The local paper for the Upper East Side
CHARCOAL BEAUTY ◄ CITY ARTS, P.12
MANHATTAN GENIUS
WEEK OF OCTOBER
24-30 2019 INSIDE
SCIENCE
A product of New York’s top schools nabs a prestigious MacArthur Foundation grant
WAIT (ALAS) ‘TIL NEXT YEAR
BY DAVID NOONAN
At a City Hall press conference held by Mayor Bill de Blasio after the jail vote. Photos: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES JAIL PLAN JUSTICE
“The era of mass incarceration is over,“ Mayor de Blasio says, but critics doubt Rikers will close by 2026 BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
The City Council voted to move forward with an ambitious $8.7 billion plan to build four boroughbased jails and replace the Rikers Island complex, which is set to be closed by 2026 – a feat many wrote off as unrealistic just a few years ago. Of the 49 council members who cast a ballot last week, 36 voted in favor of the land use plan, which has
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Forging a world-class career in science takes focus, discipline, years of hard work and, in Vanessa Ruta’s case, a Metrocard. Ruta is an award-winning neuroscientist at Rockefeller University on the Upper East Side, where her colleagues hail from California, China, Brazil, Denmark and other places around the U.S. and the globe. But Ruta has found success in her hypercompetitive field right here on her home island of Manhattan. A graduate of Stuyvesant High School, where she was introduced to “the elegant principles of the periodic table” by chemistry teacher Matthew Litwin, Ruta, now 45, earned a B.A. in chemistry at Hunter College, followed by a Ph.D. at Rockefeller. She capped off her education doing post-doctoral research at Columbia University. To confirm her Manhattan bona fides, Ruta boasts another achievement, or should we say, non-achievement. “I feel like a true New Yorker,” she says, “because I never learned to drive.” While she has spent most of her time between the Hudson and East rivers, Ruta’s research – she uses fruit flies to study how the brain is modified by experience – has been recognized around the world for its originality and importance. In September she received a five-year, $625,000 “genius grant” from the
Yankee fans mourn end of team’s season. p. 8
MARCUS WELBY VS. DOOGIE HOWSER Is your doc’s age only a number? p. 2
TARGET OPENS ON UES Neighborhood welcomes new store as others close. p. 7 Vanessa Ruta in her lab at Rockefeller University, where she is an associate professor. Photo: David Noonan
MacArthur Foundation, which noted her “imaginative deployment” of the advanced technology and techniques available to 21st century neuroscientists. Ruta uses those tools to explore the neural circuits involved in a variety of fruit fly behaviors, including courtship, when males respond to certain
pheromones to identify potential mates. The fruit fly nervous system, while simple, is well-established as a useful model for more complicated systems, including human. Ruta was “overwhelmed and very humbled” by the award, but she is
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‘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 fluctuating and in cyclist deaths – and motorist numbers of pedestrian fatalities BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
year that saw 299 In 2014, after a traffic-related incipeople killed in Mayor Bill de Bladents in the city, eliminate all traffic sio set out to
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6
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, October 25- 5:44 pm. For more information visit www.chabbaduppereastside.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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