The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association

Neighbors united to improve the quality of life in Harlem

Sign The Petition!

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Reject Timbale Terrace and HPD’s plan to move even more people with severe mental illness and addiction into our community.

Just look at 125th Street. Does Harlem need New York City to bring more people with severe issues into our community? We asked for supportive housing for our seniors during the East Harlem visioning process. HPD has done a bait-and-switch, rejecting the community’s strong voice to allocate space in Timbale Terrace for our seniors.

https://www.change.org/p/reject-timbale-terrace-east-harlem-residents-need-housing-for-our-seniors

Sign the petition to help East Harlem residents urge New York City government to stop placing excessive social services in East Harlem. We are victims of NIMBYs and our neighborhood should not be used as NYC’s containment zone.

The latest project is Timbale Terrace, which will build 230 units of affordable housing. To finance the affordable housing, Timbale Terrace will also bring 99 supportive housing for single adults diagnosed with serious mental health and/or addiction issues from outside of Harlem via the 1515 program.  Join lawmakers such as Robert Rodriguez and Inez Dickens to urge the government to find alternative ways to fund affordable housing as to add more to East Harlem only perpetuates structural racism.

OUR CONCERNS WITH TIMBALE TERRACE ARE 3 FOLDS

  1. Ignored demands from East Harlem residents, who were extensively surveyed and their desire for supportive housing are for Harlem seniors, homeless households, local artists and those living with HIV. Note also that only 30% of the 330 housing units will be reserved for local residents. (read more–>)
  2. Ignored demands from Community Board 11, which issued a resolution to request the government to stop adding more social services to address addiction in East Harlem. (read more–>)
  3. Failed to hold Lantern Organization accountable. This organization that already operates two supportive housings next to this location has not been able to provide good quality housing service and social services to their tenants. Why would NYC government want to award them with an even bigger contract? (see all the complaints here–>)

WHY EAST HARLEM DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER ONE?   

The 99 units of supportive housing will not be for East Harlem residents as there are no local preference. Here is the description of the population from the government’s website: “Chronically homeless single adults with a serious mental illness (SMI), a substance use disorder (SUD) (including those who are actively using or have started their recovery process within the last 12 months), or those who may have a co-occurring SMI and SUD.”

  1. Within 5 blocks from this site are 10+ adult-only supportive housing and adult only shelters
  2. Within 10 blocks from this site are 4 out of 32 needle exchanges in NYC
  3. Zip code 10035 has 0.2% of New York State’s population, but has 5.6% of all New York State’s capacities for SRO (Single Residential Occupancy Units) managed by Department of Mental Health and has 11% of New York City’s drug treatment program capacities

If You’ve Ever Wondered Why…?

If you’ve ever wondered why there seems to be more… crazy on the streets of Harlem compared with other neighborhoods, the answer is simple: They built it to be this way:

Please sign the Timbale Terrace petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/reject-timbale-terrace-east-harlem-residents-need-housing-for-our-seniors?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=463c9050-4d0a-11ee-b0f9-8548136bf175

to demand more supportive housing for seniors.

And, please sign up and attend the CB11 Land Use meeting TONIGHT, to tell the Land Use Committee why sending more people with severe mental illness and addiction issues from other New York neighborhoods to Harlem is simply too much.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JlTJAdTsRRGs4YVXvh7NFw

Concert in The Harlem Rose Garden

Please join the Harlem Rose Garden in a very special event on Saturday in our garden:

Saturday, September 16, 2pm-3:30pm

Harlem Rose Garden

6 E. 129th St

NY NY 10035

Kathryn FarmerAcclaimed Jazz and R&B vocalist Kathryn Farmer is a musician’s musician with a 4 1/2 octave range and an electrifying stage presence. Also a pianist, organist, arranger and bandleader,  her gifted vocals have captivated audiences in over 16 countries headlining in venues from Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei to Budapest, Berlin, Casablanca, and Moscow.  In addition to performing with many musical greats–among them Tito Puente, David “Fathead” Newman, Walter Bishop, Jr, Lester Bowie, and James Carter–she has been tapped for legacy roles such as Brooks Benton’s duet partner (in Dinah Washington’s former role) and the Doug Carn Black Jazz Legacy Band. Recent years have found her in 5-star hotel performances in Tokyo, Hanoi, and Seoul, as well as in NYC venues such as Swing 46. 

