Our Town Downtown - September 7, 2017 by OurTown Downtown

The local paper for Downtown wn AN ADULT’S JOURNEY BACK INTO CHILDREN’S BOOKS

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER

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7-13 2017

UWS CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES’ ROUNDTABLE

Small businesses

borhood to encourage landlords to rent to small businesses at a much quicker rate. I’ve proposed the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, which is a proposal to help small businesses negotiate a fair renewal of their lease. They’re most vulnerable at the lease renewal part. [...] Thirdly, cut the red tape for businesses so that they don’t have an inspection or license of application due every day that distracts them from actually doing the work they need.” Rosenthal: “[W]e started our small business clinics to connect these retail owners with lawyers and with loans. I submitted legislation to eliminate the commercial rent tax for nearly 300 businesses on the Upper West Side. [...] The Small Business Jobs Survival Act was introduced 20 years ago by [former council member and Manhattan Borough President] Ruth Messinger. Its time has passed. Even [Manhattan Borough President] Gale Brewer has said it’s not feasible. That’s why I’m researching legislation to put a vacancy tax on empty storefronts.” Goodman: “My recommendation is called the Legacy Stores Act, [...] which is a plan to provide the difference between what the renewal rate of the lease is and the amount of rent that the store owner had been paying with tax credits.” Drusin: “To propose credits or offsets or grants, I would oppose. Because when you’re interfering with the market — and the most extreme example is commercial rent control — you always have unanticipated consequences that

Wymore: “I’ve proposed a ﬁne for long-term vacancies in our neigh-

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ELECTIONS Rosenthal and challengers lay out visions for District 6 BY MICHAEL GAROFALO

Incumbent City Council Member Helen Rosenthal and the five challengers running against her to represent the Upper West Side in the city council met last week for a roundtable forum hosted by the West Side Spirit. Rosenthal, who is nearing the end of her first term in office, will face fellow Democrats Cary Goodman and Mel Wymore in the Sept. 12 primary election. The primary winner will face Republican Hyman Drusin and independent candidates David Owens and Bill Raudenbush in the Nov. 7 general election. All six candidates met at the West Side Spirit’s offices on Sept. 1 for a discussion on some of the most pressing issues facing Council District 6, from affordable housing to bike lanes, along with a bit of fun (a sampling of candidates’ threeword descriptions of themselves: Rosenthal — Creative, smart, fighter; Drusin — Jewish, intellectual, introvert; Goodman — Save our park). The Spirit’s editorial team moderated the forum, which was streamed live on Facebook. Video of the full conversation can be viewed on the West Side Spirit’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WestSideSpirit/). Below is a compilation of highlights from the discussion, organized by topic:

John Steuart Curry’s 1928 oil on canvas, “Baptism in Kansas.” Photo: Adel Gorgy

A COLLECTIVE PORTRAIT MUSEUMS The Whitney’s “Where We Are” offers a panorama of a changing and changed nation and its people BY MARY GREGORY

In 1939, W.H. Auden, the Englishborn American author, composed a poem. Its title, “September 1, 1939,” commemorates the day that Germany invaded Poland, initiating World War II. Auden wrote about sitting in a bar — a dive, in his words — on East 52nd Street as he ruminated poetically on history, society, individuality, love, anger, despair, responsibility, affirmation and hope. In 2017, for his ﬁrst installation drawn exclusively from

the holdings of the Whitney’s collection of American art, curator and director of the collection, David Breslin (along with Jennie Goldstein and Margaret Kross) has taken that poem as a lens through which to look at art and artists and how they see certain issues. By doing so, he’s created a deep, layered, moving portrait of not just America’s art, but its heart. Focusing on works made between 1900 and 1960, the exhibition fills the entire seventh floor with works that highlight both the museum’s extraordinary collection and a nation filled with passionate individualism and an experience that encompasses both commonality and diversity. Each of five sections is formed around an idea expressed in Auden’s poem. They include “No One Exists Alone,” a look at Downtowner

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Crime Watch Voices NYC Now City Arts

3 8 10 12

Restaurant Ratings Business Real Estate 15 Minutes

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WEEK OF APRIL

SPRING ARTS PREVIEW < CITYARTS, P.12

FOR HIM, SETTLING SMALL CLAIMS IS A BIG DEAL presided over Arbitration Man has three decades. for informal hearings about it He’s now blogging BY RICHARD KHAVKINE

is the common Arbitration Man their jurist. least folks’ hero. Or at Man has For 30 years, Arbitration court office of the civil few sat in a satellite Centre St. every building at 111 New Yorkers’ weeks and absorbed dry cleaning, burned lost accountings of fender benders, lousy paint jobs, and the like. And security deposits then he’s decided. Arbitration Man, About a year ago, so to not afwho requested anonymity started docuhe fect future proceedings, two dozen of what menting about compelling cases considers his most blog. in an eponymous about it because “I decided to write the stories but in a I was interested about it not from wanted to write from view but rather lawyer’s point of said Arbitration view,” of a lay point lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He ﬁrst writes about post, renders and then, in a separatehow he arrived his decision, detailing blog the to Visitors at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want whether they unreally want to know and why I did it,” I did derstood what don’t know how to he said. “Most people ... I’d like my cases the judge thinks. and also my trereﬂect my personalitythe law.” for mendous respect 80, went into indiMan, Arbitration suc in 1985, settling vidual practice

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MANHATTAN'S APARTMENT BOOM, > PROPERTY, P.20

2015

In Brief MORE HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS

The effort to help small seems to businesses in the city be gathering steam. Two city councilmembers, Robert Margaret Chin and Cornegy, have introduced create legislation that wouldSmall a new “Office of the within Business Advocate” of Small the city’s Department Business Services. Chin The new post, which have up told us she’d like to would and running this year, for serve as an ombudsman city small businesses within them clear government, helping to get through the bureaucracy things done. Perhaps even more also importantly, the ombudsman and number will tally the type small business of complaints by taken in owners, the actions policy response, and somefor ways to recommendations If done well, begin to fix things. report would the ombudsman’s give us the first quantitative with taste of what’s wrong the city, an small businesses in towards important first step fixing the problem. of for deTo really make a difference, is a mere formality will have to the work process looking to complete their advocate are the chances course, velopers precinct, but rising rents, -- thanks to a find a way to tackle business’ is being done legally of after-hours projects quickly. their own hours,” which remain many While Chin “They pick out boom in the number throughout who lives on most vexing problem. said Mildred Angelo,of the Ruppert construction permits gauge what Buildings one said it’s too early tocould have the 19th floor in The Department of the city. number three years, the Houses on 92nd Street between role the advocate She on the Over the past is handing out a record work perThird avenues. permits, there, more information of Second and an ongoing all-hours number of after-hours bad thing. of after-hours work the city’s Dept. problem can’t be a said there’s with the mits granted by nearby where according to new data jumped 30 percent, This step, combinedBorough construction project noise Buildings has data provided in workers constantly make efforts by Manhattan to mediate BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS according to DOB of Informacement from trucks. President Gale Brewer offer response to a Freedom classifies transferring they want. They knows the the rent renewal process, request. The city They 6 “They do whatever signs Every New Yorker clang, tion Act go as they please. work between some early, tangible small any construction on the weekend, can come and sound: the metal-on-metal or the piercing of progress. For many have no respect.” can’t come p.m. and 7 a.m., of these that the hollow boom, issuance reverse. owners, in business moving The increased beeps of a truck has generto a correspond and you as after-hours. soon enough. variances has led at the alarm clock The surge in permits

SLEEPS, THANKS TO THE CITY THAT NEVER UCTION A BOOM IN LATE-NIGHT CONSTR NEWS

A glance it: it’s the middle can hardly believe yet construction of the night, and carries on full-tilt. your local police or You can call 311

n OurTownDowntow

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Newscheck Crime Watch Voices

for dollars in fees ated millions of and left some resithe city agency, that the application dents convinced

2 City Arts 3 Top 5 8 Real Estate 10 15 Minutes

12 13 14 18

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love, friendship, family and shared responsibility; “The Furniture of Home,” which explores where we dwell and the objects that make up our everyday lives; “The Strength of Collective Man,” a visual recording of American society’s struggles and triumphs; “In a Euphoric Dream,” in which George Washington’s description of the nation as a “great experiment” yields surprising outcomes; and, finally, “Of Eros and Dust,” which looks at the spiritual foundations of several movements and works. Through photographs and prints, paintings and sculptures, in realism and abstraction, we ﬁnd reﬂections of history and life, evolution and strife, and, if we look carefully, ourselves.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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SYPHILIS IN THE CITY HEALTH This sexually transmitted infection has seen a dramatic resurgence in NYC, with cases more than doubling since 2005 BY MICHELLE CESPEDES, MD

What did Christopher Columbus, Vincent van Gogh, and Al Capone likely have in common? What is one of the most common preventable causes of miscarriages and stillbirths? What disease can present in so many confusing ways that it has been nicknamed “The Great Pretender” by physicians for centuries? If you answered syphilis, you just may have a hint of what a typical day in my office can be like. From treating sexually transmitted infections (STI) that were once thought to be nearly eradicated to considering diseases that can affect a couple’s fertility desires, the role of the infectious disease specialist continues to evolve. In 2015, the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene reported that the rates of STIs in New York City were at a 30 year high. Syphilis has

seen a dramatic resurgence with the number of cases more than doubling since 2005. From 2015 to 2016, rates of syphilis increased by 27 percent in New York City to nearly 2,000 cases according to the health department. One of the problems with this resurgence is that many health care providers may not have encountered cases before and may be unfamiliar with the various ways that syphilis can present. Early in infection with syphilis, an open painless ulcer appears at the site where the bacteria enter the body. The ulcer will heal even if not treated, but the person can still be contagious. The ulcer can be as small as a pimple or as large as a cigar burn, but because these lesions do not cause pain, the vast majority goes unrecognized. The open lesion makes it easier to get other sexually transmitted infections such as herpes and HIV. A person is often not aware that they are infected and can unknowingly transmit syphilis to their sex partner. In the secondary stage, a faint rash can appear, occasionally involving the palm of the hands or soles of the feet, which can often go misdiagnosed. While the rash disappears, the disease progresses to the tertiary stage that if left untreated, decades later can lead

