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VOLUME 5, NUMBER 32 NOVEMBER 20, 2013

THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CHELSEA, HUDSON YARDS & HELL'S KITCHEN

Air Rights Grounded in Discussion, as Cuomo Signs Bill

Big Wheel Keeps on Turning

Photo by Roger Miller

Time appears to have stopped at the end of Hudson River Park’s Pier 66, at least according to a clock that counts the rotations of a waterwheel called “Long Time.” See the December 4 issue of Chelsea Now, for an interview with Paul Ramirez Jonas, designer of the public art piece whose clock was damaged by Sandy.

Changes Coming to CB4 BY EILEEN STUKANE The elections weren’t over on November 5 — at least not for Community Board 4 (CB4). In an evening filled with news of change, CB4’s current officers presided over their next-to-last full board meeting on Wednesday, November 6, at the Fulton Center Auditorium. City Councilmember elect Corey Johnson, who will be leaving the chairmanship of CB4, received con-

gratulations from many on his sweeping victory the day before. Betty Mackintosh, chair of CB4’s seven-member nominating committee, presented a slate of new officers whose election will be determined at the next full board meeting — December 4, at the Hotel Trades Council Auditorium (305 W. 44th St.). After interviewing and vetting candidates, the nominating committee recom-

mended for: Chair: Christine Berthet; 1st Vice Chair: Hugh Weinberg; 2nd Vice Chair: Delores Rubin; Co-Secretary: Frank Holozubiec; Co-Secretary: Miranda Nelson. This meeting offered a last chance for nominations from the floor, and Burt Lazarin took the opportunity to nominate Raoul Larios for 2nd Vice Chair. The nomination was seconded, and Larios accepted.

Continued on page 4

BY SAM SPOKONY & LINCOLN ANDERSON On the same day that around 200 Lower West Side residents gathered to discuss their fears about a bill that would allow the transfer and sale of Hudson River Park’s air rights, Governor Andrew Cuomo finally signed the bill into law. Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, had just finished his introductory speech at the Wednesday, November 13 Town Hall meeting, around 7pm, when word came that Cuomo had signed the bill. Berman took the news with a smile — he never gave a hint of frustration or defeat — and informed the crowd. Most people at that meeting (held at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard’s Church, on W. 14th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.) had understood that Cuomo probably wasn’t going to veto the bill, which in fact would have become law even if the governor had simply not taken any action on it by midnight that evening. But there were still plenty of groans throughout the room.

“We need transparency,” said Bill Borock, president of the Council of Chelsea Block Associations (a co-sponsor of the meeting, along with organizations including Save Chelsea and the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club). “We don’t need legislation passed without appropriate input and feedback from the impacted communities.” Many residents in Chelsea, the West Village and Tribeca have been opposed to the legislation ever since it passed the state Senate and Assembly at the very end of the Legislative session in June. The legislation will allow an estimated 1.6 million square feet of Hudson River Park’s air rights to be transferred one block east the park. Madelyn Wils, CEO of the Trust, attended part of Wednesday’s meeting — but neither she nor anyone else from the Trust chose to contribute to the evening’s discussion. Wils has supported the transfer of air rights, claiming that it is the best way to save the park and keep it financially stable. Minutes after it was learned that the legislation had been signed into law, Wils

Continued on page 3

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

Community Ponders Air Rights, as Ink Dries on Cuomo’s Desk Continued from page 1 was asked for a comment while she was leaving the room, but she declined. “We’re going to put out a press release on it,” was all she said. And although nearly everyone else at the meeting had been against the transfer of air rights, some were already looking on the bright side of the situation. “I’m optimistic about the future,” said Arthur Schwartz, the Village Democratic district leader and a Community Board 2 (CB2) member, who cited the upcoming shift in city government that will be led by Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio. Schwartz explained his belief that Community Boards 1, 2 and 4 — all of which border parts of Hudson River Park — will actually have significant advisory input on a future ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure) or some other development process, since he thinks the city’s elected officials will at some point be open to negotiating with the community boards. “There’s a lot that’s going to change on this issue, and there’s also the fact that de Blasio is going to put five new people on the [Hudson River Park Trust] board, and [Borough Presidentelect] Gale Brewer is going to put three new people on that board,” said Schwartz. “I trust de Blasio and Brewer on this, and even though I know some people here don’t agree with me on it, I trust Madelyn Wils, too. She’s going to be committed to working with the community boards.” But after Wednesday’s meeting had finished, Berman stressed that while he, too, respects the city’s progressive politicians, he puts his faith in the neighborhood first. “Any elected official, no matter how great they might be, won’t be around forever,” he said. “We can’t take anything for granted, and this is really just the beginning of this process. What’s most important now is for residents to stay involved in the issue, because the real work on this begins within the community.” Other elected officials and politicos at the meeting included Assemblymembers Richard Gottfried and Deborah Glick, Councilmemberelect Corey Johnson and CB2 Chairperson David Gruber. In related news, Village activist Jean-Louis Bourgeois, the son of renowned sculptor Louise Bourgeois, has retained attorney Norman Siegel to challenge the air rights legislation. On Wednesday, Siegel, in a phone interview with The Villager (our sister publication), confirmed that he had been retained by Bourgeois. “We will be looking at the issue,” Siegel said. “And our position will be that, for city-owned air rights, the transfer must include ULURP. If they don’t do that, it would be the first challenge.” ULURP is generally a seven-month-long public process, involving reviews by the affected community boards, as well as the borough president and City Planning Commission, followed by a vote by the full City Council. Siegel said his understanding is that part of the five-mile-long park is city-owned and part is state-owned. “We will have architects review city maps” to determine exactly who owns what, he stated. “The city-owned air rights require ULURP,”

Photo by Sam Spokony

At Nov. 13’s Town Hall meeting, Bill Borock (president of the Council of Chelsea Block Associations) spoke about the need for transparency.

Siegel said. Regardless of whether the state has a similar required public review process or not, it should have one, Siegel stated. “It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “We’re talking about huge consequences for the West Side. The principles and values of ULURP should be applied statewide, as well.” It was not immediately clear who has ultimate jurisdiction over the Hudson River Park’s property — and, hence, its air rights. In terms of which parts of the park are — or were — owned by the state and city, it’s the state south of about 34th Street and the city above that. Asked if Pier 40 is owned by the city or state, Tobi Bergman, chairperson of CB2’s Land Use Committee, told The Villager the massive West Houston Street pier is state-owned. However, he then added, “It’s been a long time since that mattered because the Park Act turned everything over to the Trust.” Overall, Siegel said, the way the legislation was passed — at 5am on the legislative session’s last day, with no prior community notification or opportunity for public comment — is plain wrong. “What smells here is the process,” he said. “Government officials have learned by now that secrecy breeds mistrust. And this process is and has been fraught with mistrust.” The attorney said he anticipates that local community groups will join Bourgeois in the challenge. He said he’s calling it a challenge rather than a lawsuit at this point, because there are ways to achieve ends that don’t involve litigation, at least as a first step. Siegel had a prior speaking engagement Wednesday night, but did have two representatives at the organizing meeting at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

Bell Tolls for ‘Boys in The Band’ Building Continued from page 1

JOBS PROJECT TO EXPAND

Larios, currently co-chair of CB4’s Budget and Jobs Task Force, rose to announce the first anniversary of CB4’s Community Jobs Project. At the one year mark, the Project has a dozen employers in the community posting opportunities on CB4’s jobs webpage: nyc.gov/html/ mancb4/html/job_opportunities/jobs3.shtml. The goal is to pair community businesses with job seekers in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen/ Clinton. Friends of the High Line, the first organization to sign on, continues to post. The Hudson River Park Trust and Housing Conservation Coordinators, Inc. are also among the participants. Larios emphasized, “These are good jobs, good paying jobs and jobs with good benefits.” His goal is to bring at least 20 percent of CB4’s over 100,000 residents to the webpage, and to increase the number of employers who post openings. Right now, the project is anchored in the good will of employers seeking to optimize relations within the community. To bring others into the project, Larios spoke about his plan to explore Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) — which require developers to commit to addressing social and economic issues such as local transportation, jobs and housing

Photo by Jean-Daniel Noland

Built in 1898, the First Evangelical United Brethren Church later became Theater Four (where “The Boys In The Band” played). The building will soon be torn down, to make way for affordable housing.

in the their projects. The first CBA was created in 2001 when an agreement was struck for a hotel-and-entertainment project being developed next to the Staples Center in Los Angeles. More recently, a CBA was created in CB11’s East Harlem community. As part

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of the East River Project Development, developers agreed to commit $350,000 for four years to a mutually agreed upon nonprofit organization that would pre-screen potential job candidates from the community. According to Larios, the developer would interview qualified candidates from this pool before going outside the community, and hire a target 75 percent from within the community. “When it comes to the large ULURP [Uniform Land Use Review Procedure] projects that regularly come through CB4, such as Chelsea Market, Pier 57 and the Culture Shed, I think we can negotiate much better terms,” said Larios.

