The local paper for the Upper pper East Side Sid HOW GREAT ART IS MADE ◄ CITY ARTS, P.12
THE BLACK HOLE OF EAST 79TH STREET
A rally at City Hall by grassroots group Close Rikers Build Communities before the hearing to close the prison complex last week. Photo: Emily Higginbotham
JAIL PLANS: ALL IN THE DETAILS
NEIGHBORHOODS
Council Members voice frustration at the first formal review of the project to close Rikers BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
There seems to be little disagreement among city officials that shuttering Rikers Island is a necessary, long-overdue step in reforming the city’s criminal justice system. But the lack of definitive details may be holding some council members back from voicing more full-throated support of the de Blasio administration’s plan to replace the prison complex with four smaller
jails in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. During a hearing last week before the Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Use — the council’s first formal review of the plan to close Rikers — members made a repeated request for a concrete timeline of the project. Administration officials from the Department of Corrections and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice could not give specific dates for when the existing jails in the boroughs would be demolished, or when Rikers would be closed, but that the project as a whole would be com-
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COMMUNITY
After the demolition of a block-long swath of First Avenue, an eerie and spectral streetscape emerged. A month later, under fire from its neighbors, the developer is finally illuminating the site. BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN
One of the most high-profile street corners on the Upper
East Side has become a dead zone at night – dark and desolate, shadowy and even a little bit spooky for passers-by. The east side of First Avenue on the full block between 79th and 80th Streets literally appears pitch-black at times, turning it into a scary, potentially dangerous and inhospitable menace, residents say. For 50 years, Tobina Rosenberg has lived around the corner at 425 East 79th St., and now, calling herself “a young
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12-18 2019 INSIDE
ALL ABOUT INTERMITTENT FASTING When you eat is as important as what you eat. p. 2
NYFW IN YOUR HOME A guide to the top TV programs and films about the fashion industry. p. 13
8 WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR NYC STUDENTS The New York Community Trust offers suggestions to help kids this school year. p. 15
A view looking north up the east side of First Ave. from the corner of East 79th St. The entire darkened block near an Extell construction fence is forbidding and spectral in appearance, and though it’s only 9 p.m., not a single pedestrian is in sight. Photo: Sandra Lerner
WEEK OF AUGUST
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80-year-old,” she offers this simple piece of advice to fellow seniors: “Try not to ever be alone!” Still, this is a story with a (mostly) happy ending. Community voices were raised in anger. Elected officials reflected that outrage. Straus News started making inquiries. The developer who had created the ghostly conditions spoke with local con-
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
Crime Watch Voices NYC Now City Arts
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Restaurant Ratings 14 Business 16 Real Estate 17 15 Minutes 21
2019
‘MY HANDS ARE OUTSTRETCHED’ P. 19
f d h e s, p gs ng st ts alng ish ass eel
◄ 15 MINUTES,
Eastsider INSIDE
SUTTON PARK,
AT LAST
just For East Side residents, major having access is a accomplishment. p.5
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
IS VISION ZERO WORKING? SAFETY
has seen a surge Five years in, NYC and uctuating 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
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, September 13 – 6:51 pm. For more information visit www.chabaduppereastrside.com.
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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