Treatment of syphilis, 1920. Photo: Internet Archive Book Images, via Wikimedia Commons to arthritis, cardiovascular problems, and neurosyphilis, which affects the nervous system and can cause blindness, deafness, personality changes, and dementia. Congenital syphilis causes birth defects in children born to infected mothers. In 2015 a cluster of more than a dozen cases of ocular syphilis, a rare manifestation of the disease, was identiﬁed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. It’s not just major cities like New York that have seen a resurgence in STIs. In August 2017, the New York Times reported an outbreak of syphilis in Oklahoma City where 199 cases have been identiﬁed to date. Another 200 people who had contact with the cases and may be infected are being tracked to be encouraged to get tested and

treated. Similar to an unanticipated outbreak of HIV in more than 200 residents of a small town in Indiana in 2015, this syphilis outbreak was mainly among white residents, especially women. These outbreaks are thought to be a direct consequence of the opioid epidemic sweeping the country. As prescription opioid users increasingly turn to IV heroin as a cheaper alternative, behaviors including sex in exchange for drugs or money among small networks of people and shared needles have led to an increased in STIs, including syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis C. Decreases in funding to local health departments and fewer outreach workers are also contributing factors. The good news is that unlike the

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1800s, our armamentarium to combat these infections has grown tremendously. Syphilis can usually be treated with one to three shots of penicillin. The treatment of HIV has advanced to the point that there are several safe and effective regimens that are taken with a one pill once a day. People who may be at increased risk of getting HIV even have the option of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily pill that is 95 percent effective at reducing their risk of acquiring HIV. Even Hepatitis C can be cured in nearly 99 percent of patients with a pill taken for as little as eight weeks. Warm days and beautiful weather in the city means people interacting with one another more and having a good time. That’s also when rates of STI usually increase, keeping infectious disease specialists like myself always busy. Have fun, but practice safe sex. STI testing should be a key component of any sexually active person’s health plan. Protect yourself in advance whenever possible, know your own HIV status and that of your partners, and openly discuss your sex life, drug use, and other health issues with your doctor regularly. Taking ownership and being proactive with your sexual health should be considered an act of self-love. Dr. Michelle Cespedes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai Health System

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THE CHALLENGE: Eat only food that’s grown, raised, produced or caught within 250 miles of your home in the bountiful month of September with ﬁve exceptions of your choosing The hope is that we will not only have a positive impact on the environment, local economy and your own health, but also that we’ll build community.

Are you in? Join your neighbors and sign up for a month, a week or a day at

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SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

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CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG STATS FOR THE WEEK Reported crimes from the 1st precinct for Week to Date

Tony Webster, via ﬂickr

SUEDE IN THE SHADE

PROPERTY TAKEN

Which came first: the high price of designer clothing or the high rate at which it gets shoplifted? At 4:44 p.m. on Friday, August 25, a 30-year-old man walked into the Ermenegildo Zegna store at Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey St., grabbed two pricey suede jackets, and fled northbound on West Street. The two jackets are valued at $11,445.

A man eating outdoors couldn’t even throw out his trash before someone grabbed his stuff. At 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday, August 23, a 50-yearold man from Bridgeport, Conn., sat down to eat lunch in front of 32 Sixth Ave. After eating he got up to throw his trash in a garbage can, and when he turned around his MacBook Air laptop, prescription eyeglasses, earbuds and backpack were gone. He estimated his stolen property at $2,190.

2017 2016

% Change

2017

2016

% Change

Murder

n/a

Rape

n/a

50.0

Robbery

-100.0

7.0

Felony Assault

-100.0

-1.9

Burglary

-100.0

-50.6

Grand Larceny

15.0

651

692 -5.9

Grand Larceny Auto

-100.0

HANDBAG, CONTENTS STOLEN

CONVENIENCE STORE THEFT

You shouldn’t leave your stuff unattended in a nightclub for a minute, much less 10. A 23-year-old woman from Austria told police her handbag and its contents were taken while she was inside the Mailroom Bar at 110 Wall St. late on Thursday, August 24. Taken along with the bag were an iPhone 7, Bose headphones, sunglasses, and her wallet. The value of the stolen goods was put at $2,300.

Apparently, a convenience store proved a convenient refuge for two thieves. At 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 24, a 40-year-old woman was walking in front of 311 Broadway when two men removed some belongings from her bag and ran into a nearby 7-Eleven store. The items stolen included a Samsung S7, plus an ID card and debit card, presenting a total value stolen of $650.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND

thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY

Manoush Zomorodi + Brooke Gladstone | On the Art Floor

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 7PM The Strand | 828 Broadway | 212-473-1452 | strandbooks.com Manoush Zomorodi of WNYC’s Note to Self speaks about Bored and Brilliant, her new book, which explains the connection between boredom and creativity, and looks at smarter ways for us to coexist with our digital crutches ($5 gift card purchase or $26.99 signed book purchase).

Yuri Slezkine and Amor Towles in Conversation

Year to Date

-75.0

CAR BROKEN INTO Police again remind motorists never to leave valuable items in a car parked on the street. At 11 p.m. on Saturday, August 26, a 27-year-old man from Paramus, N.J., parked his car in front of 129 West Houston St. When he returned at 6:40 a.m. on the 28th, the passenger’s-side front door window had been shattered and several of his belongings were missing, including an Apple laptop, a radar detector, a black gym bag and other items. In all, the missing property was valued at $1,590.

ISABELLA HOUSE Independent Living for Older Adults

Experience Our Community More Than a Place to Live, It’s Home.

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, September 16th 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM 525 Audubon Avenue at 191st Street New York, NY 10040

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 6:30PM The Cooper Union | 7 E. 7th St. | 212-353-4100 | cooper.edu Novelist Amor Towles joins Yuri Slezkine, who discusses his new book, The House of Government, which tells the true story of the residents of an enormous Moscow apartment building where top Communist ofﬁcials lived until they were destroyed in Stalin’s purges (free).

Just Announced | TimesTalks: Judi Dench

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 7PM Tribeca Perf. Arts Center | 199 Chambers St. | 212-220-8000 | timestalks.com Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress Dame Judi Dench joins TimesTalks on the occasion of her latest turn portraying British royalty, in the upcoming ﬁlm Victoria and Abdul ($50).

For more information about lectures, readings and other intellectually stimulating events throughout NYC,

Discover one of the best ways to live in New York! At Isabella, there’s always something going on with a wealth of activities, programs, and excursions. We’re located in a safe neighborhood, perfect for an afternoon stroll, and conveniently located near restaurants and shopping. You can have big city living with all the comforts of home. This is a true community where you’ll feel welcomed from the moment you walk through our doors. Enjoy on-site amenities like a beauty salon, library, gift shop, laundry and even check-cashing facilities. There’s so much, you’ll have to see it for yourself! • Spacious Studios and One-Bedrooms Starting at $2,400/ month • 24-Hour Security • Complimentary, Buffet-Style Lunch & Dinner • Basic Cable TV & All Utilities Included • Weekly Linen Service • Conveniently Located Near Medical, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy & Psychiatric Services • Moderately Priced Guest Lodging & Plenty of Visitor Parking For additional information or to schedule a private tour, please call: 212-342-9539 or Visit www.isabella.org

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SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

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Useful Contacts POLICE NYPD 7th Precinct

19 ½ Pitt St.

212-477-7311

NYPD 6th Precinct

233 W. 10th St.

212-741-4811

NYPD 10th Precinct

230 W. 20th St.

212-741-8211

NYPD 13th Precinct

230 E. 21st St.

212-477-7411

NYPD 1st Precinct

16 Ericsson Place

212-334-0611

FIRE FDNY Engine 15

25 Pitt St.

311

FDNY Engine 24/Ladder 5

227 6th Ave.

311

FDNY Engine 28 Ladder 11

222 E. 2nd St.

311

FDNY Engine 4/Ladder 15

42 South St.

311

ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmember Margaret Chin

165 Park Row #11

Councilmember Rosie Mendez

237 1st Ave. #504

212-587-3159 212-677-1077

Councilmember Corey Johnson

224 W. 30th St.

212-564-7757

State Senator Daniel Squadron

250 Broadway #2011

212-298-5565

Community Board 1

1 Centre St., Room 2202

212-669-7970

Community Board 2

3 Washington Square Village

212-979-2272

Community Board 3

59 E. 4th St.

212-533-5300

Community Board 4

330 W. 42nd St.

212-736-4536

Hudson Park

66 Leroy St.

212-243-6876

Ottendorfer

135 2nd Ave.

212-674-0947

Elmer Holmes Bobst

70 Washington Square

212-998-2500

COMMUNITY BOARDS

LIBRARIES

HOSPITALS New York-Presbyterian

170 William St.

Mount Sinai-Beth Israel

10 Union Square East

212-844-8400

212-312-5110

CON EDISON

4 Irving Place

212-460-4600

TIME WARNER

46 East 23rd

813-964-3839

US Post Office

201 Varick St.

212-645-0327

US Post Office

128 East Broadway

212-267-1543

US Post Office

93 4th Ave.

212-254-1390

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A DAY IN THE LIFE BY PETER PEREIRA

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

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HURRICANE HARVEY: HOW NEW YORKERS CAN HELP Suggestions from Manhattan officials, local advocates, religious organizations and animalrescue groups BY ELISSA SANCI

Just last week, Hurricane Harvey hit Texas’ eastern coast, devastating families, businesses and schools. The situation is still critical, with anticipated ﬂash ﬂooding and rain in the forecast; according to CNN, the category 4 hurricane left thousands displaced and 37,000 without power. “In our own city, we know from the horrendous impact of Hurricane Sandy how important the highest level of government, public and private cooperation is to maximize the safety and welfare of our communities,” said Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright in a statement. “I encourage my constituents to join with millions of Americans ... by supporting reputable established relief organizations.” In the wake of this disaster, those in Houston need help while they move towards recovery. Here’s what some Manhattan officials, local advocates, and charitable and religious organizations have suggested you can do to help.

classrooms. Donate at teachersoftomorrow.org/ adopt-classroom-donations. The Montrose Center, Houston’s LGBTQ counseling and community center, is collecting funds for the LGBTQ community members displaced by the storm. To donate, visit my.reason2race.com/cause/montrosecenter. The Union for Reform Judaism Greene Family Camp, an organization that normally functions as a sleepaway summer camp, is running Hurricane Harvey Houston Day Camp, a childcare program for families who need assistance in the aftermath of Harvey. For those looking to help this effort, URJ is asking for donations in the form of Wal-Mart gift cards to be given to displaced families, which can be sent to URJ Greene Family Camp, 1192 Smith Ln, Bruceville, TX 76630. Little Lobbyists, an organization to help support families with children with complex medical needs, is accepting medical supply donations in addition to cash donations. For more information about what kind of supplies Little Lobbyists are looking for as well as the shipping address, visit littlelobbyists.org/harvey-packing.