THE FALL AND RISE OF 19TH CENTURY BUILDINGS

Many development projects that involve conversions or demolitions of buildings come before CB4 — but rarely does a building receive the special farewell that CB4 member Jean-Daniel Noland gave 424 West 55th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues), the church that became a groundbreaking theater. “The building is going to be torn down for affordable housing,” said Noland. “Before it is gone, let us take a moment to remember its history.” Built in 1898 as the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, the building was originally a refuge for German immigrants. In 1962, the interior was converted into Theater Four — and on April 14, 1968, “The Boys In The Band” opened there. “This was the first play to portray a group of gay male characters on stage,” said Noland. “It was controversial, shocking, and it ran for over a thousand performances. ‘Boys In The Band’ has been called one of the few plays that can claim to have helped start a social revolution. A year after it opened, the Stonewall Riot erupted.” The theater also become home to the Negro Ensemble Company, “and in that space on West 55th Street in 1981, Charles Fuller’s ‘A Soldier’s Play’ won a Pulitzer Prize. Laurence Fishburne, Moses Gunn, Phylicia Rashad and Denzel Washington performed

there.” The Manhattan Theater Club resided there for a while until finally, it became the Julia Miles Theater of the Women’s Project (the only women’s theater company to have its own stage). Noland distributed photos of the building and encouraged everyone to celebrate and remember that for over half-a-century, it provided “a space where men and women could create plays which played an important part in the struggle for acceptance, dignity and empowerment for all men and women in this country.” Another 19th Century building that received attention of a different kind during the meeting: the Windermere, built in 1881 at 400 West 57th Street. After being vacant and derelict since 2007, the landmark building’s new owner, Mark Tress of Windermere Properties, is proposing a restoration and conversion to a 175-room boutique hotel. Issues involving Tress’ plans drew comments from the developer’s lawyer and four community residents who spoke out during the public comment session, and prompted lengthy discussion during the member session. Citing architectural reasons, CB4’s Landmarks Committee objected to a ninth floor for the building. Community residents were more concerned about the rooftop addition’s possible use as a venue for music, food and public gatherings. The Landmarks Committee also wants a proposed wheelchair lift designed less obtrusively, with respect to the building’s entry porticos. Michael Silverman, lawyer for the owners, acknowledged that they were at the beginning of the development process, and they would be returning for future meetings of committees. “We recognize that there are quality of life and security concerns,” he said, “We thank the board for starting the process for us,” he said, adding, “We want to be a good neighbor.” At the turn of the 20th Century, the Windermere was a residence for unmarried women. It continued to be well-run into the 1970s when it was a building of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units and small apartments. In the 1980s, owners harassed the tenants so violently that they were criminally indicted, fined and jailed. The Windermere devolved into emptiness and disrepair until the Tress purchase — but the building’s history led to the Clinton Cure For Harassment, which requires the new owners to provide 28 percent of existing residential floor area to affordable housing for households earning no more than 80 percent of the New York City area median income. Tress plans to work with the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, which would offer senior housing only, to people 55 and over. CB4 questioned this skewed population, since tenants of all ages were forced out during times of harassment. Zoning is also an issue, as the owners want to take the 68,546 square feet of floor area and after gutting the interior, apply for a waiver for 40,000 additional square feet for commercial use. After member discussion, Johnson acknowledged that the Windermere conver-

Continued on page 17

November 20 - December 3, 2013

With Gratitude, a Grandson Takes the Caretaker Role BY ROGER MILLER Darlene Waters, 67, struggled with her iPhone in the lobby of the Hudson Guild Community Center — so she asked for help from her grandson Justin Waters, 25. Dressed in jeans and a hoodie, he swiped and tapped a few times on the screen, and the problem was fixed. This sort of interaction has been routine since Justin got a job working as a systems analyst at Hudson Guild. But for years, their roles were reversed. When Justin was born, Associated Child Services called from the hospital to ask her to take custody of him. Waters didn’t want to go into specifics, but said her son was just too young at the time, and that his girlfriend was living on the streets and didn’t want the responsibility. So, with the help of her own mother, Waters raised her grandson in the same three-bedroom apartment where she had grown up (in the Elliott-Chelsea Houses, on 26th St. & Tenth Avenue). Their situation is far from unique. In 2011, almost eight million children in the U.S. —10 percent of all U.S. kids — were living with a grandparent, according to a study published this September by the Pew Research Center. But it’s been a long time since Waters cooked for her grandson, dressed him and walked him to school and back. These days, it’s Justin who helps her with her phone and computer, carries her groceries and contributes financially. Every month, Justin gives a portion of his salary to his grandmother. He said he didn’t always have this kind of relationship with her. In 2011, Justin was working on a bachelor’s degree in entertainment technology at New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn, when his great-grandmother died. He said he dropped out in part to comfort and support his grandmother, and in part because the loss was so devastating that he couldn’t focus on school. “That was the darkest day for us,” he said. “But we grew closer afterwards. It made me realize how much I appreciate her, and that I need to take more time with her.” Justin said he plans on returning to the same college to finish his degree in a year, after he finishes up some projects with Hudson Guild. He said he wants a higher paying job, maybe working behind the scenes in movies. For now, though, wherever Justin goes, he said his grandmother is coming with him. As soon as he can, he said he wants to move her to a safer neighborhood. Waters laughed and asked, “Where are you going to find a safer neighborhood than this?” Both she and her grandson said that the Hudson Guild

Photo by Roger Miller

The feeling’s mutual: Darlene Waters and grandson Justin both appreciate where they’ve been, and where they’re going.

community has played a huge part in Justin’s upbringing. Since he was three, she said Justin was acting in the community theater at the Hudson Guild. “He was never out on the corner,” recalls Waters. “He was always teaching me computer stuff, acting and playing on sports teams.” She said she also had occasional help from her son Andre, Justin’s father, who would sometimes take him on weekends. “People assume that kids like me were left by parents who couldn’t deal with the responsibility,” said Justin. “But my father did have a presence in my life. He hung out with me on weekends and took me out for haircuts. The reality is, some parents just need more help than others, and that’s what grandparents can provide.”

November 20 - December 3, 2013

99 Cents Creation Returns, but Struggles in New Location BY HEATHER DUBIN The shelves at 99 Cents Creation are stacked with gold paper plates, boxed pulpo (octopus) and pliers. Owner Afsar Khan is dedicated to finding the lowest priced household goods and supplies possible for his customers, and strives to sell his inventory for under a dollar. Previously located on 23rd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues for 14 years, Khan, who was unable to afford a triple increase in rent, was forced to move 99 Cents Creation over to 24th Street (midblock between Sixth and Seventh Avenues) this past May). In a recent interview, Khan spoke candidly about the new space, and how he may have to leave if business does not pick up. Originally from New Delhi, India, Kahn used to sell and export Indian handicrafts. His start in the 99-cent business began in 1998 when he worked for a discount store in New York before opening his own. Kahn, who lives in Rochester, opened his first 99 Cents Creation in White Plains, and was there for five years. A store in New Rochelle followed, and when that lease expired after seven years, the renewal went to Citibank instead of him. After securing a ten-year lease in 1999 at 23rd Street, Kahn flourished there. When it came time to renew his lease in 2010, he

Photo by Heather Dubin

Back in business: 99 Cents Creation owner Afsar Khan, left, and General Manager Mamdou Diaman.

was able to work out a deal with the sublease owner and remain month-to month, which he did for two years. “They were looking for more rent, and wanted $30,000 a month,” he said. Under his ten-year lease, Kahn paid $7,000 in rent for his first year, with a three percent

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increase for each successive year, plus taxes. During his interview with Chelsea Now, Kahn produced the final rent check for his 23rd Street store (not cashed, since the $11,604.83 was taken from his security deposit). “When I see this check, I really feel it, because I was really making money in that location to support my family,” Kahn said. “I have four children, and two are in college.” Kahn pleaded with the sublease owner to remain at 23rd Street, noting he was a good tenant and always paid rent on time. But according to Kahn, the sublease owner was unyielding, and told him, “I know, but it’s business.” Currently, the business able to swing that unobtainable rent for Kahn is 7-Eleven. “They’re [7-Eleven] paying almost $25,000 for a couple of years. I think they have a deal to increase in a couple of years too,” Kahn said. He also speculated that the owners of 7-Eleven spent $100,000 to fix the space prior to moving in. “I can’t afford that,” he added. Kahn has a ten-year lease with a fiveyear option, and rent is $10,800 a year, including taxes, at 24th Street, which is a smaller space. But while the rent may be less, customer traffic to 99 Cents Creation is not what it used to be. The old spot had 300 to 400 customers daily, with an average purchase of $10 to $15. On the quiet block of 24th Street, Kahn sees less than 200 customers daily, and an average purchase is $5 to $6. “Here, I’m in very bad shape,” he said. Because the new location is near a Whole Foods (on 23rd Street and Seventh Avenue), Kahn thought he had the market cornered for discount products. “My math failed. My calculation failed. I thought there was no competition because of the price range. And I’m close to where I was the last 14 years. That counts,” he said. Kahn has hired a man to walk around the 23rd Street and the surrounding area with a

sign announcing the new address. However, many familiar faces have yet to appear. “We’re requesting people tell their friends, but my sales are stuck. It’s bothering me,” Kahn said. He wanted to stay in the neighborhood to remain loyal to customers who were upset when he closed the 23rd Street store. “That brought me back here. Unfortunately, I’m not getting enough business to meet my expenses,” he said, noting that his staff has been whittled down to one cashier and one person on the floor, to help control expenses and survive. If the store does not experience a customer boom in a couple of months, Kahn will need to go elsewhere. “I’m looking now for a corner located on Eighth Avenue,” he said. “If I can find one, I will honestly move. I don’t know if it’s possible because people are asking so much for rent.” Additionally, Kahn feels that 99-cent stores are at a disadvantage with landlords. “People don’t have a good impression with the tenant as a 99-cent store. They think their value will go down. They want more rent, and rich tenants like a bigger store,” he said. Kahn has another 99 Cents Creation in the Bronx (on Third Avenue and 163rd Street), where he is able to meet his rent and pay bills. Kahn attributes his ability to sell items for less to his expertise. He searches for the least expensive distributor, which he refers to as the “backbone of the business.” Once he finds the best deal he can, Kahn marks up each item 20 to 25 percent. From experience, Kahn has discovered that merchandise will not sell at a higher price — although some brand name items such as cleaning products are three to five dollars. “Customers want it cheap because of the economy,” he said.

