Chelsea Now, August 14, 2013

VOLUME 5, NUMBER 25

THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

AUGUST 14 - 27, 2013

Friends of Hopper-Gibbons Win Decisive Court Victory

BY SEAN EGAN While the road to justice has been anything but swift and easy, the Friends of the HopperGibbons House have won a decisive victory in court — bringing them one step closer to restoring and preserving the Chelsea landmark for good.

On Tuesday, August 6, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Eileen Rackower upheld the decision the Board of Standards and

Appeals (BSA) reached earlier in the year, asserting that Tony Mamounas, current owner of the Hopper-Gibbons House, would indeed need to go through the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) before continuing construction on the historic building. This decision comes after years of litigation and fighting to raise public awareness of, and support for, the Hopper-

Continued on page 7

Photo by Michael Vaughan

The Geek Shall Inherit Google Earth Offering a bite-sized glimpse into all things tech, Google’s first annual Geek Street Fair was held at 14th Street Park on July 31. Under the summer sunshine, kids and their families studied, experimented and played with gadgets that New York City’s tech community has been developing. See page 18.

Full Deck: CB4 Folds After 52-Item Agenda

BY WINNIE McCROY The crowd was as thin as the agenda was thick at the July 31 Community Board 4 (CB4) meeting, held at Roosevelt Hospital. Among the 52-item agenda were issues of importance to the Chelsea/Hell’s Kitchen neighborhoods, including the fate of the Bayview Correctional Facility, the proposed Hudson Yards Business Improvement District (BID), the Special West Chelsea District, the future of a new Fulton Houses project and a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding traffic at a corner where a man was recently struck and seriously injured.

“No one wants a boring neighborhood,” said Barbara Cohen, a consultant to the Hudson Yards BID steering committee, while singing the praises

of the proposed BID. “We want to retain the diversity, creativity and all the contradictions that make New York City neighborhoods great.”

Steering committee member Kevin Singleton joined Cohen in explaining that the BID, was not for businesses only, but would provide services and improvements that would benefit the whole neighborhood.

“We support this BID with both our wallet and our mouth,” said Singleton. “This can coexist with the emerging Hudson Yards neighborhood, and serve the existing Hell’s Kitchen area. It will enhance existing city services and help maintain the Hudson Park and Boulevard and target additional sanitation services for Ninth Avenue. The BID will assess commercial, mixed-used and vacant

buildings, and no resident tenant will pay more than the symbolic one dollar annual payment.”

Singleton added that they had received support from 60 percent of lot holders, and that public outcry regarding inclusivity may necessitate a name change to the Hell’s Kitchen/ Hudson Yards BID. The BID was Item 37 on the agenda, and board member J.D. Noland noted that they had “attended planning meetings, engaged in the process and stressed how important it was that this continues. It is unusual to have a BID in a largely residential area, but we are adamant in saying that business is important, but not at the cost of the residents. We don’t want the

Despite DOB’s OK, Film Shoot Flap Not in the Can

BY SAM SPOKONY Neighbors say the owners of a lavish Chelsea home host film and photo shoots for television shows, fashion designers and other high-profile clients — but on this block, the real drama takes place off-camera.

After over four years of alleged shoots, as well as emotionally charged disputes over their legality (along with this newspaper’s article documenting the tensions last summer), residents of West

Continued on page 4

5 15 CANAL ST., U N IT 1C • MAN H ATTA N , N Y 10 013 • C OPYRIG HT © 2013 N YC COM M U N ITY M ED IA , LLC

21st Street, between Ninth and 10th Avenues, are still sharply divided over the issue. And on a larger scale, this battle has grown to pit several Chelsea community organizations, which condemn the shoots, against the city agencies that continue to accept the shoots as legal activity.

Some residents of the block claim that Betsy Morgan, an interior designer who owns and

Continued on page 3

tAlKiNG PoiNt, letters PAGE 8

tUNe iN, tUrN UP, droP BeAts PAGE 12

2 August 14 - 27, 2013

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3

Neighbors Divided Over Film Shoots, but City Says They’re Legal Continued from page 1 lives at 441 West 21st Street along with her husband and kids, is creating an unacceptable disturbance on the surrounding streets and sidewalks, as trucks and vans come through to load and unload studio equipment — and they still claim that she’s actually violating city zoning regulations by repeatedly renting out her fivestory townhouse for the film and photo shoots. “[Morgan] obviously has no consideration for her neighbors, and she’s being completely thoughtless by continuing to use her home for commercial use in a historic, residential area,” said one 21st Street resident, who, like many others directly involved in this issue asked to remain anonymous because they feared “retribution” from Morgan and her supporters.

Jean Blair, a nearby resident who also serves as co-president of Chelsea’s West 400 Block Association (which represents the blocks between Ninth and 10th Avenues on West 21st 22nd and 23rd Streets), explained that she has received a recent flurry of complaints after an allegedly busy month of film and photo shoots at 441 West 21st Street. According to her, heavy activity at that address was reported on July 11, 12, 13, 19, 23, 24 and 25, as well as on August 6 and 9.

“Sometimes [the shoots] involve numerous commercial trucks parked on the block, with sidewalks congested with equipment and furniture,” said Blair.

“Lately, there have also been large trucks parked on 10th Avenue, with equipment transported up the sidewalk to 441.”

Blair added that several West 21st Street residents have reported “harassment” from crew members and drivers working on the alleged film shoots, in addition to the “obvious quality of life issues” that are raised by the commercial traffic.

But others who live on the block think that anyone who complains about Morgan’s actions should butt out, and accept that film and photo shoots in residential areas are simply a part of life in New York.

“What Betsy is doing isn’t illegal, and there’s nothing wrong with it,” said another West 21st Street resident, who was walking their dog down the block last week while an alleged film shoot was taking place in Morgan’s home, and who also asked to remain anonymous. “The people who are against the film shoots are only trying to stop them because they don’t like Betsy.”

That resident also stated that they had once rented out their own home for a 30-day shoot for a Woody Allen movie, declining to say which one, but adding that it was “a long time ago.”

Morgan declined to be interviewed about this issue, and instead sent a onesentence statement via email.

Workers for a film shoot that took place at 441 W. 21st St. on Aug. 6, parked on 10th Ave. (near 21st St.) to unload equipment.

“I haven’t rented my house for a film shoot in over three years,” she said.

In May 2012, the Council of Chelsea Block Associations (CCBA), in a joint effort with the community group Save Chelsea, compiled a detailed report that documented film and photo shoots on West 21st Street from 2009 to mid-2012, while also railing against the practice.

The report lists 57 dates on which alleged shoots took place at 441 West 21st Street, and argues that the activity is illegal because it does not conform to the definition of a “home occupation” as stated in New York City’s current zoning regulations. Since Morgan continues to advertise the use of virtually her entire townhouse for shoots on various industry web databases, as well as her own professional website (betsy.com), CCBA claimed that she was violating a clause in the zoning text stating that a home occupation must not occupy more than 25 percent of the total floor area of a residential unit.

Immediately after publishing it, the CCBA sent that report to the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB) and the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (MOFTB) — which approves permits for film and photo shoots on city streets and city-owned property — in hopes of convincing those agencies to begin investigating and curtailing the activity at 441 West 21st Street.

But now, over a year later, CCBA

Continued on page 21

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED APARTMENTS FOR RENT 500 West 30th Street AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY in Manhattan / Chelsea Related Affordable Housing Group is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 78 rental apartments now under construction at 500 West 30th Street in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. This building is being constructed through the Inclusionary Housing Program of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program with New York State Homes & Community Renewal. The size, rent, and targeted income distribution for the 78 apartments are as follows: # of Apts.

Apartment Household Rent** Total Annual Household Income Available Size Size* Minimum – Maximum*** 40% Area Median Income 4 5

Studio 1 bedroom

3

2 bedroom

22 28

Studio 1 bedroom

2

2 bedroom

14

2 bedroom, 2 bath

1 1 2 2 3 4

$525 $564 $687

$19,920 - $24,080 $21,326 - $24,080 $21,326 - $27,520 $25,612 - $27,520 $25,612 - $30,960 $25,612 - $34,360

50% Area Median Income 1 1 2 2 3 4 2 3 4

$670 $720 $873 $873

$24,892 - $30,100 $26,675 - $30,100 $26,675 - $34,400 $31,989 - $34,400 $31,989 - $38,700 $31,989 - $42,950 $31,989 - $34,400 $31,989 - $38,700 $31,989 - $42,950

*Subject to occupancy criteria. **Includes gas for heat and cooking. ***Income guidelines subject to change. st

Initial occupancy expected for March 1 of 2014. Building amenities include: 24-hour attended lobby, on-site resident manager, sun terrace, fitness center*, computer lounge*, bbq terrace*, party rooms* (*additional fees apply). Qualified applicants will be required to meet income and household size guidelines and additional selection criteria to qualify.

Households may elect to submit an application by one of two methods: EITHER online OR by mail. To submit your application online now, please visit NYC Housing Connect at www.nyc.gov/housingconnect and select “Apply for Housing”. All online applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on September 30, 2013. To request an application by mail, send your complete name and mailing th address, including apartment number and zip code, to: RW30, 328 8 Avenue, Box 240, New York, NY 10001. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than by September 30, 2013. Applications will be selected by lottery; applicants who submit more than one application will be disqualified. When completed, this application must be returned by regular mail ONLY (priority, certified, registered, express, overnight mail, or oversized envelopes will NOT be accepted). Disqualified applications will not be accepted. Eligible households that include persons with mobility impairments will receive preference for 5% of the units; eligible households that include persons with visual and/or hearing impairments will receive preference for 2% of the units. Current and eligible residents of Manhattan Community Board 4 will receive preference for 50% of the units; eligible City of New York Municipal Employees will receive a 5% preference.

THIS IS A SMOKE-FREE DEVELOPMENT. No Broker’s Fee. No Application Fee. MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, Mayor The City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development MATHEW M. WAMBUA, Commissioner New York State Homes & Community Renewal DARRYL C. TOWNS, Commissioner/CEO www.nyc.gov/housingconnect

4 August 14 - 27, 2013

CB4 Backs BID to Give ‘Hell’s’ to Hudson Yards Continued from page 1 Times Square BID, we want a partnership in this area.”

The board voted unanimously on a letter of support to the Department of City Planning, after adding a friendly amendment proposed by Betty Makintosh that the BID retain the character of the neighborhood while incorporating the new park and other areas.

During the subsequent public comments session, many vocalized their support, with Nancy Diaz, a resident at the Orion building, noting that the BID had reached out to a diverse constituency, and that the BID would help provide an additional source of voices for CB4.

