The Voice of the West Village WestView News VOLUME 16, NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 2020 $2.00

a very peaceful neighborhood.” The last murder recorded in the West Murder on Christopher Street Village was on New Year’s Eve, 2019 when Jonathan Berlin, 62, was fatally shot in the By Roger Paradiso & Anthony Paradiso chest at 110 Bedford Street. Police say Ber- lin may have been murdered during a drug Dashawn Bush, 36, was murdered on deal gone wrong. Christopher St. in the West Village at The West Village Patch has reported sev- around 4.20am on August 17th. His life- eral disturbing incidents in recent months. less body lay out on the sidewalk in front There was a stabbing of a 52-year-old vic- of the Hudson Bagel shop on Christopher tim recently at 222 West 14th Street. And Street when police came upon the scene. there have been several burglaries reported Bush was taken to the Lenox Health by the Patch recently in the West Village. Complex but later died from his injuries, Speaking to local shop owners who re- authorities shared. quested anonymity, we heard that they “I’m still shocked,” said Shamel Bush, thought the Village was not as safe as it was Dashawn’s brother. He told the Daily before the Pandemic and lock down. Many News on Saturday, “I'm still going in and out shop owners are closing their doors early at of crying. I can't believe it, it's just disbelief.” six o’clock because there is a lot of fighting Bush had recently been hired at Amazon. and drug usage by homeless people and drift- Some reports say he had been out with ers who roam the Village. Many have been THE LOCATION ON CHRISTOPHER STREET, just off of 7th Ave., where Dashawn Bush was a woman and a friend at the time of the murdered at approximately 4:20 am on August 17th. Photo by Bob Cooley. seen defecating and urinating on the streets. incident, authorities shared. WestView News will continue monitor- The assailant, thought to be a friend of Post), fled from the scene and is still being George Capsis, publisher of WestView ing this sudden crime surge in the West Bush’s according to his sister (New York sought after by police. News says: “I am in shock. This is normally Village. Goodnight Newsroom The office where the New York Daily News Produced Itself Has Permanently Closed After 101 years By Amanda Mikelberg to board the Daily News battleship. the reason. Coincidentally, the day my Daily News At the time of my tenure, the vigorous I’d been given a company thermos, when I mug surfaced in my parents’ Isaias-visited push to grow the New York Daily News started as an overnight web producer in the basement, was the day I learned that their brand online was succeeding at making a New York Daily News newsroom at 4 New flagship newsroom had sunk. On August name for itself with an internet audience, York Plaza in 2011, and it’s now an artifact 12, Tribune Publishing, the owners since with a strategy to dominate the Google from a lost world. 2017, announced that the News’ news- News algorithm. That effort aside, it was My interview for the position had taken room was permanently closed, and that its the newspaper’s reputation fortified since place at the newspaper’s headquarters on journalists would carry on remotely until 1919 that gave the News its potential to West 33rd Street; they were in the process further notice. The newsrooms of sev- scale; respectful of this, the digital initia- of moving from the congested midtown eral other Tribune titles, Orlando Sentinel, tive sought to preserve the traditions of the space into an open-concept office, furnished Pennsylvania’s Morning Call, and Mary- print institution for productive coexistence. for the frontlines of the era’s “digital first” land’s Capital Gazette and Carroll County Maintaining a physical infrastructure to initiative. The new downtown place, where Times, would also cease to exist. Yet, the support a heroic news operation was as I’d slung said coffee mug to stay alert until 4 Baltimore Sun office as well as theChicago much of a priority in the digital expansion am, was as big as a football field and about Tribune at the publishers’ headquarters re- as big monitors and the Polopoly web con- as competitive an arena. Around sundown, I main open, belying the suggestion that a tent management system. ORIGINAL RENDERING OF THE DAILY would land at the South Ferry subway sta- newsroom isn’t possible to have right now. The imposing infrastructures that housed NEWS BUILDING at 220 East 42nd St., tion, Water Street wind driving at my back, Pandemic is the excuse, but cost-cutting is continued on page 8 Hugh Ferriss, 1930.

v Save WestView Cross Country 9/11 Concert A candlelight concert in Contribute to our crowdfund- Traveling via motorcycle from ing campaign to keep delivery California to New York, Bob memoriam of 9/11 live from of the print edition alive! Kroll documents his observa- St. Johns in the Village. tions along the way. September 11 at 5 pm.

SEE PAGE 36 SEE PAGE 11 SEE PAGE 33 FOR DETAILS WestViewu Newssic • and m St. John’s in the Village Present A CandlelightSt. John’s Concert in in Memoriam of 9/11 the Village and WestView News Present SeptemberStrathmere Ensemble 11, 5in apm InLive honor Streamed of all thoseMemorial we lost Day on September 11, 2001, please join us Allfor theBach following Concert program: Brandenburg Concerto #5 Samuel Barber, Beethoven, Mondayand Gabriel May 25,Fauré 4 pm Enjoy thisPerformers live streamed concert on yourThe computer, Strathmere tablet orEnsemble smart phone at www.youtube.com/stjvnyShiz’ka Barbee Monk Gordon King Artists: Robert Wolinsky, Harpsichord WeTBA, will Flute be broadcasting from St. John’s in the Village. Mitsuru Tsubota. Violin Eriko YouSato, can Violin join us on any device — phone, Louise Schulman,tablet, Viola computer, tv. Daire Fitzgerald, Cello Jack IfKulowitsch, you’re struggling Double due Bass to the coronavirus Billsituation, Zito, Lute take advantage of our “Pay What You Can” offer. If you’re able to pay more, to help someoneTickets else pay less, $20 please do! TICKETFree / toCONTRIBUTION Seniors and Children, LEVELS $5 — butI Just registration Need to Smileis essential Right Now $10 –To Fan buy ofa ticket Strathmere or to register, Ensemble $20 – Supportercontact [email protected]. of Strathmere Ensemble $50 – Patron of Strathmere Ensemble ST. JOHN’S IN THE VILLAGE at the Tickets/info:corner of West bit.ly/9-11memoriam 11th and Waverly Place 2 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org WestView WestViews Published by WestView, Inc. by and for the residents of the Correspondence, Commentary, Corrections West Village. WestView News cars from idling for more than three min- I once did. Many Thanks for an interesting Publisher Fighting the Good Fight! utes at a time by continuously running the newspaper. Executive Editor engine of their Smart police car so its air George Capsis Dear George, —Martin So when your guy approached me about an conditioner can keep them cool while they To the Editor: Managing Editor and Art Director peruse their phones. I’ve enjoyed the articles on the Hagia Sophia. Kim Plosia ad in your paper for my new gallery, I was a little reluctant. I hate to spend $ unless it is Inside the precinct's new lot, and parked I used to have a big picture book on Advertising Manager and Designer on the sidewalks, are the private cars of of- this building, part of a series on beautiful Stephanie Phelan on beer, or donating to progressive political candidates. ficers and various NYPD vehicles, most buildings—put out by either Time-Life or Traffic Manager of which are decorated with three words: Liza Whiting But when I realized I had gone to PS 41 Newsweek. One of the things I noticed in with your son Doric, I said why not support "Courtesy," "Professionalism," "Respect." the interior photos, and I see it in the West- Photo Editor a local business (and a newspaper at that!). The irony of this situation surely must be View photo, too, is that those huge circular Darielle Smolian The ad looked great, and a few copies of the lost on the 6th Precinct, which has em- placards in Arabic with Muslim messages Photographers July edition were out and available to guests at ployed uncourteous, unprofessional, and violate the gorgeous lines of the architec- Maggie Berkvist disrespectful actions toward its West Vil- ture. A real mosque would never have that, Chris Manis, Bob Cooley my gallery, Art of Our Century, on 14th St. Then, to my surprise, three separate visi- lage neighbors in its quest for easy parking. and there’s much great Muslim architec- Associate Editors It came as no surprise when the cops' ture too, of course. Justin Matthews, Anne Olshansky tors to the gallery commented to me about the paper they had picked up on my table. union, the PBA, recently endorsed for As I recall from my reading, someone Comptroller "This is pretty good," was the consensus. re-election as president a racist, ignorant, who wasn’t even Muslim put up those Jolanta Meckauskaite All then lamented the end of the Village sociopath. What is surprising, however, is placards. They were left there when the Architecture Editor and the total bastardization of that our local politicians have not raised building became a museum. They should Brian Pape Voice, The Villager by its new owner. any objections to the 6th Precinct annex- be removed, no matter how the future of Business Editor Not everyone who spoke to me agreed ing an entire block in our neighborhood for the building turns out to be. Caroline Benveniste with every point of view in every article in its personal use. What's going on? A friend has written me that museums Fashion Editor your paper, but that is what makes newspa- —Charley McKenna have never caused wars, but religions have. Karen Rempel pers great—spurring conversation, thought My response is that religions get their Film and Media Editor and community involvement. With news- Buy Stamps power by teaching love and kindness, each Jim Fouratt papers dying off at an alarming rate, it is To the Editor: in a particularly inspiring way. No muse- Music and Eldercare Editor comforting that the Village has at least one Walking down Hudson Street the other um, which nonetheless is often full of great Hannah Reimann local outlet still fighting the good fight, in- day, I saw a bunch of stamps taped up to religious art, ever has that power or life- Science and LGBTQ Editor forming people, entertaining people, and a store window. Underneath were the changing effect. It’s only when religious Kambiz Shekdar, PhD bucking the awful trend of media consoli- hashtags #buystamps and #savetheusps. power becomes corrupted, and people loyal Regular Contributors dation and cutbacks. Keep it up. And maybe With what’s going on with the Post Of- to one religion decide to be intolerant of J. Taylor Basker, Barry Benepe, I'll see you up at the gallery sometime soon. fice, this sounded like a good idea. I went other religions, that war takes place. No Caroline Benveniste, Charles Caruso, into the post office on Hudson and bought true religion teaches war, but the opposite, Jim Fouratt, John Gilman, Voluntarily, and warmly, Mark. M. Green, Robert Heide, Timothy McDarrah 100 first class everything stamps and made and any religious war violates those prin- Thomas Lamia, Keith Michael, a point of telling the worker that I wouldn’t ciples that made the religion so loved in the Michael D. Minichiello, Penny Mintz, need the stamps until Christmas but I first place. Brian J. Pape, Joy Pape, Bruce Poli, Police Parking Attendants? Alec Pruchnicki, Christina Raccuia, thought I should buy them “considering —Carol Yost Hannah Reimann, Karen Rempel, Catherine everything that’s happening.” He appreci- Revland, Martica Sawin, Donna Schaper, ated and nodded. I’ll write this like I feel it. First, Hagia So- Arthur Z. Schwartz, Stanley Wlodyka When I got home, I read a letter to the phia, built by Christians, was in Christian We endeavor to publish all letters received, editor of the NY Times that to save the hands for 916 years, according to my calcu- including those with which we disagree. Post Office we should buy stamps. Is this lations. Then, it was a mosque for 481 years. The opinions put forth by contributors to WestView do not necessarily reflect the becoming a movement? Buying lots of After that, it was a museum “established in views of the publisher or editor. stamps won’t dig the PO out of the hole 1935,” as you indicated, for 85 years. Now, WestView welcomes your correspondence, it’s in but maybe this can spread through- the Turkish hierarchy has switched gears to comments, and corrections: out the country, including the Republican its being a mosque, once again. www.westviewnews.org states. If their own constituents are being I feel that this latest metamorphosis by the Contact Us screwed by the sabotage of the PO and Turkish government is clearly bellicose saber- (212) 924-5718 complain to their elected officials then rattling directed at Christians, who might be [email protected] Why have cops from the 6th Precinct be- maybe the spineless Republican enablers erroneously considered “soft targets” because come the city's highest paid parking lot at- in the Congress will actually do something of some well developed concepts, like “Love IN MEMORIAM tendants this summer? about it. We can only hope. Buy stamps. your neighbor like yourself.” While the idea that Black Lives Mat- —Alec Pruchnicki I call upon President Erdogan and gov- ter made many in the NYPD retort with ernment to make Hagia Sophia once again "Blue Lives Matter," the 6th Precinct's re- Hagia Sophia a museum for all peoples, and not to just sponse to this summer's protests seems to give that lip service. be "Parking Spaces Matter." Soon after the I have enjoyed your WestView News for a —John F. Early protests over police brutality against people number of years having lived in the west of color began, the 6th Precinct closed off village for over 20 years and am now living Mark That Katie Keith! both Charles St. and W. 10th St. between in Chelsea. The several articles which you Thank you for your article. For me, there Bleecker and Hudson to all pedestrian and added in the August issue on Hagia Sophia was no skimming over sentences; my eyes vehicular traffic. The important crosstown were wonderful! I have always wanted to were glued to each sentence. Nothing bus route along W. 10th St. has been re- see this church, but have more frequently coy or ego driven about this piece. Only opened but Charles St. remains closed to gone to other parts of Europe because of straight-on observation of Life's circum- traffic, with cops guarding the barricades my interest in pipe organs. Now such a visit stance. Mark that Brilliant. MIA SAYS: The better you listen the better night and day. These blue uniformed at- is becoming impossible as my age becomes —Max your answer. Photo by Dusty Berke. tendants violate the city law that forbids 90 in September and I am not traveling as www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 3