Continued on page 7

November 20 - December 3, 2013

Discount Store May Have to Move, Yet Again Continued from page 6 “These people are very happy when they do their shopping. They pay $20 and leave with a big bag,” he said, adding that one cannot do that at Duane Reade. A favorite customer item is olive soap, for $1.49. Kahn would not admit to liking one particular thing. “Every item is a favorite for me because I buy with my heart. I want to make sure it will sell,” he said. Kahn’s main concern is quality for the best price. “I’m the only person selling in this neighborhood for these prices and this range. I have so many items, and the quality is not junk,” he said. This is why Mamdou Diaman, store manager, who is from Senegal and has five children, ages five to 15, has worked for Kahn for eight years. “One of the reasons I stay with this boss is because of the way he picks the items, and also the variety,” he said. “The difference between my boss and other 99-cent store managers is that he cares about the quality when people shop.” Diaman’s favorite item in the store is the pulpo in marinara sauce, which he buys every week. Earlier that morning he ordered six cases to replenish the stock. Lately, customers have been buying lots of paper goods. “Once they come in, they will always pick up something,” he said. Diaman was more optimistic than Kahn about the new location. He mentioned that scaffolding, which had obscured the storefront, was recently removed. Also, Diaman is hopeful that two new bars slated to open

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Owner Afsar Khan holds a sign that’s used to draw customers to the new 24th St. location.

around Christmas will transform the dimly lit block. “I just feel when you are not on the main street, the recovery time will take longer for people to find you,” he said. “Every day we have new people who are referred by the old customers. They’re really helping us to spread the news that we’ve moved.”

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

The Unfortunate Road to Religious Exemptions TALKING POINT BY PAUL SCHINDLER When the Senate last week, in a 62-34 bipartisan vote, approved the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the achievement was noteworthy primarily for one reason –– it was the first time either house of Congress had approved such a measure with protections for transgender Americans included. The House passed the bill in 2007, but incorporated only provisions regarding sexual orientation, not gender identity as well. The Senate action likely does not foretell ultimate victory on this measure, which would remedy the failure of 29 states to provide any gay rights protections and 33, including New York, to offer relief to the transgender community. That’s because even before the bill got its final vote on the Senate floor, Republican House Speaker John Boehner put out the word that it would lead to “frivolous litigation” that would kill “small business jobs.” Ten GOP senators saw through that reflexive type of response, but Boehner, as usual, is playing to the far right in his House caucus. If the House Republicans are unwilling to stanch their

losses among Latino voters by taking on immigration reform, it’s probably not surprising they can’t see how increasingly out of step with the American public they are on LGBT rights as well. The unlikelihood of ENDA’s enactment in the current Congress should be seized on by the LGBT community to right a wrong in the bill passed by the Senate –– its craven surrender to the religious right on the question of religious exemptions. The 1964 Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination in areas like housing and public accommodation as well as employment, made use of the concept of religious exemptions to allow religious organizations to base decisions such as their hiring on religion. A Catholic parish could show a preference for hiring Catholics; a mosque could staff itself with Islamic adherents. What such institutions could generally not do is base employment decisions on other proscribed categories. A synagogue was not free use to racial tests in hiring, for example. At the same time, the Catholic Church, of course, is free to limit its choice of priests by gender. Using a religious exemption to practice discrimination otherwise outlawed could be justified only by showing a close and reasonable nexus between the discrimination and the religious

tenet being protected. As gay rights protections grew up, the concept of religious exemptions began to be stretched further in that same direction –– based on the widespread belief, even among liberal friends of the LGBT community, that religious objections to homosexuality typically have more validity than any religiouslybased objection to a person’s race or gender. Like women, a gay man’s status is seen per se as incompatible with service as a priest –– or as a clergy member in many faiths. As a general principle, however, it was easier under many laws to demonstrate a defensible nexus between barring gay and lesbian employment and protecting an exempted religious activity or function. Gay people, in that way, could be excluded not only from the role of clergy but also from many other activities within a religious organization. Where our community has generally been successful in drawing the line has been on the question of public accommodations. While a church or parish house can limit employment, a Catholic hospital, university, or social service agency that provides its services more generally to the public at large can typically not discriminate under most state and local LGBT rights laws. That same protection is not afforded by ENDA. Defenders of the religious exemption

language in the bill adopted by the Senate argue they have simply “cut and pasted” the language from the 1964 Civil Rights Act. What that means, however, is that a religious organization’s ability to differentiate employees based on their religion is now extended to their sexual orientation and gender identity as well. Tico Almeida is the leader of Freedom to Work, a leading LGBT rights group, but he was also the author of the exemption language, which he now defends, when he worked as a US House committee counsel. He has acknowledged that it would allow Catholic Charities, a major social service employer in many big cities, to hire and fire based on sexual identity or gender identity. That, as several critics have noted, amounts to “a license to discriminate,” one that cripples ENDA but will also weaken ongoing efforts to extend anti-bias protections to areas beyond employment and at the state and local government level. It’s unfortunate that leading LGBT legal advocacy groups, who recognize the danger here, have elected to hold their fire, hoping to amend the bill after a new Congress takes office in 2015. Having won Senate approval based on concessions we never should have made, it could be a politically daunting task to try to take them back in 18 months.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Rain didn’t dampen Gottfried’s enthusiasm To The Editor: A shout out and a big Thank You! to Assemblymember Richard Gottfried and his Deputy Chief of Staff David Czyczk for the hands-on help they gave us on Sunday, November 17. In spite of the rain, they pitched in, turning over the rocksolid, hardpacked soil in the eight tree pits around Clement Clarke Moore Park (at the corner of West 22nd St. and 10th Ave.). Dick wielded a ferocious, four-pronged “claw” loaned to us by the West 300 Block Association — exactly what was needed to open up the dirt for composting and new plants. Come the spring, that corner of Chelsea will be much more beautiful thanks to their efforts. Thanks also to Clayton Harley and Mary Swartz for all the work they did too on Sunday. Allen Oster Chair of the Parks Committee West 400 Block Association

Our political coverage is crazy, like Fox! To The Editor: Re “Johnson to Succeed Quinn as District 3 City Council Rep” (reader web comment): I didn’t work for the Kurland campaign, but by the time the primary was over, I could not find it in myself to vote for Johnson. What I find very offensive is the editorial slant of this paper — and its other publications the Villager and Gay City News — that are seemingly on the payroll of the Quinn/

Duane/Johnson political machine. The Villager and its editors are the Fox News of Lower Manhattan. Chelsea Deborah

Foes would curb capitalism, opportunity To The Editor: Re “Letters to The Editor” (Nov. 6): Being Anti-7-Eleven seems to be the cause du jour. Two letters-to-the-editor have appeared in the same issue of Chelsea Now, decrying the newly opened 7-Eleven on 23rd Street near Seventh Avenue. The ever-militant Gloria Sukenick asks why we are being subjected to what she sees as “an invasion,” while Diana Maeurer asks, “Where is the zoning?” It appears that both women feel that the neighborhood should contain only the sort of shops they approve of, and in only the quantity that they feel is appropriate. Ms. Maeurer goes a step further and seems to believe that their choice is already embodied in the Zoning Resolution. These letter-writers may regret the fact, but we live in a capitalistic country where each person has a right to invest his capital in any legal venture, and can locate that business in any part of the city that doesn’t bar it. A 7-Eleven is a commercial use that can be located in any commercial zone. As no liquor is sold there, there are no restrictions concerning how far from the entrance to a church or synagogue it can be located, or how far from a similar establishment. No one is forcing either Ms. Sukenick or Ms. Maeurer to patronize any of the proliferating 7-Elevens in our neighborhood. There is

no requirement that those women partake of any of the junk foods of which they complain. No part of their taxes is going to subsidize those stores. It is especially surprising that Ms. Sukenick is complaining, as she is usually exceedingly aggressive in her defense of the right of everyone to exercise free choice, and she doesn’t hide her distaste for the Thatcher-like rule-making of Michael Bloomberg. I too see no need for still more fast food stores, just as I see no need for still more bank branches. I would much prefer it if the many long-shuttered hardware stores could return, along with the bookstores that used to abound. But such minor inconveniences pale in comparison to my rejoicing in the glory of this country where anyone who is willing to invest his hard-earned capital, and work long hours to be his own boss and open a store, is able to do so, and to continue doing so until he realizes that the meager return is not worth the Sisyphean effort. It is a precious freedom to be able to lose your savings in a foolhardy venture of your own making. Too bad some people would curb that opportunity. Andrew Alpern

Stairs only option, a year after Sandy To The Editor: Re “High Line on Track for Final Section, New Leadership” (news, Nov 6):

Continued on page 9

November 20 - December 3, 2013

Community Contacts To be listed, email info to scott@chelseanow.com. COMMUNITY BOARD 4 (CB4) CB4 serves Manhattan’s West Side neighborhoods of Chelsea and Clinton/ Hell’s Kitchen. Its boundaries are 14th St. on the south, 59/60th St. on the north, the Hudson River on the west, 6th Ave. on the east (south of 26th St.) and 8th Ave. on the east (north of 26th St.). The board meeting, open to the public, is normally the first Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is Wed., Dec. 4, 6:30pm, at the Hotel Trades Council Auditorium (305 W. 44th St., btw. 8th & 9th Aves.). 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 NewYork 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

cgc.nyc@gmail.com or like them on Facebook. Also visit chelseagardenclub.blogspot.com.