Laura Kirschhawn said that the tenants in the 119-lot building at 41st Street and 10th Avenue were in favor of the BID, and thought it would improve the quality of life by increasing pedestrian safety and streetscaping. Kathleen Treat, chair of the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association, expressed her gratitude to the Land Use Committee for their unanimous vote in favor of the BID — and Paul Januszewski of Rockrose Development Corp. noted that it was important to have a strong advocate like Treat for the Hudson Park and Hudson Yards.

Lisa Wager, director of Government and Community Relations for the Fashion

Photo by Winnie McCroy

CB4’s Lisa Daglian (right) cited complaints about noise from events on the rooftop terrace of Yotel New York (W. 42nd St. & 10th Ave.)

Institute of Technology, read a letter of support for the planned capital improvements to an area just blocks away from FIT’s student dorms. Also expressing support for the BID were representatives from Covenant House and board members from 502 Ninth Avenue.

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PEDESTRIAN SAFETY A PRIORITY AFTER SERIOUS ACCIDENT

The call for pedestrian safety was intensified after a recent accident in which a bus crushed a local man’s legs. Item 49 dealt with a letter to the DOT regarding pedestrian safety.

“A man was hit by a bus going left on 43rd and Ninth and is in critical care,” said Marcus. “This is the 40th such accident at this intersection, so we must no longer request more safety measures. They must do this.”

Board members agreed to make this demand the first item of the letter. A resident from 350 43rd Street noted that residents were excited about the neighborhood’s upcoming construction projects, but very concerned for pedestrian safety, especially in light of this recent accident.

Senior citizen Fanny Cole said that she had spoken with CB4 Chair Christine Berthet (who is the founder of CHEKPEDS, the Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Coalition for Pedestrian Safety) about the issue. Cole had the crowd laughing as she read aloud from her correspondences with the New York City DOT about traffic safety.

“I also spoke with the MTA about having them paint ‘Look Right’ or ‘Look Left’ on the ground at corners where buses turn,” said Cole. “At one point, they actually told me it would be too expensive to use all that paint. It is still impossible to cross 34th Street and Ninth Avenue, especially when you are elderly.”

ELECTEDS AND REPS REPORT TO CB4

Assembly Member Richard Gottfried was among those elected officials who attended the event to speak on community issues — among them, a controversial plan for building an addition to the Fulton Houses. Under a now-rejected proposal by the Department of Housing Preservation

and Development, Artimus Properties would have bulldozed a children’s playground and community garden at the lowincome housing site to building a parking lot (a design change from earlier plans for underground parking).

Gottfried said he would talk to the community about the situation before certifying any revised plans — and in an earlier meeting, State Senator Brad Hoylman called the plan “so appalling it defies credibility.” City Council Speaker Christine Quinn echoed this sentiment in a statement.

“I want to be clear, I do not and will not support a development plan that displaces a playground to make up for lost parking,” said Quinn. “We need more safe recreation spaces for our children, not less.”

Gottfried also noted that he had joined fast food workers in their one-day strike for a living wage, that he had helped build a new park on 39th Street between Ninth and 10th Avenues and that he had passed legislation to help Hudson River Park improve and become strengthened financially. This included moving the 30th Street Heliport 1,000 feet out into the river. “It’s better to have it 1,000 feet closer to New Jersey, as far as I’m concerned,” Gottfried said, before assuring the crowd that he bore no ill will toward New Jersey.

Representatives from other elected officials also shared updates. David Chizuk from Borough President Scott Stringer’s office said that a “Veggie Van” would be bringing residents 10-12 lbs. of fresh local produce to those tenant associations that had been left out of the sustainable local food movement.

Ellen Lewis from Hoylman’s office noted that the 2013 Legislative Session ended on June 22, and that Hoylman had worked to reform the board of the New York City Housing Authority, to put safety cameras in school zones, to distribute Hurricane Sandy relief, to support an urgent care center bill and to authorize a meningitis vaccine to address the city’s raging epidemic among gay men.

Harriet Sedgwick from Quinn’s office said the Speaker was pleased to have passed her eighth consecutive on-time budget. She was also glad that the enormous public outcry over Fulton Houses had been heard, and announced that a public lottery would be opened for Clinton Park Housing.

Finally, the representative from Congresswoman Caroline Maloney’s office noted that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had done a 76-city raid, catching 150 sex traffickers and saving 105 children. Maloney co-sponsored legislation to provide more tools to stop human trafficking.

COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN FUTURE OF BAYVIEW SITE

After reaching out to Empire State Development (ESD), the company that bought the Bayview Correctional Facility at 550 West 20h Street, ESD expressed an interest in hearing from CB4 about the

Continued on page 5

August 14 - 27, 2013

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CB4 Stands Up for Fulton Houses and Bayview Continued from page 4 future of the site.

The issue was Agenda Item 30, and board member Joe Restuccia noted that during a tour of the facility, all CB4 members present expressed a concern that the Request for Proposal (RFP) would go to the highest bidder.

“There are meetings now to strategize about the future, and the ESD announced today that they are trying to get a community consensus on what happens to it,” said Restuccia.

Concerns included a desire to see the facility feature 30 percent affordable housing, historic preservation of the building’s façade and community use of the pool and gym (that remained from the building’s days as the Seamen’s YMCA).

“Bayview was a very good neighbor as a prison, and we would like to see some social service use of this building,” said Restuccia. “ESD agreed that we will be part of the RFP for figuring out the process. We did this with the Armory building, and the city and community benefited.”

Lee Compton said he would like to see the preservation of the facility’s chapel, and Brett Firfer spoke to the fact that moving prisons out to the county made it harder for families to keep in touch, having an impact on recidivism and reintegration into

the community. Most agreed the prison was a good neighbor. “Bayview was so innocuous, most people didn’t even know it was there,” said board member Pamela Wolff.

“In the ’70s, people thought it would be a big problem, but it was no problem at all. I personally feel the loss. It is a tragedy and I wish there was a way to address the 153 women who vanished overnight. I’m grateful the board has taken this issue seriously.”

outdoor plaza.

They have demanded the city provide 20,000 square feet of public space to make up for the area that will be lost when the Shed holds private events, such as those during Fashion Week. In Item 34, the board agreed that the MTA would take 1,000 square feet, and the city would take another 1,000 square feet, which they would lease for public space.

‘Bayview was a very good neighbor as a prison, and we would like to see some social service use of this building,’ said Restuccia. ‘ESD agreed that we will be part of the RFP for figuring out the process. We did this with the Armory building, and the city and community benefited.’

AMBITIOUS AGENDA COVERS 52 ITEMS

District Manager Bob Benfatto shared his report, noting that CB4 had asked for a seat on the board of the Culture Shed, a Hudson Yards facility that will feature performance, arts and media. The community board has decried that the structure’s retractable hood covers part of the

In the interest of time, committee members bundled some agenda items for voting. The majority of the items were letters of support to various city agencies for new businesses, landmarking ratifications, land use and transportation issues.

Noteworthy items include a decision to support XL Dance Bar (at 512 West 42nd Street) in their application to the State Liquor Authority (SLA), noting that the

club had addressed complaints about loud music during their tea dances. Item 14 dealt with noise on the rooftop terrace of Yotel New York (570 10th Avenue, at West 42nd Street).

Building Licenses & Permits committee (BLP) co-chair Paul Sears said that the company had a new food and beverage provider who had taking care of some of the operating issues, but expressed concern over continuing negotiations with their lawyer Donald Bernstein.

“I have some issues with the way they are operating regarding the rooftop terrace events issue,” said Sears. “We agreed to terms in our meeting, and then he sent a revised list of stipulations. The community voted on one thing, and Yotel went and did another. The intention of the item is don’t make the rooftop loud so it affects the neighborhood.”

Board member Lisa Daglian said that they had received many complaints, and that Yotel had agreed to stipulations including no outside promoters, saying, “You can’t give away the store to outside people who are running their own events.”

Sears noted that he was concerned that they might file with a corporate change with the SLA and then go about the same method of operation as before, noting, “The SLA looks at hotels differently than bars,

Continued on page 19

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Beep Candidates Square Off at NYU

BY KAITLYN MEADE Education, jobs, affordable housing was the mantra that the candidates for Manhattan borough president stuck to at debate last week on NYU’s campus. All four democratic candidates appeared to be in a place of strength at the August 7 event, settling in for what one of the candidates called their 538th debate for the September 10 democratic primary.

Limiting development also seemed to be an underlying current throughout much of the debate.

Councilmember Gale Brewer added building libraries and parks to the list of necessary amenities that should be included with schools to combat overcrowding. Brewer also noted that she has been listed by the New York Times as one of the top five city officials championing parks in NYC. Councilmember Robert Jackson, who cochairs the City Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, focused on job creation.

As a representative of the upper reaches of Manhattan’s west side, which has some of the highest unemployment rates in the borough, Jackson said he was committed to ensuring “that Manhattan stays affordable.”

“What I would like to do is very simple,” Councilmember Jessica Lappin said, “Fight for middle class and workContinued on page 22

Photo courtesy of Downtown Express

Manhattan’s BP candidates went head-to-head at a recent debate at NYU. From left to right, Gale Brewer, Robert Jackson, Jessica Lappin and Julie Menin.

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August 14 - 27, 2013

7

Underground Railroad Landmark One Step Closer to Restoration Continued from page 1 Gibbons House — the only documented Underground Railroad site in New York City.

“I hope this serves as a deterrent for developers who would try to cheat, and cheat people out of their history, as this developer has done,” stated Fern Luskin, professor of art and architectural history at LaGuardia Community College, referencing Mamounas’ continued construction on the landmarked site. “The building is too important, and this is too important to happen again.”

Today, the Hopper-Gibbons house is covered in massive amounts of unsightly scaffolding — the remnants of haphazardly abandoned construction, which belies its storied history. The controversy surrounding the Hopper-Gibbons house started all the way in 2005, when owner Mamounas began to make significant changes to the residential building, including major interior renovations. The main source of trouble — Mamounas’ addition of a fifth floor (constructed for the purposes of a penthouse apartment) — caught the eyes (and the ire) of Luskin and Julie M. Finch,

‘I hope this serves as a deterrent for developers who would try to cheat, and cheat people out of their history, as this developer has done.’

—Fern Luskin local residents and current co-chairs of the Friends of Hopper-Gibbons House.

According Luskin, Finch and like-minded preservationists, this extra floor compromises the architectural and historic integrity of the building.

As a significant safe house for AfricanAmericans and Abolitionists, the HopperGibbons House (339 W. 29th Street) has a long and colorful history, which helps to shed some light onto what life was like in New York City during the Civil War era, and the racial tension that was present in the north. In the mid-1800s, the house was owned by Quaker abolitionists Abigail Hopper Gibbons and James Sloan Gibbons, who used their home to aid runaway southern slaves in their travels, and as a meeting place for other abolitionists.