Remembering Mia Mia belongs to the ages now. These shoulders, well over 50 feet high ample the city has proposed artificial oyster But she continues to inspire us ... see her and several miles long, would require mil- reefs at the foot of Manhattan to absorb picture in our bedroom mirror. lions of yards of fill to be trucked over lo- the brunt of the storm. With sadness and sympathy, cal roads in suburban communities. The Building a ten foot high berm around —Tom Sandy Hook National Seashore, a feder- lower Manhattan blocking views of the Mr Capsis: ally protected wildlife sanctuary where he harbor or a tall concrete wall around East Would you be so kind as to pass along our and I cannot even walk, would be buried River Park are not answers either. The city sympathy to Ms. Whiting for the loss of in possibly contaminated landfill. On top has carefully mapped the shorelines subject her beloved dog, who was also no doubt, of that, this enormously expensive arti- to flooding. Anyone who builds in those a community friend to many. We have ficial barrier may leak at the edges along fragile zones has to either flood proof their enjoyed Mia's presence in the newspaper. the Jersey Shore, allowing flood water to facilities or build in such a way that the fa- She had many admirers and was quite the move up through Barnegat Bay into the cilities can be dried and reused. charmer. Wise, too. harbor. Many houses along the shore were When the recreation piers along Hudson Thank you. MLF destroyed by the Hurricane Sandy tidal River Park emerged from the high tides of surge.The levees along the Jersey coast had Sandy, some, because of poorly thought- Flood Gates been left with tunnels to allow parking on out original construction, required rebuild- Dear Editors, the beaches. ing, while others did not. There were les- Malcolm Bowman's thoughtful advocacy Preparing for the next tidal surge is im- sons to be learned here. We have to think Photo courtesy of Tom Kulaga. of flood gates stretched across New York portant and I'm glad that Malcom Bow- long term and build resiliently. We will harbor between Queens and New Jersey man is giving this challenge such thought- then have a more beautiful and affordable Dear Liza, fails to address several essential corollary ful attention, but our approach as a city community. It is a sad day for the Village. impacts on the lands flanking the gates. should be resilient, not defensive. For ex- —Barry Benepe Memories of 9/11 By Toby Bellin I say they’re too young to donate blood and have no medical experience. One insists, Tuesday, September 11, 2001 before 9 AM “I’ll do anything!” Time passes. Once I on the crosstown bus on my way to work. glance over to see flatbed trucks with heavy Passing Fifth Avenue, I see a few people equipment rumbling down 7th Avenue. At standing in the street looking up at the World the table five student nurses have arrived Trade Center towers. I see black smoke ris- from Baltimore. A doctor in an open white ing from the top of one of the towers. That’s shirt says he’s an ophthalmologist, shows an awful place for a fire. How will the fire me a small case of instruments. He says department be able to reach up there? At he’s an ER doctor at Saint Vincent’s. “Put Fourth Avenue at the New York University my name down anyway.” A man announces registration office, Jenny tells me excitedly he has just come from Canada and can set that a plane has crashed into the World Trade up a field kitchen to feed thousands. I ask Center. A radio is on and we hear a second how he can be reached. Puzzled, he says he plane has crashed into the towers. The city came directly without plans. “Contact us has been attacked. By 9:20 Mayor Giuliani again when you have a place to stay.” A dis- has shut down all bridges and tunnels into traught young woman says she has walked the city. Linda grabs her coat, rushes out to from one hospital to another looking for TWINS TOWERS OF LIGHT brighten the sky as the new WTC 1 was under construction in her daughter’s school. How will people get her sister Victoria who works at the World remembrance of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. After a recent reversal, the lights will home to Brooklyn and the other boroughs? Trade Center. be visible again this year. Photo by Bob Cooley. I live on W. 15th St. in walking distance. The It is early evening; fewer people are com- office is emptied out, the towers have col- ing. I stand and lead the woman to a small lapsed, the city is in lockdown and in a crisis. chair. She sits on one half indicating for At home I find my Saint Vincent’s me to share. To keep from sliding off, I try Hospital volunteer ID, fasten it to a long putting my arm on the back of the chair, sleeved white shirt. Out on 7th Avenue ending by putting my arm around her there is a human barricade: city police, state shoulders. She keeps repeating, “I should police and national guard block anyone be processing this.” I wonder if she’s a so- from crossing 14th St. I’m passed through cial worker. By arrangement, another sister and walk the three blocks to the hospital. comes to meet her here. Standing, “Take Inside a nurse meets me. Can I help you? care of her,” I say and go home. “I’m here to donate blood.” “Follow me.” At my building the Red Cross has We are in a cafeteria, tables pushed aside. posted a flyer offering help to anyone who She comes back. “No donors are needed needs it. There’s a lighted candle at the now. Listen at home for radio or TV an- top of the stairs. In my apartment there nouncements calling for volunteers.” are messages on the answering machine. Exiting onto 12th St., I see a woman sit- I change the outgoing one to say there’s ting at a table. Many people have come to no phone service now for outgoing calls volunteer. She writes as she asks “Name, any but I’ll call as soon as I can. I put on the medical or construction experience, phone TV. Something is wrong with the pic- number or contact information.” “Do you ture. I sit on the edge of my bed in semi need any help?” She pushes a chair towards darkness listening to the news of the day. me, slides over a pad of paper and pencil. A couple says we have an apartment across THE FINAL PHASE of building Liberty Park as seen from the 92nd floor of the WTC con- the street for anyone working at the hospi- Note: Victoria 31, mother of two young chil- struction site. Photo by Bob Cooley. tal. Two young girls, students, want to help. dren, died September 11 in the North Tower. 4 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org Veteran State Assembly Member Faces Newbie Challenger By Frank Quinn will be attractive to the industry, with op- Deborah Glick, the veteran Democratic portunities to create automated manufac- state assembly member representing Dis- turing plants statewide.” Other sectors she trict 66, which includes Greenwich Village, believes would be wise to pursue include Soho, and Tribeca, is facing a challenger in biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturers. the upcoming November election. Tamara Homelessness and mental illness are prob- Lashchyk, a longtime local resident, is the lems District 66 residents confront on a daily Republican candidate seeking the assembly basis, and Ms. Lashchyk believes the legisla- seat Ms. Glick has held for nearly 30 years. ture should be lobbying the federal govern- Ms. Lashchyk agreed to be interviewed for ment to adopt a national strategy to confront this article, but Ms. Glick responded via her these issues, then coordinate solutions at the staff that she was unavailable for an interview state and local level. Through her coach- due to numerous scheduling conflicts.West - ing business she sees how pandemic-related View News has invited both candidates to join isolation causes stress-related problems like us for a recorded debate which we will pres- THE CHALLENGER: Tamara Lashchyk. THE INCUMBENT: Deborah Glick. Photo depression and addiction relapse, and thinks ent at www.westviewnews.org. Please see our Photo courtesy tamaraforny.com. courtesy deborahglick.com. those suffering with mental illness are simi- October edition for further details. larly impacted but likely with more serious Sixty-five percent of voters in District stating “please do NOT vote for me, vote for and policies being made around political consequences. She considers problems like 66 are registered Democrats, with only Deborah Glick.” Nixon had recently lost to agendas. I’m skeptical about how informa- school shootings and homelessness to be as- 10 percent registered as Republican and Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary tion is represented and open to differences pects of a national mental health crisis, and 22 percent registered as unaffiliated. Like for Governor, and for legal reasons reluctantly of opinion, and plan to address issues based she’s extremely upset with the expensive fail- much of the country, election turnout in ran against Glick in the general election as on my conscience and what I think is right ure of the ThriveNYC program. “I remem- the district is significantly greater during the only way to get off the gubernatorial line. for my constituents. I welcome differences ber as a little girl, people urinating and worse presidential cycles, with the largest turnout Interestingly, Nixon’s challenge resulted in a of opinion because diversity of thought leads in front of our building and my mother hav- in recent years being in 2008 when Barack larger than normal voter turnout in the dis- to the greatest innovation. And after a long ing to confront them in front of me. Now Obama defeated John McCain. 2016 had trict during a non-presidential cycle. career in a tough industry I have a sense of it seems like that period is returning. And considerably less voter turnout when Don- Tamara Lashchyk has never run for public self and don’t think I can be rolled over.” while I still feel relatively safe on the street, ald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, but office. She is entering the race after a 26-year Ms. Lashchyk believes the economic I’m concerned that our mentally ill popula- still greater than in non-presidential cycles. career on Wall Street and, more recently, es- impact related to the pandemic will be tion is becoming more aggressive. Mental Preliminary results in this year’s presiden- tablishing a professional coaching business. permanent, and is anticipating a complete health problems show up in many different tial primary suggest turnout this November Born in the East Village, with family still rebuilding of the New York economy. She forms, and it’s a problem that is affecting our could rival that of 2008 despite the difficul- living there, Ms. Lashchyk vividly describes thinks the legislature should focus on in- entire country.” ties caused by the pandemic. her childhood experience when her parents centives that will attract businesses to New When asked about the city’s request for the Ms. Glick has a formidable electoral histo- moved to New Jersey to escape the decline York and wants the state to pick industry legislature to allow it to borrow money for ry, decisively beating her challengers in both of their neighborhood in the 1970s. Consid- sectors for special consideration. One such operating expenses, Ms. Lashchyk expressed primary and general elections. She last faced ering the current turmoil in the city, includ- target she recommends is robotics. “The a lack of confidence in the current adminis- a Republican challenger in 2010 when she ing violence and looting near her Soho resi- only way we can attract manufacturing tration’s decision-making process. “We can’t won with 80 percent of the vote. Her stron- dence, she bemoans policies she believes are back to the US from China is if we are let the lights go out, but I could only be sup- gest opponent was 2018 Working Families not serving residents but resulting in another further along in robotics, and this sector portive if there is responsible oversight. We Party candidate Cynthia Nixon who, surpris- mass exodus instead. She stated, “I’m upset could benefit both New York City and the need to understand what incentives are being ingly, released a statement before the election with how politicized everything has become, larger state. Tech talent available in NYC developed to solve systematic over-spending.”

