The local paper for Downtown wn ADDITIONS AT THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
< P. 14
8-14 2016
DOWNTOWN’S RENAISSANCE BY BETH J. HARPAZ
Fifteen years after the Sept. 11 attacks, Lower Manhattan has been reborn. The revitalization of the city’s downtown, powered by $30 billion in government and private investment, includes not just the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site, but also two new malls filled with upscale retailers, thousands of new hotel rooms and dozens of eateries ranging from a new Eataly to a French food hall, Le District. The statistics alone are stunning. There are 29 hotels in the neighborhood, compared to six before 9/11.
More than 60,000 people live downtown, nearly triple the number in 2000. And last year, the area hosted a record 14 million visitors, according to the Alliance for Downtown New York. And while there’s plenty to do downtown for free, including seeing the 9/11 memorial park, visitors have also shown a willingness to pay relatively steep prices for certain attractions. The 9/11 museum, which charges $24, has drawn 6.67 million visitors since its May 2014 opening. The observatory atop One World Trade Center, which charges $34, has drawn 3 million people in the 15 months since it opened. In comparison, the Statue of Liberty gets about 4 million visitors a year.
“I don’t think anyone would have expected that we would have rebounded so robustly, so quickly,” said Jessica Lappin, president of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “There’s the physical transformation at the site itself, but there’s also the neighborhood. There’s an energy here. People could have given up after 9/11 and nobody would have blamed them. Instead there has been a tenacity, a dedication that is inspiring.” The Alliance for Downtown New York was founded before 9/11, in 1995, when the “neighborhood was on its heels,” Lappin recalled. “The vacancy
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Photo: Eden, Janine and Jim, via flickr
CITY CONSIDERS CHANGING WASTE HAULING PROCESS Report suggests zoned approach to garbage collection at businesses would have several benefits
BY MADELEINE THOMPSON
Conclusions from a review of commercial waste collection in the city has some business owners concerned about potential impacts, particularly cost. The study’s main conclusion is that a system of waste collection zones would be a more efficient method than the current open-market private carting system, which can bring dozens of different haulers to a neighborhood. Though residential, governmental and institutional garbage is collected by the city’s Department of Sanitation, commercial businesses must hire private carters to do away with theirs. Business owners have the choice of 90 licensed companies to do so and, because it is an open market, they can
Private waste haulers would have to participate in and then win a bidding process to provide services under a plan being considered by city officials. Photo: Richard Khavkine
switch companies for a better deal at any time. According to the study, a zoned approach to garbage collection would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and traffic by cutting back on the number of trucks rolling through neighborhoods. In effect, there can be as many garbage trucks collecting from any one block as there are businesses there. “Supporters of the open market system argue that competition drives down prices and offers increased customer choice,” the study reports. “However, opponents argue that this system results in unnecessary truck trips, with multiple carters at times serving the same block at the same time, in addition to other negative externalities.” According to the press release accompanying the report, the Department of Sanitation and the BIC, which is charged with regulating and licensing the private carting industry, will work with businesses, the carting inDowntowner
OurTownDowntown
O OTDOWNTOWN.COM @OTDowntown
Crime Watch Voices Out & About City Arts
3 8 10 14
Restaurants Real Estate 15 Minutes
16 18 21
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
9-16
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 Over the past on the 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.” p.m. and 7 a.m., can’t come 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
COM
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
CONTINUED ON PAGE
25
ASSEMBLY PRIMARY TUESDAY New York City voters go to the polls Tuesday and downtown Democrats have a State Assembly primary to decide. Incumbent Democratic Assembly Member Deborah Glick faces a challenge from Jim Fouratt. PAGE 5
dustry and environmental advocates for the next two years to develop “an implementation plan for commercial waste reform.” Though there are almost 100 carting companies, the industry is dominated by five of them. Those five companies serve 46 percent of the city’s 108,000 businesses and collect 55 percent of the revenue, according to the report. In the zoned system, the city would be divided up into 20 geographical areas and one company — or possibly a few — would be chosen, via a bidding process, to collect all of that neighborhood’s business waste.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
We deliver! Get Our Town Downtowner sent directly to your mailbox for $49 per year. Go to OTDowntown.com or call 212-868-0190
2
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
PROGRESS AT PIER Boat Basinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A-Dock gets new look The A-Dock is ready to play its A game. City parks and political ďŹ gures gathered last week to unveil a new-and-improved look for the 370-foot ďŹ xed pier at the 79th Street Boat Basin. Before Hurricane Sandy did extensive damage in 2012, the A-Dock was a top attraction for West Siders. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every time we open a facility that connects New Yorkers with the water itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a special occasion,â&#x20AC;? said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The planned new kayak launch and renewed visits by historic sailing vessels are both great news, and will provide more opportunities for New Yorkers to reconnect with our heritage as a port city.â&#x20AC;? Brewer thanked FEMA for funding the reconstruction of what she called a â&#x20AC;&#x153;vital public asset.â&#x20AC;? The nearly $6 million reconstruction was funded by FEMA and Mayor Bill de Blasio; the project came in under budget, city representatives said.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cutting the ribbon on the 79th Street Boat Basin A-Dock, returning one of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite waterfront spaces to public use, is a great Hurricane Sandy recovery milestone,â&#x20AC;? said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver. Before Sandy, A-Dock was the most heavily-used pier at the marina by boaters and non-boaters. Completed, the pier provides access to a ďŹ&#x201A;oating kayak launch, which is part of the NYC human-powered boating water trail, as well as to the sailboat mooring ďŹ eld via the floating dinghy docks along the pierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northern face. For the A-Dock reconstruction, all wooden pilings were replaced with concrete-ďŹ lled steel pilings; wooden piling caps and stringers were replaced with concrete and fiberglass respectively. Additionally, a new timber wave screen was installed along the complete northern and eastern stretch. The boat basin, including its northernmost A-Dock, was constructed in 1937. It was designed as a recreational boating gateway to the city.
Photos: NYC Parks / Malcolm Pinckney
Intensive Workshops Private Lessons www.hunter.cuny.edu/parliamo
Certificate Programs
standup2cancer.org #reasons2standup #su2c
Join us at an Open House August 25th, September 7th or 8th.
(:;9(A,5,*( *(5(+0(5 )9,(:; *(5*,9 -6<5+(;065 *(5(+0(5 047,90(3 )(52 6- *644,9*, *(5(+0(5 05:;0;<;,: 6- /,(3;/ 9,:,(9*/ *(5*,9 :;,4 *,33 *65:69;0<4 3033@ 65*636.@ -(99(/ -(>*,;; -6<5+(;065 .,564, *(5(+( 3(<9( A0:205 -(403@ ;9<:; 5(;065(3 6=(90(5 *(5*,9 *6(30;065 65;(906 05:;0;<;, -69 *(5*,9 9,:,(9*/ 6=(90(5 *(5*,9 9,:,(9*/ -<5+ (330(5*, ;/, 7(92,9 -6<5+(;065 :; )(3+90*2Âť: -6<5+(;065 =(5 (5+,3 9,:,(9*/ 05:;0;<;, :;(5+ <7 ;6 *(5*,9 0: ( 796.9(4 6- ;/, ,5;,9;(054,5; 05+<:;9@ -6<5+(;065 ,0- ( * */(90;()3, 69.(50A(;065 04(.,: -964 ;/, :;(5+ <7 ;6 *(5*,9 (5+ :/6>: ;/, (4,90*(5 (::6*0(;065 -69 *(5*,9 9,:,(9*/ ((*9 0: :;(5+ <7 ;6 *(5*,9Âť: :*0,5;0-0* 7(9;5,9
Learn the Italian Language and Culture at the Most Innovative Italian Language Program in NYC! Fall Courses Start September 12th. Hunter College, 68th Street & Lexington Ave, East Building1022, New York, NY 10065 parliamo@hunter.cuny.edu | 212-396-6653
/PIatHunter
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
3
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG
WOMAN WHO TOSSED CRICKETS ON SUBWAY CHARGED A city woman who tossed hundreds of live crickets and worms on a crowded subway train last month as part of a video prank has been arrested. Zaida Pugh, 21, of Brooklyn, was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration and falsely reporting an incident, police said. It was not immediately clear if the self-proclaimed performance artist had a lawyer. Cellphone video of the incident was posted on social media and prompted several news reports before Pugh revealed it to be a prank. “I’m really sorry about everything,” Pugh told the New York Post after her arrest. “I deserve it because I was wrong.” The stunt caused panic as riders scrambled to avoid the critters. One passenger pulled the emergency brake, stranding the train on the Manhattan Bridge for 30 minutes. Pugh, who was dressed up as a homeless person, had the stunt recorded. Once the train came into the station she was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and released. After she revealed the incident was a
prank, police put out a warrant for her arrest. “We thought she was an emotionally disturbed person, we took her to the hospital,” said Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. “She went out and made further statements to the press that she’d done this on purpose.” “She put people at risk,” Boyce said. Pugh, who has a history of posting video pranks, said she wanted the video to go viral in order to draw attention to the plight of the homeless. “It was to show how homeless people are treated,” Pugh said.
HANDY BUT NOT SO DANDY Sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Aug. 26, items of property were taken from a Gold Street resident. The victim told police that she had left her front door open for a cleaning service, whose workers were scheduled for 3 p.m. When she returned at 6, the rug in her apartment had been turned over, but cleaning had not been completed and the front door was locked. The workers usually locked the front door on their way out. The items stolen included a Chanel handbag valued at $5,800, a Gucci handbag priced at $900, and a Mansur Gavriel bag costing $550.
SWOOPED AND SWIPED
STATS FOR THE WEEK
It sounds as if one purse snatcher was working faster than the speed of light. At 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 26, a 24-year-old woman was walking by the northwest corner of South and Beekman Streets when someone snatched her Louis Vuitton purse. She told police that it happened so quickly she did not get a good look at the thief. Police searched the area but could not locate the thief or the victim’s stolen property. The items taken included a black-and-silver bag valued at $4,300, a wallet priced at $75, a driver’s license, and various credit and debit cards.
Reported crimes from the 1st precinct
BAT-WIELDING THUG ARRESTED Police took one violent mugger off the streets. At 10:40 p.m. on Aug. 25, a 27-year-old man allegedly struck a 35-year-old man in the head with a baseball bat at the northeast corner of Broad and South William Streets, cutting his left eye, police said. The man also had cell phone taken. Police soon swept the neighborhood, however, and the victim was able to identify his assailant and recover his cell phone. The victim was treated by emergency medical services and taken to New York Downtown Hospital. Ben Brown was arrested on robbery charges later that day in connection with the incident.
Week to Date
Year to Date
2016 2015
% Change
2016
2015
% Change
Murder
0
0
n/a
0
1
-100.0
Rape
0
0
n.a
9
4
125.0
Robbery
3
1
200.0
43
38
13.2
Felony Assault
2
0
n/a
50
51
-2.0
Burglary
1
3
-66.7
87
91
-4.4
Grand Larceny
22
23
-4.3
686
695
-1.3
Grand Larceny Auto
1
0
n/a
39
14
178.6
INCOMPLETE
SCHILLING SHELLACKING
From 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 24, a 32-year-old man was working out in the CompleteBody Gym at 10 Hanover Square. When he returned to his locked locker, his duffel bag was missing. Inside the bag was a wallet with his ID and credit cards, which later showed unauthorized usage at a Chipotle location. He subsequently canceled all his credit cards. The items stolen were a duffel bag and other items, whose value he put at $775.
A pair of thieves had more on their mind than wiener schnitzel when they entered an Austrian restaurant unlawfully. At 11:02 p.m. on Aug. 29, two 25-year-old men entered the Schilling restaurant at 109 Washington St. and removed an employee’s belongings, including sunglasses, headphones and a bike lock worth a total of $270, after the restaurant closed. The front door was unlocked at the time. Police searched the neighborhood but failed to locate the thieves or the stolen belongings.
lower manhattan has many landmarks. but only one hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital. Just two blocks southeast of City Hall at 170 William Street.
nyp.org/lowermanhattan
4
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
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
DUMP COMES UP ROSES The former Fresh Kills landfill is remade into a massive park
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
POST OFFICES
HOW TO REACH US:
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
212-868-0190 nyoffice@strausnews.com otdowntown.com
Include your full name, address and day and evening telephone numbers for verification. Letters that cannot be verified will not be published. We reserve the right to edit or condense letters for libel, good taste, grammar and punctuation. Submit your letter at otdowntown.com and click submit at the bottom of the page or email it to nyoffice@strausnews.com.