In 1863, the Hopper-Gibbons House became directly entwined with a dark period in the city’s history. That July, the house came under siege during the racially charged Draft Riots, during

which dozens of African Americans were lynched. An angry mob attacked the house of the noted abolitionists, setting it on fire. The Gibbons’ children escaped by running across the roofs of the houses next door — which were all four stories tall and flush with each other. With the roofline of these homes playing such a crucial part of the area’s history, the Friends of Hopper-Gibbons are understandably frustrated with the recent alterations to the most notable building of the block.

The LPC granted this group of houses, now known as the Lamartine Place Historic District, landmark status in 2009 — shortly after Mamounas’ permits for construction were revoked for being issued in error by the Department of Buildings (DOB), rather than the BSA. The advocacy of the Friends of the Hopper-Gibbons house began to pay off, as the movement started gaining support from the public, as well as high profile figures such as Assemblymember Richard Gottfried and State Senator Brad Hoylman. While this turn of events would seem to protect the Hopper-Gibbons house from any further interference, construction continued to happen on the site. Despite cease work orders being issued, the fifth floor reportedly continued to be worked on.

The lawyers representing the city and defending the Hopper-Gibbons house were Jack L. Lester and Melanie V. Sadok.

Lester used his opening argument to draw Judge Rackower’s attention to the building’s past, its close ties to the city’s abolitionist movement and its immense value to the community currently — aided by archival photos of the house in the 1800s placed alongside current images of the site provided by Luskin and Finch.

He implored Rackower to uphold the BSA’s assessment that Mamounas needed to proceed through the LPC due to the Hopper-Gibbons house’s status as a historic landmark.

Mamounas’ lawyer, Marvin Mitzner approached the situation very differently.

Mitzner believed that the problem rested with wrongly revoked permits and an unfair and flawed system that failed his client.

“The issue has nothing to do with landmark status,” Mitzner stated during his opening argument. Later, Mitzner presented a detailed argument, which attacked the issue from many angles. He insisted that the BSA was acting arbitrarily by not reinstating the permits revoked in 2009, which his client had acquired legally, and that the situation could easily be resolved if the board approved waivers he applied for. To back this claim up, he cited a case he had previously fought regarding property on East Sixth Street, when the BSA did in fact reinstate void DOB permits, in order to continue construction. Furthermore, Mitzner believed that since Mamounas did have permits, albeit void ones, he should not be subject to the LPC at all, because the law does not

One step closer to four floors again? An Aug. 6 court victory by the Friends of the Hopper-Gibbons House has emboldened the movement to restore 339 W. 29th St. back to its pre-2005 condition.

specify that the permits need to be valid.

Sadok attacked Mamounas and Mitzner for misrepresenting the facts of the case, and not fairly laying out the timeline of events. She took issue with the length of time it took Mitzner to apply for waivers and challenge decisions, saying it took

them until four years after their permits were revoked to try to rectify the situation with the BSA. She also saw it as a clearcut case of following the procedures laid out by the Landmarks Law.

Continued on page 21

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August 14 - 27, 2013

A Tale of Two Cities TALKING POINT

BY BOB TRENTLYON (with apologies to Mr. Dickens) The two cities are Stamford and Norwalk, both located on the Long Island Sound in Western Connecticut. The 1938 hurricane caused enormous damage, and Stamford, now a city of well over 100,000, finally had the Army Corps of Engineers build a storm surge barrier, which was completed in 1968. The barrier is 3000 feet long and has one gate which can be moved up and down. The city of Stamford has

added a wall so that the entire protected length is 2.5 miles. The city operates a couple of pumping stations as part of its section of the wall. In Stamford, 600 acres are protected by this barrier.

To give you an idea of what 600 acres are, all of Manhattan south of Chambers Street totals 500 acres. During the time since the barriers were constructed, there have been many hurricanes and storms with flooding occurring from two to twenty times a year — but Stamford has not had damage from either storm surges or flooding. The Army Corps part of the barrier cost $14.5 million to build.

The Army Corps spends several hundred thousand dollars per year on staff and main-

tenance. The cost saving from Irene was $5,869,000. The cost saving from Sandy was $25,500,000. Unfortunately, I have not been given the cost savings going back to 1968, but I am sure the total saving must be enormous.

Norwalk, a city of 80,000, lies 14 miles east of Stamford. I was told by the city’s press officer that it is a charming town. It is located on the Norwalk River which flows for two miles through Norwalk to the Sound.

Four small barrier islands are at the mouth of the river. Two are bird sanctuaries and the other two are uninhabited. Along River Road, which borders the Norwalk River, are 400 houses that are in the flood zone and were damaged by Sandy. There are another 400 houses that also been damaged that lie outside the flood zone for a total cost of $10 million in damages. I looked up Norwalk because NPR had a piece on Washington

Village which lies in the flood zone and has the only public housing in Norwalk.

Some state legislators want FEMA to come up with close to $100 million so a developer can raise the public housing building six feet and enlarge the structure to include affordable housing. FEMA does not want to spend money on a structure that is continuously being flooded. No one in Norwalk ever mentions building storm surge barriers or even a sea wall along River Road. The populace seems content with its city, which is a tourist attraction, and seems willing to put up with the worsening storms.

In any case that I have looked at, the total cost of building storm surge barriers is a fraction of the savings that result, not to mention lives saved, time lost from work, and human anguish.

letters to the editor Aunt Chelsea’s ‘pot’ advice was awful To The Editor: Re “Ask Aunt Chelsea” (office coffee pot etiquette question, July 31): Awful advice. Don’t listen. Aunt Chelsea went off in tangents. It happens all over. People are selfish and piggy. Why should they clean, when they have you?

Bring coffee in a thermos for a while or go out for coffee. See what happens. Somebody, or bodies, will crack and do the right thing. If not, the pot will get to a point where it can’t be used. If so, don’t chip in for another one unless a weekly schedule is worked out for coffee making and pot cleaning.

Michael Wishner

Bypassing the public To The Editor: Re “Pier Air Rights May Open a Pandora’s Box of Development” (Talking Point, July 31): Again, a major policy change that will impact the future of Greenwich Village is done without any public scrutiny. Just what is the agenda of the good liberal electeds that snuck this legislation through anyway?

Do they not trust the residents of the West Village to be able to engage in discussion on an issue that has such a long-term impact as the transfer of air rights?

I am dumbfounded when I realize that Deborah Glick and Brad Hoylman have now joined Richard Gottfried in siding with the developer interests rather than putting both Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn — who was elected to represent the Lower West Side — on the spot.

Soccer fields for the children whose families can afford to send them to private school may sound nice.

But what about the traditional cultural values of the Village, including its long involvement in the arts, most specifically, theater? Seniors again will get the short stick, as they do now, with so little seating space that is supportive of the lower back.

I have always looked to Glick and now Hoylman to come up with progressive solutions that benefit the diverse community that still exists in the West Village.

But this plan plays into the destruction of the Village as it has historically been. Please, let’s have some public meetings on this and every subject that will change, not only the landscape, but also the culture of the West Village.

We just saw how four Village women — with the support of Community Board 2 Chairperson David Gruber — snuck through a conservancy takeover of Washington Square, without sufficient public hearings, to create essentially a privatized public park.

We saw how the silence of elected officials allowed a fracked-gas transfer station to be built right next to a children’s playground in the Hudson Park Park in the West Village.

Thank you, once again, Andrew Berman for staying on top of these issues and, most importantly, doing everything you can to alert and engage the public on public policy issues that have the potential to fundamentally change what we call Greenwich Village.

Jim Fouratt

Keep Pandora’s Box Closed To The Editor: Re “Pier Air Rights May Open a Pandora’s Box of Development” (Talking Point, July 31): Thanks for Andrew Berman’s “Pier Air Rights” Talking Point! He has clarified the current attempt to destroy what’s left of any protection of our waterfront from commercial development and our neighborhood from further high rise, high priced hotels, condos, etc.

He has explained and revealed the dynamics behind the newest attempt to do just that….with the idea of selling of “air rights over piers!”

Since the whole concept of selling air rights over buildings has been difficult concept for me to digest (I am still trying for air rights over my head…unsuccessfully), the pier air rights idea seems even more (if not downright) self-serving for real estate developers and others who have something to gain.

So keep that Pandora’s Box closed and firmly locked, lest we be hemmed in by more glass high rises that most of cannot afford to enter — and a view of the river only to be seen on our computers.

Gloria Sukenick

Air-rights idea a good compromise To The Editor: Re “Pier Air Rights May Open a Pandora’s Box of Development” (Talking Point, July 31): The amendments to the Hudson River Park Act, if signed by the governor, will improve the prospects for a sustainable Hudson River Park.

The sale of air rights cannot proceed without an approval process that will offer the opportunity to balance the need for public open space — and, in particular, the opportunity to save the large-footprint sports fields at Pier 40 — with the need to protect the park and the adjacent neighborhoods from the wrong kinds of development. It’s a good thing when opportunities for development are linked to requirements to meet the needs of a growing community, because the more common zoning approach simply makes a huge gift of new development rights to property owners.

These changes come as a responsible compromise after a long period of public debate about how to secure the future of the park. The only property in the Village where more development is likely to result is the St. John’s Center, a site where the underlying manufacturing zoning is outdated and likely to be changed in any case. We will need an open process to assure the most benefit to the park in the context of sustaining the quality of life in our neighborhoods. But if we want the benefits of a waterfront park, we can’t just keep saying “No.” Tobi Bergman Bergman is a member, Pier 40 Champions, and chairperson, Community Board 2 Land Use and Business Development Committee E-mail letters, not longer than 250 words in length, to news@chelseanow.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to Chelsea Now, Letters to the Editor, 515 Canal St., Suite 1C, NY, NY 10013. Please include phone number for confirmation purposes. Chelsea Now reserves the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and libel. Chelsea Now does not publish anonymous letters.

August 14 - 27, 2013

Community Contacts To be listed, email info to scott@chelseanow.com.

COMMUNITY BOARD 4 (CB4) CB4 serves Manhattan’s West Side neighborhoods of Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen. Its boundaries are 14th St. on the south, 59/60th St. on the north, the Hudson River on the west, 6th Ave. on the east (south of 26th St.) and 8th Ave. on the east (north of 26th St.). The board meeting, open to the public, is normally the first Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is Tues., Sept. 3, 6:30pm, at Fulton Auditorium (119 Ninth Ave., btw.

17th & 18th Sts.). Call 212-7364536, visit nyc.gov/mcb4 or email them at info@manhattancb4.org.