York’s tourism industry. The Theatre District, Times Square, Carnegie Hall, the Empire State Building and two of the region’s transportation hubs (Grand Central Station and Penn Station) fall within CB5. The board meeting, open to the public, happens on the second Thursday of the month. The next meeting is Thurs., Dec. 12, 6pm, at Xavier High School (30 W. 16th St., btw. 5th & 6th Aves., 2nd fl.). Call 212465-0907, visit cb5.org or email them at office@cb5.org. THE 300 WEST 23RD, 22ND & 21ST STREETS BLOCK ASSOCIATION Contact them at 300wb@gmail.com. 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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Revival does Tennessee proud It is well and good that the High Line is expanding, and salutations to the new leadership. However, long before Superstorm Sandy, about 18 months ago, the 23rd Street park elevator was taken out of service. This closure has not been remedied. The result is that our seniors, our disabled and young families are simply unable to avail themselves to the park. This is a situation that requires an immediate response. The explanation that there is no money for this project does not add up!

To The Editor: Re “The Mutilated is a Magical Gumbo You Won’t Soon Forget” (arts, Nov. 6): Mesmerizing performances from the lead ladies, wonderful original music, and terrific direction. And on top of that, it’s Tennessee Williams at his most deliciously tawdry/touching/ beautiful. I only wish it had been staged with The Gnadiges Fraulein, as it was when it opened on Broadway in 1966. But I’m being greedy. That’s how marvelous this production is. I wanted more. Just like Celeste.

Alan Brown

KCB

Continued from page 8

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he 2004 federal budget proposed by the Bush administration on February 3 is drawing both praise and criticism from gay and AIDS groups. “Generally, we have a mixed reaction to it,” said Winnie Stachelberg, political director at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), even as some leading AIDS groups, including the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), were more critical. The proposal includes a $100 million increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), a $5 million dollar increase in the Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS

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Member of the National Newspaper Association Chelsea Now is published biweekly by NYC Community Media LLC, 515 Canal St., Unit 1C, New York, NY 10013. (212) 229-1890. Annual subscription by mail in Manhattan and Brooklyn $75. Single copy price at office and newsstands is 50 cents. The entire contents of newspaper, including advertising, are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher - © 2010 NYC Community Media LLC, Postmaster: Send address changes to Chelsea Now, 145 Sixth Ave., First Fl., New York, N.Y. 10013.

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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.

PENN SOUTH The Penn South Program for Seniors provides recreation, education and social services — and welcomes volunteers. For info, call 212-2433670 or visit pennsouthlive.com. THE BOWERY RESIDENTS’ COMMITTEE: HOMELESS HELPLINE If you know of anyone who is in need of their services, call the Homeless Helpline at 212-533-5151, and the BRC will send someone to make contact. This number is staffed by outreach team leaders 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous. For more info, visit brc.org. THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY CENTER At 208 W. 13th St. (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Visit gaycenter.org or call 212620-7310.

volunteer programs oriented to individual, family and community needs. Call 212-879-7400 or visit burdencenter.org. FRIENDS OF HUDSON RIVER PARK Visit fohrp.org or call 212-757-0981. HUDSON RIVER PARK TRUST Visit hudsonriverpark.org or call 212627-2020. STATE SENATOR BRAD HOYLMAN Call 212-633-8052 or visit bradhoylman.com. CHELSEA REFORM DEMOCRATIC CLUB The CRDC (the home club of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Assemblymember Richard N. Gottfried) meets monthly to exchange political ideas on protecting the rights and improving the lives of those residing in Chelsea. Visit crdcnyc.org or email them at info@crdcnyc.org.

GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS (GMHC) At 446 W. 33rd St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves. Visit gmhc.org. Call 212-367-1000. HUDSON GUILD Founded in 1895, Hudson Guild is a multi-service, multi-generational community serving approximately 14,000 people annually with daycare, hot meals for senior citizens, low-cost professional counseling, community arts programs and recreational programming for teens. Visit them at hudsonguild.org. Email them at info@ hudsonguild.org. For the John Lovejoy Elliott Center (441 W. 26th St.), call 212-760-9800. For the Children’s Center (459 W. 26th St.), call 212-7609830. For the Education Center (447 W. 25th St.), call 212-760-9843. For the Fulton Center for Adult Services (119 9th Ave.), call 212-924-6710. THE CARTER BURDEN CENTER FOR THE AGING This organization promotes the wellbeing of individuals 60 and older through direct social services and

PUBLISHER Jennifer Goodstein

SR. V.P. OF SALES AND MARKETING Francesco Regini

EDITOR Scott Stiffler

RETAIL AD MANAGER Colin Gregory

REPORTERS Lincoln Anderson

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

Allison Greaker

Sean Egan Maeve Gately

Andrew Regier

PUBLISHER EMERITUS John W. Sutter

Rebecca Rosenthal Julio Tumbaco

At 147 W. 24th St. (btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) THE SYLVIA RIVERA LAW PROJECT

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

FIERCE (Fabulous Independent Educated

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

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

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

ART / PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Troy Masters SENIOR DESIGNER Michael Shirey GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Chris Ortiz Arnold Rozon CIRCULATION SALES MNGR. Marvin Rock

CONTRIBUTORS Jim Caruso Martin Denton Heather Dubin Sean Egan Ophira Eisenberg Roger Miller Paul Schindler Trav S.D. Sam Spokony

DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION Cheryl Williamson

VIDEO SEGMENT PRODUCER Don Mathisen

November 20 - December 3, 2013

POLICE BLOTTER Grand Larceny: Hot wheels discovered after stumble, slumber

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A boozy night at 1 Oak planted the seeds for a solid “eight” on the scale of costly morning-after regrets. At 1am on Mon., Nov. 11, a woman exited the popular club (at 453 W. 17th St., btw. 9th & 10th Aves.), en route to her car. The good news? The admittedly intoxicated woman never got behind the wheel of her 2013 Honda Civic. The bad news? She slept it off in a nearby apartment, after (according to police) “meeting up with a few guys from the area.” Shortly before noon, the woman awoke, unable to locate her car keys. The vehicle had been stolen, and unauthorized charges were made on a credit card (which was in the car, along with her driver’s license and social security card).

27th & 28th Sts.) — in violation of, the arresting officers noted, “a clearly posted sign depicting the rules and regulations of the park.” Upon investigation, the man was found to have two open dockets. He was not, however, hauled in for his use of nicotine or his impending court appearances. Criminal possession of a controlled substance was the charge, after a search of the perp turned up a crack pipe.

— Scott Stiffler

AUNT CHELSEA & MYSTICO!

Grand Larceny: Bicycle thief snatches cell At around 6:30pm on Wed., Nov. 13, a man riding a bicycle trailed a 21-yearold woman, as she was walking southbound, on 10th Ave. When they were near the corner of W. 25th St., the bicyclist removed a $200 Apple iPhone 5 from her hand — and sped off, westbound, until the victim lost sight of him (near W. 23rd St.).

Criminal Possession: The cigarette smoker’s a pipe perp In the early afternoon of Mon, Nov. 11, police arrested a 41-year-old man who initially drew attention to himself when he was observed smoking a cigarette in Chelsea Park (9th to 10th Aves., btw. W.

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

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

Page 23 THE 10th PRECINCT Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Commander: Captain David S. Miller. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212-741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-741-8210. Detective Squad: 212741-8245. The next Community Council meeting, open to the public, takes place at 7pm on Wed., Jan. 29.

THE 13th PRECINCT Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.). Deputy Inspector: Ted Bernsted. Call 212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212477-3863. Youth Officer: 212-477-7411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380. Detective Squad: 212-477-7444. The Community Council meeting takes place at 6:30pm on the third Tues. of the month.

