Our Town - March 23, 2017

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The local paper for the Upper East Side HONORING WOMEN’S HISTORY < P. 12

WEEK OF MARCH

23-29 2017

JIMMY BRESLIN’S SACRED AND PROFANE JOURNEY MEDIA Remembering the celebrated columnist, who died at 88 on the Upper West Side, light years away from his early days in Queens BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN

Murder in Manhattan, no matter how varied the circumstances, is invariably horrific, and it is hard to imagine the reporter, however street-toughened, who can’t recall the first he or she ever covered. I was a young police reporter at The New York Post in the mid-1970s when the old police teletype started clattering. Out came what was then called a “slip,” a paper-punched message bearing bare-bones facts of a homicide, and off I raced to a Morningside Avenue crime scene. A detective looked at me with pity: “He was already here.” Who, I wanted to know. “Breslin,” he said. How was this possible? The slip had only moved 20 minutes ago. Maybe someone called him, the detective suggested. A more helpful cop filled in the gaps. Yes, Jimmy Breslin of The Daily News, who did not drive and never would, had arrived by taxi, examined the woman’s body before it was covered by a sheet, interviewed the neighbors, clambered up to the tenement rooftop from which she’d plunged and hitched a ride back to the stationhouse with the commanding officer.

Breslin at the 2008 Brooklyn Book Festival. Photo: David Shankbone, via Wikimedia Commons As if this wasn’t dispiriting enough, I made my way to the precinct, and sure enough, there was Breslin deep in animated conversation with the desk officer, and though I don’t want to venture into the fabulism the columnist sometimes indulged in, he may have had his feet up on the desk, may have been enveloped in cigarette smoke, may have displaced the officer from his own chair, although of these facts I cannot be sure. What I do know with certainty is that this poetic loudmouth — this big, bad, brassy, brilliant, bullying, boorish, cranky, dark-humored columnist who spewed bucketfuls of profanity and pearls of wisdom in equal measure — could also be benevolent, and, grudgingly, infrequently, even kind and tenderhearted.

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The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s director Richard Armstrong said in a statement that cuts to the NEH and NEA would be “catastrophic.” Photo: Kostas Limitsios, via flickr

TRUMP’S CULTURE CUTS FUNDING Local institutions at risk of losing funding under proposed budget BY MICHAEL GAROFALO

President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget calls for eliminating all federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Crime Watch Voices Out & About City Arts

3 8 10 12

Restaurant Ratings Business Real Estate 15 Minutes

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Congress will determine whether the proposed cuts are included in the federal budget, and local groups that stand to be impacted have responded by advocating for the programs’ preservation. The National Endowment for the Arts has a rich history in New York City — the first grant in its history was awarded to the American Ballet Theater in 1965. If approved by Congress, the elimination of the NEA would have a significant impact on many of the city’s cultural institutions. As the New York Times reported recently, New York City groups received more than 10 percent of all funding

awarded by the endowment last year, a greater share than any other city in the country.

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Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday evening 18 minutes before sunset. Friday, March 24 – 6:54 pm. For more information visit www.chabaduppereastside.com

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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SWEET VICTORY SCHOOLS Senior Tori-May Della Pace caps a stellar basketball career at Loyola School BY MICHAEL GAROFALO

Tori-May Della Pace had already distinguished herself as a basketball standout as she began her senior season at Loyola School last fall, having led the Lady Knights in scoring in each of her ďŹ rst three years. But the Upper West Sider was far from ďŹ nished. In her ďŹ nal season, Della Pace, 17, cemented her place in school history by leading her team to the New York City Athletic League championship and its ďŹ rst state tournament appearance since 2011, averaging 18.3 points per game and earning the league’s most valuable player award along the way. “She’s one of the best scorers that I’ve ever coached,â€? Loyola coach David Palladino said. Della Pace’s versatility made her a threat to score from anywhere on the oor, whether driving to the basket or shooting

from long range. The guard ďŹ nished her career with 1,416 points, the third most in the Upper East Side school’s history. Despite her talent as a scorer, Della Pace epitomized unselfish play. “Every single one of those points was with the team in mind,â€? Palladino said. “There were times when I wished she would have kept the ball instead of passing.â€? Anchored by six seniors, the Lady Knights’ aggressive style propelled them to 19 wins and six losses. “Since we had been together for so long, we knew each other and knew how we played, and everybody really stepped up to the plate,â€? Della Pace said. Loyola defeated rival Columbia Prep in the New York City Athletic League championship game in February, a win that carried special significance for the Loyola upperclassmen. “That was our third year playing them in the championship and our ďŹ rst time beating them, so it was nice to ďŹ nally accomplish that,â€? Della Pace said. Della Pace scored her 1,000th career point in December, becoming just the sixth Lady Knight to reach

Tori-May Della Pace scored her 1,000th career point in her senior season and led the Loyola School Lady Knights to the NYCAL championship. Photo: Mark Wyville the milestone. Soon after, she received letters from past team captains and other alumni, many of whom she had never met, congratulating her on the achievement. But the sweetest reward of all came from her coach and teammates: 1,000 Sour Patch Kids, one for each point. In anticipation of the big moment, Palladino enlisted the team to secretly ďŹ nd out Della Pace’s preferred candy, and then walked from store to store buying up every available bag. “She’s a pretty healthy eater in general, so a thousand jars of hummus was probably not going to be viable,â€? he said.

The gift was a hit. “It gave me a cavity,� she said with a laugh. “If you ask anyone about Loyola, they’ll tell you that the community is really supportive,� she said. “I really did feel that with my last year of basketball. You get that at a small school like Loyola.� Della Pace, who also played volleyball for four years at Loyola, is still weighing her college options. Wherever she ends up, she hopes to continue her basketball career and study occupational therapy, a field she became interested in after working with young children as a volunteer with local organizations.

Co-captains Summer O’Sullivan and Tori-May Della Pace (right) of Loyola School celebrate their NYCAL championship victory over Columbia Prep last month. Photo: Mark Wyville

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG TERRIBLE TEN

STATS FOR THE WEEK

A gang of thugs set upon a young man in a public housing complex. At 11:14 p.m. on Friday, March 10, a 27-year-old man was going to meet a woman on the third floor of 55 West 100th Street. When he got to the third floor in the elevator, he was accosted by a perpetrator who punched him in the face and head, causing him to fall to the ground, at which point nine other accomplices began to strike the victim with their closed fists. The muggers then took property from the victim and demanded that he cooperate. The victim struggled to hold onto his cellphone, and was dragged down the stairs before the perpetrators fled. The victim suffered lacerations and abrasions to his face and was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital. The items stolen included an iPhone 5 with an orange case, a black wallet, a TD bank card, and $100 in cash.

Reported crimes from the 19th precinct

BLADE DISPLAYED Police arrested a shoplifter who pulled a knife on a store employee. At 12:54 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7, a male employee of the Westside Market at 2589 Broadway saw a 20-yearold man remove a wine bottle from a shelf and put it inside his jacket.

Week to Date

The shoplifter left without paying. The employee attempted to stop the shoplifter outside; the latter displayed a folding pocket knife and asked, “What are you f*cking going to do about it?” The shoplifter fled on foot southbound on Broadway and west on 97th Street, and initially eluded police. Two days later, police caught up with William Bruhnsen at 258 West 97 Street. He attempted to resist arrest, trying to knock the arresting officer to the ground. The item stolen was a bottle of Château Diana wine valued at $8.

SANTANDER OFFENDER

2017 2016

% Change

2017

2016

% Change

Murder

0

0

n/a

0

0

n/a

Rape

1

0

n/a

3

0

n/a

Robbery

4

1

300.0

13

19

-31.6

Felony Assault

4

0

n/a

31

23

34.8

Burglary

5

3

66.7

38

44

-13.6

Grand Larceny

31

26

19.2

255 261 -2.3

Grand Larceny Auto

0

0

n/a

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after a verbal dispute turned violent. At 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, a 26-year-old woman and her 27-yearold boyfriend were having an argument inside 830 Amsterdam Avenue when the boyfriend struck the woman with an open hand, causing lacerations to her lower lip. The man then threw an unknown object at the victim, injuring her forehead. He also broke her television set and laptop, a combined value of $500. The victim was treated by Emergency Medical Services on the scene. The boyfriend, Glenn Eato, was arrested at 8:58 p.m.

