The Voice of the West Village WestView News VOLUME 14, NUMBER 1 JANUARY 2018 $1.00 We Need Our Own Andrew Carnegie thought of a permanent local concert hall remains enticing. Yes, our audience is very gray and, I think, that is not just because these concerts are free to seniors but because our audience mostly learns about the concerts from the pages of WestView. Doorman-guarded condo towers do not accept WestView; you either have to own a townhouse or live in a rent-regulated tenement to get WestView. Our younger staffers lecture me continu- ously on ‘social media’ and they are doing things to make us available online, which I don’t understand and am impatient to learn. But still, you must write words that have to be read whether it is on a computer CLOSED TO PRAYER, OPEN TO INSPIRATION: Again on Saturday, December 23rd, the shuttered St. Veronica Church was opened and screen or on paper. filled for a concert sponsored by WestView News in its efforts to create a permanent West Village concert hall free to seniors. Photo by © But back to the concerts! They cost Joel Gordon 2017 - All rights reserved. money—about $25,000 per concert—and By George Capsis Despite the rain, you came and again in There is no doubt now that superb clas- so far we have been asking friends to do- great numbers and filled all the seats in the sical music played by the very best musi- nate. However, we have pretty much run On December 23rd, WestView gave an- main sanctuary. Some had to again climb cians in this City is something a very large out of moderately wealthy friends so we other concert, our second at St. Veronica. into the balcony—a full house! number of us West Villagers want. The continued on page 5 Welcome to 2018 What Do You Want Corey to Do? By Arthur Z. Schwartz looking for plots everywhere. His worst apologists, first on Fox News and now in 2017 was a horrific year. Trump took of- Congress, characterize anyone to Trump’s fice on January 20th, and within 11 days, I left as worthy of investigation. Just before had a heart attack! (This is true, but I am the New Year, Trump denounced the FBI joking about the correlation.) He took of- as being in tatters, and mocked Deputy fice on that date and made sure the world Director McCabe (a career FBI man) as would never be the same again. “biased.” Representative Rooney of Flori- I don’t like writing about Trump. He da called for a “purge” of the FBI, which is dominates the news every day based on very scary language. And although Trump SUCCESS IS THE ONLY OPTION: Corey Johnson’s record of passed legislation and his some new, outrageous comment, or new hasn’t attacked Special Counsel Mueller successful battle against drug and alcohol addiction speaks to his intensity, single mind- untruth. But his ability to numb those of yet, his cohorts are calling for his resigna- edness of purpose, and why he won the Speaker’s seat. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. us with progressive or liberal instincts is tion, and a quick end to his expanding in- something we should consider carefully. vestigation into the shady people involved By George Capsis letting slide through his guiding fingers Back in 2016, I wrote that Trump’s ap- in the Trump Campaign. Who would have a City budget of $86 billion? He will be proach to politics reminded me about ever thought that I, as a card-carrying pro- What does it mean for the readers of the second-most powerful man in City what I had read on Hitler. He appeals to gressive, would be rooting for the FBI, and WestView that 35-year-old Corey John- government. xenophobia and racism. He denounces the a former FBI Director who was a lifelong son will, on January 4th, become the What do we really need here in the West press as “fake.” He and his supporters are continued on page 22 Speaker of the New York City Council, continued on page 3

Bird of the Year Playwright 14th Street

Join Keith Michael, This month, Michael Read about the continu- WestView’s avian expert, Minichiello profiles play- ing saga concerning 14th as he presents the 2017 wright and longtime Village Street and the impending Bird of the Year Awards. resident Robert Heide. L Train tunnel closures.

SEE PAGE 24. SEE PAGE 23. SEE PAGE 8. 2 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org WestView WestViews Published by WestView, Inc. by and for the residents of the West Village. Correspondence, Commentary, Corrections

Publisher Thank You, WestView heady stuff for this new immigrant! Against the Executive Editor My chum at the next desk was a feisty George Capsis Destruction of Dear George, Irish-American redhead from Queens (I’ll West Village Houses Managing Editor I am so sorry to learn of the death of your call her Daisy, since eventually she followed Andreea Ioana Pantor cousin John. It looks like pioneers run in my lead downtown to become a lifelong Dear Editors: Associate Editor Andrew Buemi your family. Villager), who caught the eye of a rather As long-term residents of the West Village What you have done for the West Vil- dashing art director. They became an item, Houses, we are appalled at how the Board Advertising Manager & Designer Stephanie Phelan lage through WestView deserves touting and it all seemed very sophisticated and is trying to destroy this low-rise communi- too. Each month, I am startled by photos glamorous—until he knocked her up, and ty, which was championed by Jane Jacobs. Photo Editor of wildlife (wacky-looking, puffy, long- it wasn’t. The good news for Daisy was that They want to tear our buildings down and Darielle Smolian beaked birds), Mia (the ‘unquestioning her seducer could afford to pay for an ex- turn us into luxury housing. The commu- Traffic Manager love’ dog), as well as the color-tinted or pensive Park Avenue abortion. nity needs to rise up to stop this. Liza Whiting expertly crafted black-and-white ads For the rest of us, however, it was a rude —Alice Moore & Allen Reiner Photographers placed by local shops and businesses. They awakening to the facts of life back then— Maggie Berkvist register a shout-out to familiar customers before The Pill, before Planned Parent- © Joel Gordon and a warm welcome to new ones. (It gets hood, before Roe v. Wade, when abortions Victimized by the Comptroller tiring to hear about empty storefronts on were still illegal, and when for a single Jolanta Meckauskaite Bleecker Street and Christopher Street.) girl to get pregnant was a disaster, often a Sixth Precinct Thankfully, when I open WestView, I tragedy. Which is why, at this moment in Dear Editors: Architecture Editor Brian Pape feel drenched in my neighborhood, my time, when women are stepping forward Now I’ve seen it all. After being falsely ar- community, and its plethora of offerings. to protest past abuses, I felt the need to rested, threatened, cursed, and spat upon, I Film, Media and Music Editor WestView performs a balancing act—dis- remind us all, in this very tricky backward was finally ‘EDP’d’ to Bellevue. This is par- Jim Fouratt seminating a combination of ads and com- trending era, to take nothing for granted ticularly interesting because, as a diehard Food Editor prehensive, time-sensitive ‘keeper’ articles. and to protect the progress already fought community activist, I’m frequently told by David Porat Many in the creative arts soak up this pa- for and won. cops that the crazy, homeless folks cannot Distribution Manager per like a Guinness at the White Horse * Note: Even since writing that last sen- be moved without their permission. Ex- Timothy Jambeck Tavern or a Shirley Temple at Wild. In tence, a story broke in the New York Times, plain how that doesn’t scream, “Please help my estimation, WestView is not only the on December 23rd, of an attempt to pre- me?” Clearly, the Sixth Precinct has lost its Regular Contributors ‘Voice of the West Village’ but also the vent a young immigrant from having a per- mind! Barry Benepe, Caroline Benveniste, Charles Caruso, Jim Fouratt, eyes, ears, and heart. Hats off! fectly legal abortion. Some of you may be familiar with my John Gilman, Mark. M. Green, Robert —Roberta Curley —Maggie Berkvist mom being removed from our rent-con- Heide, Thomas Lamia, Keith Michael, trolled apartment at gunpoint. She was Michael D. Minichiello, Clive Morrick, Brian J. Pape, Joy Pape, David Porat, Recalling the then forced into a nursing home by Adult Alec Pruchnicki, Christina Raccuia, Good/Bad Old Days A Transcontinental Protective Services. Why hasn’t the City Catherine Revland, Joseph Salas, taken similar action against those who Martica Sawin, Donna Schaper, Arthur Legacy Z. Schwartz, Gary Tomei, Joseph Turco, Dear Editors: clearly can’t take proper care of them- Esq., Robert Widmann Reading the beautiful, young Catherine Dear Editors: selves? Oh that’s right, they don’t have Revland’s creepy experience with the re- John Capsis’ obituary, which was pub- wealthy landlords who “work” with the We endeavor to publish all letters received, pulsive Gene P. was another reminder of lished in the December 2017 issue of police and the Housing Court. According including those with which we disagree. those good/bad old days of ‘dirty old men’ WestView, provided a reminder of a life to our District Leader (and Ruth Berk’s The opinions put forth by contributors and show biz ‘casting couches’ of which well lived, the way John served his com- guardian angel), Arthur Z. Schwartz, just to WestView do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or editor. my generation had always been aware. munity and country. because I’m somewhat of a pain in the ass WestView welcomes your correspondence, Such conditions were taken for granted as Joy and I happened to travel to Greece and I continuously criticize our commu- comments, and corrections: hazards of the trade (you should pardon just after John Capsis’ passing, so as we nity policing methods (or lack thereof) www.westviewnews.org the expression) and had probably been met people there, we mentioned Mr. doesn’t mean that I should be declared in- Contact Us dealt with at some point in their careers. Capsis’ relation to our Publisher. Perhaps competent. In fact, had Mr. Schwartz not They certainly never imagined that a day of we should not have been surprised by the been available to speak to the head doctor (212) 924-5718 reckoning would come for the Gene P.s of this responses. at Bellevue, I might still be there amongst [email protected] world. Bravo for the courageous #MeToo When we reached Hydra Island and met the truly loony. trailblazers! Panos and his wife, he indeed remembered But let’s get back to those crooked, The article also reminded me of another that name, and immediately called their crappy coppers. Clearly, I’ll have no hazard of that era that nobody should ever attorney, who had contacts with the gov- choice but to sue them once more. Years forget. ernment. They shared the obituary news ago, we settled for their collusive tactics When I arrived in NYC in November clipping, talked about that period of Greek with my billionaire landlord Lloyd Gold- 1954, I was thrilled to land a job in the history, and said that they would like to man. (We witnessed the arrest of Mr. Television/Film Commercial Department meet George. Schwartz for removing the illegal sur- of McCann Erickson during their MAD Then, in the taxi to our return flight veillance cameras from our front door.) I MEN days (and yes, the first year of the from Athens, driver Manos said that, in will never stop complaining or watching television series really got it right). Work- his previous career as head flight attendant out for the business owners and residents ing for the directors in that department, for Olympic Air, he had met many govern- of my neighborhood. May I suggest that we girls were called ‘production assistants’ ment officials and remembered John Cap- Lieutenant John Seidel start doing some (rather than secretaries)! We actually went sis as well. actual police work instead of blaming ‘on-location’ to shoot 60-second commer- It was a pleasure to share the Capsis con- the victims who insist on holding the cials for instant coffee and the like! After nection with the Greeks we met; everyone precinct to a higher standard? Courtesy, MIA SAYS: I forget the harsh shout but work, we hung out at model agency parties was friendly and hospitable. We extend our Professionalism, Respect. Try some of it always remember the friendly pet. Photo by and in the bars of Rockefeller Center (Mc- condolences to the family for its loss. for the New Year! Dusty Berke. Cann’s headquarters in those days). Pretty —Brian Pape and Joy Pape ­—Jessica Berk www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 3 BRIEFLY NOTED Can a Landmarked Church must be customarily open to the public. that it wants to create a soup kitchen, and Be Turned Into Condos? However, there is one caveat—The space it cannot do so without altering or even de- Hi, Andrew. must NOT be a place of religious worship. molishing its existing building, it must be I know this happens. I know of two exam- So, while St. Veronica might qualify for allowed to do so. ples. But I don’t know exactly how a devel- consideration in other respects, it is dis- I hope this answers your question. oper can fill a landmarked church exterior qualified for that reason. Best, with condos, even though it’s been done. Why? As with almost all rules of law, Andrew Berman, Executive Director Do you have knowledge of this? there are limits upon the power of the state Greenwich Village Society for I am writing an article for WestView on to landmark and to regulate and restrict Historic Preservation the conversion of St. Veronica into a con- through landmark designation. For exam- cert hall. The exterior, but not the interior, ple, by law, there must be a “hardship” pro- Memory As a is landmarked. Thus, a developer could vision for any private property owner who Bureaucratic Tool grab it, gut it, and fill it with condos, right, is landmarked. This means that if the own- A DEAD CHURCH IS REAL ESTATE: A half just like other former churches I know of? er cannot make a “reasonable return” on When Corey Johnson was first running for dozen West Village churches similar to St. This is an interesting subject in itself. his/her property under landmark regula- Veronica’s have been sold to convert into City Council, he came to 69 Charles Street I want to alert people to this danger so tion, he/she must be relieved of the burden private homes or for commercial uses. and asked if WestView would support him. that we can save it as a concert hall. of the landmark designation. This is one Photo courtesy of NY.curbed.com. I explained that we did not support can- Thanks, Carol Yost of the reasons why landmark designation didates but that he could write an article Carol, does not regulate use. So, if a landmarked ment to change how that statue of Christ expressing his views. He did just that and The simple answer is that landmarking factory can no longer turn a reasonable or Vishna looked, or where the Torah then, to our surprise, his mother and aunt does not affect use (i.e., a landmarked profit as a factory, it has the ability to turn scrolls were placed, or whether or not you showed up. We sat in the garden and had church can become residences, a land- a profit with some other use. That’s how could add an inscription of the Ten Com- coffee. marked bank can become a community SoHo, which is all landmarked, went from mandments, etc. It’s one of the strict limits They are from a small town outside of center, a landmarked factory can become being a manufacturing area to a residential of what landmarking can or cannot do. In Boston. Corey’s aunt worked for public office space, etc.). Also, yes, landmarking neighborhood and all those buildings were fact, even the exteriors of religious spaces housing and reviewed applications to make does generally only apply to the exterior, still preserved. are treated differently from non-religious sure the applicants were poor enough to not the interior of buildings. Among the The reason why the interiors of houses ones because of the imperative to protect qualify. She quoted what had to be one of 35,000 or so landmarked buildings in of worship cannot be landmarked is be- freedom of religion. While private property her favorites: “I tell them they better have NYC, just a few hundred are also inte- cause of our very strong protection of free- owners must prove that they cannot make a good memory because I am going to ask rior landmarks, which generally applies dom of religion. Imagine if government a modest profit in order to be relieved of them about their income every year.” to only certain parts of those spaces. To were in the business of regulating the way landmark regulation, religious institutions I hope Corey does not get bogged down qualify for interior landmark status, a that the insides of churches, synagogues, need only prove that landmark designa- with NYCHA housing but, if he does, we space must have some special architec- mosques, or temples looked. Imagine if tion is interfering with their ability to ful- can always send for his aunt. tural and/or historic significance, and it you had to get approval from the govern- fill their mission. So, if a church can prove —George Capsis

continued from page 1 Corey community newspapers can stay alive. Village now that, with Corey in power, we • For graduating students from all over The Role of the City Council have a very good chance of getting? the world who want to live in the Vil- • I want a Cath Lab in the Northwell lage, I want Corey to build affordable The New York City Council, which dates sight of various City government functions. Urgent Care Center on 13th Street apartments on the parking lots of back to the Dutch colonial days, has the im- Each council member sits on at least three and 7th Avenue to release a blood Fulton Housing. portant role of counterbalancing the power standing committees, select committees, or clot in the minutes of life remaining • I also want Corey to help us get a of the Mayor. It monitors the performance subcommittees. The Speaker, the Majority during a heart attack. City grant for Music at St. Veronica of City agencies and makes land use deci- Leader, and the Minority Leader are all ex • The elderly living in rent-stabilized and make it free for senior citizens sions. It also legislates on various other mat- officio members of every committee. apartments need protection from forever and ever. ters and has the sole responsibility of ap- The City Council Speaker has one real estate tax-harassed landlords Do you have a concern or a wish proving the City budget. Council members of the most powerful positions in New trying to oust them in order to get for legislation that you want Corey to may serve for two consecutive terms and York. As the head of the City Council, market-rate rents. achieve? Send it to WestView. We will may run for office again after four years. he or she sets the agenda and presides at • I want the City to buy a few pages print it and send it on to Corey for his, There are 51 New York City dis- meetings of the Council. Proposed legis- of public information in WestView so “Yeah, sure…” tricts, and each is represented by an lation is submitted through the Speaker’s elected New York City council member. office. There are 35 committees that have over- —Carol Yost Corey Johnson Could Be Chuck Schumer! CORRECTIONS

Oh wow! The Times keeps calling Corey Johnson, the new Speaker of the City Within the December 2017 issue of West- (page 5). The name of the author is Wen Council, the second-most powerful man in City government. I asked Erik Bottcher, View, the date referenced in the article en- Yang. Corey’s Chief of Staff, “How come?” and this is what I got... titled “Act of Faith” (November 23rd) was Like the federal government, city government is divided between the ‘executive’ incorrect (page 1). The correct date of the (the Mayor) and the ‘legislative’ (the City Council), and Corey now speaks for the City concert is November 25th. Within the August 2017 issue of WestView, Council. the name of the coffee house referenced in So, let us say that the City Council votes to sell the public housing apartments to the article entitled “From Hollywood to its tenants so that it can fund its own up-keep and repairs and let the taxpayers off Within the December 2017 issue of West- the West Village: A Homeric Journey” was the hook, and the Mayor says, “No.” View, the author of the expanded caption misspelled (page 16). The correct spelling I’m not sure what happens then but it does illustrate the legislative division. entitled “New York Baroque Incorporated of the coffee house is Café Panino Mucho —George Capsis to Perform at St. Veronica’s” was omitted Giusto. 4 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org An Exceptional (Concert) Musical Undertaking tion) being mesmerized by Sasha Schnei- der’s New School concerts, especially the Haydn symphonies. What wonderful, spir- ited, and fervent playing! In a sense, the Haydn piece that concluded our opening concert was a tribute to that amazing artist. I hope Sasha deemed it worthy. Our senior generation was trained in the Viennese prewar tradition by those artists. Combine that with the sensibilities of the period movement and the best of the younger players, as well as expert personnel decisions, and you have the basis for a splendid new or- chestra within a remarkable new space. I hope you enjoy the February 10th con- cert as much as we do in giving it, and The Orchestra of St. Veronica, life. THE NEXT CONCERT

