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The Paper of Record for Greenwich Village, East Village, Lower East Side, Soho, Unio Union Square, iio o on n Sq q uare, Chinatown and Noho, Since 1933
May 31, 2018 • $1.00 Volume 88 • Number 22
Board 2 doesn’t buy plan for hotel next to Merchant’s House BY SYDNEY PEREIR A
T
he historic Merchant’s House Museum officially won the hearts of Community Board 2 last Thursday. The full board voted against a plan to alter zoning text and build an eight-story hotel next door to the 19thcentury house. “Having the full
board of C.B. 2 — all 41 members — vote unanimously to deny the developer’s application is heartening, to say the least,” said Margaret “Pi” Gardiner, the museum’s executive director for nearly three decades. “We couldn’t have asked for a stronger show of support.” MERCHANT’S continued on p. 9
Tanya Saunders, 82, owner of Cubbyhole, inclusive lesbian bar BY PAUL SCHINDLER
T
anya Saunders, a child refugee from Nazi Germany who owned a West Village bar since 1987 — the last 24 years under the name Cubbyhole — died April 29 at age 82. The cause of death, said Lisa Menichino, Saunders’s close
friend who worked with her for the past 18 years, was heart failure, after roughly a year of poor health. Though the Cubbyhole was widely thought of as a lesbian bar, both Saunders and Menichino preferred to dub it a “neighborhood fusion bar.” SAUNDERS continued on p. 8
‘Statue’ a real ‘Idem’ at Met ....p. 4
PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
Dancers got into the groove at the Loisaida Festival on Avenue C on Sun., May 27.
New special-ed school was a long time coming BY SYDNEY PEREIR A
W
hen Marjorie Die n s t a g ’s e l d e s t son, Alex, was in middle school in the 1990s, he had to commute back and forth from their West Village home to his school Uptown a total of two hours each day. Alex, who had a languageprocessing disorder, attended a middle school in District 75, which includes schools for students with disabilities and special needs. The lack of District 75 middle school seats Downtown altered the Dienstags’ lives.
Marjorie even had to hire a babysitter to wait for one child at the bus stop while she picked up her other son from a different school across town. “We were always rushing to get home,” she said. Spontaneity for playground time or buying an ice cream after school wasn’t in the cards for her day-to-day life raising Alex and Stefan, now 33 and 27 years old, respectively. “It changed my life completely,” she said. But this September — after nearly a decade in the making — that scenario could change for many Downtown families.
A District 75 middle school — P751, at 75 Morton St. — will open its doors just after Labor Day. Advocates for the school expect it to fill a gap of school seats for students with disabilities Downtown, especially in the Village. “I am thrilled that the new District 75 middle school at 75 Morton will open in September,” said Jeannine Kiely, the chairperson of the Schools and Education Committee of Community Board 2. “This will be the largest D75 middle school Downtown and provide a local opSCHOOL continued on p. 6
S.L.A. overrules C.B. 3 on Club Cumming ........p. 3 Sleazy rider getting whacky on the R train .......p. 5 www.TheVillager.com
WIN SOME, LOSE SOME: After recently winning the support of the Village Independent Democrats club in her run for governor, Cynthia Nixon has won one and lost one with other local clubs. She personally showed up at the endorsement vote of the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club where she faced off with Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, who was standing in as a surrogate for Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo won C.R.D.C. by three votes. However, Nixon got the backing of the East Side’s Coalition for a District Alternative, or CoDA, which also is supporting Councilmember Jumaane Williams for lieutenant governor and Congressmember Carolyn Maloney for re-election. V.I.D., for its part, is also backing Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul for re-election over the upstart Williams. After all, Erik Coler, the club’s president, noted, it’s the Year of the Woman.
PHOTO BY JOE BLY
From left, Arnaldo ( Arnie) Segarra, Theater for the New City Director Cr ystal Field, dancer Kitt y Lunn, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Dan Kelley, T.N.C.’s house manager, at the ribbon-cutting for the East Village theater’s new handicap-accessible elevator.
ROCKIN’ PHOTOGRAPHY: R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe was at the new location of Mast Books, at 72 Avenue A, at
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E. Fifth St., Tuesday night to celebrate his just-released monograph, “Volume 1.” Stipe signed his collection of blackand-white photographs — and some memorabilia — for a store full of grateful fans while Bryan Leitgeb, Mast’s owner, explained the situation. “We’re out of the old location,” he said. “But there’s still a lot of furniture and lots of books to be installed. Think of this as a ‘pop-up.’” The store should be open for business again in two to three weeks.
UPLIFTING EVENT: As usual, the Theater for the New City’s 23rd annual Lower East Side Festival over the Memorial Day weekend was a smashing success. There were more than 190 performances during the three days, featuring theater, music, art, dance, video, film, aerial arts, poetry, magic and comedy. Making this year’s event extra-special, T.N.C. held a ribbon-cutting on Sunday for its new, state-of-the-art wheelchair-accessible Gerald Rupp Elevator. Kitty Lunn, of Infinity Dance, a dance company of abled and disabled dancers, and the Yip Harburg Foundation’s Rainbow Troupe performed, and there was a champagne toast. Contractor Voula Mamais discussed the installation process, and Gerald Rupp, the elevator’s namesake, was on hand to take the very first ride in the A.D.A.-compliant lift. “Theater should be accessible to all: emotionally, spiritually, physically, economically,” said Crystal Field, T.N.C.’s co-founder and artistic director. “All hail an accessible Theater for the New City in the true tradition of the Lower East Side. Welcome! Welcome to all!” WANTS TO BE ON C.B. 3: Former Community Board 3 Chairperson Anne
Johnson is furious after being notified by the Manhattan borough president’s office that she has not been reappointed to the East Village board. Johnson was removed from the board, on which she had served for years, toward the end of last year after being told she had a conflict of interest because she prepared then-Councilmember Rosie Mendez’s tax returns. “All the time I was on the board, no one said anything,” she recently told us, indignantly. Yet, Johnson claimed, she was assured by B.P. Gale Brewer’s office that once Mendez was term-limited out of office, she would be reappointed to the board. Obviously, that hasn’t happened. Johnson — who was part of C.B. 3’s dissident faction — is thinking of appealing or taking some other action, which she didn’t want us to mention yet. Meanwhile, she’s fuming that Alistair Economakis — of all people! — was appointed to C.B. 3 last November. Back in 2009, of course, Economakis succeeded in clearing an entire 15-unit apartment building he owned on E. Third St. of rent-regulated tenants, using the owner-occupancy provision, so that he could turn the whole place into a private “mansion” for his young family. Some of the tenants took buyouts, but others only left under threat of eviction after trying to wage a legal battle to stay, and ultimately realizing they could not financially afford to keep up the fight. Valerio Orselli, the former executive director of the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association, also told us he was outraged at Economakis’s appointment to C.B. 3. When we asked new Councilmember Carlina Rivera about it earlier this year, she said she wasn’t familiar with SCOOPY’S continued on p. 12 TheVillager.com
‘Rejoice!!!’ Cumming says as club shows O.K.’d BY SYDNEY PEREIR A
T
he East Village gay bar co-owned by the Scottish actor Alan Cumming on Wednesday received approval from the State Liquor Authority to have live music and performances. “We’re thrilled with the S.L.A.’s decision,” said Benjamin Maisani, co-owner of the bar formerly known as Eastern Bloc before its rebranding last year as Club Cumming. “We were always more than happy to comply. I don’t think that was an issue, but we also wanted to comply with rules and regulations that are the correct ones.” The alteration to the bar’s liquor license comes several weeks after Community Board 3 rejected the bar’s applciation outright — despite overwhelming public support from residents, clubgoers, arts-andculture reporters and musicians. Since February, the club has been on hiatus from hosting live music performances. Maisani said, during May, the nightspot had half the profits as usual. “It would have been nice if we could have avoided that,” he said. “We’re quite eager to get back to our usual programming. And it’s not just a money thing: A lot of our performers were not able to work and therefore were not able to be paid at that time.” With the S.L.A.’s go-ahead, on Thursday the nightspot will have its first scheduled live performance in more two months. The original C.B. 3 resolution for the club’s liquor license modification included several stipulations, including banning the club from posting a performance schedule online and charging cover fees. That stipulation, however, would have basically ruined the business model that Cumming brought to the club, at 505 E. Sixth St., when he got involved
PHOTO BY HUNTER CANNING
Some dinosaur cabaret at Club Cumming when per formances were still going on.
with it, and which had revived the place. Some board members stressed that their vote against the club’s liquor license alteration was difficult. C.B. 3 District Manager Susan Stetzer said the zoning text prevented the club from being a live performance hub, leading some members to vote No at
the April full board meeting. But the Department of Buildings told The Villager otherwise in early May — saying the club didn’t violate any zoning regulation. Maisani said Stetzer admitted the error at the S.L.A. meeting last Wednesday, and the S.L.A. decision made him feel vindicated. However, Stetzer denied to The Villager she said anything of the sort. “I did not say that,” she said. “Live performances were never an issue and I never said I made a mistake.” Despite the C.B. 3 drama, Maisani plans to keep in communication with the board should other issues arise. Maisani added the S.L.A. itself on Wednesday said the club was an asset to the East Village. “He felt what we were doing was a real benefit to the community and the city at large,” Maisani said. Cumming and Daniel Nardicio, another co-owner, were also at Wednesday’s S.L.A. hearing. “We just left the State Liquor Authority meeting and they ruled in our favor so @clubcumming is allowed once more to have live performances and DJs!!! Rejoice!!!” Cumming said in an Instagram post Wednesday afternoon. “Thanks to everyone who supported us.” “We have only tried to comply and make good since we discovered the license error, and finally we have been allowed to go on as before,” Cumming added “Ironically our dealings with our community board — us wanting to protect and preserve the @ clubcumming community — has made us all realize just how passionately people feel about our little bar and the inclusive, non-judgmental merriment we try to create.” Darren Dryden, another co-owner, kept it simple, tweeting on Wednesday: “We won.”
