Community

From the volatile streets to the halls of power, Mary Clark experienced the triumphs and defeats of New York City's Hell's Kitchen community as it fought development fever, homelessness, and the illegal drug trade. In the 1980's and 1990's New York politics, some of the most powerful state and national leaders had their start. She had a grassroots view of the fall of Ed Koch, a working relationship with David Dinkins, and saw the the rise of Rudolph Giuliani. Fast-paced and brutally honest, this memoir exposes the inner workings of a great city. This book is illustrated with 21 photographs of city leaders, the author, and her friends and allies in the community. In the 1980s, the AIDS epidemic was at its height. Homeless families were placed in midtown hotels, which resembled refugee camps. Crime associated with the illegal drug trade threatened one of the oldest communities in the city. Meanwhile, ambitious politicians vied for dominance behind the scenes. Three years into her years as a community activist, she met James R. McManus, Democratic district leader and head of the last Tammany Hall club in New York City. In a twist of irony, the "radical liberal" found with the McManus Club the opportunity to have the most productive time of her life. Her nearly two-decade journey leads her to a surprising decision. There is a fire in Hell's Kitchen, and you are invited to sit by its light and hear in its flames the prayer, a song of love, and a cautionary tale.