Chelsea Now

YOUR WEEKLY community newspaper SERVING CHELSEA, HUDSON YARDS & HELL’S KITCHEN

Courtesy MSG

From their new offices at One Manhattan West, NHL execs will practically be able to hear the crowd roar when the New York Rangers score (Madison Square Garden is just blocks away).

Puckish Move: NHL’s HQ Coming To One Manhattan West

BY DENNIS LYNCH The National Hockey League (NHL) plans to move its headquarters into Brookfield Properties’ One Manhattan West, the developer and league announced last week. The deal for 160,000 square feet of space NHL continued on p. 2

A Swinging Birdland Christmas

Photo by Winston Rodney

Playmaking Takes Work

Writers from The 52nd Street Project’s Fall 2016 Playmaking Shows: Front, l to r: Hannah Leon, Morgan Smalls, Arden Wolfe and Love Jones. Back, l to r: Ahmed Shabana, Aaron Ordinola, Messiah Green, Aengus O’Donnell, Ryan Billah, and Jade Johnson. Turn to page 12 to go behind the scenes.

Bus Terminal Expansion Unites Hell’s Kitchen In A New Alliance

Seven years running, and we’re ready to call it a holiday tradition: See page 14.

BY EILEEN STUKANE After having their buttons pushed by everything from a lack of communication to eminent domain threats, the Hell’s Kitchen community is hitting “restart” on its approach to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PA) plan to expand its aging bus terminal, now located between Eighth and Ninth Aves., from W. 40th to W. 42nd Sts. At a Dec. 6 planning meeting, Community Board 4 (CB4)

© CHELSEA NOW 2016 | NYC community media, LLC, All Rights Reserved

Chair Delores Rubin announced that the dozens of people in attendance would have the opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas, which would be absorbed by a new coalition. Tentatively named the Hell’s Kitchen South Alliance, all friends and neighbors were invited to participate — at that night’s meeting by way of small, think tank-like groups, and, New Alliance continued on p. 6 VOLUME 08, ISSUE 50 | December 15 – 21, 2016

NHL continued from p. 1

means Manhattan West’s 1,200-foottall tower (located near Hudson Yards) is now 40% leased, a Brookfield representatives said.

The NHL will occupy five floors at the 67-story One Manhattan West tower and plans to install a hockey rink in its space, although Brookfield reps said that was not set in stone. Brookfield will need to acquire permits from the Parks and Recreation Department for the rink, according to NHL Group Vice President of Communications Frank Brown, who said the NHL could use it for various events. “I’m sure there would be public skating and activities for which the rink would be used, but any time we would want to orchestrate an event there would be synergy with having on-ice opportunities,� Brown said.

The league will also lease 15,000 square feet of retail space at Manhattan West’s 200,000-square-foot retail center for an NHL Store where fans can grab merchandise from all of the league’s teams. Afterwards they can head a few blocks for a pint at The Flying Puck at the corner of Seventh Ave. and W. 30th St., a Rangers bar frequented by fans of many teams.

The NHL moves from its headquar-

Courtesy Brookfield Properties

Brookfield Properties will build a public plaza, restaurants, and retail spaces at Manhattan West at the base of its towers.

ters at 1185 Sixth Ave. (at W. 47th St.), which was roughly 27,000 square feet smaller. Its not the first company to pack up and head to the West Side from Midtown — just over a third of all the

office space in terms of square-footage at the neighboring Hudson Yards development will be leased by companies previously located in Midtown East, according to the New York Post.

Brown called the area “new and exciting� and One Manhattan West “a place we feel is very much in sync with NHL continued on p. 17

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December 15 – 21, 2016

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Kick Away Holiday, Election Stress at North Sky Kung Fu

BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC Depending on your social calendar, family dynamic or political leanings, the tail end of 2016 could be the most stressful period of an already challenging year, with the holidays and postpresidential election period converging.

But there are alternatives to inebriation or malaise, such as martial art classes at North Sky Kung Fu. “It feels very uncentering, what’s going on out there,” co-owner Julie Schwartzman told Chelsea Now shortly after the election. “Kung fu gives you your power back. People are relieved when they come here. We give them permission to play and have fun.”

The studio, located on the second floor at 137 W. 28th St. (btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.), offers 18 classes a week for both children and adults, and includes kung fu training and tai chi.

“People come here just drained,” Schwartzman said. “We focus on our art.

When you’re here, everything peels away.”

Co-owner Dario Acosta agreed, saying that kung fu “brings your minds back to your body — no matter what happens out there.”

In the early 1990s, Acosta and Schwartzman met through their sifu — master or teacher — Grandmaster Leung Shum. Acosta started training with Shum in 1990; Schwartzman in 1993.

Shum practiced a northern Chinese

Photos courtesy NSKF

Kids practice Kung Lek Kuen (Power Fist Form) with Sifu Dario.

martial arts system known as Eagle Claw kung fu, or “Ying Jow Pai” in Cantonese.

“He brought this style from Hong Kong to the US in the 1980s,” explained Schwartzman, who has the equivalent of a black belt.

She said she was spurred to train due to her interest in Chinese philosophy, having begun to read about Taoism when she was 15.

Acosta, who is a certified master, started studying martial arts when he was 12, and said there is a deeper side to kung fu.

“It takes many years for it to sink in,” he said. “Kung fu is a defensive art. It’s

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derived a lot from nature.”

Acosta explained that Eagle Claw is considered foundational, calling it kung fu’s “grandfather.”

Kung Fu continued on p. 15

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December 15 – 21, 2016

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Community Activities: Special Sing

BY SCOTT STIFFLER

HOLIDAY CAROLING WITH THE 300 WEST BLOCK ASSOCIATION A casual but vocal stroll up and down charming side streets, musical accompaniment courtesy of a brass quartet from the Chelsea Symphony, and mingling back in the lobby of the building where it all began, buoyed by a festive spread of hot chocolate, cider, and holiday cookies — that’s what’s on the agenda of this annual event sponsored by the 300 West Block Association.

Thurs., Dec. 15, meet in the lobby of 360 W. 22nd St. (btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.) any time after 6pm; depart close to 6:30pm. For more info, email 300wba@gmail.com.

THE NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY CHORUS WINTER CONCERT Under the direction of its founder, Jack Eppler, the New York City Community Chorus continues to celebrate its third decade in Chelsea with “Psalms, Sermons, and Prayers” — a concert that marks the holiday season with music of faith and inspiration. Frequent guest composer Thomas Garber has created a new work, specific to the strengths, quirks, and sensibilities of this 50-voice choir: “The Divine Teaching of St. Francis of Assisi,” which incorporates the words of Francis’ famous “Sermon to the Birds,” and features instrumentation that invokes bird calls. Councilmember Corey Johnson will speak, and noted baritone Anthony Turner and will perform musical expressions of hope from the Christian, Hindu, Islam, Judaic, and Native American traditions.

Sun., Dec. 18, 4pm at Church of the Holy Apostles (296 Ninth Ave., at W. 28th St.). Suggested donation: $12.

