The Villager - February 7, 2020

V i s i t u s o n l i n e a t w w w .T h e V i l l a g e r. c o m

THE February 6, 2020 Volume 90 • Number 6

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A RED LETTER DAY Help save lives and learn the risks of heart disease Y ou’ll see a sea of red across the city on Feb. 7 as New Yorkers mark “National Wear Red Day,” a campaign held on the first Friday every February, which is also designated as American Heart Month.

Once again, Schneps Media and its workers are proud to again participate in this tradition by “going red” with all of our publications today in support of this nationwide campaign held by the American Heart Association.

This effort is not merely a fundraising endeavor, but rather a public awareness event designed to inform and enlighten all Americans about the risks of heart disease — especially among women.

One in three women, on average, die of heart disease and stroke every year, according to the American Heart Association.

These silent killers constitute the leading cause of death among American women — and yet, most of these tragedies can be avoided through early detection and treatment.

Anyone can be at risk of heart disease. Those with the highest risk

are individuals with a history of heart disease in the family.

Lifestyle also plays a role; what you eat, what you weigh, what you do and whether you smoke are all potential risk factors.

It’s important to know the symptoms of a possible heart attack. The life you save could be your own, or someone you love.

The symptoms include pain or uncomfortable pressure in the center of your chest; pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck or jaw; shortness of breath; a cold sweat; nausea; vomiting; and lightheadedness.

Chest pain is the most common heart attack symptom for everyone, but the American Heart Association notes that women are often more likely to suffer other common symptoms.

Some might feel uncomfortable about acknowledging their health or making an emergency room visit. But the adage “better safe than sorry” couldn’t be more true.

If you or someone you love experiences potential heart attack symptoms, don’t waste time.

Call 911, go to a hospital and get treatment. Every second counts.

It could mean the difference between life and death.

Knowing the symptoms of heart disease, along with advanced medical care in recent years, have helped

millions of people overcome the odds and live long lives.

Of course, all of us can do plenty in our own lives to be healthy — such as watching our diets, getting more exercise, putting down cigarettes and cigars for good, and going for annual checkups.

We appreciate everyone wearing red this Friday, and urge them to continue supporting the American Heart Association any way they can.

Donate to the association’s “Go Red For Women” campaign online at heart.org You can also spread the word through social media by using the hashtag #WearRedandGive.

Thanks to all for your support of this wonderful campaign. Take good care!

— Vicki and Josh Schneps Join thousands of New Yorkers and participate in National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7 by donating to the Go Red For Women campaign and taking steps to better understand your heart health.

Spread the word and encourage others to give by sharing #WearRedandGive on social media.

SEE MORE NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY COVERAGE INSIDE This week’s special issue in recognition of National Wear Red Day® is sponsored by

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Housing over shelters: Johnson pitches proactive homeless plan

BY MARK HALLUM

C

ity Council Speaker Corey Johnson has his own vision combatting the homeless crisis, and many New Yorkers will be breathing a sigh of relief that it does not involve more shelters.

Johnson revealed on Thursday his recommendations, contained within a light, 200-page plan, that includes reforming the voucher program in a way that will complement new housing laws which require developers set aside 15 percent of units for homeless individuals.

The “comprehensive” plan developed by the speaker’s office, unveiled at a Jan. 30 rally in front of City Hall, recommends that the city increase voucher amounts to a more realistic amount for housing in the city and restructure some government bureaucracies to focus solely on homelessness.

“We have been working on this plan … for the last 18 months,” Johnson said. “We have to take immediate steps like increasing the rental voucher amounts to get folks out of shelter and into permanent housing.

Right now vouchers are not enough to cover the rent for nearly every one who has a voucher… the vouchers expense someone, or a family, who find a two-bedroom apartment for less than $1,580, There is no place in New York where you can find

PHOTO BY MARK HALLUM

Nathylin Flowers Adesegun, Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Councilman Stephen Levin announce recommendations for a new approach to solving homelessness.

a two-bedroom apartment for less than $1,580.”

One way in which Johnson recommends adjusting things in the mayor’s office: establishing a deputy mayor dedicated strictly to homelessness.

The speaker criticized the de Blasio administration’s “blind spending” toward the Department of Homeless Services which he said has doubled over the last five years.

Housing a family of four in a shelter costs the city $5,900 a month, Johnson said — or $8,200 a month in a hotel.

Johnson’s plan looks similar to Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi’s Home Stability

Support bill, which would open up government subsidies for those on the verge of homelessness. It’s considered by supporters as cheaper, more efficient alternative to shelters.

The de Blasio administration is regarded among critics as taking a reactive approach to homelessness — namely by building shelters in community boards throughout the city, and placing people in hotels as a stop-gap measure.

Mayor Bill de Blasio did not take part in the rally led by Johnson, himself a mayoral hopeful — and ,in fact, walked past the rally before it started without engaging.

The de Blasio administration defended its years of work to build-out shelter infrastructure and close down two-thirds of cluster sites in a statement to amNewYork Metro.

“Through unprecedented investments in legal services and housing resources , we’ve helped more than 140,000 New Yorkers secure permanent affordable homes, all while driving down evictions by over a third and overhauling our shelter system,” Avery Cohen, a spokesman for the de Blasio administration, said. “With our Journey Home Plan, we’ll be taking this progress even further — pledging to bring every last person experiencing long-term homelessness off our streets over the next five years. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Council as we do everything we can to bring more people home.”

Cohen said the administration has slated 63 borough-based shelters, 30 of which are currently operating since taking office.

Evictions also are down 30%, according to the administration.

Nathylin Flowers Adesegun, herself homeless at the time, gained notoriety after confronting de Blasio about his administration’s handling of homelessness and supported Johnson’s recommendations.

“What ultimately solves homelessness is simple: housing,” Flowers said.

PETA uses Seward Park’s Togo statue to protest Iditarod

BY GABE HERMAN

A

sign was put up last week in Seward Park by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protesting against the Iditarod race in Alaska, saying it has led to mistreatment and/or death of sled dogs.

The sign went up on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the bronze Togo statue in the Lower East Side Park. The 2001 statue, by Shelley Smith Curtiss, honors the heroics of the husky named Togo, who in 1925 led his sled team through Alaskan storms to deliver serum for children during a diphtheria epidemic.

The PETA sign was installed just below the official sign for the statue, which is temporary until a plaque is installed by NYC Parks, in collaboration with Seward Park Conservancy and supported by Disney+, which released the film “Togo” this past December.

“The Iditarod does a disservice to Togo’s heroic act,” the PETA sign read. “Today’s 1,000-mile death race is nothing but a blood sport, in which the human participants are motivated primarily by fame and a cash prize, and more than 150 dogs have perished as a result.”

A PETA spokesperson said the sign was part of the group’s campaign against the annual dog sled race, which occurs every March and was first run in 1973.

PETA says that along with over 150 dogs dying from the race, that number doesn’t include other dogs killed for not being fast enough or who died in the off-season while chained outside.

