deemed irrelevant by their so-called reps. The future of the already ailing UWS is darker as the long winter of COVID males itself known. And what ever happened to Erin Drinkwater’s intent to “de-densify” the homeless population? Adding so many homeless men up here, with more to come, renders her words as meaningless as the experiences of established residents.
Your trauma has been self inflicted by your NIMBY attitude.
People need to know what most of these hotel/sro owners did to GET RID OF PERMANENT TENANTS in order to cater to tourists. If it proves costly or extremely difficult to get rid of these shelter residents none of these sro/hotel owners will renew their contracts to house shelter residents. This matter with the Lucerne has probably persuaded a lot of SRO owners to not risk contracting for shelter residents.
Interestingly enough, their move into not our neighborhood, but the City’s neighborhood, has brought me happiness. Diversity is a beautiful thing. Helping those less fortunate is a beautiful thing. Does it cost money, sure does, but I’d more than happy working hard to support those in need. Whether its this group of men, or anyone else for that matter. I do believe people must have had personal experiences to be able to say that they have been mentally traumatized, but I recall being mentally traumatized by my white counterparts on the playground, in high school and in different work environments. If we embrace and support these individuals, we will only help to better society. When we turn our backs, they will turn their backs on us. Let’s stay positive, and embrace those that need our love now, more than ever.
You should get out more. I live in the high 80s and the neighborhood is incredibly diverse. It’s unfortunate that you needed to have a temporary shelter open to realize that diversity is great. But this is not about your personal happiness, it’s about what works for the entire neighborhood. Also, I hope you are putting your euphoria to more than posting on articles. Perhaps volunteering with street homeless?
A great victory. Not the end, but I hope Bill de Blasio will now reverse his terrible decision. With great respect for the men at the Lucerne, the attorneys, the public officials, and the members of UWS Open Hearts involved in this battle to welcome and support the Lucerne residents. P.S. I live diagonally across from the hotel and have for decades.
Fantastic news! And for those who think it isn’t, try having a heart this holiday season.
How about ‘having a heart,’ and spreading some of this assistance around to ALL of the homeless people in the area? Linda Rosenthal had a nice photo-op on her outdoor lunch date with DaHomelessHero from the Lucerne but a group of homeless men continue to “live” in the doorway of her office building on 72nd street. They pace up and down the block all day screaming and cursing and by 5:00 they’re passed out on the sidewalk. And don’t tell me that it’s not ‘really’ happening because everyone in the neighborhood, including those standing on line for TJ’s, have witnessed this since April! 🙁
Please be careful not to conflate the hotel residents with the street homeless. They are both important issues, but they have different solutions. Linda and others ARE working on the street homeless issue as well, but that issues is FAR more difficult and complex than what to do with those already in shelters.
I would, however, suggest that if the street homeless issue concerns you that much, that you get involved in being part of the solution (assuming you are not already) instead of just sniping and complaining from the sidelines. I don’t mean this to sound unkind, and forgive me if it does. But there are SO many people who gripe and complain, but do nothing at all to help.
They need to be in a mental hospital, not a hotel or a drug rebab treatment center to detox, not in a hotel. If they don’t have a job, they are busy hanging out on the street anyway, acting out, doing drugs, drinking, passing out. They are not getting the kind of help they need. Too many concentrated in a congested area with very little help. It’s a waste of time. All they are getting is a very expensive room that they have to share. It’ hopeless.
For the 500th time, the UWS cares greatly for the Homeless and every other person in need, but the saturation of shelters can not be managed and services are not being enforced.
You will lose even more small businesses because of this than of COVID or landlords, I know because I’m one of them. The businesses can not handle the AMOUNT of troubled individuals on the UWS who do not WANT help or are not able to decide for themselves because they are mentally ill or chemically dependent.
Helen Rosenthal – keep your nose out of this. you only care about your own future.
While I hear your upset, this is simply not an honest answer. to suggest that the number of stores that are closing has more to do with the homeless than with the pandemic is simply absurd. In fact, as you well know as a store owner, the death of bricks and mortar retail – as a result of both landlord greed and online purchasing – was happening quite quickly even before the pandemic. The pandemic – and the resultant economic crisis – has hastened this.
