Chelsea Now, Week of October 18, 2012 by Schneps Media

Halloween Booyah! p. 14

VOLUME 5, NUMBER 04

THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

OCTOBER 17 - 30, 2012

Will Spectra pipeline pack radon? BY EILEEN STUKANE There are many issues to debate concerning the natural gas that is planned for arrival through the Spectra Energy Pipeline — currently under construction on the Gansevoort Peninsula at the edge of the Meatpacking District. A frightening one is whether the gas will be bringing cancer-causing radon to our kitchen stoves and heating systems. A scientific firestorm of sorts was set off by a January 2012 report from Marvin Resnikoff Ph.D., a highly credentialed physicist and senior associate of Radioactive Waste Management

Photo by Daniel “Dred” Marques, courtesy of Hotmop Films & POP International Galleries.

Street graffiti done right: UR New York’s Mike Baca (left) and Fernando Romero unveil a mural they created in collaboration with children from the summer program at Hudson Guild and resident artists at POP International Galleries. On September 21, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to officially introduce the work — which can be seen on the community center’s outdoor wall (441 West 26th Street). For more info, visit hudsonguild.org.

Speedy but meaty: CB4 tackles multiple topics in record time BY BONNIE ROSENSTOCK This month’s installment of the Community Board 4 (CB4) full board meeting was a speedy — but meaty — affair. Held at 6:30pm on Wednesday, October 3 (at Fulton Center Auditorium, 119 Ninth Avenue), CB4 managed to listen, discuss and vote on a wide range of matters in just under two hours. “Be mindful of our cut-off time tonight,” stressed chair Corey Johnson, who promised that the

meeting would end in time for people to get home for the presidential debate. Christine Berthet, first vice chair, who conducted the Public Session, asked that people who signed up to speak (for twominute slots) exercise discretion. “If someone else speaks on the same subject,” she said, “don’t repeat, just say ‘I agree,’ unless you feel it’s really important.” Johnson closed the public hearing on the Crunch Fitness applica-

tion to the Board of Standard and Appeals (BSA) for a special permit for a physical culture establishment at 220 West 19th Street — after asking if anyone in attendance wanted to speak about it. Later, as Item 10, the board voted in favor of the plans for the threefloor, 15,500-square-foot facility. The Chelsea Preservation and Planning Committee’s letter to the

Associates. He was concerned that in the Department of Environmental Conservation’s early report on issues concerning natural gas hydraulically fractured, aka “hydrofracked,” from the Marcellus Shale, radon was only addressed, as he said, “in one sentence out of 1,400 pages.” He therefore undertook his own independent studies. A tasteless, odorless, colorless gas, radon is created naturally during the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium and radium, minerals that are highly present in Marcellus Shale. Radon inha-

Continued on page 3

Community Meeting honorees work the bully pulpit BY SCOTT STIFFLER It was a case of last things first on the tenth day of October — when the 300 West Block Association hosted the Annual Chelsea Community Meeting. “If you see any flyers for the meeting on your way home,” implored emcee Andra Gabrielle, “rip them down…

because we like to be tidy.” The fact that Gabrielle’s bid for aesthetic vigilance came as she stood in front of a “Changing Chelsea” slideshow depicting flyers for community events and beautification projects dating back to 1959 wasn’t

Continued on page 7

EDITORIAL, LETTERS PAGE 8

TIME TO GET ILL PAGE 27

Continued on page 4

October 17 - 30, 2012

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Tired of staring at art in a gallery or museum only to fruitlessly ponder what its creator was thinking? Go straight to the source, by taking a free self-guided tour of West Chelsea art studios. This year’s installment of the “High Line Open Studios” event doesn’t promise definitive answers to your questions about the meaning of a particular piece…but it does afford the rare opportunity to interact with artists in the very space where their work is created. What began in 2000 as a grassroots movement by a group of four artists housed in the West Chelsea Arts Building has evolved into an annual event whose 2012 installment will see more than 70 artists open their studios up to

the public. In addition to gaining insight into the creative process, art lovers, collectors, dealers and visitors who fall for a particular piece will have the ability to purchase that work before it makes its way to a gallery wall. The free self-guided tour takes place daily, 12-6pm, from Fri., Oct. 19 through Sun., Oct. 21. At the West Chelsea Arts Building (508-526 W. 26th St., btw. 10th & 11th Aves.). A map listing 10 West Chelsea arts district buildings housing the participating studios will be provided. To preview the tour, visit highopenstudios.org.

—Scott Stiffler

October 17 - 30, 2012

Activists question pipeline's impact on Gansevoort Peninsula Continued from page 1 lation is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, the second leading cause among smokers, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon causes 21,000 deaths from lung cancer a year. According to Dr. Resnikoff’s report, the fast transport of radon-containing natural gas hydrofracked from Marcellus Shale, could lead to an increase in lung cancer deaths from 1,182 to 30,448. While Governor Cuomo has delayed his decision on whether to expand hydrofracking of the Marcellus Shale in Upstate New York, activists warn that radon levels in the natural gas coming to the West Village still need attention. Cuomo has required a study on the impact hydrofracking would have on public health Upstate at the drilling locations. But activists say that New York City should be aware of radon, too. Resnikoff, who based his calculations on his analyses of a 1981 U.S. Geological Survey study and gamma ray logs, reported that hydrofracked Marcellus Shale gas could contain radon concentrations 70 times above average when compared to hydrofracked gas from other areas. To back up for a moment, Marcellus Shale — named for an outcropping near Marcellus, New York — is the geological result of the prehistoric settlement of marine sediment, in other words, bedrock. Marcellus Shale stretches thousands of feet belowground, from West Virginia, through Pennsylvania, a bit of Ohio, and on along the west side of the Hudson River in New York. Hydrofracking basically blasts open the underground rock using an array of unspecified chemicals and tons of water and sand to release the gas from the shale’s uranium and radium-226. Gas from the disturbed minerals contains as a side effect, radioactive radon. The good news is that radon has a relatively short half-life of 3.8 days, after which its concentration drops in half. After another 3.8 days that half divides in half, so it’s a fourth of the original, and so on. It dissipates quickly. Radon is fairly diluted in the gas we regularly receive from the Texas-Louisiana Coast, which takes six to eight days to get here. On the other hand, gas from the Marcellus Shale area, traveling at the estimated 10 miles per hour, will be here in less than a day, not enough time for the radon to diminish its radioactivity significantly. Resnikoff caused enough raised eyebrows to prompt the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to go to wellheads and test for radon levels. From his data, he calculated radon levels would be as high as 2,500 picocuries per liter, with 37 at the low end, but the USGS’s more comforting findings show 37 picocuries per liter as the median. (The EPA cites 4 picocuries per liter as the safe level in homes.) The USGS study, which is considered preliminary, sampled 11 unspecified wells, some on Marcellus Shale, in Western Pennsylvania. More samples are needed since wells are known to vary in levels of radium-226 and radon. Experts were commissioned by Spectra Energy for its “Texas Eastern Transmission LP and Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC New Jersey - New York Expansion Project” — the official name of the pipeline coming to the

Photo by Tequila Minsky

Last month, activists staged protests against the start of construction of the Spectra natural gas pipeline at Gansevoort Peninsula. On Sept. 12, six activists conducted civil disobedience on the peninsula, including Dave Publow, who climbed onto the arm of a Caterpillar at the peninsula’s far end. Firefighters used a ladder to remove him, and he was arrested.

Village — to review Resnikoff’s assertion that as many as 30,000 excess lung cancer deaths might occur due to high radon levels. One expert labeled Resnikoff’s figures “sensational and false.” Spectra Energy also hired an environmental engineering company to test eight natural gas samples taken from along its pipeline for radon levels. A close-to-New York sampling from a New Jersey compressor station — which contains a mixture of natural gas from Marcellus Shale, Texas and Louisiana — read 17 picocuries per liter, quite a bit lower than Resnikoff’s estimates of up to 2,500 picocuries. However, this natural gas does not contain the Upstate Marcellus Shale natural gas that may be hydrofracked in the future. So where does that leave those of us who are cooking on gas burners? A Final Environmental Impact Statement produced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, came out in March 2012. Four paragraphs out of about 1,500 pages were devoted to the radon safety issue, which is at least an improvement from the earlier report’s one sentence. FERC concludes: “We [FERC] expect that the combustion of gas delivered by LDCs [local distribution companies] would comply with all applicable air emission standards. In the unlikely event that these standards are exceeded, the necessary modifications would be implemented to ensure public safety.” Again, the EPA sets radon safety in the home at 4 picocuries per liter. Test kits anyone? Also, remember that issue of the speed of transport? Remember that natural gas hydrofracked from the Marcellus Shale area to New York City gets to us in less than a day, while radon needs 3.8 days to disintegrate by half? According to Marylee Hanley, Spectra Energy’s director of stakeholder outreach, “The gas traveling on our system comes from four different locations, the Rocky Mountains, Nova

Scotia, the Gulf of Mexico and Marcellus.” The natural gas coming to New York City will be commingled, diluting the radon level of the

closer Marcellus natural gas by mixing it with the gas that has traveled for a few days. The levels of commingling, however, are unknown. Also, although storage tanks to hold the natural gas for a few days before transport to the city would give radon’s radioactivity a chance to diminish, Hanley does not see storage as a possibility. She referred to Spectra’s released statement that FERC “has concluded that the exposure to radon in the home is very limited and doesn’t pose a health risk.” See above for FERC’s final words on radon at the end of its four paragraph review. At the moment, six environmental groups and seven individuals have recently filed suit against Spectra Energy and the Hudson River Park Trust — which granted an easement for the project — to block construction of Spectra Energy’s natural gas pipeline, due for completion in November 2013. The suit claims that a review of the project, complying with New York State’s Environmental Quality Review Act, or SEQRA, was not conducted. As the lawsuit makes its way through the legal system, the radon safety debate remains. There is complete agreement among all the scientists, however, that the level of radon that exists in hydrofracked natural gas can be determined fairly easily through regular testing. An impartial entity ought to be able to measure the radon at the wellheads, in the pipelines, at the compressor stations and in the homes if necessary. As one researcher suggested, “Get out of the office and get some samples.”

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Full court press: CB4 debates basketball in Ramon Aponte Park Continued from page 1

BSA noted, “The Board particularly appreciates the steps taken by the applicant to minimize noise disturbance of neighbors…[and it] will be an appropriate and attractive addition to the community.”

Roberts continued, ‘Unfortunately, Parks doesn’t do any homework or research when it comes to redesigning a park. They just put back what was there. They don’t consider how the neighborhood has changed, whether there are new families, whether that space works as a basketball court anymore.’

Photo by Scott Stiffler

Up in the air: The future of basketball courts in Ramon Aponte Park is uncertain.