Well not exactly. After looking through Manhattan’s Vacancy Rate Soars the apartment’s price history I found that, since June, the realtor had lowered the price seven times and was renting it for $4,500, How Long Will It Be Before Renters Return? as of August 20th. In the Times article, Matthew Haag By Anthony Paradiso “renting apartments in NYC.” I scrolled apartments available in any month since described how “the surge in supply has down the page until I saw two tweets that the listing started tracking rental inventory driven down rental costs across the city and Just days before the WestView News Sep- linked to two stories written about the in 2010.” forced landlords to offer generous conces- tember deadline, I realized I could write drop in rents. One was from the New York Street Easy is a popular listing site that sions, including up to three months’ free about the decrease in residential rents. Times, which had the headline “Manhat- makes it easy for people to go online and rent and paying the expensive fees bro- How would I be able to get quotes? I tan Vacancy Rates Climb, and Rents Drop see what apartments are available to buy kers command.” According to Street Easy, started calling the real estate agencies 10%,” while the second linked to an ar- or rent. I went to the site and searched for the Charles Street apartment was offering that operate in the West Village and ticle in the Daily Mail, titled “Number of rentals under $5,000 in the West Village “no fee and one month free on a one-year telling them I was looking to rent an Vacant Rental Apartments in New York and Greenwich Village. Over a thousand lease.” apartment. Douglas Elliman answered Surges to its Highest Point on Record and results popped up, including a one-bed- In accordance with the principle of sup- my call and put me in touch with an Rents Drop 10% as Residents Keep Flee- room apartment at 16-18 Charles Street. ply and demand, the residential rental agent. I asked the realtor how rents have ing the City Amid Crime and COVID In May, it had been listed for $3,850, but market has seen a rise in supply and a huge changed over the last five months in the Nightmare.” as of August 20th its price had dropped al- fall in demand. Once the pandemic ends, I West Village. The realtor texted me this: I guess a story just doesn’t seem real un- most 14.5 percent to $3,295. hope people who left during COVID-19 “The West Village has been somewhat til the Times smacks you in the face with Then, I found a one-bedroom at 60 East will feel safe enough to return to live and protected because it is such a desirable it. Anyone knows that renters have left 8th Street that had dropped 16.6% from work in the city, but landlords and the gov- neighborhood,” and added that rents the city due to COVID-19. However, this April to July. The apartment’s location was ernment need to do two things first: we have decreased by “10% or 15 %.” disturbing trend was highlighted in the Georgetown Plaza on 8th Street between need more rent-controlled apartments, and Because this quote was all I was able to article, which said that there were “more Broadway and Mercer Street. If it was so we need reforms of commercial lease regu- get out of the realtor, I wanted to see what than 67,300 units available in July across desirable, people would be willing to pay lations. I hope we can all get together and I could learn on my own. So, I searched the city, according to Street Easy, the most the $5,400 it was going for in April, right? make this happen. www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 5 The State of Our Health Care and Hospitals: Carlina Rivera Scotty is a long time current West Village Calls for Change resident and local broker helping clients By Penny Mintz calmly navigate these challenging times. A loyal contributor to the WestView These days the security of our health care should be a top priority. In light of the News since its inception. present economy it is also clear that our health-insurance system cannot be mar- Enjoy useful information about New York City real estate, ried to employment. Millions of people pandemic updates, and supporting local businesses by lost their jobs and their insurance as a re- visiting the new westvillagebroker.com sult of the pandemic, and that puts all of us in danger. There are many reasons why we lack New Exclusives the kind of universal single-payer health care that most other industrialized coun- 303 Greenwich Street Condo | No Fee tries enjoy. Part of the problem is years of $8,500/month tax cuts to the highest earners. Another 225 5th Ave Penthouse | Outdoor Terrace big part is that politicians rely on the bil- $2.9M or $12,000/month lions of dollars that private insurance, big 27 Commerce Street | 1 Bedroom hospitals, and big pharma donate to their $3000/month CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CARLINA RIVERA, campaigns. The influence of such dona- 421 Hudson St | The Printing House tions prevents needed reform. Controlling who is chair of the Hospitals Committee, testified on August 12, 2020, before a virtual $5,000/month those donations is virtually impossible State Senate and Assembly joint hearing because, in accordance with the Citizens on hospitals during the pandemic. Photo Scotty Elyanow United decision of 2010, the Supreme courtesy of Penny Mintz. Court ruled that corporations are people, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker Manhattan & Brooklyn Market Expert money is speech, and people (read: cor- villagescotty porations) have freedom of speech (read: capacity uptown by 68 beds by enabling [email protected] M: 917.678.6010 donations). Samaritan’s Purse to open a field hospital Meanwhile, we have a health crisis, un- in Central Park. This move was widely m limited health costs, unaffordable private criticized when it was found that Samari- mmmmmmmmmmmmm health insurance, and 18 hospitals that tan’s Purse required volunteer workers to have been shuttered in NYC since 2003. sign a “statement of faith” that disqualified Our local St. Vincent’s was one of those; gays and Jews, among others, from work- and Mount Sinai has been planning to ing for them. In any event, 68 beds is far replace Beth Israel’s 850-bed full-service from the requisite doubling of its capacity hospital with a 70-bed facility. of 1,141. On August 12, 2020, the New York No one addressed how capacity could State Legislature conducted a joint hear- be substantially increased within the other ing on how hospitals have performed dur- remaining hospitals. Dr. Zucker did speak ing the pandemic. Department of Health about the USNS Comfort and the hospital Commissioner Howard Zucker, SUNY that was opened in the Javits Center. These Empire State President Jim Malatras, and facilities, however, proved to be ineffective New York City Council Member Carlina during the pandemic. Before the two facili- Rivera testified during the first session of ties closed, only 1,095 were treated at Javits the virtual hearing. and 182 at the Comfort. To All Our Friends and Neighbors Assembly Member Dick Gottfried City Council Member Carlina Rivera To AllFrom Our Our Friends Family and to Neighbors Yours, asked whether the reductions in hospital took a different position. She called for an We hopeWelcomeWelcome and pray that everyone Back! in your life capacity over the years had gone too far. outright halt of the closure of “every hos- is healthy and feeling well! He suggested that perhaps we needed a pital that had been slated to occur through Summer’sSummer’s Over “course correction.” The answer was: ap- the certificate-of-need (CON) process.” A The Fall CookingSHOP IN STORE:Season is Here! parently not. Despite Governor Cuomo’s CON must be granted before a hospital The FallMonday Cooking Thru Saturday Season 8 am-5 pmis Here! reports back in late March that New York can close, and the Department of Health VisitORDER us ONSoon LINE: for State had 53,000 beds and needed 140,000 relies on the Public Health and Health Visit us Soon for to deal with the pandemic, Dr. Malatras Planning Council (PHHPC) for its CON OurOur DailyDailyThrough andand Mercato.comWeekly Specials!Specials! asserted that the system had the flexibility determinations. ORDER FOR IN STORE PICKUP: to ramp up in a pandemic. That would re- Rivera wants to see a change made to the 212-675-4217 quire a flexibility miracle. process. She said there should be “more pa- O.O. OTTOMANELLIOTTOMANELLI Dr. Zucker testified that on March 1, tient representation and public input” than Thank youNEWNEW for being YORK’SYORK’S our loyal MEAT customer MARKETMARKET and supporting us 2020 all public and private hospitals had that provided by PHHPC—its members 285285 Bleecker Bleecker Street,Street, New York,York, NYNY 1001410014 been directed to double their capacity. At overwhelmingly represent corporate inter- OTTOMANELLI’s PRIME MEAT MARKET

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Tel. (212) 675-4217 • Fax (212) 620-7286 that point Mount Sinai, fortunately, had ests. Rivera reminded the legislature that Tel. (212)285 675-4217 BLEECKER • Fax STREET (212) 620-7286 not yet sold the Beth Israel building on a community-based planning process had TopTop QualityQuality PoultryPoultry and ProvisionsProvisions East 16th Street. So it was quickly able to existed in the 1980s. That process, she said, mm m m m m mmThank mm mYoum mmAll Frontline m m mWorkersm mm mm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm return 400 beds to use at Beth Israel, up should be restored and integrated into the mm m m m m mm mm mm m m mm mm mm mm m m from 200. Mount Sinai also increased its CON proceedings. mm m m m m mm mm mm mm m m mm mm mm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 6 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org God’s Love We Deliver By David Ludwigson, Vice President & ly affected by the illness. So many wanted Chief Development Officer to help. We are grateful for the continued support we get from them, as well as from God’s Love We Deliver began in 1985 at a broad range of other industries and com- the height of the AIDS pandemic. What munities, all united in the effort to ensure began with one woman, Ganga Stone, de- that our neighbors who are too sick to shop livering one meal to a man dying of AIDS or cook for themselves can get the right has grown to an organization of thousands nutrition they need, delivered with a smile. of people cooking and home-delivering This is a very busy time at God’s Love. more than 2.3 million meals a year to New Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Yorkers living with severe and chronic ill- phones are ringing off the hook. In fact, ness. So much has changed in these 35 daily meal production has increased more years, but the core values of God’s Love than 25 percent during the past five We Deliver have not. Every day our clients months and is continuing to grow. struggle with malnutrition, illness, hun- Our challenges today are similar to ger and isolation; and, every day more and what they were in the beginning: that more people reach out to us for help. When we reach all those who need us, that we they contact God’s Love they find a com- innovate to meet our clients’ continually munity that cares about them deeply. changing needs, and continue to meet Early in our history, almost all of our growing demand. clients diagnosed with AIDS passed away. DAILY MEAL PRODUCTION HAS INCREASED MORE THAN 25% DURING THE PAST FIVE Our team works to advance public policy MONTHS AND IS CONTINUING TO GROW: God’s Love We Deliver in action during CO- God’s Love provided meals and comfort that supports access to food and nutrition VID-19. Photo by Rommel Deman. for them for days, weeks or months, what- services for people in need. ever they needed. Their futures were short, How does one sign up for the service? their needs urgent, their gratitude and that health care costs, improve health outcomes, death, but with proper medical and nutri- Clients get in touch with us through our of their loved ones profound. As their lives and greatly improve clients’ outlook and tional care they become strong enough to website or through referrals by healthcare and needs have changed we have become quality of life. Food is medicine, and for so no longer need our services. professionals. increasingly focused on nutrition, and de- many who are living alone, food is love. In our earliest days, God’s Love found a Are they required to prove need? liver the tailored meals our clients need to Every day we witness great strides in the great deal of support from the fashion, de- Clients must be too sick to shop or cook for manage their illness and become as healthy health and well-being of our clients. Some- sign, LGBTQ, and theater communities, themselves, and they must have a health- as they can. Good nutrition can lower times people start on our program close to as these were communities that were great- continued on page 7

If someone you are caring for is living with a life-altering illness such as HIV/AIDS, cancer or Alzheimer’s disease and has difficulty shopping or cooking, we can provide them with nutritious, delicious, home-delivered meals.

All meals are provided FREE to clients and FULL of love.

Get meals: GODSLOVEWEDELIVER.ORG/GETMEALS www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 7

Leading Through a Pandemic WE’RE OPEN—FREE ON DEMAND DELIVERY VILLAGE APOTHECARY

THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY THAT CARES

Come in WCBS-2 REPORTER MAX GOMEZ INTERVIEWING MICHAEL DOWLING, President and CEO for your of Northwell Health. Photo courtesy of Northwell Health. fREE

By Northwell Health President and Leading Through a Pandemic offers guid- CEO Michael J. Dowling ance on how hospitals and health systems WELCOmE throughout the country can prepare more On August 25, Skyhorse Publishing will effectively for the next viral threat. The publish what New York Governor An- book includes dramatic stories from the KIT! drew Cuomo calls a “riveting account of front lines at the peak of the viral assault the COVID-19 experience” that “captures and lessons of what went well, and what the essential lessons for how to prepare for did not. The authors draw upon North- BRInG THIs CARd In And RECEIVE $10 off likely surges in the months ahead.” well’s experience to prescribe changes in US O n A n Y P u RCHAs E O f $25 OR m ORE As head of a health system that treated health care for the next pandemic. Beyond more COVID-19 patients (70,000+) than the need for larger medical stockpiles is the any other provider in the nation, North- far more challenging task of transforming Store HourS: Mon - Fri 8aM - 8pM • Sat 9aM - 6pM • Sun 10aM - 5pM well Health President and CEO Michael the culture of American health care to en- J. Dowling and co-author Charles Kenney able robust emergency response in hospitals 346 Bleecker St • Greenwich VillaGe, nY 10014 • VillaGeapothecarY.com provide an inside look at what it was like at and health systems of all sizes nationwide. the epicenter of the pandemic. With the fed- This is a must-have resource for health care 212.807.7566 eral response lagging during the early weeks professionals, policy-makers, journalists and of the public health crisis, a limited under- citizens whose curiosity demands deeper standing of best approaches to treating the understanding of modern-day pandemics. virus, and severe shortages of personal pro- God's Love continued from page 6 tective equipment (PPE) and nasal swab kits Michael J. Dowling is president and chief care professional confirm this, but there is Our Founder, Ganga Stone, is still alive needed to perform diagnostic tests, the book executive officer of Northwell Health. Dowl- no financial need-based requirement. and lives in upstate New York. chronicles the clinical and administrative ing grew up in Limerick, Ireland. He earned Do you need volunteers and what might Have you won any awards? leadership strategies that sustained North- his undergraduate degree from University they be doing? The New York Times Award for Manage- well’s hospitals, outpatient facilities and College Cork (UCC), Ireland, and his master’s We are able to cook and home-deliver ment Excellence. God’s Love was chosen laboratories as they saw a record volume of degree from Fordham University. He also has 10,000 meals each weekday because of the as a winner of the Social Determinants of severely ill patients in need of intensive care. honorary doctorates from Hofstra University help of thousands of volunteers (17,000 Health Innovation Award in the Com- From the hospital front lines to the and Dowling College. He played hurling with last year), and yes, we always need help! To munity-Based Organization category. We Northwell C-suite, Leading Through a Pan- Limerick and won a National League medal help cook, pack, and deliver meals, volun- have received the top 4-star recognition demic: The Inside Story of Lessons Learned and a Fitzgibbon Cup medal with UCC. teers can sign up on our website. from Charity Navigator for seven years about Innovation, Leadership, and Human- Before his public service career, Dowling was What is happening differently because running (joining the top six percent of the ity During the COVID-19 Crisis details the a professor of social policy and assistant dean of the virus? nation’s charities). We are regularly called preparation and response that enabled New at the Fordham University Graduate School We have instituted social distancing mea- on as a model community-based organiza- York’s largest health system to treat more of Social Services and director of the Fordham sures across all our operations, and we have tion by New York State. than 15,000 hospitalized patients, as well campus in Westchester County. Afterwards, also streamlined our menu so that our Can you name some of your major donors? as over 55,800 individuals seen in emer- Dowling served in New York State govern- kitchen can operate with fewer people. All Michael Kors, Aerin Lauder, Steve and gency rooms, urgent care centers, physician ment for 12 years, including seven years as of our meal deliveries are made from a so- Alexandra Cohen, Ariana Rockefeller, offices and other outpatient locations from state director of Health, Education and Hu- cial distance. Our drivers call our clients to Neil Patrick Harris, and David Burtka early March through mid-July. man Services and deputy secretary to former let them know they are on the way; when How many people are you serving today? Governor Cuomo, who has relied on Mr. governor Mario Cuomo. He was also commis- they arrive, they put down the meal, ring 10,000 meals every weekday! This year we Dowling as one of his most-trusted health sioner of the New York State Department of the bell, and then step six feet away to con- served 9,454 clients. care advisors throughout the public health cri- Social Services. firm the delivery and say hello from a safe What are typical profiles of recipients? sis, said, “Leading Through a Pandemic is a riv- distance. We have an extremely diverse community eting account of the COVID-19 experience at Charles Kenney serves as the Chief Journalist What are the future plans? of clients throughout the NYC metro-area. New York’s largest health system. More than at Northwell Health and Executive Edi- With demand growing unabated, we will All are sick and living with a life-altering anything else I have read, this account captures tor of the Northwell Innovation Series. He is be searching for additional office and pro- illness. Many of our clients live at or below the essential lessons for how to prepare for the author of many books, including The Best duction space in the near future. the federal poverty line. likely surges in the months ahead. It brilliantly Practice: How the New Quality Movement Is How big an organization are you in staff, Are seniors now the principal recipients? captures the emotion of the COVID-19 pan- Transforming Medicine, which the New York budget and persons served? Although we have no age restrictions and demic while offering a clear-eyed analysis of Times described as “the first large-scale history 115 staff, 17,000 volunteers, $22 million our clients’ ages range from 18-104, 70 how to prepare for and respond to ongoing of the quality movement.” He serves on the annual budget, 2.3 million meals/9,400 percent are 60 or older. We also send meals and future emergencies. It’s a clarifying, must- faculty of the Institute for Healthcare Improve- people served annually for our clients’ children who are minors or read in these uncertain times.” ment in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Is the founder still alive? senior caregivers. 8 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org