Presented by the Jazz Foundation of America, supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the Howard Gilman Foundation.

Rain Date: September 30

HNBA September Meeting Tonight at 7:00

Posted on by Harlem Shill

We’ve Got Great Weather Tonight!

All welcome to attend HNBA’s September meeting. We’ll meet tonight in the Harlem Rose Garden at 7:00 PM

The Harlem Rose Garden (East 129th Street at 5th Avenue) 

  • First we’ll have a tour of the amazing Harlem Rose Garden
  • Officers Lau and Hackeling (our Neighborhood Coordination Officers) will report on public safety in our neighborhood and listen to any of your concerns.
  • The Lower East Side Ecology Center will talk about how you can get involved in composting – what it’s all about, and how easy it is to help the planet.

Come Out To Voice Any Public Safety Concerns You Have

The Race For Inez Dickens’ Seat in the NYS Assembly

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Harlem’s Inez Dickens’ seat in the State Assembly is being challenged by Joshua Clennon. If you are interested in learning more about his run for change in Albany, see his website: https://joshuaclennon.com/

Or consider donating to his campaign:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/JOSHBIRTHDAYPARTY

HNBA’s Meeting Tomorrow Will Include Officers From the 25th Precinct

All welcome to attend tomorrow evening’s HNBA meeting at 7pm in the Harlem Rose Garden (on East 129, just east of 5th Avenue).

There will be our two NCO’s from the 25th Precinct who will talk about crime in the community like this rear-window smash and grab that happened recently:

If you’ve got an issue with crime, we hope you will come out and make your voice heard.

Local Sauce Company Bought for 2.3 Billion

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Campbell Soup will buy Rao’s and (Parent Company Sovos Brands) jarred sauce empire for $2.33 Billion.
Over the past 100 years, Rao’s has gone from a Harlem neighborhood staple to its sauces being sold at grocers across the U.S.

Rao’s line Italian sauces, soups, and frozen meals are now available at grocers across the country. The company began in 1896 as a family-owned East Harlem restaurant, famous for its comforting Italian fare with options ranging from classic meatballs to seafood salad.

Reservations are close to impossible to get.

Almost a century after the restaurant’s founding, then-fourth-generation co-owner Frank Pelligrino founded Rao’s Specialty Foods to bring the flavors from the Harlem storefront to homes across the country. In 2017, the brand was acquired by Sovos for an undisclosed amount.

Now, the brand offers dozens of products ranging from sauce, pasta, and frozen meals available in stores across the country and two additional restaurant locations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles — operated by Rao’s Restaurant Group.

Meanwhile, the original Rao’s location has thrived with age. During the pandemic, the restaurant pivoted to takeout for the first time in its then 124-year-old history, which let many locals try the signature lemon chicken for the first time.

Time Running Out (To See The Uptown Triennial)

Art Exhibition: Uptown Triennial 2023

Wallach Art Gallery I The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery
Through Sunday, September 17

If You’ve Ever Wondered Why…?

If you’ve ever wondered why there seems to be more… crazy on the streets of Harlem compared with other neighborhoods, the answer is simple: they built it to be this way:

Please sign the Timbale Terrace petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/reject-timbale-terrace-east-harlem-residents-need-housing-for-our-seniors?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=463c9050-4d0a-11ee-b0f9-8548136bf175

to demand more supportive housing for seniors.