THE EMERGING SOUND OF A NEW ORCHESTRA: In the very first concert of Music at St. Veronica, the skilled players began to join in pacing and tone to create a new voice that will become that of the Orchestra of St. Veronica. Photo by Diane L. Cohen. COULD BE By Michael Feldman program and the groups they have spawned recording contracts and conductors like have taken advantage of this. The terrific John Eliot Gardiner brow-beat players into What you will hear on February 10th is Brazilian violinist Edson Scheid, who per- higher and higher standards. Roger Nor- some of the most glorious music ever writ- formed the Vivaldi concerto for muted vio- rington took the movement to Beethoven, ten, but also the emergence of a new or- lin for us, recently recorded the Paganini even Berlioz. Boston became an early chestra—The Orchestra of St. Veronica. caprices on gut strings—a feat of prodi- music mecca and music schools began to YOURS It is not really a completely new orches- gious technical acumen, unheard of among recognize the importance of offering pro- tra because it joins some of the best musi- freelance artists of the recent past. grams in such performance. In my now 90 years, I found cians in this City who have played together What is the advantage of mixing in senior What was the effect of this movement myself doing something I many times. However, now they will form people, indeed, placing them in leadership on the music industry as a whole? Cham- have never done before— THE Orchestra of St. Veronica and, in positions? Acquiring their deeper knowl- ber orchestras were marginalized and many sponsoring a classical music playing together, will become a single in- edge of the subtleties of ensemble and style either disappeared or became irrelevant. If strument with a unique tone and pacing. and a connection to the best traditions of audiences would only accept authentic per- concert. It was easier than I Charles Kiger, who organizes the Or- the past. For most of them, it also fosters an formances, especially on recordings, why thought. My kids don’t have chestra and is also our timpanist, has taken appreciation of the newer period movement, bother existing if Bach, Handel, Haydn, to get all the money, and the obvious but unusual approach of mix- which enhances and adds to their experience and Mozart are no longer appropriately watching those rapt faces ing the finest younger players with veteran with the finest traditional interpretations. within their purview? Many recall a time open to the familiar sound leadership from among the best New York For those unfamiliar with the differences in which it seemed that every other per- of great music in live perfor- independent artists. He has chosen as lead- between these two approaches, here is a short formance on WQXR was credited to the mance was a reward I had ers those players who held principal chairs history: In the early-to-mid 1970s, a group of Academy of St Martin in the Fields, con- never expected to experi- in the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and the Or- important artists came to the conclusion that, ducted by Neville Marriner. Not any more. pheus Chamber Orchestra—two groups especially for baroque music, a more authen- A small but noticeable adjustment is un- ence.You can share my that have been the most artistically satisfy- tic approach could be achieved by performing derway. Traditional groups performing on experience. The concerts ing traditional ensembles in our City over on the very instruments (or replicas thereof) modern instruments are reclaiming portions cost $20,000 each but you the last 40-plus years. that Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi used. of the repertoire. They are integrating aspects can give less or you can give Why is this unusual? Because new groups For the strings, it meant incorporating a of what the period movement has taught us more. The pleasure of giving tend to form among friends from school. The new bow, realigning the fingerboard, and while also remembering the approach of re- remains. wonderful New York Baroque Incorporated, returning to gut strings—a moderate ad- markable, earlier artists and the centers of mu- which performed our Christmas concert on justment. For the winds, especially oboes, sic-making that they influenced. Pablo Casals, Email me at GCapsis@gmail. December 23rd, is an outstanding example horns, and trumpets, it meant virtually Bruno Walter, the Marlboro Music Festival, of this approach. It was formed from among learning a new instrument—an enormous Alexander (Sasha) Schneider (a village stand- com or just call (212) 924- recent graduates of the Julliard Baroque pro- undertaking. In truth, the playing was by), and Felix Galimir come to mind, as does 5718. (If you know of a West gram. Both St. Luke’s and Orpheus (way not always completely successful in the Schneider’s Holiday String Seminar in Carn- Villager who should be giv- back in the 1970s) began similarly. beginning. But superb artists like Gustav egie Hall. (That seminar is now ably directed ing, let me know.) There is no doubt that technical stan- Leonhardt in Amsterdam and Nikolaus by his protege, Jaime Laredo.) dards have risen over the years; the Juilliard Harnoncourt in Vienna were given huge I remember (as will others of my genera- www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 5

We Need Our Own Carnegie continued from page 1 need your suggestions for funding sources. Villagers want their own Carnegie Hall, Representing buyers, sellers, investors, A departing concert attendee talked of a but remember that Carnegie Hall was a and landlords in Greenwich Village, West Village, Chelsea, company charity that sounded ideal and I gift by Andrew Carnegie in 1891. We need and other parts all over Manhattan and Brooklyn am waiting for her call. our own Andrew Carnegie—right now! So, I believe we have proven that West CALL ME at (212) 924-5718.

Bank St Townhouse Triplex - RENTED 114 Mercer SoHo huge loft - SOLD West 11th St Townhouse - RENTED Charles St Duplex - RENTED Can St. Veronica Become a 80 Charles St 1 bed - RENTED West 11th St studio - RENTED 425 Park Ave South 3d - SOLD 50 Greenpoint Ave condo - SOLD 56 Jane St 1 bed 2 baths - SOLD 150 east 93rd St coop - IN CONTRACT Permanent Concert Hall? 2 Horatio St 1 bed - SOLD 320 West 115th St - SOLD By Carol Yost by actor Jude Law while making a film. He got angry at NYU students outside who were NEW LISTINGS The beautiful St. Veronica Church, at 149 ogling him as he exercised on his large bal- 115 east 9th St Doorman Studio $535k - IN CONTRACT Christopher Street, is now a former Cath- cony and threw fruit at them; that increased 88 Horatio studio $475k - SALE | $2,200 - RENT olic church that (it is hoped) can become a the notoriety (and dollar value) of the place. 425 PAS 18d Loft - $1,075,000 permanent concert hall, which would of- That two-floor penthouse, which has had a fer free admission to seniors. Its exterior is sale price in the millions, must be one of the landmarked but, as explained by Andrew most expensive in the City, even for a condo. Support mom and pop local shops Berman of the Greenwich Village Society But I remember the building as a concert hall and a Happy New Year! for Historic Preservation, its interior can for world music while it was still an active never be landmarked. (See Berman’s com- church. Arthur Z. Schwartz remembers that it ments on page 3.) was called the Peace Church in the 1960s and It is to be assumed that the Archdiocese 1970s because it hosted many anti-war groups; Scotty Elyanow Lic. Associate RE Broker needs money for its charitable missions. The the space was available for free to many protest Longtime West Village Broker and Resident church, which is currently being used for organizations. 917.678.6010 | [email protected] free monthly concerts of fine music by some The former Village Church and Syna- www.westvillagebroker.com of New York City’s acclaimed musicians, gogue, an 1846 Greek Revival building with scottyely and also as a dance training site by Jorge large Doric columns in front, at 143 West Navarro of Arts Flamenco, is in a precari- 13th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues), ous situation. If the Archdiocese decides to is now co-ops. I recall the plaque on the front Real estate agents affiliated with The Corcoran Group are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of The Corcoran Group. The Corcoran sell it to some developer, its interior could be gate, which stated that the building was in- Group is a licensed real estate broker located at 660 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10065. gutted and filled with luxury condos. For a tended to house a Jewish congregation and million dollars, or perhaps much more, you a Christian one; they held services at their could have your own adorable home with traditional times. The Greek Revival facade stained glass windows in your living room was very carefully and proudly designed as and charming arched entrances with quaint not specific to either religion. I lived just two marble columns—the ultimate in chic. doors down at the Evangeline Ladies’ Resi- It seems that these days, lots of people dence Hall and sometimes attended Chris- are driving up to religious edifices and say- tian services there; these services sometimes ing, “This is where I hang out. Cool, huh?” included dance performances and such. It They may never have attended religious was an admirable effort to show how people services, but developers are converting of different faiths could get along, and for a churches and synagogues with religious while they did. There was a small theater in fervor. Surf the internet for New York the basement, which you entered from the City-area conversions and you will find side. I saw Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Banzie Is articles listing many. Outwardly, they look Dead there. Finally, the two groups started just like religious buildings, but on the in- having trouble getting along and the inter- side, people are making their homes there. faith effort was abandoned. We know of four religious edifices in the Lastly, there is the former Bethlehem West Village area that have been converted Chapel and Settlement House at 196-198 to other uses. Given the frenzy for build- Bleecker Street (between 6th Avenue and ing condos, I think that most conversions Macdougal Street), built by the First Pres- going forward will involve unaffordable byterian Church in 1918 and designed in an housing, not educational or retail uses. Italian-inspired style because of the many Surprisingly, the IFC Center (323 6th Italian immigrants who lived there. Finally, Avenue, at West 3rd Street), was once a the progressive educator Elizabeth Irwin, of church, built in the early 19th century; look The Little Red Schoolhouse, rented and later at the roofline and there’s a faint resem- purchased the building in the 1930s; it has blance. It used to be the Waverly Theatre, a been part of that establishment ever since. familiar part of the Village and mentioned Thus, we have residences, a movie house, in “Frank Mills,” a song from the musical and a school within former religious build- Hair. It’s still a movie theater that shows ings. We hope that St. Veronica has the many films you can see nowhere else. chance to become a permanent concert hall. Then there’s the Novare, which was once the Washington Square Methodist Church at The author would like to thank Andrew Ber- 134 West 4th Street (near Macdougal Street); man, the Executive Director of the Greenwich it is a Romanesque Revival structure built in Village Society for Historic Preservation, for the 1860s. Its large penthouse, featured online the useful information he provided for this with impressive photos, was rented for awhile article. 6 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org Continuing the Fight for Health Centers in Lower Manhattan

use their time and resources to organize Schwartz explains that, under SEQRA, a meetings between public officeholders and state agency cannot approve any action that PALM members with the support of con- will impact over 240,000 square feet of gross cerned community groups, local political floor space, or any action that will change clubs, medical organizations, and unions. the use of property that is contiguous to a The first public officeholders to be con- national historic site, without first reviewing tacted will be the downtown City Council an environmental impact statement (EIS) members: Corey Johnson, Carlina Rivera, to determine whether the proposed change Keith Powers, and Margaret Chin. Rivera, will have a significant impact. Powers, and Chin attended the PALM The Beth Israel site is adjacent to Stuyves- demonstration last September, and all four ant Square, a national historic site. In addi- have taken positions against the closing tion, the closure of the maternity, neonatal A FEW (VERY COLD) PALM MEMBERS BROUGHT CONCERNS ABOUT BETH ISRAEL TO THE of Beth Israel. PALM’s immediate goal is care, pediatric intensive care, and adult car- NYPAN DEMONSTRATION: Outside a Wall Street fundraiser/birthday celebration for Gover- to urge the officials to take a firm, public diac surgery units changed the use of over nor Cuomo on December 14th (which cost $50,000 per person), none of us got to voice our stance supporting the health care safety net 240,000 square feet of space in the 16th concerns personally to Cuomo. Photo by Penny Mintz. and the need to preserve the health care in- Street building. The hospital units were frastructure of public and private hospitals. shut down in May and June of 2017, and By Penny Mintz At PALM’s regular monthly meeting on After the proposed meetings with City the New York State Department of Health Thursday, December 20th, the committee Council members, PALM intends to orga- gave retroactive approval of the closures on The Progressive Action for Lower Manhat- working on the threatened hospital closure nize similar meetings with Mary Bassett, July 28, 2017. This was done despite the fact tan (PALM), which is a chapter of the New discussed the three strategies they are pursu- the Commissioner of the New York City that no EIS was prepared. Zucker failed to York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN) ing: (1) organizing monthly demonstrations Department of Health and Mental Hy- demand one, and Mount Sinai/Beth Israel serving Manhattan below 42nd Street, contin- outside Beth Israel, much like the bicyclists’ giene, and with Mayor Bill de Blasio. did not take up the responsibility on its own. ues to work toward either maintaining a full- critical mass rides; (2) meeting with local In the lawsuit Schwartz is litigating, In its lawsuit, PALM demands the resto- service hospital in Beth Israel’s main building elected officials; and (3) supporting the law- PALM is the plaintiff challenging Howard ration of the closed units and the denial of on 1st Avenue and 16th Street, or making sure suit being litigated by Arthur Z. Schwartz. Zucker, Commissioner of the New York any future closings without an EIS study. that, whatever future is in store for Beth Israel In view of the oncoming cold weather, State Department of Health, and Mount The State’s answer to the complaint is due at the hands of its current owner (Mount Si- PALM decided to postpone the initiation Sinai/Beth Israel. The complaint asserts that in February. Schwartz is guardedly opti- nai), the health care needs of Lower Manhat- of monthly demonstrations until March or the Commissioner violated the State Envi- mistic about the outcome, but he admits tan will be adequately served. April. Meanwhile, PALM members will ronmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). that “the case is no slam dunk.” A True Win-Win Solution

By Joseph Reiver already existing Section 8 housing, just south of the garden site, would block most mid- The City is moving forward with plans to day light; the setting sun would only briefly destroy the Elizabeth Street Garden. It has reach half of the proposed garden. We must selected Pennrose Properties, LLC as the remember that the Elizabeth Street Garden developer and sugarcoated the plans with (and all gardens and green spaces in this as many sweet-sounding details as pos- City) are living, breathing entities. We care sible. The City calls this plan a ‘win-win’ for them, maintain them, enjoy them, and scenario and has plopped a hollow, offen- they care for us. They give us breath—literal- sively ironic cherry on top by naming the ly and metaphorically. They bring us together destruction of a 20,000-square-foot, heav- and heal us. Urban public green spaces are ily used community garden ‘Haven Green.’ as essential as affordable housing, and with DESTROYING THE ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN WILL DEVASTATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD Do not be deceived by the fancy devel- proper city planning, neither has to exist at AND COMMUNITY: The administration, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Council Member Marga- oper’s renderings. Instead, see the truth of the expense of the other. ret Chin have ignored the thousands of letters and signatures in support of protecting the the matter: The administration, Mayor Bill Now, to those who are not familiar with Elizabeth Street Garden, seen above. Photo courtesy of Joseph Reiver. de Blasio, and Council Member Margaret the fight to protect and preserve the Eliza- Chin have continuously ignored our com- beth Street Garden, the City’s development strived to have with de Blasio and Chin June Town Hall. Achieving such a solution munity’s outcry—for just about five years. plans may sound quite beneficial. That’s be- for years. It requires both politicians to requires the City to stop prioritizing politi- They have ignored the thousands of letters cause, generally speaking, they are—just not visit the garden and recognize firsthand cians and developers over the communities and signatures in support of protecting and at the expense of a preexisting public oasis. what they are working to destroy. It re- it claims to represent. preserving the Elizabeth Street Garden in Senior affordable housing, with realistic quires no more shady deals. In 2012, Chin The City does not need to pit affordable its entirety. They have ignored Community low-income requirements, is as necessary as quietly slipped the Elizabeth Street Gar- housing against public green space. Both are Board (CB) 2’s four resolutions and reject- public, open green space—for seniors and den (referring to it as a “vacant lot”) into vital to the planning and health of New York ed a true win-win outcome. No matter how for all. Those involved in fighting to save an amendment of the Seward Park Urban City. Both are achievable. Destroying the the City sugarcoats the plans, it is taking the Elizabeth Street Garden are not against Renewal project on the Lower East Side. Elizabeth Street Garden will be absolutely away a public and community treasure. senior affordable housing. Acknowledging She did this even though the two sites are devastating to this neighborhood and our The privately owned, public green space, both as fundamentals, the community has in different community board districts community. Preserving the Elizabeth Street which the City offers as a “compromise,” is identified a solution using an alternative lo- and no public review of the Elizabeth Garden and building senior affordable hous- a ruse. The developer’s renderings do not cation that can provide much more afford- Street Garden plan was conducted. CB2 ing on the alternative site is the true win-win depict the reality of such a place. Construct- able housing: 388 Hudson Street—a vacant, was only notified after the fact. solution, one that will allow all to flourish. ing a seven-story building on the Elizabeth gravel-filled, 25,000-square-foot lot. A true win-win solution requires the Street Garden site would destroy the large Achieving a true win-win solution re- truth, not convenient falsifications such as Joseph Reiver is the Executive Director of trees, lawn, and planting beds, as well as block quires having an open and transparent “the site was always ear-marked for afford- the Elizabeth Street Garden and a born- most, if not all, of the morning sunlight. The conversation, one our community has able housing,” which de Blasio stated at his and-raised New Yorker. www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 7