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May 31, 2018
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‘Statue’ now making a ‘living’ at Met Named best weekly newspaper in New York State in 2001, 2004 and 2005 by New York Press Association Editorials, First Place, 2017 Best Column, First Place, 2017 Best Obituaries, First Place, 2017 News Story, First Place, 2015 Editorial Pages, First Place, 2015 Editorials, First Place, 2014 News Story, First Place, 2014 Overall Design Excellence, First Place, 2013 Photographic Excellence, First Place, 2011
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The Villager (USPS 578930) ISSN 0042-6202 Copyright © 2018 by the NYC Community Media LLC is published weekly by NYC Community Media LLC, One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. 52 times a year. Business and Editorial Offices: One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. Accounting and Circulation Offices: NYC Community Media LLC, One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. Call 718-260-2500 to subscribe. Periodicals postage prices is paid at New York, N.Y. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Villager, One Metrotech North, 10th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Annual subscription by mail in Manhattan and Brooklyn $29 ($35 elsewhere). Single copy price at office and newsstands is $1. The entire contents of newspaper, including advertising, are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher - © 2018 NYC Community Media LLC. PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR
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May 31, 2018
BY BOB KR ASNER
T
here is probably more than an one statue in New York City that should be moved — but many would uld say this is not one of them. As chronicled recently in this newspaewspaper, Johan Figueroa González had previously eked out a living by performing ing for tips as a “living statue” in Washington hington Square Park, until his arrest on April pril 13 for using the iconic Arch as a supporting porting player in his silent tableau. For some reason, after 70-plus performances perched on the edge of thee Arch, the 83-pound performer was deemed med to be a danger to the integrity of the historic marble structure, resulting in a 30-hour 0-hour stretch in prison and a permanent nt ban from the ledge. Despite gathering thousands of names on a petition to plead his case to the he city, Figueroa González has chosen to abandon bandon the park — but not New York. During ing the personal and financial crisis that ensued after the arrest, he came very close to going back to Puerto Rico, even announcouncing his plans to do so. Instead, he’s moved Uptown, to a location where he had previously performed — the Metropolitan Museum m of Art. He can be found there most days from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., except Tuesuesdays. ueroa It should be noted that Figueroa umed González is not your typical costumed uare). money grabber (See: Times Square). ory of He seriously researched the history Washington Square Park and put a lot of thought into his simple costume. He will continue to do so Uptown, where hiss look has already evolved. Originally standing stock-still in a painted white bookcase, he meantt to evoke a “cabinet of curiosities,” with himself as a conversation piece. Unfortunately, carrying the bookcase ase to and from the subway became too oo much, and so he has returned to o standing on a small portable pedes-g tal, as he used to do before deciding to mount the Arch. He is being positive about the move, but there is no doubt that his ejection from the Arch has left him with a slightly damaged psyche. ent, “I felt contaminated” by the incident, he explained. He noted that Ai Wei Wei’s “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” cage-like sculpture — which stood under the Arch for four months — did more damage than he ever could. “You will find the scars of an accident handling the installation,” he said. In another symbolic move, he has cleansed himself by changing his performing name. No longer “La Petite Statue,” he is now “Idem Caeli,” a Latin phrase that he said means “same breath.” He then quoted a statement by Native American Chief Seattle: “All things share the same breath; the beast, the tree, the man. The air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.”
BY BOB KRASNER
He’s a hot “idem” up at the Met these days. Johan Figueroa González, formerly known as the “Living Statue” of Washington Square, now goes by the moniker Idem Caeli, and per forms outside the Metropolitan Museum of Ar t — though no longer inside of a box — on the Upper East Side. TheVillager.com
POLICE B L O T T E R No Fun death The New York Post reported that police said a Brooklyn woman died on Saturday soon after passing out at the No Fun bar, at 161 Ludlow St., at Stanton St. The tab said Emily Fayssoux, 25, was sitting on a couch inside the place about 9 p.m. when she lost consciousness. A friend found the unresponsive woman and called 911. When cops arrived, the friend allegedly told them the victim had been drinking and using cocaine earlier in the day, but no drugs were found on Fayssoux. Fayssoux was taken to Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Post said Fayssoux was a North Carolina native who graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design, and recently worked in fashion marketing.
Mass-turbate transit Police are seeking the public’s help in catching a repulsively raunchy R train rider. On Thurs., May 17, at 2 p.m., the suspect was aboard a northbound R at the Canal St. station, when he masturbated his exposed penis over his pants in front of a 26-year-old woman. The victim detrained at Prince St. and the literal jerk stayed onboard. Before that, on April 26, around 10 p.m., the same guy pulled the same sick stunt on a northbound R train nearing the 53rd St. station, when he sat down across from a 24-year-old woman and proceeded to jack off while staring at her. He fled to parts unknown. The whacking rider is described as white, with a black moustache, about age 50, 5 feet 9 inches and 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, tan pants, brown jacket, blue-and-white saddle shoes (in one incident) and a brown hat. He holds a backpack on his lap to try to shield his illicit behavior. Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline, at 800-577-TIPS, or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site, www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting them to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577. All tips are confidential.
Game Stop addict Police said a man who had already robbed Game Stop stores in Manhattan four times, struck the chain a fifth time, hitting the Game Stop at 32 E. 14th St., just west of Union Square, this week. Around 1:40 p.m. on Tues., May 29, the suspect entered the place and asked a counterperson for a Play Station 4. TheVillager.com
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PHOTOS COURTESY N.Y.P.D.
The per v y R train passenger usually wears a hat and uses a backpack to shield his “activity.” But he doesn’t always use the exact same hat or bag.
The worker said he would get one, but the guy grabbed him by the shirt and demanded the money in the register. The robber took $800 from two cash registers and fled into the Union Square subway station. According to cops, on Sun., May 6, at 5:41 p.m., the same suspect robbed the Game Stop at 128 E. 86th St. He placed a dark-colored duffle bag on the counter, put his hand inside it, and warned the worker behind the counter that he didn’t want to hurt him and that he should give him all the money from the till. No weapon was displayed. He fled with $1,100. The Game Stop goon targeted the same store Tues., May 22, at 1:13 p.m., again using the duffle bag M.O., and making off with $600. He next knocked off the Game Stop at 2232 Broadway, at W. 80th St., Fri., May 25, at 7:34 p.m. Again toting the bag, he demanded money, saying, “I don’t wanna have to shoot.” This time he put the victim in a headlock and threw him to the ground, before fleeing with $1,100. The victim suffered a cut on his right arm and was treated by E.M.S. at the scene. Mon., May 28, at 12:30 p.m., the Game Stop bandit was in Chelsea with a backpack, robbing one of the brand’s stores at 682 Sixth Ave., at W. 20th St., of $285. The suspect is described as black, in his 40s, around 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, with a scar on the left side of his face. He was last seen wearing a darkcolored sweatshirt and dark pants. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. (See second Police Blotter item.)
Lincoln Anderson
RSVP Required 212.777.2173 info@villagealliance.org Event is free and open to the public
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New special-ed school was a long time coming SCHOOL continued from p. 1
tion for students who otherwise may have needed to commute Uptown.” Two schools, P751 and M.S. 297, will be co-located at 75 Morton St. Though many District 75 and non-District 75 schools are co-located, this middle school is different, some parents say. The concept of co-locating the schools started from the ground up. What will make P751 particularly unique is the integrated approach the principals hope to create. Both principals, Ewa Asterita of P751 and Jacqui Getz of M.S. 297, voiced their vision of integration and inclusion at the C.B. 2 Schools and Education Committee meeting last Wed., May 16. “The principals declared publicly their intention,” said Jordana Mendelson, a longtime advocate for the new District 75 middle school and a professor in New York University’s Spanish department. “That carries a lot of weight — the fact that they are coming together from the ground floor to say this is our intention.” Mendelson’s 10-year-old son, Aedan, will be among the first students at the new school. Aedan, who has Down syndrome, has been attending the District 75 school P94 — the Spectrum School — which is colocated with the Island School and Girls Prep at the F.D.R. Drive and Houston St. Mendelson hardly knows anyone around that Lower East Side neighborhood since she lives in Washington Square Village. She hopes that at P751, Aedan will have an opportunity to connect more with other students without special needs and build lifelong connections with people in their community. With a school now much closer to their home, she believes
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
Construction fencing recently was removed from around the new middle school at 75 Mor ton St. The building, formerly owned by a state agenc y, has undergone an ex tensive renovation.