And, please sign up and attend the CB11 Land Use meeting on September 13th, to tell the Land Use Committee why sending more people with severe mental illness and addiction issues from other New York neighborhoods to Harlem is simply too much.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JlTJAdTsRRGs4YVXvh7NFw

Art Sale From Private Collection

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Studio Vladimir Cybil presents:

Selected pieces from Axelle Liautaud’s Collection

September 15th -17th, 2023 Preview: Friday September 15th, 4-8 PM

Saturday 16th, 1-5 PM; Reception: September 16th, 5-8PM

Sunday September 17th, 1-5 PM

11 East 124th Street, Between 5th and Madison Avenues

A curated recurrent art event in the heart of Harlem

Georges Liautaud, Luce Turnier, Ti Ga, Jose Bedia, Edward Duval-Carrie, Mirlande Constant, Azor, Pascale, Monnin, Celeur, Pasko, Clotaire Bazile, Lherisson Dubreus, Nasson, Mireille Delice

Selection from the Jonathan Demme Collection

RSVP encouraged for preview & reception:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Big Russ’s Barber Shop Gives Back

Big Russ’s Barber Shop on Madison Ave at 124th Street is helping with back to school by offering free hair cuts to kids.

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/back-to-school-free-haircut-cbs-new-york-big-russ-barber-shop-harlem-better-together/

Today! Saturday Soiree

Lauren Flanigan, Director/Founder
Music and Mentoring House

www.musicandmentoringhouse.org

Acclaimed soprano Lauren Flanigan is the Founder/Director of Music and Mentoring House, a New York State not-for-profit that provides affordable programs for opera singers, hands on mentoring and an upscale residency program to students studying in the arts in NYC. She has enjoyed a thirty-year career that included performances at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Glyndebourne, the New York City Opera, ten world premieres, one movie, eleven cd’s, five Live From Lincoln Center telecasts and fifteen awards for musical and humanitarian work. 

Music and Mentoring House, Inc is a fiscally sponsored project of Black Women Playwrights’ Group. All donation amounts are greatly appreciated and a very important contribution to continuing our efforts to serve artists of all disciplines.  Black Women Playwrights’ Group is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.

Sign The Petition!

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Reject Timbale Terrace and HPD’s plan to move even more people with severe mental illness and addiction into our community.

Just look at 125th Street. Does Harlem need New York City to bring more people with severe issues into our community? We asked for supportive housing for our seniors during the East Harlem visioning process. HPD has done a bait-and-switch, rejecting the community’s strong voice to allocate space in Timbale Terrace for our seniors.

https://www.change.org/p/reject-timbale-terrace-east-harlem-residents-need-housing-for-our-seniors

Sign the petition to help East Harlem residents urge New York City government to stop placing excessive social services in East Harlem. We are victims of NIMBYs and our neighborhood should not be used as NYC’s containment zone.

The latest project is Timbale Terrace, which will build 230 units of affordable housing. To finance the affordable housing, Timbale Terrace will also bring 99 supportive housing for single adults diagnosed with serious mental health and/or addiction issues from outside of Harlem via the 1515 program.  Join lawmakers such as Robert Rodriguez and Inez Dickens to urge the government to find alternative ways to fund affordable housing as to add more to East Harlem only perpetuates structural racism.

OUR CONCERNS WITH TIMBALE TERRACE ARE 3 FOLDS

  1. Ignored demands from East Harlem residents, who were extensively surveyed and their desire for supportive housing are for Harlem seniors, homeless households, local artists and those living with HIV. Note also that only 30% of the 330 housing units will be reserved for local residents. (read more–>)
  2. Ignored demands from Community Board 11, which issued a resolution to request the government to stop adding more social services to address addiction in East Harlem. (read more–>)
  3. Failed to hold Lantern Organization accountable. This organization that already operates two supportive housings next to this location has not been able to provide good quality housing service and social services to their tenants. Why would NYC government want to award them with an even bigger contract? (see all the complaints here–>)

WHY EAST HARLEM DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER ONE?   

