Post by Aengus on Jun 9, 2012 9:57:16 GMT -5
The Destruction of SAGE AT THE CENTER - Talking Points
1. The announcement that SAGE was pulling it's dedicated senior space (in the form of the drop-in room) from the LGBT Center, effective June 25, 2012, profoundly shocked all of us.
2. Apparently no one discussed any of this with the stakeholder members/clients involved until after the decision had been made in a very non-transparent manner. Why not?
3. Back room deals are bad enough when done by politicians, but unforgivable if done by those organizations that are supposed to support and advocate for the demographic involved.
4. In response to a SAGE member's letter in Michael Musto's Voice blog, Michael Adams wrote “SAGE just opened a brand new center for LGBT seniors right up the street from the LGBT Community Center.” To say that it is “right up the street” is deceptive and deliberate spin doctoring. The centers are two subway stops and 15 blocks apart. They are situated in entirely different neighborhoods. St. Vincents is “right up the street”, but not the building on 7th Avenue. It reminds me of the deceptive real estate marketing phrase: “Just steps from...” when only a dedicated hiker would walk that far.
5. Michael Adams goes on to say that “we know that change is hard.” That attitude is very patronizing. It's not about resistance to change by a bunch of old farts, it's about us being dismissed, devalued, and dumped. It's about our space at The Center being sacrificed on the alter of empire building.
6. It appears that these decisions were made in a bubble, divorced from the needs and wants of those who use “SAGE at The Center”. Is any member of the SAGE board a person that actually uses SAGE services, rather than being chosen for other reasons, such as the ability to bring in funding? If not, why not?
7. The programs affected consist of those 12 that are listed as “SAGE at The Center”, including the five or so discussion groups, book lovers group, drop in, and others. Basically those social, discussion, and support groups that mostly revolve around room 107 at the Center.
8. There is also opposition to the strategic direction SAGE has been taking in the last several years. Destroying programs that are important to a significant part of the SAGE demographic in order to pay for “empire building” (the phrase I hear most often) is morally wrong. It is unforgivable.
9. Even more important, laying off 10 employees, including 4 social workers, to fund empire building is grotesquely wrong on so many levels.
10. We understand that one-on-one counseling will probably be eliminated. And that is a cold hearted abandonment of an essential SAGE clinical service for those that need it. At some point, seniors generally loose some level of control over their lives, depending on their condition and circumstances. To further embarrass them by eliminating individual counseling and to therefore subject them to washing their laundry in a group session is demeaning and non-productive. And morally wrong. Yet another program sacrificed on the altar of empire building.
11. SAGE is seen by many of those opposed to this move, as increasingly irrelevant to and dismissive of senior LGBT people that don't need clinical or case management services. In other words, the drop-in room social services apparently aren't sexy enough for big fund raising.
12. We understand that there are other programs at SAGE, however we are fighting for our slice of the pie and intend to do whatever we can to stop the destruction of our space.
13. The combined total number of gay bars/clubs in all four outer boroughs is probably significantly less than the number of those in Manhattan. For example, to equate SAGE presence in Staten Island to that of Manhattan is just ludicrous. It like equating California to Rhode Island in the US Senate. So why does SI need a SAGE physical presence, other than to jazz up an appeal for donors and grants.
14. Room 107 at the Center is viewed as our place to hang out, socialize, and meet in a warm, comfortable, casual, and accessible location. Much like a salon or a living room just for seniors. It even has two comfortable couches, and apparently those will not be moved to the SAGE Center, if this gos through. What a shame.
15. Not to say room 107 is ideal. It suffers from excessive street noise, including loud chatter from those hanging out in front of the Center. But the ambiance is that of a salon or a club house, and it's accessible.
16. The LGBT Center is in historic Greenwich Village, still in many ways the center of the gay world. Note that the annual Gay Pride parade still ends up on Christopher Street.
17. 305 Seventh Avenue is an office building and is blocked from gay Chelsea by FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology). It's culturally closer to the Garment District than to Chelsea. And so far away, culturally and physically, from The Village.
18. The spaces at Seventh Avenue are clinical, and not particularly warm, welcoming, or comfortable. It is, at the end of the day, a bunch of offices in an office building, not social spaces. Nor is it a historic 19th century school building with personality, character and history.
19. It is very sad to know that if this plan is not stopped, there will no place for gay seniors at The Center. Despite this being the largest city in America, and the Village being the epicenter of gay pride. Stonewall is in the Village, and therefore a space and programs for gay seniors is also required.
20. If SAGE is no longer interested in promoting and supporting seniors at the Center with a dedicated space, then we ask the Center to set up and support it's own separate and dedicated senior space.
21. If there is no designated space for seniors at the LGBT Center (such as the drop-in room), them that is discrimination based on age.
22. It is also very sad that SAGE was at the 13th Street building before The Center was, and yet, SAGE turned down an offer for another dedicated space at the LGBT Center.
23. This is a grassroots protest. Frankly we are very angry and intend to do what we need to stop the destruction of SAGE at the Center. Including these protest meetings, potentially filing complaints with the NYC Dept. of Aging, the NYS Attorney General, appealing to the press (as has already started), and maybe even filing for a court issued restraining order (TRO).
