Raising the Roof
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Turtle Bay News A Publication of the Turtle Bay Association Spring 2015 Vol. 58, No. 2 Carol Ann Rinzler Honored as New York State Woman of Distinction ollowing her nomination by Senator In her activism, she uses a personal email Liz Krueger, TBA director Carol Ann list reaching physicians, administrators, F Rinzler was officially named to the legislators and patient advocates across New York State Senate’s prestigious 2015 the country urging support for medical is- list of Women of Distinction on May 6. sues such as the amelioration of the Two Senator Krueger observed, “I'm proud to be Midnight Rule which has put Medicare able to nominate Carol for recognition as a payments at risk for hospital patients put Woman of Distinction. With a long career into “observation” status. as a writer, activist and active community In civic life, she served as a member of member, she certainly fits the bill. In all her Manhattan Community Board 6, and she work, whether spreading understanding of Carol Ann Rinzler. and her late husband, Perry Luntz, founded nutrition and health, fighting for the rights the Manhattan Neighborhood Council in of patients, or advocating for her neighbor- and Jane E. Brody; the award-winning “Es- 1993. Currently, she is a director of the hood, Carol continues to be an exemplar of trogen and Breast Cancer: A Warning for continued on page 8 civic engagement and service”. Women”; and “Leonardo’s Foot”, which a Carol Ann Rinzler is the author of more reviewer for the American Association for Note the Event than 20 books on health, including “Nu- the Advancement of Science described as trition for Dummies” (6th edition due in “some of the best writing about science for TBA Spring Street Fair 2015-16); “The New Complete Book of the non-scientist” he had encountered in Saturday, June 20, 11 am - 4 pm Lexington Avenue (42nd/54th) Food” with co-authors Manfred Kroger recent years. All proceeds go to local charities The Landmarks of Turtle Bay and the People Who Created Them Raising the Roof Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:30 pm BY BRUCE SILBERBLATT An illustrated talk by Pam Hanlon, It’s easy to talk about what New York City scrutiny as money and politics face off. author of Manhattan’s Turtle Bay: Story of a Midtown Neighborhood needs in the perpetual quest to keep its All development and rezoning proposals Followed by light refreshments at economy vibrant and amenities up-to-date. are reviewed by the Department of City Japan Society The process by which plans become reality Planning under the Uniform Land Use 333 East 47th Street is frequently opaque and calls for constant Review Procedure. Right now, in Man- Limited seating by reservation only hattan, in or near Turtle Bay, there are through the Turtle Bay Association 212-751-5465 three major zoning changes at various stages in the review process. The TBA Coming in Early August is closely tracking these and their impli- National Night Out Against Crime cations. This is our latest report. Dag Hammarskjold Plaza 1 Vanderbilt Place (East 47th, First/Second) Community Tables, Elected Officials On May 6, a key City Council subcom- Sponsored by 17th Precinct mittee (including our Council Member Community Council Dan Garodnick), approved with some For information call 212-826-3228 modifications the 1,400-foot-tall office tower proposed for the block between Rendering of 1 Vanderbilt. Photo from Crain's cour- Vanderbilt and Madison Avenues, East tesy Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. continued on page 2 Turtle Bay Association • 224 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 • (p) 212-751-5465 • (f) 212-751-4941 • [email protected] • turtlebay-nyc.org TBA Who’s Who Jessica Lappin’s Rising Star BY LEE FRANKEL Turtle Bay Association 224 East 47th Street When Jessica Lappin completed her two- New York, NY 10017 term stint as City Councilmember for Phone: 212-751-5465 District 5, followed by a bid for Manhat- Fax: 212-751-4941 tan Borough President, she missed not a Email: [email protected] beat. Appointed in early 2013 as President Website: www.turtlebay-nyc.org of the Alliance for Downtown New York Check our Bulletin Board: – the city’s largest Business Improvement East side of Second Avenue District – and its sister organization the between 48th and 49th Streets, Downtown Lower Manhattan Association, outside wall of supermarket. her profile has been rising in tandem with Jessica Lappin with Senator Chuck Schumer Board of Directors her civic commitments. and real estate developer Larry Silverstein. Officers Now, Crain’s New York Business has capital funds for the design and implemen- President: William E. Curtis named Ms. Lappin to its