that opportunity is more viable. Currently, Aedan’s friends could live hours away across the city, making it difficult to schedule play dates. “Morton St. is so welcome,” Mendelson said. “It’s going to be a huge school community that now welcomes back into our neighborhood students with severe disabilities.” The question “How do they meet their nondisabled peers?” is one that Mendelson knows will be a challenge for Principals Asterita and Getz. Having various shared spaces doesn’t automatically mean those spaces will be inclusive and integrated, she said. “It’s going to depend on the school community,” Mendelson said. “It’s like, passively, nothing could happen. But actively, a lot of really interesting and meaningful experiences [could happen] for the kids.” Asterita and Assistant Principal Yakeen Dinmahamad have been working together at P751’s 113 E. Fourth St. location for five Upgrade and lock in your rate today. years. (Each District 75 school actually typiOpen your account: PopularBank.com/savings cally has multiple locaor visit your closest branch. tions.) Though specific plans on how an integrative culture would at 75 Morton are still preliminary, Asterita, 1. Promotion begins on 05/21/18 and expires on 07/21/18. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective Dinmahamad and Getz as of May 21, 2018. Popular, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to change or terminate this offer at any time. This offer is available in all Popular branches and via our website www.PopularBank.com. To are working together qualify for the promotional APY, new or existing customers must open a 60-month CD with a required in ongoing discussions, minimum balance and opening deposit of $1,000 in new money. New money is defined as deposits not previously held with Popular. APY assumes principal and interest remain on deposit until maturity. A Asterita said. penalty will be imposed for early withdrawal. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Promotional “We’re looking at a APY is valid on the initial 60-month term. Automatically renews with the same term and rate
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shared vision of inclusive education,” Asterita said. “And we hope with that, the students are going to be able to not only share the resources — rooms or events — but also resources like after-school providers, as well as instructional tools.” P751 will have a 100-student capacity and nine classes. The ratios of students to teachers are expected to be six, eight and 12 students to one teacher and one paraprofessional. The proportion of each of those ratios has yet to be determined since not all of the school’s seats have been filled. School hours for P751 will be 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. — slightly different than those for the larger M.S. 297, which has a 900-student capacity. A meeting with the city’s Department of Transportation and other officials to determine where the buses will arrive on Morton St. is being scheduled, Kiely, the C.B. 2 Schools Committee chairperson, told the May 16 meeting. Manhattan Youth, a Lower Manhattan youth organization with various programs, will manage the after-school programming at the middle school. For Josephine and Bill Bray, whose families have lived in the neighborhood for generations, adequate after-school programming was critical. Their son, who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or A.D.H.D., even spoke up at the meeting about his concerns about his current after-school programs at his Uptown school. “I hate it,” Rocco Bray, a rising sixth-grader who is expected to go to P751 this fall, told the May 16 meeting. The Brays have experience with Manhattan Youth’s summer programs, so they expect Rocco’s after-school programming to be more engaging this fall. “Hopefully, in school, they’ll do the same or just as good,” said Bill Bray, who is also a C.B. 2 member. “If they could offer the same or something like it, that would be good.” For Rocco, his parents said, the integration of students with the non-District 75 school and proximity to their home are key factors in their decision to move Rocco to another school. He currently travels an hour Uptown to the P.S. M811 Mickey Mantle School. Previously, he commuted two hours for elementary school to Brooklyn, according to his parents. “My son has been through four schools already,” said Josephine Bray. She said she has high hopes for the Morton St. school, particularly as a way for Rocco to learn more and stay focused if he has more inclusive opportunities with non-special-needs students. “That’s encouraging for a parent to see,” she said, “how he could act and relate to children who do not have special needs.” Preliminary ideas of how to create opportunities for all students to interact include shared after-school programs and sports, or sharing lunchtime together in the cafeteria, according to Asterita. Shared spaces include designated rooms, the library, auditorium, cafeteria, gym, the yard and green roof. Asterita looks forward to expanding the focus on arts, theater, digital technology and global citizenship at P751’s current high school program for the incoming Morton St. middle schoolers this fall. Providing equal academic rigor for students with disabilities is also key, Dinmahamad, the assistant principal, said. Asterita and Dinmahamad both have high hopes of working with Getz, stressing that her dedication to this partnership was apparent from the beginning. “The change in time over special education has been enormous,” M.S. 297 Principal Getz said at SCHOOL continued on p. 7 TheVillager.com
Michael Goldstein, 79, of SoHo Weekly News
Washington Square Music Festival
BY LINCOLN ANDERSON
THE WASHINGTON SQUARE MUSIC FESTIVAL’S 60TH SEASON
M
ichael Goldstein, a top music publicist who founded the SoHo Weekly News, died May 19 at his Broome St. home at 79. According to The New York Times, his daughter Jocelyn Goldstein gave the cause as pancreatic cancer. A Shaker Heights, Ohio, native, Goldstein moved to New York after college. He started a P.R. business, representing top acts, notably Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. Seeking a break from the rock-’n’roll grind, he started the SoHo Weekly News in 1973 as a challenge to the Village Voice. It soon grew to 100 pages, the Times obituary on Goldstein noted — yet, it folded in 1982. Goldstein later sold collections on the Home Shopping Network. While still in art school, Harry Pincus started doing illustrations for Goldstein’s paper. “Michael and his newspaper were crucial in creating an identity for what was then a dark and deserted corner of Manhattan,” Pincus said. “The Soho News defi ned and united this warren of raw spaces and urban pioneers. “Now that this area has become a high-end shopping mall and a nest for real estate sharks, it’s important to remember that Soho was once ‘So What?’ and that artists and pioneers scratched out a creative community here. “Michael hired some refugees from the East Village Other and built a
Main Stage, Washington Square Park Free and Open to the Public
www.washingtonsquaremusicfestival.org
ILLUSTRATION BY HARRY PINCUS
Michael Goldstein.
beautiful garden on the roof of his building,” Pincus recalled. “A few years ago, the landlords destroyed the garden, and they may have destroyed Michael in the process. “I asked him a few weeks ago if he was afraid of death, and he looked into my eyes and said, ‘I’ve never been afraid of anything.’” Besides his daughter Jocelyn, the Times reported that Michael Goldstein is survived by his wife, Nancy (Arnold) Goldstein; two other daughters, Marissa and Gillian Goldstein; a granddaughter, Roxanne; and two brothers, Gerald and Dr. J. Richard Goldstein.
New special-ed school SCHOOL continued from p. 6
the C.B. 2 schools committee meeting. Her daughter, who graduated from Purchase College, part of the State University of New York, this spring, at one point was not bound for college or a career because of a lack of opportunities for special education. She went to a private school because a public school like P751 didn’t exist. “There is so much light at the end of the tunnel,” Getz said. “This is my dream.” But some parents who have advocated for this school for years won’t see that light for their own children. Dienstag’s third and youngest son, Ryan, will be entering ninth grade this year — one year too late to attend. “Retroactively, I would’ve been jumping for joy and happiness that I
TheVillager.com
could walk him to school, take him to school, and be there for everything in a heartbeat,” Dienstag said. She knew by the time the Morton middle school school came to fruition, it would be too late for Ryan, who has autism, to attend. But that disappointment is outweighed by the satisfaction of knowing that years of effort and community meetings have fi nally resulted in the school’s creation. “To me, it’s not just about my son,” she said. “This is my neighborhood. I’ve been here for over 40 years, and this school is what I would like to see.” After raising two children in District 75 schools from the 1990s until now, she has seen many changes for students with disabilities. This new middle school is a welcome one. “District 75 is fi nally listening to us,” she said.
Tuesday, June 5 at 8:00 pm THE FESTIVAL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Conducted by Lutz Rath Robert Ingliss, Oboe Soloist • Johann Strauss II: Overture to Die Fledermaus (The Bat) • Richard Strauss: Concerto in D major for oboe and small orchestra In memory of Henry Schuman • Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony #1 in C major, Op. 21 Rain space: Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South Tuesday, June 12 at 8:00 pm THE FESTIVAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE Mélanie Genin, Harp Soloist • Nino Rota: Quintet for flute, oboe, viola, cello, and harp • Claude Debussy: Danse sacrée et danse profane for harp and strings • Sergei Prokofiev: Quintet Op. 39 for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and double bass • Debussy: Les Chansons de Bilitis - Six épigraphes antiques for harp, flute, and narration, with arrangement by Genin-Gregory Rain space: Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South Tuesday, June 19 at 8:00 pm THE FESTIVAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE • Joseph Haydn: Divertimento #14 in C major, Hob. ll: 11 “Der Geburtstag” (anniversary) • Heitor Villa-Lobos “Assobio a Játo” (The Jet Whistle) for flute & cello • Bohuslav Martinu: Nonet for wind ensemble and strings • Jan Dismas Zelenka: “Hipocondrie” quintet Rain space: Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South Tuesday, June 26 at 8:00 pm KUUMBA FRANK LACY SEXTET & VOCALIST • Free form jazz Rain space: Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South The Washington Square Music Festival is made possible with public funding through Council Member Margaret Chin and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs along with the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the New York State Legislature, and the Office of the Borough President of Manhattan. Generous grants from the Earle K. & Katherine F. Moore Foundation, the Horace Goldsmith Foundation, the Washington Square Association, Music Performance Trust Fund, the Margaret Neubart Foundation Trust, New York University Community Engagement and NYU Community Fund, SalamonAbrams Family Fund, the Hilaria and Alec Baldwin Foundation, Con Edison, the Washington Square Park Conservancy, and Three Sheets Saloon/Off the Wagon/Down the Hatch are deeply appreciated.
