CHARACTER OF THE VILLAGE
Mar Fitzgerald—Community Connector
By Brian and Joy Pape
I have worked with Mar Fitzgerald at the Community Board 2 Manhattan for years and have seen the courageous work she has done for the community.
Mar Fitzgerald at her Westbeth home Courtyard. Photo by Brian J. Pape, AIA.
Tell us about you, personally.
I was raised in 1970s NYC. My dad, Cordell Reagon, was a musician, original Freedom Rider, and a Field Secretary for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He was deeply involved in the anti-Vietnam War, environmental, and civil rights movements. My mother, Merble Reagon, was with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), worked with the National Council for Negro Women, and ran The NYC Women’s Center for 50 years, introducing the NY Self-Sufficiency Standard — now known as the True Cost of Living — adopted by NYC in 2022. Their activism instilled in me a lifelong commitment to civic engagement, which I continue through advocacy in education, local politics, and cannabis policy.
I’m a mom and Navy wife. My husband, Jonathan and I cherish every moment with our daughter Reagon, because, as every parent knows, they grow up too fast.
Where were you brought up?
I’m a born and raised OG Village Kid from Westbeth; a uniquely diverse building where art and activism were intertwined, and neighbors looked out for one another. Apartment doors were always open, and kids roamed freely. It definitely shaped my worldview and I love that we’re raising our daughter in the same apartment where I grew up.
What was it like for you during the pandemic?
I served two terms as a President of the Village Independent Democrats and am its current endorsee for District Leader. Leading during COVID meant navigating new ways to organize and support our community while fostering engagement and collaboration. I saw firsthand how important strong networks and communication are in times of crisis.
What is different now?
The pandemic reinforced the importance of small businesses, access to public services, and local infrastructure. Since the election, there’s a renewed sense of urgency in activism. The attacks on democracy are real, making civic engagement more important than ever. The current administration has significantly deepened political and social divisions in the U.S. and people are more engaged in making sure the country is a safe, vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable place to live.
Tell us about your work.
All my work is rooted in community engagement — I love connecting people. A well-placed conversation or shared piece of information can lead to real change and meaningful impact. Prioritizing which battles to fight is always a challenge. Even when there’s consensus, change takes time, persistence, and effort.
As Chair of CB2’s Cannabis Licensing Committee, I played a key role in bringing the first legal dispensaries to New York. I also serve as Vice-Chair of the Schools & Education Committee, focusing on strengthening local schools and supporting our students and families.
Tell us about your passion.
Empowering people through voting, advocacy, and organizing. I’ve always been an election nerd. I ran the Westbeth poll site for nearly a decade. Voting is the one place where we are all truly equal. Also, I’m a big Trekkie.
Share a Village memory.
I worked the VIP ropes at Mars, a legendary nightclub on the site that is now the empty lot behind the Standard Hotel. Washington was still cobblestone in 1988, covered in grease-fat from the meatpacking plants. I’d get off work at dawn and the ladies who walked the stroll would shadow me the whole five blocks. At the height of the AIDS crisis, when fear and stigma ran deep – these women — who had every reason to keep to themselves — took the time to make sure some dumb kid got home safely. That sense of community stuck with me.
Washington Square Park in the ‘80s was pure magic — a vibrant mix of cultures, subcultures, and personalities. I hung with the skaters at Garibaldi Plaza. Then, it didn’t matter if you were a punk rocker with a foot-tall mohawk, or a rasta dreads down to the floor, or a fancy lady from a 5th Avenue doorman building — everyone knew everyone. There was an unspoken respect among us. You could be exactly who you were without judgment. Even now, I can’t walk through the park without running into at least one person I grew up with.
What is your favorite accomplishment?
I’m proud of my work with Black Gotham Experience to permanently mark Land of The Blacks. Most people don’t know that the lands that encompassed what today are Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo, NoHo, and the Village were Black-owned in the 1600s.
Your favorite restaurants?
My current favorites are Chez Omar — a fabulous French-Caribbean restaurant and bar on 394 West Street. It has classic Village charm, a welcoming atmosphere and spectacular staff. La Accolade on 302 Bleecker Street has a great happy hour.
Wait, you are not an artist living in artist housing? That does not seem right – how about giving your apartment up for an artist in need.