GIVING

MAKE A MONETARY DONATION While many people may want to make food and supply donations, donating cash to relief organizations can be more logical for those who want to help but are states away. While some organizations will accept supply donations, most prefer to receive monetary contributions instead.

REPUTABLE, GENERAL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO): United Way (unitedwayhouston.org/flood/ flood-donation); Americares (americares.org); Salvation Army (give.salvationarmyusa.org); Catholic Charities USA (catholiccharitiesusa. org); Direct Relief (directrelief.org); Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (namb.net/send-relief/ disaster-relief/hurricane-harvey). Relief organizations with more specific outreach include: The State of Texas Agriculture Relief fund, a relief organization that collects private donations to assist Texas farmers and ranchers rebuild and restore operations after disaster. To donate, visit texasagriculture.gov. Portlight Strategies, a non-profit organization that works to help older adults and those with disabilities. Portlight helped shore communities of New Jersey and New York City for 18 months following the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. To donate, visit portlight.org/get-involved. Houston Undocumented Communities Flood Relief Fund, a page on the crowdfunding site YouCaring, where funds will be used to aid undocumented survivors of the hurricane. Donate at youcaring.com/ undocumentedsurvivorsofhurricaneharvey. Teachers of Tomorrow, a Texan education organization, has started a relief fund for Texas teachers called “Texas Teachers: Adopt a Texas Classroom” to help teachers rebuild their

DONATE SUPPLIES LOCALLY Rather than sending supplies to Texas relief organizations, who may not be able to receive and store the supplies at this immediate time, New Yorkers can leave non-perishable supplies at a few locations across New York City to be delivered to Texas in the following weeks:

Hamilton Beach Civic Association, a local Queens civic association, is accepting nonperishable donations. For drop-off locations and a list of suggested donations, check facebook. com/groups/NewHamiltonBeachCivic U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan’s office is accepting donations, including ﬂashlights, batteries and cleaning supplies. Drop-off location is his Staten Island office, located 265 New Dorp Lane. The office of U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi is also accepting non-perishable donations at this time. The drop-off location is 250-02 Northern Blvd., Little Neck, Queens. For more information, head to facebook.com/RepTomSuozzi.

SUPPORT LOCAL TEXAS ANIMAL RESCUE SHELTERS For those who want to help displaced animals in Texas, consider donating to local Texas shelters. “Remember to always start with local rescues,” Sophie Gamand, a New York-based photographer and animal advocate, said via her Instagram page @sophiegamand. “They are the ones doing the ground work and struggle the most.”

The following shelters in Texas are looking for donations to help displaced animals: - The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas (visit spca.org/give) - Austin Pets Alive (austinpetsalive.org/ hurricane-harvey-evacuations) - Animal Defense League of Texas (adltexas.org/ donation) - Houston Humane Society (houstonhumane. org/(Give)/giving/designate-your-gift/ hurricane-harvey-fund)

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SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

AN ADULTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNEY BACK INTO CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BOOKS New York City writer Bruce Handy rereads his childhood favorites â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and tells you why you should too BY ARIANA GIULIA REICHLER

Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, wrote â&#x20AC;&#x153;Green Eggs and Hamâ&#x20AC;? on a dare using only 50 words, all of which, with the exception of â&#x20AC;&#x153;anywhere,â&#x20AC;? were monosyllabic. Beatrix Potter, the author and illustrator of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tale of Peter Rabbit,â&#x20AC;? boiled dead animals and studied their anatomy to help her make realistic drawings. These little gems were among those discovered by Bruce Handy as he researched his ďŹ rst, recently published book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Literature as an Adult.â&#x20AC;? In it, Handy, 58, encourages adults to sit down with the books of their childhood, not just to read to their children at bedtime, but also for their own enjoyment. Handy, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and father of two, revisits childhood classics, from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodnight Moonâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Cat in the Hatâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Wizard of Oz,â&#x20AC;? employing context, biography and analysis to offer new insight into each. His writing is relaxed and witty, but also has a thoughtful side, particularly as he summons his childhood and then reminisces about his kids growing up. The inspiration for the book came from reading to his now grown children, ZoĂŤ, 21, and Isaac, 18, every night when they were young. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I found quickly that I was really just enjoying the books, that I was responding to them critically and artistically,â&#x20AC;? said Handy, who raised his children on the Upper West Side and still lives in the neighborhood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started writing about kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; books for The New York Times and I found that, as much as I enjoyed reading them, I enjoyed writing about them too. They bore the same scrutiny that, when you are a critic, you would apply to any [book].â&#x20AC;? Originating as an essay on Maurice Sendakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where the Wild Things Are,â&#x20AC;? from which Handy borrowed his title, the book took him six

Author Bruce Handy. Photo: Denise Bosco years to write, in part because of the enormous quantity of worthy childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literature. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The more I looked, the more I found,â&#x20AC;? Handy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I probably thought ... picture books are so quick to read. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like I was writing a book about Dickens and I had to read 20 800-page novels.â&#x20AC;? Handy didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stray too far from his journalism background to write â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wild Things.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I cheated a little bit because I kind of thought of this as 10 long magazine articles,â&#x20AC;? Handy said, adding that, while â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wild Thingsâ&#x20AC;? does

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follow a narrative, the chapters are discrete and can be read in any order. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was a fun part of this book.... I just wrote [the chapters] how I felt,â&#x20AC;? Handy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I thought it would be fun to read the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ozâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; books, I wrote my â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ozâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chapter.... I totally bounced around.â&#x20AC;? The book is as much a collection of Handyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memories as it is an in-depth analysis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always thought of it as a mix of these personal, critical and historical/biographical [aspects],â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always enjoy weaving my own opinions into things when editors will let me get away with it.â&#x20AC;? Handy said that reencountering his childhood favorites did not always go smoothly. He once made the mistake of reading the end of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Webâ&#x20AC;? in a library reading room. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d read it hundreds of times at this point, but I was still crying when Charlotte dies, and I was in this room and all these people were looking at me,â&#x20AC;? he recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The books are so emotional in and of themselves, especially â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Webâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for me, and now theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re tied up in my memories of reading them to the kids.â&#x20AC;?

Bruce Handy returned to many of the classics he read as a child, from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodnight Moonâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Cat in the Hatâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Wizard of Oz, to research his recently published â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Literature as an Adult.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love the way that books become part of your life and part of your history,â&#x20AC;? Handy continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can sort of look at your history through books.â&#x20AC;? As for his children, whom Handy refers to as the stars of his book, ZoĂŤ and Isaac are happy to be involved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel really honored to be a part of this book,â&#x20AC;? ZoĂŤ said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was really nice to go back and think about books that I really havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t thought about in a long time. It helped me remember not only some of my favorite books, but some of my favorite times with my dad.â&#x20AC;? His children were also useful in keeping Handy on track throughout those six years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Isaac actually was great because he was always giving me a hard time about getting it done,â&#x20AC;? Handy said, laughing. Handy hopes that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wild Thingsâ&#x20AC;? will motivate his audience to â&#x20AC;&#x153;plunge back into these books, and also think about their own reading when they were kids, and how that shaped them, and how their relationship with books evolves over reading to their kids.â&#x20AC;? This evolution is at the center of his

book. Handy himself is no stranger to it, and writes about his own changing views of certain works at different periods in his life. For example, while the Christian themes of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobeâ&#x20AC;? eluded him as a child, on discovering them as a teenager he found them alienating, yet as an adult came to appreciate the genius with which Lewis was able to express his faith artistically. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It just took me a while to get past whatever my own prejudices were and be open to works that I might not agree with in one way, but would be very moved by in a different way,â&#x20AC;? he said. Handy already has plans for his next book, a social and pop cultural history of the 1980s focusing on issues of money and greed, and reďŹ&#x201A;ecting on inequality today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to challenge myself and push myself in a different direction,â&#x20AC;? he said. But we can also expect more on childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literature from Handy in the future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funny,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reading to my own children ... deďŹ nitely led me into this new part of my career.â&#x20AC;?

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Expected bottlenecks at Penn Station this summer did not materialize. Photo: frankieleon, via ﬂickr

‘SUMMER OF HELL’ DERAILED AT PENN STATION Officials, commuters had feared extensive delays, cancellations at rail hub BY KAREN MATTHEWS AND REBECCA GIBIAN

It was billed as the “summer of hell.” Thankfully, it was more like the summer of “meh,” New York rail commuters say. Amtrak wrapped up an extensive summertime track repair project at New York’s Penn Station last week that officials had warned could create an infernal bottleneck in the nation’s busiest rail hub. Predictions back in the spring, when the station had just gone through a series of major disruptions related to train derailments, couldn’t have been more dire. Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said track closures and service reductions for the maintenance work would be a “potential crisis” and told rail riders to brace themselves for a “summer of hell.” But now that the repairs have been completed and normal service was scheduled to return Tuesday on Amtrak and the two regional railroads that also serve Penn Station, many riders say their commutes have been surprisingly ﬁne. They’ve been better than normal, actually. “I’ve been commuting out of Jersey for two years now and this is the best it’s ever been,”

said Christina Jantzen, an executive assistant from Wayne, New Jersey. She said her New Jersey Transit trains have been arriving on time, if not early. Wanda Phillips, also a New Jersey Transit rider, said she had prepared herself for a bad summer but was pleasantly surprised. “It was all good. Got a seat and everything,” she said. “It’s been a summer of fun,” said Long Island Rail Road rider Dylan Mitchell. Mitchell, a lawyer, said he didn’t experience delays or crowded trains on his daily commute from Manhasset to Penn Station. Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota, who is in charge of the Long Island Rail Road, said the railroad’s July on-time percentage was not only higher than July of 2016 but higher than any other month to date in 2017. Amtrak owns Penn Station and the aging tracks that carry hundreds of thousands of daily riders. This summer’s repairs involved fixing tracks and switches that route trains between New York and New Jersey and to the Long Island Rail Road’s West Side railyard. Amtrak co-CEO Wick Moorman said Thursday that workers installed 897 track ties, 1,100 feet of rail, 176 yards of concrete and four track crossover structures, called complex diamond crossings.