TO SUBSCRIBE: Our Town Downtown is available for free below 23rd Street in select buildings, retail locations and news boxes. To get a copy of downtown neighborhood news mailed to you weekly, you may subscribe to Our Town - Downtowner for just $49 per year. Call 212-868-0190 or go online to StrausNews.com and click on the photo of the paper or mail a check to Straus Media, 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918
NEWS ITEMS: To report a news story, call 212-8680190. News releases of general interest must be emailed to our offices by 12noon the Thursday prior to publication to be considered for the following week. Send to news@strausnews.com.
BLOG COMMENTS: We invite comments on stories at otdowntown.com. We do not edit those comments. We urge people to keep the discussion civil and the tone reflective of the best we each have to offer.
PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Call 212-868-0190. Classified ads must be in our office by 12pm the Friday before publication, except on holidays. All classified ads are payable in advance.
PREVIOUS OWNERS: Tom Allon, Isis Ventures, Ed Kayatt, Russ Smith, Bob Trentlyon, Jerry Finkelstein
CALENDAR ITEMS:
ABOUT US
Information for inclusion in the Out and About section should be emailed to hoodhappenings@strausnews.com no later than two weeks before the event.
Our Town Downtown is published weekly by Straus Media-Manhattan, LLC. Please send inquiries to 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918.
BY ULA ILNYTZKY
Diverse wildlife habitat. Acres of hilly grasslands. Creeks for kayaking and meadow trails for hiking and biking. This vibrant landscape at the edge of New York City was once Fresh Kills, the massive, stinking dump for Gotham’s garbage. Today, the 2,200-acre site on Staten Island is well on its way to becoming Freshkills Park, the largest landfill-to-park project in the world. The park won’t be fully complete until 2035, but some sections are already accessible on a limited basis to tour and school groups. Since 2010, it has hosted nature hikes, birdwatching groups, kite-flying excursions and kayaking tours. Later this month, 700 acres will temporarily open to the public for one of the park’s triannual “Discovery Days.” “We have something almost every weekend,” said Cait Field, the park’s manager for science and research development. Visitors who knew the old Fresh Kills said the transformation, while incomplete, is remarkable. New York City Audubon naturalist Clifford Hagen, who leads bird-watching tours through Freshkills, remembers the putrid smells growing up about five miles east of the landfill’s 225-foot mountains of trash — now capped with a protective liner and a layer of clean soil. Today, there are “just the natural smells of the marshes as the tides rise and fall,” he said. “It’s always a special moment for everybody when they first walk onto the site,” said Hagen. “Then once you get on top of the mountains, you can look out at the industry of New Jersey and you can look at the Freedom Tower in Manhattan and all of the commercial development right outside in Staten Island and you realize you are in the middle of New York City.” On a recent tour, the park was a tranquil place without a hint of fetid odor. The gulls that once fed on 150 million-tons of household trash have been replaced by nearly 200 species of birds. Osprey sat high on nests
Freshkills Park in spring. Photo: H.L.I.T., via flickr along the creeks and hawks flew overhead. For five decades after its opening in 1948, Fresh Kills was the principal landfill for the city’s garbage. The last barge of regular trash was delivered in 2001 when the site was closed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani, partly in response to Staten Island residents who had complained loudly about being the city’s dumping ground. Today, the city’s garbage is sent to landfills in South Carolina, Virginia and a waste-toenergy plant in New Jersey. The landfill reopened for several months after 9/11 when more than 1 million tons of material from the World Trade Center site was screened and sifted there. Three of the landfill’s four mountains of trash are capped; More than $600 million has been spent cleaning and beautifying the place. Permanent public access to
the park will be phased in, with 21-acres of a larger 233-acre section opening in 2019 that will include meadows, wetlands and creeks, a climbing tower, recreational paths, and a seed farm of native plants. Another 482 acres will open a year or two later and offer catch-and-release fishing among other activities. Park Administrator Eloise Hirsh said the site offers “big sky country views,” not found anywhere else in the city. The landscape still bears some scars. The park is dotted with extraction wells that have been collecting gas from the decomposing waste. With each passing year less landfill gas will be produced. Those wells will eventually be shut down and closed off. A treatment plant on site handles leachate that seeps from the capped landfill daily, although each year less liquid comes out because the cap keeps new rainwater from en-
tering the waste. The cap’s multi-layers include up to 15-to-20-inches of soil, a gas venting layer, an impermeable plastic liner to control runoff, protection material and erosion mats for planting soils. State regulatory requirements call for a 30-year postclosure monitoring by the sanitation department. The land is safe for wildlife, officials said, providing resting and nesting areas for dozens of migrating birds, as well as the largest colony of grasshopper sparrows in the northeast. Blue grosbeak, diamondback terrapins and northern snapping turtles also are spotted regularly. The wildlife is “really a good opportunity to do public education and outreach to show people how actually productive a location this is,” said Field. “It’s become a habitat that’s missing in the region so it has new value in its new life.”
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
5
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
MEET YOUR 66 ASSEMBLY DISTRICT CANDIDATES Downtown Dems to pick between Glick, Fouratt
Deborah Glick What makes you qualified to be an Assembly member? I have a strong passion for public service. I possess the intellectual curiosity to pursue detailed information on important issues and the ability to focus my energy. I have an outgoing personality and a sense of humor combined with a strong desire to get things done.
What are the three most pressing issues in the district? The impact of overdevelopment The local paper for Downtown
combined with rising real estate costs are driving people and essential services out, such as: affordable housing and access to affordable food. At the same time, the sense of community is eroded making it less of a neighborhood. The growing population of families is causing a greater need for school seats. Again the cost of real estate is limiting the kinds of schools that can be constructed, so vital parts like a gym or auditorium or outside space is sacrificed. In the park-starved neighborhoods of the Village (East to West), SoHo and Tribeca, open space is at a premium. Increased development brings more people to our communities seeking recreational outlets. In addition, we face large numbers of visitors utilizing our scarce open space.
can change the ability to get things done.
What is your plan for dealing with gridlock in Albany?
Jim Fouratt
On some issues, like reproductive freedom, there is no option but to change the people who oppose basic rights for women’s self- determination. So some of the plan is helping more women get elected. In addition, I believe that compromise, on issues that don’t involve basic principles of fairness and civil rights, is possible and so working across the aisle can and has worked. Maintaining an open dialogue and building relationships
What makes you qualified to be an Assembly member?
What book has influenced you the most? “Wilderness Warrior” by Douglas Brinkley.
an elected rank and file member in Actors Equity. My cultural instigation, well-documented historically by supporting experimentation artists in the pop culture world. My constituent activism on local District 66 issues – founding member, Coalition to Save St Vincents, Occupy the Pipeline (fracking in West Village).
What are the three most pressing issues in the district?
My over 40 years of community service has given me leadership skills and experience, from the 60’s anti-war movement leadership, co-founder of Yippies, etc. Bring present all four nights of the Stonewall Rebellion and more importantly co-founder of the Gay Liberation Front in 1969 and the 40-year struggle for equal protection under the law. My union activism as
Advertise with Our Town Downtown today! Call Vincent Gardino at 212-868-0190
Accountability of our elected officials, including transparency on critical issues before rather than after action is taken by city or state government. Small business red lining by banks and the lack of any form of commercial rent control which would protect small business from disappearing. Protection of older residents living in rent regulated apartments from harassment. The privatizing of public space and the impact on infrastructure from developers (NYU expansion, Trinity Square and plans like St John’s proposal and the fallout of the very flawed air rights bill Glick is responsible for passing). Making sure taxes on business an middle class are fair and that corporations and wealthy pay their fair taxed. FAIR is the operative word, and more transparency on both zoning and waterfront issues prior to passage. Finally, a full-service hospital, real affordable
housing across the class lines, affordable supermarkets, transportation and schools schools schools. Questioning the idea that public parks should be self funded.
What is your plan for dealing with gridlock in Albany? The only way to deal with the mess in Albany is: to wake up constituents that Albany doesimpact on their daily life by engaging the public on critical issues through town halls and social media before any votes are taken; to unite and collaborate with other elected state legislature members (and yes there are those folk in Albany ) for real ethics and procedural reform that will end the stranglehold of three men in a room having all the power over the legislature; to work with on real solutions to environmental issues; fair taxes for all and home rule which to me is critical to moving forward for New York.
What book has influenced you the most? Three I go back to, to get inspiration: “Conversations with Audre Lord,” Barbara Smith’s “The Truth Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom,” and John C. Culver’s “American Dreamer: A Life of Henry A. Wallace.” Lord is almost a daily inspiration on how to be true to self and true to change.
ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND
thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY
The Presidency: A Return to Dynasty?
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 6:30PM The Cooper Union | 41 Cooper Sq. | 212-353-4100 | cooper.edu Catch a free public 10-session course on the Constitution taught by Prof. Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School, beginning Sept. 12 and ending Nov. 21. It’s based on Prof. Amar’s latest book, The Constitution Today: Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era. (Free, registration requested)
How I Got Over: A Conversation with Ethan Hawke
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 7PM The Greene Space | 44 Charlton St. | 646-829-4000 | thegreenespace.org Go behind the screen at this conversation with actor Ethan Hawke, who will discuss race, guns, violence, and white accountability in the age of racialized police brutality, in conjunction with his upcoming film The Magnificent Seven. ($25)
Just Announced | PopRally Presents: TEN
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH, 8PM Museum of Modern Art | 11 W. 53rd St. | 212-708-9400 | moma.org The event series PopRally marks its decennial at MoMA with TEN, a one-off happening that brings you open bars, DJs, and a mysterious museum-wide game. Taking inspiration from Fluxus, a crew of artists will present a series of gallery interventions. ($40)
otdowntown.com
For more information about lectures, readings and other intellectually stimulating events throughout NYC,
sign up for the weekly Thought Gallery newsletter at thoughtgallery.org.
6
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
VISIT OUR WEBSITE! at OTDOWNTOWN.COM .C C OM
Family Fun at the Farm! U-Pick Apples - Ten Varieties 1VNQLJOT t 1JFT t %POVUT
Enjoy our own Farm Fresh Cider Free Hay Rides & Corn Maze Experience a Working Dairy Farm
Hillcrest Farms 2 Davis Rd. Augusta, NJ
(near Sussex County Fairgrounds)
Open Sat & Sun 10am - 5pm
Â&#x2021;
The WestďŹ eld World Trade Center shopping mall. Photo: Terry Ballard, via ďŹ&#x201A;ickr
Free Community Seminar
BRAIN AGING, MEMORY LOSS AND ALZHEIMERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DISEASE CURRENT STATE OF THE SCIENCE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Please join us for our annual community seminar, presented by the Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease Center and Center for Cognitive Neurology. Developing a Vaccine for Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease: New Approaches, New Hope Martin Sadowski, MD, PhD
Helping Our Patients with Dementia Now: Best Practices in Support of Patients and Families
Neurologist
Joshua Chodosh, MD
Clinical Core Director, Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease Center
Geriatrician
Memory Help: Is There Anything We Can Do to Prevent Memory Loss as We Age?