Newsroom continued from page 1 ing continuous Daily News service was the their editorial team members. a physical office there is no fortress. To lose the Daily News in different locations dur- reason. About a year later the newsroom re- “Fixed costs including real estate and the NY Post, News Corp. would lose its ing its 101 year history became closely as- turned to the downtown office. other infrastructure are under constant core. In creating a void at the center of a sociated with metropolitan might. Its first In 2017, Mortimer B. Zuckerman, the review. We believe that a reduction in in- container, the container collapses. and second locations were based inside the paper’s owner for 25 years, sold the farm frastructure costs, coupled with substantial The Daily News, “New York’s Home- authoritative stone buildings at City Hall (including U.S. News and World Report), to growth in our digital subscriptions busi- town Newspaper” is just as important to park, constructed in the early 19th century Tribune Publishing, which at the time was ness, has placed the Company in a position Murdoch as his pet Post. With its Pulitzer during the founding of American govern- calling itself “tronc Inc.,” for the historic to succeed in its digital future,” company Prize winning journalism and courageous mental systems. From 1929 to 1995, the sum of $1. leadership stated in the report. reporting of our shared experiences as New News lived at its most iconic location at Less than a year later, in 2018, Chicago- The decision to make this announcement Yorkers, such as 9/11, and Sandy, the News 220 East 42nd Street—an Art Deco edi- based tronc Inc. went ahead and truncated about bombing their own newsrooms, and is the Post’s only true competitor in the fice specifically designed for the news pub- more than half of the remaining New York chalking it up to digital expansion, makes it tabloid sector, setting the standard and the lication by collaborators Raymond Hood Daily News employees, around 93 people. as blaringly obvious that Tribune Publish- scene for properly reporting the city, check- and John Mead Howells. Howells had won Sadly, this was not the first time newsroom ing knows as little about journalism now ing the facts. But without the power from a the Chicago Tribune building competition staff were substantially reduced. Zucker- as they knew about branding during their solid center, will this star of free press keep (what’s now called the Tribune Tower in man’s paper lost people to overtly grim “tronc, Inc.” phase. Where digital expan- shining a light of truth on the city? Chicago and is primarily a museum) with a treatment of his burdensome asset’s per- sion was once a raison d’etre for a bigger similar design in 1922. New York’s version formance. Such brutality to the News’ per- office, it is now a very disingenuous excuse Amanda Mikelberg is a freelance journalist was commissioned by then Daily News sonnel had begun to win out against the to potentially lay off workers and disen- and digital designer in Upper Manhattan. owner Joseph Medill Patterson, and is still mission of the press, and also created very franchise the survivors by denying them She has reported for several outlets includ- called the Daily News Building. So heroic cutthroat conditions among newsroom a place to cooperate effectively with their ing the New York Daily News, New York the image of the press earlier in the 20th employees. colleagues to produce on-brand daily news. Post, Metro New York, and holds an MA century, and the News so much a symbol Tribune Publishing’s Second Quarter The company gave current staffers a from Columbia University in journalism, of it, it is said that it was the inspiration for 2020 results from Aug. 5, a week before glimmer of hope, an industry source told class of 2015. You can respond to her story at The Daily Planet, the fictional workplace its announcement that it was shuttering a me, that a smaller newsroom may re- [email protected] of Superman’s Clark Kent, and served as bunch of newsrooms, reported a 40 percent open, somewhere, after the pandemic. Yet its setting in a couple of the Christopher year-over-year increase in its digital content the promise of a grand re-opening of the Reeves films. A very nice piece of real es- revenues—quite good. Net income losses newspaper is currently about as guaranteed tate for the Fourth Estate. decreased by $1.6 million—not bad either. as hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of I also visited their saddest location change The report states that operating expenses COVID-19. after Sandy rendered their two floors at 4 were down because “The decrease reflects News Corp.’s Rupert Murdoch was New York Plaza unsafe, flooding the build- the Company’s ongoing disciplined cost smart to keep funding the New York Post, ing with oil and river water. In the wake of management and aggressive efforts to re- his pride and joy, and make it clear that it the storm, about half of the newsroom and duce our overall costs.” This line reads like won’t profit unto itself, and yet is important admin were transplanted to an incredibly a confession of guilt of their actually simply enough to maintain. Without newsprint’s tiny space packed with grumpy people at the pursuing an agenda to deny people their foundation, the media would become un- paper’s regular printing plant in Jersey City. employment and resources, tucked conve- moored from the traditions of journal- A portion of the editorial team were the niently inside the excuse of the pandemic. ism that are what give it its strength in a pioneers of “remote work”—indeed a more Worse yet is that the digital expansion once multitude of ways. Politics aside, Murdoch technologically challenging thing for 2012 blamed for company losses and punished recognizes the importance of what hap- than it is today. Quite a few staffers swam with layoffs, has finally shown growth, but pens inside of a newsroom, inside of the AMANDA MIKELBERG in Fort Tryon Park, with the fishes, supposedly for the boat to is again being used as the grounds for not headquarters of a complex organization, as New York City, April 2020. be saved. Sandy was the excuse, maintain- properly staffing, paying and organizing his business’ most valuable asset. Without Free Groceries for Village Seniors By Fr Graeme Napier weekly shop of basics), and St John’s vol- in the same circumstances. The Village has and more. Having invested in top-of-the- St John’s in the Village unteers place and pay for the groceries and one of the highest proportions of seniors range audio-visual equipment, St John’s St John’s in the Village has been running, have them delivered. It’s as simple as that. living alone in all of the five boroughs of now offers its fine acoustic and this equip- and continues to run, a free grocery service The project is funded by St John’s with the NYC. Charity begins at home! ment to musicians who wish to live-stream for Villagers who have no access to the in- help of Episcopal Charities (NYC’s Epis- St John’s in the Village has a notable his- their concerts to online audiences. Recent- ternet. It is one of the many services which copal Diocese ‘home’ charity), some private tory, humbly worn, of helping Villagers in ly these have become ‘fusion’ concerts with have come into being to help particular donors, and significant grants from chari- times of distress. St John’s played a signifi- a limited in-person audience attending the groups hit hard by the pandemic. During ties in the UK. cant pastoral role in the Village’s cholera live-streamed performance. This is to the this pandemic, to which St John’s grocery If you are a senior with no internet ac- outbreaks in the 19th century, in the Vil- benefit both of the musicians, who can project is a direct response, many seniors cess, and are still apprehensive about visit- lage’s response to the so-called ‘Spanish’ continue to perform and earn revenue, but (and other vulnerable people) feel unsafe, ing grocery stores, please do consider let- Flu of 1918, and, of course, in the AIDS also to music lovers, who can hear live per- even with masks and distancing, when ting St John’s help you in this matter. If crisis of the 1980s and 90s. It is in keeping formances from a Village venue, and now, in crowded indoor places such as grocery you do have access to the internet but know with this long tradition of community care at last, attend concerts safely in person stores. Many seniors can, of course, either seniors who do not, consider ordering for that St John’s in the Village has begun new once more. St John’s is delighted to be able order their groceries online, or have non- them or passing on to them this article and programs in this time of COVID-19. to keep music alive in the Village despite senior friends or relatives shop for them. the number to call: In addition to helping seniors and other the cost incurred in engaging professional Seniors with no internet access and with Call 929 292 9235 vulnerable people with their daily bread, St sound engineers and other skilled person- no non-senior friends or relatives in the 11am to 1pm Monday to Friday John’s has also kept very close to the arts nel to enable this service to musicians. Village are in a difficult situation. That’s You can consider these groceries to be a community, so much part of the life of the Theater at St John’s continues online, where St John’s steps in to help. Our volun- gift, or, if you might be in a position to re- Village. Before the pandemic St John’s though St John’s theater itself is closed, teers staff the phone line (open from 11am pay St John’s for part of the cost of the gro- presented at least four of five concerts each with a number of innovative community to 1pm Monday-Friday), seniors call and ceries you order, that would help us run the week, from early music, through Baroque, and cultural events curated by St John’s say what they need (up to about $80 for a program for longer and help more people Classical, Romantic, modern, folk, jazz, continued on page 24 www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 9

whence those numbers have come. Notes from Away: What is in store for the few months left before the November 3 election is not just norm shattering, it is forbidding as a projec- Gender Politics tion of future Maine politics. Those politics have a proud history, especially on the Re- By Tom Lamia obstacle course in avoiding the “nuclear op- publican side, of recognizing and reward- tion” of gutting the will of the minority by ing women with election success. Margaret Two women are faced off in the race for action through a bare majority. The history Chase Smith and Olympia Snowe preceded U.S. Senator in this year’s Maine general of how it has come to this is itself both recent Susan Collins as U.S. Senators from Maine. election. One, Susan Collins, is a 67-year- and horrific in its abandonment of rules and All, including Collins, have shown their in- old four-term incumbent with all of the procedures that once ensured that the Senate dependence of mind and their commitment scars necessary to prove it. The other is would act only through consensus. Now we to their Maine constituents, most from Sara Gideon, a 48-year-old Speaker of the have the familiar zero good will, zero cooper- small towns and modest circumstances. Not Maine State House of Representatives with ation proceedings on all issues (legislation, of only has Collins been elected four times to a slim resume, both as Speaker (2016) and course, but also confirmations and oversight, six-year terms in the Senate, she won most as Representative (2012). Why should this no opportunity to create scandal hearings is SHE IS NOT FROM AWAY: Senator Susan recently (2014) with 70% of the vote. What race attract any attention outside of Maine? missed). The nation holds its breath over the Collins, above, was born and raised in Maine. could she have done to deserve being in One reason is its great likelihood to decide health of a Supreme Court Justice whose seat Photo courtesy of U.S. Senator Susan Collins. this situation where she is polling around who might succeed Sen. McConnell as Sen- could become the linchpin for Constitutional 40% in her race with Gideon, a relative ate Majority Leader and de facto Congres- erosion if it were to be open even for a few running (often one after the other) on tele- newcomer to Maine? This column, “Notes sional Dictator of what gets voted on in his weeks before the end of the current Presi- vision every day, to the point of (one would From Away,” often suggests that a person exclusive domain. The President may have a dent’s term on January 20, 2021. We all know think) viewer exhaustion. Money is being not born and raised in Maine will always be veto power under the Constitution over any that Sen. McConnell would not shrink from spent at record levels. There is no shortage an outsider. Collins was born and raised in bill that survives passage in the House and a full reversal of his 2015 insistence that no on either side of financial resources. Maine is Maine. She is definitely not from away. Senate, but the President does not have the Court nominee could be considered within a small state in population (1.3 million) and Gideon was born and raised in Rhode Is- power to kill legislation in its crib. Without a one year of a Presidential election. resources (GDP per capita: $42,925) and, land. She got her start in politics in the 1990s Senate majority, a President is stuck in a bot- That is the unfortunate backdrop to this yet, together Collins ($12 million) and Gide- as an aide to Rhode Island Senator Claiborne tleneck in which governing becomes not the Maine Senate race that is now fully active. on ($18 million), through June 30, spent at Pell. She moved to Freeport, Maine, in 2004 “art of the possible,” but a politically deadly The campaign ads for the candidates are levels that suggest there is much more from continued on page 12