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(COURTESY PETA)

The PETA sign was put up below the Parks sign on Jan. 29.

A recent investigation by PETA of the dog sled industry alleged mistreatment of dogs, including being chained outside, denial of veterinary care, and being forced to run during exhaustion and dehydration.

“Togo had a lifesaving mission, while dogs used in

the Iditarod are forced to race vast distances in subzero temperatures, all because humans want to win a trophy and a cash prize,” said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman in a statement. “PETA’s plaque will ensure that New Yorkers know that the Iditarod is nothing to celebrate and must be stopped.”

An NYC Parks spokesperson said the PETA sign was removed the next day, on Thursday, Jan. 30, since Parks rules prohibit any unlawful postings of a sign or notice.

A spokesperson for the Iditarod told this paper that the sled dogs receive excellent care and that the canine athletes are the top priority. This includes wellness checks from race veterinarians throughout the race and for dogs in communities along the trail, the spokesperson said, along with pre-race physical exams for each dog.

Also, any musher found to be treating dogs inhumanely is disqualified and banned from future races, the spokesperson added, and mushers must meet kennel standards set by the Iditarod Trail Committee.

“We take great pride in our role of providing and promoting excellence in dog care before, during and after the race,” said Rob Urbach, CEO of the Iditarod, in a statement to this paper. “As our time-honored tradition and state sport is continuously attacked by outside activist groups such as PETA, we want to reiterate that we are 100% committed to ensuring and expanding best practices in coordination with the entire veterinary community to continue to preserve the rich culture and heritage of the sled dog. The Iditarod is, and always will be, an advocate for dogs.”

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Concerns over bail reform dominate NYPD 6th Precinct meeting

BY EDDY MARTINEZ

C

oncerns over New York’s bail reform law drew dozens of residents to a NYPD 6th Precinct community meeting with Assistant District Attorney Kelly Stankiewicz at the Orthopedic Institute in Greenwich Village on Jan. 29.

Residents and police officers expressed worries that the newly enacted law emboldens criminals and hampers police effectiveness because it ends cash bail for most misdemeanor offenses, which they say allows people to commit additional crimes after they are released pretrial.

Deputy Inspector Robert O’Hare, from the 6th Precinct, began the meeting by reciting a list of recent offenses that he claims shows some criminals taking advantage of the reform. A homeless man who attacked a woman in Midtown on Jan. 11., is one example, O’Hare said.

“We had an individual…who assaulted, unprovoked, a woman at 6:15 in the morning, knocked her teeth out and then continued on his rampage in Midtown,” said O’Hare. “Then (the homeless man) came back into my office eight hours later.” The suspect was released from police custody after the attack and arrested a second time for “aggressive panhandling” near a bank in Greenwich Village. O’Hare then claimed that CompStat data shows

there has been an increase in offenses compared to last year.

Stankiewicz explained to residents that there are two types of violent offenses that can lead to an automatic release, second-degree burglary and seconddegree robbery but only under certain circumstances.

Deputy Inspector O’Hare later claimed that burglary suspects are taking advantage of this law. “(One) burglar, he walked out of court and he had the nerve to ask my cops: ‘Can you give me a ride back to the sixth precinct? I’m gonna get my property back.’ That’s a true story.”

But state Senator Brad Hoylman, who was also present at the meeting, said that law enforcement experts and district attorneys were included in discussions leading up to passage of the law. Hoylman went on to say that “yeah, there is a three incident uptick in burglaries over the last month that I don’t think tells a story that we need to be certainly examining.”

According to Chelsea public defender Eliza Orlins, also present at the meeting, reminded residents that they should think about those who have been victimized by cash bail.

“In this country, we say that you have the presumption of innocence, you are innocent until proven guilty,” she said.

“Unfortunately, my clients who weren’t able to buy their freedom, it certainly

PHOTO BY EDDY MARTINEZ

State Senator Brad Hoylman spoke about the benefits of bail reform at a recent 6th police precinct community meeting.

didn’t feel that way for them.” The Brennan Center for Justice has previously written that there is no proof that the elimination of cash bail leads to increases in violent crime.

Some in the audience expressed worry that the law went too far, including one resident who complained that the police were being prevented from doing their jobs. Jean Luc Callet, 72, who lives in Greenwich Village, says that the real issue is not the police. “It’s the judicial system, they need to put more money in

that, rather than blame the cops, tie their hands and let the crews run wild. I mean, it makes me nuts.”

Orlins pointed out that the room was mostly white. “There were fewer than five people of color in the room. I don’t think the people in this room have necessarily had a family member impacted by the criminal legal system. And if they did have a family member arrested, that person would likely be treated fairly, would be able to hire an attorney and would be able to post bail if bail were set.”

West Village now has its eyes on bus clocks

BY ALEX MITCHELL

I

t may not make the buses come any faster, but West Village residents will have a better sense of travel time thanks to newly installed countdown clocks at Bleecker Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan.

Speaker Corey Johnson joined Manhattan Department of Transportation Borough Commissioner Edward Pincar and West Village commuters to cut a green ribbon, officially unveiling the timely asset for M14A & M20 riders.

“New Yorkers need to have a better sense of when the buses will be coming,” the speaker said on a drizzly Tuesday morning across from Abingdon Square Park.

“We know that residents wanted this,” Johnson said while noting that it was an overwhelmingly popular item in his district’s participatory budgeting.

“New Yorkers really care about their neighborhoods,” he added.

This countdown clock was the third installed for Johnson’s district since the start of the year and there’s an expected 16 more on the way before the end of December,

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PHOTO BY ALEX MITCHELL

Speaker Corey Johnson joins Manhattan DOT Commissioner Edward Pincar and West Village residents to celebrate the newly installed MTA bus countdown clocks at Bleecker Street and 8th Avenue.

the speaker explained while also indicating the $510,000 he’s allocated for countdown clocks since 2015.

As to why it’s taken so long to install countdown clocks throughout the city, “it is a real technical challenge,” according to

Pincar.

He also said that the wiring, pipes, and utilities below city concrete is similar to that of spaghetti, hence making it a challenge for installers to find a sweet spot to dig without interfering in other services.

Pincar also said that there’s been over 600 countdown clocks installed “and many more are on the way.”

Johnson also spoke with amNewYork Metro about other transit priorities throughout the city, saying that the subways are “the most important stuff.”

“It effects the most number of people,” Johnson said about the MTA subway system and the ongoing delays and issues faced.

“Most people judge the progress of the city from their walk from their apartment or their home to the bus or to the subway,” the speaker continued.

On the topic of automotive public transit, Johnson called 14th Street Busway “a really smashing success,” adding his belief that congestion pricing will improve bus speeds, particularly in the West Village.

Another transit priority for Johnson is making intersections safer, specifically in Midtown, he said.

“We saw a record number of pedestrians and cyclists killed in 2019 so we’ve been working with the department of transportation particularly in Hell Kitchen near Times Square on making intersections safer for pedestrians,” the speaker explained.