Police made a real arrest following a bank robbery with a simulated weapon. At 4:10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, a 28-year-old man entered the Santander Bank at 2814 Broadway, saying, “I’m here to rob you; give me the money.” Police caught up with Andrew Wallace at 5:50 p.m., arresting him inside 312 West 109th Street.

OPEN HAND, CLOSED CASE A woman’s boyfriend was arrested

Year to Date

5

LIGHT PLIGHT Police are searching for a man who assaulted his wife at 3:30 AM on Wednesday, March 8. A 48-year-old woman got into an argument with her husband in their apartment at 316 West 95th Street because he kept turning on the light while she was trying to sleep. The husband threw a glass at his wife, hitting her arm. The victim refused medical attention, but police were unable to find her husband, who fled the scene.

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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Useful Contacts POLICE NYPD 19th Precinct

153 E. 67th St.

212-452-0600

FDNY 22 Ladder Co 13

159 E. 85th St.

311

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157 E. 67th St.

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1836 Third Ave.

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CREATIVE PROCESS BY PETER PEREIRA

CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Daniel Garodnick

211 E. 43rd St. #1205

212-818-0580

Councilmember Ben Kallos

244 E. 93rd St.

212-860-1950

STATE LEGISLATORS State Sen. Jose M. Serrano

1916 Park Ave. #202

212-828-5829

State Senator Liz Krueger

1850 Second Ave.

212-490-9535

Assembly Member Dan Quart

360 E. 57th St.

212-605-0937

Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright

1365 First Ave.

212-288-4607

COMMUNITY BOARD 8

505 Park Ave. #620

212-758-4340

LIBRARIES Yorkville

222 E. 79th St.

212-744-5824

96th Street

112 E. 96th St.

212-289-0908

67th Street

328 E. 67th St.

212-734-1717

Webster Library

1465 York Ave.

212-288-5049

100 E. 77th St.

212-434-2000

HOSPITALS Lenox Hill NY-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell

525 E. 68th St.

212-746-5454

Mount Sinai

E. 99th St. & Madison Ave.

212-241-6500

NYU Langone

550 First Ave.

212-263-7300

CON EDISON

4 Irving Place

212-460-4600

POST OFFICES US Post Office

1283 First Ave.

212-517-8361

US Post Office

1617 Third Ave.

212-369-2747

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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(#/+.; 2*1615 1( 1.& ENTER OUR CONTEST

Go to OurTownNY.com and click on Photo Contest Do you have photos of your immigrant ancestors? Enter them, or any old time family photo, in our contest. Tell us the story behind the picture, approximate year it was taken and who is in the photo and we may publish it in an upcoming edition of the paper. Winner will be selected by amount of votes received.

Submissions will be entered to win 2 tickets to Noel Coward’s Present Laughter!

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MARCH 23-29,2017

NOT SO FAST WITH THE BUBBLY POLITICAL LIVES For deBlasio, ducking legal jeopardy isn’t the same as escaping political peril BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN

Only twice in the past half-century has an incumbent mayor ever lost a Democratic primary — and the late Edward I. Koch figured in both the winning and losing sides of that equation. In 1977, he triumphed over Mayor Abe Beame, who mustered 18 percent in a seven-candidate field. But in 1989, in his bid for a fourth term, Koch was foiled by David Dinkins, who tallied 51 percent of the ballot. The odds of such a historical anomaly repeating itself just got a whole lot tougher after prosecutors on March 16 disclosed that Mayor Bill de Blasio, who had been bedeviled by twin federal and state probes of his fundraising practices, would not face criminal charges. “If he got indicted, it might have made a difference,” said James McManus, 82, who is fluent in the fallout from scandal as political scion of the McManus Midtown Democratic Club, a Tammany Hall-style clubhouse on the West Side run by his family since 1891. “But people get investigated all the time,” said McManus, who took over as club boss when his father died in 1963. “Nothing happens. They come back stronger.” The bottom line with less than six months to go before the Democratic mayoral primary on September 12: “It now looks like de Blasio is going to be cruising toward victory,” said Keith Wright, the leader of the New York County Democratic Committee since 2009 and a former state Assemblyman from Harlem. Not so fast opening the champagne at Gracie Mansion. Ducking legal jeopardy isn’t the same as escaping political peril. When law enforcers tell the world your finances are sketchy, your campaign unseemly, your behavior deep into the margins of the law, it is not exactly a gold star in civics class. “The devil is in some very significant language used by prosecutors that could give an opponent arguments and advertisements in a low-turnout election,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political strategist who worked on Mark Green’s mayoral run

The devil is in some very significant language used by prosecutors that could give an opponent arguments and advertisements in a lowturnout election.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio visits the Upper West Side during the snowstorm on March 14. Photo: Edwin J. Torres/Mayoral Photo Office.

Hank Sheinkopf, Democratic political strategist in 2001 and cut his teeth on Herman Badillo’s bid in 1969. A would-be rival, for instance, could craft a TV or web spot quoting Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who rebuked the mayor for breaching the “intent and spirit of the law” on campaign contribution caps. Or imagine an attack ad citing an unimpeachable source, say, Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim, who said de Blasio “solicited donations” from people who “sought official favors from the city,” then made inquiries on “behalf of those donors.” An indictment might have proved a near-death experience, but a televised or digital broadside would also exact a toll. But where are the presumptive challengers who would create it? Among cognoscenti, it’s widely known that Governor Andrew Cuomo has been quietly urging a few potential Democratic A-listers to run, including Comptroller Scott Stringer, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, whose district takes in a swath of Brooklyn and Queens. Stringer has been the most visible recently, but none have taken the bait. A Quinnipiac University poll, released two weeks before de Blasio dodged indictment, gave him a commanding 43 percent of the vote in a hypothetical Democratic primary, trouncing the comptroller and Diaz, who managed a mere 10 and 6 percent respectively. “The governor doesn’t like the mayor, and it’s obvious that he would be supportive of anyone who could give a mayor a real contest,” said political consultant George Arzt, who served as Koch’s third-term press secretary in the late 1980s. “But I don’t think he’s going to stick his neck out for just anyone.” With the legal cloud lifted, most toptier players will be unlikely to step

Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray at New York City’s LGBT Pride March in June 2016 with Gov. Cuomo (left) and Hillary Clinton. Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office forward, Arzt said. Even the founderfunder-organizer-webmaster-andcheerleader for the Never-de Blasio movement seemed ready to throw in the towel. Brad Tusk, ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s third-term campaign manager in 2009, has been courting possible candidates, actively seeking to topple the mayor and running a blog that says it all — NYCDeservesBetter.com. “We’re not going to tilt at windmills,” said Tusk, who has spent $62,656 of his own money on video ads and online policy papers opposing the incumbent. He said his group would still back a viable opponent if one surfaces, but added, “It’s pretty clear that the

people who could pose a threat in a primary are not going to run … It’s politics, so anything can happen, but unless someone steps up, de Blasio is not going to lose.” Still, a couple of X-factors could transform the dynamic overnight, and one of them is a recently-fired crimefighter who launched the de Blasio probe, investigated Team Cuomo, depopulated the state Legislature and racked up steep conviction rates in public corruption, terrorism and Wall Street cases. Abruptly axed by President Donald Trump on March 11 after refusing to step down, ex-U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara was promptly drafted to run, for an unidentified office, by Public

Advocate Letitia James, whose own name has been in the mayoral mix and who fired off a three-word tweet: “Run, Preet, Run.” His future career moves remain unknown. But the New York electorate has a tradition of rewarding its storied racket-busters, like Thomas E. Dewey, the Manhattan district attorney who became a three-term governor and twice defeated GOP candidate for president, and Rudy Giuliani, the U.S. Attorney who became a two-term mayor and also ran an abortive campaign for the White House. Then there’s the matter of a certain theater-going Chappaqua resident who locked up 86 percent of the Manhattan ballot in her last outing and still makes the pulse quicken and the heart race in some quarters of the city. “Nobody’s ever a shoo-in, but if Hillary Clinton were to show up, it would be a complete walkaway,” Sheinkopf says. Tusk says she could prove the only viable challenger, but given the absence of charges, he doubts she’ll jump in. Matched head-to-head with de Blasio in Quinnipiac’s January poll, Clinton bested him by a 49-to-30 percent margin. And don’t fret too much that she lives in Westchester County, where Bharara is also domiciled: state law merely mandates that a mayoral aspirant be a New York City resident on Election Day. What would McManus do if she runs? Well, de Blasio has been a “pretty good mayor,” he said. “Hillary has been a good friend who came to my clubhouse several years ago.” So his club will see how things go and look very closely at them both before deciding. And then he added cryptically, “The McManuses proved that you can fool all of the people all of the time.” Hello? What does that mean in the mayoral context exactly? “We’ll see,” he said. There was no additional explanation.