BLOCK NEWS A City Law to Save Talk to the residents on your block and the rest of the West Village about your block Newspapers The Squeaky Wheel: not how she runs her business. Lee’s hands A Hard Lesson Learned are in every pot, making sure that, from pro- By George Capsis hands. But with the Times costing $2.50 from 2017 duction to the ringing of the cash register, a copy (I can’t believe it), WestView is an care and attention are paid to every detail. OH WOW! I got a notice that a Queens acceptable substitute. Still, do send us $12 By Stanley Wlodyka Her business relies on developing relation- City Councilman, Rory Lancman, was for a year’s subscription. ships with vendors and providing superb coming to the Village for a public meet- Okay, what is the legislation that I need “I don’t want to be in the picture,” said the customer service. Indeed, her clients come ing with Corey Johnson to propose that to get Corey to introduce to save commu- man in the blue hard hat. The Brooklyn for the overall experience, which proved the City develop a plan to subsidize com- nity newspapers? Simple—The City will accent spoke volumes: He has a wife and challenging to maintain while a jackham- munity newspapers and keep them alive. advertise. two and a half kids (one named Junior), mer pounded dust into the air right outside But I got the date wrong and missed the There is a program now for the state, he’s a Mets fan, his father taught him how her shop throughout 2017. meeting!!! and maybe the federal government, to to thatch a roof, and he goes to church ev- “We should have complained a little ear- I mean, it was THE most painfully take out ads like ‘Don’t smoke’ in daily or ery Sunday, except for some Sundays. It’s lier, but you deal with it. [New Yorkers] are missed date ever so I called Lancman’s weekly newspapers, but not in monthlies. not his fault that construction on Bedford, so tough. You suffer for so long and then office. I finally got to talk to him and So WestView gets none of these ads, but it Morton, Grove, and Commerce Streets all of a sudden, oh my God, this has been poured out my ideas, which he terminat- still tells the truth and telling the truth is ed with, “Why don’t you talk to Corey?” expensive. I spluttered on for a few minutes because We print Arthur Z. Schwartz’s anger at I had the idea that it was something Mount Sinai for closing down Beth Israel Lancman had already drafted. However, piecemeal without permission from the it was only an idea prompted by one of New York State Health Commissioner; the waning four community newspapers Beth Israel then chastises us by giving ads in his district. to our competition. Once again, the truth So, on January 4th, Corey Johnson will is expensive. be the official Speaker of the New York Now that Corey is stamped as the City Council and I will send him a draft next Speaker, I am no longer getting re- of, if not a bill, at least a plan as to how the sponses from his office so I must depend City can save community newspapers. on you, my reader, to send him a note So, okay, what’s the problem? Money, saying, “Hey, yes, if the City matches or the lack of it? The computer savvy do campaign funds so would-be candidates not take out ads in old-fashioned, Ben- can sound off, it should subsidize com- jamin Franklin newspapers. Witness the munity newspapers to print community recent death of the print version of The news—news that cannot be found in any Village Voice. other source.” Hey, do we really need old-fashioned I mean, now that Corey is the second- newspapers? Of course, I’m prejudiced and most powerful man in New York City gov- that prejudice may match my gray hair. ernment, we should now, in detail, learn of (At age 12, I sold the New York Times at the legislation he will propose to protect P.S. 192 for three cents a copy). rent-stabilized tenants. That simple expla- “IT WAS LIKE A WAR ZONE”: Business owner Jussara Lee battled bulldozers, jackham- I recently received an old-fashioned, nation will be in a full-page ad paid for mers, and piles of rubble while offering her clientele hand-made, high-quality clothing, and jewelry at 60 Bedford Street (near Morton Street). Photo by Stanley Wlodyka. handwritten envelope with a 1963 Ken- by the City. So, you the reader gets the nedy stamp from a WestView reader, offer- message right from our representatives’ ing that he liked to enjoy coffee with his mouths and helps the messenger survive. has been subject to delay after delay. going on for a year! Come on, let’s do some- copy of WestView and “mull over issues of What do you think? We will print your It’s been over a year since the New York thing, let’s say something. The minute we the neighborhood.” responses in the next issue of WestView City Department of Design and Construc- talk about it, two weeks later they’re wrap- Us ancients who grew up with newspa- and put a copy on Corey’s brand new tion (DDC) started to implement pedestrian ping up.” Lee, her fellow business owners, pers still want to hold a newspaper in our Speaker’s Desk. ramps into those quiet little Village streets. and the neighborhood residents discovered Logically, a pedestrian ramp should take a the power of organized resistance when day, maybe two, to install and however long they collectively submitted their complaints it takes for concrete to dry, but throw in some to their district representative. sewer reconstruction and all bets are off. Erik Bottcher, Chief of Staff of the Of- The thing about sewage is that it stinks. fice of NYC Council Member Corey John- Claim that the pipes have twisted them- son, stated, “The pressure that we put on selves into a knot, and only the bravest of them got this to the decision makers.” The souls will actually climb down into a man- main area of concern for Councilman John- hole to check if that’s really the case. How- son was the lack of communication between ever, the DDC has admitted that there was the DDC and the neighborhood as to the more to it than that. Ana Barrio, the Act- progress of this construction project. Usu- ing Commissioner of the DDC, stated in ally, a community construction liaison is a letter that the delays were due to “un- appointed to provide regular updates, but foreseen conflicts, interference by private in this case, one wasn’t. Though this saga is utilities and/or changes in work schedules coming to a close, it may have a legacy that by private utilities.” will benefit countless New Yorkers. It’s no surprise that a government agency “Going forward, we will certainly con- would pass the buck when there’s a com- sider this experience…when speaking of plaint on the line. For Jussara Lee, the pro- staffing budgets,” writes DDC’s Acting prietor of a boutique clothing shop, this is Commissioner Barrio. 8 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org The Ghost of Robert Moses Stalks the Village By Gary Tomei them had worked closely with the DOT staff will not be using the surface of 14th Street. would be a disastrous traffic jam. The resi- and had been assured that vehicular traffic When the L is closed for repairs, those dents, schools, and businesses there will The planning process was secretive. WOULD NOT BE BANNED ON 14th driving into Manhattan will take the Wil- surely suffer noise and air pollution from After months upon months of sham Street. Thus, it would seem that the DOT liamsburg, Manhattan, or Brooklyn Bridg- backed-up cars and trucks, including sani- public meetings in which community not only operates clandestinely but that, in es or the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and tation and delivery trucks. opinion was solicited, including constant true Trumpian manner, it is full of liars. enter Manhattan much further south than This plan is particularly problematic for discussions with officials from the New The DOT is using the closing of the L 14th Street. Or, they will take the Mid- the City and Country School on West 13th York City Department of Transportation Line as an excuse to change the traffic town Tunnel or the 59th Street Bridge, Street. The two-way bike lanes directly in (DOT), local public officials, and various pattern on 14th Street. and enter much further north. Thus, 14th front of the school will clearly be a safety “transportation experts,” we in the Village If the DOT’s scheme is meant to assist Street is not likely to see any great increase hazard for the students. Putting the lanes were handed an unanticipated bombshell. commuters in their travels during the L in vehicular traffic, certainly, not one which there, where children from age two to 13 Disregarding the opinions of the entire Line closure, it certainly makes no sense. would warrant such a drastic change in go to school, is ripe for disaster, particu- local community, including our elected rep- Commuters from the outer boroughs pres- traffic pattern. In fact, the only people like- larly, since bike riders are notorious for not resentatives, Polly Trottenberg, the DOT ently do not drive unto 14th Street. There ly to travel on 14th Street are those who adhering to traffic laws and rules. Commissioner, arbitrarily foisted a seri- is no bridge that would directly bring them live in the area or work nearby. Additionally, those lanes would take up ously flawed traffic plan upon the residents there. Those currently using mass transpor- The present scheme diverts all cars on all of the area outside of the school that is of our area. The plan bans vehicle traffic on tation use the L Line primarily to connect 14th Street to the narrow 13th Street to currently used for dropping off and picking 14th Street during the approximately year to other subway lines. They do not have to the south. That street will have only one up children. Anyone who drives or takes a and a half required to repair the L Line due actually travel on the surface of 14th Street lane for moving traffic, a parking lane, and taxi would not have a place to safely stop to the damage caused by Hurricane San- itself. Furthermore, during the time the L two bicycle lanes, one in each direction. If to let out children. If they stopped on the dy. It diverts that traffic unto West 13th is not operating, commuters will be using for any reason, a car or truck stops in that other side of the street, they would have to Street—the narrow roadway south of 14th alternate subways and buses, so again, they one narrow lane for moving traffic, there cross a lane of car traffic and two bike lanes Street. You can bet your last dollar that it with small children. If this were to happen, will take more than the estimated time to Impending Chaos on West 13th Street it’s not a matter of if children will get hurt, make those repairs, and that the scoundrels only when. that thought up this plan will try to per- The five restaurants and other businesses manently ban vehicle traffic on 14th Street on the block will also suffer because de- despite the traffic nightmare that will result liveries will be almost impossible, and it on neighboring streets. will surely be difficult for their clientele to Be that as it may, the most egregious as- reach them. pect of the entire situation is that this plan What has also been overlooked entirely was NEVER SHOWN TO ANYONE in this discussion is the fact that trucks are IN THE COMMUNITY BEFORE IT presently banned on West 13th Street be- WAS REVEALED in mid-December, tween 6th and 7th Avenues unless making during the holiday season. Was the timing a local delivery. The street is a landmarked of the announcement planned to catch the block, with many brownstones which community off guard? would have their structural integrity com- The residents of West 13th Street fear the consequences of diverting three, pos- Local elected officials were not consulted. promised by the rumbling and reverbera- sibly four, lanes of vehicular traffic (including trucks) from West 14th Street unto The details of this plan were formulated West 13th Street. The additional traffic on West 13th Street, with just one lane for tions made by such over-sized vehicles. behind closed doors at the DOT. It was moving traffic, will result in traffic chaos with all the attendant noise and air pollu- All of these problems will unfold for the conceived in such secrecy that our local of- tion. Moreover, the two-way bike path poses a danger for young children attending local community, but banning cars on 14th ficials—City Councilman Corey Johnson, the City and Country School on the block, when they are attempting to cross the Street will not mitigate any of the prob- State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, and street. It will be a nightmare for parents dropping off or picking up their children from lems which will be faced by those coming State Senator Brad Hoylman—were stunned school. Text by Gary Tomei. Image by MTA DOT. into Manhattan, whether by mass trans- when they learned of its details. Each of portation or by car. Primer for 14th Street L Train Closure By Brian J. Pape, AIA tripled since 1990, outstripping the line’s In January 2017, the MTA website ecutive Director, Paul Steely White, issued capacity despite adding more train cars posted a request for public input and an- this December 14th statement (in part). In April 2019, the New York Metropolitan over the years. Control systems must be nounced public hearings on February 9th, “We commend the New York City De- Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to upgraded to increase capacity. 16th, 23rd, and March 2nd. In addition partment of Transportation (DOT) and the fully close the L Train tunnels for 15 months Currently, 225,000 passengers use the to seeking public and local official input, MTA for working together on a plan that to completely rebuild the infrastructure, in- tunnels between Brooklyn and Manhattan the MTA uses their transit demand model takes into account the L Train corridor on cluding all tracks, electrical systems, com- every day. Once the trains enter Manhat- software to simulate combinations of strat- both sides of the East River. What they have munication systems, and wall structures from tan, L Train stations at 1st Avenue and 3rd egies and conditions for the entire trans- put forth is a good first step, and we’re pleased the Bedford Avenue Station in Williamsburg Avenue connect to bus lines. The Union portation network, including pedestrian to see that street space has been set aside for to the 8th Avenue Terminal in Manhattan. Square L Train Station connects to the ma- considerations. (Visit mta.info.) pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders. In All other stations in Brooklyn up to the Bed- jor east-side lines—N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, and 6 The website describes the MTA’s plans the coming weeks, it will be important that ford Avenue Station will remain in service. Trains—which handle 34 million passen- to adjust the ferry and bus shuttle sched- the DOT and MTA continue to enhance the In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy gers per year, according to 2016 data. The ules, increase subway alternative capacities, initial proposal, specifically looking for syner- flooded the entire 1924 train tunnel un- 6th Avenue Station connects the L to the F (especially for the G, J, and M lines), and gies between L Train solutions and Governor der the East River with up to 15 feet of and M lines, and to the 1, 2, and 3 lines via increase bicycle accommodations. How- [Andrew] Cuomo’s anticipated congestion saltwater, severely damaging all systems. a pedestrian tunnel, which handles 16 mil- ever, the details are not yet shown. pricing announcement in January. Although immediate repairs reopened the lion people per year. The L line terminates The Transportation Alternatives advocacy We also have concerns about local buses tunnels in only 10 days, more thorough re- at 8th Avenue, and connects to the A, C, group has been actively involved in making slowing down Select Bus Service buses on pairs are needed. In addition, ridership has and E lines at that station. the streets more pedestrian friendly. Its Ex- continued on page 20 www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 9

Notes and Perspectives from Away: A Declaration for Independence By Tom Lamia and issues must be adapted to one of the two options offered. And, it is getting worse, be- cause a monolithic rival is easy to demonize. This polarization of views and control of voting is not new. The big city machines of the past controlled voting by friendly and foul means. What was, or is, ‘walking- around money’ if not a bribe to vote? If a voter is known to favor a candidate or posi- tion, an effort is made to facilitate that vote by those who would benefit from it. This is obvious and innocent, even necessary for democracy to work. What happened to that benign system? Greed is what happened. It was not enough to get your voters to the polls. You could deter ACCELERATING PARTISANSHIP MAY other voters from exercising their franchise. REQUIRE A RETREAT FROM TWO-PARTY You could get control of the voting apparatus: DOMINANCE: Pictured above is Senator the size and location of districts, the hours and Angus King of Maine, elected and serv- days of voting, and of absentee voting proce- BOUTIQUE • 343 BLEECKER STREET ing effectively as an Independent. Official 212.645.1013 / [email protected] Senate Portrait photo provided by Press dures (to extend the dates when votes might Representative Jeff Sobotko. be cast). If you were in control of government INDULGE YOUR SENSES, WITH A 1-HOUR (where voting rules were made), you could use PHYTO-AROMATIC FACIAL FOR $100 WITH THIS AD “Greed is good!” is a memorable line from your power to maintain your control. (regularly $200) the movie Wall Street. Not long after the The principle that prevented these ma- movie finished its run, the financial condi- nipulations from ruining our democracy WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANY SKINCARE DAY OF SERVICE tion of most Americans, and of the country in the past were primarily legal principles RECEIVE DOUBLE POINTS (January only) at large, was significantly worsened by what (Baker v. Carr, in which the principle of JOIN US ON FACEBOOK—SISLEYPARIS343BLEECKER appeared to be a greed-induced recession. “one person, one vote” was established by There is an analogy here to the current the Supreme Court), but there was also the JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM—@SISLEYPARISNYC state of politics. The accelerating partisan- principle of good citizenship, of loyalty to ship in our politics reflects ideological greed democratic values, and the expectation that that could soon (or has already) caused prin- the efforts of all were needed for the sur- ciples necessary for successful democratic vival of constitutional government. Until governance to slide into political bankrupt- recently, those principles were enough to cy. The greed I speak of is that of two wholly allow our system to work. There was not dominant political organizations, each of enough of a divide between the two parties which seems to believe that it has a monop- to justify skullduggery. Now there is. oly on good ideas and is therefore entitled to The solution to this problem could be a pursue them by any means available. retreat from two-party dominance. Until Examples include: recently, Maine politics was a case study: • Two parties represent the highly dis- independent candidates whose views were parate views of all Americans. their own and who won elections despite • A majority in each of those parties ap- their independent status. Conditions in pears to believe that gaining control Maine favored these candidates. The media of the mechanics of voting is worth market is small and affordable. Income and bending rules and traditions. wealth inequalities are modest. No big city • The commonplace practice for gerry- power elite exists. And, Maine has a his- mandered districts to warehouse and tory of good citizenship, of true patriotism, sideline voters in districts where their and of people working together to achieve views are not likely to prevail. common goals. But, these favorable condi- • The existence of blatant restrictions tions are not unique to Maine and they are for appointments: on voting by those in control of voting not the only conditions that could favor a procedure. pullback from the two-party system. call 212.206.7622 • The use of litmus tests for would-be The evidence of this is the success of visit www.rizzasalon.com candidates to assure that party lines independent politicians from all three are not threatened by free thinkers. party denominations who have served or Located in nyc’s west village on a bustling • The proliferation of big-money do- are serving Maine in the U.S. Senate: Re- block of Greenwich Avenue, rizza salon nors for whom political contributions publicans Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, strives to provide luxury hair services while are an investment on which a financial and William Cohen; Democrats George maintaining a casual neighborhood vibe. return is expected. Mitchell and Edmund Muskie; and Inde- • The monopolization of small-money do- pendent Angus King. The independent AsA an Aveda salon, we hope to benefit our nors by data collectors using closely pro- thinking and manifest competence of these guests through exceptional products and services, with a promise of continued tected algorithms developed at great cost. political leaders have been hallmarks of environmental responsibility. All of this has left us with the two parties Maine politics. But even here in Maine, that contend everywhere, for every elected the virtues I have described may be losing office. All of our efforts to sift through indi- their traction. The current governor is both 49 greenwich avenue vidual experience and form an opinion that highly partisan and intolerant of dissenting (between charles / perry) translates into a choice among candidates views. May we all survive until November. 10 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org

Celebrating Keith Michael’s The Nutcracker West Village: A Food Desert? By Barry Benepe to offer eggs, butter, yogurt, milk, chocolate milk, eggnog, and muffins. Writing in the September 2017 issue of At the north end of the market, custom- WestView, Robert Widmann bemoans the ers line up to purchase the many varieties of loss of food markets in the West Village. fish and seafood caught by Phil Carlin off (See the article entitled “Market-less in the Riverhead, Long Island, including: lobster, Village.”) Naming several, Widmann con- little neck clams, squid, blue fish, mackerel, cludes, “Now they are all gone.” Actually, flounder, hake, striped bass, and tuna. Car- we have many serving the West Village: lin also sells wild fish salad. D’Agostino, Integral Yoga, Chelsea Mar- I found shoppers to be enthusiastic be- ket, Whole Foods, Citarella, Gristedes, cause they could find everything they and Brooklyn Fare. More importantly, needed to make meals locally—from ap- the West Village is one of 24 Manhattan ples to baked goods to cheese to vegetables, neighborhoods served by Greenmarket, a meats, and fish. Mimi said, “I have been farmers market program founded in 1976 coming every week from Westbeth for over by the nonprofit Council on the Environ- 14 years. It’s terrific.” ment of NYC, now known as GrowNYC. Greenmarket currently serves over 200 This open-air farmers market has been op- small farms in the tri-state region, encom- erating every Saturday at Abingdon Square passing over 38,000 acres, chiefly along for over 20 years. the Great Valley. The land stretches from Even in the depths of winter, one can southern New Jersey and the Passaic Valley find foods there grown and produced in through Pennsylvania into the Wallkill and “The Waltz of the Flowers” recently bloomed in Keith Michael’s The Nutcracker at New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Hudson Valleys before turning west along Brookfield Place. The New York Theatre Ballet (through Diana Byer, the Artistic Direc- On a recent snow-blown Saturday, there the Mohawk Valley to the Finger Lakes, tor) performed this colorful and energetic holiday ballet in December 2017, exuding were nine farmers, fishermen, and bakers which is where much of our wine, grapes, an Art Nouveau style (circa 1907), innovative choreography, and an intimate viewing experience. The Huffington Post echoed the quality and creativity within this pro- duction—“The magic stays with us well beyond the hour.” Text and photo by Keith Michael.