COMMUNITY BOARD 5 (CB5) CB5 represents the central business district of New York City. It includes midtown Manhattan, the Fashion, Flower, Flatiron and Diamond districts, as well as Bryant Park and Union Square Park. The district is at the center of New York’s tourism industry. The Theatre District, Times Square, Carnegie Hall, the Empire State Building and two of the region’s transportation hubs (Grand Central Station and Penn Station) fall within CB5. The board meeting, open to the public, happens on the second Thursday of the month. The next meeting is Thurs., Sept. 12, 6pm, at Xavier High School (30 W. 16th St., btw. 5th & 6th Aves., 2nd fl.). Call 212465-0907, visit cb5.org or email them at office@cb5.org.

THE 300 WEST 23RD, 22ND & 21ST STREETS BLOCK ASSOCIATION Contact them at 300westblockassoc@prodigy.net.

THE WEST 400 BLOCK ASSOCIATION Contact them at w400ba@gmail.com.

CHELSEA GARDEN CLUB Chelsea Garden Club cares for the bike lane tree pits in Chelsea. If you want to adopt a tree pit or join the group, please contact them at cgc.nyc@gmail.com or like them on Facebook. Also visit chelseagardenclub.blogspot.com.

LOWER CHELSEA ALLIANCE (LoCal) This group is committed to protecting the residential blocks of Chelsea from overscale development. Contact them at LowerChelseaAlliance@gmail.com.

THE GREENWICH VILLAGE-CHELSEA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Call 212-337-5912 or visit villagechelsea.com.

THE MEATPACKING DISTRICT INITIATIVE Visit meatpacking-district.com or call 212-633-0185.

PENN SOUTH The Penn South Program for Seniors provides recreation, education and social services — and welcomes volunteers. For info, call 212-2433670 or visit pennsouthlive.com.

THE BOWERY RESIDENTS’ COMMITTEE: HOMELESS HELPLINE If you know of anyone who is in need of their services, call the Homeless Helpline at 212-533-5151, and the BRC will send someone to make contact. This number is staffed by outreach team leaders 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous. For more info, visit brc.org.

THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY CENTER At 208 W. 13th St. (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Visit gaycenter.org or call 212620-7310.

GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS (GMHC) At 446 W. 33rd St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves.

Visit gmhc.org. Call 212-367-1000.

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Member of the National Newspaper Association Chelsea Now is published biweekly by NYC Community Media LLC, 515 Canal St., Unit 1C, New York, NY 10013.

(212) 229-1890. Annual subscription by mail in Manhattan and Brooklyn $75. Single copy price at office and newsstands is 50 cents. The entire contents of newspaper, including advertising, are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher - © 2010 NYC Community Media LLC, Postmaster: Send address changes to Chelsea Now, 145 Sixth Ave., First Fl., New York, N.Y. 10013.

PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR

The Publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher’s liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue.

HUDSON GUILD Founded in 1895, Hudson Guild is a multi-service, multi-generational community serving approximately 14,000 people annually with daycare, hot meals for senior citizens, low-cost professional counseling, community arts programs and recreational programming for teens. Visit them at hudsonguild.org. Email them at info@ hudsonguild.org. For the John Lovejoy Elliott Center (441 W. 26th St.), call 212-760-9800. For the Children’s Center (459 W. 26th St.), call 212-7609830. For the Education Center (447 W. 25th St.), call 212-760-9843. For the Fulton Center for Adult Services (119 9th Ave.), call 212-924-6710.

THE CARTER BURDEN CENTER FOR THE AGING This organization promotes the wellbeing of individuals 60 and older through direct social services and volunteer programs oriented to individual, family and community needs. Call 212-879-7400 or visit burdencenter.org.

FULTON YOUTH OF THE FUTURE Email them at fultonyouth@gmail. com or contact Miguel Acevedo, 646-671-0310.

WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE Visit westsidenyc.org or call 212956-2573. Email them at wsna@ hcc-nyc.org.

CHELSEA COALITION ON HOUSING Tenant assistance every Thursday night at 7pm, at Hudson Guild (119 9th Ave.). Email them at chelseacoalition.cch@gmail.com.

FRIENDS OF HUDSON RIVER PARK Visit fohrp.org or call 212-757-0981.

HUDSON RIVER PARK TRUST Visit hudsonriverpark.org or call 212627-2020.

SAVE CHELSEA Contact them at savechelseanyc@ gmail.com.

PUBLISHER Jennifer Goodstein ASSOCIATE EDITOR / ARTS EDITOR Scott Stiffler REPORTERS Lincoln Anderson EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

Sean Egan Maeve Gately Michael Vaughan PUBLISHER EMERITUS John W. Sutter

CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN Call 212-564-7757 or visit council.nyc. gov/d3/html/members/home.shtml.

STATE SENATOR BRAD HOYLMAN Call 212-633-8052 or visit bradhoylman.com.

CHELSEA REFORM DEMOCRATIC CLUB The CRDC (the home club of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Assemblymember Richard N. Gottfried) meets monthly to exchange political ideas on protecting the rights and improving the lives of those residing in Chelsea. Visit crdcnyc.org or email them at info@crdcnyc.org.

THE SAGE CENTER New York City’s first LGBT senior center offers hot meals, counseling and a cyber-center — as well as programs on arts and culture, fitness, nutrition, health and wellness. At 305 Seventh Ave. (15th floor, btw. 27th & 28th Sts.). Call 646-576-8669 or visit sageusa.org/ thesagecenter for menus and a calendar of programs.

At 147 W. 24th St. (btw. 6th & 7th Aves.)

THE SYLVIA RIVERA LAW PROJECT

works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression without facing harassment, discrimination or violence. Visit srlp.org.

FIERCE (Fabulous Independent Educated

Radicals for Community Empowerment) builds the leadership and power of bisexual, transgender and queer youth of color in NYC. Visit fiercenyc.org.

QUEERS FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE is a progressive organization committed to promoting economic justice in a context of sexual and gender liberation. Visit q4ej.org.

THE AUDRE LORDE PROJECT is a les-

bian, gay, bisexual, two spirit, trans and gender non-conforming people of color center for community organizing. Visit alp.org.

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1 0 August 14 - 27, 2013

PoliCe Blotter At approximately 6:20pm on Sun., Aug. 4, two 22-year-old females were arrested by officers of the 10th Precinct, thanks to one sharp-eared 33-year old man who overheard the ditzy duo loudly discussing their impending criminal exploits. The jig was up shortly after the scene went down — when the witness observed the women at a Citi Bike docking station (on 10th Ave., btw.

W. 42nd & W. 43rd Sts.). While navigating the particulars of renting a pair of bikes, one of the perps stated that the Visa debit card they were about to use did not belong to them. The witness alerted police, who found the card in their possession and put the kibosh on their two-wheeled travels.

Grand Larceny: Pilfered by new online pal What’s the world coming to when you can’t hook up with a total stranger you met online, leave them unattended in your apartment while you’re taking a shower and then emerge some time later with a fresh face, a good attitude and the chance to use your $1,000 Apple Notebook to troll cyberspace for some new friends?

That’s what a 37-year-old West Chelsea resident may well have been asking himself — after experiencing the above scenario. The victim, who returned from his shower to find his online paramour about to make a quick exit — noticed the new

friend had a bag (only realizing later that the bag contained the pricey laptop). Also stolen: two credit cards, on which three unauthorized charges were made, in the amounts of $15.97, $70.75 and $11.76.

The victim cancelled the credit cards, perhaps while contemplating a return to the brick and mortar world of speed dating.

Grand Larceny: Bag in seat storage space didn’t sit still The sudden disappearance of $20 in cash and a Chase Sapphire credit card paled in comparison to loss of the pricey container they came in. During the late hours of Sat., Aug. 3, a 30-year-old was socializing at the Dream Hotel’s PH-D rooftop nightclub (355 W. 16th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves). She placed her purse in a seat storage space — then returned three hours later, to find the black leather Chanel handbag (valued at $1,500) missing. Although camera footage of the incident was available, a canvass of the area by hotel security yielded negative results.

Petty Larceny: Rooftop thefts made in ‘shades’ A 34-year-old Manhattan man was divorced from two sets of specs, when he attended a Sat., Aug. 13 wedding

reception held on the rooftop of Studio 450 (450 W. 31st St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.). Unphased by the noonday sun, the victim placed his peeper protectors down on a bench at around 12pm. When he returned 20 minutes later, the two pairs of Tom Ford and Ray-Bay sunglasses (valued at $400 and $75 respectively) were gone. Other guests also reported having personal items removed from the same location.

Forgery: I do it to go through tolls!

Maybe he just wanted to avoid having his movements tracked by we-canread-a-matchbook-from-space NSA spyware — but a 48-year-old driver couldn’t escape the scrutiny of a few old-fashioned eyeballs. Uniformed officers of the 10th Precinct noticed something fishy about a 2003 Kia, as it made its way down 16th St. at around 8pm on Sat., Aug. 3. There was no license plate on the rear of the vehicle, and electrical tape covered decals that would identify the make. “I do it to go through tolls,” the defendant told police, who found the vehicle’s Florida plate in the front of the car shortly before hauling him off to jail (in a clearly marked NYPD cruiser).

—Scott Stiffler

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THE 10th PRECINCT Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Commander: Captain David S. Miller. Main number: 212-741-8211.

Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212-741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-741-8210. Detective Squad: 212741-8245. The Community Council meeting, open to the public, takes place at 7pm on the last Wed. of the month. The Council is currently on summer hiatus, and resumes on Sept. 25.

THE 13th PRECINCT Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.). Deputy Inspector: Ted Bernsted. Call 212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212477-3863. Youth Officer: 212-477-7411.

Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380.

Detective Squad: 212-477-7444. The Community Council meeting takes place at 6:30pm on the third Tues. of the month. The Council is on hiatus, and resumes Sept. 17.

CASH FOR GUNS $100 cash will be given (no questions asked) for each handgun, assault weapon or sawed-off shotgun, up to a maximum payment of $300. Guns are accepted at any Police Precinct, PSA or Transit District.

CRIME STOPPERS If you have info regarding a crime committed or a wanted person, call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, text “TIP577” (plus your message) to “CRIMES” (274637) or submit a tip online at nypdcrimestoppers.com.

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August 14 - 27, 2013

11

chelsea: arts & ENTERTAINMENT Of Snow and Shakespeare Common threads, among FringeNYC’s 185 shows

company known as The Porch Room returns with co-founder John Dowgin directing this politically charged adaptation — in which an Egyptian expat’s loyalties are divided between her activist fiancée (an American director working on a commissioned Shakespeare production) and her brother (an Egyptian nationalist recently arrived in America, having fled the violence of Tahrir Square).

At The Lynn Redgrave Theater (45 Bleecker St., btw. Bleecker & Lafayette Sts.).

Fri., 8/16 at 9:30pm, Sun., 8/18 at 4:45pm & Sun., 8/25 at noon.

