The removal of the sign occurred between 4 p.m. on August 2nd and 9 p.m. on August 3rd. The sign, made of plastic with white lettering on a blue background, conveyed the message, “Be considerate of others that may need to use the bench.”
However, the issues with the sign extend beyond grammatical errors. The narrative painted by this sign for those entering the Empire State Plaza Concourse from Madison Avenue is much more complex and disheartening. It begins with the fact that there is no longer a bench in that area.
If you happen to visit the Plaza Concourse on the weekend, you would notice the lack of seating in the expansive, climate-controlled public space. The food court is closed during weekends, and the chairs from surrounding tables are missing. Although there are benches in the bus waiting area, it’s safe to assume that the area is not air-conditioned. Some assumptions are just too obvious.
A striking example of this situation is the statue of homeless Jesus in the courtyard of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Schenectady. Homeless Jesus sleeps on a long bench within sight of the Division Street Bus Plus Station, which deliberately has seats designed to prevent anyone from lying down on them. In response, I created a simple video highlighting this irony. I also suggested that St. Luke’s add a couple of benches for people to use, thus allowing parishioners to encounter real unhoused individuals when they attend mass.
It seems redundant to refer to “homeless Jesus.” Mayor Ron Kim of Saratoga once said during a controversy about aiding the unhoused, “Jesus Christ is the most famous homeless person in history.” This statement underscores the fact that Jesus, according to some theologians, is also the most famous “illegal immigrant.” It’s worth noting that migrants include asylum-seekers who follow the law. During the Cold War, we prided ourselves on helping those fleeing danger and oppression in rival countries.
A state worker accompanied me to see the benchless bench sign in its context after I showed him a picture. He exuded confidence and a genuine desire to improve things. We speculated on why the bench might have been temporarily moved. He discussed the issue of homelessness and gestured to the surroundings, pointing out the lack of seating.
I, along with other visitors, had also noticed this problem. Just one business day after our visit, the sign had vanished, leaving only a slight discoloration on the wall. It’s remarkable how quickly things can get resolved when someone decides to take action, even for unconventional matters.
The absence of benches in the Plaza Concourse deprives us not only of a beautiful communal space but also tarnishes our reputation. Generosity is a sign of strength, while indifference reveals our fear and weakness. An individual visiting the state government complex in Albany might question whether the grand architecture, impressive fountains, captivating art displays, and exceptional library are remnants of a bygone era, soon to be lost along with the benches.
As a wealthy and powerful society, shouldn’t we be capable of providing a seat for everyone, regardless of their housing status, nationality, or immigrant status? Instead of denying others their basic needs, perhaps we should choose to live more frugally ourselves. We could support the construction of affordable housing, regardless of the impact it may have on our own property values. It’s not the government’s responsibility to artificially inflate housing prices.
Decency is often easier to practice than wisdom. If there is nowhere to sit down, our sense of decency should alert us to a serious problem. We shouldn’t require any additional signs to remind us of that.
Let’s truly be considerate of others.
James Lyons Walsh, an Albany-based blogger, shares his thoughts at godispoor.org and proudfatherofnone.org.
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