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Police Blotter Purse snatcher Man cleans out Walgreens store at Bleecker A man allegedly shoplifted several bottles of soap from a Walgreens at 526

West 30 St., officials said. On Thursday, Jan. 30, at 6:45 p.m., an employee told police that a men entered the store and then took 13 assorted bottles of soap from a shelf, then left without paying. The items were valued at a total of $66.32.

— Gabe Herman

Creep touches woman on train

3 beat man, left him with brain injury

BY ROBERT POZARYCKI

A woman had her purse stolen inside the Bleecker Street subway station on Jan. 9, according to police.

At 12:45 p.m., a 20-year-old woman was standing in the mezzanine area of the station, when a man allegedly reached between the security bars and took her purse.

The man then fled the station.

— Gabe Herman

Theft pattern in the Village An alleged purse thief is wanted in connection with two incidents in the Village, according to police.

On Jan. 18, around 9:10 p.m., at the corner of West 12th and West 4th Streets, the male suspect got out of the passenger seat of a vehicle and approached a 26-year-old woman, and allegedly tried to take her purse.

The man was unsuccessful and fled in the vehicle empty-handed.

The second incident was on Jan. 19, around 8:15 a.m., when the man allegedly approached a 69-year-old woman at West Houston and Mercer Streets and took her purse, which contained three credit cards, a checkbook and $200 in cash.

The man then fled in a vehicle south on Mercer Street, officials said.

— Gabe Herman

D

etectives are looking for the public to help them find three brutes who assaulted a 25-year-old man in the East Village and left him with a traumatic brain injury.

Law enforcement sources said the beatdown happened at 4 a.m. on Jan. 1 near the corner of East 9th Street and Avenue A. Cops said the three suspects approached and attacked the victim about the head and body.

A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told amNewYork Metro that the attack was

the result of a prior dispute. Police did not provide information as to whether the assailants used weapons during the beating.

Officers from the 9th Precinct responded to the scene. Paramedics brought the man to Bellevue Hospital Center, where he was also found to have a broken nose, a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury.

On Jan. 29, the NYPD released video footage of the three perpetrators, hoping the public can identify and help locate them.

Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA).

Okla. man charged with East Side murder

BY ROBERT POZARYCKI

D

etectives charged an alleged crook with murdering a Manhattan man inside his apartment last week.

Alex Ray Scott, 24, originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was booked Friday for murder, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in connection with the Jan. 29 death of Kenneth Savinski, 64, of the Upper East Side.

A source familiar with the investigation said Scott turned himself into the Midtown North Precinct. As of Friday morning, he was being held at the 19th

Precinct, pending his arraignment.

Police found Savinski at 5:20 p.m. on Jan. 29 unconscious and unresponsive with a head wound in the living room of his first-floor apartment on East 83rd Street between Lexington and Park Avenues.

Responding paramedics pronounced Savinski dead at the scene, and police later declared his death a homicide. A preliminary investigation indicated that his head wound appeared to be the result of blunt force trauma.

According to a search, Scott was arrested in Oklahoma in 2018 for lewd molestation.

A man is wanting by police for inappropriately touching a woman on a train on Friday, Jan. 17, police said.

Around 6 p.m., a 23-year-old woman was on board an uptown E train between 34th and 42nd Streets, when a man approached from behind and allegedly touched her buttocks. Police released an image of the wanted man, who is described as being in his 40’s, 5-feet 7-inches tall, 170 pounds, bald and with a medium build.

— Gabe Herman

Train assault There was an assault reported inside the subway station at 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, police said. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, around 1 p.m., the victim, an 18-year-old woman, told police she was standing on a train platform, when she was approached by another woman.

The stranger, 17 years old, then allegedly pulled her hair, punched, slapped and kicked her, causing injuries to the victim’s neck and back. The attacker is wanted for misdemeanor assault.

— Gabe Herman

No bread at Subway There was an attempted burglary inside a Subway restaurant at 455 W. 34 St., on Sunday, Jan. 5, according to police. Around 11:25 p.m., a man is alleged to have forcibly gained entry to the shop through the front door. Once inside, police say he tried to access the cash register, but was unsuccessful and fled empty-handed.

— Gabe Herman

The Villager (USPS 578930) ISSN 0042-6202 Copyright © 2019 by Schneps Media is published weekly by Schneps Media, One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. 52 times a year. Business and Editorial Offices: One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. Accounting and Circulation Offices: Schneps Media, One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. Call 718-260-2500 to subscribe. Periodicals postage prices is paid at New York, N.Y. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Villager, One Metrotech North, 10th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Annual subscription by mail in Manhattan and Brooklyn $29 ($35 elsewhere). Single copy price at office and newsstands is $1. The entire contents of newspaper, including advertising, are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher - © 2019 Schneps Media.

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WATCH ME

OWN THE PRESSURE

Wear Red for Women

From heart disease to the NYC Marathon

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AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

Linda Feingold as she approaches the finish line of the NYC Marathon on Nov. 3rd, 2019.

BY LINDA FEINGOLD

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y name is Linda Feingold, MEd, MS, RDN and during my twentieth year as a registered dietitian and personal trainer teaching others how to eat and exercise properly in order to prevent heart disease, I ended up becoming a cardiac patient myself.

Being in the health education business for so long, I literally forgot that in some people, a family history of heart disease can override healthy habits. So when I started developing back pain that would sometimes radiate into my chest during my long runs while training for the NYC Marathon in 2018, I didn’t assume I had a heart problem.

Especially since only a few weeks prior I had my annual physical and was told my “ten year risk factor for heart disease was .5-percent�. But I couldn’t ignore the fact that my dad had a massive heart attack and went into cardiac arrest when he was around my age. So I asked my primary doctor if she could order me a stress test and she referred me to a cardiologist.

Nine days after my 18-mile training run I was in a cardiologist’s office learning for the first time that I had something very wrong with my heart. I underwent a slew of tests and exactly one month after that first appointment I learned I had coronary artery disease (CAD).

One week later I was in the cath lab undergoing my first stent placement for my “widow maker� artery

which was 99% blocked. I was too sick to undergo the second stent placement I needed for another significantly blocked artery and had to wait an additional five weeks for that procedure.

I could have let all this beat me up emotionally but I refused to do so. I was weak from four months of being completely inactive but I picked myself up, wiped the tears of fear and frustration, and powered through.

I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who has ever signed up for a halfmarathon in the middle of a cardiac rehab class (If you don’t sign up immediately for the Brooklyn Half you’re not getting in!).

I ran that half-marathon six weeks after graduating from cardiac rehab only 41 seconds slower than I did the year before. And my dream of running the NYC Marathon finally came true on November 3rd, 2019 at 4:28:05 (my seventh NYC attempt and second marathon ever in 23 years!). In addition, in 2019 I earned a personal best in my 1M, 5K, 4M, 10K and marathon times. I guess it’s true what they say — the comeback is always greater than the setback.