enablers in the Republican Senate, the Bill Leticia James and Cy Vance, are you listen- Is Trump Guilty of Homicide? Barr “Justice” department, or his friends ing? No person, not even the president, is By Alec Pruchnicki in Moscow are thinking up? These crimes above the law is a nice theory. Let’s put it Reckless endangerment occurs when a are often prosecuted on the state level. So, into practice. Wait! Don’t roll yours eyes and think of this person commits acts that create a substan- as another rabid anti-Trump rant. Even as a tial risk of physical injury to others, even if legal layman, I think there are possible argu- that was not the intention of the act. For “Whose Post Office? Our Post Office!” ments for answering this question in the af- Trump, this would include not wearing firmative. There are plenty of people in The facemasks or distancing when with others, Village with more legal training than me and mocking mask-wearers, giving out false in- more internet skills, so my rough arguments formation on unproven cures, holding po- can be made more precise if at all valid. litical rallies where facemasks were not en- Many people say the president should not couraged, if not actually discouraged, and be above the law. Here are three laws he pushing to open work places and schools shouldn’t be immune from: criminal negli- in locations where such openings would be gence, reckless endangerment, and involun- life threatening. Again, there must be cases tary manslaughter (sometimes described as somewhere when a person with an illness murder or homicide in the 3rd degree). The was treated with a reckless unproven or ir- exact definition and severity of each of these rational treatment and death resulted. varies from state to state so the definitions If a person causes the death of another, I will use are approximations. But they are even inadvertently, as a result of a crime, clear enough to be applied to our situation. like criminal negligence or reckless endan- Criminal negligence occurs when a per- germent, that person has committed in- son ignores an obvious risk and acts signifi- voluntary manslaughter. Trump’s reckless cantly differently from those of an ordinary and negligent behavior has inadvertently person under similar circumstances. When contributed to the death of about 200,000 Trump ignored information on epidem- Americans, with no end in sight. Jacqui Taylor Basker, leading a group This rally was one of over 700 that ics handed to him by members of Obama’s Besides upholding the principle that no of approximately 40 West Village resi- took place simultaneously across the US staff, or by doctors and scientists in his own man is above the law, there is another rea- dents, shouted this and other chants on Saturday, Aug. 22nd, organized by administration along with those from other son for charging Trump with these crimess outside the Hudson Street station at a coalition of civil rights, workers, and countries, and refused to take any action but described in WestView’s recent article on a rally in support of the USPS, and veterans groups. stated that COVID would just disappear or impeachment (“Impeach Him Again, Im- against recent moves made by Postmas- “I feel that organizing gives all some had to be handled by the governors, this was mediately.” WVN, August 2020) Trump ter Louis DeJoy. hope”, said Tayor-Basker of today’s criminal negligence. There must be cases has raised the stakes for this election with DeJoy’s actions have received bipar- events, “We (Villagers) saved this somewhere in the country when parents unprecedented actions, like unidentified tisan concern, and many have seen the Post Office branch ten years ago, and I negligently ignored medical advice and it troops in American cities, suppressing changes implemented as an attempt by believe that applying this type of public led to the death of their children, and result- peaceful demonstrations for the sake of a the Trump administration to interfere pressure really helps.” ed in charges and convictions for criminal photo-op, implying the election might be with mail-in voting rights amid a pan- negligence. Ignoring advice that contribut- fraudulent, criticizing mail ballots (like the demic that disproportionally affects the —­ Photo and Summary by Bob Cooley ed to the death of hundreds of thousands of ones he always uses), and even subverting elderly and disadvantaged communities. people is also criminal negligence. the post-office. And who knows what his 10 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org

(He was fired by Moses for his intransi- gence.) Similarly, Frank Lloyd Wright said Livable Streets that a house should rest on the brow of a hill, not its crown. Thus, the roads above 155th Street laced through the valleys while the hilltops were graced with such parks as Fort Washington, Fort Tryon, In- wood Hills, and Highbridge. Meanwhile, downtown, Van Ginkel As- sociates proposed a “woonerf ” (street di- version) for 48th Street, a technique that both makes the street more attractive and safer by slowing down motor vehicles and providing more casual places for pedestri- ans to walk, cross roadways, sit and relax. More recently, Janette Sadik-Khan was transforming the hard-surfaced grid into more pedestrian-friendly walking surfaces. In her book Street Fight she states, “Cities must adopt a more inclusive and humane approach to reshaping the urban realm and rebuilding it quickly to human scale.” A large section of Broadway north of Times Square was pedestrianized at great benefit to drivers, walkers and abutting businesses. DINING AL FRESCO on Ninth Avenue and 14th Street. Photo by Barry Benepe. Outdoor alfresco seating for light meals across from the Union Square Greenmar- By Barry Benepe have appealed to the Swiss architect Le Cathedral, St. John the Divine, Columbia ket was provided with painted pavement, PART I: SUFFERING THE GRID Corbusier (When the Cathedrals Were University, and many fine small parks and planters, and cafe tables and chairs. Cre- Manhattan is uniquely blessed or cursed, White), but effaced the features that made squares—despite the confines of the grid, ating these welcoming spaces, Commis- depending on your point of view. The rig- the city unique. simply by combining the 25 by 100-foot sioner Sadik-Khan exclaimed, “By follow- id uniform rectangular street system was To Frederick Law Olmsted, architect- house lots. We’ve greened the grid with ing the footsteps and tracing an outline designed to maximize building develop- in-chief of Central Park as well as land- thousands of trees and are beginning to make of the way people use the street today, we ment on the undulating landscape without scape planner for Harvard University, the streets themselves into beautiful and use- could uncover the design of the city we will thought for its natural topography, water Stanford University, and the city of Buf- ful spaces; but he was right about our spend- want to live in tomorrow. These streets of courses, water bodies (including both the falo where “he showed how the burgeon- ing huge sums to level the streets. Central tomorrow can be outlined today in paint. North and East Rivers, which Ann But- ing American industrial city could be made Park alone required Olmsted to move over Yes, “paint.” At comparatively low cost, tenwieser aptly referred to as the “wide arms livable” (A Clearing in the Distance by Wi- four million cubic yards of earth and stone. paint has provided not only safer bicy- of the sea” that embrace the island of Man- told Rybczynski), “The grid had the dumb So much for retaining natural features. An cling lanes, pedestrian crossings, reserved nahattan’s farms, architecture, historic land- utility of a mason’s sieve and annulled the opportunity was lost by not continuing the truck deliveries and emergency stopping, scape, roads, piers and working shoreline, possibility to make architectural monu- north edge of the park along the Harlem but space for pop-up parks and cafes. Free and transition to the surrounding region). ments” (The Greatest Grid presentation Meer and joining it with the Harlem River; private automobile storage on public spac- While this grid was adopted in the by the Museum of the City of New York). however, opportunities to relate to the natu- es—virtual walls of steel which are a major Commissioners Map of 1811, it was pre- Olmsted added, when he was appointed ral landscape were not lost north of 155th cause of congestion and pedestrian colli- ceded by the Bernard Ratzer Map of 1776, along with architect Calvert Vaux to design Street where the grid stopped. sions—will be a luxury of the past. the Peter Rushton Maverick Map of 1796, Central Park in 1858, “The time will come the Delaney Family Grid, the Mangin- when New York will be built up, when all PART II: GREENING THE GRID WRAPPING UP Goerck Plan of 1803, and the 1807 Com- the grading and filling will be done, when As the commissioners laid out lands north The former commissioner concluded, missioners Map—none of which were of- picturesquely varied rock foundations of of 155th Street they imbibed the lessons “When I think what streets will look like in ficially adopted. The streets and avenues the island will have been converted into of Frederick Law Olmsted in relating to the next two decades, I hope the differences simply ended at the shoreline with no con- the foundations for rows of monotonous the contours, ridges, valleys, and shore- will be visible in the way that space is used, sideration of parks and recreation, public straight streets and piles of erect, angular lines. Avenues were placed in the valleys, with more people waking on more attractive buildings, churches, commerce, factories, buildings.” The authors of Frederick Law parks were placed on the crests. My friend, sidewalks landscaped with trees and green- warehouses, industry, or rail lines. This Olmsted Sr. concluded that he “had a sense mentor, and employer Robert C. Weinberg ery, riding bikes in safe well-designed lanes, was head-in-the-sand planning motivated of the necessity for a balanced relationship worked for Parks Commissioner Robert or riding on state-of-the-art bus rapid tran- by short-term financial expediency rather between man and the natural world.” Moses, who wanted an automobile high- sit lines that crisscross the city,” than long-term forethought. The simplic- Of course, Olmstead was wrong and way to leap from the crests of the hills Our streets are our most directly acces- ity of using the Cartesian coordinates of right. We did build our masterpieces—such across Spuyten Duyvil to Marble Hill sible outdoor living space, and extensions a school child reciting the alphabet and as Rockefeller Center, Tudor City, London in the Bronx. Weinberg insisted that the of our private indoor ones. They should be counting from one to three hundred may Terrace, the Public Library, St. Patrick’s bridge flank the hills, not surmount them. designed with the same care.

LOYALTY PROGRAM • GIFT CARDS FREE DELIVERY

GREENWICH VILLAGE 512 HUDSON STREET • NYC 10014 WWW.SEAGRAPEWINES.COM • 212-463-7688 www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 11 Coast to Coast Coronavirus Caravan restaurants indoors since around April or May. Masks are rarely seen except on the waitresses and cooks inside eateries. There is an undercurrent of resentment, in nearly all age groups, at the suggestion that a mask is necessary. There is a half-hearted will- ingness to socially distance oneself, as long as it is not inconvenient. Unsurprisingly, government is the perceived problem, not the solution, in rural America, even during a health catastrophe. In some sense, they are correct in this case. The primary evidence that the pandemic exists is in the silence of these towns. Most of Main Street is largely closed, or the store fronts are “for lease.” At mid-day, the side- walks are bare—with hardly a pedestrian in SNAKING THEIR WAY FROM WEST TO EAST: sight. In Cresco, Iowa, at the Con-ection Robert Kroll with his wife, Rose, and their (sic) ice cream parlor, four women sit on shih tzu Peedee. Photo by Susan Crosby. the counter stools and kibitz, unmasked. One woman tells us, “We haven’t seen a By Robert Kroll case yet.” She confided that she supports During the past six weeks, my wife and I Trump and said, “If he wins, there will be and our 15-year-old Shih Tzu snaked our fighting in the streets. If he loses, we will be way through a virus-laden northwest pas- goose-stepping down the street.” sage, crossing over a dozen state borders, American flags and Trump/Pence 2020 from California to New York City. signs were plentiful throughout the small We are Brooklynites, who found our- towns of the northern U.S. Biden signs selves sheltering for three months (since were not in evidence except in cities like March 15th) in the Bay Area of Califor- Akron and Toledo. Confederate flags were nia. We were stuck with the choice of re- also seen regularly. Not surprising, but con- turning to New York City as it became the firmatory. epicenter of the pandemic, or becoming It should be noted that as white folks temporary refugees in (then) the less viral in their mid-70s we were treated with the San Francisco—Berkeley area. We chose SIGN ON DOOR OF RURAL PENNSYLVANIA BAR. Photo: Robert Kroll. utmost respect by everyone, regardless the latter. of whether we wore masks, distanced, or After New York City flattened its COV- brought our Shih Tzu into a café to soak ID-19 curve in mid-June, we were ready to around 4,000 miles under our belt-drive and feel good. Zero symptoms. We were up the cool air. Our politics were a subject return home. With little more than a few Harley motorcycle. Our strategy to stay masked and distanced, with oft-sanitized of some quandary. Surely, we didn’t believe changes of underwear we ventured north safe—keep out of the large cities and stay in hands. We were either on our motorcycle anything we read in the newspapers. and east from San Francisco Bay to the hamlets and small towns—had worked. The or in our motel room, except to walk the These rustic northern states’ attitudes Napa Valley. We loosely mapped out a sim- two-star motels, where the staffs are said to dog. We plan to take an antibody test to see toward the virus’s spread has, one by one, ple curvy line from Berkeley, California to be trained how to disinfect rooms between whether we had the virus. come back to bite small-town people. In Brooklyn, New York…on a motorcycle… guests, were nearly empty. We stayed and Our trip had three purposes: to get us the main, they have fewer hospital beds per with two adults, one dog and three small slept in 40 different towns, 40 different mo- back home; to get our new (used, 2005 capita, less PPE, fewer ventilators, health travel bags, a longing for our New York tels (including two B&Bs). One motel in model) Harley to New York; to do an workers, ambulances and morgues. Though home, and high hopes for survival. Alturas, CA emailed us a door unlocking informal unscientific survey of how the we wore masks to the extent possible, we We were well aware of the risks of travel code to let ourselves into the empty mo- northern states (Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and other travelers and visitors could have during the pandemic. We looked at the na- tel, get our room key, and stay in our room North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, been spreaders. Our small-town brethren tional viral maps circulating on June 18th without security of any kind. Michigan, and Ohio) and the eastern sea- may have to adjust their attitudes and per- and plotted a route designed to avoid the Today, several weeks since we left the board were adapting and adjusting to this haps experience the epiphanies of the new “hot spots,” the COVID-19 transmission West Coast, and after a week’s quarantin- novel coronavirus. normal that most coastal people did last nodes that were then centered in the South ing in our Brooklyn studio, we are healthy The take-away from the trip: small town spring. Otherwise, COVID-19 could sup- and Northeast. We would adjust our path and happy. We’ve not been tested as yet, and rural residents of northern states are plant opioid overdosing as a major cause of if the virus migrated. and prior to the coast-to-coast trip hadn’t far less concerned about the virus than death in the hinterland. We can only hope We arrived in Brooklyn 44 days later, with had good reason to do so…we are healthy coasties. They are, and have been, eating in that does not come to pass.