The homeless? A very, very tiny factor. Please don’t “use” them to justify your personal travails.
Ian, very nicely said.
I could not respond sooner because I am working hard & my business IS surviving from working hard & thoughtful customers and I have a great landlord. I’m sorry if I didn’t make myself clear.
Yes, the pandemic & online retail makes things harder for retailers & so we are even MORE upset when many of the street homeless & unscrupulous shelter clients are blocking our doors, standing in front of our windows harassing people. Customers tell me they avoid my side of the street because someone is aggressively hassling people making them wary to walk by. Losing customers hurts businesses, we do not need any more issues until we have the homeless situation under control on the UWS.
Wait, you really want us to believe that your business went belly up because there are homeless people in the neighborhood? And that this is a bigger reason why businesses are going to fold than a worldwide pandemic? Wow. That’s all I can say. Wow.
So sad. Let me know who wants pictures of the ambulance and fire engine from earlier. These lawyers and politicians are killing these recovering addicts. They need to be in facility that can take care of them. The downtown hotel is completely equipped to handle emergencies. People are so selfish.
Have you been to hotel downtown? Do you know the neighborhood? This whole the hotel in downtown will serve them better is a lie spread by people in the UWS to get rid of the men. The Radisson hotel in downtown is located in one of the narrowest streets in the city, right next to two schools and within a block from a women’s shelter for victims of domestic abuse. Absolute worst place to locate these men.
Just to clarify, the downtown location is another hotel. It’s just rooms like the Lucerne… It’s not a treatment facility, a hospital, or a detox. It’s a Radisson hotel. I don’t know how people got that confused but the only hotel in the entire shelter system being used to house people to prevent the spread of Covid-19 that has ON-SITE SERVICES is the Lucerne. No other shelter has that and it exists because I have advocated for this and have convinced the service providers and community groups to provide that. Just sharing so you have accurate information. I hope you don’t mind.
Why have you been on the dole for your entire adult life? Why do we subsidize your life?
You are 100% incorrect. Currently the recovering addicts are two in a room (not covid acceptable) and the new facility each patient would have their own room.
Second, stop ignoring the weekly ambulances, fire fighters and emergency calls. What about the four men that died? Stop this. If you were really for homeless, you would allow homeless FAMILIES and/ or battered women in the Lucerne. Your message is becoming deadlier and deadlier for everyone involved.
David. It really amazes me how out of touch you actually are with what is going on. Facts, facts, facts do matter. Please get the facts BEFORE you post you comments that are totally untrue.
Again, there seems to be no end to the lies people in UWS will spread to dump this shelter on us in downtown. It was clearly stated in the court hearing – the reason the men are doubled up in rooms is because this population is at high risk of overdosing. No matter where you move them, DHS’ standard procedure would be house these men in shared rooms until they are fully recovered. The population at the shelter has already gone down from 290+ residents to 190 residents now, so there is already plenty of space at the Lucerne to spread the men. BTW the downtown Radisson in no bigger than the Lucerne.
Meanwhile, my 28 year old daughter, who grew up on the UWS and just obtained a masters in social work, is starting a job with a foster care agency and will be lucky to find an apartment she can afford in Bushwick or the South Bronx.
There’s something wrong here.
Affordable housing? For who?
Your child is doing wonderful work – and I’m sure no matter where she lives she is going to be able to help others and contribute to society. But she was also raised on the beautiful UWS – with a parent that clearly is invested in her – which is much more than most of these men can say. It’s so easy for us to judge – but we don’t know their history – where they came from – the lack of resources and education they had growing up. And many of these men did not grow up with parents who supported them. If you take time to speak to some of these guys (masked and distanced ofcourse!) you will realize understand that some of the circumstances that they grew up in were so desperate, dire, and bereft of support. Hopefully your well educated daughter can help those less fortunate – even from the Bronx – which is quite lovely I must say!
Absolutely. Where is the affordable housing for teachers, firemen, police, hospital workers? We should be focusing on that rather than housing homeless men on 799th and broadway. There is no services for them in that area and a hotel is not permanent housing.