MARCH 23-29,2017

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CAMP REACCLIMATES EXPATS’ KIDS TO U.S. After time away, distilling American culture alongside peers BY MELISSA RAYWORTH

When her kids were younger, Marty Merkt would y them across the world each year from their home in China as soon as school ended. They’d arrive in the U.S. and spend a day or two sleeping off their jet lag. Then they’d pile in the car and drive several hours to summer camp in northern Wisconsin. After 10 months amid skyscrapers in sprawling Shanghai, Merkt’s children would plunge into a traditional American summer, hiking and camping and roasting marshmallows under the stars. Some of those same experiences can be had in China, of course. But many American parents who are raising kids abroad see summer camp as a vital tool in helping their expat offspring feel at home in their country of origin.

Learning about America Brief family vacations in the U.S. just don’t connect children with American culture the way that a month of swimming and boat rowing and soccer playing with other American kids can. For some, it’s literally an introduction to America. Melanie Horton’s son was an American boy by passport, but

was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan, while she worked as a teacher in Department of Defense schools. “This is basically home for him,� she says of Japan. “This is what he knows.� An accomplished athlete, he now attends summer sports camps on the UCLA campus, learning about American life while doing football — American football — drills. Expat kids deal with “not being hip to everything in the States,� Horton says. When so much is unfamiliar, “you go to the mall and you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, wow!’� Time spent socializing with camp friends can help bridge that gap. Liz Klimek’s kids were raised in Japan and Korea, and their main experience of America has been sleepaway soccer camp in Texas and Missouri. Basic things like the size of portions at U.S. restaurants and the sweetness of American candy gave them culture shock. But camp has helped them connect with U.S. culture and forge friendships that will, she hopes, make any future move back to America less jarring.

The ultimate change of pace American summer camp is also a powerful antidote to the controlled lives many expat kids live. Anh Ruwitch and her husband have raised their boys in Hong Kong, Ha-

noi and now Shanghai. The boys have always had nannies, she says, and are never without adult supervision. Many expat families also have housekeepers, so the kids rarely make their beds or do other household chores. Last summer Ruwitch was excited to send her oldest, age 10, to the same summer camp that his father and grandfather attended in Wisconsin. He has always been self-motivated, she says, but she “wanted him to have a little grit,â€? get dirty and experience a month of life without too many conveniences. At camp, he did his own laundry and swept his cabin oor. He had the freedom to plan his own day, choosing among a slate of outdoor activities. On sunny afternoons, he’d walk with a group of other kids — no grown-ups — down a tree-lined road to get ice cream. He was also responsible for writing letters to his parents, and couldn’t use digital devices or other screens. Although three of his Chinese friends ew to the U.S. to attend the camp with him, his parents made sure all three boys didn’t bunk in the same cabin. So he made friends with American kids, even as he deepened ties with his school friends from Shanghai.

Preparing for the future Summer athletic camps also can help

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Ben Sutherland, via ickr teens establish credentials for playing sports in college — something American kids do simply by playing sports in their towns or at school. “We do the camps so the kids can be seen for soccer,â€? Klimek says. This summer, their youngest son will go to California for an American football camp. “He wants to improve his skills, and the only football teams in

Okinawa belong to the two American high schools,� she says. Horton’s son, raised playing soccer in Japan, has quickly become a football star. But his camp experiences have been good for him even beyond athletics. He has grown, Horton says, “so he’s not totally dumbfounded if he decides to go back and live in the States.�

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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Voices

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BIG’S IN — SMALL’S OUT EAST SIDE OBSERVER BY ARLENE KAYATT

Down by the East River side — The UES part of the East River Esplanade is hopefully in its final phases with expected date of completion sometime in 2018. Hard to know how realistic that date is. As a result of the Marine Transfer Station construction on the esplanade, a shed was built north of 91st Street, separating the river from the walkway so that runners could run, walkers could walk, and everyone could enjoy while the construction was going on. However, runners and walkers are finding that the bright blue shed through which they have to run and walk is dilapidated and a safety hazard with broken pave-

ment, poor lighting, potholes, and rain bringing sometimes knee-deep puddles. There are remedies — repave the walkway, get better lighting, add viewing inserts into the walls so there’s light coming in and a view of the waterfront. Right now, it’s dangerous. Responsible parties and agencies have to step up to the plate, and that includes the Departments of Sanitation, of Design and Construction, maybe the Parks Department. Maybe others. No more status quo. Let the safety measures begin. Bad for business — No matter how you say it, or how many times you say it, it’s all true and not good: small businesses are a dying breed in Manhattan. Walk up and down the UES and you see For Rent and

Going Out of Business signs galore. Charming restaurants like Le Monet, Brio in the 60s on Lex are out. And no more China Fun at the corner of 64th and Second. Why all the restaurant closings? Blame rents. Blame changing dining-out alternatives such as Blue Apron, Fresh Direct, and the like. Blame rising costs and wages. All contribute to the cost of operating a small business. But let’s not have to include arbitrary, onerous city rules, regulations, and enforcement procedures among the reasons — or the reason for the closings. If there’s a violation, absent emergency, why can’t inspection or compliance be made on prior notice to the establishment involved? If that’s not policy, then at a reasonable time and not during a busy dinner hour with the threat of closing down the restaurant while customers are having dinner if the restaurant doesn’t come up with paperwork that could have been retrieved during the day when there

was no business — which means Fire Department enforcers, in full regalia, arriving at prime dinner hour. That’s what happened at Bistro 61 at the corner of 61st and First, when the Fire Department arrived at 7:30 pm with a demand that they be shown certain records then and there. And in the absence of immediate compliance, the restaurant would be shut down, after letting customers leave, I assume. (Don’t imagine holding them hostage was part of the plan.) The manager asked if they could come back the next day at an earlier hour? No. Immediately. Or shut down and fines. No way to run a city that wants to keep businesses in business. Understood that the coffers have to be filled, but good policy dictates reasonable enforcement remedies. Our town needs its small businesses. Badly. Falling blocks, neighborhoods lost — Rumor has it that the low-rise buildings on First between 79th and

80th, northeast side of street, are going to be demolished for another towering high-rise. The businesses along the avenue are gone or in the process of going. Only Italian Village and the grocery market on the corner remain. The wine store was in the midst of packing and moving a block or two south. The demolition would be following in the footsteps of the low-rise buildings at 310, 312, 314 East 86th. Recently, as reported in The Real Deal and DNAInfo, the deed for these three buildings was transferred by the seller (a subsidiary of Extell Development) to the buyer, a subsidiary of Izaki Group Investments. The three buildings are on the same side of the street as the entrance to the newly opened Second Avenue subway station, and the new owner will have the right to build a development of up to 70 thousand square feet wide and up to 210 feet high on the site, as reported by The Real Deal. Big’s in. Small’s out.

MOTHERS AND NOSY NELLIES It’s tough to travel around the city with young children,. But addressing those who have no business addressing you can backfire. BY LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL

“I want to smack everyone on 86th Street.” That was how I greeted my husband in lieu of, “Hello.” He rolled his eyes, and said, “Who said something to you this time?” The answer as always was, “Everybody.” That conversation took place over 20 years ago, but came rushing back to me when I read about Breonna Turk, the 24-year-old mother at the Q subway station on 86th and Second, who got so angry at a 71-year-old woman’s comment directed towards her 4-yearold child that she allegedly whacked the elder with her own cane. I don’t condone such actions, but I understand. They are fantasies for those who travel with a small child in tow or in a stroller with another 40 pounds of diaper and grocery bags hanging off it.

