Friday, March 27, 2020

Generosity in Greenpoint



These are hard times.  Really tough financially, emotionally, physically and more.  But then at other times you get to see the true kindness, the selfless actions, the people – even though they too are going through their own set of very harsh challenges – are reaching out to others and saying ‘here, let me help.’

That is what local Brooklyn landlord Mario Salerno is doing. He owns approximately 80 apartments and has told his tenants (around 200 in all) that he is waiving rend for the month of April as he just “wants everybody to be healthy.”

One of his tenants described him as “Superman…a wonderful man,” relating how she has been out of work since she had to close down her hair salon.  Even though Salerno is taking a big hit he explained:

“it was more important for people's health and worrying about who could put food on whose table. I say don't worry about paying me, worry about your neighbor and worry about your family."

One of his tenants said she's been out of work since she was ordered to shut down her hair salon. "He's Superman. He's a wonderful man," Kaitlyn Guteski told NBC New York. "It's a game-changer."

Then there are eateries which have just begun offering “pay what you want” and free meals and drinks.  There are at least three restaurants offering free food.  Brooklyn Sweet Spot is one of them which is giving out free lunch meals to adults and children on Friday. A couple in Greenpoint is trying to offer some help to those restaurant workers who have lost their jobs by giving them free meals as well.