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A thread: If you’ve read the @nypost lately about the temporary relocation of homeless New Yorkers to the Lucerne Hotel, you’d believe that the Upper West Side has returned to the days of The Panic in Needle Park. (1/)
You also might think the neighborhood is dominated by a pretty ugly xenophobia. Neither is true. With regard to the state of the neighborhood, it’s fine — or “pandemic fine” (h/t @SallyGold). A bit frayed around the edges... (2/)
...but walking and biking around this hot Saturday afternoon largely felt like it would have a year ago. At the Lucerne, the most visible signs of change were the two imposing security guards at the door. (3/)
At Nice Matin next door, the expanded outdoor seating was filled with diners undisturbed. (I would note that they were not wearing masks, the same sin as has been decried on an anti-homeless-at-Lucerne Facebook page when it was committed by apparently homeless men.) (4/)
That’s not to say there aren’t somewhat more visible homeless individuals, walking near the Lucerne and throughout in the neighborhood. These New Yorkers, like all New Yorkers, need a place to live, and recreate, and be outside on nice or hot days. (5/)
The rest of us living on the West Side are not worse for their presence. Also, for what it's worth (and contrary to what West Siders may have heard) the West Side is not housing a disproportionate share of the city’s homeless: https://citylimits.org/2019/09/10/data-drop-which-nyc-neighborhoods-host-the-most-homeless-shelter-beds/ (6/)
And, in the department of what really matters, the reason these gentlemen are here — and that homeless individuals are moving the hotels around the city — is to reduce density at shelters and thereby reduce the likelihood of COVID spread. (7/)
Many Upper West Siders have exercised their privilege to a great extent (myself included) in service of stopping the spread and protecting ourselves from the virus. We should see this as of a piece with all those efforts. (8/)
West Siders, now including these men, have a right to expect that the City and the provider, @ProjectRenewal, will do everything they can to keep everyone involved safe, supported, and cared-for. As best as I can tell, that is happening. (9/)
For those, like me, raising kids here, perhaps our children’s awareness of these new neighbors will spur discussion about the structural reasons they are unhoused — and I can only hope the next generation will be more effective in reversing the tide. (10/)
That’s also not to say there won’t be incidents. (At some point, one of them may be linked to a resident at the Lucerne.) Bad shit happens in the city. (Other kinds of bad shit happens in the country.) Some of it is happening more in cities now than it has been for years. (11/)
And we are in a time of significant municipal budgetary strain. But statistically and materially, the West Side remains one of NYC’s safest (and, in my view, nicest) neighborhoods: https://gothamist.com/news/please-get-these-men-out-upper-west-siders-campaign-to-eject-homeless-residents (12/)
Now, to the second myth I started with — that the neighborhood is filled with angry people looking to run this shelter out of dodge. I’ve lived on the West Side my whole life and I really don’t believe it's true. (13/)
I think a lot of the noise is a cycle of fear perpetuated in no small part by the @nypost itself. If you agree, and want to show proof of the actual spirit of the West Side, sign this petition for compassion and reason: http://chng.it/wmQdyPhdNB (14/14)
