UWS gay couple sues ex-landlord
for alleged anti-LGBTQ harassment
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
A gay couple is suing their
former landlord on the
Upper West Side after
they said they were banned from
passing out candy on Halloween
in 2018 and faced ongoing anti-
LGBTQ harassment — including
when building management allegedly
removed the couple’s Rainbow
Flag from their apartment.
Anthony Dolci and his husband
Ming Infante, who previously
lived at Dorchester Towers at 155
West 68th Street in Manhattan,
claim in their suit that they faced
a barrage of adversity from the
building during their time living
there.
The $2.5 million lawsuit, fi led
in New York’s Supreme Court on
Aug. 20, accuses the building’s
former property manager, Kelly
Ann Whipple, and vice president
of Ogden CAP Properties, John
McDermott, of defamation, malicious
prosecution, discrimination,
and fi ling false police reports.
Dolci, a Latinx man, and
his husband, Infante, an Asian
man, believe they were targeted
because of their race and sexual
orientation. Now, they are calling
for the building to be held accountable
for the alleged actions.
“Halloween night is just a very
small glimpse of the injustices
that this building did to my family,”
Dolci said. “They allowed
Dorchester Towers employees to
call the police with impunity, over
and over, simply because they
didn’t like us, and they wanted
us out of the building.”
Dorchester Towers allegedly
hired off-duty NYPD offi cers as
security guards to stand in the
lobby of the building due to accusations
that the couple made
tenants feel unsafe, the complaint
states. On Halloween night, the
security offi cers went even further
and barred the couple from
participating in trick-or-treating
activities in the building.
In protest of the guard’s orders,
Dolci, who was wearing a witch’s
hat, no T-shirt, and a yellow
cape, headed outside with a bag
Anthony Dolci (pictured) and his husband, Ming Infante, have
filed a lawsuit against the luxury condo Dorchester Towers,
citing alleged harassment and anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
of treats. According to footage
reviewed by Gay City News, Dolci
was holding a glow-in-the-dark
Halloween globe and pleaded for
help while the guards attempted
to snatch his bag of candy from
off of the street. In the video, the
guards allegedly confi rmed that
they were calling the cops on
Dolci because he “cannot block
PHOTO VIA GAY CITY NEWS
the pedestrians.”
“For what? for standing on a
public street!” Infante chimed in
from their bedroom window. “For
standing on a public street!”
The 22-page complaint claims
the police were called at least
25 times on the couple, with at
least half of those times resulting
in Dolci being arrested or taken
to local hospitals for psychiatric
evaluations, he added.
“They were weaponizing the
911 call center against us,” Dolci
said.
The following year, Whipple
allegedly told the couple they
“did not fi t in with the building”
and did not dress appropriately
“for the building.” Dolci claims
the couple was repeatedly reprimanded
for trivial reasons,
such as when Whipple allegedly
criticized the couple for listening
to LGBTQ singer Boy George and
Madonna because it was not “appropriate”
for the building.
The couple is also accusing the
staff of removing the Rainbow
Flag that was placed on their
door.
General Counsel for Ogden
CAP Properties Stephen Nahley
denied the allegations.
“The accusations contained in
the lawsuit concerning Dorchester
Towers, Ms. Whipple, and
our other employees are baseless,
totally without merit. We will
defend them vigorously and are
confi dent that we will prevail,”
Nahley said in a written statement
to Gay City News.
Whipple and McDermott did
not immediately reply to request
for comment.
Wollman Rink in Central Park to return Nov. 14 with new operators
BY MARK HALLUM
Coming through just before
the holiday season, NYC
Parks secured a new operator
for Central Park’s Wollman
Rink ahead of the chilly months
after the city broke ties with the
Trump organization in January
of 2021.
Wollman Park Partners (WPP)
– a mix of Harris Blitzer Sports &
Entertainment, Related Companies,
and Equinox – will reopen
the rink by Nov. 14 after being
selected through a request for
proposals process and released
new details, the group announced
Tuesday afternoon.
“The second I learned about
Wollman Park Partners’ plans
for Wollman Rink NYC I knew
I had to become involved to support
one of New York City’s most
historic destinations,” Stefanie
Tomlin, the newly appointed general
manager of Wollman Rink,
said. “Wollman Rink NYC is the
Projections of the new Wollman Rink in Central Park,
soon-to-be under new management.
crown jewel of Central Park, and
we have a unique opportunity to
make it more than just a skating
rink, but one that’s an inclusive,
accessible cultural hub for everyone
to enjoy, regardless of
CREDIT: VSTUDIOS, CO-DESIGN BY GENSLER)
background.”
The partners are currently
performing redevelopment of
the rink and clubhouse as it is
primed to run the attraction –
once boasted as a public service
project for halo effect by former
President Donald Trump – for the
next fi ve years as allowed in the
contract.
All ties between the former
president and the city were severed
following the Jan. 6 insurrection
at the U.S. Capital.
“For decades the Wollman
Rink has provided New Yorkers
and visitors alike with a spectacular
setting for winter fun. I
am delighted to see the rink begin
its next chapter, and commend
Wollman Park Partners for their
commitment to reinvest any net
profi ts in the facility, community
partners, and our city,” Upper
West Side Councilwoman Helen
Rosenthal said. “Ice skating has
been integral to Central Park
since the mid 19th century — it’s
wonderful that the rink is now
being led with a civic spirit and
will be welcoming to all.”
According to WPP, the proceeds
from the operation will not
be counted as profi t, but will be
reinvested in the facility as part of
their capital program to address
long-deferred maintenance.
“This is a non-profi t endeavor
with the goal of upgrading Wollman
Rink and making it accessible
to all of New York in a way
that it hasn’t been previously,” a
WPP statement said regarding
pricing. “The rink requires signifi
cant investment to modernize
and upgrade. We have kept
pricing the same for children and
seniors, while introducing new
discounts for fi rst responders and
our community partners. We have
proposed a small increase in the
adult admission, which will then
allow us to provide free or lowcost
programming to non-profi t
groups and youth who would
not otherwise be able to have access
to the facility. This is about
creating a pricing structure that
achieves accessibility, allows for
long overdue upgrades to the site,
and serves New Yorkers from all
walks of life.”
Schneps Mediia October 14, 2021 5