More info at nyccha.org.

CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATING & CHANUKAH MENORAH LIGHTING AT CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE PARK It doesn’t matter what you believe in: Faith will be rewarded when you show up expecting cheer and good will, at these annual events taking

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December 15 – 21, 2016

Photo by Pat Cook

On Dec. 15, neighborhood caroling gets a boost of brass, courtesy of the Chelsea Symphony.

the stage for a daily display of the lights, 5pm, through dawn, for the duration of the festival. For info, email w400ba@gmail.com.

“LATKEPALOOZA!” & “KIDS AND YIDDISH” AT THE MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE

Photo by Michael Clark Toomey

The NYC Community Chorus returns to Church of the Holy Apostles for its winter concert, on Dec. 18.

place in Chelsea’s beloved Clement Clarke Moore Park (W. 22nd St. & 10th Ave.), and sponsored by the West 400 Block Association. On Sat., Dec. 17 at 11am, the annual Christmas tree decorating party takes place. After enjoying refreshments and decking

the towering tannenbaum (donated by Tom’s Trees, of W. 22nd St. & Ninth Ave.), neighbor Tony Torn will perform a reading of “Twas The Night Before Christmas.” Then, on Sat., Dec. 24 at 4:30pm, a lighting of the Chanukah Menorah’s first candle sets

Hands down the tastiest, truest indication that the holidays have arrived, latkes are to Jewish food as…well, there’s really nothing in the world that compares to a fried, shredded potato and onion pancake — at least not when it’s plucked from the skillet at just the right time, then served with your choice of sour cream or applesauce. You can attend “Latkepalooza!” with full confidence that the artists in the kitchen know their way around this culinary treasure, which serves as the event’s centerpiece, and comes with side orders of music and handon activities. Just as pleasing on .com

A Song Edition the tongue, as anyone who’s ever described themselves as “verklempt” can testify, is the language of central and eastern European Jews. Give the young ones a crash course in culture they’ll never forget, at the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene’s funny, fast-paced, multilingual “Kids and Yiddish” revue, which sprinkles liberal amounts of Yiddish words and phrases into sketch comedy and parody songs. Rock, rap, and klezmer are among the musical styles used to mix Jewish folk traditions with current pop culture touchstones.

“Latkepalooza!” is Sun., Dec. 18, 10am–1pm. Tickets are $10. To order, call 646-437-4202 or visit mjhnyc. org/latkepalooza. “Kids and Yiddish” is Sun., Dec. 25, 11am. Tickets are $20, $10 for children; $40 for families of 4, and $40 for premium seats.

Runtime is 1 hour; appropriate for ages 4 and up. To order, call 212-2132120 x206 or visit web.ovationtix. com/trs/pr/964686. The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is located at 36 Battery Pl. (at West St. & First Pl.).

Visit mjhnyc.org.

23 DAYS OF FLATIRON CHEER EVENTS

An interactive art installation of hammocks on one of its pedestrian plazas may be all the rage this time around — but year in and year out, it’s the merchants, artists, and culinary

Courtesy National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene.

Chinese food and a movie? Not this year.

“Kids & Yiddish” is performed Dec. 25 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

crews from surrounding shops that provide the real reason to swing by and stay awhile, during any given point on the “23 Days of Flatiron Cheer” calendar. On the afternoon of Sat., Dec. 17, for example, the North Flatiron Public Plaza is alive with sounds from The Jazz Gallery, an the international cultural center that pairs emerging talent with industry veterans No worries if the temperature dips on Dec. 17 — just enjoy the jazz as you sip a very hot, totally free beverage from nearby Argo Tea Cafe. Between sets, spin the Flatiron Prize Wheel for a gift from a local business (up your luckcum-karma factor when you bring a

Photo by Elena Olivo, courtesy Flatiron/23rd St. Partnership

Talent from The Jazz Gallery, and free tea: Dec. 17 as part of the “23 Days of Flatiron Cheer.”

donation for the Food Bank For New York City).

Visit flatirondistrict.nyc/holiday for a schedule of events through Dec. 23. Follow the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership on Twitter and

Instagram, via @FlatironNY. Visit The Jazz Gallery online at jazzgallery.nyc and in the brick and mortar world, at 1160 Broadway (btw.

W. 27th & W. 28th Sts.). Also visit argotea.com, and at 949 Broadway (at W. 23rd St.).

The Christmas Season at St. Luke’s

ALL ARE WELCOME! US IN JOIN WORSHIP & CELEBRATION

BLUE EUCHARIST SERVICE | TUES. DEC 20TH 6:15 pm This service of healing and comfort is a safe place for all those who are sad or hurting during the holidays.

CHRISTMAS EVE | SATURDAY, DEC 24TH 5:00 pm — Christmas Pageant & Eucharist 9:30 pm — Prelude of Christmas Music 10:00 pm — Festive Choral Eucharist

CHRISTMAS DAY | SUNDAY, DEC 25TH 8:00 am — Said Eucharist 10:30 am — Choral Eucharist*

*Child care available for children under age 6; all children are welcome with us in worship.

The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields | 487 Hudson Street Photo by Pamela Parlapiano

The Clement Clark Moore Park Chanukah menorah shines daily, from 5pm to dawn, during the festival. .com

West Village (Corner of Grove and Hudson) New York, NY 10014

www.stlukeinthefields.org | 212.924.0562

December 15 – 21, 2016

5

Hell’s Kitchen Alliance Arises To Mutually Ensure Against Destruction New Alliance continued from p. 1

moving forward, as active members of the Alliance.

Metro Baptist Church was a fitting venue for the meeting, as its location (410 W. 40th St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.) puts it within a part of Hell’s Kitchen once floated as a viable area for the revamped bus terminal. If the PA was going to expand and affect the neighborhood in the process, then Hell’s Kitchen residents were going to take the opportunity to let the PA know their community needs. This demand for a voice in the process was a true “restart,” as Rubin noted. Initially, the PA released plans for bus terminal relocation or expansion without community input (among their scenarios, the seizing of land from residents and business owners).

Now, the PA has scrapped all plans, and created a PA New York/New Jersey Working Group that includes PA representatives and eight members each from New York and New Jersey. Community leaders and local elected officials are among each state’s members. Now that everyone is sitting at the same table, the community will have a voice in the planning.

“Just like the community worked with the MTA on how to manage development rights on the Eastern Rail Yards, with the Port Authority, it’s the same thing,” said Joe Restuccia, executive director of Clinton Housing Development Company and CB4 member. “The PA owns all of this land in Hell’s Kitchen. How do the zoning rights move around? How do they get a terminal? Where does it go?

What happens, and how do we make sure that, just as in Hudson Yards, that the community gets affordable housing, open space, community services, all the benefits and necessities that we need?

This is the same thing, happening 12 years later.”