In 2020 and beyond, I plan to continue to educate others in eating healthfully and exercising, with an additional emphasis on being in tune with the body and knowing when something isn’t right. I plan on being as active if not more so than before.

Most importantly, I look forward to more sunrises and sunsets, and more time with friends and family.

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

The NYPD’s black family tradition

Patrolman David Richard Siley, on duty in the 32 Precinct in Harlem in the early 1950s.

One of the most enduring strengths of the NYPD and its officers is that, with many of them, the policing profession is a matter of family legacy. In Black History Month, we salute the black NYPD officers family tradition that began almost 130 years ago – ever since Moses P. Cobb became one of the first two black New Yorkers to enter the Brooklyn Police Department in 1892 before it consolidated with the NYPD in 1898. Cobb encouraged his brother-in-law, Samuel J. Battle, to become a cop, and Battle joined the NYPD in 1911, became its first black sergeant in 1926, its first lieutenant in 1935 and the city’s first black parole commissioner in 1941.

A more recent example is Mark D. Siley, a Transit cop, who partnered with retired PBA Second Vice-President Mubarak Abdul-Jabbar to patrol the subways in the 1980s.

Siley was the son of a New York City patrolman, David Richard Siley, who joined the department in 1949, retiring in 1972 as a second grade detective.

“I grew up in a police family and always wanted to be a police officer, ever since I was a kid,” says Siley, who was a detective sergeant in the Organized Crime Control Bureau when he retired in 2015. “My father approved of my choice, but he advised me that what I could make of a police career would be entirely up to me and how I would motivate myself. And ‘watch your back,’ he would always add.”

Unfortunately, David Richard Siley died two months before his son entered the police academy in 1984, but Mark Siley never forgot his father’s wise words, Retired Detective Sergeant Mark D. Siley (right) and his former partner, retired PBA Second Vice-President Mubarak and went on to continue the NYPD’s Abdul-Jabbar, pose next to the photo of Siley’s patrolman father David Richard Siley in the PBA office. family tradition.

Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, Inc. 125 Broad Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10004 • 212-233-5531

Patrick J. Lynch, President

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Februar y 6, 2020

9

Wear Red for Women

These three heart tips can help save women’s lives The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers the following advice to women looking to prioritize their heart health:

A heart-friendly diet Thanks to food labels, it’s easier than ever for women to consume heart-healthy diets. When examining labels, look for foods that are low in sodium and sugar. When planning meals, avoid foods that are high in trans fats.

In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration ruled that trans fats were not recognized as safe for use in

human foods and gave manufacturers three years to remove them from their products. The Cleveland Clinic advises consumers to check labels for “partially hydrogenated oils,� which are a hidden source of trans fats. In addition, the Cleveland Clinic notes that foods such as cakes, pies, cookies, biscuits, microwavable breakfast sandwiches, and many types of crackers contain trans fats.

High-risk conditions Certain conditions can increase a woman’s risk for heart disease. While women may not be able to turn

back the clocks and prevent these conditions from developing, they can take them for the serious threat they are and do their best to manage them.

High blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can increase a woman’s risk for heart disease. Take medications as directed, monitor blood sugar levels if you have diabetes, and routinely have your blood pressure and cholesterol tested to ensure any preexisting conditions are not increasing your risk for heart disease.

Aspirin intake

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The Food and Drug Administration notes that many physicians prescribe aspirin to lower patients’ risk of heart disease, clot-related strokes, and other problems related to cardiovascular disease. However, there are risks associated with long-term aspirin use, and such risks should be discussed with a physician.

According to the Administration, bleeding in the stomach, bleeding in the brain, kidney failure, and certain types of stroke are some of the potential side effects of long-term aspirin use. Such side effects may never appear, but the risk that they might makes discussing the pros and cons of aspirin well worth it.

Women can learn more about heart disease by visiting www.fda.gov.

212.337.9400

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11

Editorial

Housing investments to keep New York affordable

I

t’s not only getting harder for the average New Yorker to afford to live here; it’s getting more difficult just to keep a roof over their family’s heads.

The signs of this are palpable — from the tragic increase in homelessness across the five boroughs to the more than 75,000 New Yorkers who hit the road for good last year, based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Everyone, we believe, is entitled to a decent home here. No one should be forced by economics to leave the state or live in the streets. And the simple fact is neither the state nor the city have done enough to keep New Yorkers at home.

The latest appeal for help came Monday from the Legal Aid Society. They publicly called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to do something he ignored in his latest budget: fund improvements for public housing, and other housing reforms.

The Legal Aid Society demanded that Cuomo commit to $3 billion for public housing improvements across New York State — including $2 billion solely to provide emergency repairs at NYCHA dwellings. They also want at least $500 million for housing vouchers to help tenants afford their rents, and additional funds to build up

to 20,000 affordable housing units.

It’s the kind of proactive approach to homelessness and housing affordability which City Council Speaker (and 2021 mayoral candidate) Corey Johnson championed last week.

Johnson’s plan would work to stop homelessness before it starts by subsidizing housing for tenants on the brink. That’s a far cry from the de Blasio Administration response to the escalating number of homelessness from its beginning — which has often been decried as reactionary, poorly organized and tone deaf.

It’s unfair to suggest that the proposals Johnson and the Legal Aid Society offered are merely “throwing money at a problem.”

The cost of housing in New York City is so exorbitantly high that it cannot afford a massive, sudden drop of any kind; it would crash the local economy virtually overnight.

The only remedy at this point is to improve public housing and offer rent subsidies that will ease the massive financial burden for many living here. That, more than anything, would not only address the homelessness crisis, but also our city’s affordability problem.

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Februar y 6, 2020

VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS JOSHUA SCHNEPS ROBERT POZARYCKI GABE HERMAN ALEJANDRA O’CONNELL MARK HALLUM MICHELE HERMAN BOB KRASNER TEQUILA MINSKY MARY REINHOLZ PAUL SCHINDLER MARCOS RAMOS CLIFFORD LUSTER (718) 260-2504 CLUSTER@CNGLOCAL.COM GAYLE GREENBURG JIM STEELE JULIO TUMBACO ELIZABETH POLLY

Member of the New York Press Association

1987 flea market at Our Lady of Pompeii Church

(VILLAGER FILE PHOTO/NYU)

T

hese photos are from the Feb. 12, 1987 issue of The Villager. The caption read in part, “The February 7 flea market at Our Lady of Pompeii Church on Carmine St. was another unqualified success as people jammed the church hall to look over the variety of crafts and goodies being offered.” At left, children check out some toys, while the photo on the right shows Lucy Cecere and Sister Andreine at the event.

— Gabe Herman

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Local News Read all about it!

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Dozens of LinkNYC kiosks are installed but not activated

BY GABRIEL SANDOVAL, ANN CHOI AND TRONE DOWD THE CITY

O

n city sidewalks, sleek LinkNYC kiosks stand idle — installed but not activated.

