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CB7 Tables Its Advisory Vote on 83rd Street Safe Haven Until Next Month 

March 8, 2023 | 1:13 AM
in NEWS, POLITICS, REAL ESTATE
36
106-108 West 83rd Street. Photographs by Carol Tannenhauser.

By Scott Etkin

In a surprising development Tuesday night, Community Board 7 voted to table a decision on a resolution in favor of a “safe haven” for homeless people that the city plans to open on West 83rd Street in April. The vote was 19 to 17 in favor of postponing a decision on the resolution, which last week sailed through the board’s Health & Human Services Committee, passing unanimously. It will be raised again at April’s full board meeting, said Beverly Donohue, the board chair.

The vote came after the board heard comments from more than 50 members of the public, who were each given one minute to speak. The meeting, conducted on a Zoom call, ran from 6:30 until 10:30 p.m.; the final two hours were devoted to the safe haven discussion. Many community members had complained that they were not given a chance to speak at the committee meeting a week earlier, so Tuesday night’s full board meeting  was a “public hearing to give people a chance to voice their opinions,” said Donohue. 

This time, individuals who live near the planned facility, longtime residents of the Upper West Side and parents of local schoolchildren spoke passionately on both sides of the issue. Supporters said the safe haven would provide a solution to the problem of street homelessness by giving people a “low-barrier” place to stay that provides supportive services, making it safer for both the homeless and the surrounding neighborhood. Supporters also spoke about the strong track record of Breaking Ground, the nonprofit organization that will run the facility for the city and help identify the people who will stay there. 

Safe Haven (left); School (right).

Those speaking against the facility warned that it would give rise to increased violence and substance abuse in the area. “The drug dealers will follow,” warned one community member. Opponents also questioned the ability of Breaking Ground and Goddard Riverside Community Center, a partner organization, to do background checks on the people being brought into the facility. Several said that was a particular concern because the safe haven would be located directly across the street from an elementary school (P.S. 9) and in close proximity to a middle school (The Center School).

Ultimately, the board decided to table the resolution in order to allow it more time to make an informed decision and address the concerns raised about the facility, such as the number of beds. While board members said they had requested a safe haven in the neighborhood for the last three years, they said the city’s Department of Homeless Services only gave them the minimum 30-days notice of the specifics for this facility.

Several people on the board’s call said they were frustrated that there was not more advance notice, giving the public more time to react to the plan. And some expressed surprise that the board’s role in the facility is only advisory — the city plans to open the facility in late April, regardless of any community board vote. But some members said the board should use the coming weeks to study the plan for the facility and perhaps persuade the city to reduce the number of homeless people who will be housed there.

The city chose the site and will fund it, but the facility will be run by Breaking Ground, which has pledged to forming a community group to engage with local stakeholders, such as P.S. 9. According to Breaking Ground, the safe haven will have round-the-clock security. The building it will be in was previously used as traditional homeless shelter for men. The new safe haven will be a different kind of transitional housing, providing support services for all genders. 

In the wake of the February 25 committee meeting, New York City Council Member Gale Brewer released a statement asking for the facility to have fewer beds. The city’s plan calls for 80 beds when it opens, expanding to 108 beds over the summer; Brewer suggested having about half as many beds. 

Board Chair Donohue recommended that the board vote in April after a “good deal of due diligence,” led by a working group of committee members. Donohue said that, according to a Breaking Ground representative, the earliest the facility would be open is at the end of April. 

The full board meeting received an extraordinary amount of engagement from the community, with more than 300 people on the Zoom at some points in the call. 

You can watch the entire meeting here.

*The Zoom call had some technical difficulties that didn’t allow board members to appear on screen, even though they were still on the call. 

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36 Comments
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Cathy
Cathy
22 days ago

At the end of the zoom, the Board did make it clear that although it was tabled… the city was still going forward with this shelter.

Very disappointed that the UWS is carrying an unfair share of all the shelters in Manhattan.
More than any other neighborhood.