Outreach, Recruitment, & Education Core Director, Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease Center
Melanie Shulman, MD Associate Clinical Core Director, Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease Center
Thursday, September 22, 2016 2:00 pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;4:00 pm Refreshments will be served
NYU Langone Medical Center 550 First Avenue, Alumni Hall B New York, NY 10016
RSVP to info.aging@nyumc.org or call: 212.263.0731
Funded by the National Institute of Aging: AG08051
DOWNTOWNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RENAISSANCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 rate was going through the roof.â&#x20AC;? At the time, downtown was a strictly 9-to-5 area, keyed to the workday rhythms of Wall Street and City Hall, deserted at night and on weekends. Revitalization efforts were just getting underway â&#x20AC;&#x153;when 9/11 hit and changed everything.â&#x20AC;? But as government funding for disaster recovery began to pour in, private investment followed, spurring a massive rebuilding that continues to this day. For blocks surrounding One World Trade, half-built towers and cranes still clutter the sky, barricades and scaffolding line the streets, and the whine and clatter of jackhammers ďŹ ll the air. Construction workers in hardhats are as ubiquitous as tourists. The recession hampered efforts to bring businesses back, but Lappin says overall employment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 266,000 workers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is ďŹ nally nearing pre-9/11 numbers. Conde Nast and Time Inc. have relocated downtown. Group M, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest advertising firms, will move into Three World Trade Center when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complete. So far, three towers have been built with plans for more. The neighborhood is also becoming a shopping destination. Brookfield Place opened last year with luxury retailers like Gucci and Diane von Furstenberg. It also houses Le District, a French food hall with a creperie, cafe, bar and more, as well as Hudson Eats, with outposts of popular local eateries like Mighty Quinnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BBQ and
Num Pangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cambodian sandwiches. A second shopping center, WestďŹ eld, opened in August inside the Oculus, a striking white structure designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava. The curves of the Oculusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; two ribbed wings are silhouetted by One World Trade rising behind it. Inside the Oculus, retailers range from Apple to Kate Spade to The Art of Shaving. The complex connects to Four World Trade, where the new Eataly NYC Downtown offers a bounty of bread, cheese, coffee, produce, pasta and more. Below ground a massive transit center houses subways and a New Jersey PATH train station. Elsewhere in Lower Manhattan, a Tom Colicchio restaurant is planned for the just-opened Beekman Hotel; the soon-toopen Four Seasons hotel will host a Wolfgang Puck restaurant, and the storied Nobu restaurant will move downtown from Tribeca. Other downtown attractions include Alexander Hamiltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tomb in the graveyard of Trinity Church, the National Museum of the American Indian and the SeaGlass Carousel, which opened last year near where boats leave for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
But near the top of many visitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; New York itineraries these days is a pilgrimage to the place where planes turned the twin towers into smoking piles of twisted steel and rubble. The tranquil park formally known as the National September 11 Memorial features treelined walkways and reďŹ&#x201A;ecting pools in the footprints of the twin towers. Bronze parapets around the pools bear the names of the nearly 3,000 dead. On Monday, park visitors included three siblings from Barcelona, Arantxa, Meus and Pau Saloni, on their first trip to New York. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really sad to see all the names, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to remember them,â&#x20AC;? said Meus. Also visiting Monday were SuTing Fu and his family, in town from suburban Westchester. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We lived in New York City when 9/11 happened,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But we hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come to see this until today. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to see everything theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done to memorialize it, but I also love the greenery, and how it feels very much like a living type of memorial.â&#x20AC;? Lappin said the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rebirth is a ďŹ tting tribute to the 9/11 tragedy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We honor those who were lost, but we also celebrate life and move forward.â&#x20AC;?
The World Trade Center PATH station under construction in August 2015. Photo: Anthony Quintano, via ďŹ&#x201A;ickr
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
On the outside, we’re a historic bedrock of the New York landscape. But on the inside, we’re taking a brand-new approach to health care.
Two years ago, we opened an around-theclock, 911 receiving emergency center in the former National Maritime Union Building and brought innovative health care to Greenwich Village. Since then, we have been offering state-of-the-art care with you and your family’s best interest in mind.
Now our outpatient imaging center is open for business, utilizing the most advanced techniques and equipment available. And there’s much more to come. We will be introducing additional medical services in the facility and continuing to raise the standard of healthcare in your neighborhood.
Visit us on Seventh Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets. Emergency center (646) 665-6911 Imaging (646) 665-6700 Administration (646) 665-6000 Lenoxhealth.com
7
8
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Write to us: To share your thoughts and comments go to otdowntown.com and click on submit a letter to the editor.
TAKING A SWIPE BY LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL
I don’t know why all the Upper East Side stores I frequent have decided to “gaslight” me. I’m a valued customer; not only do I always leave with goods, I don’t give anyone a hard time. Yet, I feel like they’re all messing with me. Whenever I approach a cashier I hear The Clash lyrics to “Should I Stay Or Should I Go,” rewritten as “Should I Swipe Or Should I Chip.” I go to swipe my credit card and hear the voice behind the counter reprimand, “No, insert please.” Just as I think OK, I got this and attempt to insert, I’m told, “No, swipe please.” Some establishments have yet to offer a choice, but the promise looms
large with signs that say: Chip coming soon. The other day, in fact, I made a transaction where said system still had not been set up. I was alerted to this by a pink Post-It note in the slot with the words “no chip” emblazoned on it. It looked like the machine was sticking its tongue out at me. Across town at Michael’s mega craft store, which I have to take two buses to get to, they were having electrical difficulties. The credit card machine chomped my chip and would not give the card back. The LED readout instructed “Do Not Remove Card.” While the cashier, her co-worker and supervisor fiddled with the register, I began to daydream, only to be snapped out of my zen-like state by one of the trio directing me quite urgently to “Pull.” She sounded like the
counselors at summer camp used to when they were yelling at us during tug-a-war. I will admit that swiping or inserting is a far cry from the days of handing over one’s Visa, Amex, MasterCard, etc. so the cashier could nestle it in that rectangular, metal contraption along with the triple carbon receipt; the two joined as one in credit solidarity when the sliding handle steamrolled over both pieces — sometimes more than once to make sure all indentations were legible. This blast from the past actually came back to haunt me recently at a cosmetics store, whose computers were on the blink. The transaction took three times as long as usual as the salesperson struggled with the credit card machine that probably had not been used since before she was born. This though was preferable to when my neighborhood Duane Reade also had a crash and had temporarily initiated a cash-only policy. I had to leave my purchase at the counter, under the watchful eye of the DR employee, while I went back home (across the
Voices
street), got my bank card, went to Gristedes where my bank’s ATM is located (for a no-fee transaction), then head back to the drugstore to pay them in greenbacks. Really? I have no grievance against modern technology — I just want it to work —
consistently. Pick a lane: do I swipe or do I chip? Or do I just start buying everything online? Lorraine Duffy Merkl is the author of the novels “Fat Chick” and “Back to Work She Goes.”
THE JOY OF VOTING IN THE LOBBY floor, which seemed well-lit and ably decorated when compared to the ugly hot little foyers that greeted me in other places. On Election Day, our lobby becomes a community meeting space, and it makes me proud. Although for some reason we don’t attract the bake sales that made democracy so tasty during my suburban years. In New York, though, you get to vote a lot. Especially this year. We’ve OD’d on election days: the April 19 presidential primary, the June 28 Congressional primary, next week’s state and legislative vote and the big kahuna, a general election with two New Yorkers on the ballot, battling for the chance to lead the free world. We could have meshed some of these elections together, like smart people in other states, but we didn’t go that way. The plethora of confusing dates suggests the state doesn’t want you to show up. Not only do we have a lot of elections, we also move them around. In the past couple of years there were even times when, gasp, I voted outside of my building, over at a high school on West 102nd Street. It was awful. I
BY CHRISTOPHER MOORE
In the elevator, early in the morning on Election Day, I press 1 for democracy. Because I vote in my lobby. Then, after deciding among candidates, I pick between getting some exercise or going back to bed. My friends are usually surprised it’s legal to hold an official New York City Board of Elections event on the first floor of a private building. Hey, I don’t know if it’s legal. I only know that it’s what we do. It’s convenient for me and sensible for others. I live in an big Art Deco masterpiece (it’s not bragging if it’s true), where there are already hundreds of voters right on site, and it’s an easy-access, or relatively-easyaccess, location. The lobby is spacious enough that during those long-ago, silly seasons when I actually considered switching to another building I would return gratefully to our first
STRAUS MEDIA your neighborhood news source
Photo: Christopher Moore
Vice President/CFO Otilia Bertolotti Vice President/CRO Vincent A. Gardino advertising@strausnews.com
Associate Publishers Seth L. Miller, Ceil Ainsworth Regional Sales Manager Tania Cade
President & Publisher, Jeanne Straus nyoffice@strausnews.com Account Executive Deputy Editors Richard Khavkine Fred Almonte editor.dt@strausnews.com Director of Partnership Development Christopher Moore Barry Lewis editor.ot@strausnews.com
had to walk three or four blocks, and I’m talking about the long crosstown kind of blocks instead of the fantastic, far preferable vertical blocks. Then there were a lot of strangers hanging out at the polls. I couldn’t even find one person I knew in there, among the poll watchers or the voters. It was lonely. Thank God they moved the vote back to the building. It is, I know, the voting that matters. They say that you can’t complain if you don’t vote. Of course this isn’t the least bit true. But what’s great about voting is that it can be so much like complaining, only more tangible. You are being counted, and our crankiness can make a difference. Voting is self-expression that can change the direction of a town, a state, a country. I never understand how people can fail to get excited about it. And doing it in the lobby is even better. Christopher Moore is deputy editor at Straus News Manhattan. He lives on the Upper West Side.
Staff Reporter Madeleine Thompson newsreporter@strausnews.com Director of Digital Pete Pinto
Block Mayors Ann Morris, Upper West Side Jennifer Peterson, Upper East Side Gail Dubov, Upper West Side Edith Marks, Upper West Side
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
BICYCLING CONCERNS ALL OF US OP-ED
S M E R A E E H R T D R
A T G S I B
BY STATE SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER
Since I was first elected to the State Senate, my office has received a litany of complaints regarding the uptick of cyclists on our streets. My staff and I regularly hear from frustrated residents who are fed up with the behavior of some bicyclists that puts pedestrians at risk: riding the wrong way on a street or in bike lanes, riding on the sidewalk, failing to yield and simply not obeying the law — either because they don’t know it, or they don’t care. Most cyclists do use their bicycles safely and obey appropriate traffic laws, but as they say, it only takes a few rotten apples ... Cyclists who do not obey traffic laws do harm to the reputation of all bikers and put pedestrians at risk of serious injury or even death. But it is important to place these dangers in context — cars and trucks cause far more injuries and fatalities. For instance, in New York City in 2014, vehicle crashes killed 136 pedestrians and 20 bicyclists, while bike crashes killed three pedestrians and one bicyclist. And while total pedestrian fatalities have fortunately declined in recent years, cyclist deaths are on the rise this year. There have been 15 cyclist fatalities to date this year, already one more than the total for all of last year. One ubiquitous concern among pedestrians is the dangerous ways in which some commercial/delivery cyclists operate their bikes, many times disobeying traffic laws and riding on the sidewalks in order to make deliveries as quickly as possible. I sponsor legislation in the Senate (S.4640) that would combat this dangerous problem by establishing liability on the part of the business owner who employs the delivery cyclist: if the cyclist gets a ticket, so does the business owner. This removes the incentive to pressure employees to make deliveries faster, instead encouraging them to avoid tickets by riding more safely. New York City has passed legislation mandating that commercial bicyclists wear retroreflective upper-body apparel with a three-digit ID number and the business name on the back. Laws passed are only as effec-
9
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Photo: Gerald Rich, via flickr tive as the level of law enforcement employed to implement them. Over the years I have put pressure on the NYPD to ramp up enforcement of the traffic laws for cyclists, and will continue to do so. More police officers on bikes, stationed at problematic intersections, are the best tools we have to make sure that cyclists follow the law, and that violators are issued summonses. Many constituents who contact me about these issues are surprised to learn that bicycles are obligated to follow the same traffic laws as motor vehicles — stopping at red lights, riding in the street or bike lane, yielding to pedestrians while making turns and wearing the appropriate safety gear. And to answer the endless questions: electric bicycles are not legal to ride on streets or sidewalks. If you want to ride a motorcycle, get a driver’s license and register it with the DMV — and stay out of the bike lanes! I also believe that as Citi Bike expands, it is important to make sure new cyclists and tourists who may not be familiar with our traffic laws are informed of their responsibilities as cyclists. I have recently written to the city Department of Transportation, which oversees the Citi Bike program, urging them to add better signage at Citi Bike docking stations outlining the rules and responsibilities of each rider. While I understand the concerns of many regarding the increased number of bicycles on the road, I also believe that environmentally-friendly modes of transportation like cycling are overall a net-positive for a
city that is gridlocked by motor vehicle traffic and a mass transit system bursting at the seams. Fewer cars on the road also means safer streets for pedestrians in our walking city. The fact is, growing numbers of New Yorkers are using a bicycle as their primary way of commuting, and those numbers will continue to grow. Citi Bike membership has soared to upwards of 160,000 annual subscribers in 2016, and the city’s implementation of a network of bicycle lanes have made cycling more efficient, safe and appealing. We need to make sure that riders are aware of the laws and that those laws are enforced, but we also need to ensure that the needs of the growing number of bicyclists are met, so that they can safely use city streets I often describe Manhattan as the “head of a pin that everyone wants to balance on ... and many keep falling off.” Because of the density of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike we must all be aware of the traffic laws and follow them. The Department of Transportation has helpful information and resources available on its website, including a complete list of New York City bike rules. Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group focused on pedestrians, bikes and mass transit, is also a good resource for both bikers and walkers. At the end of the day, everyone who uses our streets should take a cue from the name of the DOT’s bike safety campaign — “Don’t Be A Jerk”! State Sen. Liz Krueger represents 28th District, which comprises much of the Upper East Side.
