Lower Manhattan Mourns the Loss of Community Champion Paul Hovitz
Lower Manhattan is mourning the loss of Paul Hovitz, a dedicated community leader who passed away on December 14th at age 78. Hovitz, a 27-year veteran of Community Board 1 (CB1), succumbed to pancreatic cancer, a consequence of his exposure to toxins released during the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Hovitz’s impact on Lower Manhattan is undeniable. He spearheaded the development of nine new schools, transforming the educational landscape of the area. his tireless advocacy extended far beyond education, encompassing numerous crucial community issues.
“Paul dedicated decades of volunteer service to CB1, playing a pivotal role in shaping our neighborhood.His tireless efforts to ensure our children had access to schools that were built, funded, protected, and expanded stand out as a cornerstone of his work. His legacy and the profound impact he made on our community will be remembered for years to come.”
These are the words of CB1 Chair Tammy Meltzer, reflecting the sentiments of a community deeply touched by Hovitz’s dedication.
Bob Townley,executive director of Manhattan Youth,were Hovitz served on the board,further emphasized Hovitz’s multifaceted contributions. “Paul helped build the Downtown Community center,and was an instrumental leader in the School Overcrowding Task Force that helped build the Peck Slip and Spruce Street Schools,” Townley stated. “But he was more than just an organizer and advocate. He was my teacher, my friend. I will miss him as if I lost a right arm in fighting for the children and seniors of this community.”
Tricia Joyce, chair of CB1’s Youth & Education Committee – a position Hovitz once held – highlighted his invaluable expertise. “As a retired schoolteacher and special education provider,his insight and experience were invaluable in advocating for new schools,” Joyce said. “Paul himself sited two of them: Peck Slip and the new P.S. 150 on trinity Place. His intelligence, steady nature, constant presence, and commitment to the cause got us through those days. when I look around at all our new schools that have opened, and also the community that has grown here as September 11, I see Paul’s imprint on all of it. He embodied the term community activist, with a heart as big as Manhattan. He will be deeply missed.”
Longtime CB1 member Paul Goldstein, a neighbor and friend, added, “Paul and I lived as neighbors and raised our families in Southbridge Towers. At a time there were no schools or libraries or youth programs or sport leagues serving Lower Manhattan, and Battery Park City was just getting built, this community was really just a nine-to-five work zone. He quickly became a leader and played a major role in getting new schools built, starting with P.S. 234. His fingerprints are everywhere in Lower Manhattan.”
Beyond his work on schools (including P.S. 234, P.S. 89, I.S. 289, P.S. 276, the Spruce Street School, the Peck Slip School, Millennium High School, the Blue School, and the Jewish Learning Experience of Chabad FiDi), Hovitz, who served as CB1 vice chair, championed health benefits for Lower Manhattan residents affected by 9/11-related illnesses and served on the advisory board for New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.
At a December 22nd memorial service at the Jewish Learning Experience of Chabad FiDi, Rabbi Nissi Eber shared a poignant anecdote: “A few days later,” Rabbi Eber continued, “the principal of the Blue School reached out to me and said, ‘we’d like you to come look at this space for your Hebrew School.’ Something had happened. That was the beginning of the FiDi Hebrew school, which opened in September 2019. And that was all from just a few phone calls made by Paul. Today, we have classrooms, there’s a kid’s gym. Those seeds were planted by Paul. And for this, we are forever grateful.”
Even amidst his tireless advocacy for schools and students, Hovitz remained a staunch advocate for affordable housing, a particularly personal cause given his decades-long residence in Southbridge Towers. His efforts to prevent the complex from withdrawing from the Mitchell-Lama affordability program, though ultimately unsuccessful, underscore his unwavering commitment to his community.
Lower Manhattan’s Unsung Hero: The Legacy of a Community Champion
For years, a quite force worked tirelessly to protect the heart of Lower Manhattan, advocating for affordable housing and preserving the unique character of its historic neighborhoods. This individual, whose name remains unmentioned for the purpose of this article, left an indelible mark on the community through unwavering dedication and impactful actions.
One of their most significant battles involved Southbridge Towers,a large residential complex. Despite the potential for personal financial gain, this community leader staunchly opposed the privatization of the building, fearing it would compromise affordable housing options for future generations. “I just didn’t see how I could agree to any plan that would deny to later generations the same opportunity for a decent home at a reasonable price that I had benefitted from,” they stated at the time. Despite this opposition, Southbridge ultimately left the Mitchell-Lama program in late 2015.
Their commitment extended to the South Street Seaport, where they actively championed the South Street Seaport Museum and spearheaded a coalition against a proposed skyscraper near Pier 17 in 2009. This leader later facilitated productive discussions with the Howard Hughes Corporation, the project’s developer, securing significant corporate contributions to local schools and community organizations like the Downtown Little League.
In 2016, they played a crucial role in opposing a city plan to privatize public spaces along Water Street. This involved exposing a deceptive lobbying campaign where paid consultants, posing as pollsters, attempted to manipulate residents into supporting the plan under the guise of representing a City Council member. When the lobbying firm initially denied the allegations, this community leader presented irrefutable evidence – a Caller ID screenshot showing a fraudulent call originating from the council member’s office. This revelation forced a retraction and apology from the lobbying firm, who attributed the deception to a rogue subcontractor.
Upon stepping down from their community board position in 2019, this individual reflected on their accomplishments with heartfelt gratitude: “it took a village to get all these things accomplished, and you are the village. It has been a great honor and a privilege for me to work with you. And I love you all.” Their words encapsulate a legacy of selfless service and unwavering commitment to the community.
