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The Paper of Record for Greenwich Village, East Village, Lower East Side, Soho, Union Square, Chinatown and Noho, Since 1933
May 21, 2015 • $1.00 Volume 84 • Number 51
Police ID a suspect in vicious Dallas BBQ gay bashing in Chelsea BY PAUL SCHINDLER
P
olice have identified the suspect sought in connection with an assault on two gay men at the Dallas BBQ in Chelsea on May 5. According to multiple media reports, the man named by police is Bayna El-Amin,
41, who has a lengthy rap sheet. He was previously arrested a total of 18 times — including for assault, shoplifting, drug possession, credit-card fraud, forgery and possession of stolen property — in New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Michigan, as well ASSAULT, continued on p. 6
BY LISSA PHILLIPS
I
t’s 1999. A line of about 1,000 concertgoers snakes clear across Avenue A. The rumor is the Beastie Boys will be performing at a benefit show at the East Village’s renowned rock club Brownies, known at the time for uncovering the music scene’s budding artists.
Brownies’ music booker Mike Stuto emerges outside to deliver disappointing news to anxious fans — the group’s anticipated arrival just as quickly became a departure. “This apparently happened twice,” Stuto recalled of the Beastie buzz. “Once it might have actually happened, except the word got HIFI, continued on p. 24
PHOTO BY MILO HESS
Once Brownies, HiFi Bar tunes into the ‘new vibe’
Glitter danced onto and around the face of a woman as she got ready for the DanceParade and Festival last Saturday. See photos, Pages 8 and 9.
Parents get their first look at 75 Morton middle school BY SARA HENDRICKSON
A
t a public meeting on Mon., May 11, at the L.G.B.T. Center to “unveil” the Village’s new middle school at 75 Morton St., the crowd of 150 people had a few anxious questions, but most of all, the mood was gleeful celebration that the school would finally open its doors in fall 2017. The 75 Morton success story of community activism is well known by now. It’s been a 10-year slog by parents and
community leaders to pressure city and state officials to provide a desperately needed middle school in the Village. The tireless group identified the Morton St. building — which was partially occupied by a state agency that was being relocated — and convinced local politicians to champion the cause. David Gruber, former chairperson of Community Board 2, offered glowing opening remarks. “Our challenge was to get the building out of the state’s
grip and to land the plane,” he said. “Mission accomplished.” City Councilmember Corey Johnson, who represents District 3, applauded the efforts of Assemblymember Deborah Glick and state Senator Brad Hoylman in pushing for the school, noting it was “bittersweet that they are fighting the good fight in Albany and cannot be present tonight.” Johnson pushed hard for NEW SCHOOL, continued on p. 28
Indian Point nuke fears flare again................page 12 Dirt Candy — worth the cheddah?.................page 14 V.I.D. petitions for small biz bill.......................page 17 A Souk-cessful reopening...........page 13
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