Please let your elected officials know that it is unfair too…

45
Reply
chrigid
chrigid
21 days ago
Reply to  Cathy

I would like citations on shelters per neighborhood

10
Reply
Paul
Paul
21 days ago
Reply to  chrigid

The block front on Broadway between 85 & 86 is a 300 unit supportive housing facility. Are the inhabitants model citizens who patronize the opera? No.
But the people in multimillion dollar coops and condos within a block of this are, and don’t seem to be put out by it.

1
Reply
Beth Smith
Beth Smith
21 days ago
Reply to  Paul

A bit insulting how you categorize people. I also think that you are assuming that everyone who needs housing assistance is the same and has the same issues. This type of shelter targets specific people with specific issues that tend to make them avoid shelters or live sustainable lives on their own. Also maybe people aren’t citizens? A big part of the failures of DOH is lumping everyone into the same bucket and not delivering the needed services. Maybe think about your unconscious bias and your generalization of neighbors who live in the building by 86th.

6
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good humor
good humor
22 days ago

Fascinating that the vote merely to postpone was 19-17. That proportion seems vastly different from the sentiment in the comments.

Do you think the Community Board, or the WSR comments section, more closely matches the community’s opinion?

Last edited 22 days ago by good humor
16
Reply
Beth Smith
Beth Smith
21 days ago
Reply to  good humor

I actually thought it was remarkable that after a unanimous positive vote last week, and all the positive statements we heard in the meeting that it has been tabled so I suppose its all how one looks at things. Glass half full or empty?

1
Reply
Isaac
Isaac
22 days ago
Reply to  good humor

As an indication, I recall the WSR comment section being heavily pro-Zeldin and then Hochul won something like 80-85% of the votes on the UWS… so my guess is the loud reactionaries in the comments here are in the minority again

11
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Bill Pearlman
Bill Pearlman
21 days ago
Reply to  Isaac

I agree with this one. The vote was for Hochul. The community is obviously good with this kind of thing

6
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Anthony
Anthony
22 days ago
Reply to  Isaac

If Zeldin hadn’t been a loud election denier (who then pretend he wasn’t one) he’d be governor. As so often in our election it wasn’t so much a vote “for” someone but against someone else. And i don’t think Zeldin would have done much. he would do all to appease his base of upstate/LI by gutting NYS contribution to NYC .

6
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Roschel Holland Stearns
Roschel Holland Stearns
22 days ago
Reply to  good humor

The WSR comments.

1
Reply
Otis
Otis
22 days ago

I don’t what type of background checks these organizations perform or what kind of security will be in place.

Having this shelter across the street from an elementary school is a recipe for disaster.

Parents will pull their kids out of this school or if they’re unable to they will leave the city altogether.

29
Reply
caly
caly
22 days ago
Reply to  Otis

People will really uproot their children and leave the city, rather than move to the UES, where presumably (judging by the comments in this forum), life is so much better?

2
Reply
Steve B
Steve B
22 days ago
Reply to  Otis

Only some people – mainly the wealthy – will be able to move or pull the kids out from the school.

Everyone else will be trapped.

So much for progressives caring about the working class….

23
Reply
MBH
MBH
22 days ago
Reply to  Steve B

Trapped how? There are already safe havens, transitional housing sites, and shelters scattered all over the community that you have no idea about. More fear mongering nonsense

7
Reply
Yani
Yani
22 days ago

Such leadership! Elections have consequences…..

14
Reply
Link Modeski
Link Modeski
22 days ago

UWS voted overwhelmingly for Garcia, I doubt Adams cares, despite occasional lip service about his tax base fleeing the city

6
Reply
Sam
Sam
22 days ago

Does anyone know how much Breaking Ground is being paid for their services? I’d like to understand what the per bed cost is to us tax payers. Also who does the building belong to? Who pays the rent/mortgage/RE taxes/utilities on the building?

13
Reply
Otis
Otis
21 days ago
Reply to  Sam

Breaking Ground must be paid a lot for their services. Check out the salaries of their Executive Team.

Homelessness is big business. It’s no wonder they’re pushing these shelters all over the city.

