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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
28-4
MODIGLIANI’S EARLY YEARS <P.14
2017
Playground conversation. Photo: Council Member Ben Kallos
A BOOST FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS PARTICIPATION Kallos introduces a bill offering free child care for parents involved in local government BY CARSON KESSLER
Parents interested in participating in local government might soon receive free child care provided by the city under proposed legislation by Council Member Ben Kallos. Raised by a single mother, Kallos hopes the option of child care will eliminate barriers to participation by parents, and in turn increase women’s involvement in government. Women make up less than 25 percent of the New York City Council. “I think people feel like democracy is broken,” said Kallos, who offers free child care at his annual events. “If we want to build an inclusive democracy here in New York City, it means offering free child care when we want to hear from any New Yorker who has children.” The idea was brought to Kallos by several parents in the district, including Community Board 8 mem-
ber Sarah Chu, a new mother. “Before I became a parent, I often wondered why more parents didn’t attend our meetings,” said Chu. “Parents have a clear and present interest in the democratic process on behalf of their children. Adopting this legislation is important because it tells parents that their engagement in civic life is necessary and valued.” According to research by Rutgers University, child care is one of the top three factors women consider in running for office, more so than men. Under the legislation, this common barrier to entry among women will be eliminated. “If we want to create a future where women are fully represented, then it’s imperative that we remove the barriers that prevent active participation in civic life,” said Sonia Ossorio, President of New York’s National Organization for Women. By providing assistance to allow parents to engage with their local representatives, the legislation emphasizes the significance of inperson engagement among constituents.
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The exterior of 827-831 Broadway between 12 and 13th Streets. The buildings were constructed in 1866, and 831 was a magnet for abstract expressionist painters in the 20th century. Photo: Mihika Agarwal
WILL HISTORY TRUMP DEVELOPMENT? PRESERVATION Twin buildings with a rich past in architecture and art will now be considered for landmark designation BY MIHIKA AGARWAL
Earlier this summer, the NYC Department of Buildings filed proposals to turn the two adjacent historic iron-cast buildings from 1866, 827-831
Broadway, located between 12th and 13th streets, into 300 foot-tall corporate offices. After almost two years of campaigning by the Greenwich Village Historic Preservation Society (GVSHP), the City has finally decided to “calendar” — actively consider the landmark designation of — the buildings. GVSHP’s campaign started in 2016, when developers Quality Capital and Caerus Group filed to demolish the building. Over the last two years, the cause has been joined by preservation organizations and elected officials such as the de Kooning Foundation Downtowner
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FOR HIM, SETTLING SMALL CLAIMS IS A BIG DEAL presided over Arbitration Man has three decades. for informal hearings about it He’s now blogging BY RICHARD KHAVKINE
is the common Arbitration Man their jurist. least folks’ hero. Or at Man has For 30 years, Arbitration court office of the civil few sat in a satellite Centre St. every building at 111 New Yorkers’ weeks and absorbed dry cleaning, burned lost accountings of fender benders, lousy paint jobs, and the like. And security deposits then he’s decided. Arbitration Man, About a year ago, so to not afwho requested anonymity started docuhe fect future proceedings, two dozen of what menting about compelling cases considers his most blog. in an eponymous about it because “I decided to write the stories but in a I was interested about it not from wanted to write from view but rather lawyer’s point of said Arbitration view,” of a lay point lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He first writes about post, renders and then, in a separatehow he arrived his decision, detailing blog the to Visitors at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want whether they unreally want to know and why I did it,” I did derstood what don’t know how to he said. “Most people ... I’d like my cases the judge thinks. and also my trereflect my personalitythe law.” for mendous respect 80, went into indiMan, Arbitration suc in 1985, settling vidual practice
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MANHATTAN'S APARTMENT BOOM, > PROPERTY, P.20
2015
In Brief MORE HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS
The effort to help small seems to businesses in the city be gathering steam. Two city councilmembers, Robert Margaret Chin and Cornegy, have introduced create legislation that wouldSmall a new “Office of the within Business Advocate” of Small the city’s Department Business Services. Chin The new post, which have up told us she’d like to would and running this year, for serve as an ombudsman city small businesses within them clear government, helping to get through the bureaucracy things done. Perhaps even more also importantly, the ombudsman and number will tally the type small business of complaints by taken in owners, the actions policy response, and somefor ways to recommendations If done well, begin to fix things. report would the ombudsman’s give us the first quantitative with taste of what’s wrong the city, an small businesses in towards important first step fixing the problem. of for deTo really make a difference, is a mere formality will have to the work process looking to complete their advocate are the chances course, velopers precinct, but rising rents, -- thanks to a find a way to tackle business’ is being done legally of after-hours projects quickly. their own hours,” which remain many While Chin “They pick out boom in the number throughout who lives on most vexing problem. said Mildred Angelo,of the Ruppert construction permits gauge what Buildings one said it’s too early tocould have the 19th floor in The Department of the city. number three years, the Houses on 92nd Street between role the advocate She on the Over the past is handing out a record work perThird avenues. permits, there, more information of Second and an ongoing all-hours number of after-hours bad thing. of after-hours work the city’s Dept. problem can’t be a said there’s with the mits granted by nearby where according to new data jumped 30 percent, This step, combinedBorough construction project noise Buildings has data provided in workers constantly make efforts by Manhattan to mediate BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS according to DOB of Informacement from trucks. President Gale Brewer offer response to a Freedom classifies transferring they want. They knows the the rent renewal process, request. The city They 6 “They do whatever signs Every New Yorker clang, tion Act go as they please. work between some early, tangible small any construction on the weekend, can come and sound: the metal-on-metal or the piercing of progress. For many have no respect.” can’t come p.m. and 7 a.m., of these that the hollow boom, issuance reverse. owners, in business moving The increased beeps of a truck has generto a correspond and you as after-hours. soon enough. variances has led at the alarm clock The surge in permits
SLEEPS, THANKS TO THE CITY THAT NEVER UCTION A BOOM IN LATE-NIGHT CONSTR NEWS
A glance it: it’s the middle can hardly believe yet construction of the night, and carries on full-tilt. your local police or You can call 311
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and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. The twin buildings were the craftsmanship of Griffith Thomas, “the most fashionable architect of his generation,” according to the American Institute of Architects. The construction exhibits Thomas’ mastery of the Italianate style, with its classic elements from the Renaissance including symmetrical arched windows, fluted columns, cornices and torches.
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