The work started after three Penn Station derailments in three months, none of which caused serious injuries. They included a New Jersey Transit derailment on July 6, just two days before the repair project started. Moorman promised that the just-completed repairs “will result in greater reliability in the future.” Amtrak, the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit all curtailed service into and out of Penn Station to accommodate the project. The regional railroads offered discounts and incentives to use alternatives including buses and ferries. New Jersey Transit Executive Director Steven Santoro thanked riders “for their patience and ﬂexibility.” “While many had to adjust their personal schedules, we tried to provide them with enough options and support to make the transition as smooth as possible,” he said. Cuomo said the crisis he had warned about was averted “due to government response” and hard work. Amtrak says additional Penn Station repair work still to be completed between now and early 2018 will be done on nights and weekends and won’t affect service. That work will include upgrading Penn Station restrooms and waiting areas.

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

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A NYC LIFE TOLD IN FASHION BY LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL

Fashion Week is upon us once again. For some it’s a showcase for what color will be the new black, for others it’s a boost to our city’s economy, and for those who frequent lower Manhattan, it’s a chance to see models roaming the streets en masse. But for me, the seven runway-centric days are a reminder of how fashion helped turn a girl from the Bronx, whose wardrobe consisted of Lee straight leg jeans, a T-shirt and, to complete the ensemble, a hoodie from Modell’s, into a woman who knows her way around Manhattan — in Chanel loafers no less. There were, however, a few detours along the way.

Prepped for Work The ﬁrst day of my NYC professional life began in a chic black suit with a peplum jacket and pencil skirt. As the assistant to the advertising creative director at a prestigious/ conservative department store, I thought I was dressing for the job

T Is For Shirt

I became a mother in the latter half of the ‘90s. Others may have smelled like teen spirit, but my scent was baby puke. It was clear that from then on, especially during the playground years, I needed a basic and nonthreatening uniform. I reverted to my jeans and T-shirt look, but to distinguish myself from the person who once sat on stoops in her outer borough, my pants and cotton tops were labeled DKNY, Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren.

I wanted. Before my boss finished saying, “Coffee, milk, two Sweet ‘n Low,” I felt like an ink stain on the company’s pink and green tableau. My revelation coincided with the newly-published “The Official Preppy Handbook.” Indeed, I had reading to do, especially about something called “madras,” which I’d never heard of.

Cyndi? Madonna? Is That You? Jumping ahead five years, I was a copywriter at a major ad agency, who dressed like an extra in “Desperately Seeking Susan,” because “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” My favorite outﬁt was as dizzying as a quick-cut video on MTV: a white lace blouse with a black camisole underneath; a black crinoline Betsy Johnson skirt with a swirl of pink ribbon at the hem; black stockings with a white design that looked like graffiti; and black low-heeled boots that folded over at the ankle to reveal a red band, which resembled ﬂower pots.

Merkl in her madras jacket. Photo: Meg Merkl I piled on so much chunky jewelry that if I held my arm out to hail a cab, it actually looked like I was about to yell: “Five for a dollar.”

Sorry For Your Loss I spent the last half of the ‘80s and early ‘90s ﬁelding the question, “Who died?” My Black Dahlia phase kicked off when I switched jobs to an agency in Greenwich Village. Although a bit drab, the comforting thing about having a Morticia Addams wardrobe was that no matter what pieces I put on, I always matched.

FAVORINGS AND FLAVORINGS EAST SIDE OBSERVER BY ARLENE KAYATT

So far, our columnist writes, the Whole Foods/Amazon fusion has not borne too much worthwhile fruit. Photo: Phillip Pessar, via ﬂckr

Off menu — Waiting at the local bus stop on Second Ave between 87th/88th, you can’t help but notice the bright, orange-colored basement trapdoor in front of Oaxaca Taqueria, a recent arrival to the UES. It’s a self-serve take-out with counter seating and two window front tables for hurry-up and eat. Perfectly in sync with the many Mexican fast-food stops throughout Manhattan. The taqueria also has a Brooklyn location, in Park Slope no less, the heart and home of our mayor — which probably explains why the wall, which can be seen from the street, bears this yuge reddish-orange political poster emblazoned with Bill de Blasio’s name and the tag line, “This Is Your City.” Hmm, wonder what happened to his tale of two cities. Appar-

Voices

ently the restaurant owners couldn’t care less about the sentiments of Upper East Siders as they promote the candidacy of Brooklyn’s favorite son. The mayor has made it known that he is indifferent to his UES neighbors and the sentiment was reciprocated when the UES favored de Blasio’s Republican opponent in the last mayoral election. Oaxaca Taqueria’s Brooklyn incarnation is close to the mayor’s Park Slope house. Not sure about his gym. If all politics is local, these guys are doing business in the wrong neighborhood. With de Blasio sure to win reelection, the hope is Oaxaca Taqueria will limit their political proclivities to their Park Slope patrons. Baiting by Bezos — Amazon has arrived on the UES having signed on with Whole Foods. After just a week — make that a day — at the Third Ave and 87th Street location, high hopes for lower prices were dashed. First day, those $7.99/$8.99 rotisserie chickens

Everything Old Is New Again By the time both my son Luke and his younger sister Meg were in school full time, I desperately needed a change of costume, which I took literally. I’d always had a soft spot for vintage clothing thanks to photos of my mother in her WWII stylings, so shopping was done almost exclusively at stores with the word “antique” in the name. I enjoyed the attention garnered by my ‘nothertime-and-place appearance, until one day on the subway a teenage girl asked if I was in a play. Upon hearing “no,” she made what I chose to

believe was a complementary comparison between myself and her long-gone great-grandmother.

The Look For Less (Then More) A few years into the aughts, I decided it was time to stop treating fashion like a novelty act and start dressing like a grown up. The women in the neck of my Upper East Side woods, however, often wore things I saw in Town & Country with the indicator: price available upon request. I had to ease into designer adulthood by favoring consignment stores like Second Time Around, Encore and Michael’s, where I procured the aforementioned Chanel loafers. By 2010, when Lisa Birnbach celebrated the 30th anniversary of her first preppy tribute with the updated, “True Prep,” I had invested in a number of ﬁrst-hand, high-end pieces of my own. I always get compliments when I wear my madras jacket. Lorraine Duffy Merkl is the author of the novels “Back to Work She Goes” and “Fat Chick,” for which a movie is in the works.

were reduced to $4.99, which meant no more trudging over to Key Food on 92nd Street and Second for a $5.99 rotisserie. And those $6.49 packaged sandwiches — tuna salad, chicken salad, turkey — were two for $10. I mean how could you not. Not to worry. Unless you took the bargain on THAT ﬁrst day, you can forget about it. The next day they were back to $6.49. And no more two sammys for $10. And the promise of cheaper chickens was further dashed when signs appeared on the open-faced heater where the chickens are displayed saying that whole birds were $7.99 (again) — but that a HALF chicken was $4.99. Seems like a little sleight of something in Bezosland. If Mr. Bezos runs his new investment this way, it can’t be too long before President Trump will be inspired to label the new Whole Foods/Amazon as “Fake Foods,” a corollary to Trump’s sentiments about Bezos’s Washington Post. Not a step up from Whole Paycheck. Spacious.com — Landlords with empty storefronts have found some salvation by renting to pop-ups on a short-term basis. The advantage for pop-up businesses is that they get to test the waters without making a long-

term commitment. It can be salvation for a start-up or a small business that’s not ready for prime time. Now restaurateurs have joined the ranks of the innovative by leasing out their venue in off-hours. Those establishments that serve only dinner from Monday to Friday and open at let’s say 5 p.m. can rent out their space mornings and afternoons. That’s where spacious.com steps in. They reach out to the Wi-Fi/ Apple generation who spend their days in coffee shops and other locations plugged in to their laptop and invite them to pay a $95 monthly fee for access to restaurants where they can make their calls, network and ingest all the coffee and tea they can, gratis. One location is right here in Yorkville — The Writing Room on Second Ave between 87th/88th. There are several other such establishments in Midtown, Hell’s Kitchen, Tribeca. You’re not limited to one and have access to all without needing a reservation. Truth to tell, whether it was a corner office with a great view or a cramped, comfortable cubicle, I always found myself getting the job done in a restaurant, pen to paper, amid the white noise. Welcome to millennial work world.

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SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

REGISTERED NURSES REHABILITATION THERAPISTS MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDES

Your elderly mother just told you she fell in the bathroom last night at 4 A.M. Now what? The Hudson River pictured from the One World Observatory at One World Trade Center. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

STATE OFFICIAL CRITICIZES HUDSON RIVER CLEANUP EFFORT NY officials criticize Hudson River cleanup to EPA BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The $1.7 billion Superfund cleanup of the Hudson River is not protecting the public’s health and the river as initially promised, New York’s environmental commissioner contended Wednesday. Commissioner Basil Seggos criticized the six-year dredging project performed by General Electric Co. in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt released in the waning days of a crucial public comment period. Seggos was particularly scornful of an EPA assessment this summer that it could take 55 years or more before all species of ﬁsh in the river are clean enough to eat once a week. ``This is unacceptable,’’ Seggos wrote, echoing previous criticisms by the Cuomo administration official. ``A remedy that will take generations to safeguard public health and the environment is clearly not protective.’’

A remedy that will take generations to safeguard public health and the environment is clearly not protective” Commissioner Basil Seggos

Boston-based GE removed 2.75 million cubic yards of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated sediment from a 40mile stretch of the river north of Albany under an agreement with the EPA. The EPA released a review of the work this summer that found, based on the data so far, the cleanup will protect human health and the environment in the long term. Critics push-

ing for a broader cleanup have noted that a large amount of PCB-contaminated sediment remains in the river. Seggos said the state is nearing completion of its own sampling program to measure the true extent of contamination. An EPA spokeswoman said Wednesday the agency would consider Seggos’ comments along with all the others they are receiving. The EPA is accepting public comment on its review through Friday. GE spokesman Mark Behan questioned New York’s critical stance in an email that said PCB levels in the upper-Hudson water declined in some spots by as much as 73 percent in the first year after dredging. ``New York State approved and oversaw the dredging project and was instrumental in every major decision related to the project,’’ Behan wrote. `Ìts criticism flies in the face of the most up-to-date scientific data from the river itself.’’

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SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

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MARBLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH Sunday Worship at 11:00am Sunday Worship, led by Dr. Michael Brown, is the heart of our community. It is where we gather to sing, pray, and be changed by an encounter with God. Marble is known throughout the world for the practical, powerful, lifechanging messages as well as world class music from choirs that make every heart sing.