ABINGDON SQUARE GREENMARKET: Fresh, farm-grown food is available at the Abingdon Square Greenmarket every Saturday throughout the year. Photo by Barry Benepe. at the farmers market. I started my shop- cheese, conifer trees, and other farm prod- ping with Prospect Hill Farm, which trav- ucts originate. els 1.5 hours from Milton, New York, with The farmers bring home some 2 to 2.5 over 50 varieties of apples, cider, jams, and million hard-earned dollars to their families baked products. This year, Pam Clarke is as well as to about 3,200 full- and part-time Holy Cross’ Teddy Capsis celebrating the 200th anniversary of her workers, both from the City stands and on family’s ownership of the farm. the farm. Through its Beginning Farmer Honored by All-Patriot League Further down the sidewalk was David training program, Greenmarket has gradu- On November 21, 2017, the College of the Holy Cross and the Patriot League Siegel, owner of Muddy Farm, where he ated 320 young full- and part-time farmers, reported that junior defensive lineman Teddy Capsis and six other members of grows vegetables on three of the 8.5 acres of many recent immigrants, and provided tech- the Holy Cross football team earned 2017 All-Patriot League honors. Capsis, a his organic soils. On this December day, he nical assistance to 120 farmers, resulting in former Chaminade High School Flyer, received second team honors. The All-Pa- had tender, fresh greens, carrots, several va- improved production and sales. Greenmar- triot League teams and major awards were voted on by Patriot League football rieties of potatoes—including nicola, amo- ket also supports 17 Youth Markets, provid- head coaches who could not vote for their own student-athletes or themselves. rosa, amey, russet, and blue—butternut and ing financial and marketing skills to local In all 11 of Holy Cross’ games this year, Capsis totaled six quarterback sacks spaghetti squash, watermelon radish, curly youth who connect their local communities for 41 yards and nine tackles for loss for 63 yards. He finished the season with kale, shitake mushrooms, and wild clover with farm-grown fresh fruits, vegetables, 33 total tackles, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. honey. David rises as early as 1:00 a.m. to meats, and dairy products. Greenmarket has He ranked fourth in the Patriot League in sacks, sixth in forced fumbles, and load his truck and drive 2.5 hours to NYC. helped to turn what may have once been a ninth in tackles for loss. Over the course of his Holy Cross career, Capsis has Next to David is DiPaola Turkey Farm, food desert into a food paradise. achieved 76 tackles, 10 quarterback sacks, and 14 tackles for loss. which raises over 8,000 turkeys and dis- This year, the Holy Cross Crusaders avenged their 2016 loss to Fordham plays a broad range of 15 cuts, including Barry Benepe grew up working his fam- with a 42-20 victory on November 4th. Capsis provided two sacks and a forced hot and sweet sausage; ground dark and ily’s farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. fumble, which was picked up by Holy Cross linebacker Nick McBeath and white breast meat; breakfast patties; bone- He earned a degree in Architecture from the returned for a touch down. Capsis finished first for Holy Cross in sacks, with six less breast, thigh, and neck cuts; wings; Massachusetts Institute of Technology and for the 2017 season. Text by Doric Capsis. Photo courtesy of the College of the giblets; and sweet Italian sausage. Next became an urban planner. In 1976, Benepe Holy Cross Football Office. to DiPaola Is Ole’ Mother Hubbert, who co-founded the Greenmarket farmers market travels 75 miles from Westtown, New York program, which he ran for 22 years. THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY THAT CARES

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The New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG) published the following press release on December 20, 2017. It has been edited by WestView News. A.G. Schneiderman Announces Unprecedented Consent Decree With NYC Landlord Steven Croman Today, New York Attorney General Eric T. the longest-ever monitorship required in any tenant in a rent-stabilized or rent-controlled der the rent-stabilization laws—in ex- Schneiderman announced an unprecedent- tenant harassment case. apartment owned by Croman between July change for “buyouts,” which are often ed settlement with Steven Croman, a ma- Croman is currently serving one year in 1, 2011 and the date of the agreement (De- no more than a few thousand dollars or jor New York City landlord, for engaging jail and paid a separate $5 million settle- cember 20, 2017); they received a buyout of a few months of free rent. in illegal conduct, including harassment, ment as a result of criminal charges brought less than $20,000, not including any amount • Incentivizing his employees and agents coercion, and fraud, to force rent-regulated by Attorney General Schneiderman. that purported to cover rent or arrears; and to obtain buyouts, at the expense of tenants out of their apartments and con- “Over and over again, Steven Croman no other tenant in their apartment received their other responsibilities. Employ- vert their apartments into highly profitable acted as though he was above the law, putting money from the restitution fund. ees allegedly referred to rent-regulated market-rate units. profits before his tenants’ safety and well-be- The Attorney General’s office will ap- tenants as “targets” and competed with The consent decree requires Croman to ing. Earlier this year, we put Mr. Croman in prove both the independent management each other to obtain the most buyouts. pay $8 million into a Tenant Restitution jail for an elaborate scheme that was intended company and the monitor. The indepen- • Pressuring tenants into surrendering Fund—the largest-ever monetary settlement to push out rent-regulated tenants. And to- dent management company will oversee their apartments by repeatedly filing with an individual landlord. The settlement day, we’re ensuring tenants get the restitution operations and institute new policies at the baseless lawsuits against them. In in- also requires over 100 Croman residential and protections they deserve…” said Attor- Croman properties to ensure full compli- ternal emails, company employees ac- properties to be run by a new, independent ney General Schneiderman. He continued ance with the law and correction of all past knowledged that such lawsuits would management company with no ties to Cro- by stating, “My office will continue to ensure violations. It will also post a comprehensive “aggravate” tenants or pressure them man, for five years—the longest-ever term that all landlords play by the rules, and ag- set of Tenants Rights in every building it to accept buyouts. In some cases, Cro- for independent management in the history gressively pursue anyone who doesn’t to the manages. The monitor will provide quar- man’s employees allegedly created a of the Office of the Attorney General. More- fullest extent of the law.” terly reports to the Attorney General, which false record for litigation by refusing over, the settlement requires seven years of a Eligible tenants will be able to apply for will include, at minimum: any complaints to acknowledge receipt of tenants’ rent monitor who will oversee compliance with restitution; the OAG will announce details of received from tenants and actions taken; the checks and then suing them for unpaid the terms of the consent decree and provide a claims process [in early 2018]. Tenants will total number of rent-regulated apartments rent—a deliberate fraud upon the court. regular reporting to the Attorney General— be eligible for restitution if they are or were a that became deregulated during the report- The lawsuit also alleged that Falconite ing period, the reason for deregulation, and used deceptive and frightening tactics to all supporting documents; and the monitor’s intimidate rent-regulated tenants, includ- assessment as to whether Croman has com- ing using false pretenses to gain access to plied with the consent decree. tenants’ apartments, often posing as a re- The consent decree also ensures that An- pairman or building manager. thony Falconite—another defendant in the In addition, the lawsuit alleged that Attorney General’s lawsuit whom Croman al- Croman, in his rush to flip vacant, rent- legedly referred to as his “secret weapon” in in- regulated apartments into high-rent units, timidating rent-regulated tenants—will have presided over a disturbing pattern of illegal no interaction with any Croman tenants. and hazardous construction. The lawsuit In addition to the $8 million Tenant alleged numerous examples of illegal con- Restitution Fund, Croman is responsible struction, including the following: for covering the costs of the management • On at least 175 occasions, Croman’s company and monitor, as well as any out- companies allegedly performed con- standing government fines. struction without obtaining permits. In May 2016, Attorney General Schnei- • Croman allegedly regularly directed his derman filed a civil lawsuit against Croman employees to flout stop-work orders and Falconite for allegedly engaging in ille- and conceal unlawful construction from gal, fraudulent, and deceptive conduct in con- Department of Building inspectors. Two Books of One-Liners nection with Croman’s real-estate business. • Croman allegedly filed false docu- The lawsuit alleged that Croman directed ments with the Department of Build- by Charles Caruso, an illegal operation that wielded harassment, ings on dozens of occasions in an at- Author of “Caruso’s Quips” coercion, and fraud to force rent-regulated tempt to avoid stricter oversight of his tenants out of their apartments and convert construction projects and elude tenant Caruso spent decades in the media, at Newsweek and The New York their apartments into highly profitable mar- protection measures. Post, winning three Associated Press feature-writing prizes. ket-rate units. The lawsuit further alleged • Croman and his companies allegedly that Croman deployed Falconite, a former violated lead-safety laws repeatedly, He has gotten a strong response to these books and the lines he New York City police officer, to frighten and exposing numerous tenants to lead- puts on Facebook each day. intimidate rent-regulated tenants into sur- contaminated dust. On more than 20 The question he is most asked is: How do you write these things? rendering their apartments. occasions, the Department of Health He has no good answer. “They just come,” he says “after a lot The civil lawsuit, which was the product (DOH) found impermissibly high of observation and reading. They arrive suddenly and need very of an independent investigation, alleged levels of lead dust in Croman’s build- little editing.” that Croman used the following illegal tac- ings, including levels up to 65 times tics to push working-class and low-income the legal threshold. Readers seem to like them and find them interesting and tenants out of their homes: • Croman allegedly defied DOH orders sometimes amusing. • Harassing tenants into surrendering to address the lead hazards. On one their apartments—and their rights un- continued on page 13 www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 13

A.G. Schneiderman continued from page 12 occasion, after DOH ordered Cro- that crime—which is why in the past twen- man to stop all work and begin lead- ty years, not a single landlord has ever been abatement measures, Croman directed convicted of the crime of Harassment of a his property manager to postpone the Rent Regulated Tenant. lead abatement so that the construc- The Attorney General’s legislation would tion could continue. set a more reasonable standard that removes • Croman’s alleged illegal construction had the need to prove physical injury to a ten- devastating consequences for tenants. As ant, and opens the door to Harassment of alleged in the lawsuit, DOH identified a Rent Regulated Tenant prosecutions aris- lead-dust hazards in the apartment of a ing out of more commonplace and insidi- tenant who cared for her young grand- ous tactics, such as turning off heat and hot sons, ages three and nine, both of whom water, exposing young children to lead dust, were disabled. The tenant had to move and making rent-stabilized buildings de- her grandsons out of the apartment be- liberately uninhabitable for current tenants cause of the dangers posed by the con- and their families. struction and lead dust and was forced to The Attorney General has taken a num- sue Croman to obtain repairs. ber of other steps to combat tenant ha- In addition, Croman allegedly repeatedly rassment and illegal practices by landlords defied court orders to make repairs and ad- across New York City, including: dress intolerable living conditions. The law- • Enhancing and streamlining the of- suit alleged that throughout his portfolio, fice’s resources to combat tenant ha- Dina Andriotis, Chris Tsiamis, and Nikitas Andriotis (from left to right). Croman had been issued hundreds of “haz- rassment, deceptive lending practices, ardous” and “immediately hazardous” viola- deed theft, bank fraud, and other 77 Christopher Street tions, which he had failed to correct. The housing issues facing constituents. Between Seventh Avenue and Bleecker Street suit further alleged that, on six occasions, • Filing additional felony charges the City has sued Croman’s companies for against a landlord for committing Pharmacy Hours: falsely certifying that they corrected viola- mortgage fraud. Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM tions on his properties. • Forming the Tenant Harassment Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM In October, Croman was sentenced to a Prevention Task Force with City and Sunday 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM year in jail and paid a $5 million tax settle- State officials. ment following separate criminal charges State Senator Brad Hoylman said, “For Telephone: 212-255-2525 • Fax: 212-255-2524 brought by Attorney General Schneider- the better part of a decade, Steven Croman email: [email protected] man for the fraudulent refinancing of loans ran a company predicated on the persistent www.newyorkchemists.com and tax fraud. Rarely, if ever, has a landlord and systematic harassment of tenants, partic- been sentenced to serve time in jail for en- ularly in my district. Attorney General Eric gaging in these practices. Schneiderman’s settlement, which includes Earlier this year, Attorney General an $8 million restitution fund and a build- Schneiderman formally introduced new ing monitor, provides deserved justice to ten- legislation aimed at holding the City’s most ants and sends a powerful message to other unscrupulous landlords criminally account- would-be Croman’s: Respect rent-regulated able for Harassment of a Rent Regulated tenants or face the consequences. I’m grateful PLAY WITH PURPOSE Tenant. Current State law demands that to Attorney General Schneiderman for his prosecutors reach an inexplicably high bar efforts on behalf of tenants and for giving my in order to criminally charge landlords with constituents a holiday season to remember.” An Historic Moment By Cynthia Chaffee & Mary Ann Miller There has also been extensive television and online coverage. Let’s hope that all On Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at of this deters other landlords. You will be 60 Centre Street, an historic consent de- caught and punished when you attack ten- cree was reached between the New York ants the way Steve Croman has. State Attorney General Eric Schneider- We believe that if Croman hadn’t de- man and the lawyers for Steve Croman. frauded the banks he would have gone This decree included an unprecedented on harassing tenants until he went to that monetary restitution ($8 million), which great real estate agency in the sky. This the disgraced landlord must pay to his must change: Harassing tenants should injured tenants. Plus, more than 100 be a criminal offense. Hopefully, Eric buildings will be removed from Croman’s Schneiderman’s proposed legislation will management and placed in the hands of do just that. an independent management agency for The Stop Croman Coalition wants to the next five years. Monitoring will go on thank the New York State Attorney Gen- for two years after that. Adding insult to eral Eric Schneiderman, and his staff (espe- injury, Croman will have to pay the oper- cially Jessica Attie), for taking on this case ating costs of said agency, which is yet to and bringing about this historic outcome. be named. CHELSEA + BROOKLYN The coverage of this outcome has been Cynthia Chaffee and Mary Ann Miller are astounding. Articles have appeared in ev- the co-founders of the Stop Croman Coali- chelseapiers.com/fitness ery major newspaper, including the New tion, which was established on Bastille Day, York Times and The Wall Street Journal. July 14, 2007.

CPF West View 1-18.indd 1 12/27/17 4:45 PM 14 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org No Wonder WNYC is a Nonprofit Reflections on the Breathless Pace of Technology By George Capsis time on radio was as an air raid messen- scientific and technical achievements. Just ger during World War II, reporting how consider these few mile-posts along its way: Oh my, there is nothing so heart-rending we would restore communications in a Our ancestors learned to use fire approxi- as discovering that an old friend has been bombed-out New York.) mately one million years ago, but it was deceiving you for years and is not the per- Today, WNYC is still a “nonprofit” but only 10,000 years ago that they learned to son you thought he or she was. That hap- it owns both WNYC and WQXR (they construct a forced-air furnace hot enough pened when I read the Times on Saturday, got it from the Times) and has an audi- to extract metallic lead from its mineral, December 23rd and learned that Laura ence of 26 million. It also features online galena. The Iron Age and the earliest civili- Walker, the head of WNYC for 20 years, streaming content and downloads and zations arrived soon after that (some 5,000 “is compensated like a media mogul… a $100 million budget with $52 million years ago) but it was only four centuries ago THE FIRST TRANSATLANTIC TELEGRAPH She earned $768,000, excluding benefits from fundraisers. CABLE (1865): The “Great Eastern” ship that humans recognized that Earth orbits or deferred compensation.” (I guess that The Times’ writer David Chen evi- is depicted above laying telegraph cables, the sun (and not the other way around). is like a million bucks a year.) I suddenly dently talked to many of the current 600 which revolutionized communications. Pho- At about that time (around the 17th and thought about those intense two-week- employees and ex-employees. They are to by unknown artist/Alamy stock photo. 18th centuries), chemistry and physics were long fundraising campaigns pleading for pretty mad at WNYC management and first placed on a firm, mathematical foot- a few dollars to keep WNYC alive and, complained of the extraordinary turnover. By Josef Eisinger© ing, thanks to people like Newton, Leibniz, I guess, to pay Laura her million bucks. One person stated, “we literally did not Lavoisier, and Faraday. Their discoveries (See the Times article entitled “WNYC know who to go to for benefits.” They To estimate the likelihood of extraterrestrial opened the door to modern science which Chief Pushed Growth at the Cost of Sta- also complained of the usual race and sex life developing on planets that orbit stars was not long in coming: Electromagnetic tion’s Culture.”) prejudice: “If you want to be on the air, other than our sun, one must review the waves and the laws of electromagnetism Here is a little history: In 1995, you’re a white man.” history of life on Earth, from our planet’s (Hertz, Maxwell) were discovered two cen- WNYC was a City-owned AM/FM sta- Okay, I have every radio in the house fiery formation some 4.5 billion years ago turies ago, while atomic structure, relativity tion with offices in the Municipal Build- permanently tuned to WNYC and I will to the present. Earth’s story represents, after theory, and quantum physics (Planck, Bohr, ing. It had one million listeners and an not change that but I will never mail all, the only example of such an occurrence Einstein) arrived about one century ago. $8 million budget; it raised $11.8 mil- them a check to pay Laura’s million- that we know of. (See my article “Are We The semiconductor transistor, without lion in annual fundraising. (My very first buck salary. Alone? Ruminations about Extraterrestrial which today’s digital world is inconceivable, Life,” Parts One and Two, in the June and was discovered a mere 60 years ago. Indeed, July 2017 issues of WestView.) one of its discoverers played poker with this Because a time span as vast as the Earth’s writer in a weekly game of scientists work- The Fight of Her Life age is difficult to grasp, it is helpful to col- ing at Bell Telephone Laboratories—the lapse it into a single year and to suppose that institution, incidentally, which is responsible By Reverend Michel Faulkner just water. Vicky had to use an umbrella to Earth was formed on January 1st. In that for much of what defines today’s world (e.g., protect her head when she used the toilet. make-believe time domain, the first primi- transistors, lasers, CCDs, and LEDs). After Growing up in the Bronx as the fourth Around month 16, maintenance patched tive organisms appeared (we don’t yet know transistors were integrated into chips, about youngest of 11 children wasn’t easy. When the leak. how) by springtime and soon bacteria popu- 40 years ago, personal computers came on Vicky was three, she and her brothers and The leak reoccurred after two weeks, and lated Earth’s oceans. When summer came the market and were quickly embraced by sisters almost died due to neglect and were it never dried. Vicky then went to Housing around, photosynthesizing cyanobacteria one and all. The internet soon followed and removed from their mother. They were Court. The judge ruled in her favor, but she proliferated and were responsible for adding that almost indispensable gadget, the smart- placed in foster care until she was 10. “The was still using the umbrella to protect her oxygen to our oceans and the atmosphere. It phone, made its debut a mere decade ago. hardest thing about this was learning how to head from the crap upstairs. Now, Vicky was not until a month ago, in early Decem- Soon, self-driving electric cars will populate trust people again, because everyone always began to blame herself and doubt her re- ber, that multi-cellular organisms flourished our highways, and our electronic tether, the let you down.” Vicky began smoking mari- solve despite all she had accomplished, “I in great variety and that the first vertebrates smartphone, can now be worn on the wrist. juana when she was 13, and by the time she felt like less than a person for the first time (fishes) made their appearance, as did land (Are implants next?) Meanwhile, artificial was 28, realized that her habit was out of her in my life, like I didn’t matter.” plants and insects. Dinosaurs roamed the intelligence is waiting in the wings, along control. “I was smoking non-stop and spend- During a campaign stop, I met Vicky at a continents about two weeks ago, while pri- with its imponderable effects on society. ing all my money on weed.” “I was a slave and tenant’s association meeting. I promised to mates evolved in just the past week. It was People everywhere took to smartphones I wanted to be free, so I did what I had to do.” help but it was more difficult than I imag- during the past few minutes that modern with remarkable alacrity, compared to past Vicky checked into rehab. Nine months later, ined. Reporters said, “There are so many humans emerged from caves, learned to farm technical innovations (e.g., the printing she was sober. stories like this, it’s not news.” I persuaded a and to build cities; Julius Caesar was assas- press, steamships, railways, the telegraph, the During rehab, Vicky earned a Certifi- producer from NY1 to assign Michael Scot- sinated only 12 seconds ago. telephone, air travel). But new technologies cate in Culinary Arts. After graduation, to to cover the story. When the story aired, This essay casts an even narrower focus on often cause employment disruption and even she worked as a cook for several years. She NYCHA sent someone to fix the leak— Earth’s past and considers (cursorily) what political unrest, and their consequences may then decided to become a drug counselor, after more than two years! This time, they humanity has wrought in the past two sec- not always be as benign as the smartphone’s: so she enrolled in night school. She fin- went into the apartment above and fixed the onds, or, in real time, in the past four cen- They are capable of altering human behav- ished in four years with a B.A. and a 4.0 pipe. The ceiling was repaired. Two months turies. It was during that brief period that ior in fundamental ways, as has already been grade point average. Vicky worked hard to later, the leak returned. humans first caught a glimpse of their place demonstrated on the political scene. overcome her abusive childhood and she NYCHA residents like Vicky are suf- in the universe. We have, indeed, the distinc- However, as Niels Bohr pointed out, it is did. “I know what it’s like to suffer because fering at the hands of a City agency that is tion of belonging to one of the first genera- very difficult to make predictions, especially someone doesn’t love you. Sometimes we horrendously mismanaged. Vicky is a help- tions that knows—albeit imperfectly—the where the future is concerned. must help other people despite our own er. She spent her life turning her pain into age of our universe, what it consists of, even pain. It makes me feel good to give back.” motivation to help others. However, this the laws of nature that govern it. We owe this Josef Eisinger is a physicist and profes- Her life wasn’t easy, but she never gave up. situation is proving more than she can bear. insight to countless inquisitive individuals sor emeritus at the Mount Sinai School of Vicky also wanted a rent-stabilized apart- To address this human crisis and who have revealed the astonishing story of Medicine in New York. A Village resident ment, so she applied through NYCHA. Af- end the bureaucratic disaster, we have the origin of the universe and how humanity for over 50 years, he is the author of over 150 ter a three-year wait, she was in. That’s when launched ‘NYCHA Lives Matter.’ We arrived at the present situation. scholarly articles ranging from nuclear physics her real troubles began. Vicky saw a leak in want to let Vicky and thousands like her And where do we find ourselves? We and molecular biology to the history of science. the ceiling above her toilet and reported it to know that they are not alone. We need are at the threshold of what might aptly be After retirement, Eisinger published Einstein management. Nothing happened. The leak Vicky’s resolve to help those who can’t called the technological era of evolutionary on the Road, and Einstein at Home (Pro- got worse and she kept reporting it. Soon, quite help themselves. We need her to history. We don’t know where it will lead, metheus Books 2011, 2016) as well as the the ceiling cracked in her bathroom. What continue to use her pain to heal others be- but assuredly, it arrived with astonishing memoir Flight and Refuge. Reminiscences of came down from the toilet upstairs wasn’t cause #nychalivesmatter. speed, abetted by a veritable crescendo of a Motley Youth (Amazon 2016). www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 15

