| Dear neighbors, |
| We want to update you on our pro se lawsuit (index no. 519502/2026) against the City of New York regarding the proposed 200-bed men’s shelter at 225 25th Street. |
| Fourteen neighbors filed this case ourselves, without lawyers, against a City government with vast legal, political, and financial resources. We did not choose this path lightly. We wrote to the City repeatedly. We attended meetings. We raised serious Fair Share concerns. We gathered community support. We asked for transparency. We simply asked that the City follow its own rules. |
| When every ordinary channel failed, we went to court. |
| Our case is strong because it is not about opposing shelter or turning away people in need. It is about fairness, legality, transparency, and planning. North Sunset Park and South Slope already carry an extreme concentration of shelters and other high-impact facilities. |
| The Sunset Post has now covered the lawsuit. You can read the article here: https://www.sunsetpost.org/stories/lawsuit-alleges-new-men-s-shelter-violates-nyc-fair-share-policies |
| The article clearly summarizes the central issue: our lawsuit argues that the proposed shelter violates New York City’s Fair Share policies. |
| This fight is not easy. The DSS managerial class, the shelter industry, the developer, and their insiders have resources, lawyers, and institutional power behind them. We have something just as important: neighbors who are organized, informed, and unwilling to be ignored. |
| We now need to raise money to continue this fight. Filing pro se allowed us to get the case into court, but the next stages will require resources. We need funds for legal support, filing costs, document preparation, outreach, and the basic expenses of sustaining this effort. |
| Please donate, if you can. We are now registered as an NYS nonprofit and are applying for 501(c)(3) status, so contributions will be tax-deductible if approved. If you’re able, consider donating $200, $500, or $1,000. Local businesses, we are asking for your support directly. And please share this with anyone who believes the City must follow its own rules. |
| We also need block representatives to help raise donations. We are looking for at least one volunteer on every block between 3rd and 5th Avenues, from 20th to 30th Streets. This is the corridor that uses the 25th Street R station and will be directly affected. Block reps will personally ask neighbors to contribute, share donation information, and help us build the legal fund block by block. |
| Please email us if you can serve as a block representative. |
| With gratitude and determination, |
| GWHA |