Pathetic.

https://nonprofitlight.com/ny/new-york/common-ground-management-corp

18
Reply
Sam
Sam
21 days ago
Reply to  Otis

Typical “non” profit … hide behind the category, but pay private sector salaries. This is why I am loathe to donate money to them. It’s really incredible that there are no checks and balances. You can be sure that they are making a fortune on this building.

17
Reply
Patricia
Patricia
21 days ago

As the old adage goes….what could possibly go wrong here..

9
Reply
Susan
Susan
21 days ago
Reply to  Patricia

How about what possibly could go right? Like fewer homeless people on the street and more getting services. As was stated by a few community members during last night’s meeting, a lot of people want to rant about the homeless but when measures are taken to actually do something, suddenly it’s NIMBY.

I’m not happy that the city showed such disrespect for the community by giving us little time to comment but the need for these facilities is there. And, from the opinions expressed last night, there are as many parents of PS 9 students and community members in general who support the plan as there are those who oppose it. Those against it raised things like the recent horrific murder that took place on the block and the sheltering of homeless in the neighborhood during the pandemic. Both issues are completely irrelevant to the viability of Safe Haven. People are free to disagree but it would be oh so nice if they got their facts straight.

8
Reply
Skeptical
Skeptical
21 days ago

Does anyone know who the clientele will be? At the end someone spoke about how the real users are people who show up, one off, for a clean bed and a shower and then they are off. They are nomads by choice. She stressed that is who stays at these types od facilities. So why are they offering programming like art classes, gardening, yoga,etc? Is this a way to capture more budget and hire more ppl even if it isnt needed? So much money seems to be allocated to solutions that really don’t help the homeless even though providers and some employees seem to get quite wealthy off it. It really seems unjust to everyone. We never getting any indication of what constitutes success except assurances that these are solutions that work. Yet the problem coming to get larger and its never enough.

11
Reply
Skeptical Sharon
Skeptical Sharon
21 days ago
Reply to  Skeptical

Note the latest press which said BG doesnt want to cut the beds because then they can’t offer the “programming.”. So, with <50 drop in clients its not profitable enough to also offer yoga, art classes, gardening, and the 40 staff members who will be billing to support this facility? Is this really what is needed or is this what BG and their staff want to offer? Its pretty sickening but when its someone else’s money and a budget that disappears if you don’t use it, I suppose you spend. Where is the data abt what the potential customers want? You know the homeless who are living on the street and what will get them to come inside? Is it art classes or just a clean bed and bathroom?

3
Reply
ruth levine
ruth levine
21 days ago

i would like to know when zoom board meetings meet. thank u. please put me on the list of upper west siders interested in what’s going on.

1
Reply
West Side Rag
Admin
West Side Rag
21 days ago
Reply to  ruth levine

https://www.nyc.gov/site/manhattancb7/index.page

1
Reply
Joe
Joe
21 days ago

Hopefully they will at least reduce the number of beds. It was originally supposed to be maxed at 80.

0
Reply
UWS Dad
UWS Dad
21 days ago
Reply to  Joe

I don’t get this… more beds is more people off the streets? Assuming the facility can be operated safely with more beds (which presumably the Safe Haven org is best placed to judge).

2
Reply
Wendy ruberti
Wendy ruberti
21 days ago

It is obvious that Shelly Fine who we know harassed community members is behind this and no doubt is taking kick backs here. Those thinking that the homeless who have refused services for years suddenly will move to this place are kidding themselves. This would never be permitted on Park Avenue. When something bad happens, and it will, there will be blood in the board’s hands. The people on the call allegedly in favor of this were clearly paid performers that offered zero proof of their purported residency. We all saw what happened to the Lucerne. This will be the exact same thing. One woman said all the members at Lucrerne were great neighbors. Ask the businesses and look at the police reports from that time. This is a bad idea period.

10
Reply
Immelda V
Immelda V
21 days ago
Reply to  Wendy ruberti

Talk to the permanent residents who live in the Lucerne. Ask about the Good Neighbor Policy!

3
Reply
w75 resident
w75 resident
21 days ago
Reply to  Wendy ruberti

“Paid performers?” Did you make the detractors prove their residency? Just because people disagree with you, it doesn’t mean that they are paid. That is wildly paranoid.

