Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Tensions are mounting at the Sixth Street Community Center, a long-standing institution on the Lower East Side, after the sudden termination of Executive Director Howard Brandstein earlier this week.
Brandstein, who has led the Center for nearly 35 years, was allegedly locked out of the building early Tuesday morning in what supporters describe as an abrupt and unilateral decision by the Center's current board of directors.
Founded in 1978, the Sixth Street Community Center between Avenue B and Avenue C has been an invaluable resource in the neighborhood, offering youth programs, organic food through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative, and free meals and produce during the pandemic. It has also played a role in advocating for community land trusts and affordable housing.
Supporters of Brandstein, who describe themselves as Friends of the Sixth Street Community Center, allege that the board acted without proper transparency or input from the larger community. They point to changes in the board's structure and bylaws over the past year, including a reduction in membership and the elimination of the Center's Advisory Board, as signs of a concerning shift in governance.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Brandstein called the firing "retaliatory," citing a human rights complaint he filed earlier this year against the board.
"After almost 50 years of service... this small group of authoritarians is determined to destroy all we have worked for," he said, adding that he intends to fight the decision.
According to Brandstein's statement and accounts from his supporters, board members entered the Center in the early morning hours, removed security cameras, changed the locks, and restricted his access to email and office space. A termination letter, which was said to be presented to police at the scene, was unsigned. A source at the 9th Precinct confirmed that officers were there on Tuesday morning and escorted Brandstein off the property "after getting fired via an email that he didn't receive."
Supporters said the termination tactics felt more like the moves of a ruthless Fortune 500 corporation than those of a grassroots organization built on decades of community sweat equity.
For their part, the four-member board released this statement to EVG:
The Sixth Street Community Center confirms that Howard Brandstein is no longer with the organization. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on personnel matters. Our focus remains on advancing the mission of the Sixth Street Community Center: fostering community empowerment, providing vital programs and services, and promoting the well-being of our neighborhood.We remain deeply committed to serving our community and continuing the important work that has been the heart of our organization for decades. We thank our supporters, partners, and community members for standing with us as we move forward together.
The Friends group has launched a petition calling for Brandstein's reinstatement. They also raised concerns about recent decisions by the board, including reduced food distribution, higher fees for after-school programs, and the hiring of what they characterize as an anti-union law firm.
The leadership dispute has sparked debate among residents and stakeholders about the Center's future and the role of community oversight in nonprofit governance. Some say the internal conflict risks overshadowing the vital services the Center continues to provide.
30 comments:
I am heartbroken by the actions taken to remove Howard from this organization. The erratic coup mentality of a third party board cannot erase the progress on many social justice fronts that this man and his partner Annette have made over the past five decades in our community. I hope that Howard has all the support he needs to re-stabilize and bring the Community back to the Sixth Street Community Center
Standing by to welcome the private equity overlords whom this idiot board will call on for financial rescue. Bye bye, beautiful building. Bye bye, afterschool. Bye bye, community fridge. Hello, luxury condo! (Sorry, Howard.)
Forgive my ignorance but how did this board get elected? Are they all newly elected? The board has full will to change bylaws by themselves?
Looking forward to hearing details from neighbors who are close to the situation. This is such a dear place that does so much good for our community.
If there is anything you can do to help, please do. We all need to step up because he doesn’t have the support he needs right now.
What they did was inordinately cruel and makes them just as evil as the idiot in chief in the shite house. Shame on them. This is a COMMUNITY center. Not a fascist institution!!!
The after-school program is unaffordable, even with the sliding scale. This was not Howard’s bailiwick. It’s $675 for a week (3 hours a day), but only(!) $115 a week if you make less than $29,999. The summer youth program costs $2,950 for six weeks or $525 by the week, no sliding scale, apparently. It’s a real haven for well-to-do families.
Apparently, the fees did not contribute to expenses of the building, and the board supported all that.
Howard raised money to pay the mortgage after going into arrears because of Covid.
"They also raised concerns about recent decisions by the board, including reduced food distribution, higher fees for after-school programs, and the hiring of what they characterize as an anti-union law firm."
Unfortunately, we are not getting facts. I hope we receive a more factual follow-up story explaining the actual issues and events. This sounds quite strange.
asked myself the same question!
What kind of people take over a community institution and fire (in a 1 a.m. email) the person who spent 50 years building it? There would be no Sixth Street Community Center without Howard Brandstein, it is simple as that. He was there every day and his work is integral to the community — and he is one of the Center's founders. A rouge, self-selecting board has executed a coup in the style of Trump and Musk. For unfathomable reasons, this board, which has acted in secrecy and has changed the Center's bylaws without in any way consulting Howard or the community, has been intent on pushing out Howard. Why? The reasons are unlikely to be good. If the Center is to remain the vital community resource it has been for so many years, Howard must be reinstated.