More Events. Add Your Own: Go to nycnow.com

Busy? Live stream Sunday Worship with us at 11:00am at MarbleChurch.org

WeWo: Wednesday Worship at 6:15pm Marble's weekly Wednesday Worship, lovingly nicknamed WeWo, is a service that blends traditional and contemporary worship styles, taking the best of both, creating a mixture that is informal and reverent, often humorous and always Spirit-ﬁlled.

Upcoming Events The Spirituality of Parenthood with Marianne Williamson

Thu 7

Fri 8

Sat 9

Marble Collegiate Church | Sunday, September 24 at 2:00pm

THE SPOILS OF WAR

‘BORED AND BRILLIANT’

LAW & ORDER TOUR

Please join Marianne Williamson, for a frank discussion of how these changing times demand a deeper understanding not only of our children but of our role as parents. With an introduction and remarks by Senior Minister, Dr. Michael B. Brown. This event is free. For more information about Marianne Williamson, and live streaming the event, please visit: Marianne.com

Manhattan Brass: 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert Marble Collegiate Church | Monday, September 25 at 7:30pm We are thrilled to announce our ﬁrst ever Artists-in-Residence partnership with the highly-acclaimed Manhattan Brass! Kicking off an exciting season of concert and worship service performances, Marble will host the Manhattan Brass in a concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of the quintet and will also feature our Music Director, Kenneth Dake, at Marble’s mighty 101-rank Glück pipe organ. Tickets - $20 for adults, and $15 for students/seniors Event listings brought to you by Marble Collegiate Church. 1 West 29th Street / New York, New York 10001 212 686 2770 / MarbleChurch.org Download the Marble Church App on iPhone or Android

Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl St. 6:30 p.m. $10 Discuss how wartime presidents furthered their own interests with other members of the museum’s book club. Its latest selection, “The Spoils of War: Greed, Power, and the Conﬂicts that made our Greatest Presidents,” might call for a stiff drink. 212-968-1776. frauncestavernmuseum.org

FOR HER OWN GOOD American Jewish Historical Society, 15 West 16th St. 6:30 p.m. Free, registration required This mixed media installation on Emma Goldman, “the most dangerous woman alive”, weaves video, sound and sculpture installations with archival footage from public speeches and closed hearings. 212-294-6160. ajhs.org

Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 7 p.m. $26.99 grants admission and signed copy of the book, $5 admission and store gift certiﬁcate Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s “Note to Self,” talks with “On the Media” host Brooke Gladstone about her new book “Bored and Brilliant” and how we can harness boredom’s hidden beneﬁts to become our most productive and creative selves. 212-473-1452. strandbooks. com/events

▲ ISAAC MIZRAHI: DOES THIS SONG MAKE ME LOOK FAT? City Winery, 155 Varick St. 6 p.m. $35+ Mizrahi, fashion industry leader, documentary ﬁlmmaker, reality show judge, Target collaborator, opera and ballet costume designer, and now, cabaret performer. Yes, the man can sing, too, so come grab a barstool and take a seat. 212-608-0555. citywinery. com

Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers St. 2 p.m. $25-$29 Investigate the New York civic institutions that have shaped law and public policy in the city. Led by Linda Fisher, a court stenographer for over 40 years, this tour includes a walk past the state and federal courts and a peek inside an active courtroom. nyadventureclub.com/event

‘REBEL IN THE RYE’ SNEAK PEAK IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave. 7:20 p.m. and 9:50 p.m., $15 Catch a ﬁrst glimpse at “Rebel In The Rye,” a portrait of the celebrated and reclusive author J.D. Salinger. This opening night screening includes a Q&A with director Danny Strong and “This American Life” host Ira Glass. Preview showing and Q&A on Sept. 8 as well. 212-924-7771. ifccenter. com/ﬁlms

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Gallery-quality art for your home or ofﬁce. The 45th Gracie Square Outdoor

Art Show

East End Avenue from 84th to 88th Streets Photo by David Blaikie via Flickr

Sun 10

their lives. The museum will be open free of charge all day on 9/11. 212-691-1303. nycﬁremuseum.org

‘RECONCILIATION’ EXPERIENTIAL DANCE

JEWISH MUSEUM BREAKFAST SALON

Trinity Church, 74 Trinity Place 1 p.m. Free Reﬂect upon the day and remember the lives lost with the Trinity Movement Choir during this special performance of “Reconciliation,” a dance piece with audience interaction created to observe the loss and heroism of 9/11. 212-602-0800. trinitywallstreet.org

Think Coffee Union Square, 123 Fourth Ave. 8 a.m. Free Enjoy coffee and conversation at this modern-day intellectual salon. Hosted by the Jewish Museum, artist Eva Rothschild discusses her recent projects with Jens Hoffmann, director of special exhibitions and public programs. 212.423.3200 thejewishmuseum.org/calendar

▲ JAZZ IN STUYVESANT SQUARE Stuyvesant Square, 262-298 East 17th St. 6 p.m. Free Trumpeter Alex Nguyen, known for his distinctive lyrical and melodic style, performs under the stars with the Curtis Fuller Quintet. Don’t miss the last summer jazz session in Stuyvesant Square. nycgovparks.org/parks

Mon 11 FIRE MUSEUM MEMORIAL New York City Fire Museum, 278 Spring St. 11 a.m. Free Mark the 16th anniversary of 9/11 with a memorial service commemorating the 343 members of the FDNY who lost

Tue 12 HILLARY CLINTON MEMOIR SIGNING Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 East 17th St. 11 a.m. Free with book purchase Get Clinton’s autograph with a copy of her memoir “What Happened,” or the children’s book edition of Clinton’s “It Takes a Village.” A limited number of wristbands will be distributed on a ﬁrst-come, ﬁrst-served basis with purchase of “What Happened” beginning at 7 a.m. 212-253-0810. stores. barnesandnoble.com/event

KEN FOLLETT BOOK LAUNCH Museum at Eldridge Street, 12 Eldridge St.

7 p.m. $40 includes copy of the book Go back in time with the bestselling author, whose latest installment in the Kingsbridge historical ﬁction series, “A Column of Fire,” is set in the town of Kingsbridge in 1558 as society is being torn asunder by religious unrest. 212-219-0888. eldridgestreet.org

Saturday, September 9th Free Admission Sunday, September 10th www.graciesquareartshow.info

keaway?...

212.459.4455 10:00am – 5:00pm Rain or Shine Free Admission

212.459.4455 www.graciesquareartshow.info

e Square Outdoor

Wed 13 EILEEN MYLES: ‘AFTERGLOW’ Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 7 p.m. $24 for admission & signed copy of the book, $15 for admission and store gift certiﬁcate Celebrated poet and author Eileen Myles’ latest project is a loving memoir of her beloved pitbull, Rosie, giving us an intimate account of the relationship between pet and pet-owner. 212-473-1452. strandbooks. com/events

tober 1st ber 2nd 5:00 p.m. on

HARPIST IN THE LIGHT The Drawing Center, 35 Wooster St. 7:30 p.m. $20 Be energized by pioneering harpist Zeena Parkins, who performs with an installation by light designer Thomas Dunn. Both are current or former members of The Stone, a project space for experimental music. 212-219-2166. drawingcenter.org

Presented by

Proceeds fund the restoration and maintenance of Carl Schurz Park

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

PORTRAIT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 We in New York don’t need much to be reminded of the polyglot nature of America’s voice. It’s the hum of the city, surrounding us every day. It’s here, in the show, as well. Several of the highlighted artists like Arshile Gorky, Ilse Bing, Ben Shahn and Abraham Walkowitz were, like Auden, immigrants who came to this country for its promises or protection. For others, the transcendence of their art is multiplied by difficult paths. California-born Ruth Asawa and her family were taken to a Japanese internment camp. Isamu Noguchi, whose work is also included, challenged the legality and humanity of such camps, and later became their only voluntary internee. Both Elizabeth Catlett and Charles Henry Alston were the grandchildren of slaves. Catlett is represented by a series of linoleum cut prints. They mostly focus on courageous women’s lives, from anonymous field and domestic workers to Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman. The audio (for kids) points out that Catlett preferred to produce inexpensive prints so that the people whose stories she depicted would be able to own them. Among the earliest works on display are Marsden Hartley’s 1914-15 “Painting, Number 5,” a somber reaction to the beginning of World War I, which, along with William Glackens’ 1912, “Parade, Washington Square,” echoes conflicting sentiments that permeate Auden’s poem. From there, the path is open. “Eros and Dust” deals with the spiritual in art. Georgia O’Keeffe and her less famous contemporary, Agnes Pelton, present lyrical abstractions that blend nature and imagination. Nearby, Morris Louis’s enormous, soaring color field painting “Tet” radiates soothing ebullience in emerald green and waves of blue. Ruth Asawa’s abstract, biomorphic, woven sculpture recalls raindrops or nests. It weightlessly occupies space and fills a window framing the Hudson in a particularly lovely moment in the exhibition. Throughout the galleries, iconic works hang alongside lesser-known pieces. Hopper’s haunting emptiness and Thomas Hart Benton’s crowded “Poker Night” are familiar, as are Charles Demuth’s and Charles Sheeler’s monumentalized factories. Henry Billings’ “Machine Men” and Victoria Hutson Huntley’s “Kopper’s Coke,” both lithographs dealing with similar subjects, were new to me. Sometimes,

Jasper Johns, “Three Flags,” 1958, from the chapter “In a Euphoric Dream.” Photo: Adel Gorgy

Armenian-American artist Arshile Gorky’s haunting “The Artist and His Mother” recalls his youth, his family’s survival of a death march, and his mother’s eventual death from starvation. Photo: Adel Gorgy two great pieces are altered and ampliﬁed when seen together. The juxtapositioning of Arshile Gorky’s haunting self-portrait with his mother and Fairfield Porter’s “Portrait of Ted Carey and Andy Warhol” is a deft curatorial touch. Some of the most beautiful and touching images in the exhibition are in the section titled “No One Exists Alone.” Along with the Gorky and Porter images, there are John Steuart Curry’s paintings that evoke the serious yet joyful rural communities of his youth. Paul Cadmus and PaJaMa (the collective name used by Cadmus, Jared French, and Margaret French) are included with works that, the wall text states, “give visibility to queer relationships that continue, in our time, to demonstrate the commonality of love and to enrich our understanding of what family and community mean.” A stunning group portrait in rich tones of sienna and cobalt, Charles Henry Alston’s “The Family” pulls you from across the room in a room ﬁlled with great paintings. Its monumentality, quietude and grace imbue the

subjects with as much dignity as was ever painted into a royal portrait by Velázquez or Rubens. The Whitney’s 2015 inaugural exhibition in its Gansevoort Street building was titled “America is Hard to See,” excerpted from a Robert Frost poem. Pairing poetry and art has enhanced both for millennia. It does so here as well. The exhibition provokes thoughts, delights with favorite works and new discoveries, and creates a rich picture of not just where we are, but where we’ve come from and who we are. Read the poem before visiting, and your experience will be richer. Better yet, print it and bring it, and look at the works of art with its words echoing. From Gordon Parks to Jasper Johns and Alice Neel, we see America through kind eyes. The stanza of Auden’s poem that contains the phrase “no one exists alone” concludes with what has become one of his most quoted lines. Auden warns “we must love one another or die” but ends by challenging darkness and despair with an artist’s, or simply a human being’s “affirming ﬂame.”