Courtesy CB4

A slide from CB4’s presentation shows extensive property holdings in Hell’s Kitchen South.

or issues and attach the Post-its to the related categories indicated on the wall hangings. Residents mingled in discussion mostly with members of CB4’s related committees, who acted as facilitators at the various postings.

Facilitators reported on the thoughts of the crowd, and although each concern category was different, certain issues were repeated various times and revealed themselves as the strongest concerns: • Saving small local businesses that are being pushed out due to rising property values. Rev. Tiffany T. Henkel, executive director of Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries and pastor at Metro Baptist Church, who was the facilitator for Small Business/Community Services, reported that residents mentioned how many small businesses were being lost while bars were proliferating. They were afraid that more would be lost, such as Big Apple and Esposito’s.

THE HELL’S KITCHEN COMMUNITY SPEAKS OUT The CB4 PA Working Group laid the groundwork for the evening by hanging blank sheets of paper along the church walls, each designating a different area of concern for the community: Small Business/Community Services, Neighborhood Preservation, Air Quality, Parks, Transportation, Housing, and Additional Areas of Concern.

People were handed Post-it notes upon entering the meeting, and were encouraged to jot down their ideas and/

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December 15 – 21, 2016

• The need for more schools.

Photo by Eileen Stukane

Rev. Tiffany T. Henkel, pastor at Metro Baptist Church, spoke about the creation of a new coalition, tentatively named Hell’s Kitchen South Alliance.

• The preservation of artist studios.

New Alliance continued on p. 19 .com

50 Hudson Yards To Rise Eight Floors Higher Than Its Address

BY DENNIS LYNCH The minds behind the Hudson Yards mega-development revealed the 2.9 million-square-foot 50 Hudson Yards tower last week. The Foster + Partners design is 985 feet tall and 58 floors, which is shorter than Related Companies and its partner at 50 Hudson Yards, Oxford Properties Group, had originally projected in 2014.

The glass-wrapped rectangular tower will occupy an entire block at the northwest corner of W. 33rd St. and 10th Ave., and is comprised of three stacked sections of commercial space.

“Marquee tenants” will have private sky lobbies, outdoor terraces, and an executive valet. 50 Hudson Yards will also feature a glowing “halo” band of light above its top floor.

The architects pushed the structural elements toward the edges of the building to allow for column-free floor plates. Each floor can accommodate 500-plus people, according to Related Companies. A senior partner at Foster + Partners said 50

Hudson Yards is “crafted from a simple palette of white stone and glass,” and “aspires to define the workplace of the future.”

Anchor tenant BlackRock, an investment management firm, will occupy 850,000 square feet across 15 floors there. BlackRock moves from its headquarters at Park Ave. Plaza on E. 52nd. St. It is one of many companies that Hudson Yards and Brookfield Properties’ neighboring Manhattan West development have pulled from Midtown East.

“Their decision to relocate after nearly three decades on and around Park Avenue is another strong vote of confidence in our collective vision for Manhattan’s West Side,” said Related Companies CEO Jeff T. Blau. “They will join an unprecedented collection of global influencers in media, fashion, beauty, tech, law and finance at Hudson Yards.”

“Welcoming BlackRock to Hudson Yards is a milestone bigger than any one building or development,”

President & CEO of Oxford Properties Group Blake Hutcheson said. “It is a ringing endorsement for Manhattan’s West Side as the epicenter of commerce, culture and community.”

50 Hudson Yards sits just north of 30 Hudson Yards, a massive 92-story tower at the southwest corner of W. 33rd St. and 10th Ave., itself attached to the 10 Hudson Yards tower through a multi-story retail and dining complex dubbed the “Shops & Restaurants” at Hudson Yards.

Both 50 and 30 Hudson Yards were designed to be LEED Gold-certified.

10 Hudson Yards was designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification.

Office space at the 28-acre development built over the railyard west of Penn Station is currently 88% committed, and retail space is 60% committed, according to Related. Hudson Yards will also feature a six-acre public plaza outside the buildings, and in it, British designer Thomas Heatherwick has created a 15-story high public sculpture called the Vessel.

Courtesy Related-Oxford

A rendering of 50 Hudson Yards tower (center), including the lighted “halo” at the top of the building. Also pictured: 30 Hudson Yards and the No. 7 Subway.

Keeping New Yorkers in their homes prevents homelessness. Yet too many renters face eviction in housing court with no resources or tools to fight back. And they usually lose. That’s because 70% of tenants don’t have a lawyer, but 90% of landlords do.

Join AARP New York in calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to support the Right to Counsel bill (Intro. 214-A), which would guarantee legal counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction in New York City Housing Court.

Right to Counsel is fair and fiscally responsible. Preventing wrongful evictions can save taxpayers $320 million a year by keeping people in their homes and out of expensive homeless services.

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Call Mayor de Blasio at 1-844-655-7468 and urge him to support the Right to Council bill now! facebook.com/AARPNY @AARPNY aarp.org/NY

Paid for by AARP

December 15 – 21, 2016

7

POLICE BLOTTER HATE INCIDENTS: Anti-gay intimidation This week saw a newly reported, hate-related incident in Chelsea. A man reported that, at around 5pm on Sat., Dec. 10, he was walking at the northeast corner of W. 34th St. and 10th Ave. with his boyfriend, attempting to hail a taxi. A taxi pulled up, and shouted to him “I have my lights off, you stupid f*ggot,” and then drove away up 10th Ave. Though no arrests have been made, the victim was able to recall the driver’s taxi medallion number, and filed a complaint with the Taxi and Limousine Commission as well as the police.

CRIMINAL TRESPASS: Caught with crack Usually, people can tell when they aren’t welcome — but for one woman, not even legal documentation could get the message across. At 3:20am on Fri., Dec. 9, an officer observed her enter the Elliott-Chelsea Houses (415 W. 25th St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.),

a NYCHA property, and remain there unlawfully without permission or authority to do so. Upon approaching the woman, the officer discovered that the 39-year-old already had a felony arrest for trespassing in the exact same location — and had a notice prohibiting her presence on the property to prove it. “I wanted to say hello to a friend,” the woman explained to the officer. Certainly one of the two metal pipes (containing crack cocaine residue) she was carrying could have been for her alleged acquaintance — though this potential act of generosity went unappreciated by the officer who arrested her.

HARASSMENT: Fisticuffs for fare While this column usually reports on cabbies receiving abuse from frustrating fares, this week provides a rare instance of driver-on-driver abuse. On Thurs., Dec. 8, two drivers engaged in a verbal dispute about who would be the one to pick up a particular customer outside of Marquee (289 10th Ave., btw. W. 26th & W. 27th Sts.)

Celebrate the Season at Chelsea’s Famous Christmas Church Handel’s Messiah Community Sing Along Thursday, December 22 7pm Refreshments

Christmas Eve Services

Saturday, December 24 5:30pm Children and Family Service 10:00pm Carols 10:30pm Mass of the Angels

Christmas Day Service Sunday, December 25 10:00am

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 346 W. 20th St. (btwn 8th & 9th Aves.)