My children are both in college now, but in the late ‘90s and early aughts, I had at least one child under the age of five by my side at all times, and fielded my share of gratuitous comments. I’m not breaking new ground here when I say motherhood is a hard gig, especially when your children are very young. But some people need to be reminded that living your life and tending to your family with a minientourage can be quite stressful. It is our job, though, so we pack the stroller and go about our business. The problem is, nobody seems to be able to mind theirs. Not a day went by when I did not feel like a scandal-ridden celebrity walking through crowds with people yelling admonishments at me. All that was missing were the paparazzi. Sometimes one person would remark upon me to someone else, as if I wasn’t standing there. A standout moment was by Papaya King, when an inebriated woman questioned my mothering skills to her intoxicated companion.

There always seemed to be someone giving me a shoutout that ranged from the benign: “That child should have his gloves on.” To the snotty: “That thing is in my way.” To the judgmental: “Your son should be walking, not riding on the stroller’s step.” The thing that kept me from taking these gratuitous comments totally personally was seeing that I was not the only parent being targeted by my city’s Nosy Nellies. I was once on the M31 bus and watched a middle-aged woman browbeat a five-year-old over a seat. The girl’s father, who was sitting next to her, jumped up and gave the woman his. Yet she sat down and kept admonishing the child. The father tried a rational argument: “You wanted a seat. You’ve got a seat.” The woman kept insulting the girl, which came to an end only because the man took his daughter off the bus at the next stop. The one thing that every human being has in common with every other human being is that we all started

Alleged assailant Breonna Turk at 86th Street station of the Second Avenue subway. Courtesy of NYPD, 19th Precinct. out as children. We know that from the ages of 0 to 60 months, we are just learning how to be people, and don’t always do it right. No matter how many times mothers say, “Don’t do that,” kids do it anyway because the lack of impulse control kicks in. It’s fun to sing at the top of one’s lungs, push all the buttons in the elevator and, like the boy at the Q station, run through a crowd instead of waiting one’s turn. What exactly is gained by wondering aloud why a mother doesn’t teach her child some manners? Something tells me it was the last straw for a mother

already at the end of her rope. Maybe her anxieties got the best of her and she decided to live the fantasy by getting physical. The problem with addressing people who have no business addressing you is that it defeats the purpose, because like Turk, you could end up in jail, not being able to protect the child you were trying to defend in the first place. Lorraine Duffy Merkl is the author of the novels “Back to Work She Goes,” and “Fat Chick,” for which a movie version is in the works.

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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HOW TO SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS Elected officials solicit votes for participatory budgeting BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

What would you do with a million dollars? Each year, some New York City Council members ask this of their constituents, offering up at least a million dollars in taxpayer money for brick-andmortar projects like new laptops for a public

school or improved landscaping in a neighborhood park. The concept, known as participatory budgeting, allows citizens more direct control over where their money goes — and originated in Brazil. “Many participatory budgeting programs have an outsize impact because they focus resources on areas that have lower incomes and fewer public services,” reported the Washington Post after a study of the initiative was released in 2014. The

Housing

Education JREC Auditorium Renovation

317 East 67th Street ($750,000) Julia Richman Education Complex auditorium renovation.

PS 183 Green Science and STEM Lab Classroom

419 East 66th Street ($600,000) Hydroponic laboratory for a classroom to improve STEM curriculum and enhance green initiatives for the community.

Eleanor Roosevelt H.S. Auditorium Renovation

411 East 76th Street ($750,000) Extend stage, fix sound and lighting system, replace seats and floor to improve view, capacity, and support athletics.

PS 198/77 Playground Renovation

1700 Third Avenue ($500,000) Provide resurfacing and equipment for play area servicing two public elementary schools, and remove diseased tree.

PS 77 Music Room Renovation

1700 Third Avenue ($500,000) Soundproof room with new flooring to limit disturbing adjacent instruction. Add instrument storage and replace sink.

BRESLIN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “He talked like a longshoreman but he wrote like an angel,” said longtime press agent, publicist and political-fixer Morty Matz, 92, who was immortalized in a Breslin column as the man who invented the use of the draped raincoat during perp walks to conceal the presence of a suspect’s handcuffs. The two used to dine together at the old Mamma Leone’s in the 1960s. All of this came rushing back with word that the 88-year-old, self-styled greatest-columnistin-the-world-with-the-Pulitzer-to-prove-it had died of pneumonia on March 19 at the West Side home he shared with his second wife, ex-City Councilwoman Ronnie Eldridge. It was quite a journey: Breslin fancied himself the “unlettered bum” from Jamaica, Queens, he championed the blue-collar citizenry with

study showed that, in Brazil, participatory budgeting didn’t make a huge dent in the short term, but that it went a long way toward improving citizens’ quality of life. Inspired by Brazil’s success, Council members Brad Lander and Jumaane D. Williams of Brooklyn, Melissa Mark-Viverito of Manhattan and Eric Ulrich of Queens were the first to try the program in their districts in 2012. Now, according to Mark-Viverito’s website, 31 of the 51 districts participate. Council Member Ben Kallos, who has offered the program in his Upper East Side district since he took office in 2014, said it was important for him to “empower residents.” “All too often, people have to vote for representa-

Lexington Houses Layered Access Lexington Ave. between E. 98th & 99th Streets ($500,000) Add key fob electronic entry system for lobbies of Lexington Houses. Lexington Houses West Playground Renovation Lexington Ave. between E. 98th & 99th Streets ($500,000) New equipment for west playground. Stanley Isaacs Layered Access East 93rd Street & First Avenue ($500,000) Add key fob electronic entry system for lobbies of Stanley Isaacs.

Security Cameras for Holmes Tower s East 93rd Street & First Avenue ($500,000) Add new security cameras for increased safety for residents of Holmes Towers.

whom he shared roots, and he elevated the vast expanse of Queens Boulevard, which Manhattanites can be forgiven for finding a tad prosaic, by proclaiming it the “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” Yet for years, until Sunday, he lived in Eldridge’s spread on Central Park West, light years away from his beloved courthouses in Kew Gardens, bookie parlors in Maspeth, social clubs in South Ozone Park and gin mills in the Rockaways. No matter. No one was truer to his origins. Take a look at the old Daily News Building the next time you walk past East 42nd Street, and you’ll see a grand three-story limestone entryway with a bas-relief of the people of New York, the rays of the sun shining through, and an arched inscription trumpeting the words, “HE MADE SO MANY OF THEM.” The Art Deco building was completed in 1930, and ever since, people have gazed up in puzzle-

ment. But the explanation is simple. It is a line attributed to Abraham Lincoln, “God must love the common people because he made so many of them.” Breslin was a two-fisted Everyman who loved them, too, and he relished duking it out on behalf of those he saw as disenfranchised. And that takes me back to the east side of Morningside Park in the high-crime ‘70s and the sad saga of a young African-American woman, who, in police jargon, “fell, jumped or was pushed” from seven or eight stories to her death. Cops swiftly ruled out the first two. I vaguely remember Breslin and the desk officer batting around theories. Did the superintendent have a criminal record? Had the victim been romantically involved with a tenant? More likely was their view that a miscreant had probably followed her home from the park. But what I remember with great clarity was Breslin’s outrage. You see, the poor woman lived on what had become known as the “wrong side

tives and hope that that representative will keep their word and do what they said,” Kallos said. “[Participatory budgeting] might be the first time voters see those promises kept.” For constituents of council members Kallos, Helen Rosenthal and Corey Johnson, voting opens this upcoming Saturday, March 25 and ends on Sunday, April 2. As many winning projects as possible will be funded until each district’s allotted money runs out, so in many cases more than one project will be realized. Residents can vote either online or at any of several designated locations in each neighborhood for up to five projects.