May 31, 2018
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Tanya Saunders, 82, owner of Cubbyhole bar SAUNDERS continued from p. 1
“Exclusivity bored her,” Menichino told Gay City News, The Villager’s sister paper. “She wanted a diversity of people. That’s much more interesting.” In a 2004 profile on the bar in The Villager, Saunders explained, “When I used to go out, I’d always catch a lot of attitude at bars and clubs. I always wanted to open a bar, and I thought when I did, I’d make sure it was a friendly, casual place where people would feel comfortable. I wanted a real mix of people. I live my life that way, and I wanted it in my bar. We’ve got men and women, gay and straight here.” The Cubbyhole was known for its colorful, even extravagant DIY decorations, and that may have been due, in part, to what Menichino described as Saunders’s “superstitions.” “We always had to save things that were red and green,” she recalled. “Tanya considered them lucky.” New York magazine once wrote that the lively decor made it look as though Saunders had “raided a thrift shop the day after Mardi Gras.” The Villager wrote that “the thatch of Japanese lanterns, model airplanes, oversize goldfish (which match the covers on the bar stools), and at least one lobster suspended from the ceiling [make] the place look more like some sort of fan-
tastic forest.” Saunders first got into the bar business — after a career in advertising — in 1987 by opening up DT’s Fat Cat, at 281 W. 12th St. at the corner of W. Fourth St. When her business partnership in that bar with another woman ended in 1994, Saunders secured the name Cubbyhole from the owner of another lesbian bar that once had that name. In the 24 years since, the venue has nightly been a hive of activity, with crowds often spilling out onto the corner on warm evenings. Its ability to draw mixed crowds was testified to by no less than Andy Cohen. In explaining why he loves New York in a 2012 issue of TimeOut NY, Cohen wrote of Cubbyhole, “It’s my go-to place for drinks after ‘Watch What Happens Live.’ It’s not only in my neighborhood, but you can also bring everybody there, because everybody wants to go to a lesbian bar. Straight guys want to, straight girls want to, and gay guys are great with it. You can check every box, and it’s just always fun in there. It’s fiesta central in a neighborhood bar.” Despite the diversity of its crowds, though, Cubbyhole has always held a special place in the hearts of New York lesbians, and has often played host to benefits and fundraisers for community organizations. Born on May 13, 1935 in Wiesbaden,
PHOTO COURTESY BETTY BYTHEWAY
Tanya Saunders.
AFTER 30 YEARS
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May 31, 2018
Germany, Saunders and her widowed mother escaped the Nazi regime in 1939 in what she said was the last ship of Jewish exiles admitted into the U.S. before this nation began turning them away. Raised in Forest Hills, Queens, Saunders later lived for about a decade in Brooklyn before settling in the West Village in the early ’80s. Menichino said that Saunders’s advertising career was successful due to her “creative, eclectic” style. Saunders was also a big animal lover, donating money to animal welfare groups, and raising dogs and cats, while “adopting” pigs and horses by paying for their care in their refuges, and even worrying about the pigeons and rats, Menichino said. Property Saunders owned in the Hamptons had feral cats hanging about, and when she rented it out, she stipulated in the lease that tenants pro-
vide care to the wild ones. “She was just the most amazing woman,” Menichino said of Saunders. “She forgave everyone and never judged — unless you were cruel to animals.” Betty Bytheway, Saunders’s friend of more than 20 years, recalled, “She had the ability of making everyone feel welcome. She was there for everybody.” At her May 1 service at Riverside Memorial Chapel on the Upper West Side, some friends worried about what would come next for Cubbyhole, after 24 years of loving care by Saunders. In fact, she left the bar to Menichino, whom Bytheway said was like a daughter to Saunders. And Menichino vows to carry on the Cubbyhole tradition, daily until 4 a.m., on that curious corner of the Village where W. 12th St. somehow manages to intersect with W. Fourth St. TheVillager.com
C.B. 2 nixes hotel plan MERCHANT’S continued from p. 1
The developers, Kalodop II Park Corp., have been attempting to tear down a one-story garage for food carts just west of the Merchant’s House and construct the hotel on the site since at least 2011. Advocates for the museum, however, fear the adjacent construction would cause irreversible harm to the Merchant’s House. The developers, meanwhile, counter that a protection plan their engineers have created would protect the museum. The museum was formally designated as an exterior landmark in 1965 and an interior landmark in 1981 by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. The house is just one of 117 buildings in the city with a landmarked interior. “Its value and importance as a historic, cultural and educational resource cannot be underestimated,” said Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. In order to build the hotel up to eight stories with the proposed design, developers are seeking zoning text amendments for two special permits. The museum, C.B. 2 wrote in its advisory resolution, “is an entirely unique, enormously treasured, and fragile and irreplaceable landmark and museum.” The board voted unanimously to deny the developers’ ask. The proposed zoning changes would only apply to this specific site, at 27 E. Fourth St., which museum advocates have criticized as “spot zoning” that represents “an effort to alter the zoning resolution to serve the private interests of the applicant exclusively, with no public benefit and with substantial potential harm to the [Merchant’s House], an important public resource,” C.B. 2 wrote in its resolution on the proposal. The board’s resolution also cited testimony by John Krawchuk, the executive director of the Historic House Trust, from last month’s C.B. 2 Land Use Committee meeting. Krawchuk said that the project’s environmental review ignores how shadows from an eight-story building could affect the museum’s garden and damage a historic and cultural resource. The developers’ environmental review even called the garden at the museum an empty lot, Krawchuk added. After being first denied by C.B. 2, the developers still have three more hurdles ahead in the ongoing Uniform Land Use Review Process, or ULURP: The City Planning Commission, Borough President Gale Brewer and the City Council will review the proposal in the coming months. “C.B. 2 is gratified by the consideration and respect that the C.P.C., borough president and City Council always give to our recommendations,” said Frederica Sigel, C.B. 2 Land Use Committee co-chairperson. Brewer’s office, after its review of the TheVillager.com
application, is expected to announce her decision by June 25. Her office declined to comment, since typically the borough president does not comment on ULURP decisions prior to a formal review. A spokesperson, however, added that Brewer and her staff take community boards’ and residents’ opinions seriously when conducting their own reviews of applications. Like the community board, the B.P.’s decision is nonbinding — as opposed to those of Planning and the City Council, whose votes are binding. City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, whose district contains the Merchant’s House and hotel site, has publicly opposed the plan, as well. “Until the caretakers of the Merchant’s House and its advocates are assured that adjacent construction will not affect this building, I cannot support the proposed development,” Rivera said in a statement, as reported by New York 1. Berman, of G.V.S.H.P., has his doubts about what the City Planning Commission will decide. “I don’t have high hopes for the City Planning Commission, which is controlled by the mayor and seems to care little about the impact of developments upon neighborhoods or, more generally, the public good or interest,” Berman said. Since that mid-April committee meeting at C.B. 2 — which was standingroom only and packed with museum supporters — the developers’ engineers have met with the Merchant’s House twice, according to Michael Kramer, the company’s leasing director. “We’re hopeful that we’re having a meaningful dialogue,” Kramer said. “We are trying to let the experts work through any of the challenges.” The past month’s meetings with the museum’s engineers have been the first since 2014, when communication between the parties was cut off. “What we’re doing is above and beyond the [zoning] code requirements, and our plan will be technically feasible, and that’s why we have the engineers involved,” Kramer said. “We’re doing our best to work with the Merchant’s House, and we’d rather that we all spend our time with the technical parts of making this happen. “We’re not interested in dealing with lawyers,” Kramer added. “We’re at the point now where we’re trying to deal with the engineers that will make this happen.” He said a revised protection plan is expected to be completed by the end of the week. However, the museum’s director Gardiner said, “There is a very long, outstanding list of concerns that have yet to be addressed.” With the building being 186 years old, she added, “I don’t believe the house can be adequately protected. Is it worth the risk?” May 31, 2018
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EDITORIAL S.B.J.S.A. prep
A
