What's Up at the Sumner Avenue Armory?
That’s what Bed-Stuy residents have been asking ever since a strange flier began making its way through the neighborhood: Mayor Bloomberg has announced intent to close the Bellevue men’s shelter in Manhattan…the overflow of men (850) will be moved to the Sumner Avenue Armory along with the (350) men from the Atlantic Avenue Shelter…a large…
That’s what Bed-Stuy residents have been asking ever since a strange flier began making its way through the neighborhood: Mayor Bloomberg has announced intent to close the Bellevue men’s shelter in Manhattan…the overflow of men (850) will be moved to the Sumner Avenue Armory along with the (350) men from the Atlantic Avenue Shelter…a large number of these men are dangerous felons…some are sexual predators, and some have mental conditions…homeless men are being bused into the Sumner Avenue Armory each night… Well, City Limits demystifies the rumors about the Armory, and the neighborhood’s adverse reaction to changes within it. Henry L. Butler, chairman of the neighborhood’s Community Board 3, contacted the Department of Homeless Services, who said no such thing was happening. That didn’t make residents feel better, especially since they’d seen homeless folk bused in to the building late at night. The problem, say residents, is that the shelter is supposed to be for working men, down on their luck, not, you know, criminals. And that was fine with them. In November, Bed-Stuyers met with DHS Commissioner Robert V. Hess, who explained that a few stragglers, who can’t fit in full shelters, get bused over to spend the night. So, what happens the next day? they asked Hess, who replied: They’re released the next morning and given Metro cards. That upset some who feared undesirable folks were left to wander the area; for others, the explanation was satisfying. What they’d really like is to see the Armory have a different kind of new life, more like the old. There was originally a bowling alley in there, a swimming pool, rifle range, horse stable, three catering halls, a gymnasium and a drill field the size of three football fields, all sitting there, not being used,” said one resident. “I have the blueprints.
What’s Up at the Armory? [City Limits]
“Also, when it’s really important to get these men to their shelter location for the night, they are bused to Bed-Stuy. But the next morning, they’re simply handed Metrocards when it’s time to go back to the agency across the street from the Bellevue shelter to receive the social services they desperately need. If the city were really doing its best to help these homeless people, wouldn’t it bus them back to Manhattan to get help?” – Kate
If it was really important, they would leave the shelter, and the social service center in Manhattan, where most of the homeless are, certainly ALL of the homeless who end up at Sumner Ave, or at the Armory on Bedford.
They can afford to hand Metrocards out right and left, but can’t afford to keep the fares where working people can afford them? I’m certainly not begrudging the homeless Metrocards, but what kind of screwed up planning is it, especially when $$$ is gone, for them to waste dollars bussing and transporting, when keeping it all in Manhattan, where the vast majority of the homeless are, makes more fiscal, environmental and humanitarian sense?
“high gas prices (UNFORTUNATELY) appear to be the only way action will be taken to find a viable solution.”
– because we’ve made it so. If we educate the masses about the issues, there could be other solutions. Try to think broad here, Biff.
“It is extremely horrible that those who can barely get by now will have to endure it”
– Have to endure it!!!! Have to endure it!!!! Yep, spoken like an informed and involved caring member of the working class.
How about we devise a system; a pay what you can. everytime someone goes fill toup at the pump, we evaluate their assests; the rich who are doing well and not struggling pays more, someone struggling and needs to fill their tank to get to their minimum wage job to put food on the table for their family of 4 pays less.
I’m going to say it for the last time:
What needs to change is how society views cars, transportation, and resources.
I’m really tired over this topic. Let’s end this.
Forgive me for not addressing the all-important issue of dry-cleaning, but regarding the armory, I was at the meeting in November when Commissioner Hess addressed this issue and there remain some gaps in the city’s information regarding the closing of the Bellevue shelter and their use of the Sumner Armory. When asked what would happen to the 900 men who use Bellevue when that shelter closes in June, Commissioner Hess replied that they would all be back in their homes. All 900 of them??! It seems likely that when the city discovers in June that only a few of them have been placed back in their homes, they will suddenly have an emergency on their hands — who could have foreseen it? — and lo and behold, those hundreds of men will end up in Sumner.
Also, when it’s really important to get these men to their shelter location for the night, they are bused to Bed-Stuy. But the next morning, they’re simply handed Metrocards when it’s time to go back to the agency across the street from the Bellevue shelter to receive the social services they desperately need. If the city were really doing its best to help these homeless people, wouldn’t it bus them back to Manhattan to get help?
I’m proud to live in the only American city to grant a right to shelter to its residents, but the burden needs to be borne by the entire city, not just by a neighborhood like Bed-Stuy. When we’re tearing down shelters near social services to build a luxury hotel (like there aren’t enough of those already) and then dumping the displaced homeless people in an underserved neighborhood of Brooklyn, there is something very wrong.
“And where were you for the past 50 years fighting this cause?”
