The local paper for the Upper East Side
WEEK OF JUNE SEEING GREEN < P.16
22-28 2017
On the subway, June 2017. Photo: Andy Atzert, via flickr
NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND SUBWAY WOES As the MTA misery index reaches new highs, anguished straphangers take to Twitter — but #Don’tWorrySupervisionIsAware. A day in the life of subway tweets. BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN
It reads like the descent into the nine circles of hell in Dante’s Inferno. Actually, it may be more harrowing. It’s a day in the life of the New York City subway told in narrative form. There are hundreds of co-authors. They chronicle the subterranean torments they endure. And their work is as searing and visceral as any Florentine poet’s epic of sinful and wicked ways. The medium? Twitter, of course. The handle? @NYCTSubway. The date? June 15, one day after Mayor Bill de Blasio left his SUV cocoon and ventured into the subway system for the first time in two months. The methodology? Simple: We read roughly 375 tweets covering the 24-hour period. Half were posted by anguished straphangers,
half by unruffled MTA staffers who gamely minimized the horrors, offering rote reassurances that “supervision” had been notified. “The downtown 6/uptown BDFM elevator 329 at Broadway/Lafayette has a puddle of urine inside,” wrote @OneHotProcessor, whose real name is Sara Tabor, sled hockey player and novice ukuleleist. The boilerplate response from @ NYCTSubway: “Thanks for bringing this to our attention, supervision has been made aware.” Five miles away, @CiaranGBoyle – “husband, father, American” – was encountering a grotesquerie of his own, tweeting, “Can someone power wash/clean the 110th st station 2&3 train, it’s always filthy and stinks of excrement.” “Regrets for any unpleasant conditions, we’ve made supervision aware of this matter,” the MTA wrote back. Meanwhile, a Q/B escalator was out all day; as @NateFeder, product manager and CPA, posted, “That’s 100+ steps for a non-able person to walk up. When will it be fixed?” A reasonable question. No rea-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
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The city’s health commissioner, Dr. Mary Bassett, seated at table and speaking, addressed a community meeting about an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Lenox Hill. Photo: Bryse Ciallella
LEGIONNAIRES’ SICKENS 7, KILLS 1 HEALTH Outbreak in Lenox Hill that began about June 5 appears to have ebbed, health official says BY BRYSE CIALLELLA
City health officials believe one of the Lenox Hill neighborhood’s 116 cooling towers is the likely source for an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that has killed one person and sickened six others since June 5. All six people sickened either live or work in the neighborhood, as was the person who died, officials said. “There have been no new cases in the last five days,” the city’s health commissioner, Dr. Mary Bassett, said Monday night during a community meeting that addressed the outbreak. “For us in the health department, that
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Restaurant Ratings Business Real Estate 15 Minutes
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is heartening but it’s too soon to tell you not to be vigilant.” City health officials urged those who live or work in the Lenox Hill area to be alert for symptoms of infection. “Right now, the most important thing we can do personally, is be alert to the symptoms, we want to get the message out about seeking care early. … Symptoms include fever, cough, headache, muscle aches – flu-like symptoms,” Bassett said. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection, which is caused by inhaling water droplets or aerosolized mist containing Legionella bacteria, which propagates in warm water. The Health Department tested all 116 cooling towers within a half-kilometer radius of where all seven persons living or working were infected, a department official said. Testing was concluded Friday, June 16, and samples were sent to public and private laboratories. Culture results are
expected by the end of the month, the department said in a press release. Health care providers have been alerted to the outbreak. The department also ordered several building owners to increase the use of bacteria-killing biocides or to take other measures to mitigate bacteria growth. Bassett assuaged concerns from some who attended the meeting, at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House on East 70th Street, who expressed concern about tap water. “Shower, bath, wash your hands,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday evening 18 minutes before sunset. Friday, June 23rd – 8:13pm. For more information visit www.chabaduppereastside.com
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JUNE 22-28,2017
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FINDING NEW REVENUE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS VIEWPOINT Repatriating U.S. profits from overseas accounts could help invest money in job-creating projects BY CONGRESSWOMAN CAROLYN B. MALONEY
For decades, America has been neglecting its infrastructure. Year after year, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) warns us that the costs of repairing the damage is skyrocketing. Every four years, they issue a report card, with the 2017 report estimating the cost of ďŹ xing our roads, dams, airports, and water and electrical systems at $4.6 trillion. While New York performed better than the nation as a whole, scoring a C- compared to the national grade of a D+, we still clearly have work to do to bring up our grade. The ASCE report is limited to the cost of repairing existing infrastructure without considering the costs of investing in the future. But, building anew is needed to beneďŹ t our economy, our commuters, and our city with projects like a new Hudson River tunnel, high speed rail in the Northeast
Corridor, and the full build Second Avenue subway. The Second Avenue subway is truly a success story that shows how important it is for us to expand our transportation. Since Phase 1 officially opened for business on January 1, 2017, ridership has risen 42 percent as people recognize how convenient it is to have a one-seat ride between the Upper East Side and Times Square, lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. It has also provided relief to the Lexington Avenue line where crowding has dropped by 26 percent overall and by 40 percent during the morning rush. None of this progress would have happened, however, without the $1.3 billion in federal funding that I am proud to have helped secure. If we are going to tackle our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge infrastructure repair and do things like building the remaining three phases of the Second Avenue subway, then we need to ďŹ nd new ways for the federal government fund these investments. Unfortunately, most of the ideas coming out of the Trump administration seem to involve public/private partnerships, which are not the best way forward. The only public/private partnerships that work are those where a dedicated revenue stream
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney with workers during construction of the Second Avenue subway. Photo courtesy of Congresswoman Maloneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office can be identiďŹ ed. Most mass transit systems operate at a deďŹ cit, so a great project like the Second Avenue subway will not qualify or get the funding it needs. But the Second Avenue subway, like many mass transit projects, is a public good, and the type of service that our government should be providing. We need another source of revenue. Right now, there is estimated $2.5 tril-
lion of American subsidiariesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; proďŹ ts sitting in accounts overseas because companies do not want to pay the 35 percent tax they would face if they brought this money into the U.S. We need to change that. One proposal from Martin Tuchman, a highly-successful entrepreneur, that Congress should consider would create a new incentive to invest this money in job-creating infrastructure projects.
For every dollar repatriated, 25 cents would be required to be invested for a period time in national infrastructure funds for projects across the country, ďŹ ve cents would go to the federal government as taxes and the company would retain the remaining 70 cents. A program like this would incentivize companies to bring back anywhere from $500 billion to $1.2 trillion for infrastructure. While this wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fix every problem, it is an important start and could give us a full-build Second Avenue subway. In 2004, Congress offered a one-time tax holiday to encourage companies to repatriate their overseas proďŹ ts; however, there was no requirement that those funds be used to create jobs. As a result, many companies took advantage of this lower tax rate, but few actually invested in job-creating projects. This time needs to be different. By requiring that a portion of any repatriated dollar be invested in infrastructure projects, we can find the revenue we need to start upgrading and expanding our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s declining infrastructure. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney represents the 12th Congressional District in New York.
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JUNE 22-28,2017
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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG STATS FOR THE WEEK Reported crimes from the 19th precinct for Week to Date
Year to Date
2017 2016
% Change
2017
2016
% Change
Murder
0
0
n/a
0
2
-100.0
Rape
0
0
n/a
6
1
500.0
Robbery
2
1
100.0
58
36
61.1
Felony Assault
4
2
100.0
60
58
3.4
Burglary
2
2
0.0
95
87
9.2
Grand Larceny
28
32
-12.5
604
602
0.3
Grand Larceny Auto
0
3
-100.0
13
31
-58.1
photo by Tony Webster via ďŹ&#x201A;ikr
PANTY ANTE
CANNONDALE WAIL
DISROBED
MICROCHIP RIP
LG = LOOT GRABBED
A shoplifter put a gap in an area Gap storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inventory. At noon on Sunday, June 11, a woman entered the popular chain store at 1988 Broadway and made off with $1,900 worth of panties.
A bike thief just put the â&#x20AC;&#x153;damnâ&#x20AC;? in Amsterdam. At 8 p.m. on Monday, June 12, a 57-year-old man parked his $2,000 Cannondale outside 491 Amsterdam Ave. When he returned for his two-wheeler, he found it was gone.
One gym-goer experienced some hard knocks at Equinox. At 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 12, a 40-year-old woman put her clothing in a locker inside the toney health club at 160 Columbus Avenue. When she returned after her workout, her clothing, which she estimated worth $4,400, was missing.
At 7 p.m. on Friday, June 9, two men and a woman entered the AT&T store at 2066 Broadway and stole a variety of electronics totaling $1,200.
