The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association

Neighbors united to improve the quality of life in Harlem

Tag: Mark Levine

Mark Levine Wants You!

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Mark Levine, Manhattan’s Borough President writes:

Democracy is on the line on Nov. 8th—here in New York and nationally. In this election, Democrats face a Republican party that advances the Big Lie, denies reproductive freedom, and keeps our nation awash in guns.

Against this extremism, statewide Democrats in New York are only polling in the low 50s. That’s way too close for comfort. We need our voters to come out in huge numbers in Manhattan and across all of New York City to ensure our candidates win big statewide.

We also need to fight to win swing districts around the state and nation. If Republicans take control of congress, it will have disastrous consequences for our democracy.

We need your help, to take the energy we are building here in Manhattan to Wake Up Dems in key races around NYC and beyond.

This Saturday – October 8th – I am teaming up with Vote Blue 2022 to organize bus trips to bring Manhattan volunteers to a competitive and crucial district – New Jersey CD-7.

The incumbent Rep. Tom Malinowski, the former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor under Pres. Obama is in a tough re-election fight due to redistricting.

I hope you can join me Saturday to head to PA to talk to voters and get the word out! Sign up HERE or the button below.

Sign Up HERE to Wake Up Dems in NJ on 10/08

Firehouse

Here’s the view (on a rainy morning) looking east from the Metro North platform on 125th Street:

Notice the wrought iron detail on the former fire station:

A fire-breathing dragon? A witch?

Bathrooms

Posted on by Harlem Shill

As we all know, New York is a terrible place when it comes to finding a public bathroom that you’d actually want to use.

This ‘situation’, coupled with the decriminalization of public urination – spearheaded by East Harlem’s Melissa Mark-Viverito – https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-will-soon-be-filled-with-public-pee-ers-according-to-ny-post – has led to a noticeable increase in people (admittedly, almost always men) peeing in public over the last decade.

Into this mix came gig workers, and app-based taxi drivers in particular. Some, and by no means all, use drink bottles, to relieve themselves. This would likely go unnoticed, but supers or homeowners are forced to deal with the partly-filled drink bottles – often left at the curb or tossed in tree pits.

Help Support the Asylum Seekers That Governor Abbott is Sending to NYC

Governor Greg Abbott from Texas has spent over 12 million dollars to send migrants, asylum seekers, and immigrants to NYC and Washington DC. Here’s how you can help ease their way into New York City and the United States:

Electric Zoo is Coming

Electric Zoo is back. Labor Day Weekend. Randall’s Island.

Morningside Park View

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Ebay has a great postcard (sent with a 1 cent stamp to Newark, NJ) that looks down from Morningside Park to…

Focusing on a very distinctive complex that takes up an entire block with white massed stonework on the lower two floors, and brickwork above:

It’s possible to identify this building as being between 118th and 119th Streets on Morningside avenue:

Borough President Mark Levine Nominates New Community Board Members

Former Community Board 12 member and current Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine announced his 2022 class of community board appointments – the first since taking over the Manhattan Borough President Office (MBPO) in January. 

Manhattan’s 12 Community Boards are composed of 50 volunteer members each serving staggered two-year terms with 25 members appointed (or reappointed) each year. For 2022 the MBPO received 885 applications (the second-highest number of applications received by the MBPO) for the 319 appointments open this cycle. Of those, 91 are first-time appointments to the boards. Half of all appointments were recommended by the City Council Members to boards representing their respective districts.

“We need to ensure our community boards are composed of diverse local leaders so that we can recover from this pandemic equitably and stronger than we were before,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “My experience serving on a board showed me firsthand how having diverse and potent perspectives can turn a good community board into a powerful engine for change. This new class of appointments is the culmination of our efforts to begin to transform Manhattan’s Community Boards into a more fair and representative body that includes all the wonderful voices that together make Manhattan the most well-known community in the world. I look forward to the good work we will do together.”
  
Borough President Levine has made it a priority to shift the boards to better reflect the diverse make-up of the borough during the selection process. This has included adding a car ownership question to the applications for the first time, and emphasizing outreach to New Yorkers who have traditionally been underrepresented. 

The 2022 class saw a more reflective representation in gender, racial and LGBTQ+ identities; age; car ownership; non-native English speakers; tenants; and caretakers among first-time appointments.