24. Quoting Howard Beale, from the movie Network: "We're as mad as hell, and we're not going to take this anymore."
1. The announcement that SAGE was pulling it's dedicated senior space (in the form of the drop-in room) from the LGBT Center, effective June 25, 2012, profoundly shocked all of us.
2. Apparently no one discussed any of this with the stakeholder members/clients involved until after the decision had been made in a very non-transparent manner. Why not?
3. Back room deals are bad enough when done by politicians, but unforgivable if done by those organizations that are supposed to support and advocate for the demographic involved.
4. In response to a SAGE member's letter in Michael Musto's Voice blog, Michael Adams wrote “SAGE just opened a brand new center for LGBT seniors right up the street from the LGBT Community Center.” To say that it is “right up the street” is deceptive and deliberate spin doctoring. The centers are two subway stops and 15 blocks apart. They are situated in entirely different neighborhoods. St. Vincents is “right up the street”, but not the building on 7th Avenue. It reminds me of the deceptive real estate marketing phrase: “Just steps from...” when only a dedicated hiker would walk that far.
5. Michael Adams goes on to say that “we know that change is hard.” That attitude is very patronizing. It's not about resistance to change by a bunch of old farts, it's about us being dismissed, devalued, and dumped. It's about our space at The Center being sacrificed on the alter of empire building.
6. It appears that these decisions were made in a bubble, divorced from the needs and wants of those who use “SAGE at The Center”. Is any member of the SAGE board a person that actually uses SAGE services, rather than being chosen for other reasons, such as the ability to bring in funding? If not, why not?
7. The programs affected consist of those 12 that are listed as “SAGE at The Center”, including the five or so discussion groups, book lovers group, drop in, and others. Basically those social, discussion, and support groups that mostly revolve around room 107 at the Center.
8. There is also opposition to the strategic direction SAGE has been taking in the last several years. Destroying programs that are important to a significant part of the SAGE demographic in order to pay for “empire building” (the phrase I hear most often) is morally wrong. It is unforgivable.
9. Even more important, laying off 10 employees, including 4 social workers, to fund empire building is grotesquely wrong on so many levels.
10. We understand that one-on-one counseling will probably be eliminated. And that is a cold hearted abandonment of an essential SAGE clinical service for those that need it. At some point, seniors generally loose some level of control over their lives, depending on their condition and circumstances. To further embarrass them by eliminating individual counseling and to therefore subject them to washing their laundry in a group session is demeaning and non-productive. And morally wrong. Yet another program sacrificed on the altar of empire building.
11. SAGE is seen by many of those opposed to this move, as increasingly irrelevant to and dismissive of senior LGBT people that don't need clinical or case management services. In other words, the drop-in room social services apparently aren't sexy enough for big fund raising.
12. We understand that there are other programs at SAGE, however we are fighting for our slice of the pie and intend to do whatever we can to stop the destruction of our space.
13. The combined total number of gay bars/clubs in all four outer boroughs is probably significantly less than the number of those in Manhattan. For example, to equate SAGE presence in Staten Island to that of Manhattan is just ludicrous. It like equating California to Rhode Island in the US Senate. So why does SI need a SAGE physical presence, other than to jazz up an appeal for donors and grants.
14. Room 107 at the Center is viewed as our place to hang out, socialize, and meet in a warm, comfortable, casual, and accessible location. Much like a salon or a living room just for seniors. It even has two comfortable couches, and apparently those will not be moved to the SAGE Center, if this gos through. What a shame.
15. Not to say room 107 is ideal. It suffers from excessive street noise, including loud chatter from those hanging out in front of the Center. But the ambiance is that of a salon or a club house, and it's accessible.
16. The LGBT Center is in historic Greenwich Village, still in many ways the center of the gay world. Note that the annual Gay Pride parade still ends up on Christopher Street.
17. 305 Seventh Avenue is an office building and is blocked from gay Chelsea by FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology). It's culturally closer to the Garment District than to Chelsea. And so far away, culturally and physically, from The Village.
18. The spaces at Seventh Avenue are clinical, and not particularly warm, welcoming, or comfortable. It is, at the end of the day, a bunch of offices in an office building, not social spaces. Nor is it a historic 19th century school building with personality, character and history.
19. It is very sad to know that if this plan is not stopped, there will no place for gay seniors at The Center. Despite this being the largest city in America, and the Village being the epicenter of gay pride. Stonewall is in the Village, and therefore a space and programs for gay seniors is also required.
20. If SAGE is no longer interested in promoting and supporting seniors at the Center with a dedicated space, then we ask the Center to set up and support it's own separate and dedicated senior space.
21. If there is no designated space for seniors at the LGBT Center (such as the drop-in room), them that is discrimination based on age.
22. It is also very sad that SAGE was at the 13th Street building before The Center was, and yet, SAGE turned down an offer for another dedicated space at the LGBT Center.
23. This is a grassroots protest. Frankly we are very angry and intend to do what we need to stop the destruction of SAGE at the Center. Including these protest meetings, potentially filing complaints with the NYC Dept. of Aging, the NYS Attorney General, appealing to the press (as has already started), and maybe even filing for a court issued restraining order (TRO).
24. Quoting Howard Beale, from the movie Network: "We're as mad as hell, and we're not going to take this anymore."