THEATER FringeNYC: THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL Through August 25 185 shows at 20 Downtown venues FringeCENTRAL: 27 Second Ave. (btw. First & Second Sts.), Open 12-8pm daily Tickets: $15 in advance, $18 at the door Call 866-468-7619 Visit fringenyc.org

THE NIGHTMARE ‘DREAM’

Photo by Edward Elder

Slings, bards and arrows: Danny Ashkenasi and Bob Homeyer play all the parts, in “The Accidental Hamlet.”

BY SCOTT STIFFLER If history is any indication (which it almost always is), here’s a blanket review of the 17th Annual New York International Fringe Festival that you can take to the bank, cash and then buy one of those all-the-shows-you-can-see “Lunatic” passes.

Of the 185 dramatic, dance, musical, solo and cross-disciplinary shows that will be performed multiple times from August 9-25, many of them will be fantastic.

Some of them will be horrendous. Most will be worthy of everything the “Fringe” name implies, offering charismatic performances and thought-provoking ideas. The presentation may be a little frayed at the edges — but that’s to be expected when you buy fringe, or buy into Fringe. Also true to form, a quick scan of this year’s roster reveals certain themes. Here are two of them, each sponsored by the letter “S.”

FringeNYC THEME #1: BOLD TAKES ON SHAKESPEARE Who cares if he actually wrote everything that’s been attributed to him over the years?

For theater companies and hungry actors looking to make their mark, the complete works of Shakespeare are an endless source

of inspiration…and a challenge, when it comes to innovative presentation. These five productions benefit from wildly imaginative takes on oft-told tales. Let’s hope the execution matches the level of ambition.

DOUBLE HEART (THE COURTSHIP OF BEATRICE AND BENEDICK)

David Hansen’s new romantic comedy verse play is an imagined prequel to “Much Ado About Nothing” that charts the early courtship of Beatrice and Benedick.

Sparks (and barbs) fly, as sharp-tongued young ones navigate the teenage rituals of parties, pranks and first love.

At the Connelly Theater (220 E. Fourth St., btw. Aves. A & B). Wed., 8/14 at 8:30pm, Thurs., 8/15 at 7pm & Sat., 8/17 at noon.

THE ACCIDENTAL HAMLET

The mounting problems of everyone’s favorite skull-cradling, ghost-conversating, uncle-hating melancholy Dane are played for laughs in a “honey-glazed, cheese-drenched” production that “puts the ham” in “Hamlet.” Danny Ashkenasi and Bob Homeyer star as two self-proclaimed thespians who bite off more than they can chew when they set out to play every part. Longtime Downtown director Lissa Moira helms the U.S. premiere of this vaudeville, slideshow, magic and bur-

lesque-infused riff on the much-interpreted tale that makes your own family seem impressively functional by comparison.

At the Connelly Theater (220 E. Fourth St., btw. Aves. A & B). Thurs., 8/15 at 8:45pm, Wed., 8/21 at 7:15pm, Fri., 8/23 at 5pm & Sat., 8/24 at 2:15pm.

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA: A SWASHBUCKLING COMEDY

Queens-based director and choreographer Michael Hagins took the text from one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, filled in some missing plot holes and then added swordfights, crazy chase scenes and random violence — while, he says, managing to keep the integrity of the language. “Two Gentlemen” is part of the FringeHIGH program, which means it’s highly recommended for teens. After the August 24 performance, there will be a Talk-Back at which you can discuss the show with members of the cast and/or creative team.

At CSV Flamboyan (107 Suffolk St., btw.

Rivington & Delancey Sts.). Thurs., 8/22 at 7pm & Sat., 8/24 at 2:15pm.

ANTONY & CLEOPATRA: INFINITE LIVES

First seen at the 2001 FringeNYC with their beautifully titled collection of oneacts (“Burt Reynolds Amazing Napalm Powered Oven”), the film and theater

Rest assured, there will be blood. “No ruffled neck is safe,” the producers promise, in this hemoglobin-heavy mashup of “Dracula” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” that plays Bram Stoker’s melodrama for laughs and puts a slasher film spin on Shakespeare’s puckish tale of the wrong people falling in love. Despite the assured carnage and “sexy vampires galore,” the Bloody Shakespeare creative team asserts their production will do very little long-term moral or psychological damage to theatergoers 13 and up. As for the 12 and under set…stay home or wear garlic (and earplugs)!

At The Theater at the 14th Street Y (344 E. 14th St., at First Ave.). Thurs., 8/15 at 9:30pm, Fri., 8/16 at 3:45pm & Sun., 8/18 at 4:15pm.

FringeNYC THEME #2: GO, PLAYS IN THE SNOW Bring a sweater or dress in layers — because in addition to each Fringe venue’s promise of air conditioning, these three plays will chill you to the bone. Each offers a different spin on how cabin fever forces us to confront our true selves.

BLIZZARD ’67

Four carpooling businessmen lost in the horrific 1967 Chicago blizzard happen upon a stranded car, and then must choose between assisting a stranger or saving themselves. That plot reads like an ill-advised, high-concept Hollywood pitch (“You’re gonna love it, Cecil. It’s “Mad Men” meets “Glengarry Glen Ross” meets “Survivor!”). Not to worry. Rave reviews from the windy city production of “Blizzard ’67” indicate that playwright Jon Steinhagen has brought exceptional depth to this study of morality and alpha male dynamics. As it starts to really come down out there, ruthlessly competitive rivals Lanfield, Henkin,

Continued on page 15

1 2 August 14 - 27, 2013

Your 2013 guide to resources in d owntown M anhattan

Tune in, Turn up, Drop Beats

Gateway to Downtown Guide to community, educational, health and recreational resources also featuring interviews with over 20 Comedians from New York City.

Distributed in all NYC Community Media indoor locations below 34th Street in Manhattan, as well as select community resource locations.

Photo courtesy of Steez Promo

Dave Nada (left) created moombahton at a DC basement party by mixing reggaeton and Dutch house.

BY VONYX (soundcloud.com/mikawvawn)

MOOMBAHTON MASSIVE: NADASTROM & SABO

Being from DC you get a hefty dose of moombahton. High school parties are often catered to the music of high-pitched synth squeals and dudes howling along in snapbacks.

If you go out dancing, the best club in DC, U Street Music Hall, is owned by Tittsworth — a moombahton heavyweight. While moombahton may not be my favorite, it’s not often that city exports much besides politicians and dysfunctional sports teams. So big ups, DC.

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Nadastrom is a duo consisting of moombahton creator Dave Nada and his partner, Matt Nordstrom. Their scorchingly massive moombahton tracks are played all over festivals in the US and abroad. With releases on Diplo’s Mad Decent label, as well as Fool’s Gold, they’re the pioneers of moombahton’s commercial success. Well at home with the bangin’ sound system and just-the-music attitude of Output, this show should terrorize eardrums.

Thurs., Aug. 24. At Output (74 Wythe Ave., btw. N. 11th & 12th Sts., Brooklyn). Doors at 10. Tickets are $18. Buy online at ticketfly.com.

Info: outputclub.com.

August 14 - 27, 2013

A Story Emerges Through Careful Subtraction Edoga’s ‘Beyond’ is nuanced and complex FringeNYC review

BY SERGEI BURBANK We are forever tweaking the checklist that determines how parents provide spotless childhoods in order to create perfectly well-adjusted adults. While opinions continue to change on how to feed, dress and otherwise protect children against this dangerous world, a constant ingredient is a loving and trusting relationship between parent and offspring. Yet even this basic ingredient is more complex and elusive than it first appears.

“A Step Beyond the Rain,” written and performed by Miata Edoga, unfolds in the form of short vignettes as three women — a mother and her two daughters — reconcile themselves to one daughter’s severe illness and the reverberations that illness has across all of their lives. As we are brought deeper and deeper into each character’s inner world, a complex portrait emerges, and even seemingly straightforward questions have nuanced answers. Is a parent’s role to swaddle a child in unconditional love, or must a parent hold a child to strenuous — even painful — high standards in order to prepare them for an unforgiving world?

Edoga’s portrait of a childhood home steeped in fear of a mother who demands a strict adherence to work and achievement, and a demanding near-invalid sister broadens beyond an initial catalog of wrongs visited upon the healthy daughter. As she delves into the minds and souls of each member of this triangle, she bravely examines exactly why no one can be crueler than one’s own flesh and blood.

The script, quite astutely, never attempts a full reconciliation between these women, as Edoga’s purpose is far subtler: she broadens the frame of the hard-as-tacks mother’s portrayal just enough to allow a glimpse into the source of that resolve, complicating the portrait without fundamentally changing it (or its consequences). We may not agree with her actions, but we understand them far better. The audience shares a parallel journey to her daughter’s — not far enough to forget or forgive, but perhaps enough to move forward. This is a story that emerges through careful subtraction. Like the characters themselves, we learn more by what is not said than what is.

One-person shows often devolve into a showcase of a given performer’s dexterity, prioritizing virtuosity over story. But under the able direction of Ashley Crow, this production veers away from strong delineation between characters, and presents a largely consistent tone. The point here is not to

Photo by Adam Martin

Writer and performer Miata Edoga bravely examines why no one can be crueler than one’s own flesh and blood.

exhibit Edoga’s versatility as a performer, but rather to examine the tension between three powerfully driven women. A positive consequence is the lack of competition between the text and performer. The sparse set, sound design and performance all work towards a shared goal to serve the text. This approach does have its shortcomings, as the plot unfolds without much emotional differentiation. For fraught scenes of despair in a hospital, this works.

It is less successful for moments which are described as being experienced with near giddiness, but are communicated with a sense of barely suppressed rage.

This restraint extends to all aspects of the overall production design. David Forest’s musical compositions help maintain a sense of continuity as the short scenes follow one upon the other, but otherwise sound is used only selectively (albeit effectively) to convey a sense of place. We are otherwise closely tied to this room and this woman as she struggles with her pain, her loss, and her hopes.

At The Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre (115 MacDougal St., 3rd floor, btw. W. Third & Bleecker Sts.). Fri., 8/16 at 6pm, Wed., 8/21 at 3:45pm & Sat., 8/24 at 4:15pm. Tickets: $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Call 866-468-7619 or visit fringenyc.org. Also visit astepbeyondtherain.com. Note: This review first appeared on nytheatre.com (founded by Martin Denton, this paper’s Downtown theatre columnist).

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1 4 August 14 - 27, 2013

Bullies, Body Issues and Black Pride FringeHIGH speaks to teens, and lets them talk back TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA: A SWASHBUCKLING COMEDY

Queens-based director and choreographer Michael Hagins took the text from one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, filled in some missing plot holes and then added swordfights, crazy chase scenes and random violence — while, he says, managing to keep the integrity of the language and the theme of love having the power to conquer all.