My Uncle the Atheist Our Lady of Guadalupe (In Memory of Oscar Riddle, 1877-1968) in New York

adventurous young man who explored the History credits the apparitions Orinoco River and taught biology in Puerto of the Virgin of Guadalupe for the birth, Rico before pursuing his career at the Carn- development, and the history of Mexico. egie Institution for Science’s Cold Spring The Virgin of Guadalupe is a symbol and link Harbor Laboratory, among other places. of the Latin American peoples and spiritual One last, darkly comic memory must be presence of many other peoples on Earth. mentioned. As a conflicted and sad gradu- ate student stuck in a biochemistry lab dur- ing the political protests against the “war” in January Retreats Southeast Asia in the late 1960s, I somehow At Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Shrine we are aware that ignorance regarding managed to contact my Uncle Oscar (two religious and ethical matters is one of the main causes of confusion, mistakes, months before his death at age 91) and ask and poor spiritual life. Ethical relativism is the king of our culture. For this his advice: Should I quit my safe position and reason we are committed to doing our best to offer evangelization and faith join activist friends in trying to extricate the formation programs. U.S. from the terrible mess in Vietnam? His One of those is our missionary movement, which starts with a retreat and has response opened a gulf between us: He urged a follow-up of three years reading the Bible and living its commitment in order me to stay at my research bench. I could be to apply its teachings to our lives. more useful there than if I joined the Army. •The Youth’s Retreat from January 12th to 14th Talk about miscommunication! And, •The Men’s Retreat from January 19th to 21st ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING AMERICAN yet, he remains for me a symbol of san- •The Women’s Retreat from January 26th to 28th. BIOLOGISTS OF HIS TIME: Dr. Oscar Riddle ity and discipline, a member of my weird Attendees arrive at 5:00pm on Friday and leave at 6:00pm on Sunday. is pictured on the January 9, 1939 cover of family who was respected by the world. Time magazine. Photo by Peter Nyholm. As a New York City child of divorce, You are all welcomed to join us on this commitment to learn and live our faith. By Barbara Riddle whose Midwestern grandparents all died Wishing a Happy New Year to all of you and your families. in Oklahoma or Nebraska before I was Is there a gene for skepticism, for extreme born, I had so much wanted an extended Welcome brothers and sisters. independence of thought, or intellectual family, not just the admittedly “interest- Let us visit Our Lady of Guadalupe, bravery? I ask because of an incident in my ing” people who floated in and out of my 328 West 14th Street life, not too long ago, when I suddenly felt parents’ parallel Greenwich Village lives. (between 8th and 9th Avenues) genetically connected to an ancestor across I claim you now, Uncle Oscar! space and time. In the depths of despair ‘Good Without a God’ is the American about the state of my country, I (educated Humanist Association’s slogan. My uncle as a scientist) was seeking comfort from and I like it. some sort of nonreligious group. I suddenly perked up and Googled ‘Humanism.’ And Greenwich Village native Barbara Riddle there, on the homepage of the Ameri- is a frequent contributor to WestView can Humanist Association, was the name News. Her memoir-in-progress can be read of my long-forgotten great uncle, Oscar at talesfromagreenwichvillagegirlhood. Riddle, as Humanist of the Year in 1959! blogspot.com/. (Segments from that work I felt a zap of energy and some childhood have been excerpted in this piece.) Barbara’s memories came flooding back. novel set in the 1960s, The Girl Pretend- My Midwestern relatives had hardly ing to Read Rilke, is available online as an Mary A. Vetri mentioned his name (to protect me?) except e-book or paperback. Visit girlpretending. Licensed Associate to hint that Oscar was essentially the black com. You may contact Barbara at barbara- sheep of the family who had messed around [email protected]. Real Estate Broker with pigeons behind the barn (perversion [email protected] was hinted at) and had publicly come out as 917-969-0048 (gasp) an avowed atheist. Later, in graduate school, I found out that he was considered one of the outstanding American biologists of his time, appearing on the cover of Time magazine on January 9, 1939 (my birthday • A proud Greenwich Village neighbor; is January 9th!) in honor of isolating the hormone prolactin. (It turns out that doves born and raised in Brooklyn lactate, and he had used them in his studies.) • 24+ years as a Real Estate professional in the Village Here I was, many years later, finding comfort in discovering that Uncle Oscar • BHS 2015 and 2013 Manhattan Rental Broker of the Year was not only an esteemed scientist, but an outspoken atheist and humanist. One of his • Full service Residential Real Estate Broker main concerns was the role of organized re- ligions in blocking open scientific research and rational thinking, and fostering violent AN ADVENTUROUS YOUNG MAN, UNCLE conflict among different cultures. This is a OSCAR EXPLORED THE ORINOCO AND concern I share, and obviously a problem TAUGHT BIOLOGY: Oscar Riddle, above, All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal more timely than ever in these insanely taught biology at the Spanish High School in without notice. All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker. anti-intellectual times. My Uncle Oscar and Puerto Rico (circa 1901). Photo courtesy of I never met, but I feel so connected to this the Riddle Family Archives. 16 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org

made Mousse au Chocolat and chocolate lia Street (near West 4th Street). However, chip cookies are available for dessert. a few months after opening, it renamed itself MEW MEN and slashed its menu IN dramatically. I also felt that the quality of and the food declined at that point. Now it has OUT closed, and a sign on the door indicates that by Caroline Benveniste the team will be opening a yakitori restau- rant called nonono on Madison in the 30s. On November 30th, Mayor Bill de Blasio an- SUSHISAMBA at 87 7th Avenue South (at nounced that the threshold on the Commer- Barrow Street) was the second location of cial Rent Tax (CRT) would be raised from LA CONTENTA OESTE (78 West 11th Street, what has now become a global empire (the $250,000 to $500,000 starting in July 2018. at 6th Avenue): This all-day Mexican spot first location was in Gramercy Park and The CRT is a 3.9% tax on rents in Manhat- opened quickly in the old French Roast closed in 2014). However, with the loss of tan below 96th Street that exceed the threshold. space. Like French Roast, it is open from their lease, they will be closing at the end of This is the first change to the CRT since 2001. ST TROPEZ WINE BAR (304 West 4th Street, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on weekdays and un- the year after 17 years and three “Sex In the Initially, the change had been opposed by the near Bank Street): Imagine a cold, grey, til 4:00 a.m. on weekends. The original La City” appearances. Umami Burger (432 6th Mayor because of the impact on revenue, but damp night on West 4th Street. Suddenly, Contenta opened on the Lower East Side Avenue, near West 10th Street) opened to the sad state of retail in the City finally forced as you pass Bank Street, in the space that three years ago in a much smaller space. great fanfare in July 2013. At the beginning, the City Council and the Mayor to act. used to house Café Minerva, there are lights The chef, Luis Arce Mota, immigrated to there were multi-hour waits for tables. In There are signs of a new trend on Bleecker and movement and clinking glasses. You the U.S. from Mexico in the early 1990s. the intervening years, though, its popular- Street: Businesses are opening their first physi- feel like you’ve been transported to Paris. He worked as a dishwasher at French Roast, ity waned, and in the last year, the restau- cal locations here. Some examples include: Once inside, the food, wine, and French and later as a chef at a number of high-end rant stopped using the second-floor space Zuri, Grayers, Sunni Spencer, The Daily waiters do nothing to dispel that impres- New York City restaurants. Mota received for dining. Now it has closed, but two other Edited, and this month, Hill House Home. sion. The chef/partner Gérald Barthélémy his formal culinary education at Le Cordon New York City locations still operate. The Another trend we’ve observed is faster open- earned a Michelin star at a Paris restaurant Bleu and The Culinary Institute of America Havaianas flip-flop pop-up that had opened ings. Some restaurants and shops are doing less and here cooks traditional southern French in Hyde Park, New York. The food is tra- in May 2016 at 382 Bleecker Street (at Per- build-out than in the past and are using much dishes (including a delicious beef stew called ditional Mexican with some French accents ry Street) is gone. Eater’s Robert Sietsema of what was there before. (Photos by Darielle daube—just the thing for a cold night). and techniques. The happy hour is a great included Taiwanese restaurant Village Ex- Smolian and Maggie Berkvist.) Partner/general manager Yohann Pecheux, deal, and includes $10 drinks and $9 dishes. press Asian Cuisine (33 Barrow Street, at 7th who is a native of the Saint-Tropez area, has The tacos and guacamole were very well Avenue South) in his recent “23 West Vil- put together a wine list of 45 common and done, and the drinks were quite enjoyable. lage Restaurants to Try” list. Soon after, the Open unusual French wines, which are available restaurant revamped its menu and changed by the glass or bottle. its name to Jacky’s (but did keep Sietsema’s favorite Pork Chop with Taiwanese Sauce). Now the restaurant is dark and the phone is disconnected. Coming Soon A restaurant called burger101 will be open- BAR VELOCE (796 Greenwich Street, at West ing at 270 Bleecker Street (at Morton 12th Street): This is the fourth location for Street) in the old Risotteria space. At 319 this mini-chain of Italian wine bars. The 6th Avenue (between Cornelia and Car- LE COCU (26 Carmine Street, near Bleeck- wine selection is almost exclusively Italian. mine Streets), Wok To Walk, a Dutch fast er Street): If you don’t like chicken, don’t Bruschetta, panini, and other small bites food chain with restaurants in Europe, Asia, bother coming to this oddly named spot are available to accompany the wine. The and the U.S. will open. Customers choose (cocu means ‘cuckhold’). A large rotis- VOULA (9 Jones Street, near West 4th Street): Prosecco happy hour is a good deal with $7 their ingredients and the food is fried to or- serie dominates the small, fast, casual This Greek restaurant quietly opened on glasses of excellent Prosecco. der in a wok. Hao Noodle by Madam Zhu’s spot, which is run by two Frenchmen. The Jones Street in the space that used to be Kitchen (401 6th Avenue, between Christo- chicken is quite nice, juicy, and flavorful, Perilla; it was empty for quite a while. The pher Street and Waverly Place) has received and can be ordered by the quarter, half, or menu features very well prepared traditional positive reviews in the New York Times and whole, with a choice of sauce (chicken jus, Greek dishes. The zucchini and eggplant other publications. The team behind the beurre blanc, and mustard). The sides are chips are paper-thin and greaseless, the oc- restaurant is planning a second spot at 343 more ambitious than you might expect, topus is very tender, and the moussaka is West 14th Street (near 9th Avenue). The with oven-roasted carrots and green beans a fine example of the now widely available menu will differ from the original and will containing confit shallots, as well some dish. Like most Greek restaurants, there is a focus on Chinese grilled bar food. In the potato options. A few soups, salads, and large selection of mezedes (‘appetizers’), but HILL HOUSE HOME (395 Bleecker Street, old Po space at 31 Cornelia Street (near sandwiches (including croque monsieurs/ don’t miss the Grilled Loukaniko, a tradi- near West 11th Street): The bedding here Bleecker Street), an Indian restaurant called madames) round out the menu. Home- tional Greek sausage. was previously available only online. The Drunken Munkey y is slated to open in March shop projects a tranquil vibe with puffy or April. The owner operated another In- comforters and pillows scattered around. dian restaurant, Royal Munkey, on the Up- The owner, Nell Diamond, told the New per East Side (which is now closed) and also York Observer that she is “looking to bring runs Hudson Bar and Books and Lexington VIEWS BY SUZE back a bit of the retail glamour to the West Bar and Books. Toriko, an authentic Japanese Suzanne McAndrews Village, which seems a little lacking lately.” restaurant will open at 76 Carmine Street 50 + years in Greenwich Village (near 7th Avenue South) in the space that Closed/Closing See Views by Suze most recently housed the short-lived and Bill’s Bar and Burger (22 9th Avenue, at West unfortunately named GLOO (and before at Bonsignour Café 13th Street): This spot, which is part of BR that Café Español). This is the owner’s first Jane Street Guest Hospitality’s dozen-plus restaurants U.S. restaurant, but he has 40 restaurants in and Eighth Avenue in New York (including Dos Caminos), has Japan and other parts of Asia. closed. Two other Bill’s locations remain 917-686-6542 open. I really enjoyed Ramen by Mew, a Please continue to email your tips and up- [email protected] small ramen and izakaya spot at 7 Corne- dates to [email protected]. www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 17 West Village Coffee Joints By Gordon T. Hughes, Jr. seemed to have a lot of time on its hands. Also, the laptop keys were tinkling like crazy. There is a famous scene with Jill Clayburgh and Woody Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee (138 West 10th Street, be- Allen in Annie Hall where the two are sitting on a bench tween Waverly Place and Greenwich Avenue) seemed to in New York City describing people who are walking by. draw a crowd of young mothers with amazing perambula- Well, many New Yorkers with a little spare time do just tors. Where do they get those things? Also, yoga clothes that. When I have a moment or two, I do it from one seem to be the rage there. of the benches at my favorite morning coffee joint, Cafe Then there is Joe Coffee (141 Waverly Place, at Gay Panino Mucho Giusto. Street). It invites a slightly older crowd, which appears to This pastime led me to think about coffee joints around be a bit more intellectual, at least from the conversations the City and specifically where I live in the West Village. I overheard. Joe Coffee is the closest to NYU, which may There are tons of them and they seem to cater to repeat explain the intellectual bent. customers. Each coffee joint has its own unique coffee Now, I like supporting small businesses in the Village and blends and its distinct set of patrons. So, this morning hate seeing our local enterprises close. So, for that reason, (Friday, December 1st), I decided to dig a little and look in I hit Cafe Panino Mucho Giusto (551 Hudson Street, on new territories. Here is what I found. near Perry Street). There, I see a great mix of folks. Yes, The big chains, like Starbucks, tend to serve tourists. there are the laptoppers, a few prams, some workout gear, They don’t serve tourists exclusively, but it appears that lots of dogs, and some really great coffee. One of my pals their ubiquitous brands draw them in; that is what adver- wears a beret, another a hat and coat that, on cold days, tising does on a global basis. But let’s not get stuck in the looks like something from Stalin’s era in the old Soviet weeds. Back to my snooping. Union. There are men with old-fashioned ponytails (no All the coffee joints have one thing in common: Many man buns in this place). There is also an amazing variety of patrons seem to be writing the Great American Novel on men’s and women’s shoes. It is quite the fashion show and their laptops. I wonder how many episodes of “Law and it’s more old Village chic than trendy. Order” were written in West Village coffee hangouts or, I know that coffee fuels New Yorkers each and every WEST VILLAGE COFFEE JOINTS ARE TRULY UNIQUE: for that matter, how many Broadway plays and musicals. morning, and that there are coffee spots in all five boroughs. Each coffee spot in this neighborhood has its distinct Starting in the northwest section of the Village is Kava But there is just something wonderful about the coffee coffee blends and patrons. (Clockwise from top left: Kava Café (803 Washington Street, near Horatio Street). It joints of the West Village. Just like in Annie Hall, I sit on Cafe, Joe Coffee, Panino Mucho Giusto, and Jack’s Stir has a nice outdoor area, which is fun in good weather. the bench and watch tourists and locals walk by and make Brew Coffee.) Photo by © Joel Gordon 2017—All rights Here, I found a young-to-middle-aged crowd, which up stories about them, all with a great morning cup of joe. reserved. Beasts of the Village By Gordon T. Hughes, Jr. walkers. The unsung heroes of the canine world are un- believable. I’ve seen a walker with eight or nine beasts You know it’s one of the highlights of our West Village keeping perfect order—no fighting, perfect cadence, and scene. We see this remarkable parade taking place on our immaculate cleanup. Remarkable! I have heard that these streets daily. I tend to get the best views from my favor- folks make a pretty good living before they go off to per- ite coffee haunt, Cafe Panino Mucho Giusto on Hudson form on Broadway. Street. Most of the year, there’s a water bowl placed by the Something else I have noticed is that large men often front door, and this is where the action begins for me. Yes, walk very small dogs while smaller men walk huge dogs. it’s our DOGS, West Village DOGS. I’m not sure what that is about. Often, owners tie their dogs’ leashes to one of the two There is a great deal of debate over which is the smartest benches out front, as they dash in for a bagel and a cup of breed but I don’t think dogs care much about that. Really joe. I watch the dog as he or she watches his or her mas- only people do. So, while I’m in the City and away from ter go into the secret place to reappear with FOOD. I see my golden retrievers, the dogs of the West Village make the bubble appear above the dogs head that says, “Oh boy, me smile. So what if Volkswagen vans have been replaced food,” and yes they get a bite or two. by Range Rovers, and so what if storefront rentals on If you walk along Hudson River Park, you come to a dog Bleecker Street have skyrocketed and your favorite restau- run. Here, you will see dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds rant has gone the way of the dodo bird? The DOGS of the getting together and playing. If only their masters could ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WEST VILLAGE SCENE: West Village will be with us, and no matter the weather or do the same. Dogs on parade! Photo by © Joel Gordon 2017 - All rights political climate, these dogs will always make us feel just a Another wonderful sight in the Village are the dog reserved. little bit better.