list of “Forty tation of flood protection in Battery Park. Secretary: Grace L. Perry Under Forty”, Class of 2015, a group of Mr. Schumer also committed himself to Treasurer: Dick Irwin young leaders who run the gamut of public seeking funding at all levels of govern- Vice Presidents: Millie Margiotta and private enterprise, social services, pol- Dolores Marsh, Bruce Silberblatt ment to storm-proof Lower Manhattan and itics, the professions, and the arts. No one assure its resiliency. Directors deserves the honor more. At the Turtle Bay Ethel Bendove, Bunny Blei, Association we came to know her well, Ms. Lappin is engaged in helping to secure Meryl Brodsky, Orin Buck, during her six years as Councilmember, Manhattan’s downtown area: its infra- William E. Curtis, Lee Frankel, through her unfailing presence and out- structure, population, employment poten- Denise Hamilton, standing work on behalf of our community. tial and, not least, protection from floods. Marie-Louise Handal, Anita Harvey, Dee Howard, In a meeting at the Downtown Alliance, on In speaking of the challenge, she said that Bill Huxley, Dick Irwin, March 23, Senator Charles Schumer sin- it will call for “a thoughtful plan, devel- Mary F. Marangi, gled out Ms. Lappin and the Alliance for oped by experts with meaningful com- Millie Margiotta, helping coordinate the lobbying campaign munity input, and a source of funding to Mark P. Markowski, that led the city to earmark $8 million in implement it.” Dolores Marsh, Pat McDougald, Grace L. Perry, Michael Resnick, Carol Rinzler, Bruce Silberblatt Honorary Emeriti Raising the Roof continued from page 1 the developer, but a losing one for New Barbara Connolly Yorkers. Helen Shapiro 42nd and East 43rd Streets. We have seri- ous concerns about the zoning precedents A total of five blocks is included in the Community Calendar – and lack of equity – implicit in the proj- plan, which will also allow developers ect. At 64 stories, the building would dwarf to double the maximum size of buildings 17th Precinct Community Council and overwhelm the magnificent Chrysler on the four other blocks to the west of the Open Meeting Building and Grand Central Terminal, both transit hub. Last Tuesday every month, 6 pm important and beloved landmarks. Faults in Rezoning Plans for Afford- Sutton Place Synagogue able Housing 225 East 51st Street The proposal, expected to be approved by 212-826-3228 An increase in a building’s height usual- the DCP and the full council by the end (No meetings July, August, December) of May, awards the developer of this be- ly results in an increase in floor area, but hemoth 550,000 square feet (part of the not so on low-rise residential side streets Community Board 6 in Turtle Bay, where developers could in- building's total 1.8 million gross square Full Board Meeting feet) in exchange for $10 million that will crease building heights by ten feet with Second Wednesday every month, go toward the total $220 million budget for no corresponding increase in floor area, 7 pm improvements to the 42nd Street/Grand by raising the ceiling heights. The inten- NYU Medical Center Central subway complex. Given that the tion alleged by the city is to make it more 550 First Avenue rental generated by the extra square foot- profitable to build affordable housing, but 212-319-3750 age will be worth far more than that – the the plan might encourage mischief by de- Now live online at going rate for Class A office space in Mid- velopers. http://wp.cbsix.org/live town is $75 per square foot – each year for the life of the building, it's a great deal for continued on page 7 2 Turtle Bay News www.turtlebay-nyc.org A Firefighter’s Life Really Means Get Up And Go Part Two of a Three-Part Article BY LEE FRANKEL IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN STEPHEN MARSAR What do firefighters do when they’re not each of many specialized working a fire or emergency scene? If you jobs required for a flexible, think they just hang around, think again. rapid and effective team Like any family, they cook and eat together. response in complex, They have cots and a TV for much-needed dangerous and unpredict- R&R. But the fact is they’re always at work, able situations. even when they’re “home” at the firehouse Handheld ex- As a firefighter you might where the P.A. system carries safety mes- tinguishers for Helmets and coats hang ready for use. small fires. drive the truck; enter the sages and, sadly, death announcements. premises and search for to shave time and improve performance. There are two the fire and people who Each new shift debriefs the one before. tours of duty are trapped; handle At every scene an incident commander a day – from a huge array of tools takes charge of operations. The Engine 9:00 a.m.