“Super Fast Free Wi-Fi Coming Soon!” declare signs on their displays.

But when, exactly?

At least 50 kiosks — including one installed as far back as November 2017 — do nothing but occupy space. Meanwhile, more than 1,700 kiosks currently provide passersby with USB outlets, phone access and pixelated advertisements — but there are far fewer of them than promised.

THE CITY visited each unactivated kiosk — all in Manhattan, save for one in Brooklyn — attempting to use their USB outlets, tablet touchscreens, phones, 911 buttons and Wi-Fi. None worked.

“They just come and clean it,” said Orlando Nunez, a doorman at Arthouse Hotel on West 77th Street in Manhattan, where a kiosk has sat unactivated since May 2018.

Jovana Rizzo, a spokesperson for CityBridge, which runs LinkNYC, chalked up the nonworking kiosks to “an ongoing dispute with a service provider.”

“We are working to resolve this issue and activate those Links as soon as possible,” added Rizzo, who declined to give more details, including the service provider’s name.

A Fine Mess Representatives of the mayor’s office and city Department of Information Technology and Telecommunication, which administers the franchise agreement with LinkNYC, didn’t directly respond to questions about any possible dispute.

But they did say they have fined CityBridge.

“We are disappointed some Links have not been activated or installed, and will continue to use every power we have to ensure the program can deliver results for New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” said Laura Feyer, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office.

“Yes, we have fined them and will continue to use all enforcement tools in our contract if this is not resolved,” added Feyer, who didn’t say how much CityBridge has been fined. “We are extremely concerned that CityBridge has not met its contractually obligated targets, especially in the outer boroughs.”

The franchise agreement directs CityBridge to install 7,500 operational kiosks within a decade.

An orange cover seen late last month on East 61st Street promises free Wi-Fi Schneps Media

GABRIEL SANDOVAL/THE CITY

A non-functioning LinkNYC kiosk at 63rd Street in York ville promises imminent high-speed Internet, Jan. 28, 2020.

— whenever a LinkNYC kiosk is finally installed. Photo: Gabriel Sandoval/THE CITY But CityBridge has fallen behind schedule. The company was supposed to have 2,353 kiosks up and running as of this past July, but fell about 20% short of that benchmark, according to THE CITY’s analysis of DOITT data and the franchise agreement.

Only in Brooklyn has the provider put up more kiosks than promised. As of last year, The Bronx and Staten Island received 60% fewer devices than agreed upon.

The agreement says the city can fine CityBridge $25 per day for the first 30 days that a kiosk “is not timely installed and operational,” then $50 a day for each one after. For not activating the 50 kiosks, per THE CITY’s tally, the city could have fined CityBridge as much as $1.56 million.

‘Pay Phone of the Future’ In the fall of 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled the winner of a contest that would replace pay phones with a “first-ofits-kind communications network.”

The winner, CityBridge, promised free Wi-Fi, phone calls and a tablet touchscreen that could connect users to city services, such as the information and complaint hotline 311. The kiosks would be funded by revenue from advertisements, officials said, while bringing in $500 million for the city over the span of the agreement, which was initially 12 years.

CityBridge calls itself a “consortium of leading experts in technology, media, connectivity and user experience.” It includes Qualcomm, a telecommunications

equipment company; Intersection, an advertising firm partly funded by Google’s parent company; and CIVIQ, which specializes in “smart cities” planning.

The initial word of a contest piqued the interest of Mark Thomas, a phone enthusiast who’s ran the Payphone Project, a site dedicated to the once-ubiquitous street corner staples, since 1995.

“Anything called the ‘pay phone of the future’ is going to cross my radar,” Thomas said.

Since then, he’s kept an eye on the kiosks, he said. Thomas was perusing the city website, NYC OpenData, one day when he discovered a LinkNYC dataset showing the status of individual kiosks.

“I noticed that some of these inactivated machines have been out there for years,” Thomas said. “I mean, the Montague Street one has been out there over two years, just taking up space.”

He was referring to the unactivated kiosk outside 128 Montague St. in Brooklyn, which was put up on Nov. 9, 2017. It is the city’s oldest installed but unactivated kiosk.

The LinkNYC kiosk on Montague Street near Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights went up on Nov. 9, 2017 and still hasn’t been activated. Photo: Gabriel Sandoval/ THE CITY In December, Thomas wrote a post, full of questions for LinkNYC. Among his queries: Why is CityBridge ripping out pay phones and putting up orange pylons in their place?

He called the pylons “obnoxious and maybe dangerous,” and described one on First Avenue in Manhattan that he’s seen

lingering for more than a year.

“It’s got nails sticking out of it and it’s rotting,” he said.

The CityBridge spokesperson didn’t comment on why pylons were left on city sidewalks.

“Installations and activations will continue over the next few years,” Rizzo said.

‘One of the Best Things’ While some New Yorkers view the kiosks as an eyesore or worry about their data collection capabilities, others happily use them.

More than 8.4 million unique devices connected to LinkNYC’s Wi-Fi network between 2016 and last year, according to the city Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. CityBridge says users make an average 200,000 free calls a week.

When Sandra White finished shopping at a Trader Joe’s in Manhattan last week, she only had 3% battery left on her cell phone. So, she walked outside, found a kiosk and plugged in her charger.

“I only use it when my battery’s low,” said White, 55, of Harlem, her phone cord dangling.

She said she had to wait in line because two people were using the plugs before her.

“It’s very handy,” she said of the LinkNYC service. “I think it’s one of the best things the city did.”

This story was originally published

by THE CITY, an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to hardhitting reporting that serves the people of New York.

Februar y 6, 2020

13

necb.com

DON’T BE OVERWRAUGHT A B O U T A N O V E R D R A F T.

Bellevue patient didn’t have coronavirus: city

PHOTO VIA FLICKR

The governor and mayor outlined the measures taken to prepare for the novel coronavirus outbreak.

BY ROBERT POZARYCKI

N

AT N E C B , T H I S I S A L L IT’LL COST YOU. Y U P, 2 5 ¢ . T H AT ’ S J U S T H O W W E R O L L .

ÂŽ CHELSEA: 2 4 2 W. 23 R D 34 s 4 ADDITIONAL OFFICES IN: FORDHAM ( Lit t le It a ly) : % T H 34 s 4 LENOX HILL : S T !6% s 4 MONDAY-TH URS D AY 9 -4 s & 2)$!9 s 3!45 2 $!9 FORDHAM: S ATURD AY FOR A COMP L ETE L IST OF LOCATIO N S AND H OU R S , GO TO NEC B .C OM

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Februar y 6, 2020

ew York City’s Health Department is breathing a sigh of relief — for now.

The Centers for Disease Control reported Tuesday that tests for the ďŹ rst suspected coronavirus patient in New York City, who is hospitalized at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, came back negative, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.

