October 21, 2024
Greetings Howard,
And to whom it may concern,
The intent of this letter is based upon Howard Brandstein’s request for a character reference in relation to circumstances underlying Howard’s presence at the Sixth Street Community Center.Firstly, it will be easy to write a message of support for Howard. Secondly, it saddens me that it even comes down to such a moment. Thirdly, if our Dear Annette was still living, no attacks or threats toward Howard would occur, nor be tolerated.
I, Steven Prestianni, know Howard Brandstein for about 25 years, and have been renting the Serenity Space at the Sixth Street Community Center since 2002 to the present, to teach yoga. The class has been either once a week or twice a week continuously for the past 22 years, and as a part of the ritual of the class itself, going upstairs afterwards and spending time communicating with Howard (and of course Annette while she lived and breathed) has been a part of the weekly ritual. Meaning, quite a bit of time and years speaking with Howard.
Mostly we speak of things concerning the community center, things concerning the community, things concerning our nation, things concerning our world, and things concerning our Earth.
There’s a pattern. Concern. And care.
Being with Howard means brainstorming in some way to find a solution to a problem, and/or examining problems from different angles.
To me he has exhibited nothing but pure integrity in his thought process, and even more importantly, with all his actions.
His actions toward positive human relations in regards to housing issues, food
issues and the preservation of the Sixth Street Community Center are too high to be counted.Literally.
He has worked endlessly to help and protect people.He’s been a surrogate grandfather to Annette’s grandchildren through a life
of connection. Not from duty nor obligation. From a place of genuine caring. From a place of trust.Of course no one is perfect, tho I can readily say that anyone casting negative shadows towards Howard’s character would do well to look in the mirror and ask themselves what their true motives might be behind trying to bring down a person who has given their life to create and sustain community, for communities sake.
Steven Prestianni, Director of Yoga