Had Enough of Netflix? The Libraries Are Now Open! (For pick-up of reserved items) So Get Reading! 12 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org Mod Squad The Sixth Precinct By Jeff Hodges the pool in a colorful pair of swim trunks. We all stared down at him—cops, EMTs, In the summer of 1978 I heard about a firemen—and Wendy turned to a young Builds the Block news outfit called Broadcast News Service detective next to her and said, “Make sure that needed video crews to shoot from mid- you get those trunks when he comes up.” night to noon on weekends, working out and everyone started laughing and hooting of a car with a police radio scanner. I was until it turned into something else and we a cameraman shooting punk rock, modern were all wiping tears out of our eyes. dance, and performance art in downtown There was stuff you didn’t write home Manhattan, but this sounded like fun; and about. Jumpers who looked OK until when they said I would have to videotape someone turned them over. The featureless dead bodies, I told them I was a country boy face of a floater who’d been in the river for and road kill didn’t bother me. weeks. We shot a car wreck in the Bronx— I got teamed up with a guy named Joe. a mom and two kids rear-ended and gone We sat in the car and waited for calls to up in flames, and the drunk without a come in on the scanner. Waiting was a big scratch who hit them. I went to get my part of the job. shot and a fireman said, “Don’t go inside OFFICER NOLAN CONNOR, standing in front of George Capsis (seated, in white shirt), But when a call came in we took off fast. the car.” When I zoomed in I found out listens to a neighbor voice her concerns. Sergeant Houlahan stands to his left. Photo by We ran red lights, we drove 100 mph on why he said it—the three white orbs in Karen Rempel. the expressways. Sometimes we got to the the blackened wreckage were the skulls of By Karen Rempel community. Two other attendees reported crime scene before the cops did. We carried the occupants. This threw me for a min- problems they experienced with homeless a bright light—a “sun gun”—that could ute, and then Wendy grabbed me and said, On August 13th, the 6th Precinct of the people lying across a stoop or entryway blind everybody. More than once we were “C’mon—they’re booking the bastard at NYPD held a “Build the Block” communi- and preventing passage. Another neighbor threatened with arrest for interfering with Fort Apache,” and we took off. ty discussion at the AIDS Memorial Park raised concerns about a homeless encamp- an arrest. It ended for me in late August. One at West 12th Street and Greenwich Ave- ment at a nearby park. Another attendee A former girlfriend named Wendy start- Sunday morning, after driving 110 mph in nue. About 40 masked neighbors attended, commented that homeless people are tak- ed riding with us. She knew how to work the rain to shoot a body coming out of the including half a dozen folks from WestView ing over the AIDS Memorial Park and the cops and EMTs to find out which pre- trunk of a Cadillac, it dawned on me: this News, to speak with a handful of NYPD sleeping on the benches, making the park cincts and hospitals were playing host to is a stupid way to die. Neighbor Coordination Officers (NCOs). inaccessible to other members of the pub- perps and victims so we could get follow- I tendered my resignation. Joe took a job Police Officer (PO) Maureen Carey led the lic. The police said anyone is allowed to be up footage, which meant more money for with CNN and Wendy went back to col- discussion, with PO Nolan Connor and in the park, and occupy the benches, until everybody. lege. The Mod Squad was done. Sergeant Daniel Houlahan also answering 11 pm when the park closes. We became known as the Mod Squad— Joe went on to win accolades and Em- questions from the audience. In addition to PO Carey said there have been Black after the TV show: two guys and a girl show- mys until he got into a contretemps that complaints about noisy street restaurants Lives Matter protests daily and the police ing up at all hours in the worst parts of town. resulted in some legal problems. On the and polluting car idlers, the main focus of are deployed to escort the bike protestors We got the name when we were on a job in day he was sentenced to a short prison discussion was about the homeless people’s and guard the protest events, so the balance Staten Island. A call came in about a murder term I was sent downtown by Entertain- increased presence in our neighborhood. of officers remaining for other duties is in Brooklyn and we ran to our car, followed by ment Tonight to cover the story and was I shared the story of what happened on thin. The bike protestors register with them a gang of teenagers. When we got to the car part of the scrum that followed him into July 1 at my friends’ place on West 10th ahead of time for police escort. they surrounded us. Wendy spun around and the street. He walked with his head held Street (see “Stoop the Poop” in this issue). Now that these issues have been raised, snarled “Back off!” Surprised, they backed high and a thousand-yard stare. I sidled Sergeant Houlahan said it was too bad the the NCOs said they will tour the park off. Someone yelled “Mod Squad!” and the up to him and said, “Joe, I’m sorry for all police just drove by. He explained that if more often. name stuck. Soon enough, we’d show up on this, it really stinks,” but he wouldn’t turn a homeless person is committing a felony, The NCOs said if you feel scared or a job and kids would chant, “Mod Squad!! his head. I don’t know if he knew it was the police must witness it themselves to threatened, definitely call 911. I felt that Mod Squad!” me, or just another newshound looking for lay charges, or have an eyewitness point to their care for the neighborhood was genu- Once we were at a swimming pool in more fodder to feed the folks at the news the person in their presence. For violations, ine, in contrast to the NYPD’s media con- Harlem. A teenager was at the bottom of desk—or both. they can issue a charge without witnessing. I’m not a lawyer—and I doubt very many tact. When I asked Richard J. Esposito, in the assembled crowd know what consti- Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Pub- continued from page 9 Gender Politics tutes a felony and what a violation—and lic Information, for an interview about and got into politics through membership only to Vermont’s rate of 0.8 per 100,000). the information didn’t have meaning to me. what the NYPD’s new role is in regards to on the Freeport Town Council, where she Mainers are feeling proud, and competent. But according to our good friend Wikipe- homeless people, he sent a terse email reply: was Vice Chair before election to the Maine Collins has suffered from the exposure she dia, open or public defecation is a criminal “Please direct your questions to City Hall.” House of Representatives in 2012. In a polit- received in the Kavanaugh nomination hear- offense that can be punished with a fine or These homeless people are our neigh- ical nanosecond she was then appointed As- ings and from her reluctance to stand up to even imprisonment in some jurisdictions. bors and members of our community. I am sistant Majority Leader in 2014 and elected Trump on any but the most inconsequential The NCOs said the city’s Homeless Ser- sure many readers feel the same empathy I Speaker in 2016. She is dynamic and skilled issues. She has had the chance to show the vices is responsible for helping the homeless do for their desperate situation. How can in politics and has won over the national independence for which she is known, but and responding to neighborhood complaints. we help them and keep our neighborhood Democrats, who have anointed her as their has not risked the backlash that indepen- But if a crime is being committed, in- safe for everyone? choice in this race. She is ahead and the wind dence from Trump might bring. She has cluding trespassing on private property or is at her back. managed to present herself to the American blocking passage on a public property like Karen Rempel has been contributing to Maine has a Democratic Governor, Janet public as an apologist for Trump, and that is a sidewalk, we should call 911. The attend- WestView News since 2017. She is a pho- Mills, who in 2018 replaced Paul LePage, a not good. I believe, however, that she may ing officers will offer the homeless person tojournalist, technical writer, model, and two term Republican who often bragged that still win, because her Republican roots are shelter or a hospital admission. Of course, artist. Her words and pictures have appeared he was “Trump Before Trump.” Since Mills deep and because her goodwill in Maine is we all know that many homeless people in the literary journal Room, TV Week (Governor) and Gideon (Speaker of the solid and broad. Right now, I would say, she don’t want to go to the shelters now due to Magazine, Vancouver Sun, and many other House) have held office, the State of Maine is calling in her quarter century of markers fears about COVID. pubs. Her artwork has exhibited at New has distinguished itself in the battle with in exchange for crucial political help in the People in the audience were very con- York’s Salmagundi Club and Revelation COVID-19 (Maine now has a rate of infec- closing days of the campaign. I do not count cerned about the increasing numbers of Gallery. Visit her blog at loveaffair.nyc and tions of 0.9 per 100,000, second nationally her out, as much as I would like to. incidents involving homeless people in our her YouTube channel. Thank you. Your support means everything to us.

You’ve kept us fed through late nights and long shifts. You've donated masks and gloves that keep us and our patients safe. Your messages of hope push us forward, no matter what comes our way.

And Lenox Health Greenwich Village is here to support you, too. We’ve put smart safety precautions in place across our facilities and emergency department, so you and your family can continue getting the care you need, when you need it.

It’s just as important as ever to stay healthy, because there’s so much ahead to cheer for—together.

Northwell.edu/SupportingTheVillage

Filename: Northwell_w356406_LHGV_West View News_FP_10x12.75 Size: 10" w x 12.75" h, 4C, Full page Publication: West View News 14 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org Stoop the Poop— NYPD Says Eff Poo to 80-Year-Old West Village Residents

By Karen Rempel and called me to ask for help. She asked if one of my imposing male friends could Have you ever had to clean up a large pile help get T to leave. I called a friend who of stinking human poop from your door- lives nearby, and I asked my doorman, but step? Not the flaming bag of poo Hallow- neither was willing to get close in case T een prank (which is usually dog poo), but a had COVID. My doorman said my friend pile of poo topped with a pool of urine that should call the police. She called the 6th spreads across your stoop and welcome mat? precinct, and they said they would send Whether you live in a classic brown- someone. I went over to my friend’s place stone or a NYCHA housing complex, no and we waited and waited for the police to one wants to deal with human waste on arrive. Having polluted my friend’s stoop, HOMELESS AND MENTALLY ILL MAN terrorizes couple in their 80s and blocks passage to their doorstep. T was on the nearby church steps, another their West Village home. Photo by Karen Rempel. On the evening of July 1, the day after of his favorite places to hang and sleep. the Mayor’s office announced NYC is de- After waiting about 30 minutes, my friend glass doors of the building and saw that T shoo T away. Finally T left for good. funding the police to the tune of $1B, a called the police again. She explained the was now spread out across the stoop. He We’ve all heard similar stories about in- homeless man continued his torment of situation, that he had defecated and uri- had waited until my friend cleaned up his creasing incidents where homeless people my 80-year old friends, who live on West nated on the stairs, and that she wanted disgusting mess, and now he was ready to are frightening local residents. I was yelled 10th Street. He had been sleeping on their to file a report. Again, the police said bunk down for the evening. At this point, at twice by mentally ill homeless men on stoop for a month, requiring the people they would come, but didn’t show up. Af- my friend called 911. the way to the grocery store last week, and in the building to step over him to enter ter waiting for over two hours, she called We watched through the front window, one of them bashed and broke the exit door or leave. He refused to leave when asked, again. This time, the dispatcher said, “We and after a few minutes a patrol car went by. It at LifeThyme. It seems that homelessness and made mocking gestures at my friends. don’t do homeless. You have to call the didn’t stop. I ran down and raced to the end of is an intractable problem in many cities in He would only leave if they could corral a Homeless Helpline. We have budget cuts, the block to speak to the officers. T had hid- the US and Canada. I feel empathy for the burly man to help. Day after day, my friend we can’t come over there.” den in nearby bushes next to the church. I told people who are discarded by society, with had to clean up the human waste and food I called the precinct myself while I the police he had been there a minute ago. nowhere to go and no one to help them. smears the mentally ill man, let’s call him strolled around the block. T was still on They said they couldn’t do anything unless Homeless Services claims that they are T, left behind. Vomit, urine, feces, and spit. the church steps. The desk officer told they caught him blocking the entrance, but available 24/7, but it seems their inter- Delivery people were afraid to step over me to call 911. I went back inside, and we added, “Call us anytime. And shine a bright ventions take many months to complete, him to make deliveries, and visitors to the talked about what to do. My friend was de- light on the stoop.” My friend already had a because it takes time to build trust, get building likewise. The church next door moralized by the lack of police response, 100-watt bulb shining on the stoop. to know the homeless people, and figure also cleaned up his human waste day after and reluctant to call 911. She was going to I went back in and told my friend what out the best way to help them. Obviously, day. I saw T several times, as did many on let it go, and decided to just clean up the they said, and then went home, deeply people who are mentally ill, or struggling the block, and he was always brushing at mess since the police weren’t responding. I troubled. I have no doubt T emerged from with addiction, or both, need more than his arms. Neighbors heard him shouting helped her by handing her newspaper and the bushes and went back on the stoop just a place to sleep in a homeless shelter. sometimes, and muttering “No.” Clearly T other items while she cleaned up the feces after I left. He continued his stoop she- These forgotten people need ongoing care is ill and needs help, but his actions are also and urine. It was getting late, so after we nanigans for another two weeks, during in a safe place. intimidating and frightening. went in and had another discussion, I went which time my friend repeatedly asked for And what about our friends and neigh- On July 1st, my friend was in despair, downstairs to leave. I looked through the assistance from an imposing male friend to bors? We all need a safe place to live.

