good wishes for 5776

Happy 5776! It is always a pleasure to follow the activities of Diane von Furstenberg, and the series on DvF is fascinating. I am thrilled to have been sent a copy of her memoir in 2008.

I was so thrilled to get a copy of the memoir by Diane von Furstenberg, after writing to say I was sorry for being so rude to Barry Diller whom I oft saw riding his bike in Central Park in the 1990s. I was usually involved in debriefing myself prior to my work then with homeless women havinguntreated psychiatric issues in a shelter we created. From 2008 through 2013, I shared the book and my critique of her memoir as a research method with my graduating seniors in my Methods of Research cours in midtown Manhattan. I also shared her memoir with my Columbia University School of Social Work students. The students generally loved the real life challenges and opportunities and themes! Many of my students work(ed) in fashion. I am always amazed how much love there is for DvF! Thank you!

Having once lived for almost 30 years between Horatio Street and West 39th street (including 488 7th Ave), I have known many garmentos, seen Ms Von Furstenberg and Mr. Diller. My first social work job was organizing small businesses for a coalition including the old Hatter's Union in the early 1980s! My comrade Gale Brewer is now the Borough President of Manhattan. We all admire DvF's involvement in the life and zeitgeist of New York City, and the world. I admire the hard work, so many demands, determination , and most of all the spirit of good will and caring, and bringing beauty in our world! These are rare qualities, thank you.I

I am now on social setcurity disability, homebound, and have to use a rollator to get around. I have been unable to really get around Manhattan since 2013 and have yet to even see the HighLine whilst spending years with a life on Horatio and Washington. I hope to soon enough. Thoughts for the future this first of 5776

NYC electoral zeitgeist November 2013

Viva la Brewer!

Gale Brewer certainly has the courage, smarts, indefatigable energy and the love to meet the challenges of the zeitgeist of NYC/2013. Of course I am totally biased although now in Newark and just another cripple when on the streets of NYC or crawling up the subway stairs to teach my hundred and something course which usually includes a student who knows and loves Gale Brewer! 

Of course,  who else but Gale used a cane for a short bit so no doubt she knows the nuances of nyc transit.

When I go to NYC now I feel the Hellen Keller quote 

“Cut off as I am, it is inevitable that I should sometimes feel like a shadow walking in a shadowy world. When this happens I ask to be taken to New York City. Always I return home weary but I have the comforting certainty that mankind is real flesh and I myself am not a dream.”    

comforting now to know that there will be Gale as MBP.

The smarts and courage to fight and/or educate...  a recent blog highlighted on the hidden running of NYC:

http://truenewsthebund.blogspot.com/2013/11/organized-crime-politics.html

the energy and love...

There will be another dream..

In my Newark building store after a beautiful day.  Listening to YouTube, watching local news. God Bless Donna Summer for all the joy she brought to us and me for so many years. Donna began for me as a gogo boy on Manhattan cable to Donna's "Bad Girls"in 1977; endless clubs /moments all over US and Europe in the 80s/90s. and always the Christopher Street pier. what is more inspiring to our world than (@3;51): "There will be another song for me.., there will be another dream for me"... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF_o7aSjl_E

I never thought I would see a day like today... the CIA, Feds, NGOs, all the media and tech companies recruiting folks at the lgbt career fair today. It is another generation and time. I am quite proud to have played parts in the work of thousands to change our world for over 40 years. How often I heard that usual putdown of having higher expectations of myself than others do, Times change! I laugh with my brother remembering Mom who confidentially told him I "needed deep therapy" (what is that?); Dad is just confused. 

Today, I saw another world unfolding and presenting dreams most of my peers never thought possible. My friends dead of AIDS like Tede and Frans live on in my head, and I am proud to be part of their legacy this day! Both blessed and humbled to know others have them in their hearts.. a wonderful tribute to Tede in SF earlier this year. 

http://queerculturalcenter.org/NQAF/letreadings13/remembering-tede-mathews/  So beautiful to see remembrance of Frans in a photo in the campaign video of an indefatigable advocate, Gale Brewer, in NYC.  Def that I am part of an ocean of dreams.. even in the YouTube video is reference to 3:50 as a distinct memory of the poster. 