Yes, of course, the men at the hotel should get as much services as possible while they are there. But lawyers and politicians should not be evaluating their needs. One would expect that mental health professionals from the DHS with years of experience with this population would be in a better position to evaluate appropriate settings. The understanding was that more services and better protection from the deadly pandemic would be available downtown. No matter where they are they, of course, should be treated with respect and they also should be good members of their community wherever that may be.
“Make Good Trouble”.
Thanks to everyone who supported the men who are homeless…the right to stay at the Lucerne.
Yes! Make Good Trouble! To reclaim our safety!
The rest of us have a right to not see people urinating, defecation, shooting up, etc (and there are a lot of etcs) – and not wearing masks while they are doing this
I have been seeing all of what you describe BEFORE these homeless men joined our community. So, unless you have some definitive proof that these men are doing the things you are saying, which I doubt, I can only believe that your NIMBY argument is based on implicit bias.
The way the UWS votes, they should be happy if not delirious to have these people in their midst. Enough of this NIMBY attitude. It is hypocrisy at its worst.
Now staying in a boutique hotel at taxpayer expense is a “right”? Have people lost their minds?
I am so sad for all the residents who have had to deal with this untenable situation for the past four months, especially the permanent residents of the Lucerne. How frustrating that there are people fighting against their neighbors and preventing homeless individuals with a with a more appropriate housing model, many who need specialized support, in the name of “compassion”. It’s funny how passionate and dogmatic people can be and how far they will take it. I wonder how much the Open Heartless bakers and chalk artists even thought about the homeless prior to this mess. It’s not like they were baking / drawing for our long term homeless neighbors. Oh the hypocrisy.
People who live in shelters are mostly people down on their luck, trying to get back on their feet. People who live on the streets have serious mental health issues. These are really two distinctily different social issues. Ask anyone who works in social services.
I work in a shelter. The majority of people in shelters are not “down on their luck”. They have serious substance abuse issues, a lack of education (most have not finished high school), have not worked/held jobs for years, and feel that they deserve housing. Many come from out of state because NY benefits are better. As far as DHS knowing what to do, don’t make me laugh! The majority of DHS employees don’t give a damn.
Why not be honest with yourself and your clients?
Rather than attack your clients anonymously, just say these things to your supervisor.
That’s what a person with any character would do.
Thanks for the reality check.
So why are shelters so famously dangerous and full of violence and criminal activity?
i, too, greet this ruling happily.
Please don’t say this is about homeless people “getting to decide” they will live in an upscale neighborhood. That is a false characterization.
It is about people protesting being used as a political football, moved again and again because SOME in the neighborhood object to their presence. It is about the homeless wanting to stay in a facility that is relatively safe and has at least some services that meet their needs. They did not DECIDE where to live, but they have every right to raise their voices to defend their EXISTING services. All public service recipients have that right, no matter their income.
Just why were they moved, Bruce? Riddle me that. The issues didn’t come out of thin air in three separate neighborhoods.
Further, what source do you have that indicates services will be worse in the downtown location. To date, I have seen nothing but the contrary.
reply to Geez:
“why were they moved”: there are commenters here who have a much deeper view of the history than i do, or than you do. Maybe Ian Alterman or DHH will detail the convoluted history. Quite a bit has to with them being turned into a political football, as I stated. In any case, shouldn’t it stop?
re: the source that says services will be worse downtown: DHH has said so any number of times on this site, and has provided details. He is one of the plaintiffs. Do you not find him credible?
Honestly, I find him annoying already. This blog devotes an inordinate amount of attention to just his posts as if they’re gospel while censoring others’ comments. I would rather hear more from permanent residents of this neighborhood.
reply to Boris:
you are free to be annoyed or not by anyone’s postings. I’m sure there are some who are “annoyed” by your frequent postings.
But I notice that you haven’t disputed any of DHH’s FACTUAL statements. Maybe because he’s telling the truth?
The article isn’t clear on what happened where, only citing “the State Supreme Court”. Has the Appellate Division granted a temporary restraining order pending a hearing?
