LES Community Speaks out at Town Hall
By Henry Street Settlement
Henry Street Settlement Executive Director David Garza addresses the crowd at the Third Annual Town Hall meeting.
Sunday was a beautiful day on Henry Street, both outside – and inside at the Settlement’s Third Annual Town Hall Meeting, where nearly 200 Lower East Side community members gathered to address topics like housing, gentrification, jobs, education, public safety and policing, and more.
Henry Street Executive Director David Garza welcomed the crowd, championing those who were in attendance for being committed to continuing conversations on community issues.
“Unquestionably, this neighborhood has changed in so many ways over the last 123 years, and Henry Street has been here growing and changing along with it,” Garza said. “We’re critically aware of the changing configurations of all parts of this diverse neighborhood, and we strive to work with the neighborhood to stay relevant and continue to accurately represent its needs.”
After viewing a brief presentation that took those in attendance on a virtual tour of the Lower East Side and Henry Street Settlement’s sites and programs, attendees broke out into groups focused on each of the issues. The “report back,” a brief recap of each group’s findings followed. Among the concerns expressed were affordability of housing and groceries; education improvements in elementary and middle schools; more communication about arts offerings and scholarships; the need for better relationships with police officers, including the return of foot patrols in NYCHA; internship and training opportunities for adults; better bus service; more interpretation services for non-English speakers; help negotiating NYCHA rules; increased communication about Henry Street programs, and more. A detailed written report of the findings will be published in the near future and made available publicly.
Garza promised that the Settlement will study the results, and use them to inform the agency’s budget, legislative and programmatic advocacy agenda. “We can’t do everything, but we are committed to do something,” he said. He invited everyone to join the Settlement’s Community Advisory Board to make their voices heard. [Community members interested in joining should write to TDerogatis@henrystreet.org.]
Three elected officials: Public Advocate Tish James, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and State Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh spoke briefly to the crowd, who were eagerly awaiting the dinner that followed. Brewer congratulated the Settlement, noting it was the only group who hosts such an event.
Garza thanked staff member Talia DeRogatis for organizing the event. He also thanked staff from all program division and the Community Advisory Board members for volunteering during the event.
Encouraging all to be involved, Garza announced that there are openings in several programs: The Early Childhood Education Center, especially for three-year-olds; arts classes at the Abrons Arts Center; Adult Education/HSE (GED) classes, and the Young Adult Internship Program, which connects young adults to work and school.
Representatives from the NYC Votes were on hand to register people to vote, and Caracol Interpreters Cooperative provided real-time translation services in Spanish and Chinese.
More photos from the Town Hall can be viewed on our Flickr account here »