November 20 - December 3, 2013

CHELSEA: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The New Black Box Has Global Reach

La Mama’s CultureHub uses tech to connect cultures FESTIVAL REFEST A CultureHub presentation November 29 through December 1 At 47 Great Jones St., 3rd Floor (btw. Bowery & Lafayette) For tickets & schedule, visit culturehub.org

BY TOM TENNEY In 1961, Ellen Stewart revolutionized the New York performance scene when she opened Café La MaMa in the basement of an East Ninth Street tenement. The AfricanAmerican fashion designer-cum-impresario imagined the new space as an alternative to popular Off-Off Broadway venues like Caffe Cino and the Gaslight — small spaces that were relics of, and still very much associated with, the Beat coffeehouse scene. Those early venues had been created with a particular ambience and with a specific audience in mind. Stewart’s innovation was to create a truly neutral performance venue to serve as a tabula rasa for emerging playwrights, allowing them to create new work on their own terms. La MaMa was truly a “black box” — a theatrical architecture that inspired future generations of underground performance, and spawned what might be called a micro-theatre movement in the East Village and the Lower East Side that continues to this day. But the black box wasn’t the only experimental innovation happening in the 1960s New York art world. Early in that decade, ideas driving the convergence of art with cybernetic and computer technology, being conducted in Europe by Roy Ascott and others, reached the United States. In 1966, American composer and sound-art pioneer Max Neuhaus teamed up with NYC radio station WBAI to create “Public Supply” — an experiment in two-way aural public space in which listeners could contribute to a composition in real time by phoning in to the station and having their voices electronically transformed into components of a musical composition. The project is considered be one of the first successful artistic collaborations over an electronic network in real time. The very same year, renowned abstract expres-

Photo courtesy of the artist

Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky, will be at REFEST to present work he’s been developing with the Seoul Institute.

sionist Robert Rauchenberg met an engineer from Bell Telephone Lab named Billy Klüver. Together, they launched Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.), with the aim of connecting artists and technologists to launch experimental explorations into the intersection of art and technology. Meanwhile, Ellen Stewart was connecting La MaMa with theatrical communities around the world, and building a global circuit of independent theatrical practitioners. Networking, collaboration and technology were all emerging into the cultural zeitgeist — blending, morphing and generating new art forms and schools of thought. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that in 2009 La MaMa launched CultureHub — its own art and technology incubator, in partnership with Korea’s Seoul Institute of the Arts. The collaboration is dedicated not only to blending technology with performance, but also to using tech as a tool to continue the theatre’s long tradition of connecting cultures around the world. The new laboratory’s stated mission is to provide “a shared space for artists to collaborate, share ideas and create interdisciplinary works of art that explore emerging mediums and technologies.” For the past four years, they have been

doing just that. In addition to presenting art/ tech hybrids in their wired black box studio on Great Jones Street, CultureHub is equally invested in youth media and educational initiatives, conducting workshops for students, teens and young artists. Virtualab, one of their flagship programs, is dedicated to connecting students and professional artists via distance learning. One of the core technologies utilized by CultureHub specifically for this purpose is something called telepresence, which might be thought of as a hyper-customized version of teleconferencing. As opposed to participants sitting around a table and projecting to a single screen, telepresence uses live video to build virtual environments, utilizing multi-camera viewpoints and projecting video to an entire wall, creating an atmosphere of virtual “liveness.” CultureHub Artistic Director Billy Clark says that by incorporating this technology on a larger scale and using multiple cameras, you can “get to a certain level of abstractly feeling like you’re there.” CultureHub has already implemented this technology for several projects, including workshops conducted with students at their partner organization in Korea, and a virtual spoken word workshop connecting youth from New Orleans and

New York City in collaboration with the Hip Hop Re:Education Project (reeducate.org). The latter experiment was so successful that, after the workshop, the students in Louisiana raised their own money to travel to New York to meet their “classmates” in person. “It’s never going to be entirely like being physically present,” said CultureHub Managing Director Anna Hayman, “but you do make eye contact, you do hear people breathe.” She also pointed out that the technology seems to increase the engagement of its participants, particularly kids. “They feel like they’re being treated to something special. It’s actually more engaging than a conventional classroom where they’re just sitting there. Kids forge real relationships in that environment.” Though the young organization represents an exciting new direction for La MaMa, CultureHub recognizes its place in a continuum of artists working with technology — and acknowledges that, while the work they create and support is innovative, it also builds on decades of experimentation by prior artists. Clark concurs noting, “The ideas aren’t that new. Nam Jun Paik was doing this in the late

Continued on page 15

November 20 - December 3, 2013

Just Do Art BY SCOTT STIFFLER

PHOTO EXHIBIT: HISTORIC FIREHOUSES OF MANHATTAN

What does it say about a man who spends his entire career on call to run towards danger, only to occupy his “golden years” by preserving buildings in a manner that flames can’t touch? New York’s Bravest never punch the clock, apparently. They just find a new outlet for that drive to save things. When gold watch time came for FDNY Lieutenant Stephen Healy, he shifted his focus to capturing the architectural beauty of Manhattan firehouses built from the 1800s to the early 1900s. Healy’s “Historic Firehouses of Manhattan” is a photo series on exhibit through early December, at the New York City Fire Museum — an appropriate host venue on many levels, given that the museum occupies a renovated 1904 Beaux-Arts building that was once home to Engine Company No. 30, and now houses a renowned collection of fire-related artifacts from the 18th century to the present (including hand-pumped fire engines, horse-drawn vehicles and all manner of tools and equipment). Nov. 22-Dec. 8. At the New York City Fire Museum (278 Spring St., btw. Hudson & Varick Sts.). Open daily, 10am-5pm. Admission: $8.00 ($5.00 for children 12 and under, seniors & students). Call 212-6911303 or visit nycfiremuseum.org.

CHELSEA SYMPHONY: ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT

The Chelsea Symphony has been expanding its geographic reach lately, with performances at Bargemusic, Symphony Space and Lincoln Center. But in early December, the vibrant, self-governing, 50-piece non-profit ensemble will be putting their own spin on that “home for the holidays” tradition, by setting their peripatetic sleigh down at St.

Photo courtesy of the artist

Another building saved by a fireman’s camera: This shot of Engine Co. No. 31’s former Lafayette St. quarters is part of the “Historic Firehouses of Manhattan” photo exhibit, on view through Dec. 8 at the NYC Fire Museum.

Paul’s, for the group’s eighth annual holiday concert. Conducted by co-founder Yaniv Segal and co-Artistic Director Mark Seto, the seasonal offerings include Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” The brass section takes center stage, with a performance of Schubert’s “Magnificat” arranged by (and featuring) trumpeter Warren Wernick. Following in the footsteps of marquee names including David Hyde Pierce, Charles Busch and Andrea Martin, special guest Victor Garber (the complex man from “Argo” and “Alias”) will do the narration duties for resident composer Aaron Dai’s “The Night Before Christmas.” Fri., Dec. 6 at 8pm. At St. Paul’s Church (315 W. 22nd St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.). Free, with a suggested donation of $20 at the door. A reception and a silent auction, to benefit the orchestra, will follow the performance.

Photo by Wai Ng

Victor Garber narrates “The Night Before Christmas,” at The Chelsea Symphony’s annual holiday concert.

November 20 - December 3, 2013

Lettuce Give Cabbage Self-portrait sale will benefit charity BY SCOTT STIFFLER Is it possible that our favorite good time gal in green has entered her Blue Period? If so, there’s no need for mood-stabilizing meds, dispensed by a shirtless bartender pouring from a spoutless bottle. Not, at least, during the early evening hours of the first Friday in December. That’s when even the most sober among us will be seeing double — and then some — in the form of 100 self-portraits painted Hedda Lettuce, each on sale for under $100. Part of the proceeds from this Chelsea Eye Art Gallery event will go to CHABHA — an organization that supports children affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nail her iconic hair and sly smile, and you may walk home with your own original Hedda painting (valued at $500), the adoration of Miss Lettuce and the Look-A-Like contest crown (actual crown not included). Elsewhere around Chelsea, every Thursday at 7pm, the celluloid work of everybody from Joan Crawford to Lindsay Lohan provides fodder for Hedda’s pithy dressing downs — when her “Chelsea Classics” gig screens at Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (23rd St. near Eighth Ave.). Right next door and down a few stairs, the East of Eighth bistro is hosting “The Women Art Show” — another exhibition of paintings by our budding Picasso in pumps. Hedda’s legendary loose mouth elicits laughs, but lands her on Santa’s naughty (and trashy?) list — when the

Image courtesy of the artist

Dozens on the wall, but only one on the floor: Hedda Lettuce unveils 100 selfportraits, at a Dec. 6 Chelsea Eye Art Gallery event.

annual “Lettuce Rejoice” holiday spectacular barrels into the Metropolitan Room (34 W. 22nd St., btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves.) on Dec. 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22. For info on these events, visit heddalettuce.com. “Night of a Hundred Heddas” is free. Fri., Dec. 6, from 5:30-9pm. At Chelsea Eye Art Gallery (157 W. 19th St., btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.).

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

Easy on the Ears

Storytelling is a perfect marriage to the podcast world BY OPHIRA EISENBERG Ten years ago when my friend told me that I should listen to his podcast, I have to admit I was pretty skeptical about the entire medium. I remember saying, “So let me get this straight — you plugged a microphone into your computer and talked about what was on your mind for an hour? And you’ve put that out in the world for people to download and enjoy?” I just couldn’t wrap my head around why anyone would be interested in listening to an uncurated, self-produced, un-regulated, zerobudget Internet “radio show.” Was podcasting the new blogging for people too lazy to write? Would it become the most narcissistic Internet endeavor yet? And, yes, this is coming from me — someone who has written a memoir. Thankfully, I was wrong on many counts. Sure, there are plenty of podcasts out there that are exactly as I described. But what I didn’t understand then (and I am incredibly grateful for now), is that the advent of podcasts basically revitalized audio entertainment on every level. It helped stand-up comedy tremendously, even made people’s careers. It brought back the longform interview format, made room for the buddy banter show and definitely popularized storytelling. As a genre, storytelling is a perfect marriage

Photo by Lindsey Bourque

Frequent Moth Slam host David Crabb and visual artist Cammi Climaco are the dynamite, albeit unlikely, duo behind “Ask Me Stories.”

to the podcast world. At its core, it’s a one-to-one relationship. Many people are already subscribers to the popular Moth podcast — and if you want to feel good about humanity, go to iTunes and read the reviews. It’s hosted by the dry and

very funny Dan Kennedy — and if you haven’t read his latest novel, “American Spirit,” now you know what to do over the holidays. The Moth stories are culled from live Slams and Mainstages across the country and the world (look for the

