Be Nice New York

Being a Native New Yorker, I have definitely seen my share of homeless people.  It is hard to witness, but unfortunately, we do all get used to it.  We basically walk right over homeless people, without thinking.  But, once in a while, we do give - and once in a while, we notice someone.  We are affected by a face, a story, or in my case, someone with a cat.  (I admit, I tend to give money to homeless people more often if they have a helpless animal with them.) 

A few years back, during the dead of Winter, every day on my lunch break, I would pass by this young woman, with her little orange and white kitty, just sittin’ on the sidewalk.  It broke my heart.  I started bringing her cat food.  The woman could have been me, you, anyone just having a bad year.  We became friendly and I would chat with her here and there, getting to know how she went from having a home, to sitting on 5th Ave., freezing. 

Around Christmas, I had bought myself a new pair of boots and on that same day, I brought the woman my old pair.  Her face lit up.  She was so happy.  It made me happy to be able to do that.  It’s just the little gestures.  After a while, I stopped seeing her and her cat.  I wonder what happened.  I hope she’s ok.

- Jenny Rubin

I was walking my dog at 2 in the morning and saw this barely dressed drunk girl stumbling down the street in the bitter cold. She had just been kicked out of Webster Hall for being underage and her friends had abandoned her, she was very upset. I did not think this was going to end well, so I invited her to my apartment to call her mom to come pick her up. Her mom came, crisis averted!

- Susannah Perlman

What a great story, Susannah!  My hero!

I was parking on a Manhattan street, shocked to park almost directly in front of the building I was visiting. I attempted to leave enough space behind me for another car— the doorman came out of a nearby building, and advised me to take up the whole space, that someone would only block me in — that it had happened to him yesterday. (There was only room for another small car, and hardly room for that). He not only saved me getting blocked in (it was inevitable) but he made me feel guilt-free about taking up extra space. He didn’t have to come out and assist me, he could have stayed in where it was warm. Awesome help from a complete stranger.

 - Emma Crane

Today an older man at the bus stop asked if I’d fill his Metro card for him. He had a cane and couldn’t make it downstairs to the MTA vending machine. He gave me $20 saying, “You seem honest.” I filled the card, he thanked me and I thanked him for trusting me. It was such a simple lovely exchange of trust and kindness. I felt like good energy was shared between me and this stranger and I want to share that energy with you…

- Giulia Rozzi, comedian

Giulia’s Tumblr is My Brain is Made of Glitter

I found an envelope somewhere that had two checks for $1500 inside written out to a lady, so I mailed them to her with a note and she texted me to thank me.  Kinda boring, but I know if I were on her end, I’d have been majorly upset if I lost $3000.

- Eliot Glazer

Not boring at all!  Amazing!  Reminds me of the time I dropped my driver’s license in Times Square (Times Square!) and got it back in the mail a few weeks later from a stranger who didn’t leave their name.  People are nice!

I was trying to hail a cab, rocking the homeless chic look, carrying a bunch of bags.  (I feel like women with lots of bags have lots of baggage.  Myself included.  The day I carry one very small purse I’ll know I’ve “made it.”)  Anyway - a cab driver stopped, and I launched into this big story about how I had to get to Queens but I only had $18 left on my debit card, so would he mind turning off the meter and then running my card for $18 and I would give him a few more dollars in cash, blah blah blah crazy person.

He shook his head in a way that I assumed meant no, but as I started to gather up all my parcels, he said, “Get in.”  I did, and started chatting with him.  I love talking to cab drivers.  You hear the most amazing stories from them.  He told me he was a political refugee from West Africa - that he had a son there.  I asked him questions until we got to my destination, and I said, “Okay, do you want to run my card now?”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

He did ask me if he could email me some time, so I gave him my address, but I never heard from him.  I guess he’s too busy out saving other damsels in distress!

Over a decade ago, I was spending the summer in NYC during college vacation. One night, I hopped on the bus. To my chagrin, they did not accept bills, and I wasn’t carrying a metro card. The bus driver was unhappy but started moving the bus, because he didn’t want to hold everyone up.

Completely embarrassed, I turned to everyone on the bus and asked if anyone could spare some change, figuring they would all hate and ignore me. Much to my surprise, people were more than happy to hand me their spare coins until I had enough to pay for the bus ride. From then on out, I learned to always walk around with either a card or enough coins so that I wouldn’t need to press my luck again.

- Andrew Singer

Last June, I celebrated my 30th birthday in NYC.  I had just flown in, and went to a little Italian place on 9th Ave. called Cascina.  I was alone, and the place was small and cramped, so a couple was seated next to me.  I could hear everything they discussed, as the woman was literally about a foot away from me on the same bench.  They began discussing Broadway, and the show they were about to see.  Since I was also in NYC to take in Broadway, I interrupted their conversation telling them I could hear everything they are saying, and wondered what show they were about to see.  They introduced themselves, David and Andrea.  David worked and lived in Manhattan, and Andrea drove in from Jersey.   Soon we were having a lively conversation about NYC, theater, and life in general.

As it neared 7:30pm, I would have to leave for my show, so I motioned the waiter for my check.  I excused myself to use the bathroom, and when I came back, I still did not have my check.  I kept signaling the waiter, but he never came with one.  I complained to David I still needed my check, and he said “Oh, I took care of it.”  I was stunned.  My meal included wine, dinner, appetizer, and dessert – had to have been over $60.  I am amazed that my conversation skills alone warranted a free meal, but I was so grateful for such a wonderful birthday gift. 

- Chris Ranous

Around 2 years ago, I drove in from Jersey for a friend’s birthday dinner on a Friday night and parked on 14th St. We did start with dinner but then decided to go sing karaoke followed by drinks at a third bar which we stayed at til close. When I got back to my car it was after 4am and it was gone, my cell phone was dead and I sat on the curb to have a smoke, cry and try to figure out what to do.

I look up to see a menacing 6ft by 6ft figure walking toward me in the deserted street and I remember thinking, “Well, if this is how I’m going out, at least I had a good time tonight.” Turns out he was a bouncer that had just got off work. He told me I shouldn’t be there because the area gets dangerous at that time of the morning (I’m thinking, no shit!) and he proceeded to explain I had probably been towed due to night parking regulations. (?!!!)

He called the tow pound, hailed a cab, took me to the pound, walked me through the process and even offered to lend me the money to get my car out!!! I didn’t take the money but was so appreciative I drove him to a diner in Brooklyn where we had breakfast. I made a new friend and have learned how to read ALL the parking signs.

- Emmy Rivera, comedian.  Image by Ralph Blumenthal/The New York Times.

I’m driving back to Boston around 6:30 am and of course get lost trying to find 95 North (I’m a little challenged). I’m stopped on a bridge on the edge of Manhattan and ask the guy in the car next to me how to get to Connecticut.  He’s about 20 and maybe of Latino/Italian descent in an old school tricked out Oldsmobile. He said “Connecticut? Follow me.” So I did. He proceeded to lead me off the highway. I get a
little nervous, but we don’t seem to be going down any dark alleys. A truck separates us. He pulls over so I can catch up, still no alleys. Then gets me on the expressway and points and waives. I notice that he pulls off the highway at the next exit, clearly having gone out of his way to help. Thank you young NYC guy. May your rims shine brightly this summer!

- Andrea Henry, comedian