RAMON APONTE PARK TOPS PUBLIC SESSION CONCERNS Nearly half of the 24 members of the public who signed up to speak were there to request that CB4 petition the Department of Parks & Recreation to remove the two current basketball courts in its proposed redesign of Ramon Aponte Park (on West 47th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues). The park is slated for a $1.5 million renovation, thanks to pressure from the block association, said Jean-Daniel Noland, chair, Clinton/ Hell’s Kitchen Land Use Committee (CHKLU), during the board discussion. Hell’s Kitchen resident Megan Kelly noted that the neighborhood has changed significantly in the last 10 years. “There are a lot more families and children, but there are no playgrounds solely devoted to being a playground,” she said. “We need space just for the children of the neighborhood.” Tracy Kahley added that there is no need for basketball courts in “that very small park.” (It is 0.17 acres.) Kahley presented a petition, with 120 signatures, from parents and other members of the community, as well as

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parents of children who attend school in Hell’s Kitchen, “who would like to use the playground, but often feel they cannot,” she asserted. Resident Sharon Goldberg suggested that it “would be lovely” if the Parks Department added a small dog run, “which would be convenient for the elderly and disabled, who can’t get to a dog run further away. It would match very well with a playground environment,” she said. Carolyn Tralelman said, “There is no open space for kids to play catch, jump rope, run around, without having to battle basketball courts,” as they take up about half the park. Resident Jake Jaelher, added, “There is a lot of garbage, swearing, yelling, fights, smoking; it’s kid unfriendly.” During the board discussion (Items 23A and 23B), Johnson said it sounded like the park had security issues related to the basketball courts. “Tonight tenants showed up, the block association got involved, the assistant principal came from the local school.” (At a prior CHKLC meeting, basketball court proponents stated their case.) One member pointed out that the Parks Department doesn’t like removing use based on a letter, “so if we are going to vote on removing use, we need to have stronger evidence.” Larry Roberts, a member of the CHKLU, co-chair of the Arts, Culture, Education & Safety Committee and president of the Midtown North Precinct Community Council, said Midtown North (on West 54th Street) would have spoken to its many problems, “the cops being there three to four times a week.” However, they are “very reluctant to speak publicly with the media here.” Roberts continued, “Unfortunately, Parks doesn’t do any homework or research when it comes to redesigning a park. They just put back what was there. They don’t consider how the neighborhood has changed, whether there are new families, whether that space works as a basketball court anymore.” He also pointed out that there are three basketball courts two blocks north, one basketball court one block south and another three blocks south. “We are not taking anything away,” he said. “My son and I play at all of them. I really think there has to be a balance, not go to one constituency in the community. Sometimes we need

to sacrifice for the greater good of the community.” Another board member interjected that Parks policy is not even to remove a tree if it’s dead in your street. “It’s the same idea not to remove a purpose. We can object as a community board and have our voice heard, but the plans they have in place might just go ahead,” she said. The board (approximately 40 of its 50 members were present) voted almost unanimously (with five against) to ask the Parks Department to remove the courts from its renovation plans.

ACEVEDO’S UNEXPECTED ANNOUNCEMENT Coming as a surprise was Miguel Acevedo’s decision to resign from the board, and the committees he has served on (Chelsea Planning & Preservation, Housing, Health & Human Services committees), to become a public member. Berthet thanked Acevedo for his long service, which was followed by hearty applause. At the podium, Acevedo cited two of his concerns. The first was the promised laundromat on the ground floor at the Elliott-Chelsea Houses (401 West 25th Street and Ninth Avenue), which never happened. “Nobody makes developers do what they’re supposed to do after they make these agreements,” Acevedo asserted. “Make sure when these developers come here, they do what they say they’re going to do for the community. When it comes to affordable housing built, make sure it’s real affordable housing,” he added. Acevedo also expressed exasperation at the recently opened Avenues: The World School (259 Tenth Avenue, between 25th and 26th Streets) for not living up to its pledge to give back to the community by providing employment and scholarships. He said, “At Fulton Houses, 10 students applied and everybody was denied. They were told there was no space for scholarships. Tom Cruise’s six-year-old daughter applied for the same grade, and they found space for her at $40,000 a year.” In a Friday, October 12 email to Chelsea Now, Bruce Bobbins (of DKC, the Avenues public relations firm) refuted Acevedo’s assertion. He wrote, “We are very

Continued on page 6

October 17 - 30, 2012

Meatpacking plaza makeover doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the grade with neighbors BY SAM SPOKONY The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Transportation (DOT) and a team of engineers have presented preliminary plans for a redesign of the Gansevoort pedestrian plaza and Ninth Avenue in the Meatpacking District, but some locals who live just south of the area slammed the concept, saying it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t address dire traffic problems on their blocks. At a September 11 Community Board 2 (CB2) Transportation Committee meeting, DOT representatives expressed hope that reconfiguring the layout of curbside public space along Ninth Avenue, between Gansevoort and West 16th Streets, would alleviate congestion and provide more effective pedestrian walkways, while also maintaining the landmarked portion of the plaza, which sits within the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Engineers behind the plan said they are leaning toward choosing an asymmetrical layout that would place the pedestrian areas â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which are currently staggered on both sides â&#x20AC;&#x201D; entirely on the east side of Ninth Avenue. They also proposed extending the curbline on the northwest corner of Gansevoort Street and Ninth Avenue by 30 feet in order to create a new public space. The issue is being raised now because the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Design and Construction plans to reconstruct the plaza in the near future, in order to replace old infrastructure and underground utility lines. DOTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hired engineers also said that the redesign would take into account traffic problems that will grow from future development

plans in the surrounding area, such as the Hudson Yards and the Whitney Museum. But residents at the CB2 meeting were generally disappointed by the plan, which they said failed to address the more immediate traffic concerns that plague the largely residential blocks just south of Gansevoort plaza. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s come to the point where I had to put in earplugs and close the windows to be able to go to sleep,â&#x20AC;? said Joyce Goldman, who lives on Jane Street between Greenwich and Hudson Streets, one of the blocks where traffic noise between 1am and 4am on weekends has become unbearable for many. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see how this plan will have an impact on that, but it needs to be addressed now.â&#x20AC;? Her remarks received an exuberant round of applause from the other residents in attendance. Lauren Danziger, executive director of the Meatpacking District Improvement Association, which represents business interests in the area, said she feels for the plight of residents but still has faith in DOTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I understand that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult for residents, but this is really just about making the best of a bad situation,â&#x20AC;? Danziger explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to trust that what DOT picks will be a good solution.â&#x20AC;? DOT Assistant Commissioner Andy Wiley-Schwartz stressed at the September 11 meeting that nothing has been finalized yet, and promised that the agency will continue to take feedback and will update the community throughout each step of the process.

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CB4 holds brisk, productive full board meeting Continued from page 4

proud of our commitment to providing deserving families in need with financial assistance, especially those residing within the Community Board 4 area. In fact, of the $1.5 million financial aid budget for our first year of operation, 30 percent of this —some $457,000 — was offered to CB4 families in need. In total, of all the students who received financial assistance, 53 percent reside in the CB4 area, compared to only 37 percent of our general population. Moreover, as we continue to grow, we will remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that

‘Make sure when these developers come here, they do what they say they’re going to do for the community. When it comes to affordable housing built, make sure it’s real affordable housing.’ —Miguel Acevedo

Photo by Bonnie Rosenstock

Betty Mackintosh, of the Hell's Kitchen Farm Project, holding up a tomato grown on the rooftop of Metro Baptist Church.

and the new draft boundary lines were released on September 5. The U.S. census shows that NYC has increased to over 8.25 million, so that each of the 51 council districts need to have approximately 160,000 people. “If you don’t think this map reflects what your community should be, go to the website, nycgov.districting, for contact information, maps and statistics,” Li said. A public hearing has already been held, however, she said.

HOUSING LOTTERY APPLICATIONS DUE NOV. 13 those students deserving of aid residing in CB4, as well as elsewhere, have access to the unique educational experience that is unique to Avenues.”

NEW DISTRICTING MAP Jane Li of the NYC Districting Commission showed a map of how the district will be redrawn. She explained that the NYCDC is formed every 10 years to redraw the NYC electoral boundaries,

Barbara Davis, co-chair, Housing, Health & Human Services Committee, brought information about a massive construction project at 510-550 West 45th Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues) in Clinton. Slated to open early next year, the 1,240 rental units, housed over four buildings, will include 682 units of permanently affordable low- and middle-income housing. Applications will be randomly selected

Continued on page 20

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by lottery. Those who currently live in Community District 4, covering Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, will receive preference for 50 percent of the housing. A downloadable application and information regarding income guidelines and unit sizes are available at west45lottery.com and on CB4’s website, nyc. gov/mcb4. The application can also be mailed to you. Applications must be postmarked by November 13. Carmen Matias, also a member of HH&HS, added that word needs to get out to seniors and low-income people who are computer challenged, so they can get help in applying.

pumpkin carving, face painting and other free activities. Sarah Desmond, executive director, Housing Conservation Coordinators, a nonprofit that seeks to preserve affordable housing, 777 10th Avenue at 52nd Street, publicized two upcoming events. A tenants’ conference will be held on Saturday, November 3, from 9am to 5pm, featuring seminars and information sessions on housing issues. Free, including breakfast and lunch. NYS Senator Tom Duane will be the keynote speaker. The 40th annual benefit gala is slated for Thursday, October 18, 6:30 to 9:30pm, at Prince George Ballroom, 15 East 27th Street. For more information, visit hccnyc.org. Danya Sherman reported that the High Line has broken ground on the third and final section. Construction will begin this month, and they hope to have most of it open by the end of 2014. The park will now close at 10pm (fall hours), and there are new art installations and tours. For more info, visit thehighline.org. Betty Mackintosh showed off a luscious red tomato, grown on the 1,000-squarefoot rooftop of the Metro Baptist Church (410 West 40th Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues), which has been converted into the Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project. The produce — tomatoes, lettuce, collards, kale, carrots and all kinds of peppers — supplies a local food pantry. Macintosh announced the church’s Urban Harvest Celebration and Benefit: Tuesday, November 13, from 6:30 to 9pm, with homemade food, live music, rooftop tours, silent auction and other activities. Tickets: $25 and $40. For info, visit hellskitchenfarmproject.org. Arnold Bob presented two colorful maps, “Your guide to public outdoor places to get off your feet” in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, which flag city parks, “secret” parks and restrooms, seating plazas, benches at bus stops, etc., in these two neighborhoods. For more information, visit parkchelsea.com.

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October 17 - 30, 2012

Community honors Duane, Kirkland, Trentlyon Continued from page 1 lost on the crowd — whose diverse 100-plus ranks filled the refurbished community room of St. Paul's German Lutheran Church (315 West 22nd Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues).

Recognized for their longtime commitment to activism and advocacy, the trio was praised by a succession of colleagues and admirers — with Gabrielle noting, ‘They’re not leaving us. They’re just changing their role.’

