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Who is Rochester's Batman? And what is he doing here?
Robert Bell
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Out of all the superhero characters in the comic book lore, Batman sets himself apart by being the only one without superpowers. He's a regular human being who decided to help people.
Now Batman has come to Rochester.
On a cold and windy Friday afternoon, people drive by the Blue Cross Arena, honking their horns and stopping for pictures.
The source of their attention is a familiar face to many. He's known as the Dark Knight - it's Batman, or at least a tall man entirely donning the caped crusader's costume.
The man isn't looking for attention or encouraging photos like those dressed up as comic book characters in Las Vegas or Times Square. Instead, this man waits with a wheelbarrow, expecting a local organization to drop off food, blankets and other life supplies.
His mission is simple: helping the homeless survive in the biter cold.
He refuses to share his name with the press, believing the revelation will distract his mission. His suit is pragmatic, fully customized with the iconic logo across his chest.
His experiences in Rochester have taken a toll on him; nevertheless, his dedication to helping the less fortunate hasn't wavered.
Like the character he portrays. He's an ordinary guy who's decided helping the homeless is worth his time.
"Batman is somebody who just doesn't give up," he said. "That's something I need to believe in personally because some of the things I've seen are terrifying. The conditions people are forced to live in, and the things people will do to someone who can't afford to live anywhere else is just utterly horrifying.
Batman of San Jose: The origin story
So who is this masked man walking the streets of Rochester? He's a second-year student at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
His origin story started in his hometown of San Jose, California. While driving home during his junior year of high school, he noticed a woman that needed her car battery jumped.
The woman was living in her car. He entered an auto parts shop nearby, hoping the store clerk could assist. But when the clerk discovered the woman was homeless, the response wasn't what the future RIT student expected.
"He said it was against company policy to help, and he just talked about her in the most inhumane kind of way," he said. "That stuck with me, the whole idea of people not seeing people."
Feeling unseen was customary for the then-high school junior. Despite a fortunate upbringing, learning difficulties made him an afterthought for teachers growing up.
After years of engaging in cosplay, performance art in which people dress in costumes and makeup, representing movie characters, the young man decided to turn his frustration into a calling.
Batman of San Jose, the moniker he employs on Instagram, was born.
"This costume is big and distracting, but it forces people to pay attention to these issues they so often ignore," he said. "It's a strange tactic, but it works."
'Why the hell not'
Batman of San Jose researches the homeless encampments in Rochester before creating a route to travel.
"Once you notice a big problem, it's kind of hard to ignore," he said. "I believed that I could do more and that anybody can do more. So I figured, why the hell not."
With aid from the Rochester Homeless Union, Roc Food Relief, Food Not Bombs, the House of Mercy and Recovery All Ways, he assembles supplies and delivers them directly to those living on the street.
His entire mission is conducted on foot.
"It's more personal," he said. "I want to make sure that I don't just bring supplies; I also bring conversation."
Gary Harding is the executive director at Recovery All Ways, a non-profit organization that supports people affected by substance-use disorder, mental illness and homelessness.
Harding met the "Batman" when he visited RAW's warehouse looking for a partnership.
"He had his red cart with some supplies and looked like he could use some more," Harding said. "We have an abundance of supplies due to the community support, and we support his mission."
Like the real Batman, there are dangers to the work. The RIT student was nearly attacked while trying to help someone once in what he described as a misunderstanding.
"I'm not really worried about it," Batman of San Jose said. "What I'm trying to do is so much more important. Also, this suit is knife-proof."
He also receives threats online from some who don't fully understand his mission.
Gary Harding from RAW feels the vitriol is unfair.
"I know in his heart that he is doing it for the right reasons," Harding said. "The costume allows him to do so anonymously as well as give people a reason to stop and ask what he's doing and why. I am a firm believer in the butterfly effect, and if he is able to open just one person's eyes to the circumstances these community members are in, I say mission accomplished."