212.929.2390 | stpeterschelsea.org

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December 15 – 21, 2016

at around 5am. The argument escalated, and one of the drivers pushed the other, a 47-year-old upstate New York woman, causing annoyance and alarm, and pain when her fingers got snagged on her watch. Though she reported the altercation, no arrest was made.

cessfully doing so did his bank inform him that the check he deposited was fraudulent, and he realized he had just been swindled. He reported the incident on Sat., Dec. 10.

PETIT LARCENY: Robbed by job

While at her workplace on the 400 block of W. 34th St. (btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.), a 26-year-old Bronx woman contacted an individual on Craigslist who had posted a vacant apartment on Mon., Dec. 5 — unwittingly falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book. While she did not see or tour the apartment herself, she nonetheless sent a money order of $500 over to the online seller to secure the place. A bit later, she deduced that the entire thing was a scam, after checking with a frauddetecting website which matched the phone number the seller provided to one known to have been involved with scams in the past. Indeed, there was never any apartment, and the

While many complain about deadend jobs robbing them of nebulous concepts like “time” or “happiness,” one 26-year-old W. 27th St resident (btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.) was just plain robbed by a potential employer earlier this month. On Sat., Dec. 3, the man responded to an ad for online work listed on hubstaff.com, which was answered in the affirmative.

The would-be bosses sent the man a cashier’s check for $3,780, which they said should be used to buy supplies for the job. They also, however, asked him to wire over $1,000 of the check to a woman who lives in New Jersey.

He obliged, and sent the grand over her via MoneyGram. Only after suc-

PETIT LARCENY: Fauxpartment

Police Blotter continued on p. 21

THE NEW SOUND OF

BROOKLYN The Community News Group is proud to introduce BROOKLYN PAPER RADIO. Join Brooklyn Paper Editor-in-Chief Vince DiMiceli and the New York Daily News’ Gersh Kuntzman every Thursday at 4:45 for an hour of talk on topics Brooklynites hold dear.

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TOP DRIVER DISTRACTIONS Using mobile phones

Leading the list of the top distractions behind the wheel are mobile phones.

Phones now do more than just place calls, and drivers often cannot pull away from their phones, even when driving. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, studies have shown that driving performance is lowered and the level of distraction is higher for drivers who are heavily engaged in cell

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phone conversations. The use of a hands-free device does not lower distraction levels. The percentage of vehicle crashes and nearcrashes attributed to dialing is nearly identical to the number associated with talking or listening.

Daydreaming

Many people will admit to daydreaming behind the wheel or looking at a person or object outside of the car for too long. Per-

haps they’re checking out a house in a new neighborhood or thought they saw someone they knew on the street corner. It can be easy to veer into the direction your eyes are focused, causing an accident. In addition to trying to stay focused on the road, some drivers prefer the help of lane departure warning systems.

Eating

Those who haven’t quite mastered walking and

chewing gum at the same time may want to avoid eating while driving. The majority of foods require a person’s hands to be taken off of the wheel and their eyes to be diverted from the road. Reaching in the back seat to share some French fries with the kids is also distracting.

Try to eat meals before getting in the car. For those who must snack while en route, take a moment to pull over at

a rest area and spend 10 minutes snacking there before resuming the trip.

Reading

Glancing at an advertisement, updating a Facebook status or reading a book are all activities that should be avoided when driving. Even pouring over a traffic map or consulting the digital display of a GPS system can be distracting.

December 15 – 21, 2016

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Obamacare Demise’s Impact on LGBTQ Health Access

BY PAUL SCHINDLER With Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to nominate Georgia Republican Congressmember Tom Price, one of the fiercest critics of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as Secretary of Health and Human Services, it’s clear the president-elect is determined to push his repeated campaign pledge to “repeal and replace Obamacare.”

Still, with nearly 20 million previously uninsured Americans now receiving coverage from their employers, through the network of health exchanges, or via expanded Medicaid eligibility, it’s impossible to predict precisely what the effort to dismantle the current president’s signature achievement will look like, particularly with both Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan making favorable noise about retaining two of the law’s most popular features — the ban on insurers excluding pre-existing conditions from coverage and the ability of offspring up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ plans. How to preserve coverage for pre-existing conditions while eliminating the individual coverage mandate that most frequently draws the ire of GOP critics is something nobody has yet explained.

On top of the incoming administration’s hostility toward the ACA, there is also excited discussion among Republicans about reviving ideas, long kicking around, for turning Medicaid into a block-grant program in which states receive a fixed amount of money — anticipated to be significantly lower than current federal contributions — to do with as they see fit, and even for privatizing Medicare, the primary health insurance program for seniors.

All of which means that there is a lot of tough talk but few specifics coming from Trump, Price, and company — but also that the future course of American healthcare remains murky at best. That uncertainty extends beyond the issue of how individuals access care; it also raises questions about how advances in the nation’s overall public health infrastructure — gains unfortunately little appreciated in the debate over Obamacare — will fare going forward.

For LGBTQ Americans, a significant benefit under the ACA came in the form of the New Access Point program, which aims to improve public health in underserved and vulnerable communities by expanding access to culturally competent primary care. The “new access points” were 266 community health centers nationwide that were added to the stock of “federally qualified health .com

Courtesy Callen-Lorede Community Health Center

Jonathan Santos-Ramos, the director of operations at Callen-Lorde’s new clinic in the South Bronx, with staff member Luis Prieto.

centers” (FQHCs), non-profit institutions serving communities in need that enjoy substantial government support in doing their jobs. For the first time, five of those FQHCs had a specific focus on LGBTQ health needs, with two of them — the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and Apicha — located in New York.

The advantages of the FQHC designation are significant. First, there is a $650,00 annual grant to offset the unreimbursed cost of care, which often represents a substantial burden on nonprofits serving lower income communities. At the time of the New Access Point designations in the summer of 2015, Callen-Lorde, which serves everyone regardless of their ability to pay, reported its most recent annual unreimbursed cost of care at roughly $5 million a year in serving about 15,000 clients.

Likely more significant than the annual grants, however, is the ability of FQHCs to receive cost-based Medicaid reimbursement. Medicaid, a joint federal/state insurance program for low income Americans, typically reimburses based on a standard schedule of allowable payments that does not take a provider’s specific cost of providing care into account. This benefit, then, also contributes to lowering a health facility’s unreimbursed burden.

Including five LGBTQ-focused health centers among the New Access Point program represented unprecedented progress for the community. Earlier

attempts by such non-profits to win FQHC designation failed, in part based on government officials’ concerns about their ability to serve non-gay patients.

The 2015 designations, then, reflect a deeper understanding of unmet health needs within the queer community, something advocates will have to work hard to preserve in an administration whose appointees — including Price at HHS, Ben Carson at Housing and Urban Development, Betsy DeVos at the Department of Education, and even Trump’s choice of vice president, Mike Pence — have long and strong records hostile to the LGBTQ community.

