Hell's Kitchen Online 9/5/98
Hellskitchen
kitchen@hellskitchen.net
Sat, 05 Sep 1998 14:17:41 -0500
Hell's Kitchen Online 9/5/98
"All the News the Times Won't Print"
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In this issue...
* Letters
* News about Pier 84
* HK Family inquiry
* Chelsea Action Network addresses Deregulation
* Latest on Leo House & Letter from Board 4
* Board 4 calls for alternative to HS Systems
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LETTERS
From: PadianNYC@aol.com
Got a call last night at home from Peter Vallone's campaign for Governor. Told the poor woman in a
rather loud voice that he sold out the neighborhood and I wouldn't vote for him if he kissed my
butt in Macy's window. When she had the audacity to suggest that I not condemn him on one issue,
I noted that if given the chance, I'd crucify him on this one issue.
Just keeping a level head and a civil tongue,
Andy
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From: Asplda@aol.com
What's going on at 705 Ninth Avenue?
I'm not sure if you can answer my question, but perhaps you can point me in the direction of an
answer.
I live at 707 Ninth Avenue. For the last 16 years or so, the building at 705 has been bricked up
and abandoned. A few years ago, "someone" paid to have a new roof put on it, to prevent previous
damage from junkie fires, pigeon crap and rain from collapsing the building. A few days ago,
yellow "CAUTION" tape was up, blocking the sidewalk in front of the building. The next day, heavy
wooden scaffolding was erected. No work has been done. Do you know what's happening? Are they
"renovating"? Did debris fall from the facade and now they're securing it? Will I have overpriced
rental units across my air shaft in the near future?
Tony Picco
P.S.: Thanks for all the anti-rezoning effort and organizing you did. I'm ready for round two...
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One reader writes...
Have you heard that Joe Rose is being considered for deputy mayor?
we responded...
Maybe we can go to the swearing-in and start laughing uncontrollably.
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From Friends of Pier 84
Aportion of public access on Pier 84 has been repopened but it is not very large. We will try to
publicise this as well as am upcomming pier re-opening event soon - meanwhile if you want to be on
our mailing list, contact me (John Doswell) at 757-1600 or eamil doswell@aol.com or send a card to
Friends of Pier 84 - 455 West 43rd Street NYC 10036 and I'll give you more info (we are preparing
a mailing)
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HK Family Inquiry
From: kraybur@bellsouth.net
Hello. I found your website while trying to do some research for my dad. My dad was born in
Hell's Kitchen on March 28, 1931, in an apartment on 46th St. in Hell's Kitchen. His parents were
Charles and Vivian Lampitt. (The name is a bit unusual, so that might help). He was delivered at
home, so there is no hospital, or other formal record of his address. His oldest sister is in her
late eighties, and no longer remembers the address. Her name is Ena. There were to brothers that
died at home--John and Vincent. A midwife (or someone in the neighborhood who served in that
position) helped deliver him. Again, I do not know her name, but his sister remembers that it was
a lady who "delivered a lot of babies."
My dad LOVED the pictures you have on this site. I have printed some of them for him. I have
also saved some to diskette. Your site is wonderful! Could you tell us the name of the building
in hk47.jpg? That would be great!
If there is anyone you know that we could contact to help us find some additional information
about my dad's family, that would be great. Ena is living in White Plains, NY, and like I stated
before, her memory is failing. His oldest brother, Lyle, past away last week. I think my dad is
worried that the past is slipping away. Your web site makes him very happy. Sincerely, Karen
Rayburn. Birmingham AL.
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From: "Adrian P. Dilollo" <adilollo@unhny.org>
Chelsea Action Network addresses Deregulation
Supported by the Hudson Guild, the Chelsea Action Network (CAN) is calling a public meeting on
Tuesday October 6th to address the urgent issue of the rapid deregulation of stabilized housing in
the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
The Chelsea Housing Group estimates that 80% to 90% of all local apartments vacated since the
enactment of the Rent Regulation Reform Act of 1997 have been deregulated. We believe that the
vast majority of these have been de-regulated illegally.
The public meeting will also address the issue of federal deregulation of public housing in the
form of H.R 2, a virulently anti-tenant bill introduced by Long Island Congressman Vic Lazio.
Urgent grass roots action is needed to save what's left of affordable housing in Chelsea!
PUBLIC MEETING:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH AT 6:30 P.M.
FULTON SENIOR CENTER, 119 9TH AVE. (BET. 18TH & 19TH STS.)
REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED.
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LATEST ON LEO HOUSE
The following letter was sent to Cardinal O'Conner from Community Board #4 in reference to Leo
House Annex, a SRO Hotel on West 23rd St., which for five years has been seeking to evict its
remaining tenants. Both the Leo House, and the adjacent tourist hotel, are owned by a
not-for-profit organization with ties to the Archdiocese of New York. Cardinal O'Connor used to be
on its board, but now it's the Cardinal's right hand man (if that makes any difference).
In the five years since the eviction notices were served, some tenants have moved out in fear,
some have died, some have become ill and been forced to leave for the kind of care they need --
but three valient women continued to hold out for the preservation of the annex as an affordable
housing resource.
Earlier this year, many on this mailing list called the Cardinal's office urging him to meet with
the tenants and stay the evictions (court orders have already been issued). He agreed to the
meeting, but now it seems they will proceed with the final evictions, tear down Leo House and
replace it with an expanded tourist hotel. As the Cardinal washes his hands of these evictions,
it's ironic to see the news report where he calls for prayer for the homeless.