THE 1930'S RETURN

THE OWNERS OF LILAC CHOCOLATES sent a batch of photos of people (some of them young) sleeping after business hours between the open outer door and the closed inner door at their shop on Bleecker Street and offer that this is a regular event and other stores on Bleecker are experiencing the same return to the 1930's depres- sion scene. We guess this has to do with the mass firings of the pandemic but for young people to be doing this is something new. In the 1930s shanty towns made up of cardboard boxes and wood crates were all over—but they were all men and they were older. —George Capsis www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 15 The Ellipse New Jersey: Turn Off Those Harsh Lights!

Dina Andriotis, Chris Tsiamis, and Nikitas Andriotis (from left to right). 77 Christopher Street Between Seventh Avenue and Bleecker Street A NIGHT VIEW OF JERSEY CITY’S ELLIPSE apartment tower with the bright wave of lights, Pharmacy Hours: from Pier 45, Manhattan. Photo by Chris Manis. Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM By Brian J. Pape, AIA, LEED-AP company formerly specialized in no-frills Closed Sunday residential developments, including Bat- This is a call to action! tery Park City, LeFrak City in Queens, Telephone: 212-255-2525 • Fax: 212-255-2524 In recent years, the entire Lower West and Newport in Jersey City. Main offices email: [email protected] Side of Manhattan has been plagued by the are at 40 West 57th Street, 23rd Floor glaring harsh nighttime lights on the largest New York, NY 10019, (212) 246-1172 www.newyorkchemists.com of the new apartment buildings that sprout- Website [email protected] Other offices are ed up in Jersey City. We call on you to write at 13720 45th Ave, Flushing, NY 11355 letters to the developer and the media to get (718) 359-1746, and 9728 57th Ave, Flush- them to turn off the damned lights. ing, NY 11368. Phone: (718) 271-0193. Jersey City’s transformation from an in- dustrial railhead to a metropolis dates back over 30 years, with developers expanding Here is a letter example, if you choose this area’s density, which currently claims to to contact LeFrak and media. be the largest mixed-use community in the Do You Need Home Care? country. The city’s growth is extraordinary, Richard LeFrak with 42 residential projects of 100 units or Lefrak Organization Continuity Home Health Care more each, totaling nearly 20,000 apartment 40 West 57th Street, 23rd Floor units in five years, and another 13,400 units New York, NY 10019 projected within 10 years after that, accord- Lefrak Organization ing to the Jersey City Division of Planning. 13720 45th Ave, Flushing, NY 11355 Where Healing Continues... The LeFrak Organization’s develop- Ellipse Leasing Office ments on Jersey City’s northern Hudson 121 Town Square Place, A licensed home care agency providing River waterfront includes the 43-story El- Jersey City, NJ 07310 health care services, both professional lipse, with 363 apartments and 10,000 and paraprofessional, for individuals square feet of retail space on the ground Various media outlets, local and living at home since 1996. floor at 25 Park Lane South, Jersey City. national Ellipse is the 17th residential building in RE: Ellipse bright lighting the Newport section of Jersey City, with plans designed by acclaimed Miami-based Dear Mr. LeFrak and Associates: architects Arquitectonica, approved back in The entire Lower West Side of Call Tim Ferguson at (212) 625-2547 Manhattan has been plagued by 2007. One year after the leasing launch, the the glaring harsh nighttime lights on or drop in to 198 Avenue of The Americas rental tower was fully leased, with a pent- the Ellipse apartment building you house leased the day it hit the market for have developed. The awful glare and $11,000 a month, and rent for a Studio at reflection on the Hudson River nightly We accept most private $2500, 2-BRs for $5000. is an obnoxious and offensive insult The LeFrak Organization is a New York to millions of people hoping to enjoy insurances City-based, privately-held, family-run com- the skyline and tranquil scene on the and private pay. pany that owns, develops, and manages real waterfront. Do you have such harsh estate. The company also operates a private lighting on the west side of the build- equity fund, acquiring private businesses, ing? Would your neighbors allow it to [email protected] a hedge fund that trades in securities, and remain if you did? an energy firm, through its holdings of oil and gas wells and mineral rights. The 16 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

A CEDAR WAXWING shouts it out, “How ya doin’?” Photo by Keith Michael.

By Keith Michael always wanting more. American Goldfinch. The male is the very in front of me and perching on the railing. One of my favorite sounds of this time of definition of yellow with black wings, tail, We look at each other, and then the tern Congratulations to us. We’ve made it day year is the toneless, repetitive thwack of the and forehead, spangled by white wing and is off on its perpetual fishing expedition. I by day to September of this most unusual late Mockingbird chicks hidden away up in tail accents—sartorial splendor. Adding to guess that I was a surprise too! year. And the next months are certainly a tree, on a balcony, or in a window box. this sunniness, they have a cheerful bound- Above the racket of the cicadas, a thin poised not to be boring. As I cross West Street, a trio of Fish ing flight, and a boisterous four-syllable conversational tsee tsee tsee drifts from Contrariwise, one day is much like an- Crows is flying north with their charac- po-ta-to chip song that bounds along with the bosque of Honey Locust trees. Barely other for Millie. Sleep, walk, get a treat. teristic nasal Nuh huh banter. They may them through the air. There’s still time this audible, but unmistakable (to me), I look Repeat. In her corgi life, I wonder if Millie be a posse bound to once again harass the fall for a few to touch down for a snack. I up just in time to see a scribble of Cedar has noticed any changes since lockdown in adolescent Red-tailed Hawk that has enter- hope that I’m there when they are. Waxwings take flight and head south over March. tained us this summer or a Peregrine Fal- I do stop by the Apple Garden hoping my head. A highlight of my spring Corona Between the unrelenting heat of the late con patrolling the cornice of Westbeth. The for some butterflies. Once again, it has not Birds was the flocks of dozens of them summer and the usual seasonal listlessness only reliable way I can tell a Fish Crow from been a good year for them. I’ve occasionally (eventually numbering in the hundreds), of our avian residents, most of my aural a Common Crow is this “crow with a cold” seen both Tiger and Black Swallowtails, and crested and sleek, tracing and retracing this cues have been silenced. Birds are here but call. The Common Crow’s familiar, robust a few Red Admirals, but Monarchs have same waterfront. out of sight. Or maybe they too are wear- Caw Caw Caw has been, for some unknown been few and far between on the “ready, Heading south? Is the relentless turn of ing masks and social distancing. reason, less common this year. Though I willing, and able” purple sprays of the but- the seasons really upon us? On my morning walkabout to Hudson have heard a Common Raven’s unmistak- terfly bushes. I hope that there will still be I think of Millie asleep at home. For her, River Park, without Millie of course, the able “nevermore” croaking from time to a smattering passing through this fall on one day like every other. Personally, I prefer recent prime vocalists of second brood time, and have occasionally glimpsed one their migration to Mexico. Every time I see the relentless change. youngsters—young Robins, young Spar- around Pier 40 and Little Island. I haven’t a Monarch, I am dumbfounded as to how rows, young Starlings—and their parents, been able to figure out if or where they it is possible for this nearly weightless bit are absent. How did these tireless parents might have raised a family this summer. of orange and black to traverse the vast dis- Visit keithmichaelnyc.com for links to ALL do it? They raised one family in the spring, The rattling of the summer cicadas tance between here and their over-wintering of my WestView articles, books, photographs, then started again. Family Number Two is greets me into the park while on the lawn a grounds thousands of miles away. and the latest schedule of New York City now on their own. The amount of energy it single silent Mourning Dove is parting the Looking out over the river, the usual cor- WILD! urban adventures in nature outings took to keep those demanding youngsters blades of grass to look for hidden tidbits. morants and gulls are loafing on the pil- throughout the five boroughs (currently on fed is unfathomable to me. Endless trips to One bird I’ve been disappointed not to see ings. No one is saying anything. A Com- hold). Follow me on Instagram @newyorkc- the seed, bug, or worm store, and the kids (or hear) so far this summer is the charming mon Tern surprises me by flying up right itywild for daily photos from around NYC. —ADVERTORIAL—ADVERTORIAL Honor the Fallen by Transforming the Future Statement from Diane Sare, Candidate US Senate - NY 2022 In May of 2016, the late Lyndon LaRouche, in response to a veterans of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11 and Osipov was among the 64 musicians and dancers who question from a military veteran about how to honor the first 22 of them are committing suicide every day. died when their plane crashed in the Black Sea on De- responders who gave their lives on 9/11, said “We need to do 2020 is also the 75th anniversary of the end of World cember 25th 2016. something a little stronger: We have to set up some kind of me- War II. President Franklin Roosevelt had a vision of Imagine a future where the young people turning 19 morial, a living me- the post war world which would be a world “free from this year could tell their children and grandchildren, morial for people who want, and free from fear,” a world of “freedom of speech, “Finally, 19 years after 9/11 the American people grew died in that case. That and freedom to worship God” according to one’s beliefs. weary of perpetual war, perpetual poverty, and perpetual would do something. Somehow the attacks of 9/11 became the pretext to drive surveillance and decided to fulfill the vision of FDR.” Because the United us further from those freedoms. The Schiller Institute, founded by Helga Zepp States so far has failed The memory of that fateful day in 2001 must become LaRouche is holding a very special conference ded- to do anything about a turning point for our nation and for mankind. On that icated to convening a summit of the leaders of the that—a few handfuls day, thousands of people, did heroic things, and acted self- world’s most powerful nations where the great prob- of people have been lessly to aid others. President Putin of Russia, called Pres- lems facing humanity can be addressed: the need for a concerned with that. ident Bush to not only offer condolences, but to inform global health platform to prevent pandemics, the need But we have to get the him that Russia was taking down its automatic security for a dialogue of cultures and poverty eradication to humiliation expressed and defense systems to make sure that global war was not end war, a shared mission to explore the solar system Diane Sare, Candidate US Senate-NY by the people as a accidentally triggered as a result of terrorist action. and discover solutions for the many challenges facing 2022 Photo: SteveMack Photography whole, for their failure Russia, which lost 27 million people in World War mankind. This virtual conference will be joined by to defend life, human life, when that life was needed.” II, also donated the Teardrop Memorial, which stands thousands of people from all over the world for two Nineteen years after that fateful day, we have yet to in Bayonne, NJ to this day. On the 10th anniversary days September 5th and 6th. William Binney and I get to the bottom of what actually occurred, in order to of 9/11 the Russian Red Army Chorus sang “God Bless will be participating in that, and would like to invite ensure that such acts of terror and violence never occur America” to the NYPD Ceremonial Unit at a military you to join us. There is no fee to register at www. again. Meanwhile, The world has not become safer, and tattoo in Quebec City, in a performance even more mov- SchillerInstitute.com. It’s time for mankind to move people have not become better. We have nearly 3 million ing today because the Russian baritone soloist Grigory to a new paradigm before it’s too late.

William Binney, former National Security Agency official, on 9/11: “Leave no question unanswered.”

When a Danish journalist asked William Binney in late world, too, “ Binney said. In- data across the internet to August about the breaking story, “Intelligence scandal in stead, “universal surveillance” Russia or anywhere else out- Denmark: Defense Intelligence has been giving massive capabilities that he personally side the United States, or even amounts of raw electronic data to the NSA,” he respond- designed to protect Americans inside the United States to ed: “This is exactly the problem I saw, that NSA, CIA, from terrorist attacks were de- a lot of places. They couldn’t FBI and Bush, it started with Bush, Cheney, [former ployed after 9/11 to illegally get it because they didn’t have NSA director Michael] Hayden and [former CIA chief monitor virtually every citizen these high-speed lines to carry George] Tenet. They set up this process in 2001, and then of the United States in posses- that kind of rate transfer. We they extended it to various other countries in the world, sion of any electronic device. proved that. Not only did we including the Five Eyes [U.S., U.K. Canada, Australia, “Denmark, I knew was in- show the speeds that were in- New Zealand].” “In 2001” refers to the period immedi- volved, quite a long time ago,” volved, but we also showed that ately following the destruction of the World Trade Center, Binney continued. “And the you couldn’t do it. We tried when a surveillance system that Binney had designed, and point is, they are all basically to do our transfer from Alba- had been prevented from installing to protect American pulling a sham on everybody on Former NSA Technincal Director William Binney answering nia, from Netherlands, from citizens, was then appropriated and used to conduct un- the planet. It has never been a questions about the failure to prevent 9/11. Photo: CCYB- the U.K.. The further east we SA Micuel Tavera warranted surveillance against American citizens. problem to be able to find bad got, the less speed we got. We William Binney was the former technical director of guys without giving up security anywhere. We proved it in couldn’t achieve the higher speeds going further east; it the World Geopolitical and Military Analysis and Re- 2000, and also 1999, was the earliest we were showing that, went down,” Binney said. porting section of the National Security Agency (NSA), that it was possible to do that.” Binney is now conducting what he calls the “Leave where he worked for 30 years, until he resigned after the The 3000 that died at Ground Zero, the thousands No Questions Unanswered” virtual tour. He has chal- catastrophic intelligence failure of 9/11. Binney, whose more that died from medical complications originating lenged anyone to prove him wrong. He has yet to hear work has been featured in documentaries such as PBS from 9/11, and the hundreds of thousands, even millions, back from former CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who in- Frontline’s two-part “United States of Secrets” and the killed in combat and as “collateral damage” in its after- terviewed him at the request of President Donald Trump movie “A Good American,” was the designer of the math worldwide, deserve justice. The living, their surviv- on the “Russiagate” matter a full three years ago. Asked if “ThinThread” security system, which may well have pre- ing descendants, deserve the truth. Binney has further he fears for his safety, Binney responds, “they’re not after vented the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center from infuriated the “secret government” apparatus by asserting me—I’m after them.” occurring, had he and his associates not been deliber- that he can prove that the 2016 hack of the Democratic Binney will be appearing at the virtual conference, ately prevented from deploying it. “But the problem also National Committee, never occurred as represented. “War Drive Towards Armageddon or A New Paradigm was that it was a system that would’ve uncovered all of “The Guccifer 2.0 data that we looked at, we clearly United Towards the Common Aims of Mankind”on the criminal activity of our government employees and showed the speeds of downloads of that data to a thumb Saturday, September 5,, hthe Schiller Institute. To RSVP our secret intelligence agencies, and also others in the drive were possible, but it was not possible to send that for that conference, visit www.schillerinstitute.com. Paid for by Sare for Senate www.sareforsenate.com