Results of similar tests for two other suspected coronavirus patients remain pending. They are currently hospitalized at Flushing Hospital Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Queens in Flushing.

In all three instances, medical professionals collected samples from the patients and sent them to the CDC in Atlanta for testing.

The city Health Department anticipated results for each within 36 to 48 hours, but entering Tuesday, nothing had been reported.

De Blasio expressed some relief in the negative result. “We’re relieved to hear that the person in question does not have the novel coronavirus,� the mayor said. “I can’t say this enough: if you have the symptoms and recent travel history, please see your health provider immediately.�

All three patients had recently traveled to China, where the coronavirus

outbreak began.

During an appearance on NY1’s Inside City Hall on Monday, de Blasio vented over the “cumbersome� coronavirus testing process.

As of then, the CDC is the only entity authorized to conduct coronavirus tests, although that responsibility is expected to be expanded to others in the days and weeks to come. “I’ve made a formal request of the CDC to allow New York City to do its own testing literally at the City Health Department lab across the street from Bellevue,� de Blasio said on Feb. 3. “Today we got some, hopefully, promising news.

The CDC is taking that request very seriously and we hope to have a formal answer soon. But the reality is once you have a conďŹ rmation of – or knowledge, I should say, that it is not one of the other identiďŹ able similar diseases then you proceed to test for the coronavirus. That then can take up to two days for just the testing itself.â€?

Coronavirus symptoms resemble those for other common ailments such as inuenza, including fever, cough and/or shortness of breath. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should seek immediate medical care, and notify their health care provider or emergency room ahead of time.

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As crime spikes, Shea and Blaz debate impact of bail reform

BY TODD MAISEL

O

verall crime in New York City jumped 17% this month, mainly due to a 28.8% increase in shooting, burglaries, assaults and grand larcenies including auto theft, police officials say.

Commissioner Dermot Shea maintains that bail reform may have contributed to the rise in crime and they were changing strategies to deal with it. The commissioner was outspoken on bail reform recently, saying it has gone too far.

But Mayor Bill de Blasio said he does see a correlation of increase in crime due to bail reform, but he said they are working closely with advocates in Albany to tighten the law so that people who present a danger to the public will remain behind bars. However, “we should be drawing conclusions.”

Some major index crimes decreased, including hate crimes which decreased by 24%, homicides are down 20.7% from last year – after last year’s increase in those crimes caused alarm among law enforcement officials. Rape reports have also dropped just over 28% this month with 127 cases reported compared with 155 last year – though officials believe this crime has been historically under reported by victims.

Transit crimes are also on the rise with 261 serious crimes reported for January of this year. Compared to 201 last year, this marks a nearly 30% increase over the year before.

Chief of Transit Edward Dellatore said much of the increase in transit crime was attributed to an increase in robberies in

PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL

Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledged that some of the bail reforms that Albany passed must be changed as crime has increased in New York City this month. He is joined by Commissioner Dermot Shea.

Brooklyn North, “mostly small groups preying on other young people.” He said many of these groups have been apprehended and he expects transit crime to drop in the next month.

Graffiti has also become an issue on the trains, though he said the large scale graffiti vandalism has dropped significantly as they have made arrests in transit yards, where many of these crimes occur.

Shea said many of the graffiti incidents are being committed by “tourists who come here, some of them grown people – though a few are from the city.”

The stats also revealed an increase in domestic violence, including the murder of a young child. Chief of Crime Control

Strategies Michael LePetri, said three domestic violence victims were shot, two were stabbed, and one asphyxiated.

Contributing to the increase in crime, LiPetri said, was grand larceny and car theft.

Shea has blamed the uptick in crime partially on bail reform, and has been critical in published reports in the past few weeks. Officials said parolees and those on probation have been committing a large number of the crimes, but Shea said those out on bail are part of the problem and he called for allowing judges to have more discretion when granting bail or no bail at all. He said he stands by his position that bail reform has gone

too far.

“I stand by my comments on bail reform, and while I favored reforms, there has been a dramatic increase in crime by people who are being let out of Rikers Island – and we will deal with that,” Shea said.

De Blasio saw things a bit differently.

“We have raised concerns about the current bail reform and we are now having a dialog in Albany about any changes, but our police officers can handle anything that is thrown at them,” de Blasio said. “Law enforcement professionals think reform principals make an even playing field for everyone, but we are asking for pullback to be considered.”

Cops, protesters clashed at Grand Central

BY MARK HALLUM

P

rotestors crammed their way into the center of Grand Central Terminal Friday night, forming around the landmark clock and ticket boxes to demonstrate against increased fare evasion enforcement.

The demonstrators against the 500 new cops to be hired to patrol the turnstiles in subway stations and buses led to conflict with police, as police threw some to ground and carted them off to vans outside the building.

In terms of making a disruption, the protesters were successful; NYPD and state police blocked off access between the main concourse and the subway access corridor which made the terminal a chaotic maelstrom. Ironically, that prevented mass turnstile hopping similar to

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other fare evasion enforcement protests.

The MTA itself took a dim view of the demonstration, which made its way out of the station, down 42nd Street, then south on Broadway before the thousands of people snaked their way from Herald Square in different directions.

“This demonstration activity follows the dangerous pattern of previous activities that have resulted in vandalization and defacement of MTA property – clearly violating laws,” Patrick Warren, MTA Chief Safety Officer, said. “Those actions divert valuable time, money and resources away from investments in transit services that get New Yorkers to their jobs, schools, doctors and other places they need to go. The MTA has zero tolerance for any actions that threaten the safety of the public and our employees, and impede service for millions of customers.”

PHOTO BY MARK HALLUM

Februar y 6, 2020

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Wear Red for Women Go Red for Women movement urges women to take action The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, together with its signature movement, Go Red for Women, encourages you to ‘wear red and give’ today on National Wear Red Day to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease: women’s greatest health threat.

Cardiovascular disease kills one woman every 80 seconds and takes more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease and stroke also impact the lives of one in three women – or a third of mothers, sisters and friends – and cardiac events are on the rise in young women in their 20s.

While 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented through modest changes to diet and lifestyle, disparities in care for women’s heart and brain health continue to exist. In addition, heart disease and stroke symptoms can present differently in women compared to men. Women also make up less than half of all clinical trial participants globally, with women of color only accounting for three percent.

As a result, more research is needed to close gender disparity gaps when it comes to

cardiovascular research, treatment and care.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, nationally sponsored by CVS Health and New York City Go Red sponsors are the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, Rewire Me by Rose Caiola and UBS. Additional local support comes from Estée Lauder, G-III Apparel Group, Ltd., Montefiore, Mount Sinai Heart, Northwell Health, NYU Langone, Pfizer and Valerie Wilson Travel and through the month of February to help save lives of women around

the world.

Here’s how you can join Go Red for Women in support of women’s health: Wear red on National Wear Red Day, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease – the leading cause of death in women. The iconic Red Dress Pin and other apparel at is available at ShopHeart.org.