A gang of thieves turned a cell phone user into a cell phone loser. At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 9, a 32-year-old man was on his phone outside 140 West 62nd Street when a group of men on bikes streaked by and grabbed the device. The stolen cell was an LG valued at $700.
De Blasio Affordable Housing Myth #4 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rent is the number one expense for New Yorkers. Unless we change the status quoâ&#x20AC;Ś hardworking families will be pushed out of their homes.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Mayor Bill de Blasio â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to keep rents affordableâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (Source: City of New York Website)
The Facts: Â&#x2021; 7KH +HYHVL .OHLQ ´+RPH 6WDELOLW\ 6XSSRUWÂľ SURSRVDO ZRXOG VXEVLGL]H WKH UHQWV RI SXEOLF DVVLVWDQFH HOLJLEOH WHQDQWV IDFLQJ KRPHOHVVQHVV RU HYLFWLRQ Â&#x2021; 7KH ´7HQDQW 5HQW ,QFUHDVH ([HPSWLRQÂľ SURSRVDO ZRXOG SHUPDQHQWO\ IUHH]H UHQWV IRU DOO WHQDQWV QRW MXVW VHQLRU FLWL]HQV DQG WKH GLVDEOHG ZLWK DQQXDO KRXVHKROG LQFRPHV RI OHVV WKDQ ZKR SD\ KDOI WRZDUGV UHQW Â&#x2021; :K\ LVQ¡W GH %ODVLR DQG RWKHU SROLWLFLDQV VXSSRUWLQJ WKHVH $OEDQ\ SURSRVDOV WKDW ZRXOG SURYLGH UHDO UHQW UHOLHI DQG VROXWLRQV WR WKH KRPHOHVV FULVLV DQG NHHS IDPLOLHV LQ WKHLU KRPHV"
De Blasioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Housing Policies: Politics & Hypocrisy
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JUNE 22-28,2017
Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
Useful Contacts POLICE NYPD 19th Precinct
153 E. 67th St.
212-452-0600
159 E. 85th St.
311
FIRE FDNY 22 Ladder Co 13 FDNY Engine 39/Ladder 16
157 E. 67th St.
311
FDNY Engine 53/Ladder 43
1836 Third Ave.
311
FDNY Engine 44
221 E. 75th St.
311
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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BEGINNINGS BY PETER PEREIRA
JUNE 22-28,2017
Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
Planned Service Changes
1 10 PM to 5 AM Mon to Fri Jun 19 – 23, Jun 26 – 30 No 1 trains between Dyckman St and 96 St Take the A and free shuttle buses 1 service operates in two sections as follows: 1. Between 242 St and Dyckman St (Dyckman St-bound 1 trains skip 207 St) 2. Between South Ferry and 96 St and via the 3 between 96 St and 148 St (Train skips the 145 St 3 station in both directions) Travel Alternatives: Transfer between the 1 (to/from the Bronx) and the A at Dyckman St via free shuttle buses. Transfer between the 1 (to/from South Ferry) and the A at 59 St-Columbus Circle. For 1 stations in Washington Heights, Harlem, and the Upper West Side, use nearby A stations along Ft Washington Av, St Nicholas Av, and Central Park West instead, and/or take free shuttle buses available at 1 stations. Transfer between free shuttle buses and trains at Dyckman St 1 or A, 168 St A, and 96 St 1 Stay Informed Call 511 and say “Current Service Status,” look for informational posters in stations, or visit mta.info ¶°^OLre you can access the latest Planned Service Changes information, use TripPlanner+, and sign up for free email and text alerts. © 2017 Metropolitan Transportation Authority
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JUNE 22-28,2017
Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
MEET COUNCIL DISTRICT 4’S CANDIDATES
each think is the biggest issue facing District 4 and what they propose to address it.
The biggest issue facing our district is Quality of Life. When elected, I will fight to improve the Quality of Life for all in our district; it is absolutely unacceptable that less than 30 percent of the subway stations in our district are ADA compliant. This inaccessibility makes it impossible for parents with small children in carriages, the disabled, the mobility-impaired and the aging population to utilize New York City’s Subway system. The crosstown buses using Select Bus Service are efficient, however widely spaced apart by as much as 10 blocks in some cases. New York City is a NORC, Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, yet failing our neighbors by neglecting the infrastructure and upgrades necessary to accommodate those who rely solely on public transportation. Today’s seniors want to stay in their homes and neighborhoods as long as possible and I will fight to make sure that New York is doing everything achievable to enable them to keep their independence.
VANESSA ARONSON (D)
REBECCA HARARY (R)
NYC public school teacher (sixth and seventh grade math and science); foreign service officer, U.S. Department of State: economic officer to the United Nations; press and cultural attaché/vice consul at U.S. Consulate General, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; press associate at U.S. Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia Whether at school talking with parents or in the community chatting with neighbors, I’m hearing the same story: our vibrant neighborhoods are disappearing. Families and seniors are being priced out of the city because there isn’t enough affordable housing, mom and pops are shutting down, transportation is increasingly unreliable and inaccessible, and for those who do manage to afford to stay in the city, our schools are overcrowded and underfunded. I will work to make New York more affordable, supporting tenants and small businesses. In the face of federal cuts, I will protect public funding for housing, schools and healthcare. I will hold the MTA accountable for improving services for all, including people with disabilities. I will ensure bicyclists, vehicles and pedestrians safely share our streets. As a former teacher, I will be a strong advocate for all students, including those with special needs and the hardworking teachers across our city.
Experience: Activist and founder of four nonprofit organizations; owned a small business for 10 years Whether a voter is a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Working Families, Women’s Equality Party, Reform, Liberal, or a Libertarian, the biggest issue facing all of us now is: How do we bring our collective common sense to the table, and work together to find the best solutions to the problems of our quality of life, homelessness, education, affordable housing, jobs, infrastructure, senior citizens and small business issues? That’s why I am honored to run for NYC Council in District 4. When I see a problem, I work together with the people affected—and we solve it by using common sense. My message to everyone is one of inclusion, not exclusion. We are all New Yorkers in our hearts, and not people defined by a specific party.
POLITICS 11 have declared their intention to compete for Dan Garodnick’s seat BY MICHAEL GAROFALO
Rachel Honig
Alec Hartman
Rebecca Harary
All 51 city council seats are up for grabs this year, and the race to represent District 4 is shaping up to be a competitive campaign. With incumbent Dan Garodnick unable to seek reelection due to term limits, the open seat has attracted a crowded field of candidates with backgrounds and experience as diverse as the district, which encompasses Stuyvesant TownPeter Cooper Village, East Midtown and much of the Upper East Side. Our Town checked in with the candidates as they prepare for the Sept. 12 primaries and Nov. 7 general election. We asked them to address what they
MARIA CASTRO (D)
Keith Powers
DNC Convention delegate; New York State Judicial Convention delegate; NYS Supreme Court Small Claims assessment review hearing officer; government relations consultant
ALEC HARTMAN (D) Co-founder of two startups: TechDay, a yearly startup event that brings entrepreneurs together, and DigitalOcean, a web infrastructure and hosting service; advises the Estonian government on their e-residency program and the Bermuda Tourism Authority The biggest issue — with deteriorating mass transit a close second — is strengthening our local public schools. Specifically, we need to address the glaring lack of public pre-K seats on the East Side so that all our children start school with the best chance to succeed. We also need to revamp a high school curricula and put a greater emphasis
on technical and vocational training. And we need to push for more funding from Albany to reduce class sizes in all our public schools.
RACHEL HONIG (D) Current: Owner of Amplify Cooperative, a public relations and marketing consultancy; Previous: Special projects director, New York State Council on the Arts; chief operating officer, G.S. Schwartz & Co. In my 24 years of living in NYC, never before have we had such small business displacement issues. This loss affects not only our businesses, our city’s lifeblood, but also affects our neighborhoods in innumerable ways— from services, to safety, to quality of life. As City Council Member to District 4, I will seek to facilitate feasible landlord tenant relationship models that allow small businesses to stay, grow and thrive in their spaces. We must also look ahead and create better mechanisms to assure current and prospective businesses along what will be Phase III of the Second Avenue Subway that we will take better care of them, when their time comes, than we did for their neighbors in Phase I.
MELISSA JANE KRONFELD (R) Social impact consultant; college lecturer; journalist/editor/editorialist We must improve the affordability of our city to keep all New Yorkers and their business on a reliable and stable track towards prosperity and growth. We have to slash through the bureaucratic red tape that is keeping our storefronts closed, we must reassess the inequities in our property tax system that is driving up costs for landlords as well as rents for tenants and we have to prioritize innovation in our housing market to spur the creation of accessible and cost effective units. Because affordability is the key to our most pressing problems, by lowering the cost of living in our city, we can also tackle the equally important issue of homelessness in New York City. Once we focus on moving our families and working homeless off the streets, out of shelters and into jobs or training programs, we can use our resources to provide services for the chronically homeless who require more attention and/or medical care.
