Tag Archives: New York City

Rob Bennaton

Posted on by

Rob Bennaton

When I was in College, I got an internship at the New York City Housing Authority. I was working in the Garden and Greening Program and hired by Rob Bennaton, the happy man in the picture….also the only man in the picture.

When I left, I told my sister, Yunis, about the internship. Yunis applied and was the next person Rob hired. Before she left, she passed on the position to my brother who then passed it on to our youngest sister, April, who now works there. Can you believe, all my younger siblings were also hired by Rob?

That’s why it is important to have a good record where ever you go.

Each summer since 2008, someone in my house was working for Rob or because of Rob. Each summer he shared with us different words of wisdom.

Rob is now leaving the New York City Housing Authority for a bigger and better position in California.

I am very happy for him and wish him and his beautiful family all the best.

Thank you Rob for your constant words of wisdom and for looking out for my family your help towards us will never be forgotten.

Musicians-Aid Society

Posted on by

Heidi Me Ezekiel

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to join my boss, Heidi Hynes, her family and Ezekiel and his mother on a cruise!

It was a cruise on The Jewel that headed south along the East River and passed underneath the 3 major bridges (Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn), then it continued to cruise through the New York harbor to the Statue of Liberty. Then the Jewel turned around and made the same trip again in reverse.

The purpose was to raise money for the Musicians-Aid Society which is the same society that sends musicians to the Mary Mitchell Center.

I originally told the piano player, Patrick McLellan, that I wasn’t going but I am glad I changed my mind. Even though it rained most of the night, it was a great experience. I got to meet wonderful people (which you will see in the photos) and even got to hear the great  saxophonist Charles Neville live (from the Neville Brothers) and heard his son, Kelif, play a mean piano.

Here I am smiling with Ezekiel and Heidi.

Lilly

Posted on by

I was on the train when a lady got on and sat across from me with a brand new camera. She was excited about her camera. She looked at me for a while and kept looking at her camera, then she began to take photos of me.

I couldn’t get mad because she was doing to me what I do to others all of the time.  At first I didn’t know she was taking my photo but I had a hunch. Then, I started to smile at her because I knew she was taking my picture.

She showed me her new Olympus camera and the photos. We swapped emails and she emailed me the photos that night.

Jerry, the Newsstand Man

Posted on by

Over the summer, I worked at International Center of Photography at the Point as an assistant teacher.

One of my students, Charles, came to class one day and told us about a Newsstand Man he had photographed. He interviewed him about his life and well-being. The following story is Jerry’s (the Newsstand Man) story told to Charles:

Jerry Delakas is an honest, hardworking man who has been running the Astor Place Newsstand for the last 24 years, and is now facing eviction. Jerry has very much become a fixture of the neighborhood. He is a friendly and familiar face to residents, tourists, and schoolchildren. What Jerry enjoys most is watching the the world go by as he lovingly attends to his post.

A native of Cephallonia, Greece, Jerry’s work as a merchant seaman brought him to the US in the 70s. He attained his “American Dream” by being his own boss running the newsstand. In over 20 years of work, he’s been witness to the striking transformation of the city and of his neighborhood in particular.

But, Jerry’s days are numbered….

The city is attempting to evict him from his stand because he doesn’t have the required license. The previous owner of the license had allowed Jerry to run the stand and left it to him in her Will. Now, the City of New York stipulates that their arrangement is invalid, and refuses to grant Jerry the license to be proprietor of his own stand.

At 64 years old Jerry is in a precarious position. He is now relying on the support of the community: friends, neighbors, concerned citizens of the world and activists alike.

We can save Jerry with the support of people like you!

www.change.org/petitions/help-jerry-keep-his-newsstand

To view pictures of Jerry visit Charles flicker here.