  • Of the 91 first time appointees, 70% identify as BIPOC, including a greater percentage of individuals who identify as African Americans, Hispanic/Latinx, and AAPI Manhattanites;
  • 48% of first-time appointees identified as women, 42% identified as men, and 1% identified as gender nonconforming;
  • 26.4% of the new appointees are under the age of 30 years, with six individuals falling under the age of twenty. This represents a significant increase, which reflects MBP Levine’s desire to get younger Mnahattanaties interested in civics and government;
  • 17.6% identify as LGBTQ+, which is a reflection of Manhattan’s vibrant queer culture and community;
  • 79% of first-time appointees do not own a car, a percentage more closely aligns with Manhattan communities and emphasizes the Manhattan Borough President’s desire to ensure that the perspective of pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders is well heard;
  • 40% of new appointees live in rental units across the borough compared to less than 30% having some sort of ownership stake in their domicile. This representation is crucial as we work to address our affordability crisis in Manhattan.

“As a whole, the 2022 class is Manhattan,” said Borough President Levine. “While we have a lot of work still to do to make the Community Boards more fair, more equitable, and more representative, I am tremendously proud of our new appointments and believe we have begun the process of making the shift to what representation should look like on our Community Boards.”

Harlem board members

Community Board 9 (West Harlem)

  • Alex Hunter
  • Annette Robinson
  • Anthony Fletcher
  • Arelis Mejia
  • Barry Weinberg
  • Carlton Davis (new)
  • Carolina Ramirez (new)
  • Carolyn Thompson
  • Daniel Cohen
  • Daria Hardeman
  • David Hanzal
  • Deirdre McIntosh-Brown
  • Derrick Johnson
  • Edwin Torres
  • Georgiette Morgan-Thomas
  • Heather Jason
  • Jonathan Sinagub
  • Hugo Torres (new)
  • Iliana Mercado
  • Jane Arendell-Johnson (new)
  • Jenny Garcia
  • John George
  • John-Martin Green
  • Jonathan Thomas
  • Joyce Adewumi
  • Kelsey Bettis
  • Ken Miles
  • LaQuita Henry
  • Lydia Gerson (new)
  • Maritta Dunn
  • Marti Cummings
  • Michael Palma
  • Miriam Aristy-Farer
  • Monica Dula
  • Monique Hardin-Codero
  • Padmore John
  • Patricia Ramos (new)
  • Patricia Watler Johnson
  • Sean Farrow (new)
  • Shaneeka Wilson
  • Signe Mortensen
  • Solomon Prophete
  • Theodore Kovaleff
  • Tiffany Khan
  • Tina Lumley
  • Victor Edwards
  • Victoria Benitez
  • Walter Alexander

Community Board 10 (Central Harlem)

  • Asena Tuione (new)
  • Bailey Jeremie (new)
  • Barbara Nelson
  • Brianna McClure (new)
  • Charles Johnson
  • Charles Powell
  • Cheryl Smith
  • Christina Curry
  • Cicely Harris
  • Dana Points
  • Daniel Peterson
  • Delsenia Glover
  • Deneane Brown-Blackmon
  • Derek Perkinson
  • Dominick Boyce
  • Donna Gill
  • Elvin Garcia (new)
  • Fatoumata Magassa (new)
  • Genisha Metcalf
  • George Harrell
  • Hazel Dukes
  • Jaran David Manzanet
  • Jose Mendez
  • Kamaria Milford
  • Karen Dixon
  • Karen Horry
  • Kathy James
  • Keith Taylor
  • Kimberly McLaurin
  • LaShanda Myers
  • Leevert Holmes (new)
  • Lisa Downing
  • Lydel Tyson (new)
  • Ma’at Mack (new)
  • Marquis Harrison
  • Maurice Franklin
  • Mikaela Berry (new)
  • Milan Reed
  • Nathan Quist (new)
  • Shadawn Smith
  • Shamier Settle
  • Shawn Brannon
  • Staci Ramos
  • Stanley Gleaton
  • Stephanie Palmer
  • Tahanie Aboushi
  • Tiffany Bowen (new)
  • Valone Brown (new)
  • Verna Diggs
  • Wilma Brown

Community Board 11 (East Harlem)

