10.22.24
I am Joan Reinmuth, a retired nurse from Belleview Hospital, a local community activist and performer with a “solution based” history.
To whom it may concern Re: Howard Brandstein.
Does Howard brush his teeth after every meal, I can’t be sure. Does Howard help old ladies across the street, probably yes, but does that define character, again not sure. But what I am sure of is that he is a leader at the 6th Street Community Center, and that Center is one of the brightest stars in our local universe… it was started by a Big Bang and Howard Brandstein was integral to that mix. The heating, cooling, shrinking and expansion defines the core and activist role of 6th St.
Today it plays major in our community’s education, our place in the world and of course our safety.
The team at 6th St. has hosted strategy workers for every significant operation that neighborhoods like ours fight just to keep hope in orbit… and that (for us) is the meaning of character.
I have seen, heard and been inspired by Howard Brandstein… his coherent leadership and the cumulative achievement of his team is the tested definition of character.
Not everyone can say there was “standing room only” crowd at their birthday celebration, Howard can but probably doesn’t, and that takes character.