Parks & Recreation Irrigate the Esplanade East River Esplanade ($1,000,000) Irrigation for the East River Esplanade from 90th to 96th Street to water trees and vegetation.

Transportation 1 Bus Clocks for Northbound M15 & M3

First and York Avenues ($350,000) Add northbound bus clocks to M15 & M31 in District 5 to display wait for next bus (adds to bus clocks funded in 2014).

of the park.” Back then, junkies, dealers and muggers found sanctuary amid its thick forests. Largely unpoliced, the park had morphed into a no-man’s land separating Morningside Heights and Columbia University to the west, atop the hill, from Harlem to the east, at its base. Crime spilled over onto both sides, of course. But typically, when it happened near Columbia, it was front-page news, like the stabbing death in 1972 of Dr. Wolfgang Friedmann, a law professor and refugee from Nazi Germany, who was mugged on Amsterdam Avenue near 122nd Street. It was Breslin’s impassioned belief that when tragedy strikes at the bottom of the hill, it is just as searing and visceral and horrific an attack on New York City and all New Yorkers as when tragedy strikes at the top of the hill. He felt the victims merit the same kind of coverage, and that we, the journalists who report on these terrors, are duty-bound to provide it.

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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Thu 23 HIDDEN RULES CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave. Rm. 5318. 4:30 p.m. Free. How Asian-American collegeeducated, 2nd-gen. children of immigrants navigate the work world; the extent race and ethnicity figure in career paths. 212-817-7000. gc.cuny.edu

KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS▲ Scandinavian House, 58 Park Ave. 8 p.m. $25. Concert features works of Gershwin, Rachmaninoff, Tschaikowsky and Liszt, followed by informal commentary on the music, composers and performance. 212-779-3587. scandinaviahouse.org

Fri 24 ART ADDICT Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave. 1-3 p.m. Free with admission. Documentary “Peggy

Guggenheim: Art Addict” is about how the heiress to a family fortune, ahead of her time, became a central figure in the modern art movement. 212-423-3500. guggenheim. org

PIANO WORKS Turtle Bay Music School, 244 East 52nd St. 7 p.m. Free. RSVP. Faculty member Paula Biedma’s “compelling and passionate” style highlighted in her performance of works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Rachmaninoff. 212-753-8811. tbms.org

Sat 25 STÉRÉOKIDS Cultural Services of the French Embassy, 972 Fifth Ave. 2-5 p.m. Free. Dance party for kids, 3 +, led by French DJ Pedro Winter (Busy P) and friends So-Me (Parisian artist), StretchArmstrong, hip-hop icon, and others. 212-355-6100. tiltkidsfestival. org

THE HAIRY APE Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Ave. 8-10 p.m. $60 Performance of Eugene O’Neill’s play “The Hairy Ape,” about an unthinking laborer searching for sense of belonging in a world controlled by wealthy. 212-616-3930. armoryonpark. org

Sun 26 HERSTORY DAY Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free with museum admission. Intergenerational celebration of women’s history in NYC with focus on quilting, archiving and art practices. 212-534-1672. mcny.org

GREEK PARADE Fifth Avenue, 64th-79th Sts. 1:30 p.m. A NYC tradition celebrated since 1938, the parade commemorates the Declaration of Greek Independence from the Ottoman Empire on March 25, 1821. 718-204-6500. hellenicsocieties.org

MARCH 23-29,2017

Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 GUITAR QUARTET▲

PATRICIA BOSWORTH

Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave. 6 p.m. Free. Reputed as one of the finest guitar ensembles in the world, the Canadian Guitar Quartet performs a mix of original and classical repertoire. 866-811-4111. baruch.cuny. edu

Shakespeare & Co., 939 Lexington Ave. 6:30 p.m. A book signing event for “The Men in My Life,” a memoir by journalist, biographer and former actress Patricia Bosworth. 212-772-3400. shakeandco. com

I AM MALALA Bonjour Crepes & Wine, 1585 Second Ave. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Discussion about the book “I am Malala,” hosted by Theta Phi Alpha, NYC Alumnae Assoc, “to honor this amazing woman during Women’s History Month.” 212-535-3140. mybonjour.net

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DRAWINGS & GLASS Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73rd St. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Opening reception for “Zdenek Lhotsky: Drawings and Glass,” featuring glass objects and large drawings on paper by the Czech artist and designer. 646-422-3399. mzv.cz/ newyork

BALLET FOR ADULTS▼ 67th Street Library, 328 East 67th St. 2 p.m. Free. Experience the ballerina in oneself and the joy of dancing in a class that combines ballet and exercise for older adults. 212-734-1717. nypl.com

STAY MOTIVATED Science, Industry and Business Library, 188 Madison Ave. 6 p.m. Free. Job hunting is stressful and Kristina Leonardi helps people re-evaluate overall career and job strategies “with successful and accelerated results.” 212-592-7000. nypl.org/ locations/sibl

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Rendering of Women’s Voices, Fourth Floor. Courtesy of New York-Historical Society

Billie Jean King and New-York Historical Society President and CEO Louise Mirrer examine objects donated by King to New-York Historical’s Center for Women’s History. The objects include the lace dress she wore at the 1971 US Open in Forest Hills, Queens and at Wimbledon in 1972. Photo: Glenn Castellano, New-York Historical Society

HONORING WOMEN’S HISTORY MUSEUMS The New-York Historical Society will open a brand-new center this spring BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

This Women’s History Month has seen its share of tributes to female accomplishment, from physical ones like the “Fearless Girl” statue on Wall Street to calls for a national museum in Washington, D.C. The latter may only be in the hypothetical stage, but the New-York Historical Society is planning to open a brand-new Center for Women’s History this spring that will help fill the gap. The center will feature exhibits of Tiffany lamps, portraits of America’s founding mothers and tennis apparel worn by superstar Billie Jean King. Recently released renderings show cool, dark galleries with elegant glass features. “There isn’t any museum where women’s history in the general sense is on the permanent agenda,” Louise Mirrer, president and chief executive of the historical society, told the New York Times. “There just isn’t.”

MARCH 23-29,2017

Rendering of glass staircase in the Tiffany Gallery. Courtesy of New-York Historical Society

MARCH 23-29,2017

JOHN KRTIL FUNERAL HOME; YORKVILLE FUNERAL SERVICE, INC.

CULTURE CUTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In 2016, the NEA awarded $14.9 million to 419 organizations based in the city, according to a report published this month by the city comptroller’s office. Since 2000, Manhattan nonproďŹ ts have received $189.5 million in funding from the NEA. Among the Manhattan organizations that received NEA funding last year is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The President’s budget released today proposing the elimination of funding for the NEA, NEH and IMLS is shortsighted and does a terrible disservice to the American people,â€? Thomas P. Campbell, the museum’s director, and Daniel H. Weiss, the museum’s president, said in a statement. Other fixtures of New York cultural community joined the Met in voicing opposition to the cuts. The Museum of Modern Art called the groups “a vital stimulus and catalystâ€? and vowed to work to ensure their continued existence. Richard Armstrong, director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, said in a statement that cuts to the NEH and NEA would be “catastrophic.â€? “Economically, the President’s proposal is without merit,â€? he said. “Symbolically, it represents a historic and troubling repudiation of expression and the vital role that art plays in a curious, open and engaged society.â€? In a statement released before the proposed budget was announced, the directors of the

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The American Museum of Natural History received a $150,000 grant last year from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, which would lose all federal funding under President Donald Trump’s proposed budget. Photo: William Alatriste/New York City Council Lincoln Center’s various programs advocated for continued federal funding of the NEA. “The total cost of the NEA is less than one dollar a year for every American,� the statement read. “But because it is so successful and its imprimatur so prestigious, every dollar the NEA contributes leads to nine additional dollars being donated from other sources. A great America needs that kind of return.� Manhattan institutions that received funding from Institute of Museum and Library Services in recent years include the New York Public Library, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, the Children’s Muse-

um of Manhattan, the Museum of the City of New York, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the New-York Historical Society, and the American Museum of Natural History. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds public broadcasting across the country, including local television and radio stations like WNYC and WNET Thirteen. WNET President and CEO Neal Shapiro called the proposed cut “terrible news for us, and for our members and viewers� in a message asking supporters to donate to the station and contact legislators in support of public broadcasting.