  • Adem Brija
  • Alonzo Johnson
  • Angela Donadelle
  • Ann Marie Vasquez
  • April Autry
  • Arturo Perez
  • Beverly Pabon
  • Brandon Gillespie
  • Briana Dacosta
  • Carlos Diaz
  • Claudia Perez
  • David Giodano
  • Dawn Sanders
  • Devan Cronshaw
  • Diane Collier
  • Erick Aucancela
  • Ernando “Jason” Villanueva
  • Eugene Rodriguez
  • Giselle Malave
  • Hilda Candy Vives-Vazquez
  • Isaac Scott
  • James Horton
  • Jason Wu
  • Jennifer Meyer
  • Jessica Elliot
  • Jessica Morris
  • Jewel Jones
  • John Green
  • Jordan Wright
  • Jose Altimirano
  • Judith Febbraro
  • Juhaid Choudhury
  • Kenneth Crouch
  • Leroy Andino
  • Malik McCollough
  • Marissa Mack
  • Michelle Wiltshire Clement
  • Natassia Rodriguez
  • Nilsa Orama
  • Osendy Garcia
  • Raja Flores
  • Roberto Perez
  • Rosa Diaz
  • Russell Shuler
  • Shavasia Robinson-Teague
  • Stephanie Arroyo
  • Vincent Torres
  • Wanda Hopkins
  • Wilma Brown
  • Xavier Santiago

1880 – Where Did Women Live?

Posted on by Harlem Shill

This fascinating map of the density of women in 1880, shows how Central Harlem housed many more women than East Harlem (the darker the color, the more women per block – data coming from the 1880 census).

The answer is partly visible in terms of the buildings built in 1880 above 125th Street in Central Harlem – single-family, middle (or upper-middle) class brownstones.

This type of housing was likely to employ a number of women to cook, clean, and even nurse or educate the children. The blocks closer to the river, were more industrial and commercial areas, with tenements and other inexpensive housing for (male) workers.

In the 1880 census snippet shown above for the building I live in, you can see that Eliza Alexander and her 12-year-old white, female daughter, Bertha, lived as servant/s in the household, for example.

Both Eliza and Bertha are listed as being from Maryland, and columns 4 and 5 are curiously overwritten. I’m not sure if the line for Eliza, for example, had a “B” in columns 4 and 5, indicating “Black”?

Connector Ramp Wins Award

The team behind a new ramp on the Harlem River Drive has been recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies New York (ACEC NY) with a Diamond Award as part of the 2021 New York Engineering Excellence Awards.

Parsons Corporation announced today that the company’s work on New York City’s RFK Bridge – the Harlem River Drive North Connector Ramp – was honored. The project was carried out on behalf of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, a division of the MTA, to provide a connection between the RFK Bridge to Harlem River Drive’s northbound lanes.

The new ramp has decreased congestion, reduced noise pollution, eliminated 2,500 tons of CO2-equivalent per year, and improved the quality of life in neighboring East Harlem, while providing a shorter and safer route for travelers.

The completed ramp opened to traffic in November 2020.

Thank You Mark Levine

Our Meeting with Mark Levine and The NYC Accelerator Program

Posted on by Harlem Shill

We had a great meeting on October 12th with Mark Levine. If you missed it, and want to learn more about his vision for Manhattan (or learn more about the NYC Accelerator Program), please see:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/LnBjqZRkp1nXyRTjfaF5yuyCuIoxrrbeOHl-kUbX4abvxDw6JW3zr2oLUT5zydHm.aroNP0XIaqdeL4cQ 

Passcode: 5Rn^1!L#

Sculpture in Marcus Garvey Park

On view through October 1, 2022, Thomas J Price: Witness celebrates a familiar everyday form rarely monumentalized within a public setting. In the artist’s words, “I want to interrogate [notions of] presence, movement, and freedom. Who do these spaces belong to? And what bodies are provided more or less autonomy to move with liberty through public [space]?” 

Thomas J Price: Witness is presented as part of The Studio Museum in Harlem’s series of collaborative initiatives, inHarlem, which are being undertaken while the Museum is preparing for the construction of its new building.

Stop by Marcus Garvey Park starting this October and view this monumental work. 

HNBA Meeting Tonight at 7:00

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Join HNBA in learning more about the new building at 125/5th that will house the National Black Theater.

