News Columnist: 'Shameful' Crown Heights Homeless Plan
This Sunday, the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement will hold a rally near the armory at Bedford and Atlantic where the city wants to import a homeless intake shelter from Manhattan. According to Daily News columnist Errol Louis, the event will draw a diverse group—”Young and old, black and Jewish, rich and poor”—of Crown Heights residents,…
This Sunday, the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement will hold a rally near the armory at Bedford and Atlantic where the city wants to import a homeless intake shelter from Manhattan. According to Daily News columnist Errol Louis, the event will draw a diverse group—”Young and old, black and Jewish, rich and poor”—of Crown Heights residents, since the city’s plan has united the notoriously divided community in dissent. Louis argues that the “shameful plan” is “outrageous” because the men’s shelter at the armory is already one of the worst in the city, allowing, as it does, Level-3 sex offenders to roam the neighborhood’s streets during the day and allegedly turning blind eye to to all manner of violence underneath its roof. Louis argues that instead of bringing the Manhattan homeless shelter to Crown Heights, the city should completely shut down the Bedford facility: “After a quarter century of effort, DHS has brought disgrace upon itself and crime and violence to a struggling neighborhood that deserves better. Instead of compounding its failures, City Hall needs to stop the relocation plan dead in its tracks and focus on cleaning up the mess it has already made.”
Shut Down This Nightmare [NY Daily News]
Crown Heights Doesn’t Want Homeless Intake Center [Brownstoner]
Photo by ambr0sia2003.
Karka, that was a dark post, but I have to guiltily admit to laughing at the vision.
10:30, Is it the best thing for everyone because you don’t live here. As a parent, I have a problem with Level 3 sexual offenders living within a 1 mile radius of my children. If caring about my children’s well-being is selfish — so be it!!!
Hey Gabby how about posting a photo of the ACTUAL armory? I guess brownstoner has another non NYC resident commentator.
I think this measure should go through. It’s the best thing for everyone, all things considered. The problem is, everyone is only considering what is best for THEM.
Biff, my brood has been recruited. This is definitely a worthy cause.
Just combine the shelter with the off-shore Coney Island Amusement Park. Or they can make a floating homeless shelter that moves through all five boroughs like that pool.
I still have my doubts that political pressure alone can stop this. One of the most important unanswered questions is if not here, then where? The usual response is, “that’s up to DHS”, but if DHS has no realistic alternatives, then this move will likely go through.
I usually like Errol Lewis, but his arguements here are weak and straight out of the NIMBY playbook.
Sunday’s forecast is mostly sunny with a high of 77 – good news for the Flea and the protest.
faithful, you can have your brood help make the signs on Saturday and then join in the rally Sunday. One’s never too young (or old) to fight for a worthy cause.