Make a donation to support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association at WearRedDay.org.

CVS Health is the national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Movement and will be offering no-cost heart-health screenings at MinuteClinic® locations nationwide every Thursday in February.

Sign up to participate in the lifesaving clinical trial research through the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement and Verily’s Project Baseline: Research Goes Red initiative.

Join the conversation by using #WearRedAndGive on social media.

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be a woman’s greatest health threat. To treat, beat and prevent heart disease and stroke, women should understand family health history, know their five key personal health numbers - these help determine risk for heart disease and stroke: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index – and make healthy behavior changes like moving more, eating smart and managing blood pressure.

— Courtesy of American Heart Association

New York State Nurses Association is proud to announce the appointment of

Pat Kane, RN, as Executive Director.

Pat worked in the cardiac operating room at Staten Island University Hospital (now SIUH/Northwell Health) and served as NYSNA Treasurer. We are very fortunate to now have her leadership.

/NYNurses www.nysna.org

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Februar y 6, 2020

@nynurses

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WEAR RED AND PROTECT YOUR HEART

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY FEBURARY 7

TH

As nurses, we see the effects of heart disease and stroke in our patients every day. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. This American Heart Month, join the New York State Nurses Association in raising awareness about heart disease, and encourage family and friends to take steps to support their cardiovascular health.

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42,000 NURSES ON THE FRONTLINES OF HEALTHCARE www.nysna.org /NYNurses @nynurses

Februar y 6, 2020

17

Lower East Side artist has unique marketing style

BY BOB KRASNER

E

d Higgins III has always had an unconventional approach to marketing his artwork. His first show was in a bathroom – the first gallery space of renowned art dealer Gracie Mansion – and his latest is in a hallway, courtesy of the Apt. Gallery. Much of his work is Mail Art, so many of his more unique pieces are scattered around the world.

Since arriving in New York in 1976, where he found a small apartment on Ludlow Street for $100 a month, Higgins has been steadily creating work in that same apartment.

“I’ve probably done more than 2000 paintings right there,” he says, pointing to the only clear spot in the somewhat cramped bedroom/studio.

The paintings are not the final product, though. The portraits end up reproduced as a sheet of stamps, printed as a color xerox and perforated like actual stamps. These sheets are generally printed in a signed and numbered edition of 100, but they don’t always stay intact. Some are sold, some traded to friends and many end up decorating correspondence and other art.

Following the lead of Mail Art pioneer Ray Johnson, Higgins began corresponding with artists like Buster Cleveland, Anna Banana, G. A. Cavellini and Johnson himself to create a body of work that collaborated with the Postal Service to create the final piece, as it isn’t really complete until there is a postmark on the work.

There was a time when the USPS did not have stringent rules about what could be delivered to one’s mailbox and Higgins happily recalls that “the wackiest thing I ever got was a coconut from Hawaii – no box – with the stamps and address on the coconut!”

Higgins declared his end of the bargain to be the “Doo Da Post” and created his own zip code – 10000 – as part of his mailing address. As it turns out, this was all just a step in a direction that started as a teen, when he carved a set of erasers into rubber stamp feet and stamped a set of marching footprints onto envelopes that were sent off to his girlfriend.

Since the Mail Art movement was more about communication than commerce, Higgins stayed solvent by working for moving companies, construction companies and art

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galleries, notably hanging exhibits at the Leo Castelli gallery. But, as he put it, “you don’t have to make a lot of money when your rent is a hundred dollars a month.”

Higgins learned to weld in high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan – which he attended with Iggy Pop – and brought that skill to the Rivington School, where he helped build their (long gone) sculpture garden. He also spent some time involved with Performance Art, appearing at Club 57 and the Pyramid Club, among others.

PHOTOS BY BOB KRASNER

Ed Higgins III in his bedroom/studio, where he has lived since 1976.

Ed Higgins III, left. Apt. Gallery owner Brendan Brulon, right. Large painting is a Higgins self portrait.

Those shows are fondly remembered by longtime East Village resident and performer Phoebe Legere, who recalls that “he was a huge presence – we all looked up to him as a hero.” She further muses on the art in the current show, stating that, “his work is so beautiful and strong. It should be in MOMA.” After a string of one-man shows and participation in many group exhibitions, he decided that the best way to send his many portraits out into the world would be with auctions, which he set up himself.

After the first two, which were run by a professional auctioneer, Higgins thought, “hey, I can do that myself!” And he did, for six more.

Not all of the art left, though. Luckily for gallerist Brendan Brulon, there was “a time capsule” waiting for him when he contacted the artist about showing his work. His Apt. Gallery, which exists in the hallway of Brulon’s apartment, just opened a one man show of Higgins’ work – “Kool Club” – which includes work that

1/4 of Ed Higgins bedroom/studio. Higgins estimates that he created about 2000 paintings in that chair.

the artist himself says he “hadn’t seen in forty years.”

“I buy and sell ephemera,” explains Brulon. “I had bought a collection of mail art and I found some of Ed’s pieces in there. I was intrigued, so I found his number, called him and he invited me over.”

Included in the show is a set of portraits, both executed in Higgins’ apartment. One is Higgins’ portrait of Ray Johnson, the other is Johnson’s portrait of Higgins, which they subsequently traded. The portrait of Johnson is on loan from his estate,

the other is for sale.

Artist Mark Bloch, who has been corresponding with Higgins for a very long time, pondered the overall effect of the show at the opening. “I’ve seen a lot of this before in different places,” he said. ” But it’s so rewarding to see it all in one place. This is who Ed Higgins is to me.”

More info on the artist: www.doodapost. com To make an appointment to see the show at the Apt. Gallery, send an email to info@ driftprojects.com Schneps Media

Buzz

Sign up to run in golden NYC Marathon cancellation guidelines will be eligible to apply for guaranteed non-complimentary entry to the 2020 race during the application window,” according to the NYRR online marathon guidelines.

BY ALEX MITCHELL

I

t’s time to see if you qualify for the 50th running of the world’s largest marathon coming this November.

The application for the entry drawing into the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon opened at the end of January and will stay open until Feb. 13.

This drawing is a ‘second chance’ opportunity after the New York Road Runners, which operate the marathon had held a special early drawing for the 50th running back in November of 2019 Runners 18 and older have to enter the last chance drawing in order to qualify for the iconic marathon on this Nov. 1st — last year featured a record-breaking number of 117,915 runners applied for entry through the drawing, according to NYRR. That entry is limited to only one per person and runners will find out the drawing’s results on

PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL

About 50,000 runners took par t in this yearÕs TSC New York Cit y Marathon in the five boroughs.

Feb. 26th.

Though, there are other ways to guarantee a spot in the 50th running of the marathon.

