Bike Mechanic Natividad Zirate Relocates Across Second Avenue
The following was written by our newest Boogie contributor, Lori Greenberg, a 30-year veteran of the East Village and Lower East Side. Greenberg is a creative director, graphic designer and writer, who runs the Bergworks studio, which focuses on green architecture, eco-furniture design and graphic design.
As if the man didn’t have enough bad luck of late…
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[Photo Credit: Lori Greenberg]
Two weeks after his tools were illegally seized by the Parks Department, homeless bike mechanic Natividad Zirate was forced across the street due to construction behind his usual corner workshop. Weather permitting, he can now be found on the northwest corner of Houston Street and Second Avenue, just north of Avalon Chemists.
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Zirate has been asking for donations of tools to replace what was seized. As of yet, he hasn’t received anything except overwhelming verbal support from those in the neighborhood; people realize that he is just trying to support himself by providing a useful service.
As previously reported here, the list of tools he needs includes the following:
- Cable cutter
- Cone wrenches
- Headset wrenches
- Hozan spoke threader
- Adjusting wrench
- Truing stand
He also asked for a tarp for the rain, to protect the few supplies that he has.
A notice was put on Times Up’s (an environmental bicycling group) Facebook page, to see if they can offer any advice or help. The New York Times reported that Zirate was not given a summons when his tools were seized (which would have been a way for him to get his tools back). If anyone has any information, or can spread the word about helping Zirate, please let us know.
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