Here in New York, the FQHC designation has meant more care in more places. On July 1 of this year, CallenLorde opened a new 3,500-square-foot clinic in the South Bronx on Third Ave.

near E. 161st St., its first footprint outside of Chelsea, and its patient rolls have increased from 13,000 in 2012 to about 17,000 by this year. Apicha, long based in Chinatown, is planning a new facility in Jackson Heights, Queens, while Callen-Lorde is investigating options for its presence in a third borough, in downtown Brooklyn.

Other statistics also suggest that the combination of Obamacare’s broader coverage and the FQHC designations have been beneficial for New York’s LGBTQ healthcare infrastructure. At Callen-Lorde, the portion of its patients who were uninsured fell from 37% in 2012 to 26% in 2015, while the number of those on Medicaid rose from 18 to 27%. Both trends suggest that increased coverage access and the Medicaid expansion under the ACA offered protection to a bigger chunk of the LGBTQ community; they also added to the greater financial security Callen-Lorde achieved by being an FQHC facility.

Last year, when Apicha won its designation, its CEO, Therese R. Rodriguez, said, “This is an important moment for the LGBT community. With these awards, the federal government is allowing us to reach out to the margins of the community — LGBT folks, immigrants, people of color, and people living with HIV/AIDS — to make sure they receive healthcare.”

Wendy Stark, executive director of Callen-Lorde, reflecting on what her agency has gained in recent years, put in even sharper relief what is at stake today. “Callen-Lorde serves as a critical safety net for thousands of people who are both uninsured and underinsured, as do community health centers across the country,” she told our sister publication, Gay City News, in an email message last week. “Through the Affordable Health Access continued on p. 23

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Young Writers Take Their Ideas To ‘Infinity and Beyond’ 52nd Street Project mentors Hell’s Kitchen kids

Photos by Winston Rodney

Kaaron Briscoe as Yogi, a teacup, and Naomi Lorrain as Fire, a candle, in “The Hike” by Jade Johnson, age 10; directed by Arielle Goldman.

David Shih, as SnakeJake, and Jeremy Rishe, as Yolo the Frog, in “The Job Conflict”

by Ryan Billah, age 10; directed by Kareem M. Lucas.

12

December 15 – 21, 2016

BY NAEISHA ROSE On the brisk and windy night of Dec. 2, shoppers crowded the sidewalks of Hell’s Kitchen in search of holiday deals — while inside, families, friends, and patrons of the arts packed the Five Angels Theater to see plays written by kids from the neighborhood.

Ranging in age from nine to 11, they represented the fall 2016 crop from The 52nd Street Project’s semi-annual Playmaking series, in which local kids pair up with theater professionals who mentor them. The four-night run of “Infinity and Beyond, The Ultimate Plays” presented the fruits of their collaborative labors to the public for the first time.

A nonprofit founded in 1981, The 52nd Street Project is the brainchild of Ensemble Studio Theater (EST) company member and 1994 MacArthur Fellow Wille Reale, who began the Project as a way to enrich the lives of children attending the Police Athletic League’s Duncan Center after school.

“Willie Reale was 24 years old and spending a lot of time at a developmental theater [EST],” said Gus Rogerson, the Project’s current artistic director.

“Someone from PAL went across the street and asked, “We have all these kids; can anybody here teach an acting class?’ ” “Willie said, ‘I’ll do it,’ ” recalled Rogerson. “He’s a writer, his brother is a composer, and they wrote an original musical to do with the kids — and they did that at EST — and thought, ‘They [were] great, and now we are going to go back and do what we were doing.’ ” However, one question posed to Reale by a young girl helped to make the 35-year-old institution what it is today, according to Rogerson: “She went up to Willie

Jenelle Chu, as Jolina, a taco, and Morgan Everitt, as Beana, a burrito, in “Becoming a Manager” by Arden Wolfe, age 11; directed by Rachel Dart. .com

Photos by Winston Rodney

Jose Joaquin Perez as Pine, a deer; and Michael Propster as Snowball, a harp seal, in “The Adventure of Snowball and Pine” by Aengus O’Donnell, age 10; directed by Tim J. Lord.

L to R: Ben Mehl, as Bubba, and Stephen O’Reilly, as Stephen, in “Brothers in Disguise?” by Messiah Green, age 10; directed by Jonathan Bock.

and went, ‘When is the next show?’ ” Since then, “the whole organization has been driven by the appetite of the children for these opportunities,” said Rogerson.

While the first two decades of the program focused solely on theater curriculum for kids 10 to 18, in the last 15 years The 52nd Street Project grew to include mentoring and after-school programs for homework help, filmmaking, photography, songwriting, storytelling, and dance.

“We’re establishing a podcast, and we continue to create and refine all of the programming. It’s exhausting…in the best way,” said Rogerson.

Before the Playmaking works made their debut on the stage of the 150seat Five Angels Theater (located at the Project’s 789 10th Ave. address, btw.

W. 52nd & W. 53rd Sts.), the neophyte playwrights spent nine weeks crafting their stories.

“We don’t need to teach them about being creative,” said Rogerson. “They are wired to do that — it’s in their DNA. But we teach them what a play is, and how to write one. They learn to write a character profile: How old are they? What is their occupation? Who is their family? What is their habitat? What’s their wish, and what is their fear? Then, they write the play.”

Each play, noted Rogerson, must have “a ‘want.’ There has to be a conflict, and then change — and basically, you’ve written a play.”

The one-act plays were written by Ryan Billah, Messiah Green, Jade Johnson, Love Jones, Hannah Leon, Aengus O’Donnell, Aaron Ordinola, Ahmed Shabana, Morgan Smalls, and Arden Wolfe. Among the mentors, who also

words; everything — and then they hand you the script.”

“This is the craziest, most imaginative and beautiful thing of all time, and then you work it into a song little-by-little and show it to the actors,” added Amon. “It’s got to be quick, it’s got to be catchy, and you got to think, ‘Would this kid like this song?’ ” For Love Jones, 9, who wrote “The Swap” — about two classmates that are complete opposites, but bond over a lost loved one — music was her favorite element, “because it represented how my

.com

Taylor Trensch, as Leon, and Helen Cespedes, as Jessica, in “Friends Forever” by Hannah Leon, age 9; directed by Natalie Hirsch.

served as dramaturges/directors, were Jose Gamo, Michelle Taliento, Johanna Vidal and Nicole A. Watson. The cast included Omar Metwally (“Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2” and “Mr. Robot”), Annie Purcell (“The Coast of Utopia” and “Awake and Sing!”), and Stephen O’Reilly (“Orange Is the New Black” and “Girls”). All 20 actors volunteered their talents, without pay.

Avi Amon composed original music, marking the fifth time he’s created melodies for the series. “This is really special,” said Amon. “The kids write all the

character was feeling.”

“Friends Forever” by Hannah Leon, 9, dealt with what happens when a best friend moves away, and adjusting to a new school — and, like a true friend, she was dying to see the other shows come to life on stage. “I’m most looking forward to seeing my friends’ plays because I want to see what they’re going to do,” said Leon, before the Dec. 2 performance.