UWS Open Hearts Initiative (@UWSOpenHearts): “A stay has been granted by the appeals court, and the Lucerne residents will not be moving Monday.” Clear.
https://twitter.com/UWSOpenHearts/status/1334609755017449472
Just to clarify, it was the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court that ruled today. In New York, the Supreme Court is the trial-level court, and the Appellate Division rules on appeals fron the Supreme Court.
https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/index.shtml
I just wish that politicians and mayoral candidates would show as much concern for the homeless living on the streets, those in dangerous, crowded congregate settings and children who are homeless and hungry as they do for these men who are living in safe, clean, private rooms. But pols & mayoral wannabes can’t pass up easy opportunities for spouting sound bites instead of solving problems.
This is such wonderful news! So far 30 men have moved into homes as a result of the care they are getting at the Lucerne. Hopefully more will be able to as a result of being included in a community. And many others are now working in the neighborhood as well, which benefits everyone. I’m so glad love is winning over hate.
Evidence?
There likely isn’t any “Evidence” of those claims at all. However, it’s certainly a nice thought and message that “many” of the homeless in the Lucerne are now working within our community. Nice, but tragically false!
Your comment is false.
Why didn’t the courts block the move from Hell’s Kitchen to the UWS if moving these men is so traumatic.
“You moved us from place to place because there were people who said we don’t want homeless people here.”
That is flatly wrong and leaves out important facts – you were moved because some residents of the shelter/hotel caused unsafe conditions and general decay of the areas in both the East Village and Hells Kitchen (I believe), leading to residents of those areas protesting the location of the shelter/hotel, before the shelter/hotel’s move to the UWS.
There are plenty of shelters on the UWS, so your blanket statement falls flat.
DHH used to raise some interesting points, but now I guess he’s just a pawn for the attorneys on his side of the coin.
The first move was to protect them from exposure to the coronavirus in large congregate dorms. The Third Street Shelter has been there for decades; it’s unreasonable to think that neighborhood complaints suddenly caused the City to move its residents, and those from Kenton Hall round the corner, to fancy hotels in a better neighborhood.
Ok, I stand corrected on the E Village location, but the point stands for Hells Kitchen (and the UWS).
Will this ever end? The disproportionate amount of extremely limited resources being devoted to this small group of men is absolutely ridiculous. Particularly since a material number of them were not good neighbors (though the situation seems somewhat better now). Other homeless people throughout the city should sue for equal benefits.
Outer borough residents with hour plus commutes to their actual jobs are amazed how much money and effort is being spent on making things convenient and luxurious for these men. The saying “beggars can’t be choosers” seems very appropriate.
I agree with having a heart, I just wish people would not be hanging out between 11pm and 2am on the stairs of the Collegiate Church, drinking, talking loudly and blasting music. I posted over 30 noise complaints in the last 3 months. I went to talk to the Belleclaire as well.
That was not happening before the shelters moved in.
Sorry, but you are wrong. The Belleclaire has a curfew of 10 pm. If a resident is not in by then, they lose their bed for the night. And they are required to stay in the lobby. This is enforced.
The people you are seeing are NOT hotel residents. And the problem DID occur prior to the homeless residents being moved into the Belleclaire – and I know because people were contacting me about the issue BEFORE they moved in.
Vaccines are suppose to reach NYC mid-December. In theory these individuals should be among the highest risk people who will be vaccinated first. At that point they should be ready to go back into shelters. My question is, will they then argue they are being “traumatized” and “unfairly treated” when asked to do so.
The dysfunction of the city knows no bounds. These gentleman signed paperwork saying they can be moved at anytime. This is clearly false, as the city has been trying and failing to do so. This will inevitably cause tremendous hurdles for housing these people in the future. As shown by Hells Kitchen & FiDi, these gentlemen are not welcomed, and knowing the city cannot move them once they are in place will make it absolutely impossible to sell the idea of long term shelters in any neighborhood. Don’t get me wrong, the crazy liberal UWS politicians will likely still agree to it If the price is right, but this mess has really showed just was a complete train wreck DHS /Project Renewal and the overall system for housing the homeless is in NYC.