Classes Begin September 8 Register Today!
THE AREA’S BEST YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES + SKILL LEVELS
212.336.6520
chelseapiers.com/fh
10
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Out & About Thu 8 Sat 10 Sun 11 More Events. Add Your Own: Go to otdowntown.com
Your Guide to Spiritual Happiness We are Happy Science! A Global Movement and Happiness Revolution working to make YOU a happier person and THE WORLD a happier place. We have the motto, EXPLORING THE RIGHT MIND. This means to explore and activate our divine nature by putting into practice the Four Principles of Happiness, which are LOVE - to give love to others, instead of taking, WISDOM - to study spiritual Truth to gain higher perspective in life and live in the Truth, SELF-REFLECTION - to examine our thoughts and purify our minds by removing the ego, and PROGRESS - to share happiness and keep improving ourselves while improving the world. Creating a HAPPIER family, HAPPIER society and HAPPIER world starts from each one of us.
Watch us on TV!
Invitation to Happiness
Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 25 Carmine St., Father Demo Hall 6:30 p.m. Presentations by MTA NYC Transit on proposed extension of the M1 bus and by NYC DOT on proposed bike lane on Eighth Street. www.nyc.gov/html/mancb2
EXPLORING PHILIP K. DICK’S DIVINE MADNESS Jefferson Market Library, 425 Avenue of the Americas 6:30 p.m. Kyle Arnold, a psychologist and author of the recent psychobiographical book “The Divine Madness of Philip K. Dick,” will be interviewed by Adi Avivi, Psy.D., a psychologist who specializes in severe mental illness and personality disorders. 212-243-4334
Fri
9
‘MECHANICS OF LOVE’ ► The Paradise Factory, 64 East Fourth St. 8 p.m. $18. In a play by Dipika Guha, man who forgets everything falls in love with a ballerina who forgets nothing. Until, that is, she falls in love with him. All in the New York premiere 212-279-4200. paradisefactory.org or tobyforproductions.com
79 Franklin Street (Bet Church & Broadway) Contact us: 1-800-710-7777 / happyscience-ny.org
Join Us for Weekly Sunday Workshops at 1 pm Weeknight (Tues-Thurs) Meditation Sessions 6:30 - 7:30 pm
create surprising cat art. 212-274-1160. www. mcnallyjackson.com/
ASL-INTERPRETED SHABBAT SERVICE
‘TABLE OF SILENCE’ 9/11 COMMEMORATION ►
CB2 TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
on FOX 5, Sundays at 8:30 am! ryuho-okawa.com
We are located in TriBeCa!
of Shakespeare’s tragedies, with choreography and staging by Ramon Miller. web.ovationtix. com/trs/pr/962773
THORNS OF THE CROWN Sheen Center for Thought & Culture/The Black Box Theater, 18 Bleecker St. Sept. 9 & 10, 7:30 p.m. $35 A new dance/theater work created by Spain’s Ramon Oller, inspired by the most powerful
Town & Village Synagogue, 334 East 14th St., Between First and Second Avenues 10-12:30 p.m. A service with full readings from the Torah and Haftorah. A Kiddush (refreshments and social hour) will follow. All are welcome. 212-677-0368. www.tandv. org
BRENDAN WENZEL McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince St. 11:30 am. Free. Author Brendan Wenzel celebrates his new book, “They All Saw a Cat,” by reading, signing books and helping kids
Josie Robertson Plaza, Lincoln Center at 62nd Street 8:15 am. Free The sixth rendition of a public performance tribute that’s been embraced around the world. As choreographed by Jacqulyn Buglisi, a key moment comes at 8:46 a.m., when dancers turn their wrists with open palms and extend their arms to the sky for one minute, evoking the simple gesture of universal peace. www.tableofsilence.org
BALANCHINE’S GOUNOD SYMPHONY NYU, Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
11
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
THIS WEEK AT THE RUBIN MUSEUM
3 p.m. $20-$25; students, $15 In collaboration with The Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet will perform a staging-inprocess showing of the second movement of the rarely seen ballet Gounod Symphony. 212-998-4941. skirball. boxoffice@nyu.edu
Mon
12
CB 1, PLANNING COMMITTEE 1 Centre Street, Room 2202A-North, 6 p.m. NYC Street Design Manual — Presentation by Patrick Smith , Project Manager & Wendy Feuer, Assistant Commissioner of Urban Design + Art + Wayfinding, NYC DOT www.nyc.gov/html/mancb1/
INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE BOOK CLUB McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince St. The book group, led by Sarah McNally, will be reading “Paris
Stories” by Mavis Gallant. 7 p.m. 212-274-1160. www. mcnallyjackson.com/
Tue
13
AMERNET STRING QUARTET National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Ave. 8:30 p.m. $20 Premieres of “music to picture” works by Steve Horowitz, Nataliya Medvedovskaya, Adam Reifsteck, Rolando Gori, Christopher Kaufman and Shie Rozow. The Quartet will also perform Frederic Kaufman’s String Quartet No. 6. chamberplayersinternational. org/
CHELSEA GRASSLANDS TOURS Tour location provided via email following RSVP. 9 a.m and 6 p.m. Ecology of a Grassland: Learn about the ecosystem of the prairie, and how the plants of the Chelsea Grasslands perform important ecological functions
EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW
PROGRAMS
Sacred Spaces with The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room What spaces are sacred to you? This immersive exhibition focuses on devotional activities in aweinspiring places.
Free K2 Friday Night Friday, September 9 6:00–10:00 p.m Free museum admission every Friday night with happy hour from 6:00– 7:00pm, a special pan-Asian tapas menu, rotating DJs and programs. The Wisdom Matrix: Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche in conversation with Tony Cointreau Saturday, September 10 3:00–4:30 PM Head, heart, or gut—which is the wisest part of you? Part of this fall’s talk series, liqueur heir Tony Cointreau compares wisdom with the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche.
for the horticulture of the High Line. www.thehighline.org/
14
Wed
MOBILIZING PRIVILEGE AGAINST THE NEW JIM CROW The New School, Theresa Lang Community and Student Center, 55 West 13th St. 7 p.m. A roundtable discussion led by activist, author, and New School graduate Cecily McMillan about how privilege can be used as a tool in social justice efforts. McMillan will be joined by JLove Calderón, Hernan Carvente, Renée Feltz and Five Mualimmak. events.newschool.edu/
Photo by David De Armas
Nepalese Seasons: Rain and Ritual See how art connects the natural environment, cultural traditions, and people of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley.
Free Family Sunday Sunday, September 11 1:00–4:00 PM Families can drop into the Rubin for casual art-making, tours, and free family-friendly activities. Designed for children ages 3 and up with accompanying adults, the art activities change monthly and connect with the art and ideas of the Himalayas.
RUBIN MUSEUM CHALLENGE
CB 4, CLINTON\HELL’S KITCHEN LAND USE COMMITTEE
Photo by Michael Palma
Cameo Studios – 307 West 43rd St., Studio B 6:30pm 212-736-4536. www.nyc. gov/html/mancb4 What does this elephant represent? Visit Nepalese Seasons and email the answer to marketingcommunications@ rubinmuseum.org for a chance to win free admission.
Animals in the Himalayas: Familiar and Fantastic Monday, September 12 11:30–12:30 PM In this gallery talk, understand the role that animals, both real and mythical, play in storytelling, protection, and history. Mirror Meditation Monday, September 12 6:30–8:30 PM This guided meditation session is quite OLWHUDOO\ DQ H[HUFLVH LQ VHOI UHÁHFWLRQ
Cloud Elephant; Nepal or Tibet 18th century Metalwork; repoussé 14 x 15 1/2 x 4 in. (35.6 x 39.4 x 10.2 cm) Collection of Shelley and Donald Rubin L2010.35 (P1999.33.6 / HAR 700055) THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART 150 WEST 17TH STREET NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10011 RUBINMUSEUM.ORG
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SAT/SUN
11:00 AM–5:00 PM CLOSED 11:00 AM–9:00 PM 11:00 AM–5:00 PM 11:00 AM–10:00 PM 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
12
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
TOWN Residential, New York’s leading luxury real estate services firm, is proud to announce the establishment of a special class of Representatives – the TOWN Elite. Members of this distinguished group transacted at the top of the firm in 2015, while exemplifying professionalism and upholding the highest ethical standards within our industry.
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
13
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
NIKKI ADAMO
AEEN AVINI
JARED BARNETT
WILLIAM BARTON
SOREN BECH
MICHAEL BEJZAK
JESSE BERTOMEN
CASEY BICKLEY
TOM BRADY
JIMMY BRETT
ROBERTO CABRERA
JILL CAMAC
JOHN CARAPELLA
MITCHELL CASHWELL
LAUREN CHAO
JOHN CHUBET
JOCELYN CLODER
BRENDA COLON
GLENN CONNOLLY
SUSIE CORNICELLO
CRISTINA COTE
BROOKE DAVIDA
DANNY DAVIS
ANTONIO DEL ROSARIO
JOE DI CONDINA
PRINCE DOCKERY
KELLY ELIVO
SCOTTY ELYANOW
MICHAEL ETTELSON
MADY FABER
DAVID FAVALE
ANDREW FEIWEL
STEPHEN FERRARA
MARK DAVID FROMM
GINA GEE
LAURIE GILMORE
STEVEN GOLD
ESTEBAN GOMEZ
DANE GRAY
SUSAN GREEN
JACK ELLIOT HEARD
NICOLE HECHTER
ALEX HEYDT
BRIT HOLTEN
SEAN HUGHES
ELLEN KAPIT
TED KARAGANNIS
RAYMOND KELLER
EMMA LESTER
VLADIMIR LUZADER
PADDINGTON MATZ
ELAINE MAYERS
AARON MAZOR
KATHY MCFARLAND
ELLIOT MISHAN
RORY NICHOLS
LANCE NYUGEN
LEAH OZERI
KRISTINA PACES
BRIAN PAYLAGO
BO POULSEN
DANA POWER
KAREN PRAGER
JENNIFER REGEN
JODI ROTHMAN
DEBORAH SABEC
CLAUDIA SAEZ-FROMM
ELKIN SERNA
LORI SHABTAI
TAMIR SHADIAN
MITCHELL SIMMONS
ERIN STABB
CORD STAHL
SUSAN STERN
KAREN STONE
DEBRA STOTTS
DONNA STRUGATZ
VICTORIA TERRI-COTE
FABIENNE TERWINGHE
BRANDON THOMAS
ILSA VASQUEZ
JEFFREY WACHTENHEIM
MORDECHAI WERDE
LIKA WILLIAMS
TOWNRESIDENTIAL.COM
TOWN Residential LLC (“TOWN”) is a licensed real estate broker, located at 33 Irving Pl, New York, NY. Real estate agents associated with TOWN are independent contractors and are not employees of TOWN. The names listed are not necessarily the “licensed as” names of the Representatives. To find a Representative’s licensed as name, please visit: http://townre.nyc/NameSearch. TOWN owns the following subsidiary real estate brokerages: TOWN Astor Place LLC; TOWN Fifth Avenue LLC; TOWN Flatiron LLC; TOWN Gramercy Park LLC (“TOWN Gramercy”); TOWN Greenwich Street LLC (“TOWN Financial District”); TOWN Soho LLC; and TOWN 79th Street LLC (“TOWN Upper East Side”).