“The Hike” and “Brothers in Disguise?,” by Jade Johnson and Messiah Playmaking continued on p. 14 December 15 – 21, 2016

13

Just Do Art

BY SCOTT STIFFLER

A SWINGING BIRDLAND CHRISTMAS

Take top-notch ivory tickler and in-demand arranger Billy Stritch, along with sly wit and “Cast Party” open mic emcee Jim Caruso; then add brassy, roofraising, ludicrously likable Klea Blackhurst — and you’ve got the ingredients of a Christmas chemistry set that smokes, sparks, and blazes across the stage of Gotham’s swanky go-to room for up-close-and-personal cabaret, jazz, and Broadway talent. Dripping with sophistication and refreshingly free of cynicism, the trio headlining “A Swinging Birdland Christmas” is not, however, operating without a healthy dose of irony. After all, they’ll be offering up beloved chestnuts like “Sleigh Ride” and “Holiday Season” at the tail end of a tumultuous presidential election year, with the uncouth victor a far cry from the civilized folks whose seasonal TV specials inspired this longrunning showcase. Set to mark its seventh consecutive year of delivering us from the holiday doldrums, “A Swinging Birdland Christmas” can truly lay claim to having become what it set out to emulate: a popular standard that December just can’t do without.

At 6pm, Fri.–Sun., Dec. 23, 24, 25 at Birdland Jazz Club (315 W. 44th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.). For reservations ($30 cover, $10 food/drink minimum), visit birdlandjazz.com or call 212-581-3080. A CD based on the show, of the same title, is available via the Birdland website or iTunes. Artist info at jim-caruso.com, billystritch.com, and kleablackhurst.com.

THE WEST VILLAGE CHORALE’S GREENWICH VILLAGE CAROLING WALK Hundreds have been known to take part in this

Photo by Bill Westmoreland, graphic by Todd Johnson

Don’t lose your balance, Santa: Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch and Klea Blackhurst (l to r) raise the roof at “A Swinging Birdland Christmas.”

annual song-filled trek through a neighborhood whose Dickensian London-like charm isn’t lost on those making their way through the Washington Square Arch with songbook in glove-covered hand — but don’t expect to see any rowdy flash mob/pub crawl/mannequin challenge shenanigans; quite the opposite, in fact! A tradition since 1974, members of the West Village Chorale will spend the afternoon leading small groups of carolers from Judson Memorial Church through the West Village and back again (where hot cocoa, cookies, and conviviality await). The last group leaves Judson around 2pm, so the outside portion of the event can finish well before crowds gather for “Not Straight Against Hate” — a march to defend and protect LGBTQ rights and freedoms that begins in Washington Square Park at 5pm, then makes its way to Trump Tower.

Caroling Walk festivities begin Sat., Dec. 17, at 12pm in the Meeting Room of Judson Memorial Church (55 Washington Square South at Thompson St.). Songbooks are provided, and this event is free (donations accepted). For more info, visit westvillagechorale.org. For “Not Straight Against Hate” info, @nsahofficial on Instagram and Twitter.

Sue Jean Kim, as Hadi, a deer, and Omar Metwally, as Laycayon, a werewolf, in “Laycayon the Werewolf & Hadi the Deer” by Aaron Ordinola, age 9; directed by John Sheehy.

L to R: Jennifer Van Dyck, as Katlen, and Mozhan Marno, as May, in “The 2 and 3 Musketeers” by Morgan Smalls, age 10; directed by Alexandra O’Daly.

Photo by Suzanne Blakely

Here you go a-caroling: Dec. 17, with the help of the West Village Chorale.

Playmaking continued from p. 13

Green, respectively, depicted betrayal.

In “The Hike,” Yogi, a floral teacup, is tricked by Fire, a candle, into a yearlong hike into the mountains for lighter oil, but later discovers that her newfound friend simply wanted a companion on her journey to save her father.

“Brothers in Disguise?” depicts a man, Stephen, down on his luck after being robbed by Bubba, who he considered his best friend. After a lot of soul searching, the wealthy Bubba tries to reconnect with Stephen, who has been forced to eat pizza all day to survive. Stephen forgives Bubba and they both realize they are long lost brothers and undercover FBI agents.

Ahmed Shabana, 10, hoped his play would bring some joy to the audience.

“I’m looking forward to [making] people laugh,” said Shabana, whose play “Silly and Boa” features two brother snakes, one serious and one silly, arguing over living space in the forest. After they make peace, they realize that although they have different living styles and have to live apart, they will always have love for each other.

Arden Wolfe, 11, was overwhelmed after seeing her play “Becoming a Manager,” bring joy to the audience.

14

December 15 – 21, 2016

“It was so cool, because it was like seeing all my work come to life; to see a figment of your imagination [up there] is mind-blowing.”

Stephen O’Reilly, who played Stephen in “Brothers in Disguise?,” loved the feedback and working with the kids. “It’s like a rock concert,” he said. “The energy here is so positive, and I mentor a kid here and it’s, like, a total

Photos by Winston Rodney

joy. What I love is that it is not a training program for kids; it is using the arts to give them a good foundation for self-expression and positive reinforcement — and it seems they get a lot out of it.

For more information about all of the programming at The 52nd Street Project, visit 52project.org. .com

Kung Fu continued from p. 3

Schwartzman said, “It’s considered an ancient style that’s been preserved.

It’s come down to us very rich and intact.”

North Sky teaches Eagle Claw, and the studio has tiger hooks, daggers and fans on hand for training. Acosta demonstrated for Chelsea Now how to position one’s hand — separated from the thumb, the four fingers are tightly together and curled, almost egg shaped.

“Your fingertips represent the claws of eagles,” he said.

Acosta stressed it is always a defensive technique, and the martial arts “teach us how to control ourselves.”

“It’s to develop control, build and understand your qi,” added Schwartzman, referring to the Chinese concept of one’s life force or energy.

“It’s the opposite [being] focused on a device all day,” she added.

After Shum retired, they “decided to start teaching and share our point of view on martial arts,” Schwartzman explained.

Acosta said they wanted to transfer what they learned to other generations.

Chelsea, Schwartzman noted, was a center for martial arts schools until rents increased. She and Acosta chose the neighborhood because of its central location and availability of space.

“The industrial vibe here is appealing to martial arts,” she said.

About three years ago, they were teaching two nights a week at a studio on W. 28th St. “We looked and we looked, and we found this place,” Schwartzman said.

“The bones of it were okay.”

They opened North Sky on W. 28th St. in March 2014.

“People in the neighborhood are get-

ting to know us,” Schwartzman said.

“They’re coming little-by-little.”

Neither is new to owning a business — Schwartzman started a graphic design business in 1990, and Acosta’s family runs barbershops in the city with four different locations in the Bronx and Queens. Still, she said, “We had no idea how much work it would take — we’re doing everything.”

Business has been “trending upwards slowly,” Schwartzman said, as they add one student at a time.