s this newspaper first reported in early May, the City Council reportedly will be holding a hearing soon — possibly in as soon as a month from now — on the long-stalled Small Business Jobs Survival Act. Corey Johnson, the new City Council speaker, has promised to hold this hearing, and that’s very encouraging news. Of course, his predecessor, Melissa Mark-Viverito, made the same promise to The Villager three years ago. But when the Council’s Small Business Committee finally did hold a hearing on the city’s small business crisis in October 2016, as The Villager reported then, “noticeably absent from the committee’s briefing paper was any mention of the Small Business Jobs Survival Act.” Members of the public took it upon themselves to bring up the bill at that hearing — but that it was essentially “not on the radar” of the committee was telling — and very cynical, especially after Mark-Viverito’s prior assurances. Now that it seems that the bill, at last, will get a robust public discussion, it’s important that we go into this hearing fully informed. Namely, we want to avoid this session being dominated by what is essentially a red herring — that is, whether the S.B.J.S.A. is “legal” or not. In short, here’s what we do know. The bill would require landlords to give commercial tenants a 10year minimum lease with the right to renew; create a third-party binding arbitration process if a “fair” lease could not be agreed upon; limit security deposits to two months’ rent; and protect tenants against rentgouging and retaliation from landlords, among other provisions. It’s the lease-renewal process — when landlords jack up rents — that is the biggest issue for mom-and-pop stores. And amid today’s hyper-gentrification pressure, especially in Manhattan, we increasingly are seeing the results: streets lined with empty storefronts. In the Village, Bleecker and Christopher Sts. are poster children for this shocking commercial blight. Of course, a major factor fueling the vacant retail spaces is the boom in online retail. Yet, landlords stubbornly persist in kicking out small merchants, vainly hoping to land a cash-cow national-brand tenant. Meanwhile, we get stuck with empty storefronts and a stark lack of basic and affordable neighborhood retail services. This is the shocking new element in the equation, though — namely, all the empty storefronts — that is making the need for a bill like the S.B.J.S.A. so glaringly apparent. The City Council has a top-notch legal staff. So, that staff should, prior to this hearing, determine — again, because it has been already done many times before — to its own satisfaction, whether or not this measure is legal. As Sharon Woolums, who has reported extensively about the S.B.J.S.A. for The Villager, wrote for us last August, “The S.B.J.S.A. is the most legally vetted piece of legislation in New York City’s history. The scrutiny of its many versions spans 30 years, including legal oversight by the city’s Law Department, a special public hearing prior to a vote by committee, two amendments to the bill recommended by the City Council’s Legal and Legislation departments, two motions to discharge the bill from committee [for a vote by the full City Council], 11 public hearings at which [the Real Estate Board of New York] could challenge the act’s legality, support by seven prime sponsors over the EDITORIAL continued on p. 12
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May 31, 2018
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Of time and the river To The Editor: Re “From wild waterfront and splintered piers to fancy park of today, we’ve come a long way” (Hudson River Park @ 20 special section, May 24): Thank you so much for that remembrance by Michele Herman and the photos. Having been on the waterfront since 1988, it’s amazing to see the changes. I almost forgot how abandoned some of the waterfront was. Good memories of a place that wasn’t as pretty as it is now — but was a lot less crowded. Watching a sunset alone over the crumbling piers — with little on the New Jersey side to obstruct the view other than the chemical haze — will always be my bliss. Brian McNulty
Could be ‘L’-ish for us, too To The Editor: Re “L of a lot of issues raised at L train town hall” (news article, May 17): Has anyone mentioned what the impact would be on traffic going crosstown from Ninth Ave. into Abingdon Square and onto Bleecker St.? I assume the overflow has to go somewhere when one area is affected. All the conversation seems to be about 13th St. and above. I live at Bank St. at the corner of Eighth Ave. and Bleecker, opposite Abingdon Playground. Barbara Ruether
What is Berk’s beef? To The Editor: Re “Raising cane” (Police Blotter, May 17): My first reaction to the Police Blotter item on the righteous indignation of Ms. Berk about the homeless person who, for many years, has been permitted by the Charles St. synagogue to take shelter in its doorway (many steps up from the sidewalk) was, “Here we go again.” Berk lives at 95 Christopher St. If it’s O.K. with the synagogue for this man to be there, why is her nose out of joint? Guess it’s time for another 15 minutes of media exposure. Odd how there just happened to be a photog-
IRA BLUTREICH
rapher nearby to snap her photo. Berk is confrontational, quick to blame all her problems — real or imagined — on someone else, clearly unhappy, and seems to wake up every day itching for the opportunity to file yet another willful and capricious complaint against the Sixth Precinct, or to write a letter to the editor or have an “article” about her in The Villager setting forth a litany of life’s injustices that are directed solely toward her. Hopefully, the actions of the N.Y.P.D. may give her pause. Marjorie Reitman
Moving too fast on pot To The Editor: Re “ ‘Sens and the city’: Free the weed!” (news article, May 17): We must end racism in policing. Police need education, training and counseling, and there must be real consequences for racist acts while in uniform. Eric Garner was killed for selling cigarettes — a legal substance. The courts are filled with black and Latino “defendants” who are there for an array of absurd “violations.” Meanwhile, marijuana has had very few reputable studies done about it. In his Daily News column last week, Errol Louis wrote: “Yasmin Hurd, a professor of neuroscience, psychiatry and pharmacology who runs the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital…told me the rush to legalization has outstripped what we know about the downsides of marijuana use: ‘Millions of people in the U.S. have a clinical diagnosis of cannabis use disorder. It’s always shocking that people don’t realize that you can become addicted to marijuana,’ she told me. ‘Different people have different vulnerabilities; it’s not that everyone who smokes will become addicted. But definitely the increased frequency of use, especially earlier teenagers, young children — the earlier they start using, the higher the concentration of THC they use, all enhance addiction vulnerability.” People who use medical marijuana for pain and / or addiction issues need health experts to assist and inform them. Others may “choose” to use it recreationally, but society has a rightful interest in any broad implications that may have. Profiteers want profits, no matter what it costs people. John Boehner “evolved” in his thinking as he joined the board of Acreage Holdings (a cannabis corporation opLETTERS continued on p. 22
De Blasio’s city is quickly going to pot! TheVillager.com
Park Trust must do much better on transparency
TALKING POINT BY TOM FOX
I
stand corrected by a recent letter to the editor in The Villager from officials representing Community Board 4 (“C.B. 4 on Pr. 57: ‘Google it!’” by Burt Lazarin and Lowell Kern, April 5). I appreciate and respect that C.B. 4 “takes its responsibility to hold public and transparent meetings seriously and welcomes all community stakeholders to attend and advocate their concerns.” However, it wasn’t the community board’s actions that I was questioning. My concern was how the Hudson River Park Trust is exercising its responsibility to ensure meaningful public participation in the development and programming of the park. Apparently, the Trust and RXR Realty did present a PowerPoint of the plans for Google’s newest expansion at Pier 57 to C.B. 4 at a regularly scheduled meeting of their Waterfront, Park and Environmental Committee. But unless you were on the C.B. 4 mailing list, you would have no idea that the meeting was taking place. The Trust didn’t announce the meeting to the general public and is not making the plans presented at the meeting available for the broader public to review. Why would that be? It appears that the Trust is limiting participation in park planning to the immediately effected community boards. Earlier this month, the Trusty failed to broadly advertise a meeting regarding the design of another pier — Pier 97 — at the C.B. 4 Waterfront, Park and Environmental Committee. Shouldn’t someone living at the southern end of Community Board 7 — say, at W. 60th St. and 11th Ave. — be given the opportunity to participate in the planning for Pier 97, just three blocks from their home on W. 57th St.? Why would an opportunity to review plans for Pier 97 and participate in planning be limited to members of the adjacent community board, some of whom live up to 3 miles away on Sixth Ave. and W. 15th St.? The selective distribution of information Balkanizes decision-making, allows the Trust to play one organization or interest group off against another and gives the Trust greater control of public participation. Pier 97 is one of the three piers in the park designated for the docking of historic vessels and interpretation of the West Side’s rich maritime history. However, the maritime and historic preservation community was not invited to view the Trust’s presentation at C.B. 4 to ensure the pier’s design accommodates one of its primary TheVillager.com
COURTESY RXR REALTY
A slide from a presentation that the Hudson River Park Trust and R XR Realt y gave to Communit y Board 4 this March about the new “modified plan” for Pier 57, showing an area of the W. 17th St. pier to be dubbed the “Grand Public Promenade.” R XR subsequently made this image and another one available to The Villager, though, at this point, the entire modified Pier 57 plan is still not publicly viewable any where. At some point, the Trust plans to hold a so-called “Significant Action Hearing” for the project, at which the public will be able to view and react to the plan.
