UPDATE: Jonathan Rosen of BerlinRosen emailed a statement to be attributed to Ann Sullivan, a former ACORN employee who is now identified as being with New York Communities for Change:

New York Communities for Change (NYCC) is a new, locally incorporated organization that was formed by prominent community activists and leaders in the progressive community who are committed to promoting social and economic justice and the welfare of the State of New York and its people. NYCC is applying for status as a corporation exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(4).
NYCC is not affiliated with any national organization. 

NYCC's initial focus will be working to put an end to the foreclosure crisis facing so many New Yorkers, enforcing New York's wage and hour laws, preserving tenant rights and preventing devastating state and local budget cuts that would harm services for low-income families.

NYCC BOARD LIST BELOW

Anthony Cottman--Vice President Parkside Tenant Association, Flatbush, Brooklyn

Linnette Ebanks--Childcare provider. Business owner for 12 years

Iona Emsley--Community activist from Uniondale, Long Island

Audrey Jackman--Longtime community activist in Flatbush Brooklyn

Wilfredo Larancuent--Vice President UNITE HERE

Precilla Lockett--Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington,  Hempstead, Long Island

Ed Ott--Adjunct Professor, City University of NY

Marie Pierre--Former chairperson of Brownsville ACORN

Maria Polanco--Chairperson Dominican Council

Jean Sassine--Foreclosure Fighter and Homedefender, Queens

Neva Shillingford--Vice President 1199

UPDATE: The website for ACORN has reappeared.'

ACORN, one of the largest social advocacy groups in the country, has been forced to suspend most operations as of today.

The website was down on Monday morning, but the phone number for ACORN’s New York office was still connected, offering guidance on mortgage payments, first-time home purchases, general housing inquiries and ACORN housing maintenance. An operator was still answering the phones “ACORN, good morning,” and redirecting calls.

By noon on Monday, the phone message had been replaced.

“ACORN is not providing services in New York, but if you would like to receive information from local organizations with similar purposes, please leave your name, number and mailing address after the beep,” says the woman on the new recording, in both English and Spanish.

ACORN has for months been reeling from cash shortfalls as government funding was cut off and foundation grants were halted in the wake of legal problems related to charges of financial misdeeds at offices around the country. Unable to support their continued operations, offices have been closed and several key employees have departed. ACORN phone systems nationwide were shut down because of an inability to pay the bills. So too the main phone line for ACORN’s New Orleans office, which now responds with a standard phone company “the number you have reached is not in service.”

Even ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis’ cell phone has reportedly been disconnected.

What the future will be or whether one will exist with a narrower mission and group of affiliates remains unclear.

Meanwhile, in recent weeks, local ACORN—or Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now—offices in California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Washington and New York have been shuttered, with employees at different stages of re-launch around the country. In California, the remnants of ACORN have become the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. In Massachusetts, they have become New England United for Justice.

And in New York, they have become New York Communities for Change, under the continued leadership of Jon Kest, who ran ACORN’s New York office, and Jonathan Westin, the lead organizer for the office, who is now the lead organizer for New York Communities for Change. Other staff making the transition to the new group are Gregory Basta, a former canvass/outreach director for ACORN who is now the outreach/special projects coordinator for New York Communities for Change, and Olivia Leirer, a former fundraising specialist for ACORN who is now also serving as an outreach coordinator for New York Communities for Change.

The new group has taken over the lease and office space of ACORN’s office at 2-4 Nevins Street in Brooklyn, but is in the process of buying membership lists, furniture and other resources that will be transferred over.

This week, New York Communities for Change is scheduled to hold a fundraiser at the home of local activist Dorothy Siegel, who also serves as the treasurer of the Working Families Organization and Working Families Party. Siegel confirmed that the event, for which she is expecting at least 40 people, is scheduled to feature presentations from New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Brad Lander, a City Council member from Brooklyn.

“It’s an opportunity to hear about how the work that ACORN does will continue,” Siegel said. “My understanding is that ACORN is dissolved already—at least that’s what I was given to understand—and this is an organization that’s going to be doing similar work.”

The host committee for the event at Siegel’s home also includes Council Member Steve Levin, Working Families Party executive committee member and 32BJ chief of staff Peter Colavito and his wife, Deirdre Schifeling, a current staffer for the State Senate Democrats and former employee of the Working Families Party, Working Families Organization and Progressive America Fund, of which she was one of the initial co-directors.

Bob Master, one of the two Working Families Party co-chairs, is also on the host committee.

ACORN had been a key player in the founding of the Working Families Party and a member of its overlapping 501(c)4, the Working Families Organization. Bertha Lewis had also been a co-chair of the Party before departing without announcement in recent months.

Siegel, however, said she was not aware of any connection between New York Communities for Change and Working Families.

“There isn’t any, unless it started to exist. Our relationship was with ACORN and they played an extremely important role in lots of different ways,” Siegel said.

Neither New York Communities for Change nor reported spokesman Jonathan Rosen of BerlinRosen returned requests for immediate comment.

Another fundraiser is scheduled for March 4 on the Upper West Side at the home of Debra Cooper, a New York State Democratic Committeewoman. That event includes a host committee of several local elected officials, including Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, State Sen. Daniel Squadron, State Sen. Liz Krueger, State Sen. Jos' Serrano, Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat, Assembly Member Deborah Glick, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito and Council Member Daniel Dromm. Cynthia Nixon, the actress of Sex & The City fame, is also on the host committee.

New York Communities for Change has been incorporated as a 501(c)4, enabling it to have tax exempt status while still participating in political advocacy work.

On the invitation to the event scheduled for Feb. 25 at Siegel’s home, attendees are encouraged to give donations starting at $40, and going up to the “Leader” level of $1,000. A note at the bottom of the invitation advises prospective attendees that “Contributions to New York Communities for Change are not tax deductible,” but adds, “If you require, tax-deductible contributions can be made to our 501(c)3 partner organization: New York Agency for Community Affairs.”

New York Agency for Community Affairs was an affiliate of ACORN which was earmarked for several state and city grants as recently as 2009 from a range of officials, including de Blasio when he was on the Council, as well as Council Member Mark-Viverito and State Sen. Krueger.

New York Agency for Community Affairs, like the rest of the ACORN 501(c)3 groups around the country, is in the process of shutting down. It is being reconstituted with a new board but for now acting as a fiscal sponsor of New York Communities for Change.

CONTACT: eidovere@cityhallnews.com.