WINNING THE (LITERARY) POPULAR VOTE READING New Yorkers opted to read “Americanah� for the citywide book club BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

And the winner is ... “Americanah� by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. After a month of online voting, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has announced that New Yorkers picked the 2013 novel to read in what the agency hopes will be a citywide book club. “One of my characters talks about how Americans are always excited,� Adichie says in a video released on BuzzFeed. “Today, like Americans, I am

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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

so excited that you chose my book.â€? The four other nominated books were “Between the World and Meâ€? by Ta-Nehisi Coates, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Waoâ€? by Junot DĂ­az, “The Selloutâ€? by Paul Beatty and “A Tree Grows in Brooklynâ€? by Betty Smith. “Americanahâ€? is a story of race, identity and relationships from Nigeria to the United States. The book won the National Book Critics Circle award for ďŹ ction, and it was recently announced that a ďŹ lm adaptation will be made starring Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo. Copies will be available throughout the public library system, and digital library service Scribd is offering the audiobook version for

Adichie with her book. Photo: Danny Menendez for BuzzFeed free to new members. Readers are encouraged to start book clubs and participate in the conversation using the hashtag #OneBookNY.

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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THE BUSINESS OF RESISTANCE BY STEVE PEOPLES

RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS MAR 8 - 15, 2017 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 Neil’s Cofee Shop

961 Lexington Avenue

A

Fratellis

1317 1 Avenue

A

Jones Wood Foundry

401 East 76 Street

A

Texas Rotisserie

1315 1St Ave

A

Little Luzzo’s

119 East 96 Street

A

The Daisy

1641 2Nd Ave

A

Eddie’s Deli & Pizza

184 E 116Th St

A

Little Caesars

1936 3Rd Ave

Not Yet Graded (43) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Appropriately scaled metal stem-type thermometer or thermocouple not provided or used to evaluate temperatures of potentially hazardous foods during cooking, cooling, reheating and holding. No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment.

Blimpie

1928 3 Avenue

A

Rong Sheng Chinese Restaurant

2102 2 Avenue

A

Fu Wing Garden

153 E 106Th St

A

Delicias Mexicanas

2109 3 Avenue

A

Lechonera Tropical & Grill 172 East 103 Street

A

Lion Lion

Not Yet Graded (29) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. 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.

332 E 116Th St

Do

something

have

Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets during the Women’s March on NYC, January 21, 2017. Photo: Mathias Wasik, via flickr

The New York-based networking site will unveil plans in the coming days to partner with a labor group — under the guidance of a former Hillary Clinton aide — to coordinate protests among more than 120,000 activists already involved with anti-Trump Meetup groups. It’s a risky move for a tech company that has helped millions come together to share interests of all kinds, from hiking to languages to President Donald Trump himself. But it reflects an increasing willingness of some major technology firms to push back against the Republican president. Meetup CEO Scott Heiferman told The Associated Press that the new arrangement, to be known only as (hash)Resist, gives the loosely organized protest movement the infrastructure needed to execute large responses to the new president’s policies. “It’s one thing for a CEO to say, ‘I’m going to stand up against a politician,’” Heiferman said. “It’s even further for the company itself to mobilize people.” For Heiferman and other tech leaders, Trump’s push to block immigration from several Muslim-majority countries marked a tipping point. “When a certain line is crossed,” he said, “we have a civic duty not to be quiet.” The White House did not respond to a request Friday for comment about Meetup’s plans. About 40 technology companies met privately this month

The Meetup software is “ready-made for rapid response,” Morales Rocketto said, and has already been used to mobilize Trump protesters in recent weeks. Meetup won’t be restricting the ability of pro-Trump groups to use its main site, which it insists is nonpartisan. Marketing and branding experts suggest that in the short run, it could be a zero sum game for companies that wade into politics. Inevitably, some offended customers will leave, while others take their place. Yet, typically, customers who agree with a business’ political stand have short memories, said marketing Professor Larry Chiagouris, of Pace University’s Lubin School of Business. “Those who are hostile have longer memories and are more likely to hold a grudge,” he said. Political consultant Liz Mair, who also advises private businesses, warned that the biggest risk in this case “is Trump taking retaliatory action against entities he sees as inherently opposed to him.” Ultimately, however, political stands by businesses often have little long-term impact on a company’s brand, said Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys Inc., a New York customer research firm. “It’s a little thing at best,” he said. Neil Blumenthal, co-CEO of the web-based global eyewear retailer Warby Parker, which was among the companies that filed legal briefs opposing Trump’s immigration and transgender policies, acknowledged political activism could turn some consumers off. “There’s always the risk that when you stand for something there can be a backlash,” Blumenthal said. “The bigger risk is to stand for nothing.”

us to

?

into

Meetup.com is taking a leap into the Trump protest movement

in New York City to brainstorm ways to push back against Trump policies on immigration, transgender protections, women’s health and arts funding, as well as more traditional technology issues like net neutrality and encryption. The meeting was designed to “get beyond handwringing and move toward real action,” said Michal Rosenn, general counsel for the Brooklyn-based company Kickstarter. Kickstarter and Meetup were also among 58 technology companies that signed a friend-of-the-court brief on Tuesday charging that the White House’s revised immigration plan would harm their employees and customers. Airbnb, Apple, Twitter and Yelp filed a court brief late last month to protest the Trump administration’s decision to rescind guidance that instructed schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms that match their gender identity. The car service Lyft recently pledged $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union. Meetup, which employs 175 people and claims 30 million users worldwide, has gone further than most. Disturbed by Trump’s initial push for a travel ban, the firm held a company-wide “resist-athon” last month and unveiled more than 1,000 new “(hash) resist” Meetup groups that didn’t have to pay the standard $15 monthly fee to advertise their events on the site. Currently, there are more than 1,000 Meetup groups devoted to the Trump resistance across the country. Meetup hired Clinton’s former digital organizing director, Jess Morales Rocketto, to coordinate the new organizing platform with a group allied with the National Domestic Workers Alliance.

like

ACTIVISM

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DO CHIMPS HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS? ANIMALS Day in a Manhattan court for an advocacy group trying to release two apes to an outdoor sanctuary BY VERENA DOBNIK

Should a chimpanzee be treated as a person with legal rights? That’s what attorney Steven Wise tried to convince a state appeals court in Manhattan of last Thursday. Wise, who represents the Florida-based Nonhuman Rights Project animal advocacy group, argued that two chimps named Tommy and Kiko should be freed from cages to live in an outdoor sanctuary. Wise has been trying for years, unsuccessfully, to get courts to grant the chimps habeas corpus in order to, he says, free them from unlawful imprisonment. He says the apes, which didn’t appear in court, deserve a better quality of life. If the court agrees, they would be sent to live with others of their species on one of 13 islands amid a lake in Fort Pierce, Florida, that comprise the Save the Chimps sanctuary. A five-judge panel will issue its ruling in the coming days or weeks. Kiko’s keeper, Carmen Presti, says he’s not giving up the chimp.