Marti Speranza
Jeff Mailman
Vanessa Aronson
JEFFREY S. MAILMAN (D) Legislative director & counsel to Council Member Elizabeth Crowley; Previous: Attorney; adjunct assistant professor of law at Cardozo Law School; public service fellow at the N.Y.S. Attorney General’s Office
Barry Shapiro
JUNE 22-28,2017
Quality of life issues such as pedestrian safety, excessive noise and rodent infestations are of utmost concern to residents in District 4. I will work to ensure that sufficient resources from City agencies, such as the NYPD, the Department of Buildings, Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health are allocated to address these issues. I will work with the community boards, civic associations and residents to remedy such quality of life issues to the greatest extent possible.
KEITH POWERS (D)
Maria Castro
Office of State Senator Liz Krueger; Office of Assembly Member Jonathan Bing; Constantinople & Vallone Consulting LLC Affordable housing is the biggest issue facing District 4. As a lifelong East Sider, where I grew up in a rent stabilized apartment, I know our rent stabilized apartment was the only reason my family could afford to live in the city. I want to make sure families like mine have a place in this city, that’s why I’m proposing new housing for middle-class families with a 21st Century Mitchell-Lama program, giving communities the tools they need to better participate in city planning process (including protecting air, sunlight and open space), and creating a new program modeled from SCRIE to assist many more seniors with their rent.
Melissa Jane Kronfeld
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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
Bessie Schachter
BESSIE SCHACHTER (D) Democratic State Committee member for Midtown and the Upper East Side; director of community outreach for state Senator Liz Krueger Our community is facing a lack of affordability which threatens people’s ability to stay in our community. Seniors are being priced out of their homes; small businesses nickel and dimed into extinction; families are forced to leave for a place more affordable. We aspire to achieve a city for all, a city not stratified by race or class or income. We know that an integrated city provides more opportunity to rise economically and develop socially. We understand that a unified city is far more cultured and strong. With our sights set high, our city council must take practical measures to achieve the goal of a livable and affordable city. We must audit our affordable housing units to keep them from disappearing prematurely, end the tax on small businesses below 96th Street and curtail retail blight to ensure that our city remains a place where people can find community.
BARRY SHAPIRO (D) Enterprise architect for marketing systems with American Express, retired; IT project manager and systems analyst contractor Among the many issues facing District 4 I believe that rent stabilization and affordable housing will have the greatest effect on the greatest number of people here.
Most of the laws dealing with rental housing in the city are controlled at the state level so that today a councilman can have little direct effect on these laws. However, the councilman has ability to get publicity and be advocate for change, and that’s what I intend to do. I intend to champion Home Rule for NYC with respect to all residential rent regulation. That is, I want to see the city council have control over all such future legislation. I intend to task the Democratic State Party to challenge and defeat the renegades within its ranks. Our housing fate in the city is strongly tied to state politics. If elected, I intend to do all I can to change that.
MARTI SPERANZA (D) Director of Women Entrepreneurs NYC; director of strategic initiatives for NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, Democratic state committeewoman for 74th Assembly District; Community Board 5 member; small business owner Tenants and small business owners are struggling to meet rent because of loopholes like the exploitation of Major Capital Improvements (MCI) and bad policy like the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT). We need MCI reform, stronger rent laws and affordable housing to keep tenants in their homes, an increase in the CRT threshold and a study of the impact of eliminating it altogether. Protecting and empowering the people and small businesses of our District — the fabric of our community — is the key to thriving neighborhoods in District 4 and citywide.
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To qualify you must also open a Flushing Bank Complete Checking Plus or Premier account2 which provides you with access to over 55,000 ATMs, ATM fee rebates, mobile banking and mobile check deposit. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 (855.540.2274 TTY/TDD) or visit www.FlushingBank.com. Small enough to know you. Large enough to help you. 1 New Maximum Money Market account and new money only. APY effective June 12, 2017. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance to open the Maximum Money Market account is $5,000. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. The APY for the Maximum Money Market account is 0.10% for daily account balances between $0 and $4,999, 0.15% for daily balances between $5,000 and $24,999, 1.25% for daily balances between $25,000 and $74,999, 1.25% for daily balances between $75,000 and $99,999 and 1.25% for daily balances over $100,000. Rates may change at any time without notice. You must maintain the stated tier balance for the statement cycle to receive the respective disclosed yield for that tier. 2 A Flushing Bank checking account with a $5,000 minimum balance is required to receive the advertised rate. Certain fees, minimum balance requirements and restrictions may apply. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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JUNE 22-28,2017
Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
Write to us: To share your thoughts and comments go to ourtownny.com and click on submit a letter to the editor.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ACCIDENTS AND AFFORDABLE SUPERMARKETS I am puzzled by Kathleen McAnulty’s “Viewpoints” article in last week’s edition (“Where’s the Justice for Traffic Victims?” June 8-14), in which she discloses that the speeding motorcyclist who ran down and killed her father was not subjected to criminal prosecution, despite her efforts to enlist the aid of various officials. Is manslaughter no longer a crime? Also, concerning the lack of afford-
able supermarkets in Chelsea in the wake of the closing of Associated, I’d like to point to Trader Joe’s on Sixth Avenue and 21st Street, which should prove even more affordable than Associated. The Union Square Greenmarket, open four days a week, not only accepts SNAP benefits, but gives out $2 coupons redeemable in fresh produce for every $5 spent in food stamps. Both these sources are within walking distance, I believe, for most former customers of Associated. Diana Julian Chelsea
COMING TO TERMS WITH AGING I’m surprised that West Side Spirit would print one of the most depressing pieces I have ever read about aging written by Marcia Epstein (“Facing Finitude,” June 8-14.) I think most of us who are older try to come to terms with aging in ways that we can, but if aging is such a deep problem for Ms. Epstein, that she must get it off her chest with no matter how this will affect others — see a therapist, don’t hang it on others who have their own anxieties. Bunny Abraham Upper West Side
Voices
A WEST SIDE STORY
I write concerning your article about The West End (“The West End: Birthplace of the Beats,” June 1-7). I have lived on the Upper West Side for more years than I care to admit. In the very early 70s, I created a bar/restaurant at Broadway and 107th Street, directly across from Straus Park. The story behind it: a theater producer friend decided to buy the Olympia movie theater on the southeast corner of 107th Street and Broadway. He wished to redo the front of the building, which was just a bunch of crummy stores, and create a really nice restaurant. I agreed to rent those storefronts and construct a restaurant. This was a beautiful restaurant with
an outdoor cafe, very high ceilings, and a nice wooden bar against the wall. Our menu was described by the New York Times as a cross between an English pub and a French bistro. It was also my plan to bring classical music into the restaurant, and on Sunday brunch we had live string quartets. In 1979 came the most beautiful moment of my life, when I met my wife, who was studying at Juilliard and came to play with a string quartet. I never made any real profit at the restaurant so I gave up the lease. Many people in the area do not remember The Balcony. I wish to thank you so very, very much for bringing back to me those wonderful memories. Robert M. Ginsberg Upper West Side
THE PHONE CLEANSE LEX AND THE CITY BY ALEXA DIBENEDETTO
Exiting the subway at 14th Street isn’t part of my typical morning commute — Union Square is nearly 15 blocks from my office in NoMad. Each day, I shuffle onto a crowded L train to make the switch to the uptown N/Q/R line. With my headphones on and a medium coffee in hand, the routine has become almost robotic. I shift into autopilot as I wait for the caffeine to hit, snapping back to reality only once I’ve sat down at my desk. Today, I’ve chosen a more scenic route. I’ll be walking the second leg of my journey — an undertaking that, in my semi-sleepy haze, seems like a bit of an endeavor. Moreover, I’ve tucked my phone into the bottom of my purse. I’m making a deliberate effort to unplug. We’re jaded to cautionary articles about phone usage. Foreboding messages remind us how attached we’ve become to our handheld computers and the unlimited ability to consume media. If you’ve ever left your house without your phone, you can relate to the wave of unnecessary, stomach-
churning panic that hits once you’ve realized it’s missing. Moving through the day without it feels as though you’re operating without a limb. This is no attempt to preach — truly, I’m just as guilty of this addiction as anyone else. Rather, it’s an attempt to connect to a city that has so much alternative, authentic stimulation to offer. It’s a challenge to find equivalent entertainment in the ongoing performance that is New York City. It’s a search for inspiration outside of Instagram, a chance to tune in to the vivacious, visceral beat of urban life. In the spirit of much-loved New York wellness trends, let’s call it a cleanse. The first thing I notice is how quiet things seem. Union Square is not quiet, of course, but it feels nearly silent in comparison to the constant clamor of percussion and bass that trickles through my headphones without pause. Growing up in the city, you become so accustomed to honking horns and shouting pedestrians that the noise almost fades into the background. The weather is indecisive; my skin bristles with the chill of a sudden breeze and warms as the sun finally escapes from behind a cluster of clouds. Have my senses heightened?
