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Mike Fitelson, seen here with his daughter emceeing the 2010 Uptown Arts Stroll kickoff, is reducing his role at the Manhattan Times after nearly nine years. PHOTO Sirin Samman
by Luis Miranda
Mike Fitelson, our beloved Associate Publisher, has often come to me to tell me that it’s time to spread his wings. I’ve always been able to convince him that anything that he wants to do is compatible with his work at the Manhattan Times. I would remind him of the many projects we have done together – from starting the Uptown Arts Stroll in 2003 to creating NoMAA in 2007 to publishing our annual Northern Manhattan Dining Guide – and in the end we would agree that he needed to stay at the Manhattan Times.
This spring, he approached me again saying that it was time to try different things. And once again I was able to convince him that he still had it in him to keep on informing the people of Northern Manhattan and, through the Bronx Free Press, the Bronx, about what was happening in our communities. But this time, with the arrival of a new daughter just around the corner and with his desire to continue his professional development, when he said that it was “time to go,” I decided that the time had come to put my guard down and put aside my desire to make him feel guilty for leaving.
So it is that after nearly a decade as colleagues at the Manhattan Times, Mike is heading down a new professional path, leaving behind his corner desk in our offices at 5030 Broadway and becoming a contributor to the newspaper. Let me be clear, while Mike will no longer be our Associate Publisher, he will continue to partner with us and, most importantly, he won’t be abandoning our neighborhood. Nevertheless, we are going to miss him.
Nine years ago, when Mike knocked on our doors at 5000 Broadway, I was captivated by his enthusiasm, his energy, and the optimism that he radiated. I thought, “This is one of those crazies from California who sees the world through rose-colored glasses.” Our editor then, Nicki Britton, told me “this guy is good, a great photographer and with a desire to lay down roots in Northern Manhattan.” Even though I’m usually somewhat suspicious of strangers, Mike won me over immediately.
Mike doesn’t speak Spanish but he has established relationships with more Latinos than many Hispanics I know. For years, whenever I went to a local event in the area, leaders would pull me aside to tell me: “Mike is great. He calls us regularly to see what is going on and when we reach out to him he’s always there.” Anyone who has worked with Mike immediately discovers his affable character, his sense of humor, and his innate curiosity. He’s a great writer, a first-class photographer, and a wonderful colleague.
The Arts Stroll, which is now a month-long celebration, began in 2003 because Mike had the idea of organizing the area’s artists with the Manhattan Times playing a key role in this effort. In those first years, with few resources but with an abundant supply of energy and vision, Mike was able to get dozens of restaurants, institutions and community agencies to participate in the Stroll. As is usual with Mike, when NoMAA was created he had no problem handing over the reins of the event to a new organization whose stated mission was the development of the arts in the area. That’s because Mike is so sure of himself, and has such a healthy ego, that he doesn’t need continuous backslapping.
Northern Manhattan lucked out when Mike decided to settle here. The Manhattan Times lucked out when this great neighbor knocked on our doors asking how he could work with us. His colleagues and I know that when this real leader is by your side, you have already won half the battle. I have no doubt that Mike and I will continue along the same path, organizing events and still committed to the residents of Northern Manhattan, all because Mike made Northern Manhattan his home.
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