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WEEK OF OCTOBER
11-17 2018
THE SHED’S OPEN CALL ▲ P.12
‘HEY, WE’RE HAVING AN EVENT’ ACTIVISM NYU’s College Democrats are expanding their range of activities as the midterm elections approach BY TEDDY SON
top plastic surgeon and professor of surgery who has been listed in New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors” issue for nine of the past 10 years, is seeking to change that dynamic. He’s mounting a Republican challenge for a state Assembly seat in a
The New York University College Democrats have stepped up their game as the 2018 midterm elections draw closer by the day. The student political club has expanded their range of sponsored events to an almost weekly basis, while also conducting regular panel meetings every Thursday evening. One such event was a panel of speakers discussing foreign policy after Donald Trump’s presidency. Author Peter Beinart, former diplomat and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Mona Sutphen and Center for American Progress member Brian Katulis gathered at the New York University Kimmel Center on September 20 to talk about the future of foreign policy in the Democratic party. These events are not only limited to members of the College Democrats, but also open to general students as well. “We have a very active social media account, and we do try to reach out and promote large events,” said club secretary Arman Becan. “We try to use our reputation, our name recognition to reach out and say ‘Hey, we’re having an event ...’ and of course we encourage anyone who’s interested in liberal and Democratic politics to come to our meetings to learn more.” “There are [students] dissatisfied with the Trump administration and dissatisfied with Republicans in Congress,” said club president Oliver
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Dr. Jeffrey A. Ascherman campaigns on Lexington Avenue and 83rd Street. The Republican physician is running for a state Assembly seat on the Upper East Side and would become the only doctor in the Legislature if he triumphs. Photo courtesy of Dr. Ascherman for Assembly Campaign
THE SURGEON WHO WOULD BE LAWMAKER POLITICS A GOP doctor’s uphill quest to topple an incumbent Democrat and claim an Assembly seat in the old Silk Stocking District BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN
There are four medical doctors in the U.S. Senate and 12 in the House. At least two states are run by physician-governors. There is one on the City Council. And more than 75 serve in statehouses across America. Albany, by contrast, is Nowheresville. Out of 213 elected members in the state Legislature — 63 in the Senate and 150 in the Assembly — there is not a single medical practitioner. That’s been the case for decades. Now, Dr. Jeffrey A. Ascherman, a
I’m a hard-core Democrat. I never supported a Republican in my life. But I’m making an exception for my doctor.” Martha Brumfield, patient of Dr. Jeffrey A. Ascherman
Photo courtesy College Democrats at NYU, via Facebook
We believe that each candidate, each district, each race is unique, so we believe that Democrats need to tailor their message to move along the liberal spectrum from more conservative to more progressive based on what they believe their constituents are.” Arman Becan, club secretary, NYU College Democrats Downtowner
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WEEK OF APRIL
SPRING ARTS PREVIEW < CITYARTS, P.12
FOR HIM, SETTLING SMALL CLAIMS IS A BIG DEAL presided over Arbitration Man has three decades. for informal hearings about it He’s now blogging BY RICHARD KHAVKINE
is the common Arbitration Man their jurist. least folks’ hero. Or at Man has For 30 years, Arbitration court office of the civil few sat in a satellite Centre St. every building at 111 New Yorkers’ weeks and absorbed dry cleaning, burned lost accountings of fender benders, lousy paint jobs, and the like. And security deposits then he’s decided. Arbitration Man, About a year ago, so to not afwho requested anonymity started docuhe fect future proceedings, two dozen of what menting about compelling cases considers his most blog. in an eponymous about it because “I decided to write the stories but in a I was interested about it not from wanted to write from view but rather lawyer’s point of said Arbitration view,” of a lay point lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He first writes about post, renders and then, in a separatehow he arrived his decision, detailing blog the to Visitors at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want whether they unreally want to know and why I did it,” I did derstood what don’t know how to he said. “Most people ... I’d like my cases the judge thinks. and also my trereflect my personalitythe law.” for mendous respect 80, went into indiMan, Arbitration suc in 1985, settling vidual practice
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MANHATTAN'S APARTMENT BOOM, > PROPERTY, P.20
2015
In Brief MORE HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS
The effort to help small seems to businesses in the city be gathering steam. Two city councilmembers, Robert Margaret Chin and Cornegy, have introduced create legislation that wouldSmall a new “Office of the within Business Advocate” of Small the city’s Department Business Services. Chin The new post, which have up told us she’d like to would and running this year, for serve as an ombudsman city small businesses within them clear government, helping to get through the bureaucracy things done. Perhaps even more also importantly, the ombudsman and number will tally the type small business of complaints by taken in owners, the actions policy response, and somefor ways to recommendations If done well, begin to fix things. report would the ombudsman’s give us the first quantitative with taste of what’s wrong the city, an small businesses in towards important first step fixing the problem. of for deTo really make a difference, is a mere formality will have to the work process looking to complete their advocate are the chances course, velopers precinct, but rising rents, -- thanks to a find a way to tackle business’ is being done legally of after-hours projects quickly. their own hours,” which remain many While Chin “They pick out boom in the number throughout who lives on most vexing problem. said Mildred Angelo,of the Ruppert construction permits gauge what Buildings one said it’s too early tocould have the 19th floor in The Department of the city. number three years, the Houses on 92nd Street between role the advocate She 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
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