Photo by Pat Cooke

L to R: Ed Kirkland, State Senator Tom Duane and Bob Trentlyon.

“Meet liaisons from our elected officials, NYPD, Community Board, Citizens New York, Actors Fund and Chelsea Garden Club. Learn about available resources, tree bed gardening and community activism,” said the event’s flyer — which, soon to be a historic relic in its own right, concluded by inviting prospective attendees to “Help us honor Senator Tom Duane, Ed Kirkland and Bob Trentlyon.” Recognized for their longtime commitment to activism and advocacy, the trio was praised by a succession of colleagues and admirers — with Gabrielle noting, “They’re not leaving us. They’re just changing their role.” After receiving a booklet containing reproductions from the slideshow as well as notes of gratitude from friends and contemporaries (signed on the sly in the kitchen right before the event began), each of the honorees spoke briefly. Rather than building upon a glowing intro (praise from Gabrielle for his decades-long

effort to transform Piers 62 and 63), Trentlyon shifted into bully pulpit mode — in the hopes of winning more converts to his latest campaign: ensuring that plans are made throughout the five boroughs to lessen the severity of storm surge damage from inevitable Katrinalike disasters. “The city has been remiss,” chided Trentlyon. Harsh in his criticism, he noted that instead of preventative measures, “They bought into the concept of resilience… you get knocked down, you get back up.” Fewer than could be counted on one hand raised theirs, when Trentlyon asked: “How many people here live in buildings that were built before 2010? The rules say the first fifteen feet [of a new residential building] have to be vacant. If you live in one of the old ones, tough…or you have to put up a storm surge shield. Don’t laugh. I’ve already seen one of those over by the waterfront.” Sensing his allotted time was up — a familiar pattern to those who’ve seen him testify at Community Board 4 (CB4) meetings — Trentlyon con-

cluded by noting, “The Borough Board [all of the chairs from Manhattan community boards] passed a resolution in favor of studying storm surge barriers. The next step is to get the Army Corps of Engineers to study the

possibility of building the barriers. Planning will be a several step process taking up to four or five years.”

Continued on page 13

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October 17 - 30, 2012

EDITORIAL An important ruling On October 1, The New York Times reported that a federal judge has ruled that the New York Police Department illegally arrested large numbers of demonstrators at a protest in Lower Manhattan during the 2004 Republican National Convention (RNC). Yet, at the same time, the judge — Richard J. Sullivan of Federal District Court — upheld certain aspects of how the city handled the protesters’ arrests. The case concerned a march that occurred on Fulton Street on August 31, 2004, during which more than 200 protesters were corralled with orange nets and arrested. The lawsuit was filed by one group of protesters who were arrested but claimed false arrest. The ruling opens the doors for the city to potentially have to pay damages to more protesters who were arrested at this march. The judge ruled that police, before making a mass arrest of this kind, needed to know that every individual involved had broken the law. “An individual’s participation in a law-breaking group may, in appropriate circumstances, be strong circumstantial evidence of an individual’s own illegal conduct,” the judge wrote in his decision, according to the Times. “But, no matter the circumstances, an arresting officer must believe that every individual arrested personally violated the law. Nothing short of such a finding can justify arrest. The Fourth Amendment does not recognize guilt by association.” Interestingly, the judge, at the same time, rejected the plaintiffs’ arguments that the city had violated the protesters’ First Amendment rights by not issuing them summonses and releasing them but instead by putting them through the courts, detaining and fingerprinting them, and then making them appear before a judge. Obviously, all these measures meant that the protesters were tied up in the legal system and not allowed to get back on the streets to try to keep disrupting the RNC. The Times reported that the judge found that the nosummons policy passed constitutional muster because it was a response “to a threat derived from intelligence sources — namely, that demonstrators aimed to ‘shut down the City of New York and the RNC’ through ‘continuous unlawful behavior,’ ” and that they “would be undeterred by the issuance of summonses.” Sullivan, in his ruling, noted that the policy was only in place “for the brief duration the threat existed.” Both sides praised parts of the ruling. The city’s Law Department said the decision validated the city’s policy to fingerprint as opposed to issue summonses to the arrested protesters, given the “extraordinary security challenge” that the demonstrators posed during the RNC. (During the RNC, the Police Department used Pier 57, West 15th Street and 11th Avenue in Chelsea, as a holding center for the arrested protesters, leading it to be dubbed “Guantanamo on the Hudson.” At the time, this newspaper reported how protesters were held there, in unsanitary conditions in a former bus depot, for up to 50 hours in some cases without being arraigned on their charges — far beyond the established 24-hour limit. Again, it was clear that the city was bent on keeping the protesters off the streets until after Bush and Cheney had delivered their speeches and the convention was over). Meanwhile, the New York Civil Liberties Union noted that Sullivan, in his ruling, had “emphatically rejected” the city’s argument that it could arrest protesters in mass groups. Obviously, not all will be happy with Sullivan’s ruling — especially free-speech advocates, who will say the ruling is “a slippery slope” toward losing our free speech and our freedoms, or that it supported the city’s effort to “stifle dissent.” But the judge did declare that the arrests were illegal, and that is vitally important to have on the record. Plus, the ruling also clears the way toward the settlement of other outstanding arrest cases from the RNC.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Micropark speaks to macro need To The Editor: Re “Friends hope to cement move from lot to park” (news article, Oct. 3): Thank you for the wonderful pictorial on the 20th Street “micropark,” part of International Park(ing) Day. As a member of the Friends of 20th Street Park, over the past two years I have attended numerous grassroots park events. The Friends Group, 4,000 strong and growing, has shone a spotlight on the dearth of open space in East Chelsea. Children need a place to play, seniors and the disabled a place to sit and local employees — a place to relax and have lunch. The environmental benefits: cleaner air, the cooling effect in summer, managing storm water runoff…all add to the necessity for a park. Lately, however, I have been struck by another compelling argument that makes this park essential to the community’s quality of life — simply a place to gather, meet and interact with our neighbors. Having been involved with several park events, I have met many neighbors from the surrounding blocks. When I walk down the street, familiar faces pass by, smile and say hi. Standing in line at the grocery store, I recognize people that used to be strangers and we greet each other. That’s because we all met at a 20th Street Park “event.” How amazing would it be to actually have a place where neighbors gather and share conversation, an essential foundation for a healthy community? Parks are a refuge from impersonal streets, a place to connect with others. The social benefits that a park provides for neighbors cannot be underestimated. Even at an eight hour “pop up park,” connections are made and new friendships develop for 4-year-olds as well as 74-year-olds. Let’s save Brigadoon before it disappears forever, never to return because there is no more open space in Chelsea to make it possible. Sally Greenspan

Renaissance man Doyle’s ‘impact will linger’ To The Editor: Re “John Doyel, 92, leaves lasting mark on products, people” (obituary, Oct. 3): Thank you for this lovely tribute to John Doyel’s life and genius. He was a true Renaissance man, and a fixture of the Chelsea community. He loved life and young people, and was constantly learning; constantly evolving. We got to know John some years ago at Ted Bank’s former coffee shop on 9th Avenue, just south of 19th Street where the poets and writers, artists and intelligentsia of Chelsea would congregate. He was a deep thinker and could speak about any subject; an all-around fascinating individual. There were many readings of John’s poetry at the coffee shop and much conversation on the hot button issues of the day. Ted passed away in 2005 and the shop closed in 2006; but we would still meet for coffee at other local establishments. After Rowena passed away, John’s poetry became more profound. We treasure the collections we received from him and the special photography prints he did for us. John’s impact will linger on our hearts and the lives of others that he impacted and enriched. My husband and I were glad to call him “Friend.” We shall miss him very much. Susan Marshall

Remembering a gentle soul To The Editor: Re “John Doyel, 92, leaves lasting mark on products, people” (obituary, Oct. 3): I loved this tribute to John. He was so, so special. His life was full of wit and wonder. He had a gift of always finding something he could create with love and humor. Your family reflects this gentle soul. Your dedication to family, friends and community comes from him and Rowena. I remember so well his 90th birthday, and all the times we had together at 404. Love, Sheilah and Bert

Doyel redefined old age To The Editor: Re “John Doyel, 92, leaves lasting mark on products, people” (obituary, Oct. 3): I knew John for only a couple years. We met at the society for illustrators drawing class where he always saved me a seat. It was always astonishing to see a 92-year-old man in such great shape. He navigated the city subways by himself, lived alone, and enjoyed meeting new people and exchanging stories. His were extraordinary because they spanned the war years: NYC in the 40s, the advertising industry of Mad Men, owning a building in Manhattan. But what will always inspire me most was that his brain still worked really well for his age. He read books all the time and often gave them away to friends. Computer literate, he used Final Cut Pro and Photoshop. He followed politics and had three generations’ worth of current events wisdom which he often accessed in discussion. He redefined old age for me — not as something depressing but as rewarding and fun. Drawing was never about the final product but the fun of creating. His slow steps left joy in his tracks.

Still flying high from trip with Doyel To The Editor: Re “John Doyel, 92, leaves lasting mark on products, people” (obituary, Oct. 3): A memorable day with John Doyle: We drove to Connecticut and visited several places where he hired handicapped people to assemble John’s various “gimmicks.” He was very well received by the employees who obviously knew him personally. Then off to the airfield where the sailplanes were towed aloft. It was quite breezy, and John suggested I fly with a friend who was more experienced in those conditions. As an Air Force veteran, I have flown in various aircraft but never in a glider. What a thrill, especially when I was at the controls for a bit but the pilot took over when it was time to land. John’s philosophy is inspiring in that one is never “too old” to do things. He was a skier and roller blader as well as his “indoor” activities. Whenever I think I am “too old” to do something, I will think of John Doyle. Bert Rechtschaffer

David Behl

Continued on page 18

October 17 - 30, 2012

Community Contacts

GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS (GMHC) At 446 W. 33rd St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves. Visit gmhc.org. Call 212-367-1000.

MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT SCOTT STRINGER Call 212-669-8300 or visit mbpo.org.

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

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 212-7609800. For the Children’s Center (459 W. 26th St.), call 212-760-9830. 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.