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Jim Fouratt’s finally, a decision has been made to get An Excerpt from approval for building on public land in Robert Heide 25 Plays Community Board 2 (CB2), which has been designated as low-income senior The following piece is a slightly edited ex- Have You Heard? cerpt from one of the dozen new essays housing. City Councilperson Margaret written by Robert Heide and included in JANUARY 2018 date who actually spoke of how he would Chin had secured a City-owned plot of his new book, Robert Heide 25 Plays. I am happy to say that there is some good foster change, not just what he would try land on Elizabeth Street between Prince news to report in the new year. Our dis- to accomplish. I believe that Corey John- and Spring Streets for low-income senior trict’s City Councilperson, Corey Johnson, son, being a white, working-class, HIV- housing from the Bloomberg Administra- according to all reports, will be elected the positive gay man, knows the experience of tion. De Blasio and the New York City Speaker of the New York City Council by someone who grows up poor and is an out- Department of Housing and Preservation the time you read this column. sider. These qualifications are of particular Development (HPD) included it as a part The role that Melissa Mark-Viverito value today in the City, which has become of the Mayor’s commitment to affordable has played as Speaker of the City Coun- divided among economic lines and is fast housing. Opposition came from a group I cil has set a standard of inclusion that the becoming almost impossible to live in un- call The Rich Moms of SoHo (TRMOS) next Speaker can build on. Corey Johnson less your income is at a certain level. I also which organized to demand that the pub- is 35 years old, has a working-class back- think that Johnson is sensitive to growing lic land be used as a community garden ground, is HIV-positive, and is an out gay up in public housing, being a poor young and then squatted on it and built a garden. man. Closely aligned with Mark-Viverito man in a rich community, attending public No swat team was called to remove them. (and Mayor de Blasio’s political agenda), school, and being a gay football player. If There is, nearby on Spring Street, a re- TOASTING THE NEW YEAR: Robert Johnson is expected to make her issues his anyone thinks that he hasn’t suffered and cently renovated community playground Heide poses at the Bank Street water- issues. These include: low-income afford- learned from exclusion and difference, then and public space. It is located close to public front loft holiday party of Norman Keller, able housing, the closing of Rikers Island, that person needs to think a little harder. housing. It appears that TRMOS did not Commander in the U.S. Navy (Retired). Photo by Liz Ryan. undocumented workers’ rights, small busi- I do have some issues that I hope John- want their children mixing with the poor ness protection, slowing the development son will address as both my Councilperson kids from public housing. I know that this is In November 1976, the Theater for of luxury housing, and making the New and as the Speaker: a very unpleasant thing to suggest and there the New City announced “A Unique and York City Police Department responsive 1. Hospitals like Mount Sinai and NYU will be loud cries stating, “Not true!” But I Amazing Two-Week Festival – Village to public security. What Johnson will bring Langone do not accept Medicaid patients suggest very strongly that the issue of race Writers on the Village – to commemo- to chamber is an ability to work with oth- unless they pay upfront, meaning that and economics are redlining this debate. rate the 200th year of the founding of ers, the capacity to listen, and an under- poor people are being excluded from some I remember being at a public discussion the United States of America in 1776.” standing grounded in his own experience of the best health institutions we have. about the use of a garden versus senior With grants from the Ford Foundation and the New York State Council on the of workers’ and poor citizens’ problems in I know that there will be lots of excuses housing, sponsored by the Village Indepen- Arts, Crystal Field and George Bartenieff surviving the City where the cost of living made by Mount Sinai and NYU Langone dent Democrats. Two black mothers who commissioned playwrights including: has skyrocketed out of control. about how that is not true; the reality is lived in public housing got up and said that Rosalyn Drexler, H. M. Koutoukas, Sally I expect Johnson to provide leadership that it is true. Yes, there are clinics that they did not feel welcomed in the Elizabeth Ordway, Arthur Sainer, Harvey Fierstein, on controversial issues like land use and Mount Sinai has in Union Square which Street Garden. TRMOS, with their check- Ronald Tavel, Maria Irene Fornés, Joel public health. I have been a supporter accept Medicaid, but the Mount Sinai writing husbands and access to power and Oppenheimer, Muriel Rukeyser, Harvey of the outgoing Speaker since she was doctors’ offices, such as those at 23rd Street decision-makers, have raised a pitch battle Tavel, Helen Duberstein, Victor Lipton, elected. Mark-Viverito brought transpar- and 8th Avenue, do not. What that means, against the use of the space for senior hous- and myself to write plays with a specific ency and fairness to the role that had been for example, is that seniors with disabilities ing. I remember testifying about the need connection to the history of Greenwich sorely missing from the leadership of her now must travel way across town to an ap- for both a garden and senior housing at a Village, to be performed at the Theater for predecessor, Christine Quinn. It is always pointment that may have taken two or four land use committee public hearing and the New City’s venue in the Jane Hotel. All of this inspired me to write Ameri- nice to be able to say both that I supported months to get while living two or three being loudly booed. I had forgotten that can Hamburger, wherein a conservative her and that I actually like and trust her. blocks away from the new doctors’ offices TRMOS were used to getting their way. I history teacher by day would at night That is earned, not bought. on the West Side. think it’s called class privilege. head down to ‘the trucks’ dressed in A bizarre spectacle of so-called “debates” NYU Langone has received hundreds Reality check: There is no low-income black leather, jeans, and boots to act out took place during the fall among the eight of millions of dollars in public funds and senior housing available to any resident his fantasies. In the play, he leaves the men who had been announced for the should make its services available to people who lives in CB2 and wishes to stay in the notorious Keller’s Bar and heads across leadership position of Speaker of the City who have health insurance coverage issued neighborhood in his/her senior years. So, the street to the trucks and onto a pier Council. The Speaker is the second-most by the state and federal government. It is Chin’s announcement that Habitat for Hu- where, following a sexual encounter, he is powerful and visible office in City gov- not enough to say that if you can pay up- manity and SAGE have brought forward thrown into the river. The character in my ernment. The chief responsibility of this front they will give you a bill to submit to a plan for low-income senior housing on play, whom I called ‘A Village Tourist,’ is in role is to build consensus for the Council’s Medicaid. That is because the criterion for Elizabeth Street’s public land was most wel- another world and in another time zone. He finds himself in Washington Square agenda. The Speaker is not elected by the Medicaid insurance is economic position; come. It has the support of both HPD and Park in a state of panic and bewilder- public but by members of the City Coun- the hospital administration should know the de Blasio Administration. The building ment with George Washington, who led cil. This reminds me that the members of a that people do not have the discretionary design, which is very green, would contain regimental troops in the square, and the community board are also NOT elected by funds to pay upfront for their treatment. 133 senior apartments. Approximately 30 poet Maxwell Bodenheim, who wrote My the community they are to represent, but That is simply a method of exclusion. units would be for homeless seniors and Life and Loves in Greenwich Village. After by elected officials. 2. I know that Governor Cuomo con- 50% of the remaining units would be for recounting his night on the prowl and I attended three of those debates and trols the MTA but the City Council under low-income seniors in CB2. Plus there will drinking in Village bars, A Village Tourist watched some of the television coverage. I the leadership of the new Speaker, I hope, be a garden surrounding the building on the comes to realize that he is now, like the was most impressed by our very own Corey will take a strong position on REDUC- roof. HDP is moving forward through the gentlemen he has just met, a dead man Johnson. He and City Councilperson Mark ING subway fares by taxing corporations a usual approval route which involves com- who must join the other ghosts that are Levine were the only two councilmen who transportation fee for workers. Also, subway munity approval. (I hope there will be no said to haunt and roam the Village to this day. After complaining of being hungry, offered insight into how a Speaker func- stops need working elevators and escalators lawsuits that will postpone the building of the three ghosts head over to the Village tions and what he would actually do to get for access to public transportation at all sub- this much-needed housing.) I was thrilled McDonald’s on 3rd Street, ostensibly things done. Yes, both are white men (there way stations and, in particular, within any to hear this and spoke at the rally at City for a burger. Before leaving the Square, were no women running). Some voices were plans for future subway stations. Locally, I Hall thanking the Mayor, HPD, and Mar- Washington asks, “Is he a general, this raised that this job belongs to a person of hope that Speaker Johnson will put pressure garet Chin. I expect that both Comptrol- McDonald?” and later, somewhat aston- color, stating that there had been no person on the MTA to open the tunnel pathway ler Scott Stringer, on whose senior advisory ished, rephrases the question with “…so of color elected. Melissa Mark-Viverito was between 7th and 8th Avenues for public use board I served, and Public Advocate Letitia it’s all hamburger then?” in fact both a woman and a person of color. and make free transfers possible. James will now join the Mayor by adding I found Johnson to be the only candi- The second piece of good news is that, their support to the plan. www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 19 When Landlords Commit Sexual Harassment ROBERT HEIDE By Joseph Turco, Esq. and across America, and with the current 25 Plays movement exposing wrongdoers, our edi- “If I had a hammer, I’d SMASH the Patri- tors thought a legal primer on sexual ha- archy.” This message was seen on a sign at rassment in housing might be appropriate. 400 pages the Women’s March on January 21, 2017. 12 new essays It should come as no surprise that several Are landlords liable for sexual harassment? 50 photos Village big wigs (all white, all male) have Yes. Federal, state, and local law all prohib- been exposed as cads and worse as a result it property owners, managers, and agents “Two of the best plays I saw of the #MeToo movement. Ken Friedman’s (that includes employees, supers, handy- at the Caffe Cino were Spotted Pig is so stained by its ‘Rape Room’ men, and contractors) from engaging in Robert Heide’s MOON and that it will be a miracle if that place survives sexual harassment. The law also requires THE BED.” — Edward Albee. another minute (“Will Madonna ever return owners and managers to step in and stop “THE BED is beautiful here?” asked one doofus standing outside the sexual harassment when it is brought to emptiness. A work of place recently). It should be noted that a dif- their attention. ferent Ken Friedman, who has appeared in genius.” —Andy Warhol. my previous WestView articles because he is What is sexual harassment? “Brilliant! Tongue-in-cheek a Christopher Street landlord, is suddenly ‘Sexual harassment’ is any uninvited sexual Chekhov. Tongue-in-cheek horrified to learn that he shares a name with advance, solicitation, request, or demand Nietzsche.” the loathsome proprietor of the Spotted Pig. of a sexual nature. There are two types of —H. M. Koutoukas. And who can forget Preet Bharara who, sexual harassment: as a federal prosecutor, secured $2 million Quid Pro Quo: This Latin phrase sim- “Heide’s talent appears as fresh as if it had been swathed in for a group of sexually harassed tenants in ply means ‘this for that.’ If a landlord, felt between uses to keep it shiny.”—Village Voice critic Michael New York City? That 2016 victory remains manager, super, etc., makes access to your Feingold on TROPICAL FEVER IN KEY WEST. the largest award to date under the Federal home, or the keeping or maintenance of Fair Housing Act. That’s the same Preet your apartment, conditional upon listen- Bharara fired by Donald Trump, in case you ing to, or submitting to sexual comments, Available @: Amazon.com,Three Lives Bookstore (Waverly & 10th St.), had not again noticed the uncanny creepi- then they are violating the law. Drama Bookstore (250 W. 40th St.). ness of the Molester-in-Chief—a landlord Call 311 for guidance. Be advised that from Queens. Every lawyer I talk to just the NYPD will accept 911 calls for sexual Published by Michael Smith’s Fast Books Press cannot wait for Preet to ride back into town. harassment in your building. This is a rela- So, given the precedent set by heroic tively new policy. You do not have to wait victims, effective lawsuits around the City for an assault before calling 911. Getting Ahead of Workplace Harassment Counselor At Law By David Hassell feedback each week for five to 10 minutes— a small amount of time that’s easy to main- Disability Law According to workplace culture expert tain no matter how busy they are. In doing David Hassell of 15Five—a performance so, managers can address minor issues and management solution company that sim- set aside major matters to discuss in one- plifies employee feedback—sexual harass- on-one meetings. Over time, this back and Max Leifer P.C. ment isn’t just a case of ‘bad eggs.’ It’s often forth, which solicits information and offers symptomatic of a toxic workplace culture support, creates genuine, trusting relation- Max D. Leifer PC is an established law firm that shuts down open communication, al- ships between managers and employees. with over 40 years experience in Personal Injury, lowing sexual harassment to not only exist, but to flourish. STEP 3: Big Bosses Get a Weekly ‘State Negligence, Social Security Disability, However, there’s a highly effective strat- of the Company’ Long Term Disability, egy that HR professionals can use to facili- The highest levels of management are in- Commercial and Union Appeals. tate communication and keep their work- volved in the weekly feedback cycle with place culture accountable—and one that’s an easily digestible report comprised of imperative for U.S. businesses to follow: manager feedback and observations. They We are committed to providing are not just pulled in when a damning high quality representation STEP 1: Employees Put Managers in the scandal is brewing. With this detailed vis- and we work aggressively to obtain Hot Seat ibility from top leadership, down through the best possible results Managers encourage their employees to all levels of the organization, a culture of and protect the rights of our clients. take as little as 15 minutes per week to openness and transparency is created and Free consult in person or by phone. answer some honest questions about their maintained so that harassment has no place progress and potential challenges, as well as to hide. their experience within the company cul- Please feel free to contact us with any questions ture. This creates a safe space to discuss dif- David Hassell is an entrepreneur and the and our friendly staff will assist you with your concerns. ficult issues and offers a venue for constant co-founder and CEO of 15Five. He strives feedback so that managers can diagnose to help organizations and everyone in them culture problems before they get worse. reach their potential and become ‘organiza- 135214 West Sullivan 26th Street,Street, Street,Suite 3-C, 11-D tionally-actualized.’ David graduated from New York, NY 1001210001 STEP 2: Managers Set Their Pride Aside Tufts University with a Bachelor of Science Tel: (212) 334-9699 • Fax: (212) 966-6544 and Listen in Computer Engineering in 1998. For Managers commit to reviewing employee more information, visit 15five.com. [email protected] 20 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org

LOYALTY PROGRAM • GIFT CARDS FREE DELIVERY Replacing the ‘MF’ Word By E.N.J. Carter young pay $4,000 per month for a one-bedroom apart- ment. But one wonders if the Village they want is the one Sundays on the corner of Christopher Street and Green- that rained down curse words and had lots of desperate, wich Avenue were a spectacle most churchgoers tried to but creative, people running around. To take it further, GREENWICH VILLAGE ignore in the early 1970s. The female prisoners, arrested one wonders if a poet could create a great poem in a mil- the night before, would shout down from barred windows lion-dollar condo. Could a writer become famous by eat- 512 HUDSON STREET • NYC 10014 to their pimps, who were dressed in wide-brimmed hats ing in expensive Village restaurants every night? Do they WWW.SEAGRAPEWINES.COM • 212-463-7688 and blazing bell-bottoms. They, in turn, shouted back need a women’s prison to walk by every day to experience encouragement that soon the bail bondsman would get humanity at a gut level? Don’t put off taking off them out. One expected to hear the soundtrack from Is Hemingway being fair when he says that the first six those extra pounds – and the movie Shaft. This, however, was The Village and one years of a life can determine whether you will be a good writ- keeping them off! did not judge the women for entering prostitution as a er or not? Must your mother be behind bars shouting ob- way of life. On other days, some female prisoners would scenities at the public to make you the writer you want to be? Please allow me hurl messages at the public—particularly the ribald ‘MF’ Does it make sense to pay an exorbitant rent for the to help you on your word. These brief showers of hateful words—words full of privilege of being within walking distance of the venue weight management journey pain—would stop just as quickly as they came. where a great poet, writer, or musician suffered in less- The New York Women’s House of Detention stood than-ideal conditions—where Dylan Thomas threw up Joy Pape, Family Nurse Practitioner next to the Jefferson Market Library as an embarrassing outside of the White Horse Tavern, or where Bob Dylan [email protected] annex. The library itself was once a courthouse with a slept in a seedy walkup? 917-806-1945 sterling reputation. The Jefferson Market Garden of today is cosmetic to Curse words, of course, don’t grow, and the New York some degree. Plants replace the poor lives of women who Women’s House of Detention was replaced by a garden. were prisoners even after they left the detention facility. (One wonders: If the MF word were a plant, how would it Is it moral to miss those voices that rained down such look?) It reflects a new Village prone to living off the past pain? One would think so. Yet, smartphone users who as few neighborhoods in the world can. There is little des- walk by and ignore us, wrapped up in their Snapchat peration in today’s Village, which was once ubiquitous: the worlds, hurl the MF word at us to some degree. They are INCOME TAX folk singer performing in Macdougal Street coffeehouses saying that we don’t matter. We’re not important enough PREPARATION for tips, the runaways washing dishes in kitchens, the gays to warrant a glance, negating our existence unlike the ugly in the privacy of your own home... forced to drink in mob bars, the junkies in St. Vincent’s building that once housed desperate women at 10 Green- very reasonable rates Emergency Room trying to nab a prescription to get high, wich Avenue. the male prostitutes who worked under the formerly elevat- Call Peter White ed West Side Highway, always fearful that the truck drivers E.N.J. Carter is a former advertising copywriter who created 212.924.0389 they serviced would beat them up after sex. the ‘Be All You Can Be’ theme line for the U.S. Army. Doo- This was not the Village of today, where the privileged Wop Dreams, his latest thriller, is available on Amazon. JOIN THE WESTVIEW FAMILY 14th Street continued from page 8 Writers, editors, photographers, 14th Street. Additional bus traffic is of course a crucial regarding the PeopleWay: component of the plan, but there is little detail about where “The PeopleWay is a new type of street bred for hyper-efficien- proofreaders, fact-checkers, shuttles will stop, and how passengers will board these bus- cy—no private cars, strictly exclusive lanes for buses and bikes, designers and ad salespersons. es. The L Train allows passengers to board on any door. and some of the widest sidewalks that New York’s ever seen. The All-door boarding is an absolute must for the shuttles that street is designed to move the most people in the least amount of Call George at will carry transit riders who will be using L Train replace- space by giving priority to the most efficient methods of trans- 212-924-5718 ment bus shuttles. portation. The idea could double the capacity of 14th Street.” There must also be considerations made for cyclists on Last year, the MTA introduced a Select Bus Service 14th Street. Working cyclists in particular must use 14th 23rd Street route, spanning from 12th Avenue to Ave- Street, as it is a commercial corridor that is home to doz- nue C. This addition allows customers to board through ens of restaurants. all open doors once the bus pulls into the stop; this is And finally, while the MTA has committed to increase achieved by the use of off-board fare payment machines. service on the J, M, Z, and G lines, we believe the current In addition, bus-only lanes were installed to help buses plan is too optimistic about the volume of passengers these avoid traffic and to improve travel times and reliability trains can actually absorb, even with reopened entrances along the slowest parts of the route for 15,000 daily riders. and improved passenger flows. The subway is at capacity. MTA targeted the end of December 2017 to set alternate Additional service is absolutely necessary, but we remain service plans in place. New York State Senator Brad Hoyl- doubtful that these trains will handle as much additional man along with his Acting Chief of Staff, Eli Szenes-Strauss, ridership as is predicted.” and Charlie Anderson from the Office of Assemblymember The November 2, 2016 issue of Reclaim, Transportation Deborah J. Glick, have expressed surprise that the December Alternatives’ magazine, published the following statement 13th MTA and DOT proposal differs from earlier plans.