To work with or learn more about TOWN Elite, please visit townresidential.com/elite
14
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
THE CITY IN A NUTSHELL The Museum of the City of New York showcases new additions to its collection BY VAL CASTRONOVO
It is hard to escape it once you enter the room. It haunts you as you peruse the city-themed images and artifacts that line the walls and grace the display cases. It’s a slat-backed deck chair salvaged from the RMS Titanic, which sank more than 100 years ago en route to New York from Southampton, England. Some 200 of 1,500 victims were headed to the city. The beechwood chair, with torn cane seat, is a potent symbol of loss and destruction. It is one of only 10 known surviving chairs from the shipwreck, which famously claimed the lives of such distinguished New Yorkers as John Jacob Astor IV, Benjamin Guggenheim and Isidor Straus, an owner of Macy’s, and his wife, Ida. The chair is a gift from Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, granddaughter of Estée Lauder and daugh-
ter of Ronald Lauder, a founder of the Neue Galerie on the Upper East Side. It is the centerpiece of this small show, “From Teaspoons to Titanic: Recent Acquisitions,” an assemblage of some 40 gifts to the museum since 2013. The exhibit is a prelude to a larger, permanent installation opening in November, “New York at Its Core,” which will showcase more than 400 items from this institution’s collection of over 750,000 treasures that chart the city’s history since 1609, when Henry Hudson entered the waterway that would later bear his name. The one-room gallery on the second floor, with the famed Stettheimer Doll House just outside, represents more than 100 years of New York City history and memories told through photographs, drawings, paintings and ordinary objects like sewing needles and silver spoons. The latter, we learn, were the product of the “souvenir spoon craze” which caught fire in the 1880s and extended into the 1940s. Donated by journal-
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
west side. Bricks are salvaged and sold ist and urban development expert Roberta as antique brick for use in new homes.” Gratz, the six highly polished specimens A rare book, “Fifth Avenue, New York, on view here are festooned with images of From Start to Finish” (1911), is presentcity landmarks like City Hall and Grant’s ed at the opposite end of the gallery and Tomb — and personalities like Henry Ward brings us back to Gilded Age glory. HoriBeecher, a minister, abolitionist and brother zontally formatted, it traces the stately of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Note the spoon boulevard’s buildings from Washington with the Statue of Liberty for a handle and an Square to the Felix Warburg mansion (now image of the Flatiron Building in its delicate the Jewish Museum) on West 92nd Street, bowl. Another boasts a skyline for a handle. with handwritten annotations by the late These sterling collectibles that had their Louis Auchincloss, a former chairman of origins in the Gilded Age are surrounded by the museum’s board. One poignant apera bevy of bleak, mostly desolate photos that çu: 417 Fifth (now gone), on the southeast document the city’s changing landscape in corner of 38th Street, was built by his great the second half of the 20th century. Jan Staller grandfather in 1862. worked the fringes of the city, recording the Two immigrant identification cards from demolition of the abandoned West Side Highthe Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant way in a series of eerie color prints from the Aid Society, dated 1913, are included late 1970s. Curtains contain debris from in the show and make the point that sections of the highway that have been New York has always been a city smashed into oblivion. of strivers. One bears the name R.D. Smith memorialized another of a clerk, the other the name of a fringe area, the Bowery in 1970. He waiter. The passengers headed to said of his experience capturing resithe city on the Titanic were titans dents of the former Skid Row in black of industry but also immigrants and white: “Our conversations were hoping to improve their prospects. brief and friendly, just small talk, Silver spoons and a deck chair, imbut in those moments and in the phomigrant cards and images of Skid tographs I made, I tried to tell a story, Row tell the story of a city that has and show that often within the despair historically embraced everyone. there was dignity.” Danny Lyon tells the story of the de- Museum of the City molition in the late 1960s of 60 acres of New York, gift of south of Canal Street to pave the way Roberta Gratz for progress in the form of the World Trade Center, a Brooklyn Bridge ramp, an expansion of Pace University and more. He spent three WHAT: “From years documenting the area before and after the Teaspoons to destruction, which included razing almost half Titanic: Rethe buildings in his neighborhood, the corner of cent Acquisitions” Beekman and Williams Streets. Three of the four WHERE: The Mugritty photos here record the wreckseum of the City of age on Beekman Street. “Huey and New York, 1220 his crew inside 81 Beekman Street” Fifth Ave. (at 103rd (1967) offers a dramatic close-up of Street) hard hats demolishing an elevator. WHEN: Through Another “after” photo from December 18. 1967, a mass of bricks in the www.mcny.org/ place of a building, is dispassionately captioned, “Brick crew on the
IF YOU GO
Curtains hung to contain debris during the demolition of a section of the West Side Highway. Museum of the City of New York, gift of Jan Staller
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Central Park
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE PARK STORIES AT THE STATUE On Saturdays all summer long for the past 60 years, city kids have gathered around Hans Christian Andersen’s statue at the Conservatory Pond to hear tales told by a fine ensemble of storytellers. As summer draws to its conclusion, so does this sto-
15
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
rytime, so catch the last few sessions. For more information visit www.centralpark. com
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER The park is an excellent place to enjoy the day with your canine companion.
There are even specially designed doggy water fountains for hydration breaks. The park’s famous statue of the Alaskan sled dog, Balto, is one of the city’s most beloved public monuments. Dogs are allowed off leash before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m. More information is at www.centralpark.com
¶ o i ½ ÉÁ
« 8 ÆµÄ ²t¶L
COMING UP THIS WEEK SKATE TO LIVE MUSIC DJs spin disco classics, R&B and house music to get you going and keep you rolling! Bring your own skates. Saturdays & Sundays through Oct. 23 (weather permitting), 2:45-6:45pm at the Skate Circle, between Sheep Meadow and the Mall. More information is at www.centralpark. com
Campin
g
TRANSITIONAL OBJECT (PSYCHOBARN) ► Cornelia Parker’s installation, inspired by Edward Hopper, Alfred Hitchcock and the classic red barn, is on view at The Met Fifth Avenue’s roof through Oct. 31. The museum roof’s offers amazing views of Central Park and the city skyline. Daily at the Met Fifth Avenue, at 81st Street.
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
Event listings and Where in Central Park? brought to you by CentralPark.com.
WHERE IN ANSWER TO THE CENTRAL PARK? PREVIOUS QUIZ
FREE TIME? Actually, it’s priceless. Make sure you’re spending it wisely. Come the Hudson Valley. Distinctly Dutchess getaways include family friendly berry-picking, drive-in movies, Renegades baseball games, and water parks.
ÉÁ½io¶
About an hour from NYC by car, bus or train.
an Loeb Frances Lehm Art Center
Fireball Run is coming!
º¿´Å½Ê ÆÅ´¹¶ dutchesstourism.com
Follow Our Town Downtown on Facebook and Twitter
Do you know where in Central Park this photo was taken? To submit your answer, visit centralpark.com/wherein-central-park. The names of those who answer correctly will appear in the paper and online in two weeks.
Olmsted and Vaux placed a wisteria pergola overlooking the area that used to be the concert grounds and The Mall. The long latticed patio is 130 feet long by 25 feet wide. Its many wooden supports are interlaced with wisteria vines that have become heavy and thick. Though the view of The Mall is now obstructed by the Bandshell, it is still a beautiful spot, especially in springtime when the wisteria bloom in pale, lavender blossoms. It is also a very popular place for weddings and proposals. Congratulations to Joe Ornstein and Gregory Holman for answering correctly.
Downtowner
16
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS
Sabi Sushi
353 W 14th St
Not Yet Graded (32) 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. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
Papaya Dog
333 6th Ave
Grade Pending (23) 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/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
Yakitori Tora
72 Kenmare St
A
Lighthouse Outpost
241 Mulberry St
Not Yet Graded (32) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. 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. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
Bo Ca Phe
222 Lafayette St
A
Kuma Inn
113 Ludlow Street
Grade Pending (22) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
AUG 30 - SEP 2, 2016 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.
Blossom Du Jour
259 W 23rd St
Not Yet Graded (22) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. 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.
Pinkberry
523 6th Ave
A
Boston Market
273 West 23 Street
A
Boqueria
53 West 19 Street
A
Chipotle Mexican Grill
149 8 Avenue
A
New York University Lipton Hall
33 Washington Square West
A
Rouge Tomate
126 W 18th St
Not Yet Graded (2)
Cafe Beyond
620 6 Avenue
Grade Pending (2)
Mansions Catering
4042 West 8 Street
A
The Leadbelly
14 Orchard Street
A
Asuka Sushi
300 W 23rd St
Grade Pending (27) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
La Gamelle
241 Bowery
A
Taquitoria
168 Ludlow St
A
Congee Restaurant
207 Bowery
A
Graffiti
224 East 10 Street
A
Tu-Lu’s Gluten-Free Bakery 338 East 11 Street
A
Tortaria
94 University Place
A
Asia De Cuba
415 Lafayette St
Grade Pending (31) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
Hungry Ghost Coffee Bar And Cafe At Tisch
721 Broadway
A
Secchu Yokota
199 East 3 Street
A
Ess-A-Bagel
324 1st Ave
Not Yet Graded (5) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
Cubbyhole
281 West 12 Street
A
Palma
28 Cornelia Street
A
Kettle Of Fish
59 Christopher Street
A
One If By Land Two If By Sea
17 Barrow St
Grade Pending (26) 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. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
Luzzos Pizza
353 W 14th St
Not Yet Graded (27) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
Good Taste Fuzhou Cuisine 118 Eldridge Street
Grade Pending (19) 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/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
Yi Zhang Fishball
9 Eldridge Street
Grade Pending (17) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
Yue Lai Bakery
137 East Broadway
A
Mei Lai Wah Coffee Shop
64 Bayard St
Not Yet Graded (53) 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. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, crosscontaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
Taiyaki NYC
119 Baxter St
Not Yet Graded (2)
Dak Bakery
90 Bowery
Not Yet Graded (48) 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/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/ or equipment. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
Criminal Court Bldg Cafeteria
100 Centre Street
A
Belle Reve
305 Church St
A
Hop Shing Restaurant
9 Chatham Square
A
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
17
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
THE JAZZ CHURCH St. Peter’s maintains its musical tradition BY LEIDA SNOW
Tucked in the massive Citicorp skyscraper at 54th Street and Lexington Avenue is Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church, widely known for its jazz ministry. Especially at 5 p.m. on Sunday evenings. That’s the time for Jazz Vespers, created back in the 1960s by Pastor John Garcia Gensel. He believed that jazz musicians, who found it hard to come to church on Sunday mornings after working late Saturday nights, would welcome the accommodation. By 1968, the jazz ministry was fully established at Saint Peter’s, with luminaries like Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Strayhorn among those attending and playing regularly. Strayhorn’s estate donated his personal Steinway piano, which is used regularly. Musicians from New York and throughout the world come to play. Everyone is welcome. From time to time communion is shared during a Jazz Mass. There’s a sermon, and a band that plays and leads those assembled in song and, sometimes, dancing. The church’s commitment and ties to jazz extend beyond that service. A music room on the lower level is available for practice or rehearsal. Senior Pastor Amandus Derr, universally known as Mandy, said that the first donation for the room was given by Ellington. The connection to the jazz great continues with the Duke Ellington Society, which meets monthly at the church from September to June.
Derr is a distinguished-looking 67-years-old with fulsome gray hair. He said that from the completion of its 1977 building, Saint Peter’s stated mission was to be a hospitable place serving the community. Studying for the ministry, Derr said he early on “fell in love with the Hebrew language.” He referenced the 1994 Lutheran Church’s rejection of the anti-Semitic writings of its founder, Martin Luther. The document of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, formally rejecting Martin Luther’s anti-Semitic language, states: “In the long history of Christianity there exists no more tragic development than the treatment accorded the Jewish people on the part of Christian believers.” Derr stated: “It is important that Christians recognize how many were complicit in the killing of six million Jews by the Nazis during World War II.” Now beginning his 20th year at Saint Peter’s, Derr has become “convinced that we have to work across faith lines.” Indeed, this church appears dedicated to inclusion. Neighboring Central Synagogue has used the space occasionally, he said. “The 55th Street Mosque started here,” he said. With a current membership of 600, the church is expected to grow, having merged with Iglesias de Sion, a Spanish East Harlem Lutheran congregation. A Spanish mass is now offered. The stark and serene sanctuary is set off by the huge Klais pipe organ. “Everything in the sanctuary moves except the organ and the baptismal font,” said Derr. “The only cross is en-
Ike Sturm + Evergreen in performance at a wedding at at Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church. From left, Ike Sturm (the director of music for the jazz ministry), Chanda Rule, Melissa Stylianou, Misty Ann Sturm and drummer Jared Schonig. graved on the pulpit and that is easily covered.” The chapel, currently under restoration, is a comforting five-sided space. Two facing walls are covered with Louise Nevelson sculptures. “Choice of a Jewish artist was intentional,” according to Derr, because “the designers wanted to emphasize that the chapel was for everyone.” The openness of the church is striking, with many large clear glass windows. Doors are left unlocked. Pathways between the Citicorp building,
the subway, tower, atrium and the church were closed off after 9/11, because the skyscraper was seen as a prime terrorist target, but every effort was made to maintain a feeling of welcome. There is a Senior Center, and a space called the Living Room that’s used daily to serve food to the homeless and people with AIDS. Beyond its liturgical functions, the church doubles as a theater, concert and conference hall. From the beginning, the building included a black-box
theater. For decades, the lower level of the church has been home for the York Theatre Company. For more information, visit saintpeters.org and saintpeters.org/jazz. The jazz beat extends to concerts for the midtown community at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. And anyone wanting to play at Jazz Vespers should contact the director of music. There’s even a Jazz Connect Conference at Saint Peter’s next January 5-6, 2017.
