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.
