Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan — Attraction in New York

I signed up for a basketball membership and cancelled within a month.

As a resident of the Upper West Side for many years with many friends in the Jewish Community, I wanted to share my awful experience at this institution. I recently signed up for the basketball membership after being told that the facility promotes an inclusive, welcoming, participatory environment for all ages and levels. After a month of membership, not only has that not been the case, rather I have been humiliated/ridiculed more than at any other sporting facility. I waited an hour yesterday to play on a pick up team, only to have the other members intentionally refuse to let me touch the ball the whole game. There are cliques of players who intentionally exclude others. This was after a similar incident a couple of weeks previously. Todd Elkins, the director of athletics, stated that he would talk to the players involved to make sure the environment was more inclusive. I was extremely upset about the situation and yet the staff ignored any of my concerns and told me to leave (with security escorting me out). One girl just kept on telling me I don't belong there and wouldn't disclose her name upon request. I asked her how do I not belong if I'm a member? Another member (who may or may not be wrong) told me most of the people playing don't even have a membership at all but "somehow" get into the building ( I actually don't care about this factor but just mentioning it) It's a shame because I was planning on registering friends as well. If you are not part of a clique or predetermined group, you"ll be treated like you don't exist. Not one staff member was willing to listen to me or address my concerns. Again, no apology or attempt to address my concerns were made by the staff at any point.

I am also exploring other avenues and causes of action at the moment.

I advise everyone to look for an alternative if you want an inclusive, friendly...

I was scammed and cheated for over $1000 by the JCC. I signed up for a gym membership in the middle of 2022 on the advice of a physician because of back problems. It involved a few months without charge and then a number of months at the normal rate. I was not able to avail myself of the gym as my back became worse shortly after my signup. Thus the last time I was in their gym was in July 2022. I did not complain or request a refund as i had signed a contract. What I did not know was that the JCC would continue to charge a monthly fee after my contract was up.I was not aware of that. When I discovered that fact and spoke to an individual(I believe it was the head of the membership dept) I was basically told that the it was too bad(in so many ways) and that there wasn't any way that they would refund or even credit me(for future expenses).In addition, the JCC spokesperson was curt, abrupt and totally lacking in compassion and empathy. It is a sad ending to a 25 year association that I have had with the JCC. I am rescinding my membership, vowing to never set foot in their premises again and remove myself from any future relationship with them. This is not a pleasant ending for a 91...

The staff is very friendly and helpful. However, lately it seems like guests of the pool area are becoming more and more aggressive towards others. On multiple occasions now myself and other pool goers have noticed one male patron and a female swimmer, cause issues towards others and have even gone as far as to yell at and belittle Someone who appears to be disabled At today’s occurrence, the handicapped swimmer was doing nothing more than just enjoying the pool when out of nowhere someone who is using both hand and foot flippers starts yelling at her and made the comment that her kind should not belong here. It saddens me to think that a facility like this is allowing discrimination to occur at their facility. Honestly hope that this will change however, if it does not will gladly take my membership someplace else where discrimination and hostility is...