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Dear Neighbors,

My staff and I have heard from large numbers of you who are gravely concerned about the City's use of the Lucerne Hotel as a shelter for homeless men during the pandemic. I hear you and I share your concerns.

As a matter of public health, I support the citywide policy of temporarily moving New Yorkers living in congregate shelters (multiple beds in a single room) into commercial hotels to limit the spread of covid. Per a directive from the Mayor and the City's Health Commissioner, the Dept of Homeless Services has moved over 13,000 shelter residents into commercial hotels across New York City over the last few months.

BUT -- any movement of shelter residents into our community must be done under certain conditions that prioritize the safety and well-being of Upper West Siders. To be crystal clear, the vast majority of shelter residents pose no threat to our community or any other neighborhood. Indeed, a number of these shelter residents are going to work every day, but cannot yet afford independent living. The very fact that they have voluntarily entered shelters signifies their acceptance that they need help, and the city will provide it. 

But within any group, there are a small number who are troubled and that is why we are demanding sensible precautions.

First, I have told City Hall that under no condition will we accept any more temporary shelters. Approximately 500 shelter residents have been placed in commercial hotels within a few blocks of each other -- approximately 100 at the Belnord (225 W. 86th St); 100 at the Belleclaire (77th & Broadway); and now almost 300 at the Lucerne on Amsterdam Avenue (at 79th Street).

I have also told City Hall that we will not accept any registered sex offenders. In response, NYC Commissioner of Homeless Services, Steve Banks, has stated to me that no registered sex offenders will be allowed to live at the Lucerne.

According to the NYS Sex Offender Registry, there have been 14 registered sex offenders living at the Belleclaire -- ten level 2 offenders and four level 3 offenders. 

Commissioner Banks has confirmed that all level 3 sex offenders have been moved out of the Belleclaire. And I am demanding that all remaining offenders be moved out as well.

Lastly, I believe there should be fewer temporary shelter residents in our neighborhood -- 500 is just too many. I've made it clear to Commissioner Banks and City Hall that it will be far more feasible to keep our community safe, and properly serve shelter residents, if there are fewer persons living at the Lucerne.

I will be intently focused on the Lucerne, and the other two temporary shelters, for the duration of the pandemic.

Regarding the Lucerne, I have been pleased to see that in the last three days, the shelter's director of security has spoken with my team, the 20th Precinct, and local businesses in the area. I will do everything in my power to maintain a direct line of communication between the community, the shelter, and my office.
  • Upper West Siders who see or experience anything of concern should call (646) 845-3339. This number will go directly to Project Renewal staff at the Lucerne, who will be available 24/7. 
  • I also urge you to call 311 with any shelter-related issue. All 311 calls are tracked and the information is shared with the local police precinct and the City's homeless outreach teams. They will adjust their patrols and outreach work accordingly.
  • Constituents can also call our office at (212) 873-0282.
  • In the event of an emergency, please call 911 as always.

Finally, even though the Lucerne shelter will be temporary (and I will fight any attempt to keep it here longer than necessary), there are steps that we as a community can take to keep everyone safe.

We were notified by the City within a matter of days that the shelter was coming. I agree with many of you that we should not be having to take these steps after the shelter has opened, but we can still work together now:
  • My office is helping to organize a community leadership meeting to discuss the Lucerne shelter, which will include elected officials, the community board, neighborhood leaders, the shelter operator, and the 20th Precinct.
  • Many of you have asked how you can help to keep our community safe. Thank you. We are working with the local school principals and parent leadership teams to organize parents who want to help. Please contact your school's parent association if you would like to participate.
We have received hundreds of questions regarding the Lucerne. I answer some of the central ones below, and we will continue to keep you updated as we have more information. Please encourage anyone you know who is concerned about the issue to sign up for our e-blasts here.

Q: Did I, or the community, have any say in the decision to place the shelter at the Lucerne?

A: No. These are citywide public health decisions made by the Dept of Homeless Services, not individual Council Members. 

Q: Who will manage the shelter at the Lucerne?

A: Non-profit Project Renewal will manage the shelter. Project Renewal specifically serves chronically homeless adults-- 80 percent of whom struggle with mental illness, substance use disorder, or both.

Over 50 staff members will manage operations, the provision of meals, and a wide range of social services at the Lucerne. 

This one pager from Project Renewal provides additional details about the shelter.

Q: Will all programming be done on-site, or will residents also be travelling to other locations?

A: Outside of the programming and daily meals offered on-site (as listed in the one-pager), some clients will have to travel to meet with their service providers. Project Renewal will transport people with their vans to and from those locations.

Q: Will methadone be distributed as part of the substance abuse treatment program at the Lucerne?

A: Project Renewal is not distributing methadone on-site at the Lucerne. Clients enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment programs elsewhere will travel there via Project Renewal's van.

Q: What will be the security routine for the building and the neighborhood?

A: Project Renewal will maintain 18 security guards with 2 supervisors on each shift, including an outdoor security post and block patrols every 30 minutes. 

The boundaries of the block patrols will be: 79th Street from Amsterdam to Broadway; and Amsterdam Avenue from 78th to 80th.

Security will be provided by Arrow Security -- a civilian security force which cannot make citizen arrests. Many of the Arrow Security staff worked at the shelters which previously housed the men now living at the Lucerne. 

Director of Security, Charlie Mulham, has done outreach to surrounding businesses and they all have his phone number. He has also met with leadership at the 20th Precinct.

Project Renewal has stated that shelter residents who cannot adhere to its "Good Neighbor" policy can potentially be transferred to other shelter sites. 

Q: Will there be a curfew for the Lucerne shelter residents?

A: There is a 10pm curfew, which is standard across the NYC shelter system.

Final Reminder

Emergency Rental Assistance Applications Due Thursday (7/30)
New York State's Covid Rent Relief Program provides up to four months of rental assistance for eligible households who have lost income due to the pandemic.  
  • Provides eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance.
  • The State will prioritize eligible households with “greatest economic and social need” accounting for income, rent burden, percent of income lost, and risk of homelessness.
  • Applicants must have already been paying over 30 percent of their gross (pre-tax) household income toward rent as of March, and then must have lost income during the period of April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.
  • As of March 1, 2020, household income must be below 80% of the Area Median Income (less than $63,680 for one person, less than $90,960 for a family of four).
To learn more and apply, click here. If you have application questions, call 1-833-499-0318, Monday through Saturday, 8am -- 7pm. You can also email: [email protected].
 

Housing Rights Town Hall: Next Monday
Goddard Riverside Law Project will host a virtual town hall next Monday, August 3rd at 6pm about tenants' rights during the Covid crisis. The event will feature presentations from Housing Court Answers, the Law Project, and the Housing Justice for All and Right to Counsel NYC coalitions. 

You can join via Zoom, Facebook Live, or Telephone Conference. Register here or by sending an email with your name, address, and telephone number to [email protected]. 
We're Here to Help
My office assists people with housing issues, seniors, the disabled, the recently un (or under) employed, the food insecure, and all those suffering the many consequences of this pandemic, to help in any way we can.

Please call (212) 873-0282, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible; email [email protected]; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com. We update it on a daily basis with information about public benefits, non-profit resources, and health facts Upper West Siders need to get through this crisis. 

Warmly,



P.S. Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, or have them subscribe to my e-blasts here. Also, follow my social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram.
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