Disgusting! All of this is most certainly so over and above the level of simply even being remotely DISCUSTING! The ABSOLUTE level of absurdity is so ….OFF THE CHARTS! Shame on….all concerned with maintaining the lack of any semblance regarding the constant upheaval of people who are NO LESS HUMAN BEINGS THAN ANY OF US ARE! SHAME!!!!!
How dare we!!!! My young daughter had to deal with upheaval for the last four months as we moved between family members so we could work as parents. Where is her hotel room for all the apparent “trauma” of moving. What about all the single moms who are dealing with keeping their jobs and taking care of their kids? What about the seniors who have been traumatized because their families can’t visit? Rooms for all!!!!! I’m sorry these men are grownups.
So the Lucerne can no longer function as a hotel? Did the owner know that he was henceforth to receive about forty percent of what he made before?
The owner can’t expect to be making as much during the pandemic as he did before the pandemic, can he? His choice was between taking the homeless in or sitting on empty rooms.
This is hopeless. I still find it hard to believe that neighbors think it’s fine to turn this wonderful neighborhood into a dump. Maybe they’ll feel differently when these wonderful addicts/mentally ill assault one of their family members.But qualityoflife for the non-homeless is no big deal-must make sure they have a nice apartment and they can mob the street by the church and subway entrance on 79th.
This is a bad decision both for these men and for the neighbourhood. These men should be properly housed, to give them the mental and physical health they need and deserve and give them education and drug rehabilitation. They do not belong in this neighbourhood, housed in a hotel!
Breaking: Tin Man declared NIMBY supporter as rumors circulate about absence of heart.
I like to follow my heart, but I also take my brains with me.
I’m thrilled to hear that the judge ruled for the men at The Lucerne.
Virtue signalling.
I thought from the start this shelter was supposed to be a temporary solution.
Now it appears they will never leave.
As the old saying goes there’s nothing more permanent than a temporary government entitlement.
One more indication that the UWS is reverting to the bad old days of grime and crime.
Bleak House. Will this go on until the city is bankrupt? It’s a complete waste. The city may have an obligation to provide shelter, but it also has obligations to address the concerns of UWS residents. What it doesn’t have an obligation to do is please the whims and preferences of these people who, after all, are being maintained at the public expense. As long as the city is meeting the basic requirement of providing shelter, the courts should stay out of it and the activists should stop wasting the city’s time and resources; if a decision has been made to move to some other adequate facility, that should be the end of the story.
I am very empathic to people in general, but I am not ashamed to say I don’t enjoy seeing homeless, drunk, and/or mentally ill people in our “hood.” If people do enjoy that, I guess they are better than I. A mentally ill younger man started talking to me the other day at the AMNH–or maybe he was drugged up. Demonizing residents of the UWS who don’t want to embrace a very upsetting part of the City that we elect not to live in is foolish. And Helen Rosenthal does not represent the interests of a lot of us based on what she has said and done over the years.
The thing is that you don’t get to decide which people to remove from this neighborhood based on you finding them undesirable .
As an example: If I consider you to be undesirable (based on your attitudes and values), should I have the right to have you removed?
Pretty sure when it’s our tax dollars paying it, we do have a say. Especially when we see the government using our dollars to overpay for hotel rooms. The fact that some here don’t have an issue with a limited budget being used inefficiently says a lot about them.
What does it say about me?
You said it, so say it.
has anyone else wondered if the owner of the Lucerne was the one paying the lawyers arguing for the homeless men to stay. He is making a fortune here, with all the damage incurred covered… Lucerne, the most profitable hotel in NYC this year! Keep the $ coming…
FiDi is footing the bill.
If he does pay for their lawyers, that’s his right. People routinely pay other people to support their cause and it’s neither illegal nor immoral. Aren’t campaign donations similar in purpose?
Fair enough. So why was other side being demonized for hiring a lawyer? Contrary to popular belief, they have decent reasons for opposing this and are also entitled to representation on this matter.
I am a moderate Democrat and the hypocrisy of the woke progressive crowd often approaches (though fortunately does not match) the hypocrisy of Trump supporters. And it motivates Trump supporters to hate us more.
