The local paper for the Upper East Side
WEEKWEEK OF MAR.-APR. OF MARCH
26-01 262020
RECONNECT WITH YOUR INNER ARTIST ▲CITY ARTS, P.10
We’re seeing a big spike in anxiety and panic.” Daniel Cook, licensed mental health couselor and director of Embodied Mind NYC
COUNSELING THROUGH CORONA
STRESS
New York’s mental health professionals are on the front lines of coronavirus response BY JENNIFER DOHERTY
Each year, one in five New Yorkers experiences some form of mental illness, according to data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. That number has skyrocketed this year as residents grapple with the sudden lifestyle changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a number of mental health professionals interviewed by Straus News. Their message: Help is available, even when social distancing means logging in from your own couch. “We’re seeing a big spike in anxiety and panic, both among those who might have a propensity towards more panic states, and those who haven’t experienced that,” said
OUR NEW REALITY PUBLIC HEALTH
New York is now the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., and life in our crowded metropolis is unlike anything we have ever known before
Not long ago, New York as it is now would have been unimaginable: Times Square without tourists. Empty streets and subway cars. Previously packed bars closed for happy hour. Millions of New Yorkers holed up in their apartments, waiting out a public health crisis that has shown no sign of letting up. New York City has quickly become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, with one-third of the country’s confirmed cases. As of Tuesday morning, some 15,000 New Yorkers have tested positive for COVID-19. That number represents nearly 60 percent of the state’s cases, which totaled 25,665 on Tuesday, with 210 dead. In Manhattan, 2,646 cases have been confirmed. All of these numbers are expected to grow. “For a disease that most of us had never heard of a few months ago, that seemed to just have the smallest presence in our city just weeks ago, it now has become the dominant reality and we’re all trying to make sense of that together,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference Monday evening.
@OurTownNYC
“Amid all this upheaval, one thing remains unchanged: our total commitment to local news, our readers and the community,“ writes Jeanne Straus. p. 2
AMERICA’S GOVERNOR STEPS UP Gov. Andrew Cuomo meets with military officials at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, where a temporary FEMA hospital is being set up. Photo: Don Pollard- Office of Gov. Anrew M. Cuomo via Flickr
Drastic Measures
crowded.” A particular focus will be the city’s parks where larger groups continued to get together over the weekend, much to the ire of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Any groups will be broken up and asked to disperse. If the city finds that people can’t follow the rules, the mayor said stricter rules regarding parks and playground may need to be enforced. “It really is incumbent upon all New Yorkers, to do your damnedest to live by this new reality,” de Blasio said.
The dominant reality has forced the city and state into implementing measures that have turned the most densely populated city in the country into a place where public spaces are largely vacant. The mayor is even deploying the NYPD and other city agencies to ensure that’s the case. “We’re New Yorkers: We’re used to crowds, we’re used to being close together. Not anymore,” said de Blasio. “We’re not going to allow crowds to form. We’re not going to allow lines where people are tightly packed next to each other. We’re not gonna allow any indoor space to get overcrowded. We’re not gonna allow outdoor spaces to get over-
‘Defensive Shopping’ Trips to the grocery store have become an anxiety-inducing task in
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WEEK OF AUGUST
08-14
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BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
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Crime Watch Voices NYC Now City Arts
3 6 8 10
Restaurant Ratings 12 Business 14 Real Estate 15 15 Minutes 17
2019
has seen a surge Five years in, NYC fluctuating and in cyclist deaths – and motorist numbers of pedestrian fatalities BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
year that saw 299 In 2014, after a traffic-related incipeople killed in Mayor Bill de Bladents in the city, eliminate all traffic sio set out to
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6
AT LAST
WOODSTOCK SOJOURN an NYPD judge recommend at City Hall after Photography Office holds a press conference Appleton/Mayoral Mayor Bill de Blasio 2019. Photo: Michael Friday, August 2,
firing Officer Daniel
Pantaleo on
THE BILLY AND GILLY SHOW
Kamala HarWarren, Cory Booker, and Bernie debates,” longris, Amy Klobuchar for the September Pete strategist George Sanders, South Bend Mayor time Democratic doesn’t have former Texas Rep. Artz says. “De Blasioare way down Buttigieg and both Beto O’Rourke. the donors, and close, but none of A few others are in the polls.” Hank Sheinde Blasio or GilliPolitical consultant that either them are named kopf says it’s “50-50” “Any- brand. returned reBY STUART MARQUES will make the next round: Neither campaign but they’re not quests for comment. thing can happen, agree that Warde Blasio faced to qualify.” Pundits generally When Mayor Bill held off the more Gillibrand – likely a minimum of Candidates need to ren and Sanderson the first night. off with Sen. Kirsten Democratic presi- 130,000 unique donors and have moderate field and eight other in four qualigot high marks on – on July 31, it Booker and Yang and hit at least 2 percent dential hopefuls the last Billy candidates have the second night, but Biden a might have marked presidential fying polls. Eight the polls. and are assured at the are still ahead in hit those marks and Gilly Show largely igon Sept. 12 Harris Gillibrand Houston and in De Blasio debates. ei- spot onstage Presiawful tough for are former Vice 18 “It’s going to be and and 13. They Senators Elizabeth CONTINUED ON PAGE get the donors dent Joe Biden, ther of them to needed to qualify polling numbers”
POLITICS
dim for Presidential prospects Democratic New Yorkers on the debate stage
C i e Watch
Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday evening 18 minutes before sunset. Friday, March 27 – 6:58 pm. For more information visit www.chabbaduppereastside.com.
◄ 15 MINUTES,
INSIDE
SAFETY
How to get your Broadway fix when the theaters are closed. p. 9
Eastsider just For East Side residents, major having access is a accomplishment. p.5
IS VISION ZERO WORKING?
THE LONG INTERMISSION
‘MY HANDS ARE OUTSTRETCHED’ P. 19
f d h e s, p gs ng st ts alng ish ass eel
SUTTON PARK,
chair of the City Ydanis Rodriguez, committee, Council’s transportation street s afety on speaks at a rally for steps of City Hall legislation on the McCarten/NYC May 8. Photo: John Council
Since he has begun holding daily press conferences about the coronavirus pandemic, the 62-year-old governor of New York has vaulted to a status he has never enjoyed before. p. 6
3
14 Restaurant Ratings 16
day Jon Friedman on a 8 love and music. p.
of peace,
SURVIVNG YOUR SUMMER COLD
seasonal How to deal with thefeel worse virus that makes usp. 2 than a winter bug.
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