Ganas

Ganas is an intentional community, or housing and resources co-operative in New Brighton, Staten Island. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Free Love, Hate and an Ambush At a Commune on Staten Island
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/nyregion/01commune.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|quote=A few rules exist at Ganas, a collection of 100 souls who live on Staten Island in what may be New York City's only commune. Shared meals and wife-swapping are O.K. Freeloading, violence and pointless negativity are not. Rebekah Johnson, a former Ganas member, had violated all three prohibitions ... |publisher=New York Times |date=June 1, 2006 |accessdate=2007-09-25 ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Big Love on Staten Island. |url=http://nymag.com/news/features/16711/ |quote=Open relationships, little people, 100 kooky housemates: $710 per month covers room, board, toilet paper, and toothpaste at Ganas, New York City’s most exclusive commune. Serious inquiries only, please. |publisher=New York Magazine |date=April 24, 2006 |accessdate=2007-10-31 ]

History

The co-operative was founded in 1979, by the "Foundation for Feedback Learning", which was founded in 1978. "Ganas" is a Spanish word meaning "motivation sufficient to act", "desire" or "will-power". The community consists of a small core group of a dozen partners who share ownership of eight houses and four commercial buildings, which house retail stores, under the name "Everything Goes". They focus on reuse and recycling and other aspects of simple living. They have a used furniture store, a gallery, a used clothing store, and an Internet "book cafe" selling used books, media and organic espresso. They have an ever-changing international population of 80 to 90 people who live in the houses and cover expenses by either paying, or working in the stores for expense coverage.

hooting

In May of 2006, co-founder Jeff Gross was allegedly shot by a former resident, Rebekah Johnson. [cite web |url=http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=39475 |title=Rebekah Johnson |accessdate=2007-05-14 |format= |publisher=America's Most Wanted] [cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/wanted/wanted/RebekahJohnson.html |title=Rebekah Johnson |accessdate=2007-05-14 |format= |publisher=NYPD ] It was alleged that Johnson had been stalking Gross for several years. [cite news |first=James |last=Barron |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Ex-Member of Commune Is Acquitted|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/nyregion/05commune.html|quote= |publisher=New York Times |date=2008-08-05 |accessdate=2008-08-05 ] Johnson lived at Ganas between 1986 and 1989 and again from 1994 to 1996, but was asked to leave the community each time because of her disruptive behavior. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Former Staten Island Commune Member Sought in Founder's Shooting |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/31/nyregion/31shot.html |quote=A former member of a Staten Island commune built around the ideals of nonviolence, conflict resolution and open relationships is being sought in connection with the shooting of one of the group's founders late Monday night, law enforcement officials said yesterday. |publisher=New York Times |date=May 31, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-21 ] Gross suffered multiple gunshot wounds and recovered. Johnson was apprehended by federal authorities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 18, 2007 [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=For Rebekah's alleged victim, relief. |url=http://blog.silive.com/advanceupdate/2007/06/for_rebekahs_alleged_victim_re_1.html |quote= |publisher=Staten Island Advance |date= |accessdate=2007-10-31 ] , charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and attempted grand larceny [cite news |first=John|last=Annese|authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Staten Island commune leader: 'My life is at risk'|url=http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/staten_island_commune_leader_m.html |quote= |publisher=Staten Island Advance |date= 2008-08-04|accessdate=2008-08-05 ] , and after a trial was acquitted following less than five hours of deliberation by a jury on August 4, 2008. [cite news |first=James |last=Barron |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Ex-Member of Commune Is Acquitted|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/nyregion/05commune.html|quote=The former member, Rebekah Johnson, 45, was acquitted by a jury in State Supreme Court on Staten Island of second-degree attempted murder in the shooting of the co-founder, Jeffrey Gross, 53. He had identified Ms. Johnson as the person who aimed a handgun at him as he returned from a movie on May 29, 2006, and shot him repeatedly. He also said she stepped over him after he fell to the ground. |publisher=New York Times |date=2008-08-05 |accessdate=2008-08-05 ]

External links

* [http://www.ganas.org Ganas website]
* [http://www.etgstores.com/ Everything Goes website]

References