Signing up for the NYRR Team For Kids or other philanthropic memberships will get you running over the Verrazano for certain along with these ways according to NYRR’s website:

The 9 +1 Method Runners that have complete nine scored, qualifying races by December 31, 2019 are guaranteed a place by also: • Volunteering at one NYRR event by December 31, 2019 (you may volunteer before completing your nine races) • Having an active NYRR

membership by December 31, 2019 • Applying for guaranteed entry to the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon • If you properly cancelled for the 2019 race “Entrants who cancel their entry to the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon according to the

NYRR Virtual Racing Having completed this virtual race at specific levels combined with meeting fundraising goals works as a shoo-in to the 2020 marathon, according to NYRR. If you’ve ran the NYC Marathon 15 times or more Talk about customer loyalty.

Having run the marathon for at least 15 years means that you’re guaranteed future entry within proper timeframes.

Time-Qualifying Standards If you met time standards during 2019 at specific NYRR races, you’re in. The marathon also reserved a certain amount of spaces for speedsters that clocked impressive times at non-qualifying races as well.

Hudson Square looks greener after getting more trees

BY GABE HERMAN

A

greening initiative in Hudson Square continues to make progress, with more trees planted recently, according to an announcement in late January by the Hudson Square Business Improvement District (BID).

The BID partners with NYC Parks on Hudson Square Standard, which aims to add trees to the neighborhood. The most recent phase included planting and retrofitting 28 trees in Hudson Square, bring the project’s total to 278 trees since the fall of 2013.

Once all the installed trees mature, they will have big benefits for the local environment, the BID noted, including reducing pollutants and lowering temperatures during hot summer months. The trees will produce over 14,000 pounds of oxygen, the BID said, and remove over 122,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from

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COURTESY HUDSON SQUARE BID

the atmosphere.

“Our city’s street trees are a vital resource, and planting them the correct way can greatly increase their chances of survival,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver in a statement.

“We are proud to have partnered with the Hudson Square Business Improvement District on the Hudson Square Standard project, and encourage all New Yorkers to be conscientious stewards of our vast urban forest.”

The tree-planting announcement comes shortly after a groundbreaking for another BID project in the area, which is a redesign of a stretch of Hudson Street, being done with the NYC Dept. of Transportation and NYC Economic Development Corporation. That project will alter a seven-block stretch and include adding protected bike lanes, expanding sidewalks, and adding plantings and benches in the area.

Februar y 6, 2020

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Buzz

Winter Jam 2020 in Central Park had activities for all ages PHOTOS BY MILO HESS

T

his year, NYC Parks’ Winter Jam was held on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.

The free winter sports festival hosts thousands every year, and included curling, bowling, flag football, dodgeball, ski lessons and snowshoeing with NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers. There was also an ice sculpture garden, puppet making, an NYPL reading room, a live ice sculpting exhibition, and a Winter Food Market.

Learning to ski at Winter Jam 2020.

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Februar y 6, 2020

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Februar y 6, 2020

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www.TheVillager.com

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Februar y 6, 2020

25

Manhattan Happenings THURSDAY, FEB. 6

1

NYC Stout Fest

Dark nights are better with dark beer! Enjoy the final day of NYC Stout Fest at Fraunces Tavern and Porterhouse Brew Co. Bar and win a limited edition bottle of stout in their free drawing.

54 Pearl street

2

Black History Month Exhibition at the Poe Park Visitor Center

Celebrate black history month with four featured artists, Kristen Cherry, James Deliard, Thomas Green, and Dolo, who have offered their art and interpretation of the black experience. This exhibition is open Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Lucy.Aponte@parks.nyc.gov

FRIDAY, FEB. 7

3

New York Fashion Week ticket giveaway

4

Yeti, Set, Snow!

Take a peak at the future of fashion with a limited special giveaway to New York Fashion Week. The New York Skyline Hotel is offering free tickets to the Feb. 7 show on a first-come, first-serve basis 12-6 p.m.

725 Tenth Avenue

The City Parks Foundation invites you to the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre for their production of “Yeti, Set, Snow!” Tickets are $8 for children and $12 for adults. Doors open at 10 a.m.

79th Street and West Drive Central Park

SATURDAY, FEB. 8

5

2020 Black Lives Matter Teen Conference

Join the Schomburg Center in engaging kids age 13-18 to become leaders in their community and build a better future. The conference begins at 10 a.m. and is followed by an open mic night at 6 p.m. Registration is requested.

Kadiatou Tubman kadiatoutubman@nypl.org.

SUNDAY, FEB. 9

6

Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown

Head to Chinatown in lower Manhattan to experience the annual Lunar New Year Parade. Witness dazzling cultural performances, enjoy street vendors and start the Year of the Rat off right. The parade starts at 1 p.m. at the corner of Mott street and Canal street and ends near Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

7

MoMA presents Dorothea Lange: Words & Pictures

For the first time in 50 years, this major solo exhibition

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Februar y 6, 2020

PHOTOS BY TEQUILA MINSKY

Celebrating the Chinese New Year.

will open this photographer’s work to the public. Tickets are $25 for adults and free for children 16 and under.

11 West 53 Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

8

Cupid’s Undie Run

Raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation and show off the results of your new year’s resolution with a scantily-clad run beginning at Stage 48 at 2 p.m. Raise $250 and you could receive open bar privileges, a t-shirt and undies at the after party.

Registration for the run is $35.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11

9

Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden

Watch the final rounds of the most prestigious pups competing for best in show. Daytime breed judging takes place at Pier 94 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Evening sessions are at Madison Square Garden at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 and 7 p.m. Feb. 11.

Tickets start at $32.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12

10

Pop-up Magazine in Brooklyn

Experience the “live magazine” that presents

stories, including topics like flying saucers and postsoviet Russia, through theatrical performances and presentations from filmmakers and artists. Tickets for the show at the Bam Howard Gilman Opera House start at $39. https://www.popupmagazine.com/

THURSDAY, FEB. 13

11

12th Annual Black History Month Celebration

The Harlem Chamber Players, as well as pianist Joseph Joubert and his wife, soprano Renay Joubert, will join in concert to celebrate #HarlemRen100 . Their performance will feature music from Florence Price and George Walker, and poetry by Langston Hughes.

RSVP for tickets at harlemchamberplayers.org 515 Malcolm X Boulevard

FRIDAY, FEB. 14

12

Love in Times Square

Looking for a lively way to say I love you?

Join in on the numerous proposals, weddings and vow renewals that take over Times Square on St. Valentine’s Day. All events will take place in front of the 12th Annual Times Square Valentine Heart, Heart Squared.

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Make the Switch to Reusable Bags!

Save Money

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Reduce Waste

Starting March 1, 2020 Plastic Bag Ban

Paper Bag Fee

(New York State)

(New York City)

Single-use plastic carryout bags are banned, with limited exceptions, in New York State.

Businesses will begin collecting a five-cent fee on paper carryout bags.

This fee will not apply to any customers using SNAP or WIC.

5¢

To learn more and get a free reusable bag, visit nyc.gov/bags or call 311.

NYCsanitation 28

Februar y 6, 2020

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NYCzerowaste Schneps Media