purposes. Pier 97’s structure was built to support the berthing of historic ships — but how about fendering systems, chocks, cleats, bollards, dolphins and other support systems that historic vessels will need? How will the new design support not only the ships but historic interpretation while maximizing public access to the moored vessels? Limiting the distribution of information about Trust meetings and / or agendas prior to the meetings doesn’t help, either. The Trust’s board of directors meetings are generally not well attended by the public. One reason may be that the Trust doesn’t announce board meetings well in advance or provide an agenda for public review prior to the meetings. Citizens rarely take the time to attend meetings when they have no idea what will, or won’t, be discussed. After the fact, Trust board agendas and minutes are provided on the Trust’s Web site. The Trust should send information about the schedule and content of public hearings, board meetings, Advisory Council meetings and changes that the Trust proposes making to development projects and / or legislation to their public mailing list. Currently, the public is forced to search for that information or get on multiple mailing lists. Yet, information is widely broadcast about educational, recreational and cultural programs and fundraising events in the park. A few weeks ago, I received an invitation to the Hudson River Park’s 20th Anniversary Gala from the Hudson River Park Friends in both electronic and snailmail format. That event is five months from now, on Oct. 11. While I am not expecting that type of advanced notice,
I can’t understand why the Trust can’t notify the public about all of the meetings that affect the future of the park in a timely fashion, whether they are at the Trust, community boards, City Planning Department or any other agency? The C.B. 4 letter I referred to above mentioned that a similar PowerPoint presentation was given to the park’s Advisory Council. Yet, I’ve spoken to Advisory Council members who say that they only occasionally receive information about topics that will be discussed prior to their meetings. For example, at the recent Advisory Council meeting, members had no idea that the majority of the meeting would be dedicated to Trust and Google staff members describing their planned changes at Pier 57. After the presentation, no copies of the plan were provided for Advisory Council members to reference or review. Advisory Council members are appointed to “advise” the Trust. That’s much more difficult if you have no idea what will be discussed at a meeting unless, and until, you arrive. Meeting notes, not minutes, are occasionally distributed after the Advisory Council meetings — but not always. Therefore, Advisory Council members who cannot attend meetings may have no idea what was discussed — and neither does the public. What are the Advisory Council’s recommendations to the Trust on major issues affecting the park, and who sits on the Advisory Council? Well, there is no information on the Trust’s Web site about Advisory Council recommendations or membership and what organizations, or interests, existing members may represent. It simply states states, “Members must
reside in New York State and represent local community, park, environmental, civic, labor and business organizations, as well as elected officials representing communities neighboring the park.” Besides omitting information from its Web site, another technique that thwarts public participation is that the Trust seems to be failing even to keep the Web site up to date. More than two months ago, I wrote in this newspaper that the Trust had a five-year-old description of the planned redevelopment of Pier 57 posted on its Web site: It stated that Pier 57 was being developed by Young Woo & Associates with 300,000 square feet of “creative commercial space,” including a large public market. Yet, as we know, Pier 57 will now be developed as a 300,000-square-foot commercial office building for Google, and Google will control 50,000 square feet of so-called “public facing” space. I’m glad to report that the Trust finally recently updated its Web site to more accurately reflect its current plans at Pier 57. Yet, the new description still fails to mention that the Trust amended the Hudson River Park Act in 2013 to allow commercial offices in the park. Earlier this month, though, I followed a link in an article in Chelsea Now (The Villager’s sister paper) about Pier 97. It brought me to the section of the Trust’s Web site regarding “Education and Environment,” where the page dedicated to historic vessels lists two of them being docked at Pier 25, one of which was Tug Pegasus. However, Tug Pegasus has not been at Pier 25, nor anywhere in the park, for three years. TRUST continued on p. 22 May 31, 2018
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Scoopy’s Notebook SCOOPY’S continued from p. 2
the battle over 47 E. Third St. years ago, but that she was sure that Brewer had conferred with Susan Stetzer, the board’s district manager, about whether Economakis should be appointed. When we told her that, Johnson hit the roof, telling us that it was “unforgivable!” that Stetzer — the board’s top staffer, who serves at the pleasure of the 50 volunteer board members — would dare to have influence over such a thing. Economakis did not respond to requests for comment. Stetzer told us, “I believe I have gone on record previously about other issues, that it would be really inappropriate for someone in my position to comment on internal community board affairs.” Brewer’s spokesperson said, “The borough president’s office does not comment on the specifics of individual community board appointments. Mr. Economakis was appointed Nov. 21, 2017, to fill a vacancy, and he did previously serve on the board as a public member.” We remember how the late Artie Strickler, the longtime
district manager of the Village’s C.B. 2, always told us how he ensured he would keep his position, so that he would eventually be able to collect his pension. Basically, he indicated he did play a role in who was on or off the board, so that he always kept a majority of the members’ support. Or, as he put it, “I got the numbers.” Other leading dissidents no longer on C.B. 3 include Ayo Harrington, who was eighty-sixed by Brewer after accusing former Chairperson Gigi Li of not promoting black and Latino members to committee chairpersonships, and Chad Marlow, who announced he would not be reapplying, only to be promptly booted off the board by current board Chairperson Alysha LewisColeman, who said if Marlow wasn’t reapplying, well, then, “Adios!” By the way, Li is now working in Margaret Chin’s office, which observers see as Li’s positioning herself to run for the District 1 City Council seat when Chin is term-limited in a few years from now. Marlow has been busy campaigning for the A.C.L.U. at the federal level on behalf of ’Net neutrality.
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years who submitted the bill to Council Legal for review, 18 years of court rulings (many from the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals) and, most importantly, a vetting by an independent legal review panel of the bill’s constitutionality held in the Bronx courthouse.” And yet, when The Villager interviewed two leading mayoral candidates in 2015 — then-Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and then-Council Speaker Christine Quinn — they both gave the same, terse answer, as if from the same playbook: “It’s not legal.” But they didn’t expand on that, or explain one bit why they thought the bill wasn’t kosher under the law. Similarly, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer has stated that the legislation — which she worked on back when she was an aide to former
Councilmember Ruth Messinger — will not pass legal muster. This is exactly what REBNY wants to hear. And REBNY would love to hear a hearing dominated by a confusing back and forth on the bill’s legality. But, again, that issue has already been clarified by courts and the Council’s legal staff in past years. Again, it’s a red herring. And if the question of the bill’s legality still needs to be clarified — at least to the Small Business Committee members’ satisfaction — then it should be done before, not during, this upcoming hearing. Let those who testify at the hearing say and argue what they want. But the committee itself should enter into this process with a baseline understanding of where it stands on this bill. Again, our understanding is that there is more than ample precedent out there attesting to the fact that the S.B.J.S.A. is, in fact, legal.
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NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK — COUNTY OF KINGS —Pursuant to an Order of the Court of the State of New York, County of Kings, signed and dated on March 29, 2018, and entered on March 29, 2018 (the “Order�), in the action entitled SuHwa Chu, et. al. v. Lisa Lai, et. al. – Index No. 500668/2014 – I, the undersigned Referee, duly appointed in this action for such purpose, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder, at the Kings County Supreme Courthouse, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Room 224, on June 21, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., the property described and directed to be sold in such Order, which is briefly described as all that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the State of New York, County of New York, with address of: 80 Riverside Boulevard, Unit 5H, New York, New York 10069 (SBL # Block 1171, Lot 4060); (the “Premises�). Such Premises will be sold subject to the terms of the filed Order and the Terms of Sale. AARON D. MASLOW, ESQ. Referee. ALL INQUIRIES TO: Kishner Miller Himes, P.C. Attorneys for Plaintiffs, 420 Lexington Ave. Suite 300, New York, NY 10170, Attn: Ryan O. Miller, Esq., tel. no. 212-297-6268. Dated: Brooklyn, New York 5/23/2018
AARON D. MASLOW, ESQ. Referee
Terms of Sale (include): Ten percent (10.00%) of the purchase money of said Premises will be required to be paid by money order or certified check to the Referee at the time and place of sale, and for which the Referee’s receipt will be given. The residue of said purchase money will be required to be paid by money order or certified check to the Referee on the 30th day after sale when the Referee’s deed will be ready for delivery. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, with respect to the closing date as to the purchaser only. Purchaser shall pay all Transfer taxes for the Premises. Sale of the Premises shall be subject to the Condominium’s waiver of its right of first refusal. Upset Price for the Premises is set at $1,350,000.00. Vil: 05/24 – 06/07/2018
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Call 718-260-2516 email pbeatrice@cnglocal.com TheVillager.com
May 31, 2018
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PROGRESS REPORT
Victory at 75 Morton, but still much work to do DISTRICT LEADER BY KEEN BERGER
Y
ears ago I chose three issues to focus on, as careful readers of The Villager know. One local (public education in our neighborhood), one city (Election Day process) and one national (immigration). The election of Trump has made me add a fourth — doing my part to mitigate that disaster. First: Celebration! We finally have our new middle school at 75 Morton St. It will open at that site this fall — in a stunning new building. Even better, of course, are the students who are learning there. We have a great new principal, Jackie Getz. Students in Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, the West Village, some of Soho and Battery Park City are zoned for it, so it is ethnically and economically diverse. No tracking, just high standards and lots of joy. I know about the standards and joy because the school is being “incubated” this year: Its sixth grade occupies a floor at The Clinton School, at 10 E. 15th St. I have friends among the parents whose children are there. They love it — because their children do. Second: No celebration on voting. I am trying to accomplish many reforms, among them, split-shifts for poll workers and early voting for the public. Cuomo said he was for early voting (finally) but he didn’t push the budget to allow it. Now that we have, at last, gotten rid of the Independent Democratic Conference, I hope we can improve the election process. I keep hoping. Third: Immigration. I wear a button that reads, “The Bible says Sanctuary for Immigrants,” because I want to
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
Keen Berger.
wake up the evangelical Christians. As a supporter of the New Sanctuary Task Force at Judson Church, it is clear to me that “welcome the stranger” is central to my faith, and that baby Jesus would have died if his parents had not emigrated to Egypt. But Jean Montrevil was deported to Haiti, the Dreamers are in a nightmare, and millions of immigrants suffer when they should thrive — as did my immigrant grandparents. There is one piece of good news: Ravi Ragbir was brought back from deportation jail, and ICE keeps postponing his case. I think they are afraid of me and the thousands of others who say, “You can’t deport a movement.” Now for Trump. I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis, the deaths of J.F.K., M.L.K. and Malcolm, the Vietnam War, the first Pride March, and much more. Memory makes me resist, not despair. I am supporting several
people (including state Senator Brad Hoylman and Congressmember Jerry Nadler) whom I trust to protect our nation. I am doing my part to stop voter suppression (via Let America Vote) and flip the House and Senate. To counteract the evil that Trump is tweeting, I look out for the most vulnerable among us. I was taught to befriend, not provoke, and I want to make a big stand for justice — but only one small occasion appeared. I share it with you, hoping you also might find a moment to befriend, not provoke, and thereby limit Trump. I was on an F train in Brooklyn. Near me were seated a young woman and her father, an old man dressed as a devout Muslim. A man walked by and said to her, “What are you wearing that scarf for?” He kept walking, she did not answer. I made eye contact with the father, who circled his finger near his head to signal he thought the man was crazy. I nodded and smiled, but I thought he was minimizing the insult. Then that crazy man came back and was about to say something more. I got up, stood right in front of the woman, and said, “You are my friend. I am happy to see you. I am on my way to the library.” I kept talking, saying nothing consequential. The crazy man was angry. He said, “She is not your friend,” and aimed insults to me. I remembered: Don’t provoke, don’t confront, just befriend. So I spoke to the woman again, “I am happy to see you. You are my friend.” And then she replied to the man, “Yes, she is my friend.” He shuffled off. I am waiting for Trump to shuffle off, and for Nov. 6. Berger is the female Democratic district leader, 66th Assembly District, Part A (Greenwich Village)
Onetime Printing District now a people place HUDSON SQUARE BY ELLEN BAER
W
hen we began the Hudson Square Business Improvement District in 2009, no one quite knew what to make of the former Printing District. Somewhere west of Soho and south of the Village, with its half-full loft buildings and rush-hour streets packed with cars bound for the Holland Tunnel, the area lacked an identity of its own. Eight years later, two rezonings, 250 new trees, dozens of creative industries and boundless energy have put Hudson Square on the map. This last year has been another year of milestones in the evolution of this authentic, Lower West Side neighborhood. At the heart of what we do at this BID is our commitment to make Hudson Square a place for people — not just cars and trucks. This commitment is demonstrated through our signature programs, including our Pedestrian Traffic Managers, who help steer pedestrians through evening rush-hour traffic along Varick St. This year, we extended the program to five days a week, and over the holidays some of Santa’s elves returned to assist and provide holiday cheer and safety. Our quirky elves danced through Hudson Square, spreading festive spirit and quickly becoming wildly popular among locals and visitors.
