At an UWS Open Hearts brunch for shelter residents on New Year’s Day. Photo: UWS Open Hearts Initiative on Twitter A Victory for Lucerne Residents The saga of the shelter at the Lucerne Hotel continues. A five judge appellate court ruled Tuesday that the de Blasio administration,... News 05 Jan 2021 | 06:48
Rob LoCascio of FeedingNYC. Photo: FeedingNYC/John Sosa Nourishing New Yorkers in Times of Need As we have experienced firsthand during this pandemic, New Yorkers have the ability to turn something bad into something... News 19 Dec 2020 | 12:55
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Urban Outreach Center. Photo courtesy of Council Member Ben Kallos Supermarket-Style Food Pantry Opens on the UES COVID-19 has exacerbated food insecurities everywhere and people are hurting. Some are going to bed hungry and choosing rent... News 14 Dec 2020 | 10:17
After the fire at Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue. Photo: Benjamin Morse Fire Damages Historic Church, Women’s Shelter Ash-tinted brick. Scattered, cracked stained glass. Nearly two dozen women, displaced. When the 128-year-old Middle Collegiate... News 11 Dec 2020 | 10:16
Upper West Side Open Hearts Initiative rallied outside the Lucerne on Sunday, Nov. 29, demanding that the city halt the move. Advocates drew stick figures to represent the 5,500 New Yorkers still in congregate shelters. Photo: Upper West Side Open Hearts Lucerne Ruling: Residents to Move Out A judge freed the de Blasio administration last week to move 240 men from the Lucerne Hotel, where they sheltered from the... News 25 Nov 2020 | 03:21
Leon Feingold with the House of Good Deeds bus. Photo: Deborah Fenker The House of Good Deeds “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds,” Freddie Mercury’s father reportedly said. This quote is perhaps what made the House... News 08 Oct 2020 | 03:35
Dan Miller and Kyle Dontoh of Open New York at a press conference at the Lucerne Hotel in September. Photo: Alexis Gelber Grassroots Group Eyes Progress Amid Lucerne Activism At one of the recent press conferences about the Lucerne homeless shelter saga on the Upper West Side, the crowd included... News 04 Oct 2020 | 04:22
State Assembly Member Dick Gottfried (center) at the Lucerne on Sunday, Sept. 13 with Council Member Helen Rosenthal (right) and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal (left of Gottfried). Photo: Richard Gottfried on Twitter A Freeze on Homeless Hotels Mayor de Blasio said Monday he was temporarily freezing the plan he had agreed to just last week to abandon use of the Lucerne... News 14 Sep 2020 | 09:12
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams at the Wednesday morning press conference at The Lucerne. Photo: Alexis Gelber Homeless to Leave Lucerne Updated on Sunday, Sept. 13: Faced with a continuing outcry from some Upper West Siders, the de Blasio administration said... Home 08 Sep 2020 | 09:58
The Lucerne Hotel on West 79th Street. Photo: Michael Oreskes How The Lucerne Became a Shelter Experts agree that the first rule for communicating in a crisis is to get the facts out as accurately, fully and quickly... News 04 Sep 2020 | 03:27
The Lucerne Hotel, now a shelter for homeless men, next to Nice Matin Restaurant. Photo: Michael Oreskes Shelter from the Virus Near the northeast corner of 79th Street and Broadway, in plain sight of Banksy’s “Hammer Boy” mural, insulated by Plexiglass... News 15 Aug 2020 | 06:13
Peggy Rey and Wilfredo Salaman. (Photo: Emily Higginbotham) Pandemic Roommates Peggy Rey says not many people understand her friendship with Wilfredo Salaman. Rey is a 76-year-old former childcare provider.... News 27 Jul 2020 | 12:56
CB 7 Zoom meeting of the Parks and Environment committee. Photo: Sami Roberts CB 7 Committee Proposes to Ban Smoking Along Park Edges On Monday evening, July 20, the Community Board 7 Parks and Environment Committee for the Upper West Side met to discuss... News 23 Jul 2020 | 05:41
Housing Works Health Center in East New York. ( Phoro courtesy of Housing Works, via flickr) Housing Works Receives Funds for Opioid Program No communities have been hit harder by the coronavirus pandemic than the low-income neighborhoods throughout New York City.... News 04 Jul 2020 | 01:55
Comedian Ray Ellin in a virtual comedy show on Thursday to benefit Feed the Frontlines NYC. ( Photo courtesy of Feed the Frontlines) A Night of Virtual Laughs On Tuesday, June 23, Isabella Di Pietro was inside her family’s restaurant, Taralluci E Vino, on the Upper West Side, watching... News 26 Jun 2020 | 10:15