How to help the homeless in Rochester NY
Robert Bell
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Out of all the superhero characters in the comic book lore, Batman sets himself apart by being the only one without superpowers. He's a regular human being who decided to help people.
Now Batman has come to Rochester.
On a cold and windy Friday afternoon, people drive by the Blue Cross Arena, honking their horns and stopping for pictures.
The source of their attention is a familiar face to many. He's known as the Dark Knight - it's Batman, or at least a tall man entirely donning the caped crusader's costume.
The man isn't looking for attention or encouraging photos like those dressed up as comic book characters in Las Vegas or Times Square. Instead, this man waits with a wheelbarrow, expecting a local organization to drop off food, blankets and other life supplies.
His mission is simple: helping the homeless survive in the biter cold.
He refuses to share his name with the press, believing the revelation will distract his mission. His suit is pragmatic, fully customized with the iconic logo across his chest.
His experiences in Rochester have taken a toll on him; nevertheless, his dedication to helping the less fortunate hasn't wavered.
Like the character he portrays. He's an ordinary guy who's decided helping the homeless is worth his time.
"Batman is somebody who just doesn't give up," he said. "That's something I need to believe in personally because some of the things I've seen are terrifying. The conditions people are forced to live in, and the things people will do to someone who can't afford to live anywhere else is just utterly horrifying.
Batman of San Jose: The origin story
So who is this masked man walking the streets of Rochester? He's a second-year student at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
His origin story started in his hometown of San Jose, California. While driving home during his junior year of high school, he noticed a woman that needed her car battery jumped.
The woman was living in her car. He entered an auto parts shop nearby, hoping the store clerk could assist. But when the clerk discovered the woman was homeless, the response wasn't what the future RIT student expected.
"He said it was against company policy to help, and he just talked about her in the most inhumane kind of way," he said. "That stuck with me, the whole idea of people not seeing people."
Feeling unseen was customary for the then-high school junior. Despite a fortunate upbringing, learning difficulties made him an afterthought for teachers growing up.
After years of engaging in cosplay, performance art in which people dress in costumes and makeup, representing movie characters, the young man decided to turn his frustration into a calling.
Batman of San Jose, the moniker he employs on Instagram, was born.
"This costume is big and distracting, but it forces people to pay attention to these issues they so often ignore," he said. "It's a strange tactic, but it works."
'Why the hell not'
Batman of San Jose researches the homeless encampments in Rochester before creating a route to travel.
"Once you notice a big problem, it's kind of hard to ignore," he said. "I believed that I could do more and that anybody can do more. So I figured, why the hell not."
With aid from the Rochester Homeless Union, Roc Food Relief, Food Not Bombs, the House of Mercy and Recovery All Ways, he assembles supplies and delivers them directly to those living on the street.
His entire mission is conducted on foot.
"It's more personal," he said. "I want to make sure that I don't just bring supplies; I also bring conversation."
Gary Harding is the executive director at Recovery All Ways, a non-profit organization that supports people affected by substance-use disorder, mental illness and homelessness.
Harding met the "Batman" when he visited RAW's warehouse looking for a partnership.
"He had his red cart with some supplies and looked like he could use some more," Harding said. "We have an abundance of supplies due to the community support, and we support his mission."
Like the real Batman, there are dangers to the work. The RIT student was nearly attacked while trying to help someone once in what he described as a misunderstanding.
"I'm not really worried about it," Batman of San Jose said. "What I'm trying to do is so much more important. Also, this suit is knife-proof."
He also receives threats online from some who don't fully understand his mission.
Gary Harding from RAW feels the vitriol is unfair.
"I know in his heart that he is doing it for the right reasons," Harding said. "The costume allows him to do so anonymously as well as give people a reason to stop and ask what he's doing and why. I am a firm believer in the butterfly effect, and if he is able to open just one person's eyes to the circumstances these community members are in, I say mission accomplished."
How to help the homeless in Rochester NY