Ganas
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Ganas is an intentional community, or housing and resources co-operative in New Brighton, Staten Island. Ganas was founded in 1979, by the Foundation for Feedback Learning founded in 1978. "Ganas" is a Spanish word meaning "motivation sufficient to act". As of 2006, Ganas consists of a small core group of a dozen or so partners who share ownership of ten houses and four commercial buildings which house retail stores, under the name "Everything Goes," that focus on reuse and recycling. They have a used furniture store, 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.
In May of 2006 co-founder Jeff Gross was shot by an emotionally disturbed former resident, Rebekah Johnson. She had been stalking him for several years. She 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. Jeff suffered multiple gunshot wounds and recovered.
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- Staten Island Advance; Sunday, December 31, 2006; Rebekah Johnson makes TV show's Top 10 list. Latest sighting of the fugitive, who allegedly shot a commune leader in May, is unfounded. Rebekah Johnson, who's been on the run for more than six months since allegedly shooting Ganas commune founder Jeff Gross, has made the No. 8 spot of Top 10 Fugitives of 2006 as compiled by "America's Most Wanted." The ranking came just hours after cops investigated a fresh sighting of the 43-year-old fugitive on the Island last night.
- New York Daily News; June 21, 2006; "Creepy hippie letter. The obsessed stalker who shot a Staten Island commune leader is still lurking in the area - and taunting her victim in bizarre writings to a local newspaper, police sources revealed yesterday. Cops believe a package received by the Staten Island Advance was sent by suspected shooter Rebekah Johnson or one of her close friends."
- Staten Island Advance; June 21, 2006; "Police have resumed their watch on the Ganas community in New Brighton in response to a disturbing communique that indicates the fugitive suspect in Jeff Gross' shooting is keeping tabs still on the group ..."
- New York Times; June 1, 2006; "Free Love, Hate and an Ambush At a Commune on Staten Island. 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 ..."
- New York Times; May 31, 2006; "Former Staten Island Commune Member Sought in Founder's Shooting.
- Staten Island Advance; Wednesday, May 31, 2006; Commune stalker: Who's next? Armed and dangerous' ex-resident had history of harassing the victim."
- New York Magazine; April 24, 2006; "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."