Melbourne Writer’s Festival show), all of which are recorded beautifully and make you feel like you are right in that room. Visit themoth.org. Known for stories that will break your heart and make you laugh out loud, I listen to this podcast occasionally while going through my day. But it’s so affecting, I’ll find myself paralyzed in the middle of a CVS, completely entranced in someone’s tale, unable to make it to the cashier until it’s over. Kevin Allison’s “RISK” (riskshow.com) is another storytelling podcast that has millions of listeners throughout the country (I know firsthand, from meeting some of them after a show in Portland). Kevin’s been in the comedy and podcast world for many years and draws from a great pool of talent, so you’ll hear stories from a lot of well-known comedians. Many of the stories are recorded live at his monthly shows, but he also produces some in the studio. The over-arching theme, as the title indicates, is that these stories are almost too risky to tell — a theme that Kevin lives up to with his own material, setting the bar pretty high for the others. I mentioned Ben Lillie’s “Story Collider” show in my last column, and I should point out here that his podcast is gaining prominence

Continued on page 16

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

Transforming the Black Box for the New Century Continued from page 11 70s and early 80s. But now the technology is more ubiquitous, it’s cheaper. High-speed Internet is on all the time.” That ubiquity has necessitated a cultural space for artists — some of whom have never used technology in their work — to begin experimenting with tech in a low-risk environment. “We’re trying to support artists in their very early stages of development,” Clark said. “We want to give them a space where they have access to technology and can just try something, like a sketch. Some might get developed, and others end up as more of a one-off. It’s a learning experience.” Having worked on a project-to-project basis since its inception, CultureHub is borrowing a page from the theatrical establishment by launching its first-ever “season” of technologically based works (running until the end of the year). The centerpiece of that season is REFEST — a three-day festival of mediated performance, interactive installations and talks taking place from November 29-December 1, at CultureHub’s Great Jones Street studio. REFEST kicks off on Friday night with an evening of performance curated in collaboration with the annual RE/Mixed Media Festival (which returns in April 2014 at The New School). In addition to performances by Adriano Clemente and David Commander, Friday’s kickoff event will feature a piece called the “Long Table” — a discursive art form pioneered by performance artist Lois Weaver that begins with eight artists seated at a table discussing a topic provided by the curators. As the conversation progresses, audience members are invited to come to the table and add their voice to the discussion, and may even ask for one of the participant’s seats if the table happens to be full. Saturday and Sunday will continue with work by, Culture Hub says in a press release, revealing “how new technologies are changing performance practices, how networked screens and communications technologies are changing the way artists collaborate and create, what the exhibition/performance venue of tomorrow might look like, and how the nature of storytelling is becoming crossmedia, multi-modal and multi-locational.” Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky, will also be on hand to present work he’s been developing with the Seoul Institute which, according to Hayman, will involve “new hardware and software and have a performative element.” The partnership with RE/Mixed Media Festival in curating the first night of REFEST is demonstrative of the collaborative ethos that CultureHub has inherited from La MaMa. “So often in the not-for-profit world, you’re forced to have your head down,” Clark said, “you don’t have enough resources, you’re always too busy, you’re trying to scramble. But a lot of us are scrambling in the same direction, without taking the time to look up and say ‘Hey, they’re doing something similar. What if we worked together?’ We certainly can’t solve that whole problem, but the spirit

Photo by Eve Comperiati, courtesy of Culturehub

From 2012’s REFEST: Joshue Ott, Baba Israel and Neel Murgai perform “AudioVisual Meditations.”

is one of collaboration.” In recent years, New York’s micro-theatre movement activated by Ellen Stewart’s “black box” has foundered in the wake higher rents and aggressive real estate development. Several storefront theaters that flourished in the Lower East Side in the 90s — Surf Reality, Todo Con Nada and Collective Unconscious, to name just a few — have disappeared. But the loss of physical space doesn’t necessarily mean that those artists have stopped working. Surf Reality has resurfaced as a producing entity that dabbles in the technological, and Collective Unconscious recently collaborated with Three Legged Dog to produce a 3D cinematic adaptation of their 1999 theatrical experiment, “Charlie Victor Romeo,” a film that was lauded at Sundance and other festivals throughout the country. Other organizations exploring the intersection of art and technology such as Eyebeam and IMC Lab + Gallery have developed performative works with independent artists. Perhaps for the performance community, the current circumstance isn’t one of loss, but one of transition — one that may require we revisit the ideals of community and collaboration embraced by Ellen Stewart. CultureHub claims they are “transforming the black box for the new century.” Their MaMa would be proud. Tom Tenney is a performer, producer, sound artist and founder of the annual RE/Mixed Media Festival in Manhattan (remixnyc.com). He currently teaches media theory at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. Follow him on Twitter at @tomtenney, or follow his blog at inc.ongruo.us.

November 20 - December 3, 2013

Podcasts more than blogging for people too lazy to write Continued from page 14 (recently hitting a million downloads). “Story Collider” features stories about the science of our lives — and if you haven’t added it to your listening schedule, do it now. Visit storycollider.org Many other storytelling events in the city offer podcast versions of their live show, allowing you to follow the show when you can’t be there in person, take them with you on vacation and, of course, allow those not fortunate enough to live here a taste of what we can go out and witness in person almost any day of the week. Some of the shows are given the classic podcast treatment with intros, extras and behind the scenes commentary, while others simply rebroadcast the live event. I’ll never forget slow dancing with Brad Moore to “Stairway to Heaven” at our seventh grade school dance — and Dana Rossi, host of “Soundtrack Series,” has built a show around such musical memories. Dana herself connects much of her life to different songs, and the “Soundtrack Series” was an experiment to see if others do the same. After a few sold-out shows, it seemed like a crime to NOT podcast people pouring out their hearts about the music that mattered to them so deeply, and nothing sounds more like a perfect audio experience to me than a show that combines music and storytelling. Plus, it draws some amazing influential people, including Ken Caillat — a Grammy-winning producer, who tells the story of making of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors.” “Soundtrack Series” shows happen monthly, at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street). The next show, on November 21 at 7pm, is “The Hip Hop Edition” — guest curated and co-hosted by Dan Charnas, author of “The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop.” Visit soundtrackseries.com. “Ask Me Stories” (askmestories.com) is a comedy storytelling variety series run by two excellent storytellers in their own right — David Crabb and Cammi Climaco. You might recognize David Crabb as frequent Moth Slam host, and Cammi is a gifted visual artist whose work has been featured in galleries throughout the world. Together, they make a somewhat unlikely but very funny duo, who bounce off

Photo by D. Robert Wolcheck

“Soundtrack Series” host Dana Rossi has built a show around musical memories.

of each other effortlessly. They created “Ask Me Stories” for all the right reasons — because they just loved storytelling and were excited about the form. The podcast came soon after, once they figured out that David knew how to sound edit and Cammi knew how to code. Beyond booking a solid lineup each show, David and Cammi go out of their way to create a party. Unforgettable moments happen pretty much every show, like at their “Happy Birthday George Michael” show — when, and after a night of stories that all referenced George Michael, everyone in the audience was given a kazoo and they all closed the show by playing “Faith” together. I’m not saying “Faith” was meant for the kazoo, but wouldn’t you have loved to be there? Listen to the podcast and relive that magic (kazoo not included). “Ask Me Stories” is monthly, at the Axis Theatre (1 Sheridan Square). The next show is December 9 — a holiday-themed show for which they’ll be covering the stage with fake snow. You won’t be able to hear that on the podcast, but I’m sure the holiday cheer will resound. See youtube. com/geekingoutshow. David Martin is one of the most creative people I have had the joy of performing with. He also hosts the long-running monthly storytelling show at UCB, “Nights of Our Lives.” Seven years ago, the original impetus was to

have a place for improvisers at the UCB to try their hands at storytelling, and the show quickly grew to encompass stand-ups, writers and, of course, storytellers. Each installment of “Nights” revolves around a theme, with four storytellers and David as the host, who presents a monologue up top. An absurd and inspired take on the theme, it’s always completely originally and very funny — the kind of funny that makes you think, “I don’t know how this guy’s brain works, but I love it.” The performers follow, each telling a true story that fits the theme. The “Nights of Our Lives” podcast is hosted on Breakthru Radio (Breakthruradio.com), which re-broadcasts the show in its entirety. Scanning the “Nights” podcast library, you’ll recognize many names — but be on the lookout for Curtis Gwinn, to hear him close out the show after drinking an entire bottle of red wine, or “Nights” staple Adam Wade, regaling the crowd with his tale of food sickness and crapping between two PATH train cars. Seasoned UCB stars John Flynn and Anthony Atamanuik are regulars on the Los Angeles chapter of the show, but spare yourself the JetBlue fare. They can be enjoyed here in New York between your ears. The “Nights of Our Lives” live show happens monthly at the UCB Theatre (307 West 26th Street). On Dec 18, the theme is TBA (but it will definitely be something high-risk and holiday related). Visit ucbtheatre.com. If you’re wondering if the average storyteller has a face made for podcasting, think again and navigate to “Geeking Out.” It’s not only a comedy storytelling show, but also a web series. The show brings together a collection of writers, comedians, storytellers and actors for a night of shameless nerding out over the bands they love, the celebrities they obsess over and the video games that gave them thumb spasms. Think nostalgia meets storytelling. Most of the stories also involve a visual component, be it a PowerPoint presentation, sketch, or relevant costuming — whatever they need to properly represent their super fandom. Kerri Doherty started Geeking Out as an outlet for her own obsessions (“The Golden Girls” being one of them), and wanted to create an envi-

