Strycker's Bay's Founder

and

Notable Leaders

HARRY BROWNE

Throughout the early days of Strycker’s Bay, Henry (Harry) Browne was a dynamic leader who actively advocated for poor people’s participation in community decision-making and became an eloquent spokesperson for the powerless. SBNC’s founder and long-time president passed away on November 26, 1980 after a year’s battle with leukemia. At his memorial, Joseph P. Lyford, author of The Airtight Cage: A Study of New York’s West Side, said of Father Browne, “Strycker’s Bay wouldn’t have been possible in those early days without Harry Browne. His technical know how – he always knew more than his opposite number on City Hall – and his knack of getting people together for a fight against the establishment laid down the tactics that Strycker’s Bay has followed ever since, although perhaps not with the same verve.  He was the peerless enemy of everything bureaucratic and unfeeling… I don’t know if he thought so, but in my opinion by his work at Strycker’s Bay, he proved that democracy still had a chance, that democracy could be compassionate. I shall miss him personally very, very much; and I shall miss him as a leader who was somehow able to accomplish a rare and glorious feat – to bridge the gap for a time between people and their government.”

West 90th St. is also known as the Henry Browne Blvd.

SONDRA THOMAS

There have been several other notable leaders involved in the Strycker’s Bay cause.  Sondra Thomas, Executive Director (1970-76), was one of them.  She was instrumental in enabling the attorneys for the federal government and the city to win the victory for public housing on Site 30 (Columbus Avenue between 90th and 91st Streets). So thorough was the victory that it was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States (Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council, Inc. v. Karlen).  Sondra was unafraid of controversy because all that she did and said was based on a deep love and unbending conviction in her cause.  Site 30, after more than 25 years of community and legal controversy, now contains two developments: an 80-unit New York City Housing Authority building for senior citizens, named Sondra Thomas Apartments, and one 200-unit, market-rate development that also provides 40 two-bedroom apartments for low- and moderate-income families.

BOB SCHUR

When SBNC undertook management of some property along Amsterdam Avenue for the city, it was Bob Schur who drafted the Council’s novel proposals to save those buildings from being gentrified.  Bob’s concern with keeping neighborhood folks in their community helped preserve more than 500 units of affordable housing through the creation of low- and moderate-income cooperatives. A concept he designed became the City of New York’s HPD's Tenant Interim Lease Program.  He was always ready, willing and able to pitch in, and all New Yorkers benefited from his knowledge.

DORIS ROSENBLUM

Working alongside Bob Schur was Doris Rosenblum, President (1970-72) and long-time board member. She was in the forefront of many struggles to create and preserve affordable housing not only in the Strycker’s Bay community but in New York City as well.  During her tenure as a board member of SBNC, Doris became involved in issues surrounding the completion of the West Side Urban Renewal Area, Mitchell-Lama housing and led Council committees that worked to ensure relocation rights of low-income families.  In addition to her relationship with Strycker’s Bay, Doris was appointed to Manhattan Community Board #7 and eventually became District Manager of the Board. Doris was also very active in the Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition. Doris Rosenblum’s years of involvement and dedication helped to improve the quality of life for everyone on the West Side.