Photo: FaceMePLS, via flickr It’s been just three minutes, and I wonder if I’ve achieved some level of superior awareness. Will food taste sweeter, scents be more fragrant? I carry onward. I stumble upon a coffee shop called Chalait. The interior is posh and picturesque: minimal with pops of color, signage with thin line-work. I’m a sucker for good branding. Whole-
grain pastries and matcha teas tease my empty stomach, and I decide that I deserve a small break from my journey. The café is cute, but the cups are even cuter. My brain ticks with the impulse to reach for my phone, to take a picture and edit it to post-ready perfection. I imagine the witty words I’d share besides hash tags and emoticons. If no
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one sees it, did I even drink it at all? I stop myself. “So cool,” I say aloud, since I can’t text a friend. If I had typed it, I’d have probably spelled it “kewl.” There’s a bench outside, so I sit down for some purposeful people watching. Across from me, two men set up instruments — a guitar, a snare, and a high-hat — to play some street-side tunes. The technical term is “busking,” something I learned only recently despite living in this city for nearly my whole life. Their song begins with the bluesy whine of the guitar; the drummer waits with anticipation for his entrance to the tune, a subtle rat-a-tat on the symbol that builds and builds until the two melodies erupt into a lively chorus. Cars roll past and bikers whiz past them. People yell and construction workers drill. Despite the noise, the musicians’ melody carries. The city pulsates with its own unique soundtrack. I’m five minutes late for work, but I’ll take another five. In a place that compels you to keep moving, to rush from one thing to the next at a constant rate, it’s hard to even understand that it’s OK to slow down. To stop and smell the roses, or the hot dog carts, or the hot summer garbage or the Balthazar croissants or the cologne of the handsome man that’s been walking ahead of you this entire time. I think I’ll do this more often.
Editor-In-Chief, Alexis Gelber editor.ot@strausnews.com Deputy Editor Staff Reporters Richard Khavkine Madeleine Thompson editor.otdt@strausnews.com newsreporter@strausnews.com Michael Garofalo Senior Reporter reporter@strausnews.com Doug Feiden invreporter@strausnews.com
JUNE 22-28,2017
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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
POLICE PUSH BACK ON SURVEILLANCE OVERSIGHT BILL
REGISTERED NURSES REHABILITATION THERAPISTS MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDES
LAW ENFORCEMENT NYPD counterterror head calls oversight proposal “roadmap to terrorists”
Your wife needs help after her stroke and she can’t even ask for it.
BY MICHAEL GAROFALO
A city council bill that would subject the New York City Police Department to increased public disclosure requirements regarding its use of surveillance technologies drew intense criticism last week from top NYPD officials, who claimed that the legislation would endanger officers and members of the public. The Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology Act, introduced by Council Members Dan Garodnick and Vanessa Gibson in March, would require comprehensive public reporting of the police department’s surveillance capabilities, including disclosure of specific technologies used by police and internal policies regarding their use. Supporters say the bill will help citizens better understand the NYPD’s use of surveillance tools and allow for a more robinformed public debate about the privacy and safety concerns they present. But at a contentious June 14 hearing at City Hall, John Miller, the NYPD’s top counterterrorism official, said the legislation “would create an effective blueprint for those seeking to do harm.” In the years after the 9/11 attacks, the NYPD adopted a number of controversial surveillance tactics that later came to light through press reports and legal cases brought by civil liberties groups. In February 2016, the NYPD confirmed, in response to a Freedom of Information Law request, that it uses cell site simulators, also known as Stingrays, which allow police to track the location of cellphone users and are capable, in some cases, of intercepting their communications. (NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Legal Matters Larry Byrne said at the hearing that the NYPD does not intercept the content of communications using cell site simulators.) The NYPD also uses x-ray vans known as “backscatters” that can be used to see through walls and vehicles, and which critics say may expose bystanders to
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said in March that a proposed police surveillance oversight bill “would not be helpful to anyone in New York City.” Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office harmful radiation. Byrne said that the NYPD is already subject to sufficient oversight under the auspices of the court system, the department’s inspector general, and court-ordered guidelines that require civilian monitoring, which were strengthened in recent years after it was revealed that the NYPD had targeted Muslims in a years-long surveillance program that, according to NYPD officials in court testimony first reported by the Associated Press, never resulted in a terrorism investigation or even a single lead. Much of the NYPD officials’ criticism centered on the bill’s definition of “surveillance technology,” which they said is overly broad and would require the disclosure of information that would be useful to terrorists and other criminals. As drafted, the bill defines surveillance technology as “equipment, software, or system capable of, or used or designed for, collecting, retaining, processing, or sharing audio, video, location, thermal, biometric, or similar information, that is operated by or at the direction of the department,” and would require the NYPD to publicly disclose the capabilities of such tools and the rules governing their use. In practice, according to Miller, these requirements would be an “invaluable roadmap to terrorists,” who he said routinely adjust their plans based on their knowledge of law enforcement tactics and capabilities. The POST Act was based, in part, on similar surveillance oversight legislation that is under consideration or has re-
cently been passed elsewhere, including in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, and Santa Clara County, California. Miller, who described the NYPD as “the most transparent municipal police department in the world,” said that New York City’s situation warrants a different approach. “While legislation similar to this proposal has been enacted in other jurisdictions, it is fair to say that none of these jurisdictions are (sic) the number one target for terrorists worldwide,” he said. “This proposal would require us to advertise sensitive technologies that criminals and terrorists do not fully understand,” Miller said. “In effect, it would create a one-stop shopping guide to understanding these tools and how to thwart them for criminal elements and terrorists across the nation or the world.” Garodnick suggested that rather than acting as a guide for terrorists, increased disclosure could have the opposite effect, discouraging potential criminals in the same way an officer on a street corner might. Garodnick expressed willingness to work with law enforcement officials to revise the legislation, but said that the proposal would not interfere with the NYPD’s ability to keep New Yorkers safe. “We carefully crafted the bill so that it does not require that the police department disclose operational details regarding when and where they employ its tools,” Garodnick said. “We need to be able to understand what technologies are being used in our name,” he said.