The 99 units of supportive housing will not be for East Harlem residents as there are no local preference. Here is the description of the population from the government’s website: “Chronically homeless single adults with a serious mental illness (SMI), a substance use disorder (SUD) (including those who are actively using or have started their recovery process within the last 12 months), or those who may have a co-occurring SMI and SUD.”

  1. Within 5 blocks from this site are 10+ adult-only supportive housing and adult only shelters
  2. Within 10 blocks from this site are 4 out of 32 needle exchanges in NYC
  3. Zip code 10035 has 0.2% of New York State’s population, but has 5.6% of all New York State’s capacities for SRO (Single Residential Occupancy Units) managed by Department of Mental Health and has 11% of New York City’s drug treatment program capacities

One of the Owners of the NY Islanders Donates to Ice Hockey in Harlem

Posted on by Harlem Shill

John Ledecky, one of the co-owners of the NY Islanders hockey team has donated $50,000 to Ice Hockey in Harlem, a program dedicated to providing free hockey instruction to children in Harlem. This contribution builds upon the $27,000 previously given by Ledecky to honor the late advocate for Ice Hockey in Harlem, John Tonneli.

Ice Hockey Harlem began in 1987 with 40 participants, who attended classroom sessions to learn about the game and skate on the ice once a week. The group would take the ice at Lasker Rink on the north end of Central Park, where volunteers taught and trained the youngsters the fundamentals of the game.

Read more, HERE.

Community Health and Wellness Celebration

148th between Amsterdam Avenue & Broadway, New York, NY, 10023

Please join us for our 3rd Annual Community Health and Wellness event on 148th Street between Amsterdam and Broadway! It will be a day of health, fun, and festivity! Our community partners will be present, including our elected representatives, and the NYPL Libray. Community Board 9, Columbia University, Herbas, FDNY, our local churches, and faith-based organizations…. 

There will be a bouncy house, children’s story time, health workshops, fun and much fun.

Build the Block

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Sector C (Charlie) of the 25th Precinct will hold its Build the Block meeting at Ginjan Cafe tomorrow night at 7pm – September 7th – we hope you can attend to learn more about what is happening regarding public safety.

BTB-NCO-Social-Media-PostDownload

Harlem Writers Discuss Their New Work in The Harlem Rose Garden

The Harlem Rose Garden is thrilled to welcome back world-renowned writers and our dear garden members, Richard Price and Lorraine Adams for a special afternoon on Saturday, September 9th at 2PM. 

They will be having a chat and sharing excerpts from their books in progress which are based in Harlem. 

This event will be packed so please come early to secure a seat!  Please see details (above) for full information.

HNBA September Meeting

Posted on by Harlem Shill

All welcome to attend HNBA’s September meeting. We’ll meet in the Harlem Rose Garden at 7:00 PM

Tuesday, September 12th, 7 PM at The Harlem Rose Garden (East 129th Street at 5th Avenue) 

  • First we’ll have a tour of the amazing Harlem Rose Garden
  • Officers Lau and Hackeling (our Neighborhood Coordination Officers) will report on public safety in our neighborhood and listen to any of your concerns.
  • The Lower East Side Ecology Center will talk about how you can get involved in composting – what it’s all about, and how easy it is to help the planet.

Le Tropezienne Bakery

Posted on by Harlem Shill

1st Avenue at 110th Street

Le Tropezienne has back to school cookies. Note the Teacher Fuel edition, and the 1st Day Of Classes edition:

it’s an amazing bakery and our go-to for amazing croissants and pastries.

https://twobakeriesandarestaurant.com/#la-tropezienne

AC Coming

A great B/W image of the Victoria Theater on West 125th Street. In addition to a Gary Cooper film – Unconquere – note the heads-up at the bottom of the marquee:

“Modern Cooling System Now Being Installed”