Marsden Hartley’s “Painting, Number 5,” 1914-15 is one of the earliest and ﬁrst works in the exhibition. Photo: Adel Gorgy

IF YOU GO WHAT: Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900-1960 WHERE: The Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St. WHEN: Ongoing whitney.org/Exhibitions/WhereWeAre

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

S M E A R E E R H T D R G A I T B S SALARIO JOINS HYPERLOCAL NEWS TEAM Straus Media-Manhattan hired journalist Alizah Salario as Arts and Entertainment Director for NYCNow.com, Manhattan’s neighborhood niche events site. NYCNow. com is Manhattan’s hyperlocal events platform, serving as the funnel for Straus Media’s arts and entertainment coverage in its prints publications: Our Town, The Eastsider, The West Side Spirit, The Westsider, Our

something

have

journalism fellow at the Poetry Foundation in Chicago, and her reporting essays, and criticism have appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Racked, Slate and other publications. “We’re so excited to have Alizah on board,” said Editorin-Chief Alexis Gelber. “She’s an incredibly gifted writer.” “She hit the ground running and has already brought many innovative ideas to the table,” added publisher Jeanne Straus. Straus Media-Manhattan is the award-winning publisher of NYCNow.com and eight hyperlocal neighborhood newspapers across Manhattan.

us to

into

Straus Media welcomes new arts and entertainment director

Town Downtown, The Downtowner, The Chelsea News and The Chelsea Clinton News. In addition to reporting on arts and entertainment on NYCNow.com and in print, Salario will be working with local arts groups and individual artists to curate neighborhood events on NYCNow.com that reﬂect the range and diversity of creative happenings in Manhattan. Groups and individuals can post their events for free on NYC Now. Prior to joining Straus Media, Salario worked as an editor for Metro, as a writer for Time Inc., and as a reporter for Money magazine. She was the 2010

STAFF

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Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS

Ihop

235237 East 14 Street

AUG 23-27, 2017

Papaya King

3 St Marks Place

The following listings were collected from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website and include the most recent inspection and grade reports listed. We have included every restaurant listed during this time within the zip codes of our neighborhoods. Some reports list numbers with their explanations; these are the number of violation points a restaurant has received. To see more information on restaurant grades, visit www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/services/restaurant-inspection. shtml.

Saltwater Coffee

345 E 12Th St

Not Yet Graded (8) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

News Bar

107 University Place

Pret A Manger

857 Broadway

Nanoosh

111 University Place

Little Italy Pizza Iii

122 University Place

Grade Pending

Feast

102 3 Avenue

Che Cafe

113 1St Ave

Not Yet Graded (17) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Bali Kitchen

128 E 4Th St

Not Yet Graded (10) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Chernin Sushi N Ramen

306 E 6Th St

Not Yet Graded (40) Evidence of rats or live rats present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment.

Cozy Soup & Burger

739 Broadway

Jennifer Cafe

67 1 Avenue

Tocqueville Restaurant

3 East 15 Street

Boka

9 Saint Marks Place

Not Yet Graded (46) Food contact surface improperly constructed or located. Unacceptable material used. Insufficient or no refrigerated or hot holding equipment to keep potentially hazardous foods at required temperatures. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Grade Pending (25) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Lea Wine Bar

230 Park Avenue

Bingbox Snow Cream

125 2Nd Ave

Nohohon Tea Room

9 Saint Marks Pl

Oh Taisho

9 St Marks Place

Atlantica

Pier 62 Chelsea Pier

Jars By Dani

540 6Th Ave

The Big Slice

146 5Th Ave

Fatbird

44 9Th Ave

Not Yet Graded (58) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, crosscontaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewageassociated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Pineapple Express

Baked Church St. Llc.

75 9Th Ave

125 W 24Th St

Not Yet Graded (23) Food worker does not use proper utensil to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Famous Bagel Buffet

510 6 Avenue

Oaxaca Mexican Grill

245 Park Avenue

Bowery Eats (Bowery Kitchen Appliance)

460 West 16 Street

Grade Pending (18) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Food Protection Certiﬁcate not held by supervisor of food operations.

Local 92

92 2Nd Ave

Madman Espresso

54 University Pl

Petite Abeille

44 West 17 Street Grade Pending (33) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.

Pokeworks

23 E 15Th St

J East Chinese Restaurant

175 3 Avenue

Taboonette

30 East 13 Street

Tarallucci E Vino

15 East 18 Street

Grade Pending (5) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Nka Highline Park- A -Bet 15-16 St By W/S Hwy

Taj Cafe

310 East 6 Street

Klimat

77 East 7 Street

Old Homestead

56 9 Avenue

T. K. Kitchen

Peter Mcmanus Cafe

152 7 Avenue

26 Saint Marks Place

Hampton Inn Chelsea

108 West 24 Street

La Sirena

88 9Th Ave

Dunkin’ Donuts

110 East 14 Street A

L’arte Del Gelato

Closed By Health Department (50) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewageassociated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

CANDIDATES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 are worse than the beneﬁts that you’re trying to create. I would advocate to get the government’s hands off the stores. Whatever you can do to do that [...] repeal the commercial rent tax, but also reduc[e] regulations and those tax generating ﬁnes.”

Overdevelopment Raudenbush: “If you walk into Central Park and look south, what you’re doing is you’re looking into the future when you see those megatall towers. [...] We see things happening around the city and we think that just because it’s not happening on our block means it’s not coming to our block. They built a highrise on top of a public library in Brooklyn. That should terrify everyone. They built condos in Brooklyn Bridge Park. People will say they only technically did that, but ﬂip that upside down and that’s the same argument they will make when they come for our public spaces.”

Creating and preserving middle-class housing Owens: “The incentives that are given to developers must be held tightly. They need to add units to our district, period. There should be no way to get out of that. The incentive that they have, the tax abatements that they get, warrants them to give back to the community, to make sure that people that are teachers and ﬁremen and police officers are able to live in our district.” Wymore: “I believe we need sweeping land use reform to trigger public review of any development that significantly increases the density of that lot, so that we can negotiate with developers the kinds of beneﬁts that we need in our community. Affordable housing being the top one, schools, parks and investment in our subways, all of these are things that we should be negotiating. I also think it’s the wrong approach to give tax breaks to billionaires and allow them to build

At the West Side Spirit District 6 forum (clockwise from bottom left): Publisher Jeanne Straus, Alexis Gelber, Richard Khavkine, Douglas Feiden and Michael Garofalo for Straus News; candidates Hyman Drusin, Cary Goodman, David Owens, Helen Rosenthal, Bill Raudenbush, Mel Wymore. Photo: Molly Colgan

higher and higher in our community.” Raudenbush: “We’ve looked at a lot of options that focus on renters who are middle class, and one of the things we haven’t done is focus on how do we get people in to purchase homes who can stay there, because that’s really how you solve this problem in a longer sort of timeline. [...] Let’s really hammer the stake as council people and make sure [...] that we start to do programs that get middle class people to buy.” Goodman: “I think that the need for affordable housing has to incorporate a Community Median Income, which we do not have. We have an [Area Media Income], which, for a lot of the people that I know in this neighborhood, is astronomical. If they were forced to deal with the rents that correspond to

the AMI now, they wouldn’t be on the Upper West Side.”

Commercial traffic on West End Avenue Drusin: “If suddenly all these commercial vehicles are going down West End, why has that changed? Maybe it’s because Amsterdam, which used to be a [...] relatively fast and wide street is now slowed down and narrowed because of the bike lane, and ditto with Columbus. Maybe they’re doing it because they have no option. [...] Consideration or thought should be put into why this is happening [...] instead of just cracking down.”

American Museum of Natural History’s planned Gilder Center expansion, which would occupy a portion of what is now

Theodore Roosevelt Park Goodman: “You often hear people say, ‘Oh, it’s only a quarter of an acre.’ Let’s just take a quarter of your heart. Let’s just take a quarter of the Empire State Building. [...] I think a park is as important to the lifeblood and the happiness and the well-being and the quality of life of a community as a heart is to an individual. [...] The councilwoman never took it to the public to discuss before steering tens of millions of dollars to that project.” Rosenthal: “The money is going to be used for 21st century research labs, science education rooms and opening up visibility for the millions of specimens that are currently locked behind closed doors in a warehouse. [...] We set up a parks working group. They’ve

come back with a plan that will recreate the neighborhood haven feel. We set up a traffic working group — I’m still not satisfied with the dealing with congestion. But most importantly, there won’t be any toxins going into the air. [...] I’m really excited about this project. [...] It’s run through a full community review over the last two years.” Owens: “I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t think the way the project is right now is very beneﬁcial to the Upper West Side. [...] Any time you’re taking you’re taking public lands away without full review is a very dangerous precedent to set. [...] I’m all for the museum, […] but it has to be run better, and you can’t take land that belongs to the public as if it’s your own. It’s not their backyard, it’s ours.”

