The local paper for the Upper East Side WEEKWEEK OF DEC.-JAN. OF THE WOW PARADE ◄ CITY ARTS, P.12
DECEMBER
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Cameron Koffman, 22, launches his campaign for the New York State Assembly. Photo: Courtesy of Martin Rather
GEN Z ON THE BALLOT POLITICS
They’re young and they’re eager to serve. How two political neophytes from Manhattan became candidates for elected office. BY CECE KING
From Alexandria Ocasio Cortez to Julia Salazar, New Yorkers have followed the national trend of voting young people into office. But as New York County Democratic Committee Chair, and former New York State Assembly Member, Keith Wright points out, the “energy, excitement, and electricity” that young people bring does not outweigh the fact that politics “is made from the bottom up.” Wright recommends anyone interested in running for office first learn the process by working for an elected official or attending precinct council and com-
munity board meetings. Wright, who emphasized that “there is no educational prerequisite, no vocational prerequisite” for politics, chose to work for then Borough President David Dinkins rather than enter the political fray right after law school. “Politics is a blood sport,” Wright warned, and “the hardest folks to impress are the folks in your community when you’re asking them for their vote.” As Wright sees it, what qualifies someone for public office is simple and unrelated to age: “Passion, intelligence and commitment to their community.” With that in mind, Straus News spoke to two of New York’s youngest political hopefuls, Ellie Pfeffer, 19 and Cameron Koffman, 22, about their campaigns and their approach to politics.
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MEET YOUR MANHATTAN HISTORIAN
INSIDE I want to create more opportunities for people to gather in public forums to explore and discuss our borough’s history. We have a lot to learn from each other.” Robert W. Snyder, Manhattan borough historian
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Falling debris kills architect Erica Tishman and focuses new attention on city scaffolds. p. 6
Robert W. Snyder is taking on one of the city’s most interesting and quirky posts BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN
His first vivid memory of Manhattan came as a threeyear-old in the late 1950s when he visited the city from suburban New Jersey with his family and entered an apartment building in Washington Heights – an experience he found “scary.” But Robert W. Snyder, the Bronx-born historian, scholar, researcher, academic, journalist, editor and author or co-author of five non-fiction books, all of them about New York City, quickly overcame those fears. In fact, he wrote a 2015 book about the Heights, “Crossing Broadway,” and is co-author most recently of “All the Nations Under Heaven: Immigrants, Migrants and the Making of New York,” published by Columbia University Press. A former special projects researcher at Newsday,
SEEKING SAFER STREETS Robert W. Snyder, the new Manhattan borough historian, addresses some 200 community activists, neighborhood leaders and local historians at the Fire Museum on Spring Street for a Dec. 3 reception. Photo courtesy of Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer’s office
he’s currently working on a biography of legendary newspaper columnist Murray Kempton. Now, Snyder, 64, is taking on one of the most interesting, unpaid and quirky posts the city has to offer: Manhattan borough historian. Appointed by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who terms his knowledge of history “unmatched,” he’s already settled into work in the Municipal
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Building. And after 20 years at Rutgers University-Newark, where he’s a tenured professor of journalism and American Studies, Snyder plans to retire in July 2020. We chatted about his agenda, the borough’s shifting landscape, the things he doesn’t know, nativism, immigration – even his favorite subway line.
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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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AT LAST
WOODSTOCK SOJOURN an NYPD judge recommend at City Hall after Photography Office holds a press conference Appleton/Mayoral Mayor Bill de Blasio 2019. Photo: Michael Friday, August 2,
firing Officer Daniel
Pantaleo on
THE BILLY AND GILLY SHOW
Kamala HarWarren, Cory Booker, and Bernie debates,” longris, Amy Klobuchar for the September Pete strategist George Sanders, South Bend Mayor time Democratic doesn’t have former Texas Rep. Artz says. “De Blasioare way down Buttigieg and both Beto O’Rourke. the donors, and close, but none of A few others are in the polls.” Hank Sheinde Blasio or GilliPolitical consultant that either them are named kopf says it’s “50-50” “Any- brand. returned reBY STUART MARQUES will make the next round: Neither campaign but they’re not quests for comment. thing can happen, agree that Warde Blasio faced to qualify.” Pundits generally When Mayor Bill held off the more Gillibrand – likely a minimum of Candidates need to ren and Sanderson the first night. off with Sen. Kirsten Democratic presi- 130,000 unique donors and have moderate field and eight other in four qualigot high marks on – on July 31, it Booker and Yang and hit at least 2 percent dential hopefuls the last Billy candidates have the second night, but Biden a might have marked presidential fying polls. Eight the polls. and are assured at the are still ahead in hit those marks and Gilly Show largely igon Sept. 12 Harris Gillibrand Houston and in De Blasio debates. ei- spot onstage Presiawful tough for are former Vice 18 “It’s going to be and and 13. They Senators Elizabeth CONTINUED ON PAGE get the donors dent Joe Biden, ther of them to needed to qualify polling numbers”
POLITICS
dim for Presidential prospects Democratic New Yorkers on the debate stage
C i e Watch
Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday evening 18 minutes before sunset. Friday, December 27 – 4:17 pm. For more information visit www.chabbaduppereastside.com.
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A NYC fan bids farewell to a great Giants quarterback. p. 8
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f d h e s, p gs ng st ts alng ish ass eel
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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
Amid a growing sense of unease, UWS residents, elected officials and experts hunt for solutions to homelessness. p. 7
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SURVIVNG YOUR SUMMER COLD
seasonal How to deal with thefeel worse virus that makes usp. 2 than a winter bug.
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