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

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 the first Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is Wed., Nov. 7, 6:30pm at Roosevelt Hospital, 1000 10th Ave. (btw. 58th & 59th Sts., 2nd fl.). Call 212-736-4536, 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. CB5’s board meeting, open to the public, happens on the second Thursday of the month. The next meeting will be at 6pm on Thursday, Nov. 8 at St. Xavier High School (30 W. 16th St., btw. 5th and 6th Aves., 2nd fl.). Call 212-4650907, 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 212-243-3670 or visit pennsouth.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 212-620-7310. THE ALI FORNEY CENTER Their mission is to help homeless LGBT youth be safe and become independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood. Main headquarters: 224 W. 35th St., Suite 1102. Call 212-222-3427. The Ali Forney Day Center is located at 527 W. 22nd St., 1st floor. Call 212-2060574 or visit aliforneycenter.org. Member of the New York Press Association

THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Published by NYC COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC

Gay City

NEWS

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

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 212879-7400 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 212-9562573. 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 Aline Reynolds Sam Spokony EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

Kaitlyn Meade Maxine Wally PUBLISHER EMERITUS John W. Sutter

BUSINESS MANAGER/CONTROLLER

Vera Musa SR. V.P. OF SALES AND MARKETING Francesco Regini RETAIL AD MANAGER Colin Gregory ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Russell Chen Allison Greaker Julius Harrison Gary Lacinski Alex Morris Julio Tumbaco

STATE SENATOR TOM DUANE Call 212-633-8052 or visit tomduane.com. ASSEMBLYMEMBER RICHARD GOTTFRIED Call 212-807-7900 or email GottfriedR@ assembly.state.ny.us. CHELSEA REFORM DEMOCRATIC CLUB The CRDC (the home club of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, State Senator Tom Duane 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.

At 147 W. 24th Street (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 lesbian, gay, bisexual, two spirit, trans and gender non-conforming people of color center for community organizing. Visit alp.org.

ART / PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Troy Masters SENIOR DESIGNER Michael Shirey GRAPHIC DESIGNER Arnold Rozon CIRCULATION SALES MNGR. Marvin Rock DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION Cheryl Williamson

CONTRIBUTORS Martin Denton Duncan Osborne Maya Phillips Bonnie Rosenstock Jerry Tallmer Paul Schindler Sam Spokony Trav S. D. Stephen Wolf PHOTOGRAPHERS Milo Hess J. B. Nicholas Jefferson Siegel

October 17 - 30, 2012

POLICE BLOTTER ROBBERY: Abduction, forced Leaving the Scene/Personal ATM withdrawal Injury: Sedan swipe

PLACEMENT PROBLEM TRILOGY A sticky-fingered thief found the perfect recipe for petty theft, in a beloved local establishment known for grub that sticks to the ribs. On Sun., Oct. 7, at around 12:05am, a customer dining at Dallas BBQ (261 Eighth Ave., at 23rd St.) placed his cellphone (a Samsung Galaxy S11 valued at $600) on the table. After the dishes had been cleared by the restaurant staff, the man, (who told police he never left the table), noticed that the phone was missing. The victim, who was unable to provide police with the phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number at the scene, promised to do so when he got home. While out with friends at the Dream Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Electric Lounge (335 W. 16th St.) at around 1:30am on Sun. Oct. 7, a woman put her wallet (worth $500) on

the bar, and was momentarily distracted. When she turned back to where she had placed the wallet, it was missing. The victim checked with the staff to see if anybody had turned it in, but to no avail. In the wallet: a passport and two credit cards (on which, at the time the police report was filed, no usage had been reported). In an incident that invites a trailer trash joke weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to make, a police report notes that at 11pm on Fri., Oct. 5, an Apple iPhone valued at $750 was taken by persons unknown â&#x20AC;&#x201D; when its owner (who was enjoying an evening at Trailer Park Lounge, 271 W. 23 St., btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.) placed the pricey item on a table and turned back a brief time later to find it missing. The report further noted that the phone was turned off, so it could not be tracked.

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A 40-year-old male resident of Staten Island told police that at around 3:30am on Fri., Oct. 5, he was walking from a bar in the Meatpacking District. While waiting on the northwest corner of W. 14th St. & Seventh Ave., two males in a black SUV pulled up next to him and forced him into the vehicle â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where they robbed him of several items (including an iPad valued at $600, an iPod valued at $250, a used watch valued at $125 and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses valued at $250). They drove the victim to an ATM (at 305 Seventh Ave.), where he was forced to withdraw $900. The men took the cash, kept the ATM card, left the victim on the sidewalk and fled in the vehicle, southbound on Seventh Ave.

TWO TRANSIT TUSSLES Uniformed offi cers arrested a 16-year-old male at 3:35pm on Tues., Oct. 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; when they observed him engaged in a physical altercation with another male (in the subway, on Eighth Ave. & W. 14th St.). The perpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assault resulted in physical injury to the male victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left eyebrow and right hand. Upon arrest, police discovered a box cutter in the perpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s front right pocket. Same location, different day and scenario: At 6:30am on Mon., Oct. 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in a Transit Authority locker room at Eighth Ave. & W. 14th St. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a 53-year-old male MTA employee accused his 56-year-old male coworker of taking his property. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where the f**k are my keys,â&#x20AC;? asked the perp, who requested of the victim, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make me f**k you up.â&#x20AC;?

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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;TIP577â&#x20AC;? (plus your message) to â&#x20AC;&#x153;CRIMESâ&#x20AC;? (274637) or submit a tip online at nypdcrimestoppers.com.

While crossing the intersection of Ninth Ave. & 23 St. (at around 1pm on Wed., Oct. 3), an 80-year-old man was hit by a maroon four-door sedan. The vehicle left the scene without exchanging information with the victim (or, for that matter, stopping). The complainant, who filed a report at the 10th Precinct station house, took a cab to Beth Israel â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where he was treated for a broken rib and bruises to the left leg.

Petty Larceny: T-shirts are lousy concealers A quick-working criminal stole a two-year-old Apple MacBook (valued at $1,000) from the booth of a vendor, who was working at the Jacob Javits Convention Center (665 W. 34th St). While the victim was giving a presentation to prospective customers, the thief snared his computer from underneath a pile of T-shirts meant to conceal the pricey item. Reporting the Tues., Oct. 2 incident to police several days later, the victim noted that a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find My Macâ&#x20AC;? application noted that the device was on at 1pm on Thurs., Oct. 4. Although the item was not recovered, the victim was able to erase its contents by using the aforementioned app.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Scott Stiffler

THE 10th PRECINCT Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Deputy Inspector: Elisa Cokkinos. Main number: 212741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-741-8210. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council Meeting takes place at 7pm on the last Wed. of the month (but this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting is on the 24th).

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: 212-477-3863. Youth Officer: 212-477-7411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-4774380. Detective Squad: 212-4777444. The Community Council Meeting takes place at 6:30pm on the third Tues. of the month.

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City Health Department Now Urges Meningitis Vaccines for At-Risk Men we’ll be sure to let you know.” The October 4 statement said men who were at risk for meningitis could get a shot at nine facilities run by the city’s Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC),

New York City’s response, undefined as yet in scope and aggressiveness, is in marked contrast to the response mounted by the two other North American cities. New York City’s health department now urges HIV-positive men who hooked up with new sexual partners since September 1 to get a meningitis vaccine.

After the September 27 press release, Gay City News was told by a person who had knowledge of DOHMH’s internal deliberations that the department would buy 10,000 vaccine doses and launch a campaign to tell gay and bisexual men to get vaccinated against the bug. A DOHMH spokesperson told the newspaper that the agency would buy “some” doses of the

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BY DUNCAN OSBORNE Less than a week after saying it had no plans to launch a vaccine campaign to combat an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) among gay and bisexual men in New York City, the city’s health department advised men who are at risk for the infection to get vaccinated and established a network of city and private clinics to deliver the shots. “The Department is advising vaccinations for any man who is HIV-positive and has had intimate contact with another man that he met through a website, digital application, or at a bar or party since September 1, 2012,” the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) wrote in an October 4 statement. “Vaccine will be available starting Friday at medical facilities throughout the city for men who meet these criteria but who cannot obtain it from their HIV care providers.” On September 27, the DOHMH sent a press release to media that described an outbreak of four IMD cases in the prior four weeks, with one death among those four gay men. Separately, the agency sent an alert to healthcare providers that described 12 cases with four deaths. One occurred in 2010, three occurred in 2011, and eight occurred this year. DOHMH did not recommend vaccination in that alert. Eight of the 12 men were HIV-positive.

vaccine. Another DOHMH spokesperson later denied that the agency had any such plans and demanded that Gay City News correct its earlier reporting. “We have not purchased 10,000 doses and have not decided to launch a campaign,” Alexandra Waldhorn wrote in a September 28 email. “Both references need to be corrected. If anything changes,

any one of ten DOHMH clinics, or they could call the city’s 311 system for a referral to a private clinic. Meningitis is a relatively rare infection, and it would be unusual for health facilities to stock large amounts of the vaccine. What is entirely unclear is how widely DOHMH dispersed the message about vaccination and how many doses the city has on hand to vaccinate men

Continued on page 17

October 17 - 30, 2012

Community Meetings celebrants get 10th Precinct tips

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On Oct. 21, a host of golden daffodils — courtesy of Chelsea Garden Club.

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Continued from page 7 Looking forward to a life beyond the grinding commute to and from Albany, outgoing Senator Duane thanked his staff and constituents for “twenty-one wonderful years,” noting that when Brad Hoylman answered the call to become his successor, “I felt relieved. We’re in good hands.” Playing to the crowd without the ulterior motive of re-election, Duane said, “Don’t tell the other neighborhoods [I represent], but this is my home and I am happy to be coming home.” A CB4 board member for 29 years (and, until recently, a co-chair of its Landmarks Committee), Kirkland recalled, “I started off at this block association.” During his time at CB4, he (and other likeminded community activists), “kept residential Chelsea down to a reasonable scale.” While acknowledging his reduced schedule these days, Kirkland vowed that although, “I can’t participate as much, I am going to keep talking, no matter what.” And with that, it was time for others to talk. Officer Mike Petrillo, speaking on behalf of the 10th Police Precinct, gave an abbreviated version of the updates delivered at their Community Council Meetings (held at 7pm on the last Wednesday of the month, he said — qualifying that by noting that because of Halloween, this month’s meeting would take place on October 24). A brief primer on All Hallows’ Eve safety included a request to not “go off the beaten path. Go by the firehouse [on 19th, between Seventh and Sixth Avenues], the Precinct [20th, between Seventh and Eighth] and the stores on Seventh and Eighth [many of whom hand out candy for trick-or-treaters].” Petrillo assured that although, “We haven’t had any incidents in the past few years,” there would be a visible police presence on all of the corridors as well as an extension of their parade detail further west than in years past, and all the way up to 30th Street. Those with any questions, comments or complaints, Petrillo concluded, should contact Community Affairs at 212-741-8226.

The Chelsea Garden Club singled out Senator Duane for praise — with Missy Adams recalling his role in gaining permission from the city for the club to plant and maintain bike lane tree pits. Were it not for the help of Duane and his staff, she speculated, “They would still be little deserts.’ The Chelsea Garden Club singled out Senator Duane for praise — with Missy Adams recalling his role in gaining permission from the city for the club to plant and maintain bike lane tree pits. Were it not for the help of Duane and his staff, she speculated, “They would still be little deserts.” Adams (and others who spoke about the most complimentary plants for tree pits) noted that membership in, or consistent involvement with, the Garden Club is not necessary — adding that one-time participants are both needed and welcome. The next such opportunity will come on Sunday, October 21 — when the club will be planting 1,000 daffodil bulbs (compliments of the Daffodil Project), mostly along Eighth Avenue. If you would like to help Chelsea bloom, bring whatever gardening tools you have and meet them at 22nd Street and Eighth Avenue around 11am. NOTE: The “Changing Chelsea” slideshow can be viewed online, at https://vimeo. com/51256314.