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Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

NEIGHBORHOOD SIDE STREETS MEET 4TH STREET

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Business AFTER MONTHS OF CALM, A WARNING SIGN? August speed bump could signal more volatility BY MARLEY JAY

Photo: Alex Nuñez Caba, Manhattan Sideways

WILFIE & NELL — 228 WEST 4TH STREET This local favorite is often ﬁlled with Brits, and you will feel like you have been transported across the Atlantic as you dine on Shepherd’s Pie, or a Ploughman’s Cheese Plate, or browse through the extended list of beers and enjoy the pub atmosphere with a Manhattan twist. To read more, visit Manhattan Sideways (sideways.nyc), created by Betsy Bober Polivy.

sideways.nyc

It’s been a remarkably calm year for the stock market. Did an alarm just go off? Stocks have risen to records this year, buoyed by steady growth in the U.S. economy, improvement in formerly-struggling international economies and a resurgence in corporate earnings. As of last week, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index is up almost 10 percent this year. That’s about equal to its typical full-year gain and better than many experts had predicted. But in August the market hit a speed bump: stocks took two weeks of losses as investors worried about rising tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, terrorist attacks in Spain, mounting challenges to the Trump agenda of tax cuts and infrastructure spending, and poor results from some big-name U.S. retailers. To say the least, it was a lot to digest. In historic terms, the market’s losses over those two weeks weren’t huge. The S&P 500 fell a bit more than 2 percent as industrial and energy companies slumped, and the small-cap Russell 2000 dropped 6 percent. It was the worst period for the market this year, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange’s volatility index, a measurement of how much volatility investors expect to see, reached its highest level in months. “If we see further spikes in volatility that will not surprise us,” said Joe Davis, chief global economist for Vanguard. “The headline or the catalyst may, but the ultimate result won’t.” While stocks later recovered some of their losses, geopolitical tensions and the effects of Tropical Storm Harvey continued to weigh on the market after that. And the turbulence comes right before the worst month of the year for stocks: on average, the S&P 500 falls 0.5 percent in September. The current bull market is eight years old, and Wall Street has been debating how much longer it can last. There’s little reason to expect another drop in corporate earnings or a recession, and analysts are fond of pointing out that bull markets don’t simply die of old age. Still, nothing lasts forever, and Davis says he thinks investors should get into a more defensive position now in-

Photo: Philipp, via Flickr stead of waiting for the exact right moment to pull back from stocks. “I think the next year or two is going to be a more challenging environment for investors than any time in the last eight or nine years,” he said. Davis is preaching caution because stock prices are at such high levels. With bond yields and interest rates low and corporate earnings rising, stocks are not only higher than ever, their price-to-earnings ratios are abnormally high. Davis encourages investors to look away from U.S. stocks and put some of their money into other types of assets. He has a more positive view of stocks in non-U.S. markets, which in general are less expensive than U.S. equities. He also feels investors should diversify by adding government bonds and other low-risk as-

sets to their portfolio and avoid reaching for high-yielding assets. These days, stocks and bonds practically move in opposite directions: when one is up, the other is down. That makes bonds a good way to diversify. “One of the reason yields are so low is the diversiﬁcation value of bonds today is probably the highest it’s been in 25 years,” he said. “There is considerably more risk in the equity market than in the bond market.” Like many market watchers, Davis thinks it’s inevitable that this calm period is going to end. Whether that happens next week, when many traders return from summer vacation, or later on, Davis suggests investors prepare now, because historically investors make worse decision if they wait for the market to weaken to take action.

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

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SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

8 VIE TO STEP INTO GARODNICK’S SHOES ELECTIONS

Everything you like about Our Town Downtown is now available to be delivered to your mailbox every week in the Downtowner From the very local news of your neighborhood to information about upcoming events and activities, the new home delivered edition of the Downtowner will keep you in-the-know.

Civility, substance and passion for service carry the day in an Our Townsponsored debate for the open City Council seat in District 4 BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN

And best of all you won’t have to go outside to grab a copy from the street box every week.

It’s your neighborhood. It’s your news.

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Every now and then in a local political campaign, the discussion is substantive, the tone is elevated, the discourse is civil, the mood is upbeat, the candidates are reasoned and wellinformed, and the dialogue is leavened with wit and good humor and even bonhomie. It is a moment to savor. It lends credence to the notion that it is indeed possible, in Barack Obama’s felicitous phrase, for opposing advocates to “disagree without being disagreeable.” And to state the obvious, that doesn’t often happen these days in city, state or federal politics. But all those qualities were in evidence during a spirited debate on August 31 featuring a crowded field of contenders vying in the hyper-competitive race for the open District 4 City Council seat being vacated by incumbent Council Member Dan Garodnick due to term limits. Hosted by the Our Town editorial board at the paper’s Chelsea office and live-streamed on Facebook, the 90-minute face-off attracted eight of the 10 hopefuls who boast backgrounds, resumes, experiences and competing visions that are as diverse as the district they seek to serve. The “Garodnick seat,” as it is known in City Hall for the Democrat who was ﬁrst elected in 2005, encompasses East Midtown, Times Square, Central Park South, Turtle Bay, Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village and the chunk of the Upper East Side closest to Central Park. Debate participants hoping to claim the prized plum – which takes in Carnegie Hall and Bellevue Hospital, the United Nations and a swath of the Silk Stocking District — included

seven Democrats who will square off in the September 12 primary, and the lone Republican who will then face the Democratic victor in the November 7 general election. They addressed the city’s soaring cost of living, its problematic transit system, rising homelessness and the burden of the commercial rent tax. They also parried questions about small business survival, affordable housing for the middle class, pedestrian safety amid a cycling culture — and the large shadow cast by the departing and still-popular Garodnick. What’s at stake in this election? Whoever the voters choose to lead City Council District 4 for the next four years will have a direct impact on the lives, security, schooling and well-being of its 108,000 citizens — and will hold the post until he or she faces the voters again in 2021. Among the highlights of the wide-ranging conversation between the six female and two male candidates present: • Small business survival. There is, in the words of Our Town columnist Bette Dewing, a “crisis of unprecedented small business loss,” to which, she argues, more attention should be paid. How would you to promote small business on the East Side? Jeffrey Mailman, a legislative director and counsel to a City Council member, said he’d “explore tax reforms so that landlords don’t have the financial incentive to write off vacant storefronts as a loss,” as opposed to renting them out to new tenants. He’d also fight to repeal the “unfair” commercial rent tax, or CRT, which only impacts small businesses in Manhattan below 96th Street. Keith Powers said he knows the issue first-hand, and it’s “really personal” for him: His father was a small business owner in Stuyvesant Town, and his first job was in a neighborhood grocery store. Powers, an ex-lobbyist and exlegislative aide to both a state senator and a state Assembly member, suggested a “vacancy tax or other disincentive” to

discourage the warehousing of multiple properties, a method landlords often use to site, say, a big-box store. Ta ke a look at Bessie Schachter’s block on 61st Street to understand the scope of the problem. “We had our fourth and fifth vacancies” as shops face a tripling of rents, said Schachter, a community leader and director of outreach for a state senator. One possible fix: Place some businesses into a lower tax category that already exists — but doesn’t currently include grocery stores, laundromats, dry cleaners and keymakers, she said. Noting she’d conducted a small business tour of the district and was a former small business owner herself, Marti Speranza, the director of Women Entrepreneurs NYC, said she’d champion reform of the 4 percent CRT, called for lifting the floor to “at least $500,000,” and said city enforcement should give businesses a chance to cure violations before hitting them with burdensome fines. Vanessa Aronson, a former public school teacher and exforeign service officer, went further on the CRT, calling for its full repeal and noting the measure places a “particularly unfair burden” on District 4 since it’s situated south of 96th Street. She also argued for a crackdown on city landlords who are “being creative” in how they write off some of the maintenance costs for their vacant storefront spaces. Immigrant advocate and government relations consultant Maria Castro, herself a small business owner for 35 years, would also junk the CRT, and she called for a more proactive, business-friendly mission for government, which should do much more outreach to small businesses. Trump Tower, for instance, is in the district, and multiple nearby stores have been suffering, yet “government has failed” to provide relief. Citing her own bona fides as the owner of a small company for 10 years with a payroll of 30 full-time employees, Rebecca Harary, the founder of four

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017 nonprofits and the lone Republican in the race, said today’s landlords are “hogging up” empty space. Her solution: “After a landlord hasn’t leased his space for one year, he should be taxed on the difference between what his last tenant was spending on rent, and what he’s currently asking for in rent,” she said. “Watch how fast that landlord rents the store!” Ease the regulatory burdens on businesses, said Rachel Honig, an arts advocate who owns a public relations and marketing firm. She gave the example of a would-be entrepreneur who wants to open a bodega in the city: “You need 70 different permits and licenses — from 30 different government bodies,” she said. Put them all under a single roof where small businesses could go to painlessly get all their licenses, she argued. • Construction and availability of affordable housing. It’s a cornerstone of the de Blasio administration, yet projected setasides for moderate-to-middleincome tenants have been cut by some 11 percent. What can the Council do to address the housing needs of middle-class families? Speranza proposed using city-owned vacant land — there’s over 1,000 empty lots citywide — to partner with nonprofit developers, set up a land bank and create permanently affordable housing. Schachter called for an immediate audit of available housing and tax abatement programs at a time when so many units are being lost, saying it would help tenants get the lower rents they’re entitled to. “We should create a new, 21st-century Mitchell-Lama program that is permanent,” Powers said. Don’t just develop market-based housing, but

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com build low-income, middle-income and mixed-income projects as well, he said. The Council’s right-to-counsel bill for low-income tenants was a key ﬁrst step to curb evictions and harassment, Mailman argued. But he said “more money and greater subsidies” were needed to make affordable projects viable. Honig backed the idea of an audit to document the available affordable stock. She also called for a “means-based approach” so people who need affordable housing can avail themselves of it, as those who don’t need it are phased out. Even with some of her friends, it would prove “unpopular,” she said. Take a look at the New York City Housing Authority stock, Harary said: There are “literally thousands of vacant apartments nobody is talking about.” City Hall has failed to repair them, and it would cost far less to do so than to construct new units, she added. Change the classic 80-20 ratio in which 20 percent of a project’s units must remain affordable to low-income households, Castro said. “Be a tough negotiator” and raise the ratio to 70-30 or even 65-35 for mixed use units, she said. “We need to protect, and we need to ﬁght to protect, every existing affordable unit, that needs to be the plan from day one,” Aronson said. “And we also need to be thinking about some creative new revolutionary concepts — just like Stuyvesant Town was at its time.” A pair of contenders did not participate in the forum, the Democrats Alec Hartman, who is the co-founder of two technology start-ups, and Barry Shapiro, an information technology project manager and

systems analyst. And in a revealing exchange toward the end of the editorial roundtable, they were gently led out of their comfort zones when Alexis Gelber, Our Town’s editor-in-chief, introducing what she called a “lightning round,” asked all eight candidates, “What three words best describe you?” All answered gamely and with equanimity, starting with Aronson, who was asked ﬁrst because the questions were posed in alphabetical order. After laughingly objecting to having been placed on the hot seat ﬁrst, Aronson replied, slowly and deliberately, “Meticulous. Energetic. Compassionate.” Castro was next. “I’m a good communicator. I’m a good negotiator. And I am a relentless hard worker,” was how she described herself. Then came Harary: “Compassionate. Strong. And fiscally responsible,” she said. “I would say passionate, pragmatic and ethical,” Honig said. “I’m patient, I’m a good listener and conscientious,” Mailman said. “Pragmatic, progressive and effective,” Powers said. Next was Schachter, who put it like this, “I’m a fighter, I’m dedicated, and I’m persistent.” And last in alphabetical order came Speranza, who described herself thusly: “Entrepreneurial, energetic and a hard worker.” But the last word belonged to Harary, who deadpanned of herself and her seven Democratic rivals, “I noticed that none of us said, ‘Modest.’” That brought down the house. And the debate for one of the 51 City Council seats that are up for grabs this year was at an end.