Thurs., Aug. 22 at 7pm and Sat., Aug. 24 at 2:15pm (followed by a Talk-Back).

At CSV Flamboyan (107 Suffolk St., btw.

Rivington & Delancey Sts.).

FREE DESIREE Reckoning…and reconciliation? Lee J. Kaplan’s “Bully” calls his tormenters into the ring.

BY SCOTT STIFFLER With back to school season upon us, it’s as good a time as any for high school students to lay off those “Walking Dead” marathons and start acclimating themselves to activities more suited for brain stimulation than digestion. But cerebral doesn’t have to be boring — and it certainly doesn’t have to take place within the confines a TV set’s two-dimensional borders. As luck would have it, North America’s largest multi-arts festival offers the chance to get out of the house and broaden one’s horizons without having to give up air conditioning.

FringeHIGH is a collection of boundary-stretching plays (drawn from the general roster of FringeNYC shows) that will resonate with young adults. Topics include confronting school violence, claiming your own identity, challenging sexual labels and stereotypes and negotiating the twists and turns of love.

One performance of each FringeHIGH show will have a post-performance TalkBack — your chance to discuss the show with members of the cast or creative team. Some of the Talk-Back opportunities have already happened by now, but we’ve noted those occurring after this paper’s run date.

Tickets ($15 in advance, $18 at the door) can be purchased online (fringenyc. com), by phone (866-468-7619) or in person at FringeCENTRAL (27 Second Ave., btw. First & Second Sts., open 12-8pm daily). Check out fringenyc.org for more information on all 185 FringeNYC shows.

The festival runs through Aug. 25.

BULLY

Fresh from its run at the Capital Fringe Festival in DC, Lee J. Kaplan’s multi-

Photo by Chris Gill

Amontaine Aurore navigates the 1970s, in “Free Desiree.”

A slammin’ Seattle funk soundtrack accompanies the exploits of Desiree and Shauna — two rebellious 1970s sisters growing up in a blue collar suburb, searching for their identities amidst cultural revolution. That means navigating Black pride, the Funky Chicken and a personal challenge. Desiree is trying to make the move from geek-girl to revolutionary.

Meanwhile, Shauna is tempted to split from life as a professional cheerleader when Hollywood comes calling. Will Shauna become Blaxploitation star Pam Grier’s successor, and will Desiree get it together and resolve the crisis at her high school?

Thurs., 8/15 at 7:45pm, Sun., 8/18 at 9:15pm, Thurs., 8/22 at 3pm & Sat., 8/24 at 7:15pm. At Jimmy’s No. 43 (43 E. Seventh St., btw. Second & Third Aves.). For more info, visit tenauras.com.

KINEMATIK

Photo by Dixie Sheridan

KINEMATIC Dance Theater contemplates perfect body aesthetics — and insects.

character solo show takes its inspiration from his sixth-grade journal entries — and takes the notion of confronting your tormenters to a highly theatrical, appropriately metaphorical, extreme. In an effort to rise above the damage inflicted by those who subjected him to unrelenting attacks, Kaplan calls his past and presentday bullies into the boxing ring. Less a revenge fantasy than a journey to peace

of mind and empowerment, “Bully” revisits the pivotal moments, and people, in Kaplan’s life — allowing him to find out what it takes to grow up and deal with the demons of the past.

Wed., Aug. 14 at 6pm (followed by a Talk-Back), Fri., Aug. 16 at 2:30pm, Sun., Aug. 18 at 1:45pm. At The Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre (115 MacDougal St., btw. W. Third & Bleecker Sts.).

Choreographed by Svea Schneider, this two-part performance from KINEMATIK Dance Theater begins with a comedic and surreal comment on the representation of women in popular culture. “Perfect Prototype” explores our media-saturated society’s obsession with perfect body aesthetics, celebrity worship and plastic surgery. Six “fierce female” dancers combine their own limbs with those of display mannequins, to challenges existing notions about the fragmentation of beauty. The second dance piece, “Insekta,” was created in collaboration with technology artist Cheng-I-Wang. It fuses the movement vocabulary of breakdance, house and modern dance with motion detection projections in order to explore the bustling world of beetles, spiders, ants and fireflies.

Sat., 8/17 at noon, Sat., 8/24 at 9:30pm & Sun., 8/25 at 1:45pm (followed by a Talk-Back). At The Theater at the 14th Street Y (344 E. 14th St., at First Ave.). Visit kinematikdance.com.

August 14 - 27, 2013

15

FringeNYC: 17 days, 18 venues, 185 shows Continued from page 11 Emery and Bell head to the burbs instead of riding out the storm in a company-sponsored hotel room. They should have stayed put.

Soon stranded by whiteout conditions, the close quarters — plus simmering tension from a revelation that shakes up the pecking order — sets in motion a series of characterdefining actions whose effects will linger long after the spring thaw.

At Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios (440 Lafayette St., third floor, btw. Astor Place & E. Fourth St.). Thurs., 8/15 at 8:30pm, Sat., 8/17 at 2:30pm, Tues., 8/20 at 8:45pm & Sat., 8/24 at 4:15pm.

TRACK TWELVE

Brooklyn’s own Emily Comisar, who edits the New York Burger Club blog and co-created the alternately droll and outrageous therapy parody web series “Group,” came up with the idea for her latest play while waiting out the 2009 blizzard inside Washington D.C.’s Union Station. It was either stare at the walls or brainstorm — and by the time she returned to New York, the basics of “Track Twelve” were in the percolator. Stranded in Penn Station during a storm that has shut down the railways, the holding pattern both stresses and liberates four travelers. Old relationships fold, new ones blossom and “emotional chaos ensues.” Above all, Comisar says, the play “is about not being able to connect when connection is what we need the most.”

At Teatro Circulo (64 E. Fourth St., btw.

Bowery & Second Ave.). Thurs., 8/15 at 8:45pm, Sun., 8/18 at 8:45pm, Wed., 8/21 at 5pm & Fri., 8/23 at 2pm.

THE DRIFTS LIVE: THE NOVEL ONSTAGE

Since 1996, author and actor Thom Vernon has made his home in Toronto, Canada. He won’t come in from the cold until his country of origin (the good old USA) allows him to sponsor his same-sex partner for immigration. Although federal policy continues to freeze him out, the Chicago-trained actor and “queer refugee” does make occasional forays across the border. This stage adaptation of his 2010 debut novel comes to NYC after a run in the 2012 Hollywood Fringe. The one-hour solo show takes place in a small town and, says Vernon, “tackles the consequences of gender and the meanings applied to bodies.” Outside, the snow falls hard — and inside, 46-year-old Julie finds herself with child and without the support of husband Charlie, whose affair with best friend Wilson is on the wane (because Wilson has fallen for trans dad, Dol). All these characters, and a calf, “fight their sex in a mean Arkansas blizzard.” It’s the pulp you want from Southern Gothic, without the constant page turning.

At The White Box at 440 Studios (440 Lafayette St., 3rd Floor, btw. Astor Place & E. Fourth St.). Thurs., 8/15 at 8:30pm, Sat., 8/17 at 7:15pm, Wed., 8/21 at 7pm & Thurs., 8/22 at 5pm.

Photo by Ben Johnson

Mad men in survivor mode: Andrew David Rabensteine, Graham Halstead, John Pieza and William Franke navigate Chicago’s “Blizzard '67.”

All around Downtown:

FringeNYC venues VENUES

Venue #1 Teatro SEA 107 Suffolk St., btw. Rivington & Delancey Sts. Venue #2 CSV Flamboyan 107 Suffolk St., btw. Rivington & Delancey Sts. Venue #3 CSV Kabayitos 107 Suffolk St., btw. Rivington & Delancey Sts. Venue #4 Teatro LATEA 107 Suffolk St., btw. Rivington & Delancey Sts. Venue #5 The Celebration Of Whimsy 21 Clinton St., btw. Houston & Stanton Sts. Venue #6 Connelly Theater 220 E. Fourth St., btw. Aves. A & B Venue #7 Theatre 80 80 St. Marks Place, btw. First & Second Aves.

Venue #8 The Theater at the 14th Street Y 344 E. 14th St., at First Ave. Venue #9 Jimmy’s No. 43 43 E. Seventh St., btw. Second & Third Aves.

Venue #10 The Kraine Theater 85 E. Fourth St., btw. Bowery & Second Ave. Venue #11 Teatro Circulo 64 E. Fourth St., btw. Bowery & Second Ave.

Venue #12 The Ellen Stewart Theatre at La MaMa 66-68 E. Fourth St., btw. Bowery & Second Ave. Venue #13 SubCulture 45 Bleecker St., downstairs, btw. Bleecker & Lafayette Sts. Venue #14 The Lynn Redgrave Theater 45 Bleecker St., at Lafayette St. Venue #15 The White Box at 440 Studios 440 Lafayette St, 3rd Floor, btw. Astor Place & E. Fourth St. Venue #16 Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios 440 Lafayette St., 3rd floor, btw. Astor Place & E. Fourth St. Venue #17 The Players Theatre 115 MacDougal St., btw. W. Third & Bleecker Sts. Venue #18 The Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre 115 MacDougal St., 3rd floor, btw. W. Third & Bleecker Sts. FringeAl FRESCO First St. Green Cultural Park, at 33 E. First St., corner of Houston St. & Second Ave. FringeCENTRAL 27 Second Ave., btw. First & Second Sts., open 12-8pm daily

TICKETS

$15 in advance, $18 at the door Visit fringenyc.org, call 866-468-7619

1 6 August 14 - 27, 2013

August 14 - 27, 2013

Dear Aunt Chelsea:

Your Advice Please: My girlfriend/wife/ boss is turning 50, so it’s a big deal/decade.

But she doesn’t want a party. I even offered to hire someone to organize a “Very Senior Prom” with 20-200 of her closest friends, but she declined, as she doesn’t want to be the center of attention. She also doesn’t want jewelry or to travel.

She really wants a new puppy — but with a grown dog already crowding our small apartment, I need to draw the line at adopting more “children” at our advanced age. Spa days often go unused. Spending money often embarrasses her.

What suggestions might you offer? I really want to pull out all of the stops. What do 50-year-old women really want — beyond 35-year-old firemen that look like George Clooney? Your thoughts?

sion. This was the original sin that forced you to seek out Aunt Chelsea’s wise council. For future reference, any such grand gestures are to be cloaked in secrecy, so the big reveal is an integral part of the gift (more on that in just a bit).

No wonder your beau, who sounds like a delightful (albeit too-modest) lady, declined your offer of a massive shindig. She simply doesn’t want to spend her waning days as a 49-year-old worrying about being the gracious guest of her own party. What will I wear? What will I say?

Will I remember how to do The Electric Slide?