I DIDN'T GET MY PAPER... Even Arthur Schwartz who writes for the paper did not get one deposited on his 11th Street doorstep last month and he called to complain—so how good are your chances to get the January issue if you are not a subscriber? Let's face it if the Village Voice can go out of business after 48 years WestView can evaporate after 15.You just have to give us 12 bucks a year.

 OK you made me feel guilty here is my $12 or for one year or $24 for 2 years  I mean I REALLY FEEL GUILTY here is my tax exempt gift of $______for Music at St. Veronica Online westviewnews.org—hit "subscribe" www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 21

My Brief Encounter with Jeanne Moreau

By Allyn Freeman expression, I apologized in French (embel- lished here), “My Chère Madame, lumi- nary goddess of the stage and screen, may the cloven hooves of a thousand truffle- sniffing pigs trample my shameful self. I implore you, kind lady, to forgive the mal- adroit, awkward, clumsy, and heavy-footed gaucherie of a young American man far from his native land who has always been a grateful admirer of the Marquis de Lafay- ette. My regrets are profound and sincere.” She realized that I suffered intense dis- CHANCE MEETING WITH A CINEMATIC tress, replying, “Not to worry, I can still SUPERSTAR: Jeanne Moreau, seen above, walk with a good right foot.” starred in the film Elevator to the Gallows (1958). Our chance meeting could have ended at the newsstand. But as we moved further It was the day after Thanksgiving in 1963. I into the airport, I realized we were on the waited in the Cannes airport to board a late same plane to Paris. It was an open-board- afternoon flight to Paris where I worked for ing flight without assigned seating. She an American company. At the newsstand, I took an aisle seat, and I sat across on the bought Le Figaro. Rather than circle around opposite aisle, one row behind. In this ar- the woman standing between me and the rangement, I could stare at her unobserved International Herald Tribune, I reached over during the flight, using the two newspapers her for the newspaper. As I did, I accidently as concealment. Every once in a while, she stomped sharply on her left shoe. peered out of the side of her right eye to see Mon Dieu! Oh no, no, no! I recognized if I was watching. I was, I was. that lovely face; I had crunched the toes Arriving at Paris’ Orly airport, I shad- of Jeanne Moreau! For this transgression owed her a discreet few yards, behind and against France’s cinematic superstar (the ac- unseen. Moreau exited the airport, strid- tress in notable films likeLes Amants, Jules et ing briskly to a waiting black Rolls Royce Jim, and La Notte), could my punishment be parked at the curb. A liveried chauffeur a one-way ticket to the guillotine? held the rear door open. She waved him In late November, I came to the Riviera off, saying, “Louis, I’m driving.” He shut to rendezvous with my college roommate, a the door, and ran around to the front, pas- gunnery officer on the USS Independence, senger side. the aircraft carrier stationed in the Mediter- Moreau climbed into the driver’s seat as ranean. We agreed to spend Thanksgiving I stood a few feet from the rear of the Rolls. Basil Weathers together, and I arranged a business trip to She moved the seat forward and adjusted visit clients in Nice and Monte Carlo. On the side view mirror, noticing for the first 24/7 Plumber Thursday night, we dined at a bistro that time that the remorseful foot crusher from Named as a Favorite Handyman served slices of turkey, substituting the Cannes continued observing her from afar. French fare of petits pois (peas) and Lyon- She twirled her hand back in my direc- in the May issue of WestView News naise potatoes for the traditional American tion, a personal gesture of forgiveness and Photo by Alison Morley bread stuffing and yams topped with marsh- farewell. Then, Jeanne Moreau, with her mallows. An apple tart and a glass of Cal- undamaged right foot on the gas pedal, A resident of the Village since1979, Basil vados finished off the ersatz holiday dinner. motored off into the Paris night and out is thoroughly knowledgeable about As Moreau gaped at me with a pained of my life. Village pipes and plumbing problems, and is available 24/7 to fix sudden flooding, frozen pipes, restaurant boilers, and any other plumbing issue that may occur.

A cheerful and hard-working local businessman, Basil will always give you a fair and honest price for your job.

Basil Weathers Plumbing 52 Bank Street (at West 4th Street) (845) 866-2329 Cartoon by Elliott Gilbert. 22 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org Honoring Catryna Ten Eyck Seymour

By The Family of Catryna Ten Eyck to establish ‘vest pocket parks’ during his which lobbied for the establishment of the Seymour tenure as President of the Park Associa- National Museum on the Mall in Wash- tion of the City of New York (from 1963 ington, D.C. Catryna Ten Eyck Seymour was born to 1965). Together, they formed the citi- Mrs. Seymour’s screen paintings are in in New York City on June 30, 1931. She zens’ organizing committee of the Scenic the collection of the Smithsonian Ameri- passed away on December 2, 2017 in Tor- Hudson Preservation Conference to help can Art Museum. She has been listed as rington, Connecticut and is survived by save Storm King Mountain (located on the a painter on Clara®, the database of the her husband of 66 years, Whitney North Hudson River) from a Con Edison storage National Museum of Women in the Arts. Seymour, Jr., and daughters Tryntje and plant. Their efforts led to early work in es- In 2001, Mrs. Seymour co-founded the Gabriel. tablishing the Natural Resources Defense Friends of the Millay Society at Steeple- Mrs. Seymour attended the Brearley Council in 1969. top, in Austerlitz, New York. There, she School (Class of 1949) and Smith College In 1973, Mrs. Seymour authored Enjoy- created the poetry-walking trail using po- (Class of 1953). She later attended the Art ing the Southwest (Lippincott, 1973), an ems by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Students League and served as Secretary early guide to the cultures and history of Funeral arrangements are private. on the Girl Scout Council of Greater New the American Southwest. Along with Ar- A WOMAN OF MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: York. thur Schlesinger and Cyrus Vance, she co- This obituary was originally published in Mrs. Seymour co-founded several envi- ronmental and cultural committees in her As the partner to Whitney, who was also founded the Friends of the National Mu- The New York Times on December 6, 2017. lifetime. Photo by T. Seymour, Jr. known as ‘Mike,’ Mrs. Seymour worked seum of the American Indian Committee, It has been edited by WestView News.

Local Production Supports Welcome to 2018 continued from page 1 conservative Republican? I’m also hoping cratic Party leadership, he hasn’t been its that the Generals atop our military would spokesperson either. When the Bernie- Core NYC Charity resist orders by Trump to start a nuclear war crats created a new group, the New York (which would justify a crackdown on civil Progressive Action Network, Corey spoke By Charles Warburton all clients have access to unlimited nutri- liberties). at the founding meeting. He has been re- tion counseling. Trump was supported by a minority of spectfully, but forcefully, critical of the Beth In early December 2017, Paired Entertain- All of this is made possible by the com- voters and has authoritarian tendencies. Israel shut down. I attended one meeting ment, a small production company run by passion and dedication of over 10,000 (The populace did not stop Hitler.) He where he chided the Mount Sinai officials Charles Warburton and Molly Montgom- volunteers annually who, on a daily basis, could easily convince himself, after the next for not building a bigger replacement hos- ery, took on a different project than usual— chop, prepare, and deliver these meals. Islamic-influenced terror event in the U.S., pital on 14th Street after they acknowledged a production of A Delicate Ship by Anna They do this at dawn and at dusk, in the that we need to take drastic measures. Imag- the “potential” for doing that in the future. Ziegler. The company began planning the bitter cold and in the sweltering heat. They ine the massacre in Las Vegas carried out by Corey comes to office with the support of transformation of Industria Studios on gift their hearts and time to deliver over an Islamic gunman. My point: Keep a watch the Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn County West 12th Street from a loft warehouse 35,000 meals per week across all five bor- on Trump, and do what you can in 2018 to leaders, and while he may owe them some- into a cozy Christmas theater, all to raise oughs, New Jersey, and Westchester and help elect Democrats to contested Congres- thing for it (staff positions on the Council money for God’s Love We Deliver. Nassau counties. No one who is ill and sional and Senate seats, so that there is a leg- staff, committee chairmanships for “outer Paired Entertainment joined forces hungry has ever been turned away. islative check on Trump, and on his judicial borough” Council members), he was not the with a Village local, Angela Pietropinto, a God’s Love We Deliver currently cooks appointees. Mayor’s first choice. Corey’s boyish charm well-known New York actress who signed and delivers 7,000 meals each weekday to On the good side: Corey Johnson, our and genuine pleasure in being out in our up to direct the work with the help of Ian clients, their children, and their senior care- City Council Member, is going to be the community will contrast with a Mayor who Scott. The broader creative team includes givers, and the number continues to grow. City Council Speaker. He is all of 35 years remains stiff and distant. He has promised Chris Thielking, who specializes in light- In fact, demand has increased 150% in the old. He has shown himself in his four years me that he will not forget our district, like ing design, and Oliver Lehne, who joins last 10 years. This year, God’s Love will in office to be a tireless worker, whose staff Christine Quinn did when she became Molly and Charles in the cast. cook and home-deliver 1.7 million nutri- provides lots of service. When I got arrested Speaker. God’s Love We Deliver is the New tious meals to City residents living with and for dismantling surveillance cameras out- I’m sure that WestView will hold him to York metropolitan area’s leading provider affected by severe illness. To find out more side then-91-year-old Ruth Berk’s apart- that word. of life-sustaining meals and nutrition about volunteering, please visit glwd.org/ ment, Corey intervened and made sure that counseling for people living with severe volunteer. I didn’t spend the day in The Tombs. Arthur Z. Schwartz is the Male Democratic illnesses. It began as an HIV/AIDS ser- The production of A Delicate Ship While Corey hasn’t bucked the Demo- District Leader for Greenwich Village. vice organization, and today provides for drew a sold-out run, raising over $10,000 people living with more than 200 individ- for the charity. ual illnesses. God’s Love cooks and home- IF THIS PAPER MAKES YOU THINK delivers the specific, nutritious meals each Paired Entertainment’s first feature-length We will print your thoughts in the next issue client so urgently requires. Meals are indi- narrative film is currently in the lat- [email protected] vidually tailored for each client by one of ter stages of post-production and will be West View News • 69 Charles Street • New York NY 10014 their registered dietitian nutritionists, and released in late 2018.

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Fast, Competent, Affordable Bathroom and Kitchen Renovations Call Joe Turco—Tenant Advocacy (212) 929-1809 [email protected] • (347) 854-7602 14 A Morton Street, New York • Fax (212) 929-2007 65 Oriental Blvd.,Brooklyn Ny 11236 www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 23 West Village Original: Readers’ Clicks Today, nobody leaves the apartment Robert Heide without his/her cell phone. So, when you see something attention-grabbing, snap a volving people being indifferent to oth- shot and send it to WestView with a brief ers. Where did that come from? “I’m not caption. exactly sure,” he says. “It’s a combination of my life and other people that I know. Your photo can be: Edward Albee, who was a friend, once said • A very cute dog to me, ‘Characters are living in your head • An even cuter baby that want to be born in a play. They’re re- • Another closed store ally pushing you to write.’ As for my style, • A funny sign well, I guess I was influenced by Beckett • Outrageous graffiti and Pinter. Pinter is always about what’s • An arresting protest sign going on underneath the surface. We were • An accident • A homeless person all playing it very cool back then. Nobody Send your clicks and captions to expressed a lot of emotions in those days. [email protected] and include We saw these Bergman and Antonioni “I WANTED TO BE MARLON BRANDO OR your name if you are seeking commu- films confronting the emptiness of exis- JIMMY DEAN”: Robert Heide, pictured nity fame. (When emailing your photos, above, originally studied acting, but follow- tence and our work reflected that. It was a please include ‘Readers’ Clicks’ in the ing some friendly advice, decided to write different kind of theatre.” subject line.) plays instead. Photo by George Bonanno. “It was terrific being in New York and the Here are some photo examples! All Village back then,” he continues. “Anywhere photos by Maggie Berkvist. By Michael D. Minichiello you went things were happening: at Judson Church, the Night Owl, or Caffé Cino, This month’s West Village Original is play- where I met Bob Dylan. At the Gaslight wright and author Robert Heide, who was Café, I heard Jack Kerouac, Alan Ginsberg, born and raised in Irvington, New Jersey. The and Diane di Prima reading their work. You author of numerous plays, Heide has also co- could feel an energy all over the Village. authored, with his lifetime partner John Gil- Unlike the [1950s] where it was about being man, many books about collecting memora- a rebel without a cause, it was the [1960s] bilia, including three titles for Disney. A West and we became rebels with a cause. That’s Village resident since 1958, Heide just had a because we wanted a revolution with love.” collection of his plays—entitled Robert Heide It was when the shooting at Kent State 25 Plays—published by Michael Smith’s Fast happened that everything changed. “All hell Books Press. You can find this collection at broke loose in the [1970s],” Heide says. “It Three Lives & Company. became about the excesses of the bars, dis- cos, and places like Studio 54.” Growing up with what he describes as a Asked about what he misses from his early “controlling” father, Robert Heide was able days, Heide laughs and responds, “On that I to find his own creative path through, para- could say practically everything!” However, doxically, his father’s help. “He was the kind the passage of time has also afforded him of man who said that movies and reading some perspective on life. “Some people like were a waste of time,” Heide says. “But I ac- you, some don’t,” he muses. “It’s your hu- tually think he was a thwarted creative type man life that’s important, who you are and that felt he had to earn a buck instead. I had who your friends are. And I understand that piano and art lessons growing up. My father human beings are not perfect. We all have a paid my college tuition, and when I moved darker side and feel doubt. I recently reread into New York, he paid my rent for about a Kierkegaard who suggests taking a leap into year. [He] even paid for my acting lessons. blind faith and…focus[ing] on positive life. So, even though he had all sorts of personal I think that’s good advice!” issues, he wanted something different for Referring to his recently published col- me than what he had.” lection of plays, Heide worries that he’s Heide attended Northwestern Univer- campaigning for himself. “But the collec- sity where he studied acting. “I wanted to be tion really is a kind of document of the Vil- Marlon Brando or Jimmy Dean,” he says, lage in those days,” he says. “I’m not brag- laughing. “When I came to New York, I ging about my plays, it’s just what we were studied with Uta Hagen and Stella Adler, doing. Like Bob Dylan was just writing who befriended me. However, one day Judith his songs. When Dylan received the No- Malina, co-founder of The Living Theatre, bel Prize, my partner, John, said the prize said to me, ‘You’re not an actor. Go home wasn’t for him so much as for Greenwich and write a play!’ So, I wrote Hector, had it Village itself. And he’s right. That’s the staged at the Cherry Lane, and Jerry Tallmer turf and that’s what it was about!” gave me a rave review.” This began a string of plays with such titles as West of the Moon, The Michael D. Minichiello, a long-time resi- Bed (which was also filmed by Andy War- dent of the West Village, has been writing hol), Crisis of Identity, and Suburban Tremens. the “West Village Original” column for These productions appeared either Off- WestView News since 2008. He enjoys high- Broadway or at venues like Caffe Cino, La lighting West Village residents and business MaMa, and Theater for the New City. owners who discuss their lives, careers, and According to Heide, many of his plays the vast changes that have taken place in the have existential and absurdist themes in- neighborhood over the years. 24 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org Bird Year 2017 of the BEST KEPT SECRET AWARD. There are By Keith Michael pocket park gems with avian specialties all Remarkably, it is time for the 12th An- around New York City. This year’s surprise nual Millies: the coveted Bird of the Year was Marine Park in Brooklyn and the nest- Awards! After 12 months of doom and ing Willets—lanky shorebirds poking their gloom, Twitter fume, and fear of a big heads above the pristine marsh grass and boom, the birds of the West Village and piercing the air with their raucous calls. New York City have continued to be re- The park’s Osprey family was the close silient—offering color, cheer, and laudable runner-up for this prize. savoir faire through their amiable pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. EXTRALIMITAL BIRDS & NEW LOCATION Let me remind you of the ground (or AWARD. This is a new category for the flight) rules for The Millies: Birds must be 2017 season, and slightly bends the afore- seen in, above, or from the five boroughs mentioned geographic rules of The Mil- of New York; voting is weighted toward lies. After expanding how far my love of those birds observed during Millie’s daily public trains, buses, and ferries could take corgi-walks in the West Village; and ad- BANK SWALLOW CHICKS. All photos by Keith Michael. me, this fledgling award goes to the Black- ditional points may be arbitrarily heaped bellied Plovers and Clapper Rails spot- upon those candidates actually seen by the spot of my camera’s angle, focus, and shutter America, found disaster-relief housing ted at the Bayonne Golf Club Hudson Award’s namesake. Miss Millie’s patronage speed for her flashy portrait hovering over with their friends on the nearby Gover- River Promenade, a short PATH train and includes the privilege of the tie-breaking a cluster of blazing Trumpet Vine flowers. nor’s Island piers while others, no doubt, Hudson Bergen Light Rail ride to a land vote, if needed. relocated to Breezy Point. of low-tide mudflats, recreated Scottish COMEBACK AWARD. In 2012, Superstorm heathland, and views of the Staten Island CONGENIALITY AWARD. Let’s start with Sandy altered the urban and natural land- BEST PARENTING AWARD. (Full disclosure: Ferry plying its way across the New York this fiercely contended citation, admit- scape all around New York City: Subway Millie’s ballot named one of the judges— Harbor. (I’ve heard tell that this is a likely tedly a more satisfying win for the Bird-er lines, barrier beaches, and basements are namely me—for this humbling award, but location for the appearance of a winter than the Bird-ee. Nevertheless, the undis- still in recovery. But what if you were a of course, I had to decline due to a conflict Snowy Owl. Shhh.) puted winners are a delightful pair of Buff- Bank Swallow, and you returned from your of interest.) Other candidates include: Vito breasted Sandpipers that touched down at winter vacation to find that last summer’s and Linda, the Bald Eagles of the Mount CONSOLATION PRIZE. Every summer, Miller Field on Staten Island’s south shore “bank” had been leveled? Where would Loretto Unique Area in Staten Island, I look forward to boarding the Ameri- during their fall migration. For several you set up housekeeping? Well, the sum- who successfully raised two youngsters for can Princess from Riis Landing to enjoy hours, these “grass-pipers” entertained this mer of 2017 returned the bluffs along the a second summer in a row; a Killdeer pair the spectacle of Humpback Whales and birder with their rapid scurrying to and fro, beach at Great Kills Park in Staten Island, in the parking lot at the Alley Pond Nature dolphins cavorting in the waters south occasionally skipping only inches from my and the burrowing colony of swallows to Center in Queens whose protective wings of Coney Island, the Manhattan sky- toes—too close, and too fast, for my cam- raise a new generation. A win-win! were always available for their hatchlings line in the distance. (How cool is that?) era to focus. On the opposite end of the to run under for cover (okay, perhaps Unfortunately, the dolphins and whales congeniality scale was a western, rare (for RESILIENCE AWARD. There was no dis- scraping gravel together for their nest in a didn’t show for me twice this year. One New York) Hammond’s Flycatcher who cussion needed among the judges (quite busy parking lot wasn’t the cleverest strat- day was so foggy we could barely see the held court (for some) in Central Park, frankly, Millie was napping) to champion egy for the safety of their children); and water. There was also an eight-year-old’s though after five power-walk lunch hours the Common Terns of Governor’s Island. the globally endangered Piping Plovers at birthday party onboard whose attendees trying to locate him, remained elusive. Home to more than a dozen pairs of these Fort Tilden in Queens, who, though only returned to shore greener than when they threatened New York State birds, half of a few inches tall, tirelessly defended their had come up the gangway. But the sec- LUCKY CATCH AWARD. Following on the Yankee Pier on Buttermilk Channel col- turf and progeny against dogs, sunseekers, ond time, at least, there was the consola- previous citation’s tail, a Ruby-throated lapsed during the winter. Some of these SUVs, birders, and over-eager photogra- tion prize of delicate white-rumped Wil- Hummingbird at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife delicate aerialists, upon returning from phers. And the winner is: Whew! A three- son’s Storm Petrels foot-pattering above Refuge in Queens whooshed into the sweet their thousands of miles flight from South way tie! Bravo to good parenting. the waves.