I’d be the last person to demonize that group for hiring a lawyer. I’m in favor of moving the homeless population out of the Lucerne. But I also support the Lucerne owner if he did in fact pay for lawyers to advance his interests.
“I think you and I are among the few rational, even-minded people here.”
Is WSR still posting on quotable Comments? This has got to be highlighted.
Thank you. Then I think you and I are among the few rational, even-minded people here. For weeks there have been countless posts demonizing the group that hired the lawyer to get the men out of the Lucerne. The lawyer’s house was even vandalized.
Within 30 days 54 people have moved from the Lucerne into permanent housing. From my understanding, there is a freeze on anyone replacing them. Vacant rooms are all over the hotel. This has never happened. The City wants to empty this hotel so bad they have suddenly found housing for the Men of the Lucerne. If they keep up this momentum then this building will be empty and residents will be in permanent housing. Trust me, this situation is temporary. Think about the number. 54 men in 30 days. Never have I seen people move out of the shelter system that fast.
And may I ask why they haven’t found permanent housing for you (yet)? Is it a lottery system or is it based on specific requirements?
Zoom call uws address wow took me a lot of hard work and sacrifice to afford any of this I am perplexed
So where’s the holiday spirit in all this? Sounds like Scrooge’s “Aren’t there workhouses for the poor?” I’m on WEA near 97th Street, we have a pretty wide range of people in the neighborhood, we co-exist. In a more relaxed world we might actually know each other. But co-exist is better than NIMBY.
Actually, the 96th street subway has become a nightmare. I have walked by men totally hammered, masturbating (only one, so I guess I’m lucky?), and harassing people. Oh and a guy’s face was slashed the other day. I am terrified about my return to work. I’m proud to be NIMBY, no one deserves that to be in their backyard.
reply to Gail:
I have been going to work from Bway and 96th Street every day during the entire time (I am an “essential worker.”) There are plenty of cops at 96th Street morning and night. I have seen no one masturbating, nor any fights. occasionally is a homeless man on the south side of 96th.
What you wrote is a gross exaggeration.
The amount of men dismissing women’s personal eyewitness accounts here is appalling. You truly live in a different reality. Do better.
Susan, I have also walked by a man masturbating sitting outside the 96th street subway main north entrance, when there were no police.
BRUCE – as women, we might be watching our surroundings more closely than you are so we might be seeing more than you do. No exaggerations here. If it were your daughter or wife, wouldn’t you be concerned?
reply to Susan:
Sorry, but just because someone is a woman doesn’t give them the right to totally distort what is going on. the 96th street subway station is not “a nightmare”, which is how Gail described it. She claims to have seen a man masturbating; i have never seen that and i am there every day. Maybe she saw it but it is nowhere near the norm. Many women are on the train. Cops are upstairs every morning and night.
I have heard endless distortions and exaggerations about the neighborhood, for decades. I am sensitive to that women can have a different experience but there is no way the 96th street subway is “a nightmare.”
Are you open to the idea that an anonymous poster might exaggerate?
So everyone’s experience regarding specific incidents has to match yours exactly? Don’t be so dense.
Bruce, just because you didn’t see what Gail saw does not mean that it did not happen. Please do not dismiss.
The homeless men who are being housed at the Lucerne or for that matter any facility are wards of the state. They should be treated humanely for moral reasons but they do not have the right to decide where that humane treatment shall be administered. Nor does the City or Rosenthal have a right to tell a community, in this case the residents of the Upper West Side that they they have to host a large community of mentally ill and potentially dangerous people without community consultation.
To the WSR. Why aren’t you reporting that ambulances are at the Lucerne and Belleclaire hotels nightly, almost every night and day at all hours? Tonight was a busy night for both hotels minutes apart, a few blocks apart. This is no joke. Enough is enough.