1
Reply
wendy ruberti
wendy ruberti
21 days ago
Reply to  w75 resident

Why would the detractors need to prove it? This is being pushed through by Shelly Fine who could care less about the area. Either way there should be some way to have people provde their residency. Additionally, the homeless who have been on the streets for years will NEVER suddenly agree to go inside. They are not going to yoga and garden all of a sudden.

8
Reply
Karen
Karen
21 days ago

Everyone should read these two articles including short profiles of homeless folks across the country in Monday’s Times before they make up their mind about welcoming this new facility. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/headway/what-dont-you-know-about-homelessness.html?unlocked_article_code=HZ0EvUcc32OHvkA1tnD1TvyncMOhTP9qyBpj2rY1oHTvRreUTCG9EfJ3E1KCy0rc_7nwaiI-2XTm8rajKAKWGm2vxq2viSlKi-0PgKYdfYAbO9DVmATL3t0GHxIGQHIM0P6x8EaJmOrI28ptdb5MZyJLdvHF6f7lU0bIe4DeiXLFVhYtJptwKGIrm1eWyL4fm57-5WwkV5I7mj3tnE6awow9VqZegXE1ffjyn0W9MfdHEXrDNMUp_q8VgC2k6Gycujf5gOCbusEL9IuKfQiBOXsReuDO3AauweUSIslGE80aB83QFpjSyb-6dJ4WG8xexDRWE9yuYFmQvPdsSE_mU4yqRzm-QI1qiZjdTWNsZA&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare And https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/10/headway/homelessness-mental-health-us.html?unlocked_article_code=t6G-xcIq6nKDI71TwfoudjdhebkiR8Bf5fPbQjbkv9GwUndZD_hu8bnl86F1o4GJEKUpJSROSvOfXbbOTeDu_TtOy1jZZ0lmsI2QY77QCFVNRet_6yANxZv-w2ODwgGkDdDt8TyLXVH9aWM3e4TY1ebI-huNsWjQGQUhF3lkLKTVbDK4SEC-Nkm2Q5RFrHoUiBSXSt9yfdjifP8zNL8AR6tf3plNWOfEbcjywnyoBHbBOVAeW-D0kDA_CaqjouKg3erOXwd0JNqa_mfDhN5b_NuSNQ1CLSo5hw-20BUwqVnPKj5cp9oSrylOm-qx86mJnsFEdA3SHvrOsUwfy1RIzSvbbkgY3z_kyCFc7eOJCY4AsumInluE&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

0
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Concernedsmallbusinessowner
Concernedsmallbusinessowner
20 days ago

It’s a noble effort and everyone should have a home and assistance in getting mentally and physically healthy to have joy in their lives. We Upper Westsiders are truly caring & want to help others. That is what makes this such a wonderful neighborhood.

However, it should not all be on the UWS. People have lost sight of this. It needs to be evenly distributed for everyone’s mental health and wellness. The Dept of Homeless Services was asked how many shelter beds the UWS has vs the other neighborhoods and she claimed she did not have the answer.

I think it is time to demand an answer. We are willing to help people become healthy and happy and WE ARE DOING IT. Other neighborhoods need to do it now equally so that the small businesses and other residents can still have their needs met too on the UWS.

8
Reply
UWS Parent
UWS Parent
20 days ago

How many people on this sham community board have got children attending PS9? How many people supporting this on here have got children attending PS9? I bet the answer is zero. Is there any common sense in this world?

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Reply
Lawsuits are bound to happen here.
Lawsuits are bound to happen here.
20 days ago
Reply to  UWS Parent

BINGO…. NONE.

Ask a different question though …. what is their liability if a child gets hurt?

Hurt emotionally or physically?

Lawsuits will happen and the board members who pushed it through will be held partially liable as we did warn them.

Remember – this homeless shelter is the same place where 2 men fought and one was murdered.

5
Reply
Sam
Sam
19 days ago

I’m sure this could never happen at this shelter.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/nyregion/victor-rivera-nyc-homeless-shelter-scheme.html

1
Reply

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