These are my questions as well. Often the by-laws and/or the Certificate of Incorporation (from New York State) have a mechanism for vetoing or overriding a Board vote…
These are my questions as well!
The mission of this historic community treasure us at risk. The State should nonprofits to a higher standard of behavior.
There are almost certainly two sides of the story. There always are in these situations.
I used to work there and I dealt with similar stuff from the board and other workers at sixth street. Howard was a great boss and it sucks they’ve pushed him out.
I agree with EVnow-- someone needs to scrutinize how this non-profit Board was able to enact changes to the bylaws that appear to be flagrantly self-serving?
As a co-founder of an organization that has received Howard's support over the years, I am devastated to hear this news and really saddened to hear how this was handled. I really feel that ageism is a key factor in the way this has played out, and it is a completely unacceptable move on behalf of the board of Sixth Street. I believe that personal greed is the motivation behind these actions and I hope that Howard gets the justice he deserves after a lifetime of service to the community.
The after-school program is unaffordable, even with the sliding scale. This was not Howard’s bailiwick. It’s $675 for a week (3 hours a day), but only(!) $115 a week if you make less than $29,999. The summer youth program costs $2,950 for six weeks or $525 by the week, no sliding scale, apparently. It’s a real haven for well-to-do families.
Apparently, the fees did not contribute to expenses of the building, and the board supported the program and not contributing to the building.
Howard raised money to pay the mortgage after going into arrears because of Covid.
OK, so what are the accusations against him? It seems to me that if you're abruptly firing a long-time director of a community institution you should have a very good justification. And maybe they do, but...what is it?
I find it very concerning the Board will not meet with the community. Transparency would certainly be welcomed.
Any "accusations" against Howard are made-up nonsense. He has been the target of harassment by a board intent on removing him, consistently putting forth specious claims. Removing Howard is a takeover attempt, one that has been in the works for months. Rather than asking what is the justification (there is none), we should be asking what is the purpose of this coup? What does this board want to do with the Center? Why do they act in secrecy? Why have their refused every attempt by the community to discuss the management of the Center?
File a complaint about nonprofit governance file and complaint with the NYAG and call the Charities Bureau 212-416-8401. The latter regulate charities, are very helpful, you can get advice anonymously too. https://ag.ny.gov/file-complaint/charities-and-fundraising
It's 675$ per month, not per week.
there is more than a strong whiff of the real estate organization 'open new york' in this offensive situation. most likely a money fueled coup ...and, as we have seen previously in dc, no attempt at accountability. where is carlina rivera? does she even care....or better still, did she have a hand in this...... definitely time to notify the nyag & the charities bureau. make good trouble!!!!!
this is very upsetting, and hurting a neighborhood institution that has provided so much support to east village residents over this years.
Howard has worked for 50 years, saving people from eviction, helping unhoused folks have a permanent home, feeding the hungry. He built the center from the ground up with Annette. You give your entire life blood to the community and overnight they lock you out and defame you?
What are the ancestors feeling right now who created this beautiful sanctuary.. that is now being defiled by folks who don't even know what goes on there day to day?
What lessons are the children who use the center learning from this?
SHAME on all of you who've lost your hearts and souls.
Wildflower, you are correct. I misread the form online.
Howard must be reinstated immediately. This is his life's work and he is good at it. Over the years he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep the Center going and literally built and renovated much of the building--the beauty you see in the photo's (and they do not do it justice) is because of his (and Annette Averette's) work. He is on-site most days and evenings and is helpful to everyone who comes by. I do not believe anyone on the Board would be available to the community the way he is and certainly not at the low salary he has accepted in order to help the Center survive financially. From clearing out the rubble from the then-abandoned synagogue building in 1978 to the present, Howard has been there for the Center and the community it serves. How dare relative newcomers decide to kick him out and treat him this way? It is a great affront to our entire community and the history of our neighborhood. Howard has made many friends over the years and we are supporting him to the hilt. He should be reinstated at once and a Board that is open and transparent and has broader representation should be put in place.
What Fran said!
No worries.
Just hearing about this. I suspect speculators doing what they do. Well, we're not having it. Howard is one of us and this disrespect to him, his associates and our community will not stand. You who have a hand in this, well, as my mother used to say, 'you got another thing comin!' Hands Off Howard! Hands Off the Sixth Street Community Center! Let's organize and take it back! Howard, we got you!
Post a Comment