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JUNE 22-28,2017
Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
More Events. Add Your Own: Go to ourtownnycom
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GRAMERCY PARK 292 3rd Avenue @ 23rd St 212-777-3030 YORKVILLE 1491 3rd Ave @ 84th St 212-289-6300
UPPER EAST SIDE 888 Lexington Ave @66th St 212-772-1400
HELL’S KITCHEN 766 10th Ave @ 52nd St 212-245-3241
UPPER WEST SIDE 159 W 72nd St @ B’way 212-595-2500
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SOHO 55 Thompson St @ Broome 212-627-1100
CHELSEA 215 7TH Avenue @ 23rd St 212-646-5454 212-645-5454
UPTOWN WEST 2680 Broadway @ 102nd St 212-531-2300
LONG ISLAND CITY 30-35 Thomson Ave 347-418-3480
Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Ave. Noon-8 p.m. $15 The installation explores the meaning of public space in the 21st century’s surveillanceladen world, referencing the fairy tale in which children lose their way and feel a sense of menace in a space they know and trust. 212-249 5518. armoryonpark.org
VIKAS KHANNA’S TRANSFORMATIVE STORY Asia Society 725 Park Ave. 6:30 p.m. $25 Vikas Khanna shares his inspiring personal journey: from a homeless American immigrant, to a Michelin-star rated restauranteur voted “New York’s hottest chef.” Join him at Asia Society to learn his unique American Dream recipe. 212-288-6400. asiasociety. org
MET FRIDAYS: PRIDE▲ The Met Fifth Ave. 5 p.m. Free with museum admission. Celebrate Pride weekend at one of the city’s most vibrant cultural institutions with dancing, art making, and gallery chats led by voices from across the city. 212-923-3700. metmuseum.org
PRAGUE-NEW YORK EFFECTS Czech Center, 321 East 73rd St. 7:00 p.m. Free Composer Michal Rataj collaborates with the String Noise duo, presenting the world premiere of the original piece “The Long Sentence II” as a part of the an all-Czech music program. bohemiannationalhall.com. 646-422-3399
Sat 24 PONDER A POEM FOR THE CITY The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. 11:00 a.m. Free with museum admission. Known as “America’s poet,” Walt Whitman was entranced by the density, diversity and disorder of New York in the mid1800s. Read Whitman’s poems celebrating the spirit of the city and write your own inspired by the sounds, sights and sensations of New York. Geared towards families with kids ages 6-12. 212-534-1672. mcny.org
BE HAPPY NOW: HOW TO CULTIVATE HIGH LEVELS OF HAPPINESS Yorkville Library, 222 East 79th St. 2 p.m. Free With a certified professional coach, learn the power of thought on your happiness and well-being, how to live more consciously and happily, and how to get “bigger” than your circumstances. 212-744-5824. www.nypl.org
JUNE 22-28,2017
Sun 25 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT 150 FAMILY TOUR AND STUDIO WORKSHOP
enjoy a nice, stress-free night and bring your artistic alter-ego to life. 646-490-1678 madrivergrille. com
53rd Street Library, 18 West 53rd St. 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. Free A performance by Alexander Hersh in collaboration with international recording artists and emerging musicians. There is a petit concert at 1 p.m. and an full performance at 7 p.m. 212-714-8400. nypl.org
Wed 28
BEHIND THE SCENES AT TEMPLE EMANU-EL
Mon 26 PAINT NIGHT AT MAD RIVER Mad River Bar & Grille, 1442 Third Ave. 7 p.m. $40 Sip cocktails, nosh on ďŹ ne food, and try your hand at re-creating a chosen painting under the guidance of a master artist. No experience needed:
oysters, crabcakes, steak and more. Eat, drink and learn a little bit about wine pairing. 646-893-0160. bluonpark. com
CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT
Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave. 10:30 a.m. $30 per family Celebrate the architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 150th birthday with an exploration of the Guggenheimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building, and a special architecture and construction workshop. 212-423-3500. guggenheim.org
Temple Emanu-El, 1 East 65th St. 1 p.m. $29-$35 An exclusive, behind-thescenes exploration through one of the largest houses of worship in the world. The tour includes a historical overview, a walkthrough of the incredible main sanctuary, a peek inside smaller sanctuaries hidden throughout the temple,and a trip to the roof. 888-718-4253. emanuelnyc. org
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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
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SONGS AND STORIES YOGA IN THE PARK â&#x2013;˛ Central Park, Le Pain Quotidien 6:00 p.m. $15 Grab your mat and head to the park for relaxing and meditative, yet active Vinyasa ďŹ&#x201A;ow yoga. Open to all ďŹ tness levels. Meet 15 minutes before class outside Le Pain Quotidien, at the level of 69th Street. Reservations required. centralpark.com
Tue 27 WINE PAIRING PARTY Blu on Park, 116 East 60th St. 6:00 p.m. $20 Taste and pair summery wines with some of the Blu on Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite seasonal fare:
67th Street Library, 328 East 67th St. 10:30 a.m. Free An afternoon of songs and stories followed by a creative art exploration project playing with color mixing, paper ripping, paint, texture, collage, wearable art and more. This program follows an educational syllabus of art concepts and sensory integration, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about having fun. Ages 3-5.
WRITE AND RHYME LIKE DR. SEUSS 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. 7 p.m. $145 Forget free verse, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve no excuse, come learn to rhyme like Dr. Seuss! Let by Ted Enik, this class addresses rhythm, rising/ falling meter, scansion and all kinds of rhymes. For newbies and veteran word-clangers alike. 212-415-5500. 92y.org
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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
JUNE 22-28,2017
MODERN GIRL POWER MoMA culls from its permanent collection to feature post-World War II works by women BY MARY GREGORY
“Making Space,” MoMA’s exhibition focusing on women artists and postwar abstraction needs space, since the first piece pulls you from across the mezzanine and then knocks you back a few feet when you get to it. Grace Hartigan’s painting “Shinnecock Ca-
nal” (1957), towering at 7 and a half feet tall, announces that this isn’t a repository for dainty, docile, domesticated art. In Hartigan’s composition, flowing ocean blue crashes into lawn green and cloud white, punctuated with drags of paint and sharp black lines. It proclaims the Long Island landscape for which it’s named by references rather than reproduction, and it’s as strong as any gestural abstraction done anywhere at the time. These women could paint (or sculpt or pho-
Alma Thomas mosaic-like chips of brilliant color amplify the impact of her small collage included “Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction.” Photo: Adel Gorgy
A dense, pendulous weaving by Magdalena Abakanowicz couldn’t be more different from Ruth Asawa’s floating forms, yet both were part of a movement to relocate fiber from the craft shelf to the art gallery. Photo: Adel Gorgy
tograph or whatever they put their minds to) and did so with as much passion, focus and force as their male colleagues. A small, perfectly balanced painting by Etel Adnan follows, and reveals that the exhibition, while tightly focused on the years between the end of World War II and the late 1960s, is international in outlook. Along with Adnan’s, look for works by stars like Yayoi Kusama (global by way of Japan), Brazilian Lygia Clark, and Cuba’s great export, Carmen Herrera, as well as by less familiar names such as Britain’s Bridget Riley and German-born Brazilian photographer Gertrudes Altschul. The pieces are all culled from MoMA’s permanent collection, and the exhibition is organized by curators Starr Figura and Sarah Meister, with Hillary Reder, curatorial assistant. “It’s part of an institutional commitment to improve the representation of women artists in the collection,” Meister said. “This show is not a beginning” Figura added. “It’s not an end. It’s one event in an ongoing process of looking at women artists and amplifying the way that they’re represented here at MoMA.” Some of the strongest statements in the show are made by women of Abstract Expressionism. Elaine de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell and Hedda Sterne are all represented by outstanding works. Lee Krasner’s 1966 painting “Gaea” claims an entire wall and a place in history, not because of who she was married to — Jackson Pollock — but because her work is vibrant, vigorous, expressive and engaging.
IF YOU GO WHAT: “Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction’ WHERE: The Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street WHEN: Through August 13 www.moma.org/ While several of the women in “Making Space” were married to artists, all of them took it upon themselves to do what the title suggests. They found a way to make their voices part of the chorus of 20th century art. “It’s very difficult for women to find a place within the hyper-masculine world of Ab-Ex,” Figura said. “These women are trying to make space for themselves within a tradition of painting and sculpture that’s been dominated by men for centuries.” Like all artists, women made their work matter not by imitating but by innovating. We see that in Czech artist, Běla Kolářová’s “Five by Four” (1967), a witty, though serious and surprising composition. Here, the tiny, repetitive marks that form the gridded abstraction are actually metal paper fasteners affixed to the surface. They glisten, enlivening the work, and at the same time can be read as a wry commentary on the largely clerical role of women in offices at the time. Alma Woodsey Thomas’s collage of rainbow chips of color become a prism through which to view her ebullient spirit. Louise Nevelson’s towering construction, “Big Black,” is bold and insistent, claiming its own space, while Agnes Martin’s all-white
quietude speaks just as clearly. In the 1960s, a group of women made a new category for their work by reclaiming fiber, previously relegated to craft. Annie Albers wove fastidious studies in color and shape, and Sheila Hicks redefined how fiber can function. Rough, uneven surfaces and a sense of overwhelming weight drags Magdalena Abakanowicz’ s woven “Yellow Abakan” towards the floor, while across the room, Ruth Asawa’s airy, knotted sculpture, “Untitled,” hovers like a hummingbird. With about 100 works by more than 50 international artists, nearly half of which are on view at MoMA for the first time, “Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction” will surprise almost everyone. Some, with the realization that women artists in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s around the world were creating works equal to and, at times, better than those by male counterparts. Others will be surprised to discover so many wonderful artists they’ve not met before and question why, since these are all in MoMA’s collection. “By looking carefully at what we have, we become acutely aware of what we need to do,” Glenn Lowry, MoMA’s director, said. “The familiar is satisfying but less interesting ultimately to us than the unfamiliar ... which is what we have to find a way to foreground, so that those voices become part of a larger conversation.” It’s wonderful to get a glimpse at these works and a chance to consider them. It would be great to see space made for them to hang on permanent display amidst works by Rothko, Pollock, Hofmann, Rauschenberg, Johns, Warhol and the rest of the guys.