KILLDEER WITH CHICKS. MONK PARAKEET. BALD EAGLE WITH ORCHARD ORIOLE. www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 25

BEST STUNT AWARD. As the judges were con- Village Hawk sidering contenders for this accolade, Millie was performing a slalom through my legs, turning to the right and left, sitting down, lying down, back- ing up, and curtsying repeatedly in her most regal fashion (she needs to work on that). Luckily, the judges aren’t prone to undue “sway.” Despite her unapologetic lobbying, this award is easily be- stowed upon a January blizzard-flying Bald Eagle at the Mount Loretto Unique Area in Staten Island (let’s say it was Vito). Repeatedly throw- ing himself upside down in the snow-filled air, seemingly grasping at the flakes with his massive talons, he’d then plummet, somersaulting through the infinity of white above us. I still ponder a sce- nario to explain his behavior. (Millie, here’s a treat for your effort—The Ethics Committee will re- view your behavior.)

PRETTY BIRD, PRETTY BIRD. This is the com- panion honor to last year’s “Just Because I Like Seeing Them Award.” Not singling out any one species, the honorees are: the black-and-white Street photographer Steven Green- harlequin Long-tailed Ducks seen from the Ma- baum recently snapped a shot of a rine Parkway Bridge, the blue-and-orange parfait hawk perched above the Bleecker of American Kestrals in the West Village, the Playground, at Bleecker and West 11th screaming green Monk Parakeets of Brooklyn and Streets. He then sent it to Keith Michael, Queens (and newly seen this summer as well in WestView’s avian expert, to garner The Bronx), and the ever-cheerful Indigo Bun- some insight. tings of Staten Island. This is a great sighting, Steven! I saw, maybe the same hawk, this morning Barreling on to those final prestigious awards, we (Friday, December 22nd) on my way to have: work, also swooping down on Abingdon Square Park. In the winter, the sum- BEST REVIVAL. A Common Raven, after a year’s mer youngsters from all over the City absence, again appeared on the water tower at the spread out to new territories. (This is a corner of Washington and Charles Streets. Its Red-tailed Hawk. The juveniles have a croaking and knocking alerted me to its presence. striped tail rather than the namesake Welcome back, evermore! reddish, burnt orange tail of the adults.) I keep hoping that a ledge or balcony BEST NEW BIRD. Unfortunately, there was not a in the West Village will welcome one for single nominee for this prize in 2017. As previ- nesting in the summer so that we can ously noted, this judge put in extra hours and have our own celebrity hawks to follow effort to claim the Central Park Hammond’s as they raise their kids. If you ever see Flycatcher, but it will have to take the honor a flock of pigeons circling a little more of Best New Bird on someone else’s list for the desperately than usual, check to see if year. there is a hawk in pursuit! Text by Keith Michael. Photo by Steven Greenbaum. NEW BIRD FOR THE WEST VILLAGE & BIRD OF THE YEAR. It’s a tiny bird that wins these two BIG 2017 awards! A miniscule Winter Wren (West Village Bird #105), with a stand-up tail seemingly too short for its chunky little body, ap- peared on a late October morning for mere sec- onds in the tree enclosure outside my front door. It flitted, cocked its head—and flew away—but history was made. Millie heartily endorses this honoree. Perhaps its chunky little body melted her heart, but more likely what tipped her vote was that Millie was THERE.

Please visit westviewnews.org for more photographs of this year’s avian celebrities and visit keithmi- chaelnyc.com for the latest schedule of my New York City WILD! urban-adventures-in-nature outings throughout the five boroughs.

Happy Birding in 2018!

Photos top to bottom: RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. AMERICAN KESTRAL. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 26 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org Net Neutrality in the West Village By W. Russell Neuman are the emerging corporate giants who make their prof- its selling stuff on the net—Netflix, Amazon, Apple, and ‘Net neutrality,’ whatever that might mean, sure sounds Google. ‘Net Neutrality’ posits that all traffic on the internet like a reasonable idea. It’s got to be better than whatever should be treated equally (neutrally) and that cable and tele- the alternative could be. Let’s see: Net Narrow-Minded- phone companies can’t slow down online services they don’t ness? Verizon Villainy? Time Warner Turpitude? like, or that they compete with, or that they want to squeeze You’ve seen headlines with the phrase ‘net neutrality.’ Per- for higher access fees. That sounds like such a reasonable haps you have heard further that net neutrality is an Obama- idea—How could anybody want to repeal that? era regulatory provision protecting an open internet, which Well, it is a regulatory policy and that sounds like bu- has now been reversed by the Trump administration. That reaucratic overreach to Republican ears. The network pro- VERIZON VILLAINY?: Verizon would be a principal beneficiary sounds familiar, and seems like it is not a good sign. viders smile and promise they’ll always be neutral but may of the ‘regulatory roll-back’ move championed by FCC chair- If you track such issues closely, you may have learned that have to “shape” network traffic to prevent digital traffic man, Ajit Pai. Meaningful competition would help level the the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications jams. Trust us, they say, not to manipulate the net in search internet-providing playing field. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. Commission, Ajit Pai—who has championed this ‘regula- of higher profits. tory roll-back’—used to be a lobbyist for Verizon, one of the How does all of this impact the West Village? Well, it in 2020 will provide wireless internet service competition principal beneficiaries of the move. Oh my. What is it that turns out that we are in better shape than most of the coun- to the current cable and fiber providers. With a half-dozen they say about living in interesting times? try, which has only one true broadband service provider. The companies competing, your advanced Wi-Fi router will be I used to work in the White House as a media policy only way to fight back against an internet company which able to electronically negotiate in real time to make sure analyst, so I have been following this issue since Tim Wu is slowing down or possibly blocking certain websites is to you get fast service and no blocking. Will that really hap- at Columbia University coined the term ‘network neutral- threaten to move, or actually move, to another provider. pen? Yes, but only if we can prevent Comcast from buying ity’ in a technical article in 2002. Here’s what makes it an Meaningful competition is the answer. up all the cellular carriers and cable companies and creat- unusual and intriguing policy debate. Rather than the usu- Expect to see ads promising ‘net neutral service.’ The ing one big monopoly and no real competition. al policy pit fight that arrays some industry cabal—such as West Village has more competing service providers than So, our future is in the hands of the Trump Justice Depart- big pharma or strip mining—against a few tiny and poorly most of the country. Most WestView readers probably have ment’s Anti-Trust Division. Hmmm. That may be a problem. funded public interest groups, this one is different. It is a broadband service from Spectrum, their cable television battle between two groups of gigantic industry titans. provider. 60.8% of the 10014 zip code utilizes the Verizon W. Russell Neuman is a Professor of Media Technology at On one side, those opposing net neutrality are the net- Fios (fiber-optic) network as an alternative. (Check out all New York University. While employed in the White House work service providers—telephone and cable companies like alternatives at broadbandnow.com). Office of Science and Technology Policy, Neuman worked in Time Warner Cable (now Spectrum), Comcast, AT&T, and In the long run, the even better news is that fifth genera- the areas of information technology, broadband policy, and Verizon. On the other side, those supporting net neutrality tion cellular service (aka 5G—gotta have an acronym) due technologies for border security. New Partnership Brings Digital Photography to Seniors

By Joe Salas thetics, and techniques and have ample time to practice their photography using digital cameras. Beginning on January 9, 2018, Greenwich House, in part- The class will be led by Brooklyn-based documen- nership with Lifetime Arts, will add Photography 101 to tary photographer and filmmaker, Robert Pennington. its roster of senior citizen health, wellness, arts, and educa- Over his 25 years in media arts, Pennington has devel- tion classes. The inaugural class will be a nine-week course oped a strong reputation for photography that investigates held at Greenwich House’s Judith C. White Senior Center socio-political, cultural, and economic phenomena, and at 27 Barrow Street (near 7th Avenue South). During the their impact on the human condition. In his own work, term, students will delve into photographic history, aes- Pennington is known to focus on the margins of society, where oftentimes hubris and virtue are easily transposed and human architecture is gravely affected. The impres- sions embedded in these communities and the narratives discovered inspire his practice. At Greenwich House, Pennington hopes to help partici- pants develop an appreciation and familiarity with the phys- ical aspects of photography, even as the art form becomes increasingly digital. “This curriculum uses a variety of hands-on activities, history, aesthetics, and technical instruction to impart a sense of process even without access to a traditional dark- room,” said Pennington. A NEW CLASS IS BEING ADDED IN THE NEW YEAR: Pho- At the end of the class, students will have an understand- tography 101 participants will discuss a wide variety of ing of the three major genres of photography: Landscape, topics related to photography. Photo by Chasi Annexy. Portraiture, and Documentary, as well as a foundation in aesthetic elements such as: leading lines, triangles, sym- creative aging workshops, help combat isolation and rein- • • metry, the Rule of Odds and the Rule of Thirds. Camera vigorate learning among seniors when included in socially mechanics, including the functions of the body, lens, sensor, rich community settings. flash card, and battery, will also be studied. Two more nine-week sessions will be held at other Green- Hourly Handyman Services The new class is being offered at the Judith C. White Se- wich House Centers. Dates and details are forthcoming. Professional Painting Projects nior Center through funding from Lifetime Arts, a national Electrical & Carpentry Work nonprofit service organization that encourages creative ag- Classes are intended for senior center members. For more ing through the inclusion of professional arts programs in Call Michael @ 917.476.4146 information, contact Anthony Cilione, the Judith C. White organizations that serve older adults. According to Lifetime Senior Center Director, at [email protected] or Serving the West Village for 10 Years Arts, photography, among other sequential, skill-building, (212) 242-4140, Extension 254. www.westviewnews.org January 2018 WestView News 27

Journey to Forgiveness Maggie B’s Quick Clicks relentless campaign to get me to have a nose job started and didn’t stop for decades. My brothers were mom’s bouncers. When mom wanted me out of her way, she had my brothers put me on top of the re- frigerator where I could not get down. My father, who endured an abusive childhood, had a short fuse, which he often directed at me. He was the German shepherd that my mother would sic on me. There is one evening, which mom refers to proudly as the night she pulled a Mommie Dearest on me. (Remember the movie about how Joan Crawford was abusive to her daugh- ter Christina?) I was a teenager and out with my friends. I came home a bit later than she expected. When we pulled up to my house, my mother was standing on the street with a glass of water in one hand and the dog’s leash in the other hand. With my friends watching from the car, and the headlights shining on us, IT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT FILM SHE HAS my mother threw the water in my face, and MADE: The obstacles Gayle Kirschenbaum told me to walk the dog; she didn’t care if I got faced in childhood ended up providing raped. That was just the beginning. opportunities later in life, resulting in this Desperate to get out, I left at the end of my feature documentary. 16th year and went to university. By middle By Gayle Kirschenbaum age, I was at the top of my career—a televi- sion producer and filmmaker—and winning Did you ever feel like you were born into awards along the way. Underneath it all, I was the wrong family? I did. From head to toe, still seething with anger towards my mother NOW THAT 2017 IS FINALLY OVER...Here’s to the new year being a happier one, let’s there wasn’t anything right about me. My and hanging on to being a victim. If I were hope! Photo of her cat Jefferson by Maggie B. nose was too big, my butt too fat, and my going to find peace, I would have to forgive hair too frizzy. According to my mother, I my mother. I just didn’t know how. couldn’t do anything right and my brothers I asked my mother if she was willing to couldn’t do anything wrong. go on a journey to resolve our relationship Little did I know, the obstacles I faced in on camera. She agreed. What resulted was a my childhood would end up providing the feature documentary called Look at Us Now, biggest opportunity of my life. By facing Mother! It is about forgiveness, and the hard- those challenges, I figured out the secret est and most important film I have made. to finding forgiveness and the power and freedom which that gives you. Gayle Kirschenbaum is an Emmy Award- Do You Need Home Care? Growing up in my house was like growing winning filmmaker, television producer, TEDx up in enemy territory where you’re the only speaker, and coach. She is the founder of the one captured. I was the youngest of three, the forgiveness movement called ‘No More Drama Continuity Home Health Care only girl. I grew up hearing that I was sup- with Mama,’ which was inspired by the hum- posed to be Gary, but they didn’t get Gary. bling reaction to her film, Look at Us Now, They got me, Gayle. I often wondered if that Mother! The film is available on Amazon, was what got us off to a bad start. As soon as Netflix, and other venues. Visit LookAtUs- Where Healing Continues... the bump on my nose started growing, mom’s NowMother.com for more information. A licensed home care agency providing health care services, both professional and paraprofessional, for individuals Caruso’s Quips living at home since 1996. By Charles Caruso A woman who calls a man ‘darling’ is invariably a phony. Call Tim Ferguson at (212) 625-2547 We start as Hamlet and end as Polonius. or drop in to 121 West 11th Street opposite PS 41 From Sunday saunter to weekday workwalk.

Snow, silent and secret, softens the scene. We accept most private Too much to do is better than too little. insurances Christmas lights are man’s answer to death. and private pay. Would people have loved Che as much if he had looked like Woody Allen? Christ would have laughed in your face if you called him a god. [email protected] One holiday undoes a week. Book in one hand, booze in the other: Bootiful! 28 WestView News January 2018 www.westviewnews.org Seniors: Be Careful on Those “Valued” Cobblestone Streets

JOY PAPE IN GREECE (2017): How was she going to handle this trip walking so much on the beautiful but uneven cobblestone pavement? Joy followed her own advice as a health care pro- vider by purchasing and gently breaking in a new pair of walking shoes. Photo by Brian J. Pape.

By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC When I arrived in Greece, I thought I had it made. That is, until I walked on the cob- Brian and I were recently planning a trip blestone streets, and only on the cobblestone to Greece, a country full of ancient history, streets because I had no other choice. In a and I was so excited! While studying for the short time, I realized that the soles were not trip, I became a bit concerned about what I right for that type of pavement and that the saw. I observed people walking and explor- soles of my feet hurt, to the point of numb- ing that amazing country, always on cobble- ness. I remembered how pain is our friend— stone streets it seemed, streets we so highly a sign that something is wrong and to do value here in the West Village. No matter something about it. I was also reminded of how beautiful the pavement, all I could think my patients who, due to different types of about were my feet. How was I going to han- problems, are unable to feel pain and end dle this trip walking so much on the beautiful, up with wounds, many of which do not heal but uneven, cobblestones? So, I followed my and could ultimately lead to amputation. own advice as a health care provider. I started I listened to my friends, pain and numb- to plan and prepare and decided to purchase ness. I told my husband that I must get a new pair of walking shoes. shoes with a different sole no matter the I knew from my studies, including per- cost. I went back to the hotel, got the weight sonal experience and feedback from my pa- off my feet for a few hours, and went to buy tients, that foot problems can occur while a pair of shoes that worked. I purchased traveling, especially with new shoes. A week a brand I knew from the U.S. which has before our Bon Voyage, I went shopping and worked for me in the past. I broke them bought a well-known and respected brand in, and thankfully, all turned out fine. I am of walking shoes. I followed the “rules” of grateful for my knowledge and my feet! buying new shoes and traveling with them. Please take my advice regarding shoes Here are my tips for buying new shoes: whether you are local or traveling. It is best • Shop later in the day when your feet that you work with a true shoe specialist who are most likely to swell. can help make sure you have the best shoes • Make sure that the shoes fit well in the for the activity you plan to do. I don’t recom- store. Don’t go by shoe size. Go by fit mend buying shoes online because you don’t because shoe sizes are not standardized. really have the chance to try them out first. • If the shoes feel tight, don’t tell yourself Oh, yes, some do have a good return policy, that they will stretch. I can’t begin to that is, until you’ve walked outside with them. tell you how many pairs of shoes I have And, when walking on our lovely cobble- bought thinking that. Many are still sit- stone streets in the West Village, if you feel ting in my closet because they never fit unstable or your feet are uncomfortable, well enough to wear. move over to our smoother, paved side- • Wear new shoes about a half hour each walks. Be thankful you have that choice, go day for the first few days, then change home and change your shoes, and ENJOY! into shoes that you know fit you well. BEER BATTERED FISH & CHIPS Start increasing the wear time until Joy Pape is an internationally known, board you can wear your new shoes without certified Family Nurse Practitioner, author, 466 Hudson Street any redness, discomfort, or pain. writer, and presenter. She believes that every When traveling, if you are bringing new person is an individual and deserves person- 212-741-6479 shoes, break them in first. Also bring a pair alized medical, integrative care, and hope for Oscarsplacewestvillage.com of your old, tried-and-true shoes in case a healthy and full life. She can be reached at you have problems with the new shoes. (212) 933-1756 or [email protected]. v

If You Attend This is Your New Concert Hall

e Orchestra Th of St. Veronica Saturday February 10, 7:30 pm Bach Suite No. 3 in D, BMV 1068 Bach: Concerto for Oboe and Violin in c minor, BMV 1060A Mozart: Exultate jubilate KV.165 Mozart: Symphony #36 in C major KV. 425 (Linz symphony)

THIS IS A FREE CONCERT FOR SENIORS If you are not a senior, admission is $15.00 call: 212 924 5718 or e-mail [email protected] The Church of St. Veronica, 149 Christopher Street Modernism lives in Tribeca.

A collaboration of design visionaries. KPF. David Rockwell. David Mann. Edmund Hollander.