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October 17 - 30, 2012

BOOYAH : Halloween is for kids! BY SCOTT STIFFLER

SCREAMIN’ GREEN HALLOWEEN For the first time, World Financial Center’s annual family-friendly, eco-themed autumnal afternoon of adventure is taking place outdoors. Watched over by a 30-foot scarecrow and witch, the Plaza and waterfront will be transformed into a Halloween Village. At the Costume Swap, exchange last year’s trick-ortreat guise for gently used and ready-to-wear ones that will come in handy at 3pm’s closing ceremony: The Ghosts and Goblins Parade. Prior to that, kids can listen to spooky tales told in verse, at the Poets House Tent. Outside, they’ll join wandering puppets and marching bands and receive fair trade organic treats and temporary tattoos of pumpkins and ghosts. Before those prizes are claimed, though, there will be games to play — including a vertical spin on the old bobbing for apples tub, and a challenge to tack the face onto a pumpkin (no donkey tail-pinning at this party!). Ghoulish little gamers can also test their skill at the Gourd Roll (an obstacle course where you navigate your gourd using a small broom) and try to toss a Spider in the Brew (only three chances to get that beanbag creepy crawly into the giant tractor tire cauldron). The Ghost Farm is a giant communal art installation waiting for contributions (a ghost of your making). Give those specters some-

Photo by Laurie Moody

City kids, country fun — at Jefferson Market Garden.

THE TERRIFIED OF EVERYTHING HALLOWEEN SHOW

Photo courtesy of Arts Brookfield

How about a little air, Scarecrow? This year, Screamin’ Green Halloween is an outdoor affair.

thing to dance to, by playing the Musical Spider Web (made of gongs, pipes, bells and washtubs). In the Screamin’ Green Screen Photo Booth, have a photo taken wearing your newly crafted Green Halloween costume and email it, tweet it or post it on Facebook. Free. Sat., Oct, 27, from 12-3pm, at World Financial Center Plaza (220 Vesey St.). Free valet bicycle parking will be provided by Transportation Alternatives. For event info, visit worldfinancialcenter.com/screamingreen-halloween or call 212-945-0505.

CHILDREN’S HARVEST FESTIVAL AT JEFFERSON MARKET GARDEN With pumpkins and (all the fixings for decorating them) provided by Citarella — and entertainment sponsored by the New York Public Library — the Jefferson Market Garden will be transformed into a country farm for three magic hours. City kids will have the rare opportunity to kick huge piles of leaves, and lounge on (or roll off!) enormous bales of straw. The Garden remains open to the public, Tues. - Sun. afternoons, through October. Free. Sat., Oct. 20, from 11am-2pm (rain date, Oct. 21). At Jefferson Market Garden (junction of Greenwich Ave., Sixth Ave. & 10th St.). For info, visit jeffersonmarketgarden.org.

Gotham Comedy Club’s popular “Kids ‘N Comedy” series kicks off its 2012-2013 season with a Halloween-themed show that has funny teens from the tri-state area daring to attempt a feat that would scare most of us to death: getting up in public and telling jokes. To kill on the very same stage where (some say) many others have died, the Kids will fall back on their extensive comedic training — and draw from a deep well of terrifying adolescent life experiences (double-dates, taking the subway at night to your grandmother’s in Brooklyn, flesh-eating zombies). The veteran ensemble (none of them among the living dead at press time) includes Charlie Bardey, Lee Wolfowitz, Val Bodurtha, Leo Frampton, Dillon Heverin, Eric Kurn and “new face” Adrian Mena. Sun., Oct. 21, 1pm, at Gotham Comedy Club (208 W. 23rd St., btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Run time: One hour, 45 minutes. Appropriate for ages 9 and above. Tickets are $15, plus oneitem (food or drink) minimum. For reservations, call 212-877-6115 or visit kidsncomedy.com. Also visit them at myspace.com/kidsncomedy and facebook.com/kidsncomedy.

Continued on page 15

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Val Bodurtha mocks her fears, in “The Terrified of Everything Halloween Show.”

October 17 - 30, 2012

Spooktacular shenanigans PARTY & PARADE, AT THE SCHOLASTIC STORE

The Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fall Chelsea Bazaar â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an

On Tues., Oct. 23, from 6-8pm, the Books of Wonder â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spooky Middle Grade Readsâ&#x20AC;? program invites you to meet Nikki Loftin (author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academyâ&#x20AC;?) and Claire Legrand (author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girlsâ&#x20AC;?). Adam-Troy Castro will also be on hand, to read from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gustav Gloom and the People Taker.â&#x20AC;? Fans of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coralineâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Books of Elsewhereâ&#x20AC;? are sure to enjoy this dark adventure fantasy, in which unhappy little Gustav and his new neighbor Fernie venture into the Gloom mansion and discover a shadowy world of mystery. Books of Wonderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scare-inducing author readings continues on Thurs. Oct. 25 (6-8pm), with a group of (lucky?) seven whose ranks include Libba Bray (â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Divinersâ&#x20AC;?), Dan Krokos (â&#x20AC;&#x153;False Memoryâ&#x20AC;?) and Kate Milford (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Broken Landsâ&#x20AC;?). On Sat., Oct. 27 (12-2pm), the afternoon of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Haunted Halloween Funâ&#x20AC;? features in-the-flesh appearances from Karina Wolf (â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Insomniacsâ&#x20AC;?), Michael Leviton (â&#x20AC;&#x153;My First Ghostâ&#x20AC;?), Leo Landry (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trick or Treatâ&#x20AC;?), Melissa Iwai (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hush, Little Monsterâ&#x20AC;?) and others. On Sun., Oct. 28 (1-3pm), guests for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thrills & Chills for Middle Gradersâ&#x20AC;? program includes Gitty Daneshvari (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ghoulfriends Foreverâ&#x20AC;?), Natasha Lowe (â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Power of Poppy Pendleâ&#x20AC;?) and Elizabeth Cody Kimmel (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Legend of the Ghost Dogâ&#x20AC;?). Free. At Books of Wonder (18 W. 18th St., btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves.). Regular store hours are Mon.-Sat., 11am-7pm and Sun., 11am-6pm. For more info, call 212989-3270 or visit booksofwonder.com.

Image courtesy of Penguin Young Readers Group Photo courtesy of The Scholastic Store

Special guest Clifford visits the Scholastic Halloween Party.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gustav Gloomâ&#x20AC;? author Adam-Troy Castro will appear (in the flesh) at Books of Wonder.

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a safe bet that more than one Harry Potter will be marching in Scholasticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Halloween Costume Parade â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an annual event that invites kids to strut their spooky stuff in a procession that snakes its way around the block. Literary-themed costumes are encouraged, but plain old goblins, princesses and ghouls are also welcome! Afterwards, head back to the Scholastic Store â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where a makeshift mad scientistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lab allows you to make take-home monsterblood! Spin the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wheel of Misfortuneâ&#x20AC;? to receive a spooky prize (celebrating 20 years of R.L. Stineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goosebumpsâ&#x20AC;?). The free phantasmagoric fun happens at 3pm on Sat., Oct. 27 (appropriate for ages 3 and up). Return the next day (if you dare), for the storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Halloween Party. Transformed into Scholastic Haunted Headquarters, partygoers will first cut loose by stretching out their skeletons (courtesy of instructors from Karma Kids Yoga). Then, after a mini-class from Gymboree, the band Bari Koral plays live music as little monsters brew bubbling potions, bowl for mummies, gorge on snacks and treats, decorate monster cupcakes and parade around in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Costume Congaâ&#x20AC;? line! Plus, when you least expect it, Clifford the Big Red Dog will make a special appearance! Sun., Oct. 28, 3-5pm. Tickets are $20 per child (price includes one accompanying adult and a $5 gift card to the store; additional adults, $10 each). To reserve a spot, call 212-343-6166 or email thescholasticstore@scholastic.com. Both events take place at 557 Broadway (btw. Prince & Spring Sts.). Regular store hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-7pm and Sun., 11am6pm. For info, visit scholastic.com/sohostore.

indoor event featuring NY businesses, free fitness classes provided by the McBurney YMCA and health screenings by North Shore LIJ - Lenox Hill â&#x20AC;&#x201D; opens its doors to costumed trick-or-treaters. Candy rewards will be given out all day! Sat., Oct. 20, 11am-6pm, in the Altman Building (135 W. 18th St., btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.). For info, visit thechelseabazaar.eventbrite.com and villagechelsea.com.

2012

Continued from page 14

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October 17 - 30, 2012

Dear Aunt Chelsea, My long-term girlfriend (of 13 years) is quickly becoming my mother-in-law. She has started to only get out of her PJs after noon. She doesn't shower every day anymore. She cut her long beautiful hair because it was too much of a bother. She cares more about the welfare of our dogs than her own. Her behavior, speech pattern and jokes are evolving into those of her mother. And technically, I love my mother-in-law (but not nearly as much as my old girlfriend). Any advice about how to address this with my girlfriend — or should I? Help, Auntie! Freaked Out Dear Freaked Out: Of course you should address it. Otherwise, your unspoken anxiety will balloon until it gets booked for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Don’t let the elephant in the room become a helium-filled Babar. From her distant perch, it’s quite clear to Aunt Chelsea that — like comfortable PJs and loyal dogs — your girlfriend sees you as a dependable presence for which she no longer has to put on a show. Impeccable hygiene and long silky hair are things of the past, now that she has someone to grow old with. That’s what’s scaring you, isn’t it…that her nesting instincts are kicking in while sand accumulates in the bottom of your hourglass? Grow up, Peter Pan, and stop projecting your own fears onto others (hence the need to see a girlfriend as mother-in-law: man’s ultimate caricature of advanced age and fussiness). Express these concerns, then employ a time-honored technique that’s lifted countless couples out of the doldrums: date night once a week, no exceptions — followed by a good, long, two-person shower. You’ll be so busy getting your freak on, there won’t be time to freak out! Good luck, dearies!

A World Beyond New York???

Horoscope Aries While window shopping, a piece of overpriced jewelry will appeal to you. Get it. Lucky relative: Uncle. Taurus It’s hypocritical, but true: That thing you’ve been browbeating another about doesn’t apply to you. Lucky game: Connect Four.

