Here’s What’s Happening This Week and Beyond (in order of appearance):

Pick of the Week / Fulton Tenants Association Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration / The West 400 Block Association’s Annual Menorah Lighting / Holiday Toy Drive / Candlelight Carol Service / ICE Out of NYC: A Community Mobilization Town Hall  / 

PICK OF THE WEEK

Free Screening of the Documentary Film A Home Worth Fighting For: The Push to Stop the Demolition of Public Housing in Chelsea Followed by a Panel Discussion: Saturday, December 13, 5:30pm at The People’s Forum (320 West 37th Street) | The People’s Forum (“a movement incubator for working class and marginalized communities to build unity”) hosts the premiere screening of a documentary that tallies the human cost of an ill-conceived, poorly vetted, environmentally destructive. multi-billion-dollar boondoggle that would see Chelsea’s NYCHA buildings demolished and rebuilt alongside new towers whose market rate tenants will forever change the locl retail and residential landscape. 

The stories of longtime residents are told, as the film “traces their organizing” to “stop the largest proposed demolition of public housing in New York City’s history—and to prevent it from becoming a blueprint for dismantling the City’s public housing stock.” That effort has taken on  new urgency as of late, with the first wave of Chelsea’s NYCHA tenants ordered out of their homes and placed into temporary living spaces while the much-opposed demolition and construction plan begins to unfold. After the 40-minute documentry is screened, its director (Natasha Florentino) will be joined by resident leaders and housing justice advocates for a panel discussion. Admission is free, but advance registration is required. To do so, click here.

The Fulton Tenants Association Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration: Wednesday, December 10, 5pm at 419 West 17th Street | See the below flyer for details.

The West 400 Block Association’s Annual Menorah Lighting / Sunday, December 14 at 4pm in Clement Clarke Moore Park (10th Ave. & W. 22nd St.) |This year’s edition of the Annual Menorah Lighting features festive holiday singing by the Avenues Chorus and the handing out of chocolate gelt–plus guest speaker, NYS Senator (and Manhattan Borough President-elect) Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher’s Holiday Toy Drive: December 8-12 | New, unwrapped toys for children will be collected at four local locations, including Coucil Member Bottcher’s District Office and the Manhattan Plaza building lobbies. For more info, see the below flyer. Questions? Send an email to district3@council.nyc.gov.

Chelsea Community Church Presents its 51st Annual Candlelight Carol Service: Sunday, December 14, 6pm at St. Peter’s Church Chelsea (346 W.  20th St. btw. 8th & 9th Aves.) and streaming free via YouTube, Facebook, and Zoom | A non-denominational Christian congregation that welcomes people of all faiths—including those of uncertain faith—Chelsea Community Church earns its reputation for authenticity week in and week out. And mid-month every December, CCC’s apex of authenticity can be found at their Annual Candlelight Carol Service, whose centerpiece is a reading of A Visit from St. Nicholas. Attributed to Chelsea’s Clement Clarke Moore, the iconic 1822 poem’s reindeer, chimney, and stocking stuffing lore lives on in the Santa Claus we know to this day. Broadway star and Chelsea resident Karen Mason (Mamma Mia, Sunset Boulevard) will read the poem live, at the actual church Moore helped design and build. Also featured: The CCC Choir–under the direction of John Thomas Fischer and Jeff Cubeta on piano and organ–will perform selections including O, Holy Night and Silent Night. The evening concludes with (Authenticity Alert!) cookies, hot cider, and hot chocolate in the Rectory. For more info, including how to stream the service online, click here to visit the CCC website.

ICE Out of NYC: A Community Mobilization Town Hall | Monday, December 15, 6:30pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (346 W. 20th St.) | Chelsea Neighbors United–which launched last month by handing out hundreds of flyers on how to defend against abuses by ICE, the National Guard, or other federal agencies–present neighborhood ICE preparedness/Know Your Rights training by a representative of New York Immigration Coalition. Registration is required via bit.ly/4ptOFYc.

–Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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