Brewer for Manhattan Borough President 2013

dear Friends:

On my own initiative, I have to ask you to volunteer and/or contribute to the campaign of Gale Brewer for Manhattan Borough President. It has been a joy and a privilege to know Gale for several decades. Her enthusiasm, commitment, good ideas, follow through, leadership and love mark her as the best. In the sweep of time, I have had a life due to a meaningful lens knowing Gale. 

Decades ago as a Columbia CUSSW student intern, I negotiated a placement with the pioneering social worker in politics, Ruth Messinger. Gale was the Chief of Staff. Nowhere else could we have organized such an inclusive coalition and had actions such as sitting-in a local tavern marked for a massive rent increase, or doing laundry on the street to support another business. I think of the spirit of my social worker buddy, Hannah of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, who always showed for a demo. She would be so thrilled to know Gale imagined and created zoning to protect some small businesses. This community organizing took place whilst college senior Barack Obama was in the neighborhood and I somehow just feel he signed one of our street petitions.

In my 9 years working at Citibank, it was a pleasure to hear the thoughts of Gale during her graduate work at Harvard, and at City Hall. Those late 1980s/ early 1990s were tough years since so many of my friends were dying from AIDS. I look at the photos of parties and see the faces of men I loved who are now dead. Gale was always at my parties and I see the face of my wonderful friend Frans from Rotterdam who is now dead and how he loved her. A photo of him is in one of her campaign videos. From the 1980s, we all advocated for civil rights first routinely denied, In my 1990s doctoral study, some of my research on lgbt families was received well, but my advisor oft decried there are no such families. Thankfully, in the spirit of my friends and their families, Gale has always been part of the advocacy with marriage equality in New York shining as a beacon to the world today.

When I moved to Newark in 1999/2000, I still campaigned for Gale in her first race for New York City Council. It was incredible to meet so many interesting people as well as to witness her natural rapport with people on the street. On election day, 9/11/2001, my first thought was to phone Gale as all transit was stopped due to the WTC attacks. For years I would share that "where were you moment" at the start of each of my college classes in Manhattan. My moment included being blessed to have had Gale and my Mom to purposefully phone that scary and significant day in our history.

I do not know all the issues particularly since I am such a Newark person now. As I think about Barack Obama, I may even disagree on some points, but they make tough decisions, have a heart, and I trust their judgments. Gale is one of those rare people who always has something positive to share about others. I know of her caring from many shared friends and experiences with Ellis, Susan and Gail, Wayne, Muriel, Hans, Ann Schwalbach, the Hunter Scholars, some of my siblings, and others just in need. What a wonderful life so many have had knowing the spirit of Gale.

As you can read, I no doubt have total bias. I love the spirit of her campaign and know that she will be the best investment. Perhaps you can volunteer just to meet fun, involved folks with passion for our future.

Thank you so much.

Newark NJ summer life 2013

Mijn 14th summer in Newark, NJ. Not much swimming going on.. rain days and my leg was messed up. But did make the pool a bit and still days ahead.

Visited a brother several times in the NJ suburbs.. found a good local pizzeria in Morris County. Doing my caregivng. Family reunion on the side of our maternal grandmother, a whole crew of cousins unknown to me, the Croatian-Dalmatians. A whole diaspora from Vrboska, Hvar.

Writing about social workers in politics. Donated funds to Booker for Senate, Buono for Governor, Gale Brewer for Manhattan Borough President.

Good summer songs always!!!

Music background in the playlist for a July 2013 episode of Eastenders. The hauntingly beautiful song from "Trainspotting", Underground-Born Slippy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOi8Gnq_z_U

Pre-iftar evenings this Ramadan listening to Capital Cities-Safe and Sound.  Listening to Adele, and Layla.

Lots of videos this summer.. "Man of Steel", "Lone Ranger and Tonto", "the Heat". YouTube video catching, seen every PBS Mystery Poirot, and BBC Spooks seasons 1 through 4.

Carpe the season. And Happy Birthday to a Park Ridge IL buddy from Maine South days, today! So many shared years!

figuring out summer songs etal by myself or with friends and/or neighbors. meanwhile.. gotta get with this one! sucha generational thing.. the best song of every summer always and forever!http://mashable.com/2013/08/07/stephen-colbert-get-lucky/