Gemini Stop looking to the clouds for truth. Wisdom will come in the shapes you see while swirling a hot bowl of soup. Lucky bagel: Everything. Cancer The will of a stubborn Libra will not be broken. Stop circling your wagons and blaze a new trail. Lucky bowling pin: The Nine.

Leo A kitchen utensil you seldom use no longer belongs on your countertop. Lucky mineral: Graphite.

Dear Aunt Chelsea, This year, it’s our turn to host the Halloween party for families in our building. We’ve always seen ourselves as hip and fun parents, but can’t decide whether to give the kids candy or healthy treats.

Virgo Friends are tired of seeing you in drag every Halloween. Expand your horizons! Lucky cigarette: Camel Lights.

Confused in Chelsea

Libra An opinion formed while overhearing a stranger’s cell phone conversation will prove useful, elsewhere, within the hour. Lucky snake: Boa.

Dear Confused: Letting the little ones dress up like bloody zombies only to reward them with sugar-free organic snacks is a mixed signal guaranteed to inspire disillusionment and mistrust. Hand out apples instead of jumbo KitKats, and you might as well include an engraved invitation for the juicebox set to leave burning doggy stuff on your doorstep. You see yourselves as hip and fun parents? Then see this holiday for what it is: an annual get out of jail free card for mischievous behavior and eating inappropriate amounts of junk food. You can’t spell “kid” without “id” — so let them run wild, and make sure there are plenty of pillows on the floor (to act as shock absorbers once they start bouncing off the walls). When they wake up on November 1st with a tummy ache, hand them an orange and tell them the party’s over.

Scorpio You alone have the gift to see greatness in the eyes of a bashful Pisces. Draw them from their shell and all will be well. Lucky wind instrument: Flute. Sagittarius Be generous with the portions of Halloween candy you hand out, and the universe will reward you with a soul-nourishing treat. Lucky spice: Paprika.

Here Comes a Boo-Booed Honey

Capricorn A deed done in a sexy dream will have

You’ve heard of Honey Boo Boo. Now, here comes Honey…BBQ? Crystal-Mercedes Pocat is an Alabama tyke whose beauty pageant dreams were put on hold — when the plucky, 11-fingered spitfire sustained third degree burns while skill-building in the family’s cow patch-cum rehearsal studio. It seems the little future “Little Miss” twirled her flaming baton too close to a belching heifer — setting Bessie (and the budding beauty) aflame. Crystal will recover, but the gaseous giant wasn’t so lucky. Here’s hoping the Pocat family likes their steak well-done!

practical real life applications. Lucky fabric: Yarn.

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 The next time you experience static cling, clear your schedule and shop for shoes — and don’t just look. Buy! Lucky soup: Low Sodium Minestrone. Pisces That idea you have for a million-selling gadget has been patented by someone else. Let it go. Lucky sewing instrument: Thimble.

October 17 - 30, 2012

City Health Department Now Urges Meningitis Vaccines for At-Risk Men Continued from page 12 who want it. “We have a dynamic, reliable, and stable supply chain to ensure that enough vaccine is available so that all patients identified as high risk can receive vaccine at their primary medical provider, at an HHC facility, or at a DOHMH clinic,” Chanel Caraway, a DOHMH spokesperson, wrote in an October 4 email when asked how many doses the agency possesses. “We will be publicizing this alert widely through traditional and non-traditional media, HIV service providers, and community-based organizations that work with the affected community,” Caraway wrote. Ana Marengo, an HHC spokesperson, said that her agency would rely on DOHMH for its future vaccine needs. “Our clinical teams have estimated that our supply is sufficient for the near term, with more being ordered and made available by DOHMH,” Marengo wrote in an October 4 email. “We expect to vaccinate anyone who is at risk.” New York City’s response, undefined as yet in scope and aggressiveness, stands in marked contrast to the response mounted by the two other North American cit-

ies that have had meningitis outbreaks among gay men. Two of six gay men infected with meningitis in Toronto died in an outbreak from “early May to mid-July of 2001,” according to a 2003 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Toronto health officials administered 3,850 vaccine doses free of charge in 50 locations, including bathhouses and a community center, from July 25 through August 18 of that year. Toronto saw no additional cases after that. An October 2003 outbreak in Chicago that killed three of six infected gay men led health authorities there to mount an eight-day vaccination campaign that administered 14,267 doses at six sites, according to a 2007 article in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. There were no new cases there. Information on city health facilities where vaccinations are available can be found at tinyurl.com/9gkcu. Information on meningitis provided by the state health department can be found at tinyurl.com/95bqp36. The Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, an LGBTfocused facility located at 356 West 18th Street, is among the private facilities mounting a vaccination effort.

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October 17 - 30, 2012

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued from page 8

Don’t sacrifice ‘two important monuments’ To The Editor: 186 Spring Street, an historic site of great importance to the LGBT community is now being demolished. If the Stonewall riots were the LGBT communities’ Boston Tea Party, then 186 Spring Street may well have been its Independence Hall. Our cities’ Landmarks Preservation Commission has never landmarked a site due to its connection to LGBT history and here they had a perfect, high profile opportunity to start making up for this. Instead, they seemingly dropped the ball. By way of an explanation the LPC offered that the largely intact, 190-year-old town house lacked architectural merit due to alterations — even though nearby there are several buildings that are much younger, and have been altered much more (including a gas station) — they had no compunction about land-marking previously. Meanwhile, at 339 West 29th Street, an 1840s townhouse that is Manhattan’s only verifiable Underground Railroad Safe house, although landmarked, is in danger of being seriously compromised and LPC and the Department of Buildings have been frustratingly slow in responding. In my free time, I volunteer with some of our cities

nearly 4,000 homeless youth. Most of the kids I try to help are people of color and LGBT. These kids are a perfect example of future generations who could benefit from having such historic sites to visit. I worry that the year will end with two important monuments to the struggle for freedom having been sacrificed to real estate interests. Certainly all New Yorkers present and future deserve better. Laurence Frommer

NYU ULURP — what a charade To The Editor: Re “11 groups file suit against NYU plan for its superblocks” (news article, Oct. 3): “The suit notes that about half of the planned development project would be dedicated to nonacademic purposes, such as a performing arts center, a gym, student housing and retail uses.” This is the heart of the matter. New York University claimed that it was in dire need of academic space. NYU brought forth proponents for its cause, most of whom made the same claim — a desperate need for academic space. Yet most of the academic space in the plan is placed on the north superblock and the schedule for building on that block is 10 years hence. This demonstrates what a charade the whole ULURP process was. NYU wanted the rezoning. Real estate people on NYS’s

board of trustees wanted the rezoning. And they got it. This is not the time for an educational institution to build. Every other university is putting its building plans on hold, both because of the economy and because the educational bubble is about to burst. Major developments are taking place in online education. Already, MIT is providing excellent online education for technical courses. In a few years, online education in the social sciences will prove comparable to on-site education. When that happens, the justification for the addition of brick-and-mortar buildings for academic uses will be gone — and so too the need for extra dormitories. Any new buildings constructed before that day of reckoning will prove to be white elephants for the school but cheap buyouts for some real estate interest. Even if NYU does not build by the time the stuff hits the fan, the rezoning would still be in effect and would provide opportunities for other real estate development. Miriam Kaplan Email letters, not longer than 300 words in length, to scott@chelseanow.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to Chelsea Now, Letters to the Editor, 515 Canal Street, Unit 1C, New York City, 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.

October 17 - 30, 2012

CB4 wraps in time for Obama/Romney sparring session Continued from page 6

VOTES ON COMMITTEE LETTERS Johnson declared the board would also continue to fight against the illegal addition to the Hopper-Gibbons House (at 339 West 29th Street — Manhattan’s only surviving building linked to the Underground Railroad). He reported that, as part of the St. Vincent’s redevelopment in CB2, electeds were able to secure 75 Morton Street (between Hudson and Greenwich Streets), a stateowned building, which will be converted into a middle school. The catchment area is not just Greenwich Village, but also Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and Tribeca, said Johnson. “It’s a good day for families and kids in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen to actually have an intermediate school on the West Side. We will be involved in the process with Community Boards 1 and 2,” he said. There were 25 committee reports to vote on. Going back to the beginning of the agenda, Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Land Use Committee reported on Items 1 and 2. The first was a letter to the NYC

The Durst Organization plan calls for up to 753 units, 20 percent of which would be affordable. The letter to DCP states, ‘While these 151 affordable units are a welcome benefit to the community (and provide a tax-exempt financing benefit to the Applicant) unless the units are permanently affordable, the benefit to this community will not be a lasting one.’ Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) regarding 556-560 West 52nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues), also known as Captain Post, affordable family-sized housing, which is part of Site 9A on the Clinton Urban

Photo by Bonnie Rosenstock

CB4 chair Corey Johnson (center, standing), addressing the board.

Renewal Area. It was approved. The letter for Item 2, 625 West 57th Street (between 11th and 12th Avenues), aka The Pyramid, or Durst W57, “is still a work in progress,” said Noland, and he encouraged board members to send him comments or changes. A board member suggested that because of safety issues between 10th and 11th Avenues, he recommended they not keep 57th Street as an entryway. “We propose that they close off this entryway and make it open space and instead use a circular entry and exit at 58th Street,” he said, which made sense to the board. The very detailed, lengthy letter to the Department of City Planning (DCP) re ULURP applications is in response to a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). “Everybody worked hard on the letter,” Noland said. “It’s amazing, Durst came with lobbyists, government people, and this committee fights back.” The Durst Organization plan calls for up to 753 units, 20 percent of which would be affordable. The letter to DCP states, “While these 151 affordable units are a welcome benefit to the community (and provide a tax-exempt financing benefit to the Applicant) unless the units are permanently affordable, the benefit to this community will not be a lasting one.” The units will only remain affordable for the life of the bond, or 35 years. The letter notes that a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was prepared for the Project Block in 2001, and that many changes have occurred since — “significant adverse findings requiring mitigation, including school seats, daycare and socioeconomic impacts,” which the letter explains in depth. Items 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, letters to the SLA from the Business Licenses and Permits Committee (BLP), regarding licenses for various eateries and bars, were bundled together and approved.