ronment where her fellow comedy/storytelling friends and could get up onstage and talk about their guilty pleasures. Soon after, she created the “Geeking Out” web series, which included the live show, plus awkward celebrity interviews, pop culture news, sketches and vlogs. As you can imagine, a show of this nature is filled with great moments. One of Kerri’s favorite was convincing Matthew Gubler from CBS’s “Criminal Minds” to dance with her Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You” while dressed in prom attire. “Geeking Out” is monthly, 8:30pm, at Union Hall (702 Union Street, Brooklyn). The next show, on December 3, features Jason Zimbler (actor, “Clarissa Explains it All”), Steve Heisler (writer for The AV Club and Vulture), Mara Herron (comedian, seen on VH1 and Comedy Central), and The Vigilante (an improvised Comedy Band that’s performed at The Brooklyn Comedy Festival). In 2009, Happy Ending Lounge in the Lower East Side put a call out to find a new monthly show and Sarah Brown, the creator of Cringe, recommended Blaise Allysen Kearsley. At the time, Blaise was working on a personal essay about how she learned about sex — so she pitched “How I Learned” and produced her first show less than three weeks later. On every show, Blaise and the performers muse about How They Learned…something (like to find happiness, lie, cheat, steal or conquer failure). I have been to this show many times, and each time it was a packed, standing room only crowd that would be lit on fire as the show progressed. There are a couple of important things to note about Blaise’s series. One is that storytellers are permitted to read, if that’s how your material is served best — which means it also draws a lot of brilliant writers. Second, it is currently in search of a new home. Sadly, after producing there for five years, this former Broome Street massage parlor turned lounge, music venue and performance space, closed it’s doors. Let’s hope its next incarnation isn’t a Chase Bank (but I wouldn’t make that bet). However, Blaise’s show will be back. It’s too good to go — and in the meantime, thanks to technology, you can enjoy the podcast. The “How I Learned” series is monthly. Venue TBA (visit howilearnedstories.com). As I was doing my research and inquiring to a few of my other favorite storytelling shows as to whether they podcast, a couple of the producers replied with a sigh, “No. I never did that. I probably should have. Do you think it’s too late to start?” Clearly, I know nothing when it comes to digital trends — but I can say with confidence that I’m so glad these people decided to plug a microphone into their laptop and press record. And yes, I know it doesn’t really work like that. Ophira Eisenberg is a standup, storyteller and host of NPR and WNYC’s trivia comedy show, “Ask Me Another.” Live tapings take place at The Bell House almost every week (amatickets.org). It is also available as a podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and TUNE-IN. She is the author of “Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy” (Seal Press).

November 20 - December 3, 2013

Gottfried Pledges Protection From Local Casino Development Continued from page 4 sion was “the beginning of a conversation that’s going to last a while.” A five-page, single spaced letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission was approved with language revisions and the recommendation for landmarks preservation of certain interior areas.

CLEARING OUT WHAT’S UNDER A PARKING LOT

What is called a “remediation process” to remove tons of polluting coal tar from underneath an entire block that is the site of a parking lot (West 17th to West 18th Streets, 10th to 11th Avenues) has begun. Anthony Borelli, representing HLP Properties, offered an explanation of what will be a yearlong activity, being conducted in accordance with the rules of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The site, which is being prepared for future development, is on land that was occupied in the early 1900s by Manhattan Gas Light Company, which used coal to produce gas for heating and cooking. Coal tar, the industrial by-product now classified as hazardous waste, was left behind. The land is being excavated at different levels, depending on soil conditions. Where possible, the coal tar is being pumped out, carted away and replaced with clean landfill. In certain areas, the coal tar will not be entirely removable, but will be mixed with cement and stabilized. Borelli described security and safety measures and reported that the 10th Avenue side should be returned to parking operations by the end of the year, and the entire process completed by October 2014. CB4 member Pamela Wolf questioned whether archaeological monitoring would take place, and Borelli promised to get back to the board with an answer.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MEMBER SESSION

CB4’s district manager Robert Benfatto reported that the Fulton Houses Project of 158 units went before the City Planning Commission and resolved issues surrounding the placement of a trash compactor

located at 420 West 20th Street. The project is moving ahead. Benfatto additionally addressed the Pier of Fear (a Halloween event on Piers 92 and 94, at West 53rd to West 54th Streets). The concert event was reduced from five to three days, and Benfatto thanked Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal for her help, especially in lowering the noise levels of the event. “There were complaints on Facebook by people who went to the event,” said Benfatto. CB4’s Quality of Life Committee will meet to go over plans for a New Year’s Eve event planned for the piers. Of the 24 letters on the evening’s agenda to be voted upon by the board, the letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission regarding the Windermere received heaviest discussion. Concern was also given to CB4’s letter to the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA), in reference to the Esquire NYC Gentlemen’s Club planned for 622 West 47th Street. The character of the club’s owner, Glen Bernardi, was brought into question during the public comment session. Also owner of the Sapphire New York Gentlemen’s Club (a strip club he brought from Las Vegas to East 60th Street,) Bernardi was accused of threatening a tenant in a building he owned. CB4’s letter to the SLA recommended denial of a liquor license unless 13 stipulations (also required in 2010 of a former gentlemen’s club on the site) were met. Paul Seres, co-chair of CB4’s Business License & Permits Committee, argued separating the liquor license issue from the character of the owner. The letter was approved by the members with a divided vote.

REPORTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS

Assemblymember Richard Gottfried spoke about the November 5 vote approving casino development in the state of New York. “Implementing legislation, passed before the amendment was put on the ballot, states that for the first seven years of the amendment no casinos can be built in New York City’s five boroughs or surrounding suburbs,” said Gottfried, adding “but seven years go pretty fast and we have no protection after that.” He pledged to investigate local zoning, further legislation and any other measures that may offer protection from casino development.

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For Manhattan Borough President/ Comptroller Elect Scott Stringer, Hunter Johansson reported that applications to join community boards were available on the website: mbpo.org. Jackie Blank, representing Congressman Jerrold Nadler, stated that Nadler submitted testimony to the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) condemning the proposal to eliminate certain family members from succession eligibility in Mitchell-Lama co-ops. Paul Sawyer, for Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, said that she also testified her opposition to the changes in Mitchell-Lama rules, and wrote to the HPD Commissioner to urge a stop to a particular policy change requiring Section 8 single tenants to downsize to studios to offset the sequester. Sawyer also noted Rosenthal’s efforts to reduce noise levels for events on Piers 92 and 94, and her recommendation that the NYC Economic Development Corp., which leases out the space, should make it more suitable for containing high-volume events. Robert Atterbury, representing NY State Senator Brad Hoylman, reported that Hoylman had spearheaded a letter to the SLA, also signed by NYC Council Speaker Quinn and Assemblymember Gottfried, regarding the CB4 community’s concern about the Gem Hotel’s plan for rooftop use.

He urged the SLA to adhere to CB4’s stipulations. At earlier CB4 meetings, the Gem’s neighbors had spoken out about the inappropriateness of rooftop use for food and drink in the residential neighborhood. Hoylman is also working to control SantaCon, a mass pub crawl of people clad in Santa suits passing through the neighborhoods. Hoylman’s letter to SantaCon organizers was published in the October 23 issue of Chelsea Now (as a Talking Point). Harriet Sedgwick, for NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, announced the Council’s October 30th vote to raise the tobacco sales minimum age from 18 to 21 — a measure that could potentially reduce the smoking rate in that age group by 55 percent. First-time retail offenders will be fined $1000, and $2000 for a second offense. The Council also passed a bill motivated by Hurricane Sandy to require new or substantially improved healthcare facilities in areas above expected flood levels. Edgar Yoo, for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., told of the DA office’s partnering with Univision 41 to produce Spanish-language public service announcement videos (PSAs), to alert immigrants to the work of the office and to encourage them to report crimes committed against them. The PSAs will play in 15 Latin American Consulate offices in Manhattan.

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

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       

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  

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     

 

 

 

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         

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

All the Fall Flavors with a Fraction of the Fat BY CARLYE WAXMAN RD, CDN Strolling through the streets of Manhattan during these crisp and cool fall months, we stumble into the smell of pumpkin spice, apple cinnamon and other nutrition nightmares. We are such suckers for fall flavors. Giving into temptation, we follow our noses to that delicious apple, pumpkin, cookie, cupcake or coffee smell and shell out money for a 500-calorie-plus indulgence. Sound familiar? There’s nothing wrong with a little indulgence once in awhile — but what if you could have fall flavors daily and still fit into your skinny cigar pants and tight sweaters? Experience fall flavors in NYC every day with these healthy nutrition tips. COFFEE: I have three words for you: Pumpkin Spice Latte. They look great, they smell great and definitely taste great. But the calories it cost you every day (380 in a 16oz serving) will leave you wearing stretchy pants and leggings by winter. Instead of ordering the full version, try these tips. Ask for a 16oz Americano (espresso and hot water) topped with steamed skim milk or light soy. Right there, you are cutting back on almost 100 calories worth of milk. Ask for 1 pump of pumpkin instead of the typical four that comes in a latte. Now add calorie-free cinnamon and vanilla powder to the top. You just took a 380-calorie beverage and made it 53 calories, still packed with pumpkin spice flavor. The excess 327 calories you saved over a few months will rescue you from about a 10-pound weight gain. You’re welcome. CANDY: It’s no wonder we see candy corn at New Year’s parties. It’s on sale! So go grab yourself a bag of some sweet indulgence but be sure to grab the right thing. It’s okay to have a fun size of M&M’s, Kit Kat or Milky Way and Snickers. Allow yourself one or two a day to curb your sweets craving. When it’s time for those holiday parties, you may not dive into the cupcakes and cookies like a ravenous low-carb starved monster, since you haven’t been depriving yourself all fall. SWEETS: Now that we just tackled the reasons you shouldn’t deprive yourself before holiday parties, let’s discuss some nice dessert options to enjoy this fall. Indulge in mini cannolis from Ferrara’s in Little Italy (195 Grand St., btw. Mulberry & Mott Sts.). At only 70 calories, as opposed to the large cannolis at 370,