He and his wife rescued the deaf chimp 23 years ago from a life of performing at state fairs and in the television movie “Tarzan in Manhattan.” Kiko is believed to have lost his hearing when he was beaten by a trainer, and has medical problems requiring constant attention. “If he’s taken away, he could die without his family to give him the special care he needs, and to bring him into the house to play,” says Presti, of Niagara Falls, New York, where he runs the nonprofit Primate Sanctuary, whose rescue animals are part of a youth educational program. Tommy was caged at a trailer lot in Gloversville, outside Albany. His keeper, Patrick Lavery, calls all the lawsuits “a ridiculous thing.” He told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he had temporarily cared for Tommy to spare him from being euthanized, then donated him to an out-of-state facility in September 2015. Lavery declined to provide further details, saying he didn’t want to draw more attention to the chimps’ legal drama. Wise’s Coral Springs, Floridabased Nonhuman Rights Project has a history of litigation linked to chimps that started in 2013, when a lawsuit on behalf of Kiko was first filed in state Supreme Court in Niagara Falls and in Fulton County on behalf of Tommy. The same year, another suit named Hercules and

Leo — chimps being used for anatomical research at Stony Brook University on Long Island. They’re now at a Louisiana research facility, Wise said. In 2014, an Albany appellate court ruled that Tommy was not legally a person because chimps cannot have duties and responsibilities. Wise countered by citing primate pioneer Jane Goodall’s court brief in which she says chimps do carry out duties and responsibilities in animal family settings and that apes have complex cognitive abilities allowing them to make choices. However, legal personhood does not mean animals are expected to perform daily human tasks. It’s a technical term that ensures legal entities — in this case, chimps — have basic rights. Presti is not taking any direct legal action. But he has the support of attorney Bob Kohn, who also wrote a brief for the Albany appeal, saying, “There’s no practical need to provide human rights to nonhumans.” Still, Wise remains hopeful — especially after an Argentinean judge ruled in November that chimps in fact have habeas corpus rights. “We will win, in the end,” he said. Presti has his own view of the litigation. “Albert Einstein said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” Presti said with a chuckle. “But I believe he’s doing this for publicity.”

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BRIDGING THE BROADBAND GAP

MARCH 23-29,2017

Business

TECHNOLOGY New program offers reduced-rate internet access to low-income New Yorkers BY MICHAEL GAROFALO

Low-income seniors and families now have access to high-speed internet service for less than 15 dollars per month through a new program available to customers of Charter Communications, the cable giant that acquired Time Warner Cable last year and offers broadband service in New York through its Spectrum brand. “Over a million New Yorkers will have access to low-cost broadband” through the Spectrum Internet Assist program, City Council Member Ben Kallos said at an event announcing the initiative at Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center on East 93rd Street last week. “This new service will ensure internet access is no longer a luxury that goes to the few, but is rather treated as a basic necessity in the 21st Century,” said New York City Public Advocate Letitia James. Nearly 20 percent of Manhattan households did not have a broadband subscription in 2015, according to U.S. Census data. Under the Spectrum Internet Assist program, qualified customers can purchase high speed internet service at the reduced rate of $14.99 per month at speeds of up to 30 megabits per second for downloads and four megabits per second for uploads. By comparison, the company’s currently offers stand-alone internet for new customers at $44.99 for 100-megabit service. Federal Communications Commission benchmarks for broadband speed are downloads at 25 megabits per second and uploads at 3 megabits per second. Whether Charter customers actually receive internet service at the speed that’s promised is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit brought against the company by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in February. The complaint claims that Charter deliberately misled customers, advertising service at speeds the company

It’s overdue to ensure that low-income and fixedincome people are able to access broadband, and it should go beyond how it’s been defined by the FCC... They have a need for highspeed broadband as they look to improve their skills and education and create mobility in employment” Clayton Banks, Silicon Harlem co-founder

knew it couldn’t provide. The alleged misconduct began prior to Charter’s merger with Time Warner Cable in 2016, but Schneiderman said in a statement announcing that lawsuit that the problem is ongoing. “Even now, Spectrum-Time Warner Cable continues to offer Internet speeds that we found they cannot reliably deliver,” he said. A Charter spokesman said in a statement that the company is “disappointed” that Schneiderman’s office filed the lawsuit and that the behavior in question took place prior to Charter’s merger with Time Warner Cable. “Charter has already made substantial investments in the interest of upgrading the Time Warner Cable systems and delivering the best possible experience to customers,” the spokesman said. “We will continue to invest in our business and deliver the highest quality services to our customers while we defend against these allegations involving Time Warner Cable practices.” Qualifying customers for the Spectrum Internet Assist program include families with students in the National School Lunch Program and seniors 65 or older who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits. Customers

City Council Member Ben Kallos speaks at the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center, with Public Advocate Letitia James (left). Photo: Office of Ben Kallos who currently subscribe to broadband service from Spectrum are ineligible. The offer does not include Wi-Fi service, which may be purchased from Charter for an additional $5.00 per month. The monthly rate for qualified customers will remain at $14.99 for the first three years of the program. James and Kallos advocated for affordable broadband service during Charter’s acquisition of Time Warner Cable, and said that they hope similar agreements can be forged with other

telecommunications providers in the future. “I would hope that going forward we try to use the franchise to include that they provide low-cost internet access and that it be legally required,” James said. Clayton Banks, a broadband access advocate and co-founder of the tech venture Silicon Harlem, said that he is encouraged by the city’s efforts to negotiate with providers for affordable service. “It’s overdue to ensure that low-income and fixed-income

people are able to access broadband, and it should go beyond how it’s been defined by the FCC,” Banks said. “They have a need for high-speed broadband as they look to improve their skills and education and create mobility in employment.” “In the long run,” Banks added, “the best way to ensure that all people are connected with a robust connection is that we have more competition in the market.”

VISIT OUR WEBSITE! at OURTOWNNY.COM

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HELPING HANDS SMALL BUSINESS Spending by business improvement districts rose to $134 million in 2016. But do BIDs favor affluent areas? BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

Between the city’s 73 business improvement districts (BIDs), 2016 saw almost $34 million spent on sanitation and $22 million on public safety, according to a report released by the Department of Small Business Services last week. That’s 3.9 million trash bags collected and $648,000 hours logged by public safety personnel. Up slightly from the $127 million they spent in 2015, these city-certified nonprofits invested a total of $134 million last year in the areas they cover. Gregg Bishop, commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, was quick to note that the gaps the BIDs fill don’t indicate a failure by the city. “What the BIDs provide is an additional service,” he said. “The city cannot [legally] reduce services to a BID area. It’s almost like you have dessert and it’s the cherry on top.” The wealthiest BID in Manhattan is the Downtown Alliance, which spent slightly more than $20 million last year to provide services for its 458 block faces — almost twice as many as blocks the next-largest BID. Manhattan is also home to

At the East Midtown Partnership’s second annual Lunar New Year celebration in January with the Grand Central and Chinatown Partnerships. Photo: Getty Images the smallest BID, which covers the two block faces of 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, but which still managed to bring in more than a $1 million in revenue. That particular block of 47th Street is home to numerous highend jewelry and diamond retailers, which likely pay comparatively large membership fees as calculated by an algorithm the BIDs use to determine how much each business should contribute. Based on each business’s real estate tax assessment, this formula brings in helpful funds from enormous stores like Nike, which opened a new

55,000-square-foot location in the Soho-Broadway Initiative last fall, but can make it difficult to maintain a balance between each district’s commercial and residential characteristics. Soho residents vehemently protested against Niketown, which features half-size basketball and soccer courts. Mark Dicus, executive director of Soho-Broadway, said the BID had been in contact with Nike before the store opened to make them aware of the community’s concerns. On the flip side, the organizations can also help their members tap into additional consumer

MARCH 23-29,2017

bases. The East Midtown Partnership held its second annual Lunar New Year celebration last year in collaboration with the Grand Central and Chinatown Partnerships after retailers noticed a possibility to cater to Chinese visitors to the area. “This was a good way to bring a cultural activity to the area that would appeal to shoppers and tourists,” said Rob Byrnes, president of the East Midtown BID. “That would help retail, and was also accompanied by other education forums, so that the retailers had a better appreciation of the Chinese consumer dollar.” Plenty of other BIDs also spent money on special projects outside of the basic services they are formed to contribute. Dicus used some of his $586,705 in funds to create and distribute a pamphlet detailing the rules for street vending, which he felt was adding to pedestrian congestion in a district with already crowded sidewalks. “I think it’s a great resource for vendors who are operating in our district,” Dicus said. “Vending is not an easy activity. Having a clear understanding and a clear guide on where you can be, when you can be, and the rules you need to follow just was a no-brainer for us.” Some would argue that BIDs contribute to increasing rents and resulting gentrification. Columbia University adjunct professor Moshe Adler told the New York Times last week that “the city’s network of business improvement districts had created an inequitable system in which those who live and work in affluent neighborhoods have access to better services.” But Bishop sees that as unfair. “[BIDs] are helping [small] businesses adapt to the changing consumer behavior,” he said. “They are actually working to help support not only independent businesses but long-standing businesses to keep them in the community because they are the fabric of the community.” As 33 of them have been created in the last 15 years, the districts currently show no signs of losing steam. Madeleine Thompson can be reached at newsreporter@ strausnews.com

ON THE SIDE STREETS OF NEW YORK The first in a series of profiles of neighborhood businesses off the avenues on the Upper East Side

SUTTON CLOCKS — 218 EAST 82ND STREET Sebastian Laws loves that the clocks he handles each have a special tactile history. By looking at the markings on a clock, he can get into the head of the original horologist who made it and can track the life of the timepiece. A gentleman who built a clock in London in the 1800s probably did not imagine that it would end up in Sutton Clocks in New York in the 21st century. Similarly, one day in the future, horologists will trace clocks back to Sebastian and know when they passed through Manhattan as he fixed them. To read more, visit Manhattan Sideways (sideways.nyc), created by Betsy Bober Polivy.

