The local paper for the Upper East Side DARK HISTORY ON DISPLAY ◄ P.12
GHOST BLOCK ON FIRST AVENUE
NEIGHBORHOOD City Council Member Ben Kallos, a longtime anime fan, helped kick off Anime NYC at the Javits Convention Center on November 15th. Photo: Office of Council Member Ben Kallos via Twitter
ANIME ROCKS NEW YORK CITY CULTURE New York plays host to the country’s biggest celebration of the Japanese animation art form BY CHRISTIAN SPENCER
What do City Council Member Ben Kallos, Japanese Ambassador to the U.N. Kanji Yamanouchi and an estimated 40,000 fans of the Japanese animation art
Once bustling streets on the UES are a distressing sign of developers’ blight BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
On the west side of First Avenue between 65th and 66th streets, an Irish pub, a nail salon, a Chinese-Japa-
nese fusion restaurant, a bodega, a trattoria, a discount grocer and a yarn store have all closed. They’re boarded up, glass windows painted gray, marked with graffiti or lined with brown paper. Inside, trash and merchandise have been left behind. Yellow signs warn pedestrians of rat bait. The apartments above are vacant.
It’s unclear for how long these spaces have been empty, and it’s unclear for how long they will remain that way. Applications to demolish the three buildings at 1209, 1211 and 1213 First Avenue were submitted to the Department of Buildings at the end of September. The buildings will likely be torn down
A SEASON OF GIVING
Holiday House on the UES raises money for breast cancer research. p. 8
Obesity statistics have their own Electoral College in which some states are heavier than others. Where New York stands. p. 2
A PLACE FOR ALL KIDS TO PLAY
The renovated Bloomingdale Playground on Amsterdam Ave. is ADA accessible. p. 5
Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday evening 18 minutes before sunset. Friday, November 22 – 4:15 pm. For more information visit www.chabbaduppereastside.com.
Photos: Emily Higginbotham WEEK OF AUGUST
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form known as anime have in common? They were all at the Javits Convention Center last weekend for the third annual Anime NYC convention, the largest such event in the U.S. It turns out the Kallos is a fan of Gundam, a science fiction franchise featuring giant militaristic robots, and he was at the gathering to declare November 15th as Gundam Day, in honor of the
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2019
‘MY HANDS ARE OUTSTRETCHED’ P. 19
f d h e s, p gs ng st ts alng ish ass eel
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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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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
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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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