We think it is important that the Cardinal know that his actions in this case are being watched by
many New Yorkers. His number is 371-1000.
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September 3, 1998
His Eminence John Cardinal O'Connor
Archdiocese of New York
1011 First Avenue
New York, NY 10022-4134
Re: Leo House Annex, 332 West 23rd Street
Your Eminence:
Manhattan Community Board No. 4 writes to express our deep disappointment in the fate of the Leo
House Annex and the displacement of the Leo House Annex tenants.
When you met with the Leo House Annex tenants on April 2nd and promised them a review of the
situation, we were encouraged. After five years of struggle, your intervention gave us reason to
hope that the Annex could be preserved as affordable housing for women and that the remaining
tenants would not be forced to move.
As you know, Msgr. Murray wrote the tenants on August 26th that "Leo House has completed this
further review and determined that it is necessary to proceed to vacate the building."
It is important for you to understand that the community is skeptical of any review undertaken by
the board or management of Leo House, especially since we have no information concerning the
scope, content or thoroughness of this review, nor any reason to believe that Leo House undertook
such a review in good faith. After five years of intransigence on their part, Leo House does not
have a great deal of credibility with the community. We would like to know, from you, the
particulars of this review.
In the final analysis, the outcome of this five-year struggle is what Leo House has sought all
along. During this struggle, Leo House has never said what their intentions are, and there is no
specific information in Msgr. Murray's letter of what Leo House intends to do with the building
other than vacate it. But we have learned that, as we anticipated all along, Leo House intends to
demolish the Annex and construct a new building to expand their hotel operation.
This is a sad end to this struggle. The Chelsea community has suffered a terrible loss of
affordable housing in recent years. The closing of the Leo House Annex is one more loss.
We would appreciate an opportunity to meet with Your Eminence soon to discuss this situation, and
we will call your office next week in the hope of arranging such a meeting.
Sincerely,
Pamela Frederick
Chair
Community Board No. 4
cc: Hon. Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor
Hon. C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan Borough President
Hon. Jerrold Nadler, United States Representative
Hon. Catherine Abate, State Senator
Hon. Richard Gottfried, State Assemblymember
Hon. Tom Duane, City Councilmember
Jane Wood, Chelsea Coalition on Housing
Adrian DiLollo, Chelsea Housing Group
Elizabeth Kane, Esq., Westside SRO Law Project
Msgr. James J. Murrary
Rev. Kevin Sulllivan
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The following is a letter from Community Board 4 on HS Systems. You can access much of the history
of HS Systems on the web site at: http://hellskitchen.net/issues/hss/index.html
September 4, 1998
Ninfa Segarra
Deputy Mayor for Education and Human Services
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Re: HS Systems, 320-322 West 45th Street
Dear Deputy Mayor Segarra:
Manhattan Community Board No. 4 has just learned from the press that the contract for HS Systems
has been extended for one year, therefore the RFP will not be issued until September 30, 1999.
HRA was quoted as saying that this "extra" time will help HS Systems address the community's
concerns. Needless to say, these concerns have been expressed for many years without redress. The
director has failed to attend any Community Board No. 4 meetings. Their lawyer has sent us a
threatening letter which accuses us of libel and a "NIMBY" attitude after our last resolution
pointed out the noise, litter, public urination, and failure to light the facility at night, which
encourages illicit activities.
The superficial treatment of the welfare clients was detailed in a New York Times article. HS
Systems determines whether persons are well enough to participate in workfare. They often say that
clients are capable of limited employment without specifying what the limitations are. One person
with asthma was assigned to street cleaning activity which exacerbated the condition. One died of
a heart attack.
HS Systems serves a population from the five boroughs, seeing up to 750 patients daily. At least
three of the doctors left their previous jobs under a cloud. These clients are given a short
shrift, and are often seen for a cursory five minute examination because too many are scheduled
between 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM
The clients must line up at the back of the facility on 45th Street and use one freight elevator
to get to the eighth floor, even though the entrance on 44th Street has two elevators and a lobby.
This is an ill-conceived and shoddy operation costing the City six million dollars a year.
HS Systems not only dehumanizes their clients, but negatively impacts this residential community.
We suggest that HRA consider alternative methods of determining eligibility for workfare, for
example, accepting documentation from clients' physicians or utilizing city hospitals in the
clients' own boroughs.
Sincerely,
Pam Frederick Katharine Roberts
Chair Chair
Community Board No. 4 Human Services Committee
cc: Hon. Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor
Hon. C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan Borough President
Hon. Jerrold Nadler, United States Representative
Hon. Catherine Abate, State Senator
Hon. Franz Leichter, State Senator
Hon. Richard Gottfried, State Assemblymember
Hon. Scott Stringer, State Assemblymember
Hon. Tom Duane, City Councilmember
Hon. Jason Turner, NYC Human Resources Administration
Deputy Inspector Thomas Purtell, Midtown North Precinct
Jennie Esterow, Mayor's Community Assistance Unit
Adrianne Leaf, NYC Office of Employment Services
Eduardo Laboy, NYC Human Resources Administration
Yvonne Jones, HS Systems
John Fisher, West 45th Street Block Association
Cathy Blake, NYS Department of Health
Elizabeth Benjamin, Legal Aid Society
Kathleen Kelleher, Legal Aid Society
Les Helfman, Legal Aid Society
Heidi Dorrow, Urban Justice Center
Bob Roberts, Urban Justice Center