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YOUR 15 MINUTES

MATCHES MADE IN NEW YORK Co-founder of elite matchmaking service Platinum Poire helps singles find love BY ANGELA BARBUTI

Rori Sassoon is the power behind some of our city’s power couples. In 2013, she co-created Platinum Poire to help those “who are successful and dynamic and want to empower each other to be the best versions of themselves.” A graduate of FIT, she was married at 22 and divorced by 25. It was through a third party — her gynecologist — that she was set up with her current husband, Charles. They blended their families and have six children, four from their previous marriages and two together. When she was ready to return to work, she expressed this interest to life coach Errol Gluck, and he suggested she start this service with him. All of Platinum Poire’s clients are invited to join and vetted through an extensive interview process, but interested candidates are welcome to inquire as well. “I know it seems a little bit obnoxious that it’s invitation only, but there are things that wealthy people really do love, which are exclusivity and privacy,” Sassoon explained. Launching this week at Barneys Downtown is Platinum Poire Royale, which she says will cater to the “power gay scene.” For this venture, she has paired up with fashion designer and TV personality Franco Lacosta, who will serve as creative director.

You met your husband through your doctor. I was married at 22 to my high school sweetheart and divorced at 25. I have a 21-year-old son from the marriage. I went for my annual checkup at my gynecologist and he asked me if I was planning on having any more children and I said, “I’m actually going for a divorce.” He asked me what happened and I said, “It just didn’t really work out and I feel I am very young and have my whole life ahead of me and it would not be healthy for my son to be in this relationship any longer.” And he said to me, “I have a really great guy to set you up with.” I said, “Thank you so much, but right now I’m not in the place to bring someone else into the situation. My divorce isn’t finalized.” Four months later, he called me and said, “I don’t know where you are status wise in your divorce.” I said, “Actually I’m ﬁnished.” He said, “Rori, I really just have a feeling about you and my friend, Charles.”

Then what happened? Charles called me and we spoke on the phone for two hours. We had chemistry and developed a rapport

Photo: Craig Arend over the phone because we were both going away with our children. When we got back, we went on our ﬁrst date to Il Cantinori downtown and closed the restaurant. We dated for a full year and got to know each other’s children. He said, “I really love you and want this to go to a marriage. But we deﬁnitely need to give each other a full year and see how we blend our families and how this works.” And I said, “I think that’s very respectful and something I would want also.” We got engaged a year later and married four months after that. We blended our families and had two more children together, so there are six children between us.

How did your partnership with Dr. Gluck come about? By pure luck I met Dr. Gluck and he helped me get over some of the issues I needed to get over through hypnosis, which was amazing. After our time was up, in a sense that he was able to cure what I needed him to cure, I said, “You do executive life coaching. Can you tell me what that’s all about?” He said, “I help people at whatever point they are in their career-if they want to start a career or take it to the next level — create a system to be able to do that.” And I said to him, “I want to do something, but don’t know what.... The following week, he said, “I’ve never been business partners with someone else. I’ve put together probably 35 marriages and couples just from my personality profiling and knowing

people. You grew up in an affluent family and are not intimidated by powerful people. It comes naturally to you. We should create a service that caters to men and women who are busy, successful and really want to found love. Together, we could really create something amazing that New York City has never seen before.”

It’s invitation only. Explain your vetting process. People like that because they feel like the people who are part of it are being curated. Everyone, by the way, is completely vetted. When I meet someone for a consultation, they can decide, obviously, if they want to be part of the service, but I need to decide ﬁrst. If I can’t help them, I will just say, “I don’t think we’re the right ﬁt for you.” Of course, if you said to me, “I have an amazing person who could be a client for you,” I would say, “Wow, this is coming from a recommendation.” Like someone reading this paper can say, “I read this article and that’s how I found you guys.”

What is the interview process like? What are the most important questions you ask clients? We deﬁnitely ask people about their sexual energy because for someone who has high sexual energy to be with someone who has lower sexual energy is a problem. That’s an affair waiting to happen. We also ask, “In your previous relationships, what was it that attracted you and what broke you apart?” Because people have patterns

Photo: Craig Arend and we don’t want to be able to repeat the patterns that didn’t work. We also ask people what are their deal breakers. Also, we ask, if you have a physical type, what is that? What’s also your preference religion wise? Do you have a preference? Is it okay to date someone who has been divorced? There are so many questions. Some are more in depth than others, depending on the person’s situation.

Tell us about a successful couple you matched. Debbie came to me and was 42 and had a very rough divorce. She has three children and her third is a special needs child. And I was concerned because we have a database and she’s a nice-looking woman and a sweetheart, but that’s something that not every man could deal with. And that doesn’t make you bad or good, it’s just not for you and that’s okay. She was our client for three months and a lot of the guys liked her look, but I had to be honest and tell them the situation and all of them said no. I called her up and my heart broke because how do I tell that to somebody? I said, “Listen

Debbie, I just want to be honest with you. I want to give you your money back.” She said, “Rori, you’re my only hope. It’s like playing the stock market. I know there’s no guarantee, but I made an investment and I trust you and you have a great reputation. And I feel good knowing that you have my back.” She was so kind and trusting; it made me want to go the extra mile for her. I told Dr. Gluck the situation and he said, “I have somebody.” And he told me the person and I go, “But he’s not our client.” And he goes, “Oh, but he will be.” His name is Mark and I met with him and didn’t want to tell Debbie anything until I knew for sure that he would take her out. And he did and they’re engaged. www.platinumpoire.com

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CROSSWORD

H A T S N R X Q H K Q V G U X

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G I E O A U L S R E E L U T R

B E O C S E Q G I L G R I S C

G T I E S J C Q A S B Q T U G

S F R A F B Q P K Y Z J F T T

L S J B X H S K I R T S A H Q

Z D G W E M X T S O C K S G U

I L T G Q L V J S S I A A Z B

The puzzle contains the names of 15 department store items. They may be diagonal, across, or up and down in the grid in any direction.

Z P S W E A T E R S M T O P S

Belt Boots Hats Heels Jacket Shirts Skirts Sleeve Socks Soles Sweaters Swimsuit Tops Trousers Waist

ANSWERS 49

N O

R O

36 33

29 26 20

E P

N 30

12 1

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G N

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13 5

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L S J B X H S K I R T S A H Q

Z D G W E M X T S O C K S G U

I L T G Q L V J S S I A A Z B

Z P S W E A T E R S M T O P S

4 5 7 9 3

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3 1

8 2 6

8 1 3 6 2 7 9 4 5

6 4 5 2 1 8 7 9 3

1 7 8 4 9 3 6 5 2

3 9 2 7 6 5 4 8 1

7 8 1 3 4 2 5 6 9

2 3 9 5 8 6 1 7 4

5 6 4 1 7 9 2 3 8

Down 1 It may be boring 2 Tokyo, 1700 3 Slippery one 4 Flourishing 5 Rum and water 6 Indian ﬂatbread 7 Support 8 Sychronized light 9 Orchid arrangement 10 Internet letters 11 Barcelona to Rome direction 16 Popular music category 19 Place holders 20 Golf score 21 Daytime TV, with soap 22 Protagonist in “Anna Karenina”

24 Free-for-all 25 Blockhead 27 Memorable 28 Hill dweller 30 Arial 32 Grassy area 34 Oil source 37 “Law and Order” concern 38 White heron 40 Astronomer’s sighting 41 Agenda point 42 Civil leader title (Turkey) 43 Gist 44 Raw metal 46 Portfolio part, in brief 47 Idea of oneself 48 Call for rescue letters

5 6

WORD SEARCH by Myles Mellor

L J E K H Y X P T R V Z I H T

50 “___ Got the World on a String” 51 For this reason 52 Aid in a crime 53 Video maker, for short 54 New Mexico resort

7 8

V V L C C P J J Q F A M W S B

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Across 1 Page 5 Wildebeest 8 Turn on a pivot 12 Mental ﬂash 13 Trotted 14 Graceful sea bird 15 Turnpike (2 words) 17 Tee off 18 Small generator 20 Small growth 23 Browning’s Ben Ezra, e.g. 26 Copy 27 A pike ﬁtted with an axe head (old weapon) 29 Accelerate sharply 30 Conclusion 31 Feel bad 33 Comeback 35 Hardship 36 Pertaining, old word 37 Triangular river deposit 39 Apologetic 42 Any minute 45 Charitable clubs 49 Expert adviser

5 4

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Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3X3 squares. To solve the puzzle each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult.

SUDOKU by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan

by Myles Mellor

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Downtowner 1

SEPTEMBER 7-13,2017

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Nothing beats newspapers as the most reliable source of local news in print and online Recent studies show:

‘‘

Newspapers led online consumption for local news” Coda Ventures Survey August 18, 2016

‘‘

Local media users named newspapers as their “most relied on” source for deals across a range of goods and services.” Coda Ventures Survey August 18, 2016

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What accounts for print’s superiority? Print - particularly the newspaper - is an amazingly sophisticated technology for showing you a lot of it.”

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Local newspapers are still the top source of news about readers’ communities, including their branded Web sites and social media channels.” Publisher’s Daily - August 30, 2016

‘‘

Residents are eager for news about their own communities, which, increasingly, only local news organizations can provide” Editor & Publisher - June 1, 2016

Politico - September 10, 2016

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