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April 22, 2022 • Schneps Media
Back on the track
New Yorkers weigh in on subway safety more
than a week after Brooklyn mass shooting
BY DEAN MOSES
New York instantly sprang
back from the devastating
Brooklyn subway shooting
on April 12, with many showing
their resilience by returning to the
city’s underground transportation
system that very same day.
Still, there is no denying that
when Frank James allegedly unleashed
smoke and about 33 bullets
from his Glock, many straphangers
were left looking over
their shoulders — but the extra
concern wasn’t about to stop them
from living their lives.
“It could have happened in Kansas;
it could have happened in Paris
— it could have happened anywhere.
Mentally disturbed people
are mentally disturbed people. I feel
safe as I ever have,” one man said as
he rushed up an escalator on 59th
Street-Columbus Circle Station,
and, embodying the attitude of a
non-stop New Yorker, weaving his
LOCAL NEWS
way out of sight.
Although this swaggering individual
felt that the incident was a
statistical anomaly, some fellow
riders disagree.
Rodney first arrived in New
York City seven years ago, and he
states that he has always had a fear
of crime in the subway system—
but like many others he does not
have the luxury to afford another
means of travel.
“I was terrified because I heard
of people throwing themselves
in front of the train, people were
being robbed, and being stabbed,
and that still pertains to today.
So, when I heard that happened
on the train and the guy opened
fire, I was mortified. But I have
to come on the subway because
I gotta go see a doctor and that’s
the only reason why I ride the subway.
Otherwise, I would do the
bus, but the bus doesn’t come this
way,” Rodney said.
Rodney believes that elected
officials should take more into
consideration the everyday New
Yorkers and invest in better safety
precautions.
Anthony Dolci also is worried
about crime in the subway, stating
that he is very cautious when
waiting on the platforms and even
leaving train cars when he is made
to feel uncomfortable.
“I’m constantly looking over
my shoulder. I do not stand by the
edge of the platform. I’m always
looking around to make sure that
if someone suspicious looking, or
dangerous looking, gets near me
and as soon as I see someone, and
I do see them, I see them a lot and
I get up and have to move to another
area or train car because it’s
causing me a lot of anxiety,” Dolci
added.
Anne does not always use the
subway for public transportation
but rather prefers to travel using
Citibike so that she can enjoy
the beauty of the New York City
Two NYPD officers patrol Grand Central Station.
streets. However, when Anne does
utilize the subway system it’s only
to commute around Manhattan,
and although the shooting was
quite shocking to her, she does not
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
believe it’s something that New
Yorkers have to fear in the subway.
“I feel like it was a one-off
event. I think the subway is a safe
place,” Anne said.
Historic Stonewall Inn awards philanthropists who saved the bar
BY ISABEL SONG BEER
The NYC’s LGBT Community
Center (“The Center”)
honored philanthropists Tim
Gill and Scott Miller with its inaugural
Edie Windsor Trailblazer
Award in recognition of their contributions
toward LGBTQ equality
at the Stonewall Inn, a place
many call home to the birthplace
of some of the first gay and trans
rights movements,
Since its launch in 1994, the Gill
Foundation with leaders Gill and
Miller, have raised more than $500
million for LGTBQ causes and
fight for equality.
Gill and Miller accepted the
award outside the Stonewall Inn
on April 14, and were recognized
for their integral financial support
during the peak of the COVID-19
pandemic to keep the historic landmark
afloat.
Among those in attendance were
Judith Windsor, widow of marriage
equality icon Edie Windsor; The
Center Executive Director Glennda
Testone; Stonewall Inn co-owners
Stacy Lentz and Kurt Kelly; Gill
Foundation Board member Mary
Bonauto; Gill Foundation Board
member Eliza Byard; GLSEN Executive
Director Melanie Willingham
Jaggers; local LGBTQ community
members; and more.
“We are grateful to The Center
and the Stonewall Inn for this extraordinary
recognition,” said Gill
and Miller. “More importantly, we
are proud to stand beside them
in the work to achieve LGBTQ
equality.”
In June 2020, the Gill Foundation
announced it would match
contributions up to $250,000 to
protect the Stonewall Inn, which
was on the brink of closure due to
the economic impact of the COVID
19 pandemic. In addition to the
$250,000 pledge to protect the legacy
of Stonewall, the Gill Foundation
also committed an additional
$50,000 to support Stonewall Day,
a fundraiser that benefited Trans
Lifeline, the TransLatin@ Coalition,
Brave Space Alliance, and The
Ally Coalition.
“When we needed them most,
Tim and Scott were there,” said
Stacy Lentz, Stonewall Inn coowner
and CEO of the Stonewall
Gives Back Initiative. “Because of
their generosity, and the generosity
of others who followed their lead,
the Stonewall Inn’s doors remain
open today – a place where LGBTQ
people and allies from all over the
world come to gather and support
equality. We are so grateful for their
generosity and ongoing support.”
Edie Windsor – whom the award
was named after – was an American
LGBTQ activist as well as the
lead plaintiff in the 2013 Supreme
Court of the United States case
United States v. Windsor, which
overturned Section 3 of the Defense
of Marriage Act and was considered
a landmark legal victory for the
same-sex marriage movement in the
United States.
Windsor’s widow, Judith Windsor
was in attendance as well and presented
the award to Gill and Miller
saying how special this moment was
for her, and for her late wife.
“I am very honored to be to give
this award to Tim and Scott on behalf
of the Center, on behalf of the
Stonewall and on the behalf of Judith,”
said Windsor. “Thank you so
much for all you have done.”
PHOTO BY MONICA SCHIPPER/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE GILL FOUNDATION
Judith Windsor, Kurt Kelly, Stacy Lentz, Scott Gill, Glennda Testone
and Tim Gill attend The Gill Foundation’s Tim Gill and Scott
Miller honored by NYC’s LGBT Community Center.