Sebastian Laws of Sutton Clocks. Photo: Tom Arena

MARCH 23-29,2017

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MARCH 23-29,2017

YOUR 15 MINUTES

LET THEM EAT CAKE Renowned cake designer Ron Ben-Israel on his rapport with Martha Stewart, subway selfies with fans and decorating with Swarovski crystals BY ANGELA BARBUTI

Ron Ben-Israel treats all of his clients like they are celebrities. And although the cake designer has earned the rank of celebrity baker, he never calls himself one. “I think that the reality of daily life working in a bakery is humbling because the cake either rises or not,” he said. More than 20 years ago, the Israeli native, who pursued modern dance professionally, moved to New York to perform. After retiring, he began to create designs for shop windows, one being the Japanese pearl mecca Mikimoto on Fifth Avenue. His sweet tooth led him to bake during lunch breaks, and soon he was asked to create cakes to decorate the windows.

“And lo and behold, people would walk into the store and ask about the cakes, not so much about the jewels,” jewels, he explained. One of those people was Martha Stewart, who admired his work so much that she not only featured it in her wedding magazine and on her television show, but encouraged him to start his own business. Ben-Israel’s resume now includes a stint as the host of the Food Network show “Sweet Genius,” teaching pastry at the International Culinary Center (ICC) and contributing to City Harvest. On March 28, BenIsrael will join more than 100 wedding service providers at New York magazine’s annual New York Weddings Event, which will be held at 180 Maiden Lane this year.

To read about other people who have had their “15 Minutes” go to ourtownny.com/15 minutes

How did your foray into cake design come about? I was a modern dancer for 15 years, so worked here and performed all over the world. And then, towards my retirement, I needed to find new sources for income. And, actually, I went to fine arts school, so was doing designs for showrooms and shop windows in the tabletop industry. And the designer asked me if I could create cakes to enhance the china platters. The reason it came about is because for lunchtime, I would always bake something. So I made some display cakes and also did cakes for the window of Mikimoto, the Japanese pearl store on Fifth Avenue. And lo and behold, people would walk into the store and ask about the cakes, not so much about the jewels in the window. And that was very funny because I knew that I had to find new ways of reinventing myself, but didn’t have a clear direction. And then, because people kept asking me for cakes, I figured, “Let me give them cakes.”

How did Martha Stewart change the course of your career? One person who called me was Martha Stewart, and she was starting the wedding magazine. And we had a wonderful rapport and she actually suggested that I start a business. She’s very industrious and we got along fabulously because she likes to make things. And I found that she was really good. The interesting thing with Martha, every chef can tell you, is she likes to learn. She’s very inquisitive. So if you know what you are doing, she will totally become like a sponge and will learn. And she’s very respectful to people who know what they are doing. So I really didn’t know that much, but she saw something. But I also think, for me, the flavor of the cake was very important. And at that point, wedding cakes were not that attractive; they were pretty boring. So, she responded to the fact that I was looking for new flavors and combinations. Like, I remember I made her a carrot cake, but mine had white chocolate frosting, which I brought from my travels. She featured me in the magazine, on her TV show. She took my cakes to “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Photo: Brian Dorsey

You also made a cake for the movie “Sex and the City 2.” That was a very interesting project because it was sponsored by Swarovski. I was brought into their headquarters here and could pick whatever I wanted to adorn the cake. So I felt like I was escaping with a pirate treasure. That was a very, very expensive cake. It’s one of my most copied cakes around the world. I remember the cost of the crystals was over $28,000. Most people cannot afford it for a wedding cake, so buy cheaper, plastic jewelry. But we used the chandelier crystals and I still have them, by the way. I saved them for a rainy day.

In an interview, you said in New York people won’t stop you, but in airports around the country, fans ask for your autograph.

We have a look; we start with classic. But very contemporary classic, meaning everything has to be neat, clean and refined, like a garment coming from a fashion house. But the idea is in the colors. Years ago, for instance, we started doing cakes that were iced in black. Last year, we did navy blue wedding cakes. And a popular color is grey.

What happened was in “Sweet Genius,” the Food Network insisted, especially in the first season, to make me into a scary character. It’s true, in New York, people are most respectful of your privacy and they don’t bother you so much. But in the past few years, I’ve done a show called “Cake Wars” and it’s much more friendly. People in the subway ask for selfies. Also, when I did “Sweet Genius,” we didn’t have Instagram, only Facebook and Twitter. Now with Instagram, people do quick selfies. But definitely much more in airports. If I ever felt depressed, I could go to an airport and get photographed all the time.

How do you stay focused while creating such intricate designs?

What advice do you give your students at ICC about pursuing the craft professionally?

Actually, the cake work is very calming for me. The stress is with the clients and the deadlines. But the cakes themselves don’t talk back to me. It’s very relaxing and meditative. But I do meditate. I go to a place in the Village on East Eighth Street called MNDFL. And I also work out; I do a system called gyrotonic three times a week with a trainer.

It’s very seductive because of the Food Network and the internet. Some people call themselves celebrity bakers or chefs. I think that the reality of daily life working in a bakery is humbling because the cake either rises or not. So what we teach in school besides giving the information, is actually discipline. And that discipline I got through my arts training, dance training and through the army as well. And that is invaluable ... This is the advice I concentrate on, how to develop and enjoy the discipline. It’s very comforting to be able to do something repetitively and be successful in it.

Tell us about your wedding cakes.

The largest cake you ever made was a replica of The Plaza Hotel. How long did that take? The cake portions had to be baked that morning, because we fed over 1,500 people. So the street surrounding the cake, what looked like the sidewalk, was fresh cake that was made that day. The cake itself was empty inside, just like The Plaza Hotel, it’s really built around a courtyard. But the process of making the sugar shell, that took months with a crew of 17 people. I hired everybody I knew. All my past students and interns cooperated.

Photo: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes

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To learn more, visit www.weddingcakes.com and weddings.nymag.com

Know somebody who deserves their 15 Minutes of fame? Go to ourtownny.com and click on submit a press release or announcement.

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MARCH 23-29,2017

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SOHO LT MFG

462 Broadway MFG No Retail/Food +/- 9,000 SF Ground Floor - $90 psf +/- 16,000 SF Cellar - $75 psf Divisible Call David @ Meringoff Properties 212-645-7575

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MARCH 23-29,2017

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

COME HOME TO GLENWOOD MANHATTAN’S FINEST LUXURY RENTALS

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3 3 3 UPPER EAST SIDE 1 BEDROOMS FROM $2,995 2 BEDROOMS FROM $4,395 3 BEDROOMS FROM $5,995

MIDTOWN & UPPER WEST SIDE 1 BEDROOMS FROM $3,295 2 BEDROOMS FROM $5,395 3 BEDROOMS FROM $6,495

TRIBECA & FINANCIAL DISTRICT 1 BEDROOMS FROM $3,795 2 BEDROOMS FROM $5,895 3 BEDROOMS FROM $8,195

UPTOWN LEASING OFFICE 212-535-0500 DOWNTOWN LEASING OFFICE 212-430-5900 ! " " All the units include features for persons with disabilities required by the FHA.

Equal Housing Opportunity

GLENWOOD BUILDER OWNER MANAGER

GLENWOODNYC.COM

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