JUNE 22-28,2017
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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
Assembly Member Rebecca Seawrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bill mandating air quality testing in Manhattan passed both state houses and awaits the governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature to become law. Photo: New York State Assembly
MANDATED ASTHMA STUDIES COMING TO UES ENVIRONMENT Seawright bill tied to opening of marine transfer station BY MADELEINE THOMPSON
It was approved by the City Council more than a decade ago, but the marine transfer station slated to open on the Upper East Side in 2019 remains at the forefront of the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concerns. Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright knows that; last week both the state Senate and the Assembly passed a bill she authored that would require the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Health to â&#x20AC;&#x153;conduct a study on the high incidence of asthma in Manhattan and to prepare a remediation planâ&#x20AC;? for the eventual MTS, according to Seawrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. Residents fear that the inďŹ&#x201A;ux of garbage trucks to their neighborhood will damage the environment, put pedestrians at risk and add to noise levels. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the things that I want to push the Department of Health to do is a baseline study of the air quality ... in high-risk neighborhoods, examining the disparities in income and race,â&#x20AC;? Seawright said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think this will make a huge difference for the borough of Manhattan,
and especially the residents of the Upper East Side.â&#x20AC;? Her bill mandates that the study be completed within a year from when it is signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and that results be reported within 18 months. A report from the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Health released this spring the found that air quality in the city has â&#x20AC;&#x153;improved over the past several decades, but concentrations of multiple air pollutants remain at harmful levels, particularly for seniors, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions.â&#x20AC;? On the Upper East Side, the study found declining levels of most pollutants, such as ďŹ ne particulates and sulfur dioxide. Ozone levels, however, increased in the area from 20.8 to 28, the eighth-largest jump of all city neighborhoods measured. Jim Clynes, chair of Community Board 8, called the bill â&#x20AC;&#x153;a life saver.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the Marine Transfer Station opens up there will be many garbage trucks going to and from the site,â&#x20AC;? Clynes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This law will protect all Manhattan residents.â&#x20AC;? CB8 8 has hosted numerous discussions and conversations on the MTS since before Clynesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tenure. Maggy Siegel, executive director of the Asphalt Green sports facility located adjacent
to the future MTS site, said more than a million people visit the complex every year, many of them children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is certainly something that Asphalt Green has worried about,â&#x20AC;? Siegel said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should get as many studies as we can of the area so we have something to compare it to once the MTS is open.â&#x20AC;? Siegel said the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sanitation department has assured her that their trucks are â&#x20AC;&#x153;green,â&#x20AC;? and that they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worried about a decline in air quality after the transfer station opens. The sanitation department, which will oversee the MTS, said in a statement that it â&#x20AC;&#x153;operates the cleanest large diesel ďŹ&#x201A;eet in the nation and is committed to being a good neighbor to the community. All studies have determined that there would be no negative impact on air quality.â&#x20AC;? Seawright said she has already gotten thank-you messages from Upper East Siders for passing the bill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just relocated our community office on York Avenue and 79th Street, so constituents have been calling and coming in very excited that this legislation has passed,â&#x20AC;? she said. Madeleine Thompson can be reached at newsreporter@ strausnews.com
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JUNE 22-28,2017
Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com
RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS JUNE 7 - 14, 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 on restaurant grades, visit www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/services/restaurant-inspection.shtml. Good Health Cafe
1435 1st Ave
Not Yet Graded (25) Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/ refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
La Esquina
1402 2nd Ave
Not Yet Graded (41) Food contact surface improperly constructed or located. Unacceptable material used. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
Creative Cakes
400 East 74 Street
A
The Green Bean Cafe
1413 York Avenue
A
The Allie Way Sports Bar & Grill
413 East 70 Street
A
Mo Gelato
956 Lexington Ave
A
Brady’s Bar
1583 2 Avenue
A
Balon
245 East 81 Street
A
Ithaka
308 East 86 Street
A
Nargila Grill
1599 York Avenue
A
Arturo’s Pizza
1610 York Ave
A
E.A.T. Cafe
1064 Madison Ave
A
Tal Bagels
1228 Lexington Ave
A
Starbucks
1378 Madison Avenue A
Barking Dog Luncheonette
1678 3 Avenue
A
Domino’s
1993 Third Avenue
A
Wing Gong Restaurant
2109 1st Ave
A
Blue Coco
153 E 106th St
A
Juicy Grill
1646 Madison Ave
Not Yet Graded (31) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewageassociated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
Rong Sheng Chinese Kitchen
2102 2nd Ave
Not Yet Graded (41) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewageassociated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment.
El Chevere Cuchifritos
2000 3 Avenue
A
Earl’s Beer & Cheese
1259 Park Ave
A
VISIT OUR WEBSITE! at OURTOWNNY.COM
A TIPPING POINT FOR RESTAURANT REGULATIONS BUSINESS At a CB8 meeting, UES smallbusiness owners voice their frustrations over new rules BY CHARMAINE P. RICE
Too many new laws mixed with too little transparency is a recipe for frustration. Upper East Side restaurateurs voiced their mounting concerns over an ever-growing list of new rules and regulations at a recent Manhattan Community Board 8 meeting held on June 13. Representatives from the Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Sanitation, and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce were on hand to field questions from the panel and attendees regarding the growing number of regulations imposed each year by multiple city agencies on local dining establishments, as well as provide an overview of resources for small business owners. On the panel were Michael Mellamphy, co-owner of Ryan’s Daughter on 85th Street between First and Second Avenues; Joe Pecora, owner of Delizia 92 Ristorante and Pizza on 92nd Street and Second Avenue; and Albert Wu, former owner of China Fun on 64th Street and Second Avenue. Though China Fun closed its doors in January 2017, the three establishments have served Upper East Side denizens for more than 25 years. “I started to attend community board meetings several years ago because we had to get our liquor license renewed, but it dawned on me very quickly that restaurateurs and bar owners usually show up to these community board meetings when problems arise. One way to alleviate these conditions is to get involved and to show that we are a part of these neighborhoods,” explained Mellamphy. “We live in these neighborhoods, we work in these neighborhoods, and to some extent, contribute to the success of these neighborhoods and why people want to live on the Upper East Side.” The panel echoed this sentiment to counter the notion that small-business owners, particularly restaurant owners, are not invested in the
Panelists (left to right): Upper East Side restaurateurs Michael Mellamphy, Albert Wu, and Joe Pecora with Community Board 8 cochairs Matt Bondy and Sarah Chu. Photo: Charmaine P. Rice neighborhoods where they run their businesses. The struggling economy coupled with the decade-long Second Avenue subway construction impacted small businesses across the Upper East Side, resulting in closures and a high turnover rate. Restaurant owners insist they are in it for the long haul, and those in the audience chimed in to share their frustrations with running a restaurant on increasingly thin profit margins and ever-growing regulations. “I’ve been lucky. I’m not smarter than anyone that’s on the panel tonight. I’m just really lucky,” said Mary Silva, the owner of Maz Mezcal, a restaurant on East 86th Street between First and Second Avenues that’s been in business since 1972. Silva spoke to the laundry list of new laws passed each year, her experiences dealing with them, and the lack of transparency on the city’s part. Other owners empathized. “You need lawyers to even understand the new laws. We’re small-business owners and we don’t have the infrastructure set up like larger corporations to keep up with these constant regulations and pay for attorneys and accountants,” said Wu. “And, these rules are separate from the Department of Health’s rules and regulations.” The lack of transparency was cited as a chronic issue. Panelists and audience members agreed that city officials do not understand what it takes to run a business day-to-day. City agencies, however, are trying
to open the lines of communication and provide better access to support. Jessica Walker, President and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, provided an overview of Help Desk, a program that provides real-time support for small business owners. Launched in March, Help Desk aims to connect business owners with experts in finance, legal, government regulations, health care, technology, and more. “If you’re working with us and aligning with us, you don’t have to be a ‘small fish’ in a big pond,” noted Walker. To access Help Desk, businesses can submit their questions to helpdesk@manhattancc.org or call (212) 473-7875. The NYC Department of Small Business Services launched the “NYC Love Your Local” initiative whereby locals can nominate their favorite small businesses for a $90,000 grant. Deshaun Mars, Director of Business Outreach, outlined the free services and resources available to small business owners to better assist them in navigating the multiple city agencies. “Think of us as a onestop center for assistance,” he remarked. Key takeaways from the meeting include a further discussion on how to improve transparency so restaurateurs are not jumping through numerous hoops to comply and an opportunity for owners to meet with lawmakers and have a say when it comes to the creation of new laws.
JUNE 22-28,2017
sonable answer. Only â&#x20AC;&#x153;regrets for any inconvenience.â&#x20AC;? Scant comfort for a rider with a disability. But happily, â&#x20AC;&#x153;supervisionâ&#x20AC;? is â&#x20AC;&#x153;aware of this matter.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hey @MTA/@NYCTSubway. Nb 6, car 1675 leaving 33rd st. NO AC. Adults, children and babies SWEATING in here. How can we remedy?â&#x20AC;? wrote @Chef_Gregorio. The MTA offered no remedy, just â&#x20AC;&#x153;regretsâ&#x20AC;? for the unpleasantness, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;thank youâ&#x20AC;? for the report, and yes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;supervisionâ&#x20AC;? knows all about it. It goes on and on: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What fresh hell is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;BIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and why is it causing a 10-minute trip to take ďŹ ve times that long?â&#x20AC;? posted @mrb370, aka Maria Rocha-Buschel (also a contributor to this paper). While BIE is a potentially grave condition, the MTA tweet was positively cheery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hi, that stands for Brakes in Emergency, meaning the trainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brakes were activated,â&#x20AC;? the post said.
LEGIONNAIREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 drink your water, we are not concerned about the water pipes in buildings, what categorizes this cluster is a neighborhood exposure,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have no evidence of any clustering within buildings. We are not concerned about people drinking the water, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we have a big pitcher of tap water up here and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re drinking it.â&#x20AC;? Bassett said the department suspected an outbreak when computer algorithms indicated that a number of people in Lenox Hill had Legionnairesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; symptoms. Health officials then conducted interviews
The dispatches from the underground should be required reading for Governor Andrew Cuomo, who disingenuously claimed he â&#x20AC;&#x153;doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x153;controlâ&#x20AC;? the MTA. In fact, he names six of its 14 board members, more than anyone else, and exercises control by handpicking a chairman and CEO, both serving at his sufferance. They should also be propped up on an exercise bike in a Brooklyn gym for perusal by de Blasio, who sanctimoniously said it would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;cheap symbolismâ&#x20AC;? to fight global warming by forsaking his chauffeured convoy and taking public transit to his Park Slope workouts. Not much empathy there. Surely by now Cuomo and de Blasio have heard that the MTA-macro-misery index has never been higher, and that 70,000-plus delays afflict the system each month, a megaleap from 28,000 in 2012. Maybe, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve even learned that a typical subway car now breaks down every 120,000 miles. Five years ago, it was 200,000 miles. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a micro-mis-
ery index told in the tweets. It, too, is unconscionably high. A governor who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand that betrays his constituents. A mayor who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel the pain of his ďŹ&#x201A;ock disrespects it. A spat between the two harms everyone else. What follows are questions to which @NYCTSubway provided zero satisfactory answers. Can Cuomo and de Blasio do better? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since when does the MTA care about schedules in the ďŹ rst place?â&#x20AC;? asked @JaimieDeth. Inquired @LadyOfSpain17, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whereeeee is the uptown B/D at 7th Ave and why do I pay you people to get me nowhere at all?â&#x20AC;? Posted @urbanutopist, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Waiting time between A trains: 20 mins. 100s of people waiting! Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up with your unacceptable service?â&#x20AC;? The final outraged tweet goes to @jonauyeung, who summed up what everybody else was driving at: â&#x20AC;&#x153;wtf?????â&#x20AC;? That is the ultimate question for Cuomo and de Blasio. Is supervision really aware?
with those who had fallen ill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We interview them and try to ďŹ gure out where they might overlap, because that means that we might come up with a single location, a common source. When we did this for the seven individuals that I mentioned, all that they shared was a neighborhood, a geography,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t share a building or a place where they all did their shopping. All they shared was a geography and when we see that sort of pattern, we begin looking at the cooling towers in that area.â&#x20AC;? People older than 50 are most at risk of contracting Legionnaires, particularly if they smoke, have chronic lung disease or weakened immune sys-
tems. The seven people affected range in age from 65 to the person in their 90s. Symptoms usually appear two to 10 days after exposure, according the city Health Department. The infection, which is not contagious, is treated with antibiotics. Data from the federal Centers for Disease Control points to a more than fourfold increase in reported cases of the disease since 2000, when about .4 cases per 100,000 people were reported. That increased to about 1.8 cases per 100,000 people in 2015. In New York City, 269 cases were reported last year, down from 428 in 2015, according to Assembly Member Rebecca Seawrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office.
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SEEING GREEN Cannabis business takes center stage in Manhattan BY MICHAEL GAROFALO
New York City certainly isn’t the capital of the burgeoning American cannabis industry — that title likely belongs to Denver or Los Angeles — but it was clear at the fourth annual Cannabis World Congress and Business Exposition, held June 14-16 at the Javits Center, that marijuana is already big business in the Big Apple. A bustling convention floor featured all manner of cannabis-related products and services, from those one might expect — lights and other growing equipment, pipes bearing Grateful Dead insignia — to businesses that might seem novel to conventioneers unfamiliar with the “green rush” economy: financial services companies and investment firms specializing in the cannabis sector, or life-insurance brokers offering coverage for cannabis users at non-smoker rates. The only thing that didn’t seem to be on hand, at least not openly, was actual marijuana. More than half of all states, including New York, have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. Under New York’s medical cannabis law, which is among the strictest in the country, patients are only eligible for treatment if they suffer from certain specific lifethreatening or severely debilitating medical conditions identified by the state, which include ALS, cancer, epilepsy, HIV, chronic pain and multiple sclerosis. Marijuana is not available to patients as dried herb (or “flower,”
as it’s colloquially known these days), and must be consumed in smokeless forms such as edibles, vaporizable concentrates, or sublingual oils. Dr. Kenneth Weinberg practiced emergency medicine at Bellevue and other hospitals in the region for 30 years before founding Cannabis Doctors of New York with two other physicians after New York’s medical marijuana law passed. He now evaluates patients who may qualify for the program at the group’s Madison Avenue office, and met with others familiar with the industry at last week’s conference. “We’re seeing very sick patients, and most of them are maxed out on their medications,” Weinberg said. “A lot of times they come to us not even because they want to take cannabis, but because they know that nothing else works and they’re willing to get beyond all those myths that have been around for 80 years about ‘reefer madness.’” As of June 14 of this year, 21,760 patients had enrolled in New York’s program since the first dispensaries opened in January 2016 — a fraction, some experts say, of the total number of eligible New Yorkers who might benefit from medical marijuana treatment. Sluggish growth is often attributed to several factors, including high prices, a lack of awareness of the program among physicians, and the small number of dispensaries at which patients can access the drug. Medical marijuana is currently available at 20 dispensaries around the state. Manhattan has just one dispensary, on East 14th Street, and Weinberg said it’s unlikely the local market could support another at this point.
Business
Marijuana-related businesses were on show at the Javits Center last week. Photo: Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBExpo) in New York Weinberg says the potential benefits available to patients under the program should be better publicized by the state, so that more doctors become familiar with the treatment. “When you see something that works and has very few side-effects — nobody’s ever died from an overdose in the 4,000 years that we’ve known about cannabis — you want to be able to make it available to as many people as possible,” he said. Near Weinberg’s booth for Cannabis Doctors of New York, SUNY Empire State College advertised an upcoming interdisciplinary course on medical marijuana that meets online and at the school’s Hudson Street location in Manhattan. “As educators, we have an ethical responsibility to provide cred-
ible information on this topic, like we do for many topics that are controversial,” said Joanne Levine, one of the course’s instructors. Marijuana for recreational use is now permitted in eight states and the District of Columbia, and last week’s conference was, predictably, filled with advocates for full legalization in New York state. The road ahead is unclear (Gov. Andrew Cuomo said earlier this year he is “unconvinced on recreational marijuana”), and supporters advocated for a variety of approaches. One organization, Restrict and Regulate in New York State, called (while also soliciting suggested donations of $4.20) for New Yorkers to vote on November’s ballot in favor of calling a state constitutional convention,
ON THE SIDE STREETS OF NEW YORK GYRO 96 — 141 EAST 96TH STREET As Waled Haredy, owner of Gyro 96, asserted, “good food doesn’t need to be expensive. Good food doesn’t need a reservation. Good food just needs love.” When Waled was growing up in Egypt, his mother once gave him money to go out and buy himself a meal. Deciding on the local falafel stand, Waled gave his money to the seller and asked him to put in whatever ingredients he
JUNE 22-28,2017
had. And so, at nine years old, when Waled tasted a wrap filled with deep fried chickpea balls, hummus, eggplant, fries, tomato, pickles, cilantro, hard boiled eggs and tahini sauce, his childlike imagination could only dream up one name for the dish: The Rocket. Today, that is one of the many inventive foods served at this tiny space on 96th Street. To read more, visit Manhattan Sideways (sideways.nyc), created by Betsy Bober Polivy.
Photo: Tom Arena, Manhattan Sideways
during which full legalization could be pursued. Others supported state Senator Liz Krueger’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which would achieve similar goals through more conventional means. In the meantime, though, many businesses at the expo focused on one sector of the cannabis industry that is currently available for consumption by the general public in New York: products featuring cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis. CBD’s legal status is somewhat unclear and is still being litigated in federal courts; generally speaking, it is a non-controlled substance under federal law, as long as it is produced from non-flowering hemp plants, which contain only trace amounts of psychoactive THC. It is currently sold in various forms in a number vape shops and holistic medicine stores in Manhattan. Recent research has suggested that CBD may have benefits for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and brain trauma, and the substance is often anecdotally portrayed as something of a wonder drug. The convention floor was filled with companies selling CBD-based products, as representatives boasted of an array of supposed benefits — vape pen cartridges for pain relief, cosmetic lotions with anti-aging properties, gummy candies to treat anxiety, even CBD dog treats to ease older pets’ joint pain. Several exhibitors referenced anxiety over a potential federal crackdown on the industry under notoriously anti-pot Attorney General Jeff Sessions. But positivity and enthusiasm seemed to be in greater abundance as conventioneers took not-so-surreptitious drags on vape pens (containing CBD or perhaps something stronger) in the nominally e-smoke-free Javits Center and flocked to speeches by keynote speakers Jesse Ventura and Roger Stone.
