By Carol Tannenhauser
Another member of the Upper West Side Coalition of Block Associations and Community Groups submitted a resignation letter on Monday — and she didn’t mince words.
“I would like to make our reasons for withdrawl crystal clear, as they are very serious ones,” wrote Katina Ellison, co-coordinator of the West 71st Street Block Association, which became the fifth group to leave the Coalition since June 22.
“Non-inclusive, exclusionary tactics,” as well as “the feeling that the Coalition is run by white property owners bent on protecting the value of their property by excluding ‘undesirable elements’ from the community. Female voices not respected. The Coalition not carrying out its mission as stated in the by-laws.”
The UWS Coalition was founded in May, 2021, more than a year into the COVID pandemic. A dozen community groups had bonded over Zoom during that lost year, lending each other support and advice. They formed a 501c4 — a nonprofit — with the stated mission, WSR reported at the time, to support and connect the many existing block associations and community groups on the Upper West Side, and to foster the creation of new ones.
“I provided a lot of ideas on how we might help new and existing block associations to form and thrive, but the Coalition seemed bent on simply holding forums with information easily available elsewhere, instead of focusing on our mission,” Ellison wrote.
Steven Anderson, current president of the Coalition, wrote the following in response to Ellison’s letter: “The UWS Coalition regrets that another member has not only decided to resign, but to use their resignation as an opportunity to publicly defame an organization comprised of UWS citizens with diverse voices.”
Anderson defended the Coalition’s membership, saying it “includes a spectrum of renters, shareholders, families, and individuals of all ages and races who have differing opinions about the challenges facing our neighborhood.” According to Anderson, the Coalition does not “try to reshape these diverse voices into a homogenous worldview shared by a subset of members. We will continue to provide a town square that welcomes all points of view.”
Cynthia Tibbs, once the only Black member of the Coalition, but who also resigned on June 22, disagreed. “When I was first asked by Chris Giordano [one of the founders of the organization who has now also resigned] to join the Coalition I was hopeful that it would be a way of bringing the NYCHA [public housing] community together with the coalition, unfortunately I have been met with a overwhelming amount of backlash,” she emailed WSR shortly after her resignation.
Both her raised hand and the opinions she did get to offer were ignored, said Tibbs, who also charged that a board member screamed at her in a Zoom meeting discussion concerning a dispute between two members.
While Anderson’s email to the Rag defended the Coalition against charges of exclusionary tactics, he said he reserved further comment for a later “opportunity for the Coalition to share its perspective on the issues of the day and how we seek to contribute to our community.”
Editors note: The fact of Chris Giordano’s resignation from the Coalition was added after publication, to clarify his role and current status.
With respect and support for Katina Ellison and all the others who’ve resigned. These are the people I want as my neighbors.
I live on West 74th Street and my rent is being raised $1250 per month. Obviously I have to move but would like to know how the rest of the neighborhood is doing. It would be great to know more about the block associations. If WSR can provide a list of resources, it would be greatly appreciated!
Which landlord is doing this.
Such a shame especially about the lack of coordination with NYCHA residents. Terrible missed opportunity to join forces over longstanding community issues with longstanding neighbors.
I see nothing wrong with Cynthia tibbs bringing the community together that is a great thing we need to stand together instead of separating the world is made of all nationalities black white Puerto Rican and so on sometimes people need to listen to what other people have to say as long as it’s not hurting the coalition then you should listen I back Cynthia tibbs 100%
I am a long-time community leader. A co-founder and former president of the West 83rd Street Association (member for over 50 years), former two-term (8 years) member of CB7 (and co-chair of its first Community Advisory Board), former 4-year president of the 20th Precinct Community Council (after serving 7 years on its Executive Board), and former Deputy Team Chief (7 years) of Upper West Side CERT, among other roles.
I knew about the formation of the Coalition at the beginning, and was asked to join by two of its members. But I was already hearing some troubling things about the “people in charge” (a troubling term to be hearing about a group that purports to have democratic principles) as it was forming, and in the initial months after. The term “exclusionary” was used even then.
Based on that, and on these new resignations and allegations, I am glad I did not join, and I offer admiration and support to Ms. Ellison, Ms. Tibbs, and the others who have seen fit to reject what certainly seem to be questionable tactics of some of the groups founders.
Can you or someone spell it out? From the shards it appears that the association was started in furtherance of efforts stemming from the fight against use of hotels as shelters when Covid hit?
And perhaps the founders tried to use the association to further this?
Is that it?
No one will say what people are disagreeing about, just accusations of “white property owner” domination and defamation.
There’s clearly a disagreement about what the associations should or shouldn’t be advocating for that hit some kind of political rail — what is it? Homeless encampments? Did someone want the block association to start being involved in protests at the Rent Guidelines Board?