“We’re getting so many kids from Penn South,” she said. “The parents say, ‘I love coming here — such a great vibe.’ We work hard to make this a pleasant place.”

Schwartzman said they are handing out brochures, talking to parents, and still working on what classes to offer.

She said she wants to reach out to seniors and others in the neighborhood, as well as perhaps offering a self-defense class for tourists staying at the many hotels in the area.

“We’re finding our own ways to do things,” she said.

Classes cost $20, and there is also a monthly membership option where you can take as many classes as you want.

Private individual sessions are available as well.

“It is interesting to try to start a kung fu school in 2016,” said Schwartzman.

“We’re trying to make a community for martial artists.”

A native New Yorker, Schwartzman said she is happy to be in Chelsea, and on W. 28th St. in particular, which she says is still kind of funky.

“We’re part of the pocket of old New York,” she said.

Photos courtesy NSKF

Working on floor kicks with intermediate students.

For more info, visit northskykungfu. com or call 917-657-6104.

Students from the Saturday Chi Kung class.

Young martial artists race through an obstacle course, one of their favorite challenges. .com

North Sky co-owner and native New Yorker Julie Schwartzman says she’s happy with the “still kind of funky” W. 28th St. location.

December 15 – 21, 2016

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The Flying Puck has long been the hangout for Rangers fans before and after games at Madison Square Garden.

NHL continued from p. 2

the growth and momentum of our league.�

David Cheikin, Head of New York for Brookfield Properties’ Office Division, said tenants are attracted to what will be a multi-use space with tons of dining, entertainment, and lifestyle comforts.

“We’re not only satisfying the requirements of the company from a facilities and infrastructure perspective, we’re satisfying the need from a human resources perspective and giving them the ability to attract and retain the best talent with amenities like food and beverage, daycare — it’s best in class,�

Cheikin said.

Courtesy theflyingpuck.com

One of several stained glass tributes to The Flying Puck’s favorite sport.

The NHL joins the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in One Manhattan West. The firm signed its anchor lease for 550,000 square feet of space in the 28th to 43rd floors of the office tower in April of last year. Brookfield expects to complete the tower by the end of 2019. Brookfield is developing another new tower and rede-

veloping two other towers as part of the Manhattan West project.

It will also have a hotel, a public plaza, and a 844-unit, 62-story residential tower complete with “55,000-plus square feet of lifestyle and recreational amenities� including a basketball court, rock-climbing wall, a rooftop terrace, and a playroom for children.

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The NHL’s new headquarters at One Manhattan West will be just a couple blocks from Madison Square Garden, the home of the New York Rangers. .com

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Photos by Eileen Stukane

CB4 Chair Delores Rubin (at podium) moderates the Hell’s Kitchen South Community Planning Session prompted by Port Authority’s bus terminal expansion plans.

New Alliance continued from p. 6

• Maintaining a height limit on buildings.

Facilitator for Housing, Joe Restuccia, reported that there is a 120-foot height restriction between Ninth and 10th Aves., but a 250-foot height restriction between Eighth and Ninth Aves.

• Housing for people of lower income, and help in getting access to that housing.

• Platforming over bus ramps, and parkland designed on platformed ramps coming into the city.

• Green roof installations.

• Small natural green spaces that would attract birds and butterflies, as opposed to asphalt playgrounds.

• Alternative energy buses, such as electric buses, and infrastructure to support transportation away from fossil fuels.

• The extension of the Number 7 subway, possibly into New Jersey.

Bob Minor, of the Hell’s Kitchen 50-51 Block Association, proposed a plan for using the parking area in the New Jersey Meadowlands to resolve the PA’s expansion issues. Minor suggested that buses could be headquartered in New Jersey by platforming parking lots, constructing the bus terminal on top of the lots, and putting solar panels on the terminal’s roof to create energy for charging electric buses. He then suggested extending the Number 7 subway line to run in and out of the city.

Another suggestion from the audience was building a structure for buses on pylons in the Hudson River, in a fashion similar to the Pier 55 “floating park” currently being constructed in the Hudson.

WHAT’S NEXT CB4’s PA Working Group is aware that the PA’s bus terminal expansion is just

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• Wider sidewalks.

The most unusual idea was reported

by JD Noland, CB4 member and facilitator for Neighborhood Preservation, who heard a resident’s wish of having a cemetery in Hell’s Kitchen, and to be buried there. As for the issue of saving small local businesses, Delores Rubin stated that getting neighborhood small business balance back would probably require more than one solution, and legislation. “We need to voice that issue and let our elected officials know that’s important to us,” she said. .com

CB4’s Joe Restuccia with one of the groups during a brainstorming session whose categories included Small Business/Community Services, Neighborhood Preservation, Air Quality, Parks, Transportation, and Housing.

one piece of a much larger transportation issue that encompasses consideration of an expanded Lincoln Tunnel, movement on the Gateway Program (which would increase track, tunnel, bridge and station capacity, and expand Trans-Hudson Ferry Service), and a Number 7 subway line extension to Secaucus, NJ. Whatever plan the PA settles on will take years to complete. The “making” phase, however, is here now.

“We will synthesize this information as the coalition [the Hell’s Kitchen South Alliance] comes together. This will be a starting point for the conversation,” said Rubin. “We’re going to be activists.”

For info on CB4’s interaction with the PA, visit nyc.gov/html/mancb4. Choose the Committees and Task Forces option, then go to the Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Land Use page.

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December 15 – 21, 2016

.com

POLICE BLOTTER THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

PUBLISHER

Jennifer Goodstein

EDITOR Scott Stiffler

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sean Egan

ART DIRECTOR Michael Shirey

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Cristina Alcine

CONTRIBUTORS

Lincoln Anderson Stephanie Buhmann Jackson Chen Sean Egan Bill Egbert Dennis Lynch Dusica Sue Malesevic Winnie McCroy Puma Perl Paul Schindler Trav S.D. Eileen Stukane Zach Williams

ADVERTISING Amanda Tarley

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Gayle Greenberg Jim Steele Julio Tumbaco

Published by

NYC COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC

One Metrotech North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Phone: (212) 229-1890 Fax: (212) 229-2790 www.chelseanow.com scott@chelseanow.com © 2016 NYC Community Media, LLC Member of the New York Press Association

Chelsea Now is published weekly by NYC Community Media

LLC, One Metrotech North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

(212) 229-1890. Annual subscription by mail in Manhattan and Brooklyn $75. The entire contents of newspaper, including advertising, are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher - © 2016 NYC Community Media LLC, Postmaster: Send address changes to Chelsea Now, One Metrotech North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR: The Publisher shall

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

.com

Police Blotter continued from p. 8

check was cashed on Thurs., Dec. 8; she reported the crime on Sat., Dec. 10.

CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA: THC trio At about 5:25am on Sat., Dec. 10 an officer witnessed three individuals smoking a lit marijuana cigarette on the northeast corner of Ninth Ave. and W. 16th St. Upon further investigation he found additional quantities of alleged marijuana on the trio — a 22-year-old Manhattan woman, a 22-year-old Staten Island man, and a 23-year-old Queens man. The entire blazed, inter-borough crew was brought to the big house.