Even a condescending elitist like me can’t fight a cause before being born. I’m hardly out of touch with the working class and I would venture to say I’m at least as informed and involved, (and likely more), about issues involving human rights, the environment, people with special needs, and other related topics. My point is that, while nobody is to blame more than the oil companies, the car companies and those in cahoots with them for our current situation, high gas prices (UNFORTUNATELY) appear to be the only way action will be taken to find a viable solution. It is extremely horrible that those who can barely get by now will have to endure it and I wish and hope things could change without this having to happen. But it hasn’t so far. The issue isn’t on the minds of the majority until gas prices go up. Then people start thinking of alternatives. As bad as high gas prices now are (which, again, are very cheap compared to every other country), the issue pales in comparison to what we’ll be facing if something drastic isn’t done soon.
Z – unfortunately, we’re serious. It’s been going on since yesterday’s Closing Bell Thread regarding gas pricing…and we’re still arguing over it.
“Did you know we have no energy crisis and we are all entitled to pay 10 cents per gallon of gasoline?”
– Biff, that’s condesending…to Z. But you don’t see that cause you’re above everybody.
“If we run out of natural resources, which will never happen anyway, it’s not our fault. We did everything we could. Sure we could have driven more efficient cars, but why bother when we can drill Alaska dry and shift the problem to the next generation. We want our cheap gas!!”
– Biff, you are truly out of touch, right now. Come down a little bit, from your high horse. Who said any of this? NOT I!!! Don’t put words in my mouth. This is not my point of contention!!!!!!!
No matter how many times I try to explain my view, you just don’t understand it.
Biff, I whole heartedly believe we need to find alternative resources. I do think as a society we are wasteful and need to address these issues and address them immediately. I don’t argue with that.
My point is: I don’t think the price of gas should be the catalyst for achieving oil independence. And I hope it isn’t. That’s not to say it won’t be. Maybe in my idealistic mind I hope that we find a solution long before a war is waged for the last barrel of oil (or has it already been started, but I digress).
“But shhhhhhhh, you better not complain about the poor, hard working people who can barely eke out an existence (even though they can afford to drive gas guzzling monstrosities -poor babies, having paid bargain basement prices for gas for 50 years) lest you be viewed as a condescending elitist.”
– Biff, you truly are a condescending elitist with this remark. Have you been out of your enclave of that isolated nabe of yours. Have you been to poor neighborhoods across America. Do you know people that barely eke out a living. I can assure you they ARE NOT the ones driving gas guzzling monstrosities.
And where were you for the past 50 years fighting this cause? Or 10 years ago for that matter.
Come down to the working class sometime and see how we live.
z, BRG is serious…seriously delusional that is. Did you know we have no energy crisis and we are all entitled to pay 10 cents per gallon of gasoline? If we run out of natural resources, which will never happen anyway, it’s not our fault. We did everything we could. Sure we could have driven more efficient cars, but why bother when we can drill Alaska dry and shift the problem to the next generation. We want our cheap gas!!
But shhhhhhhh, you better not complain about the poor, hard working people who can barely eke out an existence (even though they can afford to drive gas guzzling monstrosities -poor babies, having paid bargain basement prices for gas for 50 years) lest you be viewed as a condescending elitist.
i can’t tell anymore if you two are serious or just playing around.
“S/he sure has; shill’s getting pounded in there now like you were pounded in there yesterday!”
I’m very open minded, but I’m offed by this comment. You couldn’t have waited a few, until at least I was done with.
I think s/he is holding up. You on the other hand have limited sight. You can’t see a view but your own.
“Yes, my cleaner wants nothing more than to mark my own hangers while he’s doing my shirts and then dig them up and manually hang my shirts back on them.”
– If you are a socially conscious person, as you claim, then you need to find a cleaner that does do that. Mine does. Hubby shirts come back on his own hangers. Or why not spend some time with the cleaner and rant about their contributions to wastefulness.
“Plus, he’s assured me he does re-use the wire hangers I return. I take him at his word.”
– You are so easily guided! You take people for their word.
“I’m elitist because I suggested we reduce our carbon footprint and look for cleaner, cheaper, more environmentally friendly sources of energy.”
– You’re an elitist because you want to do it at the expense of hard work people that barely eke out an existence.
“You’re a socialist and you talk about taking your big assed Caddy for joyride’s around the block because gas is cheap.”
– Clearly, my sense of humor is lost on you. Surely, YOU should have recognized that as a joke.
Plus, I think *rob* just POOWED you, my friend.
“The What has officially been replaced as the most delusional poster on this blog.”
– delusion, illusion…it is all created.
now i images of the NO MORE WIRE HANGERS! scene in my head. and i’d gladly go on a joyride in that caddy of yours brg! besides, i will never have kids, and that’s the biggest way for someone to have the smallest carbon footprint possible (think about it 😉 ).
*rob*