CHURCH, CITICORP CENTER EYED FOR HISTORICAL VALUE “The church building represents a time of urban renewal and is worth preserving,” Pastor Amandus Derr said, explaining that he hopes the Landmarks Preservation Commission will designate the church. The church, as part of the larger Citicorp Center complex, will be part of a hearing on proposed designation on September 13. Saint Peter’s was designed by Bella and Massimo Vignelli. The floor is Caledonia granite, and the consistent beige-colored paint sets off a motif of red oak and steel. The Klais pipe organ is of red oak, 18’ square and 4’ deep. The Louise Nevelson sculptures in the chapel are white painted wood on white walls. The Sion Room, designed by Massimo Vignelli, looks like a dance studio, with a mirrored wall and wood flooring, to accommodate the dancing that accompanies much of Spanish Lutheran practice. The Citicorp Center is actually three buildings: an office tower reaching 59 stories, a six-story building housing office and retail space, and Saint Peter’s, integrated architecturally, but a free-standing structure. Conceived in late 20th century Modernism by Hugh Stubbins, Emery Roth, and E.L. Barnes, the tower reaches up 910 feet, rising on four 115-foot-tall pylons. The original legal agreement created a condominium in partnership with Citicorp. In 1973, when the church land was sold for $9 million, Saint Peter’s retained a 5% interest, according to Derr. Boston Properties, Citicorp’s owners since 2001, have plans for the complex, including a desire to create a wall replacing the Sion Room’s glass doors. A Jazz Vespers performance in April at Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church, with Ike Sturm on bass and Zach Harmon on drums. Many St. Peter’s members are in the choir.
18
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
19
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
CITI BIKE’S EXPANSION SURPRISES, ANGERS SOME CB7, DOT officials say they have been diligent in telling community of installations BY MADELEINE THOMPSON
Several new Citi Bike stations have appeared on the Upper West Side above 86th Street in recent weeks, sometimes seemingly overnight. Some residents were surprised to see the stations installed, saying they had not been properly apprised, but officials with both Community Board 7 and the Department of Transportation insist that expanding further north has been in the works since the program’s start and that they have made considerable efforts to reach out to the community. Andrew Albert, co-chairman of the board’s transportation committee, said the Citi Bike expansion north of 86th Street has been planned since the program was first announced. “We knew about the ones that were going to be in the northern part of the district almost two years ago when we had [a] big workshop,” he said. “We knew that the ones above 86th Street were coming later in 2016.” Jennifer Sta. Ines, a DOT representative, attended a July 12 meeting of the transportation committee to discuss socalled “infill” stations, where bikes from larger stations are relocated in order to make the other station smaller. An excerpt from meeting minutes is particularly representative of the apparent disconnect between residents and the DOT, however. “Many residents of West 87th Street between West End and Riverside Drive objected to the proposed Citi Bike station on their block. They said they weren’t notified, and were just finding out about it. John Frost, Director of DOT’s Citi Bike program, said they put flyers in each building, but most residents said they have never seen one,” the minutes note. The wording — “Citi Bike expansion continues north of 86th Street” — indicates that the recently added stations have long been anticipated. But Albert acknowledged that for those who haven’t been following the developments, including public discussions about Citi Bike, it
could seem like the stations popped up without notice. “If you didn’t follow anything and all of a sudden you saw them then you would think ‘wow, where did this come from?’” Still, he said DOT officials have been “pretty collaborative” in response to concerns about the stations and their placements. He suggested that residents who are apprehensive or even critical of a certain Citi Bike station should bring it up at a community board meeting. Gloria Baker, who has lived on the Upper West Side for 30 years, woke up one morning and found a Citi Bike station across the street from her building on Central Park West between West 101st and 102nd Streets. “We’re questioning two things,” she said. “Number one, why are there 50 bikes here, which makes it unusually large as opposed to locations further south. And second of all ... why aren’t [they] putting this huge station south of 100th Street so that when somebody wants to go into [Central Park] from the bike station they’re going to be riding in the right direction?” Residents of her building were unpleasantly surprised to find Citi Bikes had moved into their front yard, she said. “Unless you’re somebody who happens to have the time to monitor Community Board 7 you don’t know these things,” she said. Though she has reached out to CB 7 and the DOT, she said she hasn’t received a satisfactory answer as to why that location was chosen. “I can’t fault them on their decision making until I know why they made the decision they did,” Baker said. But she said she thinks the decision to put a Citi Bike station near her was made in error. On the Upper East Side, too, some residents are also upset about a new station with 39 bikes at East 91 Street between Second and Third Avenues. Councilman Ben Kallos has requested — though not for the first time — that the DOT move the station, which is located on a play street that has been closed to vehicle traffic for many years. A DOT spokesperson said in a statement that the organization has a “rigorous set of technical siting guidelines that define what spaces could
100th Streets, is located on the sidewalk rather than in the street. According to Albert, this was done in order to preserve street parking, and was strategically placed by the DOT on a large sidewalk with little enough foot traffic to handle it.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
For residents opposed to Citi Bike, the fight is far from over. A DOT spokesperson said that by 2017 the program will have doubled in size, to 12,000 bikes from its initial 6,000.
It is the bidding process that concerns Bertha Lewis, founder and president of The Black Institute. Lewis has been opposed to the Upper East Side marine transfer station for waste collection, which she and neighborhood residents have contested on several grounds, including the safety of neighborhood residents and pollution. It is unclear how the marine transfer station would be affected by waste collection zones. “I’m concerned that when the city puts out competitive bids for city contracts, minority and womenowned business get less than 4 percent,” Lewis said. “So you’re just going to wind up with the same white companies dominating.” Councilman Ben Kallos said he has written a letter to DSNY Commissioner Kathryn Garcia requesting more information about the plan. “The big concern that many constituents have is whether or not commercial carters as part of a franchising system would be required to dump in the neighborhoods that they pick up, or whether they might use this marine transfer station to force all the private carters who have franchises for Manhattan to dump on the Upper East Side,” Kallos said. BIC Commissioner Dan Brownell wasn’t able to shed much light on the issue, emphasizing that the concept was in its infancy and that there would be lots of discussion about it. “What we’re going to start doing is meeting with different groups ... because I think in some ways the next phase is more difficult, which is trying to figure out exactly what a zoned system in New York would look like,” Brownell said. As far as the Upper East Side’s marine transfer station, Brownell said he didn’t know much but it’s possible that the site could see an increase in use by garbage trucks from more than just the zone closest to it. The potential for the open market to be taken away also worries Ed Schoenfeld, the owner of RedFarm restaurant on the Upper West Side. Although he hadn’t yet read the study and wasn’t clear on its implications, he is worried about the potential cost of any new system. “My first thought is that things would get more expensive,” he said. For Schoenfeld, the thought of dealing with another quasi monopoly is unenviable at best. “We’re in a very low-margin business,” Schoenfeld said. “I already have to buy my water and my electricity from a monopoly at prices that set for me and it’s very expensive. There’s not much room for me to pay much more for my carting.”
Madeleine Thompson: newsreporter@strausnews.com
Madeleine Thompson: newsreporter@ strausnews.com
A Citi Bike docking station on Central Park West between West 99th and 100th Streets. Photo: Madeleine Thompson be appropriate for bike share stations” that takes into account such factors as “existing travel patterns, utilities, and building and subway entrances.” At least one of the stations, on the west side of Central Park West between 99th and
WASTE HAULING
20
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Don’t go out into the heat. GET YOUR LOCAL NEWS DELIVERED It’s your neighborhood. It’s your news. And now your personal copy is delivered directly to your mailbox every week!
THE M NEW ET'S MODE
CITYAR RNISM TS, P.2 > 4
2
0 1 6 OTT Y AWA
RDS
His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan
Dr. Maura D. Frank Gustavo Goncalves
Just $49
James Grant Paul Gunther
Harris Healy
Susan H enshaw Jones
Mallory Spain Dr. David Thomas
CELEBR BEST OF ATTHING THE EAST SIDE E UPPER Bett y Cooper Wallerstein
IS THE LUX SLOWING DURY MARKET OWN?