ROBBERY/ASSAULT: Justice for Gina!

Police have made an arrest of a suspect who, on Tues., Sept. 27, made the mistake of allegedly trying to mug Gina Zuckerman, 91. The suspect knocked down the Village nonagenarian on Fifth Ave. around noon, grabbed the bag from the front of the elderly woman’s cart and dug her nails into the victim’s arm and hand. But the scrappy senior refused to release her satchel and the wannabe robber fled. On Mon., Dec. 5, police reported THE 10th PRECINCT: Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.).

Commander: Capt. Paul Lanot.

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: 212-9243377. Detective Squad: 212-7418245. The Community Council meets on the last Wed. of the month, 7pm, at the 10th Precinct or other locations to be announced.

MIDTOWN SOUTH PRECINCT: Located at 357 W. 35th St. (btw.

Eighth & Ninth Aves.). Inspector: Russel J. Green. Call 212-2399811. Community Affairs: 212-2399846. Crime Prevention: 212-2399846. Domestic Violence: 212-2399863. Youth Officer: 212-239-9817.

Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-2399836. Detective Squad: 212-2399856. The Community Council meets on the third Thurs. of the month, 7pm, at the New Yorker Hotel (481 Eighth Ave., btw. W. 34th & W. 35th St.). Visit midtownsouthcc.org.

that, pursuant to an investigation, Lillian Maduro, 49, of the Bronx, was arrested for second-degree robbery and assault.

In recognition of Zuckerman’s bravery and love of the Village, on Thurs., Oct. 27, state Senator Brad Hoylman presented her with a proclamation declaring it Gina Zuckerman Appreciation Day.

ROBBERY: Snack pack A group of youths helped themselves to free snacks at Gourmet 157, at 157 Christopher St. (btw. Greenwich & Washington Sts.) on the night of Fri., Dec. 2, according to police. Employees said that at 11:05pm, three men and a woman entered the store. One of the men announced, “We’re going to rob you,” and they all then proceed to snatch Pop-Tarts and potato chips. The fast-food filchers also reportedly injured the arms and faces of two store workers. In addition to a 15-year-old girl, three males, all

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.

age 18, were arrested for felony robbery.

The stolen treats were not recovered.

ASSAULT: Meatpack attack A man told cops he was attacked at the corner of Ninth Ave. and W. 13th St. on Sun., Dec. 4, at 4:15am. The victim said he was walking down the street when a stranger punched him in the right side of the jaw, splitting his lip open. The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital.

The 19-year-old male perp was arrested for misdemeanor assault.

—By Sean Egan, Lincoln Anderson and Emily Siegel

THE 13th PRECINCT: Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw.

Second & Third Aves.). Deputy Inspector: Brendan Timoney. Call 212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212-477-3863. Youth Officer: 212477-7411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380. Detective Squad: 212477-7444. The Community Council meets on the third Tues. of the month, 6:30pm, at the 13th Precinct.

Extra! Extra!

Local News Read all about it!

December 15 – 21, 2016

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Health Access continued from p. 11

Care Act we’ve been able to help over 4,000 people become insured — which is of course beneficial to the health of those individuals, but also to the overall healthcare system, because people who can access preventive care and treatment when they need it are more likely to stay healthier and be less reliant on emergency rooms and other forms of expensive care. Interrupting or reversing these advances would be truly devastating to the health of our communities and to the healthcare system at large.”

Whether those patients who now enjoy coverage either through exchanges or from Medicaid’s expansion will continue to do so in the Trump years is unclear. A wholly separate question is what the future holds for the nation’s FQHCs. It’s important to recognize that FQHCs were not a creation of Obamacare; they date back half a century to Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, when they were created to address critical health disparities, largely at that time in inner city communities of color. The New Access Points program merely pushed the effort to offer care to more diverse underserved communities.

Significantly, since their introduction, FQHCs have expanded well beyond their urban roots, and now serve as critical primary care providers in many exurban and rural areas

in every state. According to Kate Graetzer, advocacy and communications specialist at the Community Health Care Association of NYS (CHCANYS), the critical communitybased care delivered by FQHCs across the nation has translated into “strong bipartisan support” for a program she said has grown “exponentially” and is highly regarded for its quality of services and ability to reduce costs.

Nationwide, Graetzer explained, the program has been a “cornerstone of state efforts to streamline healthcare delivery.”

Tom Van Coverden, president of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), in a blog posting on that group’s website, echoed Graetzer, in part, by citing the “opportunities” afforded by the “incredible bipartisan support” FQHCs enjoy. He also, however, warned of “serious bumps [and] unexpected curves” after the result of November’s election. Beyond the immediate need for Congress to extend the basic financing authorization for health centers — no small matter, given the possibility of a 70% reduction in grant dollars if that is not accomplished — Van Coverden’s post and a memo NACHC sent to its member groups identified the repeal of Obamacare, with the potential for ending the employer mandate, exchange plan subsidies, and Medicaid expansion, along with a restructuring of Medicaid into some

form of a block grant program as potential major “bumps” and “curves” facing FQHCs. Neither the federal or state associations, however, would hazard guesses as to what is coming down the pike — in large part because neither the incoming president nor his Republicans in Congress have offered specific legislation or even detailed proposals, with a wide array of contradictory statements coming from Trump himself.

In his blog post, NACHC’s Van Coverden warned that FQHCs will have to “tell the Health Center story” and must do so with “data.” Graetzer, at CHCANYS, acknowledged that the higher rate at which patients have been insured since the enactment of the ACA has strengthened FQHCs’ financial position and ability to do their job, but she said it was not clear how a repeal would affect those gains, especially given the strong constituency behind the FQHCs themselves.

Clearly, however, both associations are on what Graetzer termed “high alert” regarding the near future in Washington. As for health consumers, her CHCANYS colleague Steven Greenberg, who is the group’s external relations strategist, said, “They should watch what’s going on, they should learn what’s going on, and they should advocate not only for the continuation but also for the expansion of everyone’s right to healthcare.”

YOUR WEEKLY community newspaper SERVING

CHELSEA

HUDSON YARDS & HELL’S KITCHEN

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December 15 – 21, 2016

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On the outside, we’re a historic bedrock of the New York landscape.

But on the inside, we’re taking a brand-new approach to health care.

Two years ago, we opened an around-theclock, 911 receiving emergency center in the former National Maritime Union Building and brought innovative health care to Greenwich Village. Since then, we have been offering state-of-the-art care with you and your family’s best interest in mind.

Now our outpatient imaging center is open for business, utilizing the most advanced techniques and equipment available.

And there’s much more to come. We will be introducing additional medical services in the facility and continuing to raise the standard of healthcare in your neighborhood.

Visit us on Seventh Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets.

Emergency center (646) 665-6911 Imaging (646) 665-6700 Administration (646) 665-6000 Lenoxhealth.com

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December 15 – 21, 2016

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