Item 7, the board approved the application of Boxers, the popular gay sports bar at its new, three-story location at 742 Ninth Avenue (between 50th and 51st Streets) — after the BLP extracted a host of stipulations, including no TV and no sound on the roof. Item 12, Letter to HPD re the Lantern Organization, a nonprofit, dedicated to permanent and affordable housing, which acquired 330 and 332 West 51st Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues) in January 2012, as part of SRO Preservation commitments made in the December 2009 Western Rail Yards Points of Agreement between the mayor and the City Council. Lantern seeks to renovate the two five-story SRO tenements. “As currently presented to the board, CB4 cannot support the renovation,” the letter said. “Significant concerns were communicated to Lantern, and they welcomed this letter to help them go back to HPD and address what they need to turn this project around,” reported an HH&HS committee member. They include the full relocation of the existing tenants via relocation agreements that have been negotiated; and CB4 urges Lantern to engage with Housing Conservation Coordinators (HCC) to resolve temporary relocation issues. While Lantern informed CB4 that it was no longer renting units in the buildings, tenants told HCC that they moved into the buildings within the last two weeks. Other concerns relate to the renovation itself, which CB4 found insufficient. “The scope of the work should be a full gut renovation including new finishes and mechanical systems, reconfiguration of rooms to suite arrangements [with a maximum of two or three units clustered around a shared kitchen and bath, not six residents sharing one bath], an on-site laundry room and community facility space for on-site supportive services.” In addition, all bath-

rooms should be either ADA-adaptable or ADA-accessible, and it is unclear if there will be ceiling fans or window a/c units. CB4 also requests that local residents receive preference for lowincome community units. Renovation plans include a reduction in the number of rooms, from 142 to 113. The Transportation Planning Committee was responsible for Items 13 to 20, which covered a public pay telephone request, a parking sign request for West 43rd Street for Saturday’s Green Market, a signal change request and the like. They were bundled together and approved. The Landmarks Committee contributed Items 21 and 22, letters to the Landmarks Preservation Committee (LPC) regarding requested changes to buildings. Pamela Wolff, committee cochair, reported approval of an application by DAS Studio architect Stefanie Werner to utilize copper in the planned replacement of the roof leader, visible from the street side, to 430 West 22nd Street (between Ninth and Tenth Avenues). The board approved. For the latter, Wolff amended the LPC letter to say, “The Board recommends approval of the proposed work at 449 West 21st Street (between Ninth and Tenth Avenues) with one important exception…denial of the rear extension at its proposed height…doing so will deprive abbuters of light and air. We recommend that the extension be held at the third floor level [instead of at the second floor level].” (Changes underlined.) The board agreed. Johnson announced the formation of a Social Media Outreach Task Force, headed by Ernest Modarelli. After the meeting, Chelsea Now spoke to Modarelli, who has been developing social media outlets, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as “a one-man show,” but said other board members have expressed interest. “I mostly find stories that pertain to the community board that are relevant, things coming up in committees and the full board and post them on Facebook and Twitter, so members of the community come to a meeting and express their opinion on them. But I want to utilize it in a better way and get more people involved.” The next full board meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 7, at Roosevelt Hospital, 1000 10th Avenue (between 58th and 59th Streets), 2nd floor, at 6:30pm. NOTE: To access public testimony on quality of life issues as well as reports to CB4 from the representatives of elected officials (Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, NYS Sen. Tom Duane, Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn), visit chelseanow.com and search for this article under its headline (speedy but meaty).

October 17 - 30, 2012

CHELSEA: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Your $10 Halloween Hip tips for budget-conscious guys, gals, ghouls BY REVEREND JEN MILLER, FACEBOY & SCOTT STIFFLER Be it sugary candy or gift-wrapped treasures, both holidays compel us to give — but unlike its vastly inferior counterpart Christmas, Halloween affords us the opportunity to exact sweet revenge (“trick”) upon those who dare to forego October 31’s traditional gesture (“treat”). In the spirit of giving — and protecting ourselves from egging — we recently met on an appropriately raw and overcast morning to score party favors and candy to appease the rowdy locals who will come calling on All Hallows’ Eve. Our challenge: Do it all for a modest sawbuck. Although this shopping spree took place at some of the Lower East Side’s most iconic budget-friendly retail establishments, you can easily duplicate our adventure with a "Shop Local" Chelsea option. the 99 cents store on 23rd Street (between Seventh and Eighth Avenues) is a good place to start!

M E E T Y O U R T H R I F T Y, S P O O K TA C U L A R H O S T S

YOUR $10 HALLOWEEN

#1: ECONOMY CANDY (108 Rivington St.) “There were many wonderful items out of our price range,” recalls Faceboy. “They even had a great selection of '70s-era records, on vinyl.” Wandering amidst the narrow aisles of sugary treats, Rev. Jen observed: “It’s like time traveling to a period when I didn’t know about diabetes” — then advised us to splurge. “If you don’t give kids recognizable candy,” she reasoned, “they will think you are a cheap shit.” Mindful of the risk of egging should we greet our trick-or-treaters with Necco Wafers instead of KitKats (but equally aware of our budget), we settled on the following:

· Candy House Buttons ($1.79) · Lucky Lights Candy Cigarettes (.75) Photos by Scott Stiffler

SAINT REVEREND JEN MILLER

T O TA L C O S T: $2.77

Originally from Middle Earth, Maryland, Rev. Jen is an “elf that lives in a Troll Museum above a shoe store, with a Chihuahua named Reverend Jen Junior.” She is “an Art Star, Troll Museum curator, writer, painter, Voice of the Downtrodden & Tired and Patron Saint of the Uncool.” Rev. Jen is the host of the former open mic, Rev. Jen's Anti-Slam (currently sans a venue), author of the books “Elf Girl” and “Live Nude Elf” (available everywhere) and co-founder of ASS Studios — the most underfunded motion picture studio in history. Grab a copy of their latest DVD, “ASS Studios Presents 4 Short Films” (featuring Faceboy as ASS's “Fairy Grant”), at Kim's Video and Music (124 First Ave.) or at a merchandiser near you. For more info, visit revjen.com.

Exiting the store with our classic candies, Faceboy said, “The Buttons [aka those sugar dots gently affixed to a strip of paper] are great, because they can be cut into individual pieces, yielding a plentiful bounty.”

FACEBOY Born and raised in Greenwich Village, Faceboy began a long friendship and collaboration with Rev. Jen when the two met in the mid-1990s — as he began what would become a 13-year run of “Faceboyz Open Mike” (which happened mostly at Surf Reality). Based on Rev. Jen’s dubbing her Anti-Slam performers as “Art Stars,” Faceboy declared Downtown’s emerging comedy performance circuit as the “Art Star Scene” (A.S.S.). Faceboy is currently producer and host of “Faceboyz Folliez.” The next show will be either Nov. 10 or 17. For updates, pics and more, visit facebook.com/faceboyzfolliez.

At Economy Candy, which Rev. Jen likens to a trip back in time (when she was blissfully unaware of diabetes).

#2 ESSEX STREET MARKET (120 Essex St.) Be it party centerpiece or doorstep mascot, every Halloween celebrant needs a pumpkin. At this market, notes Faceboy, “We didn't see pumpkins (though they might be there), but I spotted some fetching oranges. At three for a dollar, we could easily get a 33-cent orange and pretend it's a pumpkin. Scott pointed out that the Vitamin C would help ward off rickets — a ‘tragic consequence of the Lower East Side artist’s notoriously poor diet,’ he asserted. I was visibly peeved when they charged us 50 cents. Rev. told me to let it go — insisting, ‘Faceboy, you know that orange didn’t belong there. Our orange is clearly different from the others in that basket.’ ” So we bit the bullet and produced two quarters for our “poor man’s pumpkin.”

· One Small Orange (.50) TOTAL COST: .50

We stopped by a local deli, to gently cradle a pumpkin and share a moment of sadness at our inability to afford one this year.

Continued on page 25

October 17 - 30, 2012

It takes two ‘Duo’ showcases new works by a ‘great theatre polymath’ triple threat THEATER MARIO FRATTI’S “DOU”

Two Plays: “Suicide Club” & “Three Sisters and a Priest” Directed by Stephan Morrow Through Oct. 21 Thurs.-Sat., at 8pm & Sun. at 3pm At Theater for the New City 155 First Ave. (btw. 9th & 10th Sts. For tickets ($11.50), call 212-868-4444 or visit smarttix.com For info, call 212-254-1109 or visit theaterforthenewcity.net

Photo by Jonathan Slaff

BY MARTIN DENTON (of nytheatre.com) Most people, by the time they reach their 80s, are happy to stop working — or at least scale back their activities, reveling in a mode of relaxation and retirement that is well-deserved and richly earned.

Playwright Mario Fratti’s “Duo” brings two new tales to TNC.

But Mario Fratti is not most people. Instead, he is, at 85, as active as ever. Fratti has been working professionally in American theater since I was 2 years old — and he makes me look like a slacker.

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He’s the great theatre polymath: playwright, critic, teacher and advocate of drama that’s reflective politically, socially and sexually of the way people actually behave. He’s as prolific a writer as

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exists in the theatre today, and one of the most generous, helping artists progress at every stage of their career. He’s been enormously supportive of my work, especially NYTE Small Press, which published a collection of 28 of his shorter pieces, “Unpredictable Plays,” in 2007, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. (We just talked to Mario on the phone a few days ago and he promises another collection for his 90th). Fratti’s oeuvre spans 50 years and includes landmarks like the musical “Nine” (for which he wrote the translation from the Italian) and “The Cage,” which premiered off-Broadway in 1966 and has been seen in literally dozens of countries since. The distinguished theater critic/ anthologist Stanley Richards wrote, “As a dramatist, Fratti eschews the obscure and the enigmatic. A principled advocate of directness and immediate communication in the theater, Fratti’s plays are governed by a fine and firm creative hand.” Another of America’s great theater critics, Richard L. Coe, wrote, “His plays are strong, cogent and tightly knit. This, perhaps, explains Fratti’s particular gift of choosing a dramatic situation, keeping it alive with sharp dialogue, drawing unequivocal characters and driving to a point.” Last season, he had a quartet of gay-

Continued on page 24

October 17 - 30, 2012

Two takes on Fratti Continued from page 22 themed plays performed at Theater for the New City, helmed by director Stephan Morrow; and also a new oneact called “Obama 44,” a murder mystery about a woman who was an ardent supporter of our current president, which debuted at La MaMa. Fratti’s plays have titles like “Terrorist,” “Beata, the Pope’s Daughter,” “Che Guavara” and “Porno” that indicate the breadth of his curiosity about the world and passion for ideas of all stripes. Probably his most performed recent work is “Iraq (Blindness),” which is a short, stunning drama about a returning veteran who brings tragic and edifying news to the family of a fallen comrade-in-arms. Fratti reunites with Morrow, again at Theater for the New City, for a double bill of plays making their U.S. premieres. They are both vintage Fratti, moving from a provocative and unusual premise toward a twist that you almost certainly won’t see coming. As Robert Corrigan wrote (in the introduction to the anthology “Masterpieces of Italian Theater”), “Almost all of Fratti’s plays begin with a bizarre dramatic situation. This he then develops and exploits in innumerable ways. But his purpose is always to lead us from the distortions of reality to a fuller understanding for it. Fratti is not afraid of facing reality and he believes that one of the chief functions of the theater is to provide a direct confrontation with it.” So here’s what he’s got for us now: The first of the pair is “Three Sisters and a Priest,” which was inspired by Pope John Paul II’s 1999 statement that hell is “a state of mind, a self-willed exile from God.” Three elderly,

Photo by Jonathan Slaff

An unpredictable and surprising conclusion awaits a trio of characters, in “Suicide Club.”

wealthy sisters are fascinated and confused by the Holy Father's words and summon a priest to clarify them. (Watch out, Priest.) The second item is “Suicide Club,” in which a mother has joined a support group for survivors of family suicides — under false pretenses. The plays feature actors Deborah Offner, Carol Tammer, Mark Ethan, Maria Deasy, Connor Moore and Cheryl Freeman. TNC, long a home for Fratti’s work, makes it accessible and affordable, too — tickets are just $11.50. Where else can you see new work by one of the world’s most highly regarded international playwrights for such a low price? Two hallmarks of Fratti’s work are their candor about sexuality and their unexpected endings. These are certainly among the attributes I prize about his plays. The former is based, I think, in his Italian heritage. Even though Fratti has lived and worked in New York City since the early ‘60s (he taught at Hunter College for many years), his sensibility is decidedly post-war European — by which I mean that he lacks the provincialism and puritanical streak that we often find in American writers, and his world view is informed by a sense of internationalism and multi-culturalism that comes from having spent so many years in an adopted country and so much working time, to this day, abroad (Fratti travels wherever his work takes him, to Europe, Asia, and South America, and he is constantly delighted by the reception his plays receive in countries not his own). As for the endings, well, that’s the Fratti signature. He told me once that the key to writing a great play is to know the ending up front. “Come up with a great ending,” he says, “and the rest will easily follow.” We’ll see that principle in action, I am sure, at TNC.