JUNE 22-28,2017
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JUNE 22-28,2017
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PREVENTING ELDER ABUSE AGING From physical harm to financial fraud: JASA conference offers warning signs, planning advice and technology tips BY ELISSA SANCI
While some people say theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always loved children, Liz Lowey says that for her, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always been older people. When she was 12, she and her mother would serve Meals on Wheels to the seniors in her town â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and from there, her interest in the elderly community grew. So it was ďŹ tting that Lowey, former chief of the Manhattan DAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elder Abuse Unit, found herself giving the keynote address at the Jewish Association Serving the Agingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12th Annual Elder Abuse Conference at the New School on June 14. Elder abuse often goes underreported; the New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study indicates that out of 24 cases, only one victim of elder abuse will come forward. The reasons seniors keep their abuse under wraps varies, but most often, it boils down to shame and guilt â&#x20AC;&#x201D; nearly 58 percent
of the time, the senior is abused by a family member, leaving the victim less likely to report the abuse. Workshops at the conference highlighted six types of elder abuse: physical, psychological, sexual, financial, neglect and abandonment. These forms of abuse typically overlap, and JASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manhattan District Director Martha Pollack ďŹ nds there is almost always a psychological component to any abusive case. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of our clients suffer from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder because of this abuse,â&#x20AC;? she said. Signs of elder abuse include unexplained bruises and physical injuries; noticeable changes in daily patterns; unkempt appearance, poor hygiene and being inappropriately dressed for the weather; increased social isolation; and the sudden inability to pay bills. JASA, a non-proďŹ t agency dedicated to serving older adults across New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boroughs, has been providing services for seniors since their founding in 1968, and has created programs such as the Legal/Social Work Elder Abuse Program, to help individuals affected by abuse free of charge. The conference was conceived 12 years ago to further JASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to serving seniors by educating those
Liz Lowey begins the 12th Annual Elder Abuse Conference with a presentation aimed at preventing elder fraud. Photo: Elissa Sanci who work with them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We realized we had this very special knowledge and expertise at the time that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really on anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radar in New York City,â&#x20AC;? said JASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorney-in-Charge Donna Dougherty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had such a big turnout that we realized there was a thirst for this information. People were really grappling with the issues and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where to go.â&#x20AC;? The focus of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conference
was on planning and prevention, which Loweyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keynote addressed. Lowey has worked with victims of elder fraud for much of her career. In the Manhattan DAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, she oversaw the investigation and prosecution of approximately 800 elder abuse cases annually, including the prosecution of Brooke Astorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son Anthony Marshall. Lowey now serves as General Counsel at EverSafe, a technology company focused on preventing elder fraud and identity theft. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone loves to talk about what we should do after we believe that someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been victimized,â&#x20AC;? Lowey said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really important, but the truth is, I think that most of these cases would be resolved if people would just be more proactive before thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a crisis.â&#x20AC;? According to the National Counseling on Aging, elder financial fraud costs older Americans $36.5 billion per year; because of their age, seniors are more vulnerable to fall victim to a myriad of scams and are less likely to report them. Scams that target the elderly include tech support scams, IRS scams and mortgage refinancing scams. Of the more creative scams is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;stranded grandchild scam:â&#x20AC;? a younger person claiming to be the seniorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandchild calls to ask for money after doing something reckless and begs the senior not to tell his or her parents. According to the Associated Living Federation of America, financial ex-
ploitation is the most common form of elder abuse; Lowey believes the best way to combat fraud is through the utilization of new technology, which she addressed in her presentation. She mentioned companies like NomoRobo, a free service that prevents telemarketers from calling; Mojio, which tracks driving habits and can identify changes in driving behavior; and EverSafe. Marleny Garcia, a conference attendee who works with seniors at the Neighborhood SHOPP in the Bronx, was particularly interested to learn about elder fraud. But the most common form of abuse sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s encountered is verbal abuse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most often family members,â&#x20AC;? Garcia said. Abuse occurs among family members and other caregivers for many reasons. The inability to cope with stress; depression; lack of support from other potential caregivers; and the decline in the elder personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical and mental health are all potential stressors that could turn a caregiver into an abuser. Elder abuse can be avoided; that much the conference proved. But if an elder has already become a victim, the situation must be reported. Call 911 if the senior is in immediate physical danger; otherwise, use 311 to report the elder abuse. You can also get direct help from local community organizations, like JASA and the NYC Elder Abuse Center.
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NOURISHING WELL-BEING Founder of Savor Health provides cancer patients with the nutrition they need BY ANGELA BARBUTI
When Susan Bratton’s friend Eric was diagnosed with cancer, he was told nutrition was irrelevant and he could eat whatever he wanted. Having a background on Wall Street in healthcare, the Midtown resident had her doubts, so she did some research and found that nutrition did, in fact, matter for cancer patients. “Up to 80 percent of cancer patients experience nutritional issues. A third of all cancer deaths are due to severe malnutrition. And malnutrition is the number two secondary diagnosis in cancer patients,” she explained. In 2011, started Savor Health with the help of doctors, nurses and oncology dieticians. The company provides nutritional counseling as well as a food delivery service that’s tailored to meet the specific needs of its clients. They take into account pre-existing health conditions, allergies and side effects as well as drug regimens.
Tell us how your friend Eric’s cancer inspired you to start Savor Health.
When he was diagnosed, from the beginning, he was told nutrition didn’t matter and to eat whatever he wanted. And I was really struck by that, because granted, I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 18. ... So I came at this very much from the perspective that I’m a super healthy, clean eater. And it just struck me that that didn’t make very much sense. And it certainly blew in the face of everything I had ever read or believed in. But I had been a healthcare investment banker, so was experienced in the healthcare world. I knew that evidence-based literature is how we practice medicine. So I actually went to the evidence-based literature to just kind of understand why he was being told that. And what I came away with was, in fact, that his experience wasn’t the exception, but it was the rule. And they’re being told that it doesn’t matter and they go to the internet and are all completely overwhelmed because if you type in “cancer nutrition” or “nutrition for cancer patients,” you get 200 million hits or something crazy like that. And so I said I wanted to start a company that helps people like my friend Eric because I watched him really kind of wither away over the five months
Susan Bratton founded Savor Health to provide better nutrution for cancer patients. Photo: Peter Hurley from the point he was diagnosed until he died. And the issues that he was experiencing were around nutrition.
What foods are cancer fighting and does it change based on the type of cancer and the anti-cancer drugs they are on? What’s interesting is there’s not a breast cancer diet or a prostate cancer diet, per se. It’s more about eating healthy, the principles of the Mediterranean diet, eating clean, lean proteins, grains, legumes, lots of fruits and vegetables. And then the way it works to actually make it appropriate for the patient is, you customize it around the side effects that they’re ex-
periencing. So, for example, take Eric who had mouth sores. Our recommendations would be he get softer consistency food, no spicy food, things like that. Somebody who has diarrhea is going to get food that is high residue, things that counteract it. There are certain foods that interact with drugs that you have to know about, but by and large, it’s more about making sure that they get the right amount of protein, calories and nutrients in a format that’s designed around what they’re actually experiencing. Because you can have two breast cancer patients who have the same treatment and they can still have different side effect profiles. So it really needs to be customized to what they’re experiencing. And also what they like to eat and what their food allergies are. Because again, if the goal is to get them to eat healthy, you also need to know what it is they like to eat.
My sister is a cancer researcher and wanted to know what kind of food patients like most when they’re undergoing chemotherapy. I think most people, when they’re going through cancer, go back to, what I would call, their comfort foods. And everybody’s comfort food is different, depending on your culture and how you grow up. But there’s this kind of feeling of wanting to go to the stuff that made them feel good when they were growing up. For somebody it
could be mac and cheese and so, Jessica Iannotta [Savor’s COO] and I wrote “The Meals to Heal Cookbook” and we have a really healthy mac and cheese in there that has lots of broccoli and things like that, so they get not just the cheese and the fat, but actually something that’s more healthy.
What kind of medical evidence is there for your approach? There’s the evidence that shows that nutrition intervention can reverse weight loss and improve mortality and morbidity rates. There’s research that shows that when patients are well nourished and receive nutritional intervention, that their hospital readmissions are 54 percent lower and their length of stay is two days shorter. So it’s keeping them out of the hospital is the point. There’s also a lot of evidence that shows that patients who are well nourished adhere better to treatment, have fewer complication rates, less treatment toxicity and less treatment suspension. All of which impact how well a drug works while the patient is on it, not to mention their quality of life. So there’s an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows that nutrition matters. Not that nutrition will cure cancer, but nutrition will help strengthen the patient so that they can fight cancer and have better outcomes. www.savorhealth.com
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