In addition, Mark Levine will swing by to answer any questions you might have for the Democratic nominee to be the next Manhattan Borough President.

Subscribe to HNBA in order to get access to the Zoom link:

Subscribe to this Harlem newsletter!

School Absenteeism

How Calculated: 

The percent of NYC public school students, grades K to 5, who were chronically absent during the 2013-14 school year.

Chronically absent is defined as missing 20 or more school days per year.

Source: New York City Department of Education

32nd Precinct’s Community Council Meetings

HNBA Meeting on Tuesday, October 12th, 7:00 PM

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Join HNBA and learn more about the large new development that the National Black Theater has for 5th Avenue at 125/126 Street.

We’ll hear from the founder’s (Barbara Teer) son who is managing the project.

The Democratic Manhattan Borough President candidate Mark Levine will also swing by our Zoom meeting and answer any questions about what his vision for Harlem in 2022 and beyond, is.

Terrifying Admission by Mayor De Blasio

HNBA March Meeting, Tomorrow at 7 PM

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Join HNBA in order to get the meeting’s Zoom link: https://hnba.nyc/join-hnba/

7:00 – [email protected] – Join to learn how Kristin Jordan – a candidate for City Council district 9 – will address the burden that our part of the district bears with 2 sanitation garages, the M35 Bus, numerous homeless shelters, and the Lee Building’s infamous role as a regional methadone megacenter.)

7:30 – rankthevotenyc – Nicole from Rank The Vote NYC will lead us through the maze of Ranked Choice Voting and how it works. 

8:00 – Mark Levine: Mark will introduce himself and his candidacy for Manhattan Borough President. We will open the 1/2 hour up for HNBA members to talk to Mark and learn more about his thoughts on the burden that our part of the district bears with 2 sanitation garages, the M35 Bus, numerous homeless shelters, and the Lee Building’s infamous role as a regional methadone megacenter.

The Harlem Cultural Festival 1969

Sundance recently hosted the world premier of Summer of Soul by Questlove which won top honors with the 2021 Grand Jury Prize.

This amazing film takes footage shot in Marcus Garvey Park (Mount Morris Park at the time) during a multi-week music festival – The Harlem Cultural Festival – in 1969.

While (whiter) Woodstock etched itself in the minds of a generation, The Harlem Cultural Festival thrilled Black New York but was largely ignored during the summer of 1969 (and afterwards) in mainstream America. Questlove worked to secure access to the incredbly rich audio and video of the festival and has combined this 1969 material with additional footage from the 1960’s and contemporary interviews with people who attended or performed at the festival.

The stage was setup in the north-west corner of the park, and with no swimming pool at the time, the audience filled the park south of the stage, and up onto the rocks of that now bolster the pool.

The line-up was a catholic gathering of a wide range of music of the time – gospel, blues, jazz, salsa, rock, pop, spoken word, and more.

The film is simply amazing. Keep this jewel on your radar and make sure to see it when it is released to the public.

City Council District 9 – Show Me The Money

Posted on by Harlem Shill

There is a new map out showing how much political candidates have been able to fundraise.

The race that has generated the largest amount of donations is, unsurprisingly, the mayoral race and that race is headed by Ray McGuire, the Wall Street former finance executive who has received over $85,000 from Harlem.

Eric Adams has pulled in a distant second of $29,000.

Turning to the City Council District 9 Race, you can see in the map below, money has come from all over the city to fuel the 15 candidates.

Zooming in closer, Kristen R. Jordan is far and away the leader with more than $55,000 raise – her base being the lower edge of the district.

Mario Rosser is close behind with almost $48,000 raised. His (financial) support is weaker in the north and south of the district but with strong support in the central core.

And in third place, Keith Taylor – who came to February’s HNBA meeting to introduce himself and his campaign – has raised over $20,000. His support is mostly in the west, with weaker support in the east and north of the district.

And lastly, the dominant force in the Manhattan Borough President’s race in our community, is Mark Levine, by far. Mark has raised well over $400,000 total, and a significant amount has come from the Harlem community, whereas other candidates have had very, very limited fundraising success in Harlem and East Harlem.

To view the map and see who’s been fundraising and who’s viewing this election cycle as a vanity project, go to: https://www.nyccfb.info/follow-the-money/cunymap-2021/