I too have lived on the UWS for 30 years. I have lived by a sro for years and the people there are wonderful. It brings great character to our neighborhood and they have become friends to our businesses- but it was set up for the purpose it serves. I have worked at shelters and with the homeless—- but the Lucerne, Bellnord and Bellclaire are HOTELS. They are not set up as places for these individuals to get the services they deserve. They need the proper help and this is not helping them. And anyone who denies crime hasn’t gone up since they arrived is blind. It is not all of them by any means, but we should not deny them the services and proper housing they need. It was never permanent because they are Hotels – we all knew this from the day they arrived. Why such the infighting among us when we all want the best for these men and women.
What’s the point of going to court and the verdict of it being decided by a judge if they can just appeal it & continue to stay? The ONLY ones benefitting from all of this are the lawyers. I am convinced they are going to be living at the Lucern indefinitely. And if the judge in this next appeal were to also say they have to move, can that decision be appealed as well?
Another man died here last week. This hotel is NOT set up for the care these men need. Bad decision.
We have a huge homeless challenge on the UWS – this is not the root cause, but it significantly aggravates the issue.
Why is all of the leadership focus on these men and not the homeless on the streets? What about Karl? Since these men arrived, he is more enabled than ever. What about the homeless twins (I believe one is pregnant AGAIN?!)
Wow. You have to hand it to them. For a group of men so ill equipped for life here that they must rely on taxpayer largess for virtually every need, they sure know how to work the system.
Just so we’re clear, it sounds like once a homeless individual moves into any kind of temporary facility it becomes de-facto permanent as it’s legally impossible in NYC to move them elsewhere based on any assessment of capacity, needs, etc?
That is incorrect.
False
I think that posters who work for the government, should disclose this fact as many of them derive their livelihood by having these people living in out midst.
reply to Charles Becker:
wow, what you said is simply wrong on so many levels. It’s almost impossible to unwrap it 100 words. I’ll try:
1) “people who work for the government”, even if they work for DHS, have no material interest in disrupting the UWS, nor do they make any special $s based on whatever is happening at the Lucerne.
2) you are demanding special criteria from NYC govt employees in order to post. Prejudiced, much? Please remember it was govt employees who kept working and kept NYC going these past 8 months.
3) there are lots of people who have material interests here, one way or the other.
I am in favor of NO ANYONYMOUS POSTINGS, period. Let people put their name on things.
signed with my own name, a proud NYC govt employee.
Agreed. I also believe that members of CB7 should also disclose their employer. As they vote on community projects we need to understand if their employment presents a bias.
How do we get this information?
The money spent harassing these men could’ve changed their lives
I said it before – many times –
I say it again –
These souls are NOT leaving.
They will stay put at least until spring 2021, if not even longer.
The courts have no balls to make a final decision, one way or the other.
All UWSiders who don’t like it – suck it up and face reality.
A lot already have and the ones who could left…
The city will never do well by homeless people if it manages this population inefficiently. NYC is running a huge deficit and will be forced to cut essential services and defer much needed investment in infrastructure. Really sad to see this level of disfunction in government and it bodes poorly for our collective future.
As for all the bleeding hearts – they have a point. These men should be cared for. But it can’t be at any cost and any suggestions that it should be discredits the individual making the argument.
“The city will never do well by the homeless.”
How about the city starting first doing well well for the lower middle class worker in private industry. This man with a family is just getting by and unlike city workers has few employee benefits and is subject too layoffs.
Let’s be real here. The homeless living there are claiming that the move to the other hotel would cause them too much stress. The real reason is because they would much prefer to continue living in a 5 star $500 a night hotel that only the very rich can stay in an upscale neighborhood instead of a much more downgraded hotel like the Radisson. That is the only reason, plain and simple. But why do they get more say than the people living in the actual neighborhood as to where they get to live for FREE? Why do they get to go against the ruling of a judge? Why do they have more power and clout in all of this than the people that live up here do?
Why not offer to buy these people a bus ticket to any place in the US. Then offer them a $500-800 monthly stipend for every month they are not living in NYC.
That is a lot cheaper than the 60k/year nyc government is currently spending on these people.
I wonder how fast people would rally around me and protest on my behalf if I stop paying my rent, and the bank forecloses and looks to evict me from my apartment. I’m guessing nobody would give a rat’s ass. No chalk drawings for people working their butt off to maintain their residence on the UWS.