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Ellen Baer.
We continue to invest in the public realm through our $27 million Hudson Square is Now campaign, a publicprivate partnership with the city. In April 2017, the Parks Department and community leaders joined us as we broke ground on the new Spring St. Park at the corner of Spring St. and Sixth Ave. Since then, we’ve watched our design come to life with new concrete / pavers, new custom seating, lighting and plantings — even the statue of General Artigas got touched up. The park will soon be
open to the public. Meanwhile, last fall, students at the adjacent Chelsea High School’s C.T.E. program worked with mentors from Hudson Square agencies to adorn the construction fencing around the park project with creative expressions of what our neighborhood means to them. So, even before it opens, the park belongs to our community. We also kicked off another initiative of Hudson Square is Now, partnering with the city’s Economic Development Corporation and Department of Transportation on a major investment for the Hudson St. streetscape between Canal and W. Houston Sts. The new design will improve pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety, while transforming the corridor into a grand boulevard that will beautify the neighborhood. This project will widen sidewalks up to 5 feet and add new street amenities along the seven-block corridor, including 8,041 square feet of planting areas filled with various trees, shrubs and perennials, and more. Since 2013, we’ve maintained the seasonal open spaces surrounding the Holland Tunnel called Freeman Plaza. In May 2017, we reopened Freeman Plaza East (at Varick between Broome and Watts Sts.) with a world-renowned, 12,000-pound sculpture, “Octetra,” by acclaimed artist Isamu Noguchi. Thanks to Julie and Edward J. Minskoff for loaning us this piece. And last fall, we closed Freeman Plaza West (at Hudson between Broome and Watts Sts.) to make some upBAER continued on p. 22 TheVillager.com
‘End’ Time: Memory, Aging, and Chekhov at Mabou Mines Visuals and veteran cast reconstruct ‘Uncle Vanya’
Photo by Brian Rogers
L to R: “This Was The End” cast members James Himelsbach and Rae C. Wright, with G. Lucas Crane (live sound score and video manipulation).
BY TRAV S.D. Seven and a half years. That’s how long Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) thought people would still be interested in reading his writing after he died. Chekhov never dreamt that 114 years after he passed, millions would still be savoring his work. As a case in point, his play “Uncle Vanya” has been in circulation for nearly 120 years — and not only is the play still being produced, it has become enough of a well-known classic that fairly radical interpretations and deconstructions have been undertaken over the years. Such is Restless NYC’s “This Was The End,” being presented at the Mabou Mines Theater, June 7 to 16. Created and directed by Restless TheVillager.com
NYC’s Mallory Catlett, “This Was The End” features live sound score and video manipulation by G. Lucas Crane, and an all-star Downtown cast that includes the Ridiculous Theatrical Company’s Black-Eyed Susan, Paul Zimet (Open Theater and Talking Band), Rae C. Wright, and James Himelsbach. It is part of the inaugural season of Mabou Mines’ space in the newly renovated 122 Community Center (formerly known as PS122). Technically, the production is a remounting. It was originally developed from 2009 through 2011 as part of Mabou Mines’ Resident Artists Program, then presented at The Chocolate Factory in Long Island City in 2014. The original set, the long
classroom wall with sliding chalkboards from the old Mabou Mines space, was salvaged prior to the 2013 renovation. In this multimedia presentation, the cast interacts with video and audio elements. Analog audio tape containing lines from Chekhov’s text is mixed live, allowing the performers to improvise with earlier incarnations of their own characters. A video image of the set is projected onto the set itself, creating a visual blur of past and present. According to Catlett, the roots of the project go back to the late 1990s, when she was a graduate student at the School for Contemporary Arts of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. “The germ of it came to me when I was
saw my own father have a late-midlife crisis and enter a sort of massive depression,” she said. Not knowing any age-appropriate actors at the time, she shelved the project, and then picked it up nearly a decade later when she was working on a production called “Red Fly/Blue Bottle” with Black-Eyed Susan, and realized that she would be right for the part of Sonya in “Uncle Vanya.” (Susan, like her three fellow cast members, is over 60). Sonya is the niece and helpmeet of the title character (Zimet), the caretaker of a country estate. Himelsbach plays their neighbor, Dr. Astrov; Wright plays Yelena, wife of the THE END continued on p. 16 May 24, 2018
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Photo by Brian Rogers
A video image of the set is projected onto the set itself, creating a visual blur of past and present. THE END continued from p. 15
estate’s owner, whose taste for luxury means disaster for Vanya. “It’s about time, memory, and aging,” Catlett said. “Vanya is stuck in the past. He thinks he’s still 45. He’s locked in a loop.” In addition to Chekhov’s original text, Catlett noted that the production was heavily influenced by Marcel Proust, whose masterwork “In Search of Lost Time” plays with shifting memory — or, as she put it, “the convergence between now and remembering. Proust said that if you can’t transform your griefs, they can kill you. Memory gives people, gives characters, an opportunity to reclaim and revisit the past. The video and audio elements we’re using allow us to explore that.” “This Was The End” is performed Thurs.–Sat, June 7–9 and June 14–16 at 8pm, and Sun., June 10 at 3pm. Runtime: 65 minutes, At the Mabou Mines Theater, at 122CC (150 First Ave., corner of E. Ninth St.). For tickets ($25, $15 for students with ID), visit maboumines.org or call 866-8114111. Also visit restlessproductionsnyc.org.
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Photo by Mick Bello
After shelving the project for nearly a decade, “This Was The End” creator/director Mallory Catlett found her age-appropriate Sonya in Black-Eyed Susan (seen here on swing). TheVillager.com
The good, the bad and the groovy Rediscovering the music of Hugo Montenegro BY JIM MELLOAN It was sometime in 1966 when Hugo Montenegro went into an RCA studio with some session musicians on a Saturday to do a cover of the theme from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,â€? Italian director Sergio Leone’s third installment of his “Dollars Trilogyâ€? of spaghetti westerns. All three of the films had been scored by the prolific Italian composer Ennio Morricone. The opening theme for this third film was particularly haunting — a two-note melody sounding like a whistled call across a desert landscape, followed by a variety of instruments evoking tumbleweeds, desolation, and violence. Montenegro added a stronger beat with strummed guitar chords to give the tune a poppier feel, with the opening melody played on an ocarina, and the response on a harmonica, with hand movements producing the wah-wah sound. Montenegro’s own voice supplied the grunting Indian sounds, and famous whistler Muzzy Marcellino did his thing. The recording was released in 1968, and after a slow build, and much to Montenegro’s surprise, it became a pop hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 1, 1968 — 50 years ago this weekend. It is a joy today to bathe in the music Montenegro created. He was born in New York City in 1925, and served in the Navy for two years, mostly as an arranger for the Naval Station Newport (a base in Rhode Island). After the war, he studied music at Manhattan College. His first recording was with the Glen-Spice Orchestra, arranging and conducting Dion’s first recording, “Out in Coloradoâ€? and “The Chosen Few,â€? pre-Belmonts, with backing by a group called The Timberlanes. The entire record had been recorded before Dion was chosen as the lead singer. In 1960, Montenegro recorded several albums for Time Records (no relation to Time Inc., the magazine publisher). The first was a blast of energy heralding the new decade, called “Bongos + Brass.â€? This and many albums like it from that era were designed to show off new stereo recording technologies (in Time Records’ case, something called Process 70), and boost sales of hi-fi equipment. It was clearly meant to be played in plush living rooms with ultra-modern dĂŠcor and furnishings, as background to cocktail parties where the martinis flowed freely and TheVillager.com
Lalo Schifrin, who and “The Wrecking Crew.â€? In my recwould later write ollection both really got my adolescent the famous “Mission juices flowing when I saw them in the Impossibleâ€? theme), theater in London, doubtless due in RCA released two part to the soundtrack. (The theme successful albums song for “The Ambushersâ€? was written M o n t e n e g r o by famed Monkees songwriters Boyce arranged and con- and Hart.) Montenegro went on to score “Lady ducted with music from that show. The in Cement,â€? a 1968 thriller starring music on the albums Frank Sinatra and Raquel Welch, was much more high “Charro!,â€? a 1969 western starring fidelity and punchier Elvis Presley, “The Undefeated,â€? a 1969 than anything peo- John Wayne western, and “Viva Max,â€? ple were going to a 1969 comedy western starring Peter hear on their televi- Ustinov. He also continued to churn sions at the time. He out albums, notably 1969’s “Moog also came out with Power,â€? featuring the synthesizer. The an album of music album cover of that one shows his Via discogs.com from spy mov- bearded, mephistophelean face with a The synthesizer-infused “Moog Powerâ€? includes a killer veries and TV shows patch board in his forehead, and Daysion of the fast middle part of “MacArthur Park.â€? called “Come Spy Glo electric rays zapping from his visage. It includes a killer version of the With Me.â€? Around this time he wrote the fast middle part of “MacArthur Park.â€? the people were beautiful and sexy. In the ’70s, Montenegro scored sevThis one starts off with a killer ver- new, sprightly theme for “I Dream of sion of Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of Jeannie,â€? used in seasons 2 through 5, eral TV shows, notably “The Partridge the Mountain King.â€? The Who, Rick a welcome replacement for the tired Family.