These are questions no sane person needs to contemplate when they’re dreading the delivery of that first AARP membership offer.

So now that we’ve established there will be no party, you simply must throw her a party.

Anyone who’s made it to 50 and has 20 (let alone 200) friends, did not get to that admirable plateau by being a Grinch. So I’m betting she’ll forget about her adversity to attention once she’s showered with wacky “I’m 50”-themed presents, sincere adulation and a 25-year-old fireman stripper who makes Magic Mike look like the Buddy Ebsen (there’s a pop culture reference for the senior set…as for my younger readers, Google him!).

Now here’s a little insurance, should she have any lingering issues once you spring that big “I don’t want a big party” party on her. When the last guest has been sent into the night and you whisk your aging Mrs. back home, she’s to be greeted by a precious, floppy, frisky puppy along with 50 “good for one” fill-in-the-blank coupons (in your handwriting and redeemable within one year, at her discretion).

Whether it’s a request to walk puppy for his nightly poo, rub her feet or do that thing she likes under the old yak skin that you don’t particularly care for, you’re to take a single coupon from her stack, man up and accomplish the task with zest. There is simply no greater gift than knowing you have a life partner who’ll move heaven and earth simply because the thought of making you happy supersedes their own predilections and agenda. I suspect you fall into that category, in which case everything I’ve asked you to do really won’t be too much of a burden.

Now start sending out invitations and surreptitiously puppy-proofing your apartment!

What she really wants is what every woman wants, what every person wants: to feel loved, appreciated and special. Yes, Mr. “P,” it’s actually that simple. So put on your bifocals, because we’re about to read between the lines of your letter and come up with a scenario for the halfcentury mark celebration she deserves.

First of all, that “Very Senior Prom” is a pip of an idea…which makes me wonder how somebody so creative could execute the bonehead maneuver of asking the birthday girl for permis-

Aries Uneasy dreams will haunt you surrounding that primary litmus test issue you keep mouthing off about. Do question your stubborn resolve…but don’t forget to vote on September 10!

Taurus A potential suitor, or a well-connected new business

contact, finds your mispronunciation of a widely used verb both endearing and provocative.

Gemini Omens, winning lottery numbers and killer omelet options

are found in the menu of the next diner you spy. Stop what you’re doing and eat there!

Cancer Learn to avoid life’s little sand traps by observing how a tizzy-prone Sagittarian rises to the occasion while navigating three vexing problems over the next two weeks.

Leo Answer the siren call of a service advertised on a bus stop ad, seen when diverting your gaze from the direction of a sudden, strong breeze.

Virgo Compliments and confidence flow from an uncharacteristic choice made while shopping for a new fall wardrobe.

Libra A financial venture made this summer puts you at risk for a tense fall and a winter of discontent. Proceed with caution!

Scorpio You alone have the power to talk down that Gemini co-worker from a frothy rage to a state of “I’m buying pizza for the whole office” bliss. Do it!

Sagittarius Trust your gut, if tempted to insert foot into mouth when challenged by a relative you can no longer stomach.

Capricorn An unusually frosty Leo gives your spirits a muchneeded boost, by humming a favorite song they once heard you swoon over. Voices carry, memories linger and kind gestures sometimes flow from unlikely sources.

Perplexed

Dear Perplexed:

c o s r H o o pe s

Do you have a personal problem at work, the gym, the bar or the corner coffee shop?

Is there a domestic dispute that needs the sage counsel of an uninvolved third party?

Then Ask Aunt Chelsea! Contact her via askauntchelsea@chelseanow.com, and feel free to end your pensive missive with a clever, anonymous moniker (aka “Troubled on 23rd Street,” or “Ferklempt in the Fashion District”).

Aquarius Like a CitiBike docking station, good timing will determine whether next week’s social calendar is empty or filled to capacity. Adapt accordingly!

Pisces The gradual erosion of strict adherence to a highly touted New Year’s resolution will earn you public scorn this week, from a Capricorn you hold in high regard. Next December 31, only open your mouth for champagne!

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1 8 August 14 - 27, 2013

Google’s Geek Street Fair Unites Families with Techies

BY MICHAEL VAUGHAN This was a fair that revered the geek.

As a friendly Chelsea neighbor, Google welcomed residents, families and friends to a community party that bustled with technology, science and the brain trusts of tomorrow.

Offering a bite-sized glimpse into all things tech, the first annual Geek Street Fair was held at 14th Street Park on July 31.

Under the summer sunshine, kids and their families studied, experimented and played with gadgets that New York City’s tech community has been developing.

At the gate (where 15th Street meets 10th), I was welcomed by a girl wearing a bright white Google T-shirt who smiled and said, “Hi! I’m Suyeon!” She set the tone.

Everyone who works for Google is startlingly friendly.

Beyond Suyeon, a throng of children were running about, into and around the many white tents set up by the Whitney Museum, the Museum of Mathematics, the New York Hall of Science, Liberty Science Center, Maker Camp and Google’s own Chrome Experiments.

Organized in part by New York’s Department of Youth and Community Development, the main purpose of the event was to advocate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to children that are underexposed to the sciences. Google wanted to show that not only were science and technology neat things to understand, but more-

Photo by Michael Vaughan

Speed cubers chanted complex number systems as they raced to square perfection.

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over, that being a geek was a blast.

For the first stop, I peeked into the Whitney Museum’s booth, which featured a slew of wire that you could shape into whatever abstract design you pleased. Numerous kids were armed with these cute little 45 volt bracelets.

As I blazed a trail around the circle, I came upon Google’s Chrome Experiments tent. It featured two separate games you could access via your Google Chrome browser (or any browser for that matter). One of them was “Racer” — an array of screens on which tiny digital cars raced around a neon track, battling toward the finish line. It was set up in such a way that your screen only had a portion of the track, whereas your connected neighbor’s screens had the rest.

It was mighty hard to follow. After several minutes of closely studying a loading screen and listening to kids pelt the Googlers with their impatience, I was informed that Racer was an “experiment.”

Elsewhere in the tent, a massive LCD screen hosted a very realistic looking skeeball game. The interface allowed you to use a smartphone to hurl the ball at the screen. By going to the same website on your phone and your laptop, you could sync the two and start this pseudo-Wii game.

On the way towards the last few stations, an impenetrable whirring wall of sound erupted from a guitar amplifier. It was an experimental piece in which washers were clanged against a very long bolt. Contact microphones amplified the vibrations, which shot the cacophony into your eardrums. The teens behind the idea smiled innocently as

they blasted a howitzer of noise at passersby.

I had to hustle through the war zone.

My last stop, Maker Camp, was a seriously neat idea. Google has flipped the concept of summer camp into the digital realm. The camp is a Google Plus page, and the campers are kids and families who’ve liked the page.

It is an online democratization of the camp experience.

Campers have access to daily videos that walk them through the experiments they can do with mostly household items. If they like, they can participate in a hangout with a “camp counselor” and discuss how their project is going via a Google Plus group video chat where you can link with up to 30 people at one time.

Maker Camp has celebrities who’ve taught mini-lessons. The band OK Go came to Google’s studios to show campers how to build an electronic piano using bananas and wire. Imogen Heap has also led young makers through a tutorial. With over one million followers on Google Plus, the project has been immensely successful.

With Maker Camp as a recent example of their measurable success, Google is turning the spotlight on next generation’s tech gurus.

The Geek Street Fair showed children that the gadgets you use every day have a story (and a team) behind them. Googlers and techies of all kinds were coming out from behind their code, equations and robots to mingle with the little ones and inspire them to be the Googlers of tomorrow. As this was the first time Google has hosted this annual event, it seems to be only the beginning of their investment in New York’s youth.

August 14 - 27, 2013

19

CB4 Backs DOT Crackdown on Phantom Bus Stops Continued from page 5 because the financial impact is larger.” The board eventually voted to pass the letter of support, with clarifications about outside promoters.

Two items addressed with exterior alterations in residential buildings, and a final BLP issue dealt with Traffic Bar at 701 Ninth Avenue, asking the SLA not to renew their liquor license due to noise issues, but noting that “they probably will anyway.”

HOUSING DOWNGRADES ‘REVOLTING’

Item 29 of the agenda addressed a situation dealing with new apartments being built at 546 West 44th Street. According to Restuccia, the developers created some extra units, and agreed to hold them at 80/20 housing. But when the developers suggested installing less opulent floors, counters and appliances in these lowincome affordable apartments, CB4 said “No dice.”

“They met us halfway, but we wanted the countertops and floors to be the same in all units,” said Restuccia. “Our answer was no, it has to be the same in all.”

Restuccia said that they would vote “Denial, unless…” in the matter of a letter of support to Housing Preservation and

Development regarding the building.

“The issue is revolting, and I am disgusted by it,” said Noland. Board member Pamela Wolff said that she was thrilled at the eloquence other board members had used in making this point clear to developers.

LAND USE A TOP PRIORITY IN SPECIAL WEST CHELSEA DISTRICT

Well into its second hour, the meeting reached a point of contention over Item 31, a letter of support to Cultivate HKNY over their help in refurbishing a local park.

Board member Martin Treat was insulted when Restuccia said that, contrary to a comment in the public hearing session, the park was not designated by Audubon. After some disagreement about the wording of the letter, it was sent back to committee for changes.

Another bone of contention arose over Item 39, a letter to the Department of City Planning (DCP) requesting a study to include more land in the Special West Chelsea District. They request that the city include all streets from 10th Avenue between 15th and 30th Streets, rather than just the two and a half blocks around Chelsea Market.

“When we don’t have a special district, we get piecemeal,” said Noland. “We have been pushing since 2005 to include these

areas.”

The DCP agreed to add the south side of 15th Street, saying the rest could wait. The board voted to pass a letter reiterating their recommendations to expand the Special District with the zoning intact, saying that when it was time to rezone, they would then consider the area within the context of the district.

“City Planning hates it, and we love it.

Perhaps with the help of Speaker Quinn — or maybe ‘Mayor Quinn,’ — we may get it,” he said.

James Wallace suggested adding a map for clarification, and Lee Compton warned against creating “donut holes” to the north and south by not keeping the area designated as a light manufacturing district.

“The end of the Bloomberg era means we don’t have to give into higher FARs [Floor Area Ratios],” said Jay Marcus. “I hate the idea of saying that because this is what developers want, it is okay to raise the FAR or change manufacturing to commercial/residential. We, as CB4, need to take a harder stance, and keep it a manufacturing district, or change it from M1 to M24, to allow no hotels.”

NO MORE ILLEGAL BUS STOPS

An issue at the end of the meeting dealt with illegal bus stops in the area. Item 42 sought for ratification of a letter to the DOT over Intercity Bus Stops in CB4. It

included a review on stops between 34th and 42nd Street, including what Daglian called “phantom stops.” According to board members, the DOT will begin enforcement of this law.

