“It doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.” — Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch

It may be lost to history which of the three people credited for the screenplay for “Casablanca” came up with that line, but it’s a beauty and one that I try to remember when things in our corner of the world become overwhelming. While Local 802 faces a host of challenges, it is helpful to remember that these are small compared to the daily tragedies and chaos happening in our country and across the globe. All we can do is repair what we can in our own backyards and try to find happiness in our work and personal lives.

Looming large for us at 802 is the conundrum of what to do with our building. I’ve left most of the reporting on this issue to Sara Cutler, but we are getting closer to making final decisions, and I’d like to express my view as your financial vice president.

From the beginning, I have been in favor of the building renovation. I have logged roughly 4,600 days of my life at 322 West 48th, and I can tell you unmistakably that it was badly in need of a major overhaul at least 20 years ago, if not much earlier. It was cold in winter, hot in summer, and as far as I could tell, no one had ever dusted anything or cleaned the windows. The fluorescent lights were migraine-inducing, the carpets ancient, and the furniture dated and uncomfortable. The location was great, it certainly had character, and the club room was a huge benefit to our members, but it didn’t present Local 802 as a modern or progressive organization.

There is no one person or administration to blame. We are a labor union; we are not building managers. Furthermore, no administration had the time, expertise, or funds to substantially upgrade the premises. When the city of New York changed a number of laws regarding energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, it seemed a blessing in disguise and a wake-up call. We had no choice but to act or face heavy penalties in the near future.

You can read about what transpired next here.

Many of us, including myself, have years of memories of people and good times spent in our building, and letting go of something with sentimental value is always hard. Unfortunately, the building is now gutted, and the unavoidable fact is that we cannot afford to finish the renovation that was started with so much hope and enthusiasm. Even if the project had not gone south, the yearly upkeep on the building would cost us nearly $1 million, including loan servicing. Those costs would drain our general fund and put us out of business in less than two years. As nice as it has been to have our own space and as practical as it was to buy rather than rent back in the early 1990s, we cannot afford this luxury in today’s market. Over the last year, we have had many discussions with other local officers as well as experts and experienced real estate professionals who have no skin in this game. Everyone has given us the same advice: sell.

In the wake of the pandemic, NYC is now a renter’s market, and it is much more practical in commercial real estate to rent rather than to own. We have been told that we can likely find a very nice space (on a long-term lease, an owner will renovate to a renter’s specifications) for a fraction of what it cost us to keep up with building repairs and property taxes.

There is also a chance that we can sell the building to the AFM and, therefore, still have access to it in some way. That option is one of the many options that Sara Cutler laid out in a comprehensive report. (You can read the report by logging into the membership portal here, then click on MEMBER DOCS and look for the building report at the bottom.)

All of our options are still being considered and weighed. However, it is clear that we cannot remain in limbo for much longer. Once you receive a referendum ballot permitting us to move forward with a sale, I hope you see a “yes” vote as not only a step in a positive direction towards a more modern Local 802, but the only way forward. It’s an opportunity to start fresh in a new place and for the next generation of musicians to have a place to create memories of their own.

One more thing. I hope that our building situation is not a shock or surprise to you. For the past year, we’ve been writing about it, posting about it, e-mailing about it, and have hosted three public meetings (both in-person and on Zoom) open to all members. The most recent meeting took place on Sept. 18, 2025. We publicized all of these meetings on our social media as well as through e-mail blasts to all members. We’ve tried to be as transparent as possible.

For more, see Sara Cutler’s article in this issue.

BYLAW RESOLUTIONS

There are three bylaw resolutions on the agenda for our Oct. 22 membership meeting. I encourage you to come to all general membership meetings, especially when bylaw changes are being considered. Our bylaws govern how we interact at work and with each other, but they also need to grow and change with the times. Bylaws changes have consequences, so please carefully consider all proposed changes and make your opinion heard.

CONTRACT UPDATE

Since last month, negotiations between NYGASP and Local 802 have concluded. The new, three-year agreement:

• Raises wages for New York run performances and rehearsals by 5 percent and increases all other categories by 4 percent (except for health benefits).
• Increases health benefits for performances by 25 percent.
• Includes percussion cartage for the first time.
• Increases bus OT and per diem.

Many thanks to the NYGASP orchestra committee for a smooth and successful negotiation.

CLASSICAL MUSICIANS’ FORUM

I’m very pleased to announce the revival of the Classical Musicians’ Forum on Oct. 29th at 5pm in person* in our temporary office at 25 W 45th St., 10th floor. The forum has been on hiatus since 2022, and there’s a lot to talk about! Due to limited space and scheduling, this meeting will be for freelance orchestra committee members only. Please contact me or a member of your orchestra committee with questions and concerns. An agenda will follow based on your interests. I am looking forward to restarting these forums and meeting with everyone again. (*If you want to attend but can’t make it in person, contact me. We may offer a Zoom option if there is enough interest.) Light refreshments will be served.

The world is crazy, but if you’ve read this far, it means you care about Local 802 and what’s happening here. Between now and the end of the year, there are plenty of chances to make small, meaningful improvements to our little corner of the world. We all need to stay engaged and involved, and we will get through this together.