Happy Easter in this city of many faiths. New York, long lambasted by know-nothing “real American” precursors of Marjorie Taylor Greene as a place of sin and godlessness, has always been brimming with churches. By one count, there are 4,000 Christian houses of worship of every denomination, size, age and color along with an estimated 1,000 synagogues and 100 mosques.
Every mayor tries to make his own mark on New York in part by showing how he differs from his immediate predecessor, in part by choosing themes and programs that he can call his own. We have seen this pattern play out since the first term of the first “Mayor Swagger,” Ed Koch. As leaders who have created our own initiatives and developed our own programs, we’ve learned to operate with a combination of thick skin, a sense of humor, and a willingness to confront every mayor when they either ignore the successes of others or make claims that simply don’t reflect reality.
A program organized more than 40 years ago by East Brooklyn churches helped build a community within a destitute neighborhood, and has since enabled hundreds of first-time homeowners to build equity - and hope for the future.