Dear Mayor de Blasio:

We write to you as former senior officials and aides in your administration in the hope that you will allow the 190 homeless men temporarily housed at the Lucerne hotel to remain there. We know first hand how committed you are to addressing inequality and its root causes, and believe that you have the interests of the most vulnerable at heart. However, it does not serve the greater good to relocate men, many of whom are reportedly struggling with addiction and mental health challenges, in the middle of a pandemic. It doesn’t in any way help them and it’s detrimental to us as a society if a vocal and well-connected minority can forcibly evict their neighbors for no good or just reasons.

Residents of the Lucerne are currently well served exactly where they are, receiving services six days per week on-site from Project Renewal’s Recovery Center, which provides intake, occupational therapy, and group meetings. At a standard single adult shelter such services would normally only be available off-site. This is on top of the robust case management, nursing, and wellness programs offered by Project Renewal’s nearly 100 on-site staff members, and supplemental programming offered in partnership with local organizations and volunteers, such as walk and talks with faith leaders, resume and employment support workshops, and community donation events. Goddard Riverside has even been able to provide greenkeeper jobs and horticulture training to 50 men.

Far from a failure, the facility is in fact a model.

The Upper West Side is similarly unharmed by the presence of the shelter, and continues to serve a broad variety of people from all walks of life. So many long-time residents pride themselves on being part of an inclusive community, and feel embarrassed by their neighbors who would push this fine program and the individuals it serves from the neighborhood they share. At its very core, this is an example of the New York City that you envisioned: a diverse, socially responsible, progressive vision of hope.

Although it is within your legal power to move these shelter residents, it is not in anyone’s best interest. Now is the time to use your discretion and judgement to lift up the people you came into office to help, rather than those trying to keep them down.

Sincerely,

Alicia Glen

Richard Buery

Andrea Hagelgans

Dr. Mary T. Bassett

Rachel Lauter

Lincoln Restler

Darren Bloch

Daniel Tietz

Catherine Almonte

David Neustadt

Rebecca Lynch

Maibe Ponet

Erin White

Anna Poe-Kest

Jennifer Samawat

Lindsay Scola

Katie Unger

Olivia Lapeyrolerie

Amy Spitalnick

Amit Bagga

Jon Cohen

Helen Ho

Caitlin Lewis