The local paper for Downtown TIFFANY LAMPS, AND THE WOMEN WHO CREATED THEM ◄ CITY ARTS, P.12
‘VIOLENCE DOESN’T BELONG HERE’ CRIME Book cover of “All Souls at 200.” Cover painting: Melinda Beck
AN UES CHURCH’S MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY RELIGION
The Unitarian Church of All Souls celebrates its 200th year. An excerpt from its official history tells the story of its role in the Civil War. BY MELINDA BECK
The Unitarian Church of All Souls last month celebrated its 200th anniversary as a house of worship that em-
braces everyone, regardless of their religious views. Mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed Nov. 15th, 2019 as “The Unitarian Church of All Souls Day,“ praising its long tradition of promoting social justice, caring for the hungry and homeless, supporting the LGBTQIA community and “providing a haven for all those who wish to engage in a search for truth and mean-
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The murder of Barnard student Tessa Majors continued to inspire grief, anger and demands for action as the search for young suspects went on
WEEK OF DECEMBER
19-25 2019 INSIDE
TALKING TURKEY Nutrition comes with myths and magic. The scientific realities of tryptophan. p. 2
BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
The Upper West Side has been shrouded in grief and candlelight in the days following the murder of firstyear Barnard College student, Tessa Majors, last week. Hundreds came together, bringing flowers and candles in hand, for vigils that honored the life of 18year-old Virginia native — and in mourning, these residents, students and community leaders have asked what could be done to prevent a tragedy such as this, especially as it became clear that the reported suspects were children themselves. At a vigil Sunday evening in Morningside Park — where the homicide took place last Wednesday during an apparent robbery attempt — Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and other elected of-
THAT YANKEES DEAL IS NOT INSANE
Even in New York, $324 million sounds like a lot of money for a pitcher. Here’s why it’s a smart move. p. 9
Tessa Majors in September 2019. Photo: Tessa Majors’ Instagram
ficials talked about the need to make the park and area safe for all of the neighborhood’s children. “Violence does not belong here in Morningside Park,“ said Brewer, adding that the park requires more lighting, cameras and officers on patrol to ensure its safety. Earlier in the week, Brewer met with NYPD top brass, Columbia University public safety officials and
members of the city’s parks department for a walk through Morningside Park to examine how safety could be improved in the park.
Families on Both Sides In his remarks at the vigil, Council Member Mark Levine considered the ages of the current suspects: one a 13-year-old boy who has
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6 WAYS TO HANDLE THE RED & GREEN BLUES
It's hard feeling down during the holidays. What might help. p. 8
A LASTING ARTS LEGACY
After more than a decade of service, Susan Macaluso is stepping down as the creative force behind Goddard Riverside’s many cultural programs. p. 5
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SPRING ARTS PREVIEW
WEEK OF APRIL
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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 a lay point of view,” lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He first writes about post, renders separate a in and then, how he arrived his decision, detailing Visitors to the blog at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want unthey whether really 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 indiArbitration Man, 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 actions the owners, policy response, and somefor ways to recommendations If done well, begin to fix things. report would the ombudsman’s quantitative give us the first with taste of what’s wrong the city, an small businesses in towards important first step problem. the xing fi of deformality for To really make a difference, process is a mere complete their will have to to are the work course, the advocaterising rents, precinct, but chances-- thanks to a velopers looking 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 lives on who problem. Angelo, vexing most said Mildred construction permits gauge what Buildings one of the Ruppert 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 Every New Yorker clang, tion Act tangible signs go as they please. work between early, and some come metal-on-metal can construction any small sound: the or on the weekend, have no respect.” the piercing of progress. For many can’t come p.m. and 7 a.m., the hollow boom, issuance of these business owners, that moving in reverse. as after-hours. The increased beeps of a truck has generto a correspond and you 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
Newscheck
for dollars in fees ated millions of and left some resithe city agency, that the application dents convinced
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