OUT OF GA S
IN VE ST IG
UP TH NG MET'SE TEMPL E
, ma fen t The Am lands ke up the groPark, amon ders cap g erican BY GABRIELLE Histor Hilderbr e archit up. The pro othALFIER Mu y ec O hood for is tapping seum of Na ings, wh and will tu re fir m ject’s int also att Reed ich be that wi a communit o the neightural “It en gin portionll weigh in on y working bor- wo ’s always be on March d meet4. rk with group en where of Theodo the redesignCITY the com our inten AR the TS re ob the tion to munit jectiv museu Roosevel of a wo , P.1 quartery to t uld lik2 > es of wh m at the achieve e to do posed acre of gre pla ns to Park, the mu us expan en spa ne sion. ce for e a as thi eds of the and make su seum Frien a procom re s profit ds of Roose Dan Sli project mo munity are that vel ves for met the cit that manage t Park, the ernme ppen, vice wa y’s presid rd,” said nt relati mu seu Parks De s the park non- thi ent of on nk pa wi m, s tha rtm at th all govthe mu t what with the wi ll co y sol -chair ent and the we’re seu museu the gr m. Blo we alw idifying, in doing now m. “I ou ck ass a ays int is ociation p ended.”way, efforts res, CO that NT
TRINITY COMES INTOWER FOCUS TO
idents as ites estSide paris hioners Spirit well as froinput m
Cell Phone ________________________________
Newsche Crime Wack Voices tch Out & Ab out
2 Cit y 3 Th Arts ings to Do 8
ake
GE 25
WEEK OF FE BRUARY-MAR CH
25-2 2016
to hav e is the sixthin the city. past thre been hit by a person car in the to The ee days alone. least 20New York Tim According cyclists pedestrians es, at have bee and thr accidents ee n kill more tha so far this ed in traffic VOL. 2, yea n ISSUE been inju 900 pedest r, and 08 rians hav It’s demred. e of victim oralizing. If fam s, ilies heighten a devoted mayor and a dent in ed awarenes the proble s can’t ma Amid the ke m, wh at can? New Yor carnage, Immedia kers once agathough, hit, bys tely after Da in rallied. A CASI group tanders ran to uplaise was MANH NO IN managof them, workin try to help. in hopesed to flip the carg together, A < BUSI ATTAN? of NESS, on res its cuing Unfor sid P.16 She wa tunately, it didDauplaise. e, Bellevues pronounced n’t work. The a short wh dead at citizensefforts of our ile later. fell to hearten save a str ow us, despit anger sho recklessn uld e who con ess of a danthe continued a place tinue to makegerous few THE SE of traged our street y. OFsOU COND DISG
Downt owner Our T
12
ake
SHELTER HOMELES RACE S RS
First, obvious: let’s start wit condition h the city’s hom s inside thi disgrace. eless shelte rs are as A ser one mo ies of terrible (includinre horrible tha crimes, month g the killing n the last of ear lier this daugh a woman has higters in Statenand her two hlighted Island), living con the the ma ditions for shameful cities inrgins of one ofpeople at Blasio, the world. Ma the richest wh yor o has bee Bill de his app from theroach to homn halting in has final beginning elessness proble ly begun to of his term, from thim, but years ofaddress the others, s administra neglect, tion and will take But years to correct. recent none of that exc office grandstanding uses the appareof Gov. Andrew by the Cuomo, he can’tntly sees no iss who In the try to belittl ue on which attempt governor’s late the mayor. officials at a hit job, est sta compla then pro ined te Post, abomptly to the to the city, homele ut a gang New York alleged ss shelter, purape at a city VOL. 77 had tim event before blicizing the , ISSUE pol e 04 As it turto investigate ice even ned out, it. never hap the officials pened, infuriaincident media hitwho called it ting city a ” “po aim the mayor ed at em litical . More cha barrassin counter-c rges and g THfolElow the me harges Dicken antimeA , of cou ed. In Tditrse men, wosian livingR OionF, the con in New men D kidsIM s for Yor andEN Here’s k goe s on. in shelters CITY ARTS, leadershi hoping tha t som P.2any eday our as intere p in Alb 0 as it is in sted in helpinwill become back fro agains scoring pol g them t sit itical poi 17 fee m FDR Drour ive byting mayor. nts t 16 to out of and raise
IN CEN KIDS AGTARIAL PARK, WEIGHI NST DOCNAl NG LiDnTtRo UMnP WEEK OF JA NUARY-FEBR UARY 28-3 MOVING FO R A GUIDE TO CAMP
NE W S
BUILDING, WARD ON THE DESPITE C ONCERNTSIN 3 Top Arts 8 Re 5 10 15 al Estate Minutes
Voices Out & Ab out
12 13 16 21
PAGE 9
it on the floo as red d plain, e foot uc building e the heigh as well three. from four t of the storie HAPP s to The ref urbishe would SNOWY LITTLE d sit FLAKES pier pil atop newl bu ild ing y food ma ings and restored Reme board co Transpa officia sio’s fi mber Mayo Jean-G rket overseenntain a expre ls, but rst r Bil eorge linger ov rency concer by sse me W ch Th s Vong hat a winter in his l de Blaef mbers e pr ns develop d concern dif fer redeveloper Howard Hu new years the de oposal also erichten. er ’s vis s that the ence Se ma molit ca lls a coup job? Seaport ment plans ghes’ pieapor t is be ion for th Ho ion for Hit wi kes. le of for the ing e tw use and Lin of the He ceme after th a snow ad o dil k Bu compre al instead relea sed sto tak new ma ing off ice rm shortly of in on adjacen apidated str ild ing, hensive Howa BY DAN t e in pro uc The new would yor fumble in 2014, th IEL FIT front ofto the Tin Bu tures CB1’s rd Hughes posal. d in a wa ZSIMM e co Jan. 19 ly restored me Pie ild joi ONS Re half of ing r 17. to The joi cen Tin presen South nt La nd mamet with his ter define th y that nt La nd tation Building, as by the tly announ Stree un So rk e m. to Comm fi ut fir s lle envisio ced Ho h ma Ce Po an t Seap st d. Stree nter d Ce plans poration ward Hu ned unity Bo storm Official wa tholes we t Seap rks and nter gh pla ns on Jan. 19 or t/Civic nt ’s ard 1. in Howard Hu at the for the Tin es Corfor th to unve Residen severity wernings on the a resolucomm ittee or t/Civic ghes a fou e s passe re mu ts in ne re ce iveSouth Stree Building r-s tory Tin Build il the pr tion in did dd igh d n’t led t supp structur ing bo op prov al d preli mi Seaport plaine vote for de rhoods tha . e at thelandm arke , of Howa osal, but req or t of na co d from being that their strBlasio com-t comm ry ap - Hording to the Seaport. Acd pla n for rd Hughes uested plo un ity a was lat wed -- a eets weren - ing wa rd Hu gh presentation - the Seap redevelopmmaster su ’t es ort , wo to mo tion-trucer proven spicion tha ve the is propos uld inc as a whole ent at ou t Tin Bu , wh lude the This k GPS data. t by sanitailding compa ich new detime aroun ny’s CONTINU d, ED ON ch arge Blasio seem an entirely PAGE 5 was for . Before th ed to be Sanitati e storm in ceful, Ins on bu tea , t no he d architect Dept. build closin of jumpin t panicke d. g g storm ure, is press ing, praised waited subways or the gun an ed into for d service its then ac for the storm schools, he during detectedted decisive to develop the , We do a sense of huly. We even n’t wa mor in The bu cre nt it all dit tha to give BY DEE to life ilding looks him mo . someth n is due, PTI HAJ , all re bu ELA ing can loo angles an like a mode t there about seeme rn d wa thi d nation k bluish or gra edges, with art painting New Yo to bring ou s storm tha s t rkers. t the be in any of the three. yish or wh concrete wa come On Su itish, or settin lls st of functi g, but It would be some that alpine nday, the cit an no on pounds it was cre ne more tha unusual str combiskiers vil lage. Cr y felt like an ate uc of the n rock sal d for --- sto the fairly pro ture snow plied the pa oss-cou nt ry rin t bo sai tha rks g CONTINU c tho t the cit hot ch ots and pa , people y’s De usands of ED ON ololat rkas ord in partm PAGE 29 wi es, th su ered kid ent of of sledd nburned fac s came home es after ding. There a day tent. Qu were pock ets the plo eens reside of disco nand elew trucks by nts felt th at the sch cted offici passed them, als closed ools should there sa id for ha But ov another da ve stayed %TGCVKX just en erall, consid y. G 9TKVK PI r &CPEG snows dured the secering we ha r /QVK torm in d QP 2KE lovely our his ond-biggest VWTG # litt TVU r and his le chapter tory, it was /WUKE a for the subjects r 6JG mayor CVTG r . 8KUWC
NE W S
THE SALT SPOTLIGH SHED’S T MOMENT NE W S
Email Address_________________________________________ Signature______________________________Date _______________
ART
LIVES HERE
Return Completed Form to: Straus News, 20 West Avenue, Chester, NY, 10918 or go to strausnews.com & click on Subscribe
FOR PARK REDESIGN
Bu On Sa 13 10 15 siness BY EM ILY TOW parishioturday mo Minutes 16 NER rn and low ners, comm ing, archit 19 ered in er Manhatt unity me ects, mb vision St. Paul’s Ch an residents ers for Tr ap gat el hto discu inity Ch building ss urch’s The ex . new pa the rish Place acr isting bu ild been cle oss from Tr ing, on Tr inity inity Ch ared for 1923, urc de it the chu no longer sermolition. Buh, has tower rch and the ves the ne ilt in wi com ed The we ll be built in munity. A s of new in a ser ekend me its place. eti — collabies of commu ng was the needs orative for nity “charr fifth an um ett the low d wants of s to addre es” a whole er Manhatt the church ss the and an com . “In ou munit of r y initial as about charr buildinghow we wa ettes we talked for the to be a homented th is pa hood,” homeless an for the spi rish rit fer, Tr said the Re d for the neigh ual, v. Dr. Wi ini bor“We tal ty Wall Street lliam Lu ked ’s prector What ab . they wo out minis try act look,” uld be ivi Lu marke pfer said. , how they ties. wo t underst study in ord“We condu uld cte desires and neighbo er to objec d a dream as well as rhood needtively s.” parish s and He sai hopes and sion em d the churc tality braces a ph h communit The can tha ilo ride in coming t is “open sophy for y’s viCe carouseldidate’s owne ho , flexibl .” On the ntral Park. “We wa e and spifamilia puts New Yo rship of the wela white wall next to nt it street r bind rkers in , access to be visiblP.9 > that rea placard wi the entrance a Gemm ible to e from the com and Re ds, “Trum th red letter is well, a Whitema the CONTINU p Ca munit gulat ing who we n and ind It’s y, BY DAN Engla ED ON Joel Ha re on lat icatio ions” -- rousel Ru PAGE 6 weekd e afternoon IEL FITZSIMM presid ns that Do one of the les day, nd and rode vacation uxONS ay, an on only sai the en fro nald a mi tial d lining opera bearing d they notic carousel Mo m up to pakids and tou ld winter tes the candidate, J. Trump, ed the Trum ntially ow car ris y Tr $3 for “It p’s ns an placar New Yo a qu ts are see um p’s po ousel. d ma was in my name. OurTown d rk mo lit ics ping int n, he ment: intesenDowntow wh ad o the car have be 20gav a carou weigh 16 e he en asked ,” said Wh n gu sel an aft a deep ernoo ousel, as rid n in En r pause. “H if the realiz iteOTDOW O n esc ly divisiv gla ati ers e’s NTOW like, ‘Do nd, so in my not very lik on e candid ape again N.COM st he ed I want ate. Newsche to give ad I was a bit ck money @OTD CO Cri me Wa NTINU to this owntown 2 Cit tch ED ON y
Address _______________________________ Apt. # ________ New York, NY Zip Code _____________
Our T
THE ST
PAGE 5
WESATS serID iesEof for SPIRne ums on IT.w paMh build the fro COris ing inv church’s @W m res
Name ______________________________________________
AT IO N
Accor DOB, Coding to sta STREETORY OF OU tis R agency nEd report tics provid S ed by over 20 in 2015, a ed 343 shutoff the The 40 Ruby BY DAN trend 14’s 67 shu 0 percent s to the New Yorworst and the IEL FIT ey on Mak has been ap toffs. increa ZSIMM takeo An So far pears to be Monday k were both best of ONS ut tha spending mid-d in 2016 increa d the upwa se on displa mo mo issert n acc mid a the sin re rd docto ording y town. rning on 36th mong eve re ha ation is worki Street in ng at lea , and her ne rate stude “Since to the DO ve been 157 n more: Ca rol “A lot nt B. Da shu w rice st as uplaise, toffs, noticing the spring owner cooker to eat of it is just ou hard. the a no gas, a lot of pe of last year crossingof a jewelry com 77-year-o cook at lot more,” t of pocket, op we sta going rted water either cookin le coming Street Madison Av pany, was ld steam home it’s jus said Mak. “W ,” out in ing an said Donna g gas or he that had when a during the mo enue at 36th cally.” things with t a rice cooker hen we at livery-cab rning rus it, or ma Ameri d commun Chiu, direct and hot cor . You can ner h dri ity or can La st Se and hit ke rice, her. ver turned the Chiu cal s For Equa ser vices forof housptemb The basihundred er Asian said AA led the inc lity. arresteddriver of the car no natur s of others her bu ild ing ing an FE is worki rease “freak pedest for failing to was joi ned an ins al gas, cut across the d pe off town almost a dong with Ma ish,” and been citrian, and cop yield to a Building ction blitz by Con Ed city with an ser vic d the Lowe zen others k’s buildtraffic vioed for at leasts say he had a month s that bega by the city’sison after es. 10 oth lations advocat And Ch r East Side in ChinaIt sin wa East Vil after a fat n last April, Dept. of iu, lik ce 2015. er es, ha al ga e ma to restor exp les litany ofs but the latest lage tha s t claim s explosion s than lon loitation by witnessed ny housinge that hav traffic deaths in a sad ed two bu g servic in the a lives. e interr ilding owne pattern of Mayor e lingered on, and injuries rs wh uptions curb traBill de Blasio’s despite CONTINU in an eff o proffic crashe efforts ort to ED ON Da to uplais s PA
MUSEUM T APS NEIGH BORHOOD GROUPS
Yes! Start my $49 subscription right away! Plus give it to a friend for just $10
CITY WIN FO APPLE R
2 Cit y 3 To Arts Do 24 8 Foo 25 10 15 d & Drink MinuAtes 26 surge s shu rent-stabof ga29 ilized tentoffs, particu larly for ants
NE W S
Clinton
Wests ider
3-9
Newsche Crime Wack Voices tch Out & Ab out
INUED ON
accuse capita d of overleve l. very James Beninati anraging invest lions aftCabrera, we d his partn or re BY DAN Antar er the firm sued for mier, The Ba IEL FIT es ZSIMM condo uhouse Gr assets was stripp ’s collapse, lONS and ou ed of mo in p’s 90 the lat project on A rep the late-a st of its 0-foo Sutto n Place t the Ba resentative ughts. velopmeest lux ur y res for uhouse fundin nt to suffer idential is a req Group Beninati an ue de g, fro did st for d - tim as inv ingly comm not return estors m a lack of e. wary ent by are inc of fin at the Sto press rea ler an top a surpl end of the cing projec s- Deal ne also spok outlookus in inven market du ts a notic wspaper las e to the Re tor e will ma on whether y and a tep to ap ar tmeable decre t month ab al ase out affluent terialize id lig en News buyer hted ma t sa les, whin high-end down of s the roa the 80 rke ich hig squa re avera d. -st ge nu t data tha hmb April, foot propo or y, 260,0 t apart ments er of days said the an 00 squat d sent the sa l broke las spent in new for-sa neigh and sleepy comparative t perce on the marke developme le VOL. 42 bo nt munit rhood int Sutton Pla ly and the between t increased nts , ISSUE o the y 47 en 09 tions, Board 6 vo a panic. Co ce “E very d of last yea end of 20 man ice 14 on d r. d Council e’s a its ob Kallos Stoler lit jec the bu came out str member Be - $2,50 told TRD. “W tle worri ed ilding 0 ’s heigh ongly again n lende [per square ith anything ,” plicat ions. rs are t and soc st at foo t] ver or But it Stoler ial imtold thi y cautious.” more, opposit wa sn’t jus s ne wspape house ion workingt commun CONTINU r that ED ON Mi aelprincipal Jo against Baity PAGE 5 seph u20ch Sto ne r16 at the ler, a mana Beninati. Jewish invest ging pa son Re wome me n and the wo backg alty Capital, nt firm Ma rtgirl rld by rou lighting s light up candle tares Inv nd also plasaid Beninatidis every the Sha yed bbat Friday 18 min a role. ’s Benin estment Pa eve utes bef < NEW An ati co Friday ore sun ning -foundertners, the fi schoo S, Ma set. l rm P.4 For mo rch 11 – 5:4 boast classmate thad with a pre 1 pm. re info ed $6 rm www.c billion t at one po p habadu ation visit int in ass pperea ets, wa stside.co s m.