The meeting ended with the introduction of two new business items. One dealt with a letter recommending Advocacy New Yorkers for Parks, a 100-year-old parks advocacy group. After some discussion, board members decided it was not appropriate for CB4 to send their recommendation for the group to New York City mayoral candidates, noting that they typically worked with elected officials only.

A final proposal was also denied, regarding signing on, in a show of support with CB5, over non-compliant signage on Madison Square Garden.

“In the light of our original letter [about light issues] and the longevity of the lease in perpetuity, I’m hesitant,” said Compton.

“Madison Square Garden is bathed in the light of signs, and this is a minor enforcement issue. I prefer not to do this.” CB4 Chair Corey Johnson withdrew the proposal, and the meeting was called to a close.

Normally held on the first Wednesday of the month, CB4’s next full board meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 3 (to account for the Labor Day weekend and a Jewish holiday). For more information, visit nyc.gov/mcb4‎.

2 0 August 14 - 27, 2013

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DOB Approves ‘Occasional’ Residential Film Shoots Continued from page 3 President Bill Borock has declared that he’s extremely unhappy with the reactions of both agencies, saying that no steps have been taken in that direction.

“The responses have been vague, unconvincing and unacceptable in light of the continuing negative impact on the quality of life [on West 21st Street],” said Borock.

And there’s a reason why DOB hasn’t taken action to investigate or shut down residential film and photo shoots on that block — the agency says the activity isn’t illegal.

DOB has officially ruled that film and photo shoots are permitted in residences as an accessory use to an apartment’s primary residential use, according to a department spokesperson.

Residents with complaints about street or sidewalk disruptions caused by shoots are instructed by DOB to call 311 — although this is a form of recourse that many residents claim is not effective.

“In New York City, it is customary to have occasional/incidental commercial film/photography shoots inside residences,” said DOB spokesperson Kelly Magee. “Occasional commercial

film/photography shoots are allowed in residences as ancillary or incidental to the principal residential use.”

After Borock made inquiries into what is actually meant by occasional and incidental, he is challenging the language of the DOB ruling, claiming that it presents an unclear picture of what is or isn’t allowed.

“We never got an answer to as to what number is reasonable and how such a number is determined, and the recent surge of film shoots on the block were certainly not ‘occasional,’ ” Borock said, while pointing that DOB declined to send a representative after being invited to attend a recent CCBA meeting.

Meanwhile, the MOFTB further distanced itself from the West 21st Street situation by once again pointing out that it only deals with permits for film or photo shoots on city streets or city-owned property, while declining to comment specifically on any shoots that may have taken place with 441 West 21st Street. “When a production uses a private location, the arrangement is a private negotiation that takes place between the owners and the production,” said an MOFTB spokesperson.

“Productions may request a permit to film on the sidewalk outside a private location or request parking on the street

as they film inside a private location, but the filming of the interior of a private location is not permitted [issued a permit] by our office.”

The agency spokesperson added that MOFTB “strives to keep film and television productions running smoothly” for the productions and the local community, and “routinely evaluates” the frequency and size of production activity within neighborhoods — again, declining to comment specifically on West 21st Street. MOFTB also instructs residents with complaints to call 311.

West 21st Street residents — or, at least, those who are against film and photo shoots — were further dismayed earlier this month when they learned that, on the evening of August 7, the major fashion company Yves Saint Laurent would be having a house party right on their block.

But the fashion executives and associates weren’t coming to pay their respects to Betsy Morgan and her family.

Instead they held court at 425 West 21st Street — a location that some neighbors also claim has played a part in disrupting community life and violating the law by serving as a rented space for other high-profile shoots.

CCBA’s aforementioned May 2012 report alleged that 22 days of film and

photo shoots had taken place at 425 West 21st Street in 2010 and 2011.

The anti-shoot residents learned about the Yves Saint Laurent bash from police officer Michael Petrillo, who works in community affairs at the NYPD’s 10th Precinct, after he reached out several days before the party to keep them informed.

Officer Petrillo told this newspaper that he first heard about the party when he received a call from the Mayor’s Office of Street Activity, which was seeking a recommendation regarding a request for a parking permit on West 21st Street for the evening of August 7.

Apparently, Yves Saint Laurent representatives had sought to secure parking space for multiple limousines on the block, which would drop off and pick up company executives and guests.

“We made the recommendation that it wasn’t feasible to permit that much space for limo parking,” said Petrillo, adding that it is the Mayor’s Office, and not the police precinct, that makes the final call on permits of this nature.

The police recommendation was partially heeded by the Mayor’s Office.

A permit was eventually granted for space to park a single town car, Petrillo noted, rather than the multiple limos that had originally been requested.

LPC to Evaluate Construction Continued from page 7 Sadok claimed that the situation hinged on “a simple understanding and reading of the Landmarks Law,” and that Mitzner and his client “must go to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for approval.” Because the permits were revoked before the district was given landmark status, she asserted, Mamounas was subject to the Landmarks Law, and the LPC approval that goes with it.

Judge Rackower listened intently to both factions, and challenged them whenever necessary. She made sure Mitzner’s timeline and claims fully checked out when his details started sounding muddy. She also grilled Sadok about the apparent precedent established by the BSA in Mitzner’s East Sixth Street case, and why the Hopper-Gibbons house case was different (which they claimed the landmark status of the property altered the situation presented in the case).

In the end, Rackower asserted that the actions of the BSA were “not arbitrary,” and that Mamounas and Mitzner “need to address landmark

status.” She found that Mamounas did not have valid permits — and in order to continue construction, he would need to go through the LPC first.

This decision is significant, because with the Hopper-Gibbons house’s landmark status, it is very unlikely that the LPC will grant Mamounas permission to continue to build in the manner which he has been. It is also very likely that the LPC would order the owner to completely remove the fifth floor from the building in order to restore the house to the way it looked (and functioned) during its historically significant period — the ultimate goal of the Friends of the Hopper-Gibbons house. With the roofline re-established, the public could once again see the way the Gibbons made their daring escape.

Though Mitzner is expected to appeal Rackower’s ruling, Luskin is enjoying the win for now. “It’s a great victory for a landmarked building of great importance to the history of this city,” she said, continuing, “It was delightfully unexpected that it happened so fast. I am relishing the surprisingly swift rendering of justice that we witnessed!”

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BP Debate Mantra: Jobs, Housing, Development NYU EXPANSION

Continued from page 6 ing people in this borough with a special emphasis on tenants and seniors.”

Lappin mentioned using the 197-A process to employ “bottom-up planning” to at things 10-15 years down the road to build necessary infrastructure to keep up with development.

Former Community Board 1 chairperson Julie Menin continued to come back to her “comprehensive, boroughwide master plan” throughout the debate as a panacea for Manhattan’s troubles, as it would mandate specific infrastructure and funding contributions for all new development, including schools and affordable housing.

“I am running for borough president because I believe we need to completely reform our land use review process,” Menin said in her opening statement, sparking first xspontaneous 2.25”thewide 4” high applause at the session.

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The most lively audience participation cropped up around the topic of NYU expansion and the Council’s 2012 vote to approve it during a question that encompassed the candidates’ views on both NYU and the fast-tracked proposal to develop skyscrapers in Midtown East.

The debate, organized by Citizen’s Union, a government watchdog group, and NYC Community Media, the parent company of Chelsea Now, took place at NYU’s Center for Spiritual Life in Greenwich Village. “We’re sitting in a neighborhood where the City Council and the Mayor approved rezoning,” said Citizen’s Union’s Dick Dadey, who cochaired the debate with Paul Schindler, the Editor-in-Chief of our sister publication, Gay City News.

The question prompted a round of finger-pointing as the City Council members attempted distance themselves 2.25”to wide x 4” high from the final deal. Brewer reminded the assembly

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that everyone on the council but Charles Barron voted for the expansion in the end and then went on to say she did not agree with the terms set and would behave differently if she became borough president.

“And you should know it’s not an open and transparent process because negotiations don’t take place in public, they happen in private...” said Jackson, who then squarely pointed his finger at fellow councilmember Margaret Chin, who acted as the Council’s negotiator for the NYU Proposal.

Lappin also turned the blame on Chin, saying, “I was not the prime negotiator. I think I would have done a better job; I would’ve handled it differently, I would have worked with the local elected officials, for example. But in the end, I voted as the current borough president suggested, I voted in favor of the plan.”

Menin spoke about lobbying NYU to expand into Tower 5 of the World Trade Center site, though the development would not have replaced the massive Bleecker Street tower. She also used the expansion as an example of why the landuse process needs to be reformed with her master plan.

QUESTIONING EACH OTHER

Candidates got to crank up the pressure another notch when they were given the opportunity to ask one question of a randomly selected opponent.

Jackson was asked by Menin about the City Council’s vote to overturn term limits giving both himself and Mayor Bloomberg eligibility for a third term despite voter referendums that showed a majority against the amendment.

But Jackson was quick to point out that in Manhattan, unlike the rest of the city, the initial vote showed that more people were in favor of the extension. He also cited the lack of voter turnout saying, “I didn’t cut the deal. The people of New York voted, 1.5 million voted, out of 4 million. Those people that did not vote gave Mayor Bloomberg another term, not me.”

Menin had the tables turned on her when Lappin asked why she “chose to

become a Republican during George W. Bush’s term.”

Menin, who changed political parties between 2001 and 2003, said that after 9/11, “I would do whatever I could to work for the community and make sure the community had a voice at the table,” adding that at the time, she was working closely with the Republican State administration. She said she has always been a progressive, however.

Jackson was more lenient, perhaps unintentionally, when he asked Brewer about her position on small businesses, a question which she said she “loved” because of legislation passed in her Upper West Side Council district that restricts the store-front size of incoming banks in an effort to preserve space for mom-andpop shops.

Brewer passed on the love to Lappin, her seatmate in the City Council and also apparently her gossip buddy, who was simply asked to elaborate on her experience.

Lappin used it as an opportunity to talk about 15 years of experience in city government, the first half as a staff member of former Council Speaker Gifford Miller.

“I made a decision when I graduated college, that making money was not as important as making a difference” Lappin said.

Menin was the only one to advocate “absolutely” for a revision of the charters of the borough president and community boards. Jackson and Lappin both allowed that a charter revision commission was a good idea, though Jackson said, “But the bottom line is this is what we have,” Jackson said, “You have to follow the law, and within a certain time, you have to act.”

Brewer noted that there have been many such commissions under Mayor Bloomberg, which yielded few results.

Any change to the powers of the borough presidents will also likely be dependent on who is elected into the mayoral office alongside them.

“The charter change must include the way the City Council, the community boards, and the borough president and the mayor all work together,” she said.

August 14 - 27, 2013

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