About Dominick Romeo
Third generation Hell’s Kitchenite now living in Chelsea New York, and a lifelong Democrat. A Building Superintendent that has always fought for his neighborhood.
Attending block association meetings at the age of 12 and more recently has been involved in a fight with City Hall’s trash take-out time, which sends building superintendents back to work past 8 PM missing out on quality time with their family and friends.
Dubbed the “Activist Superintendent” by the New York Post for creating a group of Bulding Superintendent's and porters called NYCBuildingSupers.com. Collectively pushing back city regulations that have disrupted many of their lives. “Whoever said you can’t fight City Hall was dead wrong,” Dom says.
In addition to his current activist work fighting City Council, Dom’s activism spans decades. “There is something about fighting for what is right that energizes me. I would not be able to get up early each morning if there wasn’t something to fight for or against.”
Member of the ACT UP, the coalition that fights Aids, HIV, and the stigmas that surrounds it, formed in the 1980’s. Dominick has worked side-by-side with other social justice organizations such as GMHC, Housing Works, VocalNY, and Black Lives Matter. “If you’re not losing your voice in a protest, you’re doing something wrong.,” he says.
Dom’s fight with City Council is still active with several protests scheduled in the months to come. Although his group of supers and porters have made some strides, he recently realized that the only way to protect supers, porters and the working class from our city is to earn a seat in City Council. Because, as he puts it; “If you can’t beat them, join them - then beat them later.”
Hello, neighbors!
Everyone feels that they can do a better job than their current City Council member can. For most of us, running for office is just a thought, especially when realizing the amount of work and dedication it takes to make that change. I too have had these thoughts, but have concluded, that now is the time for change.
We have all become use to seeing E-bikes and Citi Bikes fly past us on sidewalks, nearly missing (or sometimes hitting) the most vulnerable among us – our older generations.
We have seen restaurant sheds take over our streets, and their tables and chairs flood our sidewalks, to the point where we can’t walk down them with ease anymore.
Being harassed, or yelled at, or assaulted by a mentally disturbed individual has become the norm. So has the excuses that our current Council Members have given when refusing to deal with these problems firsthand.
When we have called or written an email to our Council Members, they blame the Mayor – the Mayor blames City Council – City Council blames the lack of mental health services, even though our city provides more mental health services then ever before!
So, what’s going on here?