WEEK OF MAR CH
AMNH electe d transpo working gro and pa officials, Co up rtation, park reds to focus on of Teddrk advocacy mmunity Board group y Roose esign LIGHTI 7, ers De vel
WestS ideSpirit
>
NE W S
53 Lud low Str mom, hav eet, Fitzsim e been witwhere a dozen mons hout coo ten king gas ants, includ since las ing Ruby Mak and t Septe mber. Pho her to by Dan iel
Westsider
S, P.4
Concern high en s about a glu t at the d
OurTown EastSide
Eastsider
AN EN D "BR TO WINDO OKEN WS"? NEW
2016
MORE THAN SCREATHE M
@OurT ownNYC
VOL. 2, ISSUE 10
10-16
Our To wn ha The pa s much 2016, per celebrat to be thank an OTTY d this we es its 45th ful for. ek Award anniv made ersary winnershonors its a un lat The OT ique differe , noting pe est group in ople wh of nce on You -- TY award the o ha s ha munit ve always -- short for OuUpper East ve Sid be y strong. service, an en a reflect r Town Th e. d this anks year’s ion of deep Our ho list is parti combusiness norees inc cularly owners lude co heroe mm an s. Cardi We’re also d medical anunity activi na tak fall’s wi l Timothy ing a mome d public saf sts, Franc ldly succes Dolan, who nt to recog ety is. nize sheph sful vis Kyle Po In his interv erd it iew wi to the city ed last pressi pe, Dolan by th Our ref ng Town Pope warning issues sti lects on thaCI Editor ll TYit, ARon movin s he receiv facing the t vis TS, g to Ne city,2 an>d on the w York ed from his P.1 Read nine his profile, seven years friends be the OT TY an fore ag Thom awards d the profi o. pso les of the oth We are n, in the spe by repor the wi proud to bri cial sectio ter Madelei er nners n ne part of ng it to you inside. our com , and pro ud to cal munit y. l
OURTOW O NNY.C OM
Eastsi der
WEEK OF MAR CH
N #TVU
Our T
ake
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
21
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
To read about other people who have had their “15 Minutes” go to otdowntown.com/15 minutes
YOUR 15 MINUTES
PROMOTING PEACE THROUGH RELIGION The founder and president of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding on her extraordinary career including the creation of the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees.
typical overextended New Yorker, I didn’t have time to read it until several months had elapsed. But when I finally did read it, I was absolutely just shattered by the gale of this humanitarian crisis. And as a child of Holocaust survivors and as a refugee myself, because my parents and I were both refugees, I resonated very deeply with the suffering of the Syrian people. Now it may sound counterintuitive for a Jew to be saying that, given that Israel and Syria are technically in a state of war, but this is not a crisis that is confined to the region. This is a crisis that has worldwide ramifications. And it’s absolutely essential that we respond to it.
BY ANGELA BARBUTI
Dr. Georgette Bennett will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding next year. She singlehandedly founded the organization, which has become a revered resource for combatting religious bias and violence, after her husband, human rights activist Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum, passed away. “At the time that he died, there were at least 50 conflicts that were being waged around the world that were based, at least in part, on religion … and I felt that nothing that I had been doing professionally was as important as building on his work,” she said. In 2013, she launched the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, which came about through her work on the board of the International Rescue Committee. As a child of Holocaust survivors and a refugee herself, the plight of Syrians in that war-ravaged country resonated deeply with her and she sees the Syrians who come into the country as “solidly contributing members to American society.” Although at this time in her career she could easily retire, her dedication to promoting peace keeps her inspired. “As a Jew, I take Leviticus 19:16 very seriously. ‘Thou shall not stand by idly while the blood of your brother cries out from the earth.’”
Tell us about your career path leading up to founding Tanenbaum. My career had been, up until then, a rather diverse one. I’m a sociologist by training and the first years of my career were spent playing college professor. But I was never really content with the ivory tower existence and
You visited a refugee camp there. What do you want people to understand about what you experienced?
Photo: Jack Miller always felt very driven to get behind the headlines and go where the action was. So after spending some time in government, New York City Police Department, New York City Office of Management and Budget, and doing work for the Department of Justice and police departments all over the country, I became a broadcast journalist. I did that for about 10 years. And from there, went into marketing and financial services. And then after my husband died, I went into the religion business. [Laughs] I’m putting it very crudely, but I don’t feel crudely about it at all.
How did you start your work with Syrian refugees? I’ve been on the board for directors of the International Rescue Committee for about 24 years since my husband died, because he was very much committed to that organization. So I offered to take his seat on the board after he died. And as you may be aware, it is one of the foremost refugee relief and resettlement organizations in the world. And in January of 2013, IRC issued a report on the Syrian Refugee Crisis. And it sat on my desk until March or May because being a
Yes, Zaatari, which is the second largest refugee camp in the world. And it is now the fourth-largest city in Jordan. I was quite surprised by what I experienced because what I experienced was extraordinary resilience of the people there. The most powerful impression with which I was left was the main street of the camp, which runs as far as the eye can see. And it’s a street that they call the ChampsÉlysées because there used to be a French medical facility there. And this is a street that is lined on both sides with densely packed shops of every kind and cafes. And I thought that was quite extraordinary because these are all small businesses that were started by refugees in that camp. You see in Jordan as in a number of other countries, refugees are not permitted to work. It’s illegal for them to work. But they are permitted to work inside the camp. And so they do. They have created these businesses.
In your 10 years of broadcast journalism, what is a memorable interview you conducted? Probably the most memorable is when I got an exclusive interview with Frank Serpico while he was in hiding in the Netherlands. In the 1970s, there was something called the Knapp
Commission which was operating in the New York City Police Department. And the purpose of it was to root out systemic and endemic corruption in policing. The person who was the whistleblower in terms of corruption was Serpico, who was a police officer. He was very reviled by fellow officers for doing that. His life was in danger because of having been a whistleblower, so he fled to Europe to hide. And I was able to get an exclusive interview with him while he was in hiding. He was famous for his disguises because he was an undercover officer at NYPD. And because he was very paranoid, probably rightly so, I was not given his address or phone number. I was told to go to a restaurant in the middle of a very rural area. And as I’m on the plane flying to Amsterdam, I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, what if he doesn’t show up? I’m going to be totally humiliated.’ So I’m sitting in this inn with my crew and eventually this man in a hat and big coat comes over and that’s Frank Serpico in one of his disguises. So we started talking there in that inn in the middle of nowhere. And he said, ‘You know, I like you. I trust you. Let’s go back to my house.’ So we went back to his farm and we continued the interview there, including walking through his gardens. And we did part of the interview in his farmhouse where we both sat cross-legged on the floor opposite each other. While I was interviewing him, he was sitting there rolling joints. [Laughs] That’s probably my most vivid memory of all the stories that I did. I did not have any of those joints, by the way. www.multifaithalliance.org
Know somebody who deserves their 15 Minutes of fame? Go to otdowntown.com and click on submit a press release or announcement.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO? Email us at NEWS@STRAUSNEWS.COM
22
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
“I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HELP THAT HOMELESS MAN.”
BE THE SOMEONE. Sam New York Cares Volunteer
Every day, we think to ourselves that someone should really help make this city a better place. Visit newyorkcares.org to learn about the countless ways you can volunteer and make a difference in your community.
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016
CLASSIFIEDS PHOTOGRAPHY
Telephone: 212-868-0190 Fax: 212-868-0198 Email: classified2@strausnews.com
POLICY NOTICE: We make every eďŹ&#x20AC;ort to avoid mistakes in your classiďŹ ed ads. Check your ad the ďŹ rst week it runs. The publication will only accept responsibility for the ďŹ rst incorrect insertion. The publication assumes no ďŹ nancial responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or re-classify any ad. Contact your sales rep directly for any copy changes. All classiďŹ ed ads are pre-paid.
SOHO LT MFG
MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
462 Broadway MFG No Retail/Food
HELP WANTED
23
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
REAL ESTATE - RENT
+/- 9,000 SF Ground Floor - $90 psf +/- 16,000 SF Cellar - $75 psf Divisible Call David @ Meringoff Properties 212-645-7575
Directory of Business & Services To advertise in this directory Call #BSSZ (212)-868-0190 ext.4 CBSSZ MFXJT@strausnews.com
Antique, Flea & Farmers Market
East 67th Street Market
(between First & York Avenues) Open EVERY Saturday 6am-5pm Rain or Shine Indoor & Outdoor FREE Admission Questions? Bob 718.897.5992 Proceeds BeneďŹ t PS 183
HOME IMPROVEMENTS REAL ESTATE - SALE
MASSAGE
Antiques Wanted
SINCE 1979
TOP PRICES PAID Chinese, Modern Custom Jewelry Paintings, Silver, Etc. Entire Estates Purchased
800.530.0006
Medical and Office Cleaning Company Looking to Buy
NEED TO RUN A LEGAL NOTICE?
SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED CLEANING COMPANIES FROM 1 TO 100 ACCOUNTS
Call Barry Lewis today at:
Quick | Easy | Economical
Goldberg PO Box 2962 Church St Station 10008
212-868-0190
As a native New Yorker with a wealth of real estate knowledge, I navigate real estate transactions smoothly and efficiently. Please contact me for a complimentary consultation.
JUDITH MARCUS, Associate Broker judith.marcus@sothebyshomes.com +1.917.991.4912
Downtown Manhattan Brokerage 149 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10010 Operated by Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty, Inc.
BE THE SOMEONE a comb.
Recycle me.
WHO HELPS A KID BE THE FIRST IN HER FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
FREE: FIVE STAR E-NOVEL â&#x20AC;&#x153;War In A Beautiful Countryâ&#x20AC;? Random Terror On An Ordinary Life
newyorkcares.org
FREE on nook, kindle, all e-readers and electronic devices or direct at: www.novelwarinabeautifulcountry.blogspot.com/
24
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
10
th
ANNIVERSARY
2016
BUILDING SERVICE WORKER
AWAR DS
Think about it. Then tell us! Know a doorman, super, porter, security guard or ofďŹ ce cleaner that deserves kudos?
Do it today at bsw-awards.com You could win $150 or 2 tickets to just for nominating t #FTU %PPSNBO t #FTU 4VQFS t #FTU 1PSUFS t #FTU 0Gm DF $MFBOFS t #FTU 4FDVSJUZ (VBSE t "OE .PSF The local paper for the Upper East Side
SPONS O R ED BY
The local paper for the Upper West Side
The local paper for Downtown
The local paper for Chelsea
SEPTEMBER 8-14,2016