October 17 - 30, 2012

Have yourself a cheap All Hallows’ Eve NOTE: A failure to take taxes into account caused us to go 11 cents over budget. “Rev. covered it,” says Faceboy, “and will be calculating how many sheets of toilet paper she can keep for her contribution.”

Continued from page 21

TOTAL COST: $3.24

#5 THE TROLL MUSEUM (aka Rev. Jen’s apartment)

Photos by Scott Stiffler

A Halloween with spirits: $3.60 got us rum and cups.

#3 JADE FOUNTAIN LIQUOR CORP. (123 Delancey St.) Faceboy suggested vodka, “because it goes with everything” — to which Rev. Jen noted, “Vodka is the new black.” We settled on rum, because of its seasonal multitasking properties. “Rum,” Faceboy noted, is a vital part of “Eggnogg, Hot Buttered Rum, Hot Apple Cider, Hot Felched Rum and Hot Rum Toddies just to name a few. We purchased a nice little bottle for $3.50. They also had small cups for 10 cents and smaller (urine sample-sized) for 5 cents. We purchased two of the smaller ones. This stop filled our depressive asses with temporary joy!”

helpful agent of personal hygiene. Faceboy advocated for a box of Party Snaps (those white twisty things that explode when tossed to the ground), noting they could be used “to frighten those deserving of a quick and harmless noise scare. We wanted to test our Snaps, but waited for an elderly person to pass out of range so as not to frighten her. Elders are the one population of potentially vulnerable adults that we're all guaranteed to join, unless we die!”

· Party Snaps (.50) · Mabel Clean & Soft 2-Ply Toilet Paper (.50) · Scary mask (.99) · Pirate mask (.99)

TOTAL COST: $3.60

#4 B & B VARIETY STORE (110 Ludlow St.) With just over three dollars left, we headed to the always reliable B&B — and it did not disappoint. Faceboy chose a foreboding plastic mask of indeterminate identity (just plain scary), and Rev. Jen went for a pirate mask — whose eye patch was admirably authentic, yet dangerous (no hole for the wearer’s eye). A roll of toilet paper would, we rationalized, later do triple duty as party decorations, mischievous “TP-ing” material and, of course, a

Oh, snap! Our toilet paper and Party Snaps prepped us for Oct. 31 tricks.

Faceboy recalls: “After hauling our tired, broken frames up the six flights of stairs, we were quickly cheered up when we saw just how far our $10 budget went. We had costumes, candy dots, decorations and candy cigarettes (they weren’t very good; we were hoping for the ones that allow you to blow out powdered sugar for that real kid smokin' a cig effect. But alas, ours were not of said variety). So we went about decorating, cutting dots and turning our lovely (overpriced) orange into our Halloween pumpkin. Oh, and drinking Rum!”

REV. JEN’S TIPS FOR TRICK OR TREATING:

Halloween really is the most existential of all holidays as it begs the question, “Who

am I? Am I just a ghost or am I a Queen?” If you are extremely existential, do as Faceboy did as a child. Wear a sign that says “I didn't know what I wanted to be.” Don't have money for a costume? Do you happen to have any of the plastic 1970s-style ones leftover from childhood? If you are a malnourished art star, you can probably still squeeze into them! If they don't fit, just safety pin them to your normal clothes! If you have long brown hair and wear elf ears daily as I do, just get an Arwen gown and be the regal Lord of the Rings babe. If you have a Chihuahua, it’s very easy to dress them as another elf such as Legolas, given their pointed ears.

REV. JEN’S PARTY IDEAS:

Download the sound of graveyard winds. Play it at high volume all night long to annoy your neighbors. Even if no one comes to your party, this is fun, fun, fun! Ask a creepy child to jump rope in front of your building while singing an even creepier song. Speaking of children, no child really wants candy. Give them pennies so they can save for college. A no-frills/no-fuss snack idea: Count Chocula!

October 17 - 30, 2012

KEEP ON TOP OF LOCAL CRIME IN THE

POLICE BLOTTER PAGE 10

www.chelseanow.com

October 17 - 30, 2012

Just Do Art! ICE THEATRE OF NY BENEFIT GALA No strangers to multitasking while navigating a razor-thin edge, this upcoming Benefit Gala from Ice Theatre of New York — a figure skating ensemble that’s been integrating the sensibilities of contemporary dance, music and art since 1984 — entertains while raising funds for a good cause. All proceeds will help fund ITNY’s New Works and Young Artists Series — an outreach program for NYC public school children, as well as its 2012-2013 season's artistic programming. “Dare to be Debonair” sees ITNY welcoming special guest Richard “Mr. Debonair” Dwyer (one of the most popular performers in the history of show skating and a Guinness Book of World Records holder for Longest Professional Skating Career). Other featured performers of equally impressive accomplishment include Tai Babilonia, Dorothy Hamill, Linda Fratianne and JoJo Starbuck. The ITNY company will perform pieces from its repertory, including works from NYC dance choreographers. Mon., Oct. 22, 7pm (cocktail reception to follow). At the Chelsea Piers Sky Rink (21st & West Sts.). Single benefit tickets are $350 and up. For performance only, $25. To order, call 212-929-5811 or email itny@icetheatre. org. Also visit icetheatre.org for info on the 2012-2013 season.

MUSIC: PIT STOP PLAYERS PRESENT “PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES” Always heard but seldom (if ever) seen, the identity of a Broadway pit musician is shrouded in mystery. Normally, a Pit Stop Players concert affords them the opportunity to step onto the stage and reveal themselves to the world. But this is no normal gig from the 14-member chamber ensemble (who’ve collectively played in pit orchestras for over 120 Broadway productions). “Paranormal Activities” is a Halloweenthemed concert in which the group will perform in costume — thus, ironically, concealing their true selves. Audience members are encouraged to help increase the air of mystery by also showing up in costume. Conductor and composer Joshua Rosenblum, who presides over the fun, assures that the evening will have its dark side as well: “This is a collection of great scary music,” says Rosenblum of the creative content. Selections will include Louis Levy’s theme from the film “Sabotage,” George Lessner’s “Ride of the Headless Horseman” (from the Broadway production of “Sleepy Hollow”) and the world premiere of Rosenblum’s “Zombies Eating Pie.” The Players assume no responsibility for restless dreams — but they do promise that your nightmares will have a killer soundtrack. Mon., Oct. 29, 7:30 pm, at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Benzaquen Hall (450 West 37th St., btw. Ninth & Tenth Aves.). For tickets ($25, $15 for students), purchase cash only at the door or visit smarttix.com. For info on the Pit Stop Players, visit rosenblummusic.com or facebook.com/pitstopplayers.

Photo by Nicholas Prout

Dressed to kill…and make music: The Pit Stop Players.

Photo by Vicki S Luy

Great skating, for a good cause: Former Olympic Champion Tenley Albright and Richard Dwyer.

HOW TO BREAK Some shows, like some unwelcome life obstacles, are too daunting to tackle alone. With that in mind, HERE Arts Center called in reinforcements — in the form of Collective Consciousness Theatre and the Hip-Hop Theater Festival — for their first-ever co-producing endeavor. The result is a human beat-boxing, breaking, popping, locking, multimedia graffiti art production being presented by startHERE Program: Innovative Theatre for Young People. Playwright Aaron Jafferis, pioneering breakers Kwikstep and Rokafella, beatboxers Adam Matta and Yako 440 — along with composer Rebecca Hart and director Christopher Edwards — combine their formidable talents to tell the story of three troubled souls who unite to help two bodies in crisis. “How to Break” transports the audience into a hospital room where a socially awkward pediatric hematologist, a music therapist/yoga teacher and a nurse with a beatboxing problem try to save (or at least not screw up) an impulsive but intuitive b-boy with sickle cell anemia and a defiantly independent b-girl with leukemia. Together, all involved make a connection as they struggle to rise above the limitations of their diagnosis and redefine what it means to be “ill.” Select performances of “How to Break” are followed by interactive panel discussions. On Oct. 24, “Total Chaos: Hip-Hop Culture & the ensemble creation process” takes you behind the scenes of the show. On Oct. 25, “Ill Art: Is Laughter Really The Best Medicine?” explores the role of creativity and humor in the healing process — and on Oct. 28, “CoSMO” invites health care practitioners to respond to the social, psychological and medical questions posed by the play. Previews begin Thurs., Oct. 18, for an Oct. 23-Nov. 4 run. Performances are Tues.-Sat. at 7pm (with 2pm matinees on Sun., Oct. 28 & Nov. 4; 10:30pm performances on Fri., Oct. 26 & Nov. 2; no show Oct. 31). At HERE (145 Sixth Ave., 1 block below Spring St.). For tickets ($10 in advance, $18 24 hours prior, $20 on day of show), call 212-352-3101 or visit here.org. This production, FREE for students with valid student ID, is appropriate for ages 12 and up (strong language). For more info on the creative team, visit socialchangetheatre.org and hhtf.org.

Photo courtesy of Trevor J. Martin

All about getting ill: Pedro Morillo, in “How to Break.”

Were you married in New York since gay marriage was legalized? We want to hear your story for our upcoming Gay Wedding Guide! Fill in the information below and email it to RSVP@gaycitynews.com Your names: Wedding Date: Wedding Location: # Guests: Describe your wedding day: Most important to you that day: “We didn’t plan on…”: Advice for other couples:

October 17 - 30, 2012