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W42ST Daily — 9/25/2020
Back in 2018, we interviewed Corey Johnson after he’d taken on the role of New York City Council Speaker. Here’s an excerpt…
Less than seven years ago, Corey Johnson was broke and unemployed. He’d been a finalist for three jobs he desperately wanted, and losing out on all of them had left him devastated. To make matters worse, the rent was due and he didn’t have a clue how he was going to pay it.
It wasn’t exactly an all-time low (that honor belongs to the period when, as a closeted gay 15-year-old, he was clinically depressed and suicidal), but it was right down there with the worst of times.
“The lesson is, I guess, that anything’s possible. All of us have rough patches, all of us have setbacks, all of us face adversity. But even when you go through a difficult, emotionally devastating time, there really is light on the other side. I’m not sure I had that view when I was going through it,” he adds, “but looking back, I really feel that way.”
You can read the full interview here.
Yesterday, he pulled out of the race to be Mayor in 2021. He talked openly about the depression he has suffered during the pandemic. At times, many locals (including me) have been frustrated by his “absence” from the neighborhood during the lockdown, especially when the city decided to use the majority of vacant hotels in the area for homeless shelters. As always, you can never tell what’s happening in the lives of others. We wish Corey good health and hope he can see light on the other side soon.
SPONSORED POST
Join us on September 30th at 6pm and learn about some of New York City’s top after-school programs offered by leading arts institutions city-wide, including our very own MCC. Register today to get the scoop on fall courses.
COMPOSTING MADE EASY
Fountain House’s newest venture, “Fountain House + Garden”, is a social enterprise offering an at-home pick-up compost service. They will be distributing free compost buckets (usually $20) to anyone subscribing before the end of October. If you live below 59th Street, this is a service for you!
You will be helping to mitigate the effects of food waste in New York City, while providing meaningful, rehabilitative, paid work opportunities for people living with serious mental illness. They use vermicomposting, or worm-based composting, to create nutrient-rich compost and compost tea, which will be available to their subscribers at no cost. Subscribe now, I promise it will make you feel good!
INTREPID MUSEUM REOPENS TODAY
Thanks to the readers who went to Intrepid Museum to help the team check out their new visitor systems. From the pictures on Instagram, it looked like they had enormous fun.
One reader hadn’t been since sixth grade, many had never been (even though Intrepid is our neighbor). “It was SO amazing! I can’t wait to go back.,” enthused first-timer, Lynnette. “So many friends have messaged to say they’ve never been and now they want to go! I truly don’t think people realize how cool it is!” Book your visit…
WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
A young man has sadly died several weeks after being stabbed in Hell’s Kitchen. RIP…
“If you find yourself in the middle of the night in Times Square during a pandemic and want something to shove into your mouth, sure, you’d wind up here” – Gothamist takes a trip to the new Krispy Kreme megastore. Sweet…
Unraveling some of the science behind Fall foliage. Pretty…
Save the date! The next neighborhood clean-up is on Saturday, October 3. Tidy…