these tiny cannolis have just the right amount of creamy flavor. Take a chocolate tour down in the West Village and hit Li-Lac (40 Eighth Ave., near Jane St.) for two pieces of chocolate. Enjoy chocolate covered marshmallow or the chocolate French mints as the lowest calorie option (under 60-70 calories). Make homemade baked apples with a creamy sweet Greek yogurt dip (recipe below) to enjoy at home while you watch the snow fall and think of apple pie. BEST FALL FLAVOR RESTAURANT: Westville in the West Village and Chelsea (256 W. 18th St., btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.) offers around 15-20 vegetable sides that don’t leave you saying “all I had was vegetables for dinner.” Enjoy low-calorie options like Asian-style bok choy, Brussels sprouts with honey Dijon, cauliflower Dijonaise, sautéed kale with shallots or roasted butternut squash. Remember this tip when you order: “Light on the oil.” It will save you hundreds of excess calories. SOUP: Butternut squash soup is an all-time fall favorite. The best way to enjoy this is to make it at home. The recipe can call for butter and heavy cream — which is why your version will never taste like it does in the restaurant. But my healthy way of making this will save you at least 200 calories per cup, and you still get that delicious flavor. The secret trick is to roast the veggies first. Once roasted, the sweetest flavors arise (requiring less ingredients).

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP (serves 4)

1 tbsp olive oil 1 butternut squash, peeled, scooped out and cut into cubes (or buy cubed) 5 shallots (unpeeled) Sprinkle kosher salt 2-3 cups of low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth 1 tsp minced garlic 1 tsp sage (optional) Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Heat oven to 350° F Toss shallots and butternut squash in oil and kosher salt and roast in the oven for about 30-40 minutes. Cool and peel shallots. Add to blender with butternut squash and puree with broth (you may need to do this in two batches). Add garlic, sage, salt and pepper to taste. Add all contents to a large saucepan and simmer until time to serve. At this time, you can use about 1-2 tbsps butter, depending on how creamy you like it. For a lighter color, add a little skim milk.

Photos by Carlye Waxman RD, CDN

Having two small chocolates is better than indulging in a full-sized cupcake.

1 tbsp light brown sugar 1 packet Splenda 2 tbsp chopped walnuts ½ tsp cinnamon ¼ c apple juice 1 tsp vanilla 1 tbsp sugar -free or light maple syrup 1 6oz container of 0-2% Greek yogurt Directions: Preheat oven to 350° F Cut apples and toss with lemon juice. Arrange in a single layer in a small oven safe casserole dish. In a small saucepan, melt butter

and stir in sugar, Splenda, walnuts, cinnamon and apple juice. Bring to a boil then pour over apples. Cover baking dish with foil and place in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes then remove foil. Bake 15 more minutes. Mix the yogurt, syrup and vanilla extract together and spoon over the mixture over apples or dip the apples in the yogurt. Carlye Waxman is a Registered Dietitian living in NYC. For free recipes, nutrition tips and the skinny on smoothies, visit SweetNutritionNYC. com and sign up for her newsletter.

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CINNAMON BAKED APPLES WITH VANILLA GREEK YOGURT (serves 2) Carlye’s recipe for creamy butternut squash soup gets its sweetness from roasting the veggies.

3 Golden Delicious or Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored and cut into six slices ½ lemon juiced 1 tbsp butter

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

Coalition Lays Out Proposals for Post-Quinn Reforms BY SAM SPOKONY A coalition of City Council members and Democratic Council nominees headed for victory took to the steps of City Hall on October 30 to begin making their case for sweeping reforms to the Council’s rules. Two months before they take office — and a week before they were even officially elected — gay Democratic nominees like Corey Johnson of Chelsea, Brooklyn’s Carlos Menchaca, and Ritchie Torres of the Bronx joined their future colleagues, led by Brooklyn Councilman Brad Lander, to present a proposal that would “take the politics out of member Items” by allocating discretionary funding for Council districts on a “fair and objective basis.” The reforms laid out also aim to ensure fairer consideration of legislation proposed from members outside the leadership; to give committee chairs greater control over hearings and staffing; to dedicate a greater share of Council resources to providing public services; and to establish a formal procedure by which members of the Council can file a grievance with the Rules Committee if they believe the rules are not being followed. “This is a great City Council getting better,” said Lander. “While the Council has held the Bloomberg administration accountable and been a strong voice for

Photo by Sam Spokony

Councilman Brad Lander and Corey Johnson, days before his election to the seat now held by Speaker Christine Quinn.

everyday New Yorkers, we can do more. By strengthening members’ offices and making our processes more transparent, the City Council will make itself more accessible and responsive to our constituents.”

Lander added that a total of 30 members and candidates who later won their races on November 5 had already signed on to the proposal. The City Council has 51 members.

Councilman Jumaane Williams of Brooklyn, who has also surfaced as one of the leaders of the reform push, went out of his way to say that the plan is meant to change rules and practices and is “not connected to any one speaker.” But the specific goals of the proposal, especially regarding the allocation of discretionary funding, are clear reactions to the kind of quid pro quo atmosphere that many say existed under the eight-year tenure of Speaker Christine Quinn. During her unsuccessful run for mayor, her ironclad control of the Council was a persistent undercurrent in the public narrative, even if much of it was based on sources unwilling to speak on the record. Representatives of several good government advocacy groups also joined the Council members at the press conference to promote the plan. “The centralization of power within the speaker’s office has been an impediment to the exercise of good government and equitable allocation of resources for all New Yorkers,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of the New York branch of Common Cause. Williams stressed that the proposed reforms will “make the City Council more accessible and accountable to the people that put us in office in the first place.”

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November 20 - December 3, 2013

Dear Aunt Chelsea:

I’m a college sophomore whose distance from my family makes the trip home for Thanksgiving too much of a hassle (and too much of an expense). I have several invites from friends — and even a few people I don’t know very well. But the thought of making smalltalk at the holiday table with somebody else’s family depresses me more than the alternative: Ramen noodles for one. Besides, this is the one chance I have for a day or two by myself. What should I do?

Eerily Accurate Horoscopes Aries Unearthed from deep storage, an ugly holiday sweater compels you to wear it — sans irony — after an evening of uneasy dreams. Trust your visions!

Taurus The next full moon will be a fertile period for courting whoopee, whoopie and Whoopi — of, respectively, the love, pie and Goldberg varieties. Use your power wisely, or suffer a gruesome fate!

Gary, in a Gobble Goo

Gemini Avoiding a puddle, you will run into an old friend — and be pulled into the powerful orbit of their risky, unusual new hobby.

Dear Gobble:

Cancer The reactions of others, upon hearing pre-December carols, provides a startlingly accurate window into their true nature. Observe, and adjust your naughty/nice list accordingly.

Ah, to see through young eyes again. One’s college years are a time of limitless possibilities — so why are you tethering yourself to such dramatic, worst-case scenarios? I read this letter and see a person lucky enough to have offers coming out of his ears, yet you seem consigned to spend America’s special day of thanks pinned down by the crushing burden of making new friends or eating alone. And what’s with the self-imposed vision of Ramen noodles? It’s Thanksgiving, Gary. You’re allowed to pick up a sandwich. I’ll just bet that meal option stems more from low self-esteem than limited funds. A plane ticket home may be out of reach, but surely you can afford a decent turkey club. Now, there’s nothing wrong with opting out of a group Thanksgiving celebration in favor of sleeping in late and bumming around on your own. But don’t make a habit of it — or before your college years are over, you’ll be known as that bitter, lonely recluse whose only human contact happens when the second unit crew of “Hoarders” swings by to get a shot of the noodle boxes blocking your hallway.

Dive in, but take precautions!

Leo Proud Leos under assault this week must boldly stand their ground. Only Macy’s Parade balloons are meant to change direction when pulled by clowns. Virgo Festering resentment stemming from a poorly chosen cellular plan threatens to cast a pall over your holiday plans. Be of good cheer, and court the favor of a Christmas miracle!

Libra The December deadline touted in a Medicare Open Enrollment ad will fill you with needless nervous tension. Frankie says relax… and Mystico commands it! Scorpio Ignore the temptation to put stock in a word heard twice while flipping channels. Conversely, the blind faith purchase of an infomercial product will profoundly change your life.

Sagittarius A festive scene on a Dollar Store potholder inspires the weekend activity that’ll be a big hit with the old gang. Bring candles, cups and cleansing wipes.

Capricorn It is vitally important to assess your investment portfolio during the early evening of next Wednesday. Roth IRAs rule! Aquarius When a close friend criticizes the next Miley Cyrus stunt, remind them of their own youthful indiscretions. Drink a toast if they laugh, and ditch them if they frown.

Pisces You will experience an intense spate of creativity while doing laundry at a most unusual hour. Later, you will resolve to complete a vexing crossword puzzle, sans Google.

November 20 - December 3, 2013

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