â€? His last score, for a 1977 Wakeman, and many others before and waltz that was used in the first season. thriller called “The Farmer,â€? is apparafter would adapt this number, but this (That theme also has lyrics, written by ently lost. It is said to be chilling elecone puts them all to shame. There are Buddy Kaye, although they were never tronic music. The film was given an X rating until the director succeeded in also stellar versions of “Slaughter on used.) His first real film scoring job was for screening it before the ratings board Tenth Avenue,â€? “Take the A Train,â€? “Hurry Sundown,â€? a 1967 Southern again, without the score, and it was and “Laura.â€? This one was followed in short order racial drama set after World War re-assigned an R and distributed by with a trio of albums: “Cha Chas II, produced and directed by Otto Columbia for 17 years. But it was never for Dancingâ€? (whose tracks include Preminger, a critical flop. But after that released on DVD because the music “Tea for Twoâ€? and “Mack the Knifeâ€?), Montenegro was back in his wheel- rights could not be found. Montenegro “Boogie Woogie + Bongosâ€? (“Peter house. There’s James Bond, there’s suffered from severe emphysema in Gunn,â€? “Begin the Beguineâ€?), and Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin, his later years, and died in 1981 at “Arriba!â€? (which shows Montenegro there’s Maxwell Smart, there’s Derek age 55. An Australian label called The getting into the Hispanic/Western Flint — but for some of us, the ne plus style later reflected in his Morricone ultra of secret agents is Dean Martin’s Omni Recording Corporation released Matt Helm, the boozing, babe-loving, a compilation album of Montenegro’s covers). In 1961 Time released “Montenegro hedonic hero of four films. Montenegro works in 2008 called “Mr. Groovy.â€? in Italy,â€? featuring classic Italian scored the last two, “The Ambushersâ€? Good title. songs suffused with sounds purportedly from the streets and canals of Italy. Montenegro arranged Harry Belafonte’s orchestra in the early ’60s. Theater for the New City • 155 1st Avenue at E. 10th St. Reservations & Info (212) 254-1109 His work can be heard on “Belafonte at For more info, please visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net the Greek Theaterâ€? (1963), and “In My Quiet Roomâ€? (1966). By 1965 he was well-known enough that “Bongos + /-% ' *. *(! 2 Brassâ€? was re-released as “Montenegro and Mayhem.â€? At that time it was clear that Montenegro was destined for the busi %(%.! )# #!(!). ness of spy music. Though he had 2 /)! no hand in the composition of the /,- . music for “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.â€? (those duties were performed by Jerry /) Goldsmith and others, including
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Trust and transparency TRUST continued from p. 11
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Yet, another section of the authority’s Web site entitled “Explore the Park” states that four historic vessels are docked at various locations in the park but Tug Pegasus is not mentioned as being one of them. Consistency is important, especially since the Web site is a major portal for public access to information and activities in the park. The Hudson River Park is a public park. It’s a park for all interested New Yorkers to enjoy and participate in planning and protecting, not just individuals and organizations deemed acceptable to the Trust. Meaningful public participation will be critical in garnering broadbased support for important decisions regarding the completion of this magnificent public asset. The Trust could do a better job encouraging public participation and ensuring the transparency that the agency was initially established to provide. Public participation created the Hudson River Park, and that process should be respected and embraced to support the park’s completion. The Trust has a long tradition of public participation in the planning and
design of the park. Returning to those roots would benefit the Trust, the park and the public. While I respect that C.B. 4 takes its responsibility to hold public and transparent meetings seriously and welcomes all community stakeholders to attend and advocate their concerns, it would be great if the Trust would follow the community board’s example. The Trust has a greater responsibility to ensure that all stakeholders, no matter where they reside, have an opportunity to contribute their time, energy and talent to the completion of the park. Fox was a citizen appointee to the West Side Task Force in 1986, and the West Side Waterfront Panel from 198890; the first president of the Hudson River Park Conservancy (which completed the park’s General Project Plan) from 1992-95; a member of the Hudson River Park Alliance (which supported the park’s founding legislation) from 199698; a founding board member of Friends of Hudson River Park from 1999-2011, and, more recently, a plaintiff in The City Club of New York’s lawsuit against the park’s Pier55 project.
Today’s Hudson Square BAER continued from p. 14
grades. New seating, gravel and even a 900-square-foot turf lawn was unveiled during our annual opening party earlier this month. And look for new programming coming this summer. This past year, we began exploring the idea to expand our BID’s borders in a way that makes sense. Currently our borders largely reflect the Hudson Square Special District zoning district designation but exclude what people think of as the neighborhood, making for some awkward borders. We’re proposing to extend our borders more logically, particularly to the west, southwest and to the north. We spent this last year reaching out to the community through mailings, social
media, informal get-togethers and public meetings. We enjoyed getting to know our neighbors, and now look forward to entering the formal legislation approval process. It’s hard to believe that eight years ago, when people thought of our area, all that came to mind was the Holland Tunnel. With the help of our board, task forces, Community Board 2, our partnership with New York City and, most of all, because of the creative businesses that give this place its unique vibe, Hudson Square is realizing its potential — while retaining its special charm. Hudson Square today is a place where people want to be. Baer is president, Hudson Square Connection
Letters to The Editor LETTERS continued from p. 10
erating in 11 states), and politicians want votes or approval. The sudden push for pot legalization without sufficient study of this drug’s downsides and no overarching plan for ending racism in policing may not be in the best interests of our children, city or state. K Webster
E-mail letters, not longer than 250 words in length, to news@thevillager.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to The Villager, Letters to the Editor, 1 MetroTech North, 10th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please include phone number for confirmation purposes. The Villager reserves the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and libel. Anonymous letters will not be published.
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May 31, 2018
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ADVERTORIAL
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.
May 31, 2018
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2018 NYU Thom Fluellen Award Mariners’ Temple Baptist Church Helping Hands Outreach Program 2018 NYU Community Fund Awards
New York University salutes the 2018 recipients of the
NYU Community Fund and Thom Fluellen Awards The NYU Community Fund has contributed over $4 million to hundreds of local nonprofits since its inception in 1982, supporting organizations that improve the health and well-being of New York City. The majority of this support comes directly from NYU faculty and staff who donate funding through an annual employeebased charitable giving program. All administrative costs are absorbed by NYU, so 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to community organizations. Awardees are community organizations whose work addresses concerns such as atrisk youth, homelessness, hunger, literacy, economic independence, and services for those who are elderly, visually impaired, or living with health issues. Learn more about the community fund at nyu.edu/community.
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A Fair Shake for Youth, Inc. A Place for Kids Academy of Medical & Public Health Services Artists Space Avenues for Justice (formerly the Andrew Glover Youth Program) Back on My Feet Bailey House Bowery Mission Bowery Residents’ Committee, Inc. Brooklyn Community Services Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES) Cherry Lane Theatre Children of Promise Children’s Aid Society City Parks Foundation Community Health Project, Inc. d/b/a Callen-Lorde Community Health Center Community of Sant’Egidio USA Cooper Square Community Development Committee Cornelia Connelly Center Covenant House New York Dances For A Variable Population (DVP) Downtown Music Productions East End Temple (EET) Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center Fourth Arts Block George Jackson Academy Gilda’s Club NYC Gina Gibney Dance GO Project, Inc. God’s Love We Deliver Grand Street Settlement Greenwich House Hamilton-Madison House Henry Street Settlement Hetrick-Martin Institute Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen - Church of Holy Apostles Jefferson Market Garden JustFix.nyc LEAP, Inc. d/b/a Brooklyn Workforce Innovations Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT)
Loco-Motion Dance Theatre for Children Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York, Inc. Mariners’ Temple Baptist Church Helping Hands Outreach Program Movement Research Nazareth Housing New Women New Yorkers New York City Rescue Mission New York Foundling New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Our Lady of Sorrows Peer Health Exchange Petey Greene Program Phoenix Theatre Ensemble Project Ezra Rattlestick Playwrights Theater Rescuing Leftover Cuisine Society of the Third Street Music School Settlement St. Anthony of Padua Church St. Joseph’s Soup Kitchen Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) Team Steady Buckets Tech Kids Unlimited The Door, A Center for Alternatives, Inc. The Educational Alliance, Inc. The River Project (TRP) The Uni Project Theater Breaking Through Barriers Corp. U. M. Church of the Village University Community Social Services, Inc. University Settlement Society of New York, Inc. UnLocal, Inc. Urban Justice Center (Peter Cicchino Youth Project) Village Center for Care (“VillageCare”) Village Temple Soup Kitchen Vision Urbana, Inc. VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Visiting Neighbors, Inc. Visual AIDS for the Arts, Inc. Washington Square Association Music Fund Washington Square Park Conservancy Xavier Mission, Inc. Young People’s Chorus of New York City
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