—ADVERTORIAL— 18 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org

The Lawyer's Committee Plays an Historic Role: Join: The Lawyers' Committee will announce a Second 9/11 Grand Jury Petition submission on for 9/11 Inquiry on: September 10th

1. September 10th, Jason Goodman's Crowd Source The Truth program where a The Lawyers’ Committee for 9/11 Inquiry plays a unique historic role in the 9/11 Truth Movement. Unlike any other organization we are vigorously addressing the horrible 9/11 crimes through investigations and the creation of Grand Jury petitions. We want to hold accountable those responsible new Grand Jury Petition will be announced with host Jason Goodman,and guests for the murder of the innocent. We are uniquely qualified to pursue this goal because we have gathered a remarkable team of attorneys and other Dr.Meryl Nass, Dr. Graeme Mcqueen, Mick Harrison, Esq. and David Meiswinkle, Esq. professionals with the critical expertise and the patriotic passion to carry out the mission.

We will create five Grand Jury petitions concerning 9/11 crimes which will be presented to the United States Attorney, one of which has already been 2. September 11th 8:15 p.m.,Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth program with submitted in New York City containing 56 pages and 60 Exhibits conclusive of explosives and controlled demolition being used to destroy the Towers. This Grand Jury Petition is presently being litigated in the Southern District Court in Manhattan. A Second Grand Jury Petition is about to be Richard Gage, Mick Harrison Esq., Barbara Honegger and David Meiswinkle, Esq. submitted and will be announced live on the Jason Goodman show on September 10th. The list of Grand Jury Petitions to be created includes: 1.The World Trade Center attacks 4. Shanksville 3. September 13th 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.Lawyers' Committee Zoom Conference 2. Anthrax attacks 5.The Pentagon attack. with block buster speakers including Frances Boyle, Bill Binney, Ray McGovern, Dr. Meryl Nass, 3. Government Misconduct/Obstruction, before, during and after 9/11

Dr, Graeme McQueen, and others "Recognizing and Pushing Back the Police State" We will continue to advance these Grand Jury actions, but we can only do so with your help in the form of financial support. Your financial (Go to web site Lcfor911.org Saturday night/Sunday morning for zoom link will be posted contributions allows us to continue the fight. Please check out our web site:Lcfor911.org. and join the September 13th Zoom program with amazing speakers. The Zoom link to access the September 13th program will be posted on LCfor911.org Saturday night 9/12/20 on Home page.) Thank you.

David R. Meiswinkle President/Executive Director Lawyers' Committee for 9/11 Inquiry Lcfor911.org The Lawyers' Committee for 9-11 Inquiry Board of Directors

Dr. Francis Boyle William Binney Ray McGovern Dr. Meryl Ness Dr. Graeme MacQueen

Dr. Francis Boyle is an American William Binney is a former intelli- Ray McGovern is a former Central Meryl Nass is an internal medicine Dr. Graeme MacQueen is a retired human rights lawyer and professor of gence official with the United States Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer physician who is the first person to professor of religious studies at international law at the University National Security Agency (NSA) and turned political activist. McGovern have shown that an epidemic ascribed McMaster University, Ontario where of Illinois College of Law. whistleblower. He retired on October was a CIA analyst from 1963 to 1990, to natural causes was due to biological he taught from 1974 to 2003. He was 31, 2001, after more than 30 years and in the 1980s chaired National warfare. This involved the use of an- also the founder and director of the Dr. Boyle served on the board of with the agency. Intelligence Estimates and prepared thrax during the Rhodesian Civil War. Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster, directors of Amnesty International, as the President’s Daily Brief. He received She has testified to 7 Congressional which was active in several war zones. Ed Asner David R. Meiswinkle William Jacoby Esq. Mick Harrison Esq. Jane Clark Esq. a consultant to the American Friends In the 1990s, he co-founded a unit on the Intelligence Commendation committees on anthrax, biodefense, He has served as a co-editor of the Service Committee, and on the automating signals intelligence with Medal at his retirement, returning it in vaccines, Gulf War Syndrome. She has Journal of 9/11 Studies, an organizer Esq. of the Toronto Hearings on 9/11, Advisory Board for the Council for NSA research chief Dr. John Taggart. 2006 to protest the CIA’s involvement written widely on the anthrax letters, William Jacoby, Esq Jane Clark, Responsible Genetics. He drafted the Binney’s NSA career culminated as in torture. McGovern’s post-retirement Ebola and the Swine Flu and and a member of the 9/11 Ed Asner is a Vice President of David R. Meiswinkle, Esq. . is an Mick Harrison, Esq., Director Treasurer, is in private US domestic implementing legislation Technical Leader for intelligence in work includes commenting for Con- Covid-19 pandemics. Consensus Panel the Lawyers’ Committee and long President/ Executive Director of Attorney admitted to the bar of of Litigation, is a Public Interest practice handling Texas Workers’ for the Biological Weapons 2001. He has expertise in intelligence sortium News, RT, and Sputnik News, time truth activist . He’s an Ameri- the Lawyers’ Committee , is a NY, now retired. He has worked Attorney, graduate summa cum Compensation cases,Probate, and Convention, known as the Biological analysis, traffic analysis, systems among other outlets, on intelligence can actor, voice actor and a former criminal defense attorney, retired mostly in management positions laude of the University of the general legal practice including Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, analysis, knowledge management, and and foreign policy issues. In 2003 Christopher Gioia, a 30-year member president of the Screen Actors police officer of 23 years, and in the nonprofit, public, and District of Columbia School of personal injury, collections, that was approved unanimously by mathematics (including set theory, he co-founded Veteran Intelligence of the Franklin Square and Munson Guild. He is primarily known for former U.S. Army veteran. private sectors. He has his law. Attorney Harrison has a domestic relations, and criminal both Houses of the US Congress and number theory, and probability). Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) Fire Department has served as Chief his role as Lou Grant during the Mr. Meiswinkle was a panelist at M.P.A. degree from the Univ. national practice focused on cases law with 26 years experience in signed into law by President George William Binney is an outspoken from 2007-2012. He is also a veteran 1970s and early 1980s, on both the unprecedented 9/11 Justice of Pittsburgh, J. D. from that involve whistleblower protec- these areas. H.W. Bush. He served as an adviser to critic of illegal domestic surveillance of the Marine Corps as well as an The Mary Tyler Moore Show and in Focus Conference. Duquesne Law School, and tion, government accountability, the Palestine Liberation Organization programs and is the creator of Thin EMT for 25 years. its spin-off series Lou Grant.. a B. A. in Government from corporate fraud and false claims, She has her law degree from the (PLO) between 1987-89 and 1991-93. Thread – a surveillance system Dartmouth College. and dangers to public health or University Of Idaho Law School that would protect US Citizens the environment. (Moscow), a Masters Degree from privacy rights. Texas A & M University in Barbara Honegger, M.S. has Biochemistry & Biophysics John O’Kelly is a New York (College Station), and worked served as White House Policy attorney, Member of the Lawyers’ Analyst and Special Assistant to for the famed Professor Emeritus Committee Board of Directors, and Dr. Joseph Nagyvary from the President for Domestic Policy, co-counsel in the lawsuit in the U.S. Director of the Attorney General’s Budapest, Hungary on cancer Jason Goodman Show: It will be live streamed and will be District Court for the Southern research at TAMU. NYFD Commissioner Law Review at the Dept. of Jus- District of New York which seeks to activated for 9/10 show. Chris Gioia tice, and for more than a decade compel the U.S. Attorney to present Thursday September 10th 2020. 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. eastern time was the Senior Military Affairs the Lawyers’ Committee’s evidence Journalist at the Naval Postgradu- regarding the use of explosives to https://youtu.be/bpVsuYW8jFQ ate School, the premiere science, destroy three World Trade Center technology and national security buildings on 9/11 to a special affairs graduate research university grand jury. of the Department of Defense. Barbara Honegger John O’Kelly Esq. Supported by Truth Action Project (TAP) www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 19

The Lawyer's Committee Plays an Historic Role: Join: The Lawyers' Committee will announce a Second 9/11 Grand Jury Petition submission on for 9/11 Inquiry on: September 10th

1. September 10th, Jason Goodman's Crowd Source The Truth program where a The Lawyers’ Committee for 9/11 Inquiry plays a unique historic role in the 9/11 Truth Movement. Unlike any other organization we are vigorously addressing the horrible 9/11 crimes through investigations and the creation of Grand Jury petitions. We want to hold accountable those responsible new Grand Jury Petition will be announced with host Jason Goodman,and guests for the murder of the innocent. We are uniquely qualified to pursue this goal because we have gathered a remarkable team of attorneys and other Dr.Meryl Nass, Dr. Graeme Mcqueen, Mick Harrison, Esq. and David Meiswinkle, Esq. professionals with the critical expertise and the patriotic passion to carry out the mission.

We will create five Grand Jury petitions concerning 9/11 crimes which will be presented to the United States Attorney, one of which has already been 2. September 11th 8:15 p.m.,Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth program with submitted in New York City containing 56 pages and 60 Exhibits conclusive of explosives and controlled demolition being used to destroy the Towers. This Grand Jury Petition is presently being litigated in the Southern District Court in Manhattan. A Second Grand Jury Petition is about to be Richard Gage, Mick Harrison Esq., Barbara Honegger and David Meiswinkle, Esq. submitted and will be announced live on the Jason Goodman show on September 10th. The list of Grand Jury Petitions to be created includes: 1.The World Trade Center attacks 4. Shanksville 3. September 13th 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.Lawyers' Committee Zoom Conference 2. Anthrax attacks 5.The Pentagon attack. with block buster speakers including Frances Boyle, Bill Binney, Ray McGovern, Dr. Meryl Nass, 3. Government Misconduct/Obstruction, before, during and after 9/11

Dr, Graeme McQueen, and others "Recognizing and Pushing Back the Police State" We will continue to advance these Grand Jury actions, but we can only do so with your help in the form of financial support. Your financial (Go to web site Lcfor911.org Saturday night/Sunday morning for zoom link will be posted contributions allows us to continue the fight. Please check out our web site:Lcfor911.org. and join the September 13th Zoom program with amazing speakers. The Zoom link to access the September 13th program will be posted on LCfor911.org Saturday night 9/12/20 on Home page.) Thank you.

David R. Meiswinkle President/Executive Director Lawyers' Committee for 9/11 Inquiry Lcfor911.org The Lawyers' Committee for 9-11 Inquiry Board of Directors

Dr. Francis Boyle William Binney Ray McGovern Dr. Meryl Ness Dr. Graeme MacQueen

Dr. Francis Boyle is an American William Binney is a former intelli- Ray McGovern is a former Central Meryl Nass is an internal medicine Dr. Graeme MacQueen is a retired human rights lawyer and professor of gence official with the United States Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer physician who is the first person to professor of religious studies at international law at the University National Security Agency (NSA) and turned political activist. McGovern have shown that an epidemic ascribed McMaster University, Ontario where of Illinois College of Law. whistleblower. He retired on October was a CIA analyst from 1963 to 1990, to natural causes was due to biological he taught from 1974 to 2003. He was 31, 2001, after more than 30 years and in the 1980s chaired National warfare. This involved the use of an- also the founder and director of the Dr. Boyle served on the board of with the agency. Intelligence Estimates and prepared thrax during the Rhodesian Civil War. Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster, directors of Amnesty International, as the President’s Daily Brief. He received She has testified to 7 Congressional which was active in several war zones. Ed Asner David R. Meiswinkle William Jacoby Esq. Mick Harrison Esq. Jane Clark Esq. a consultant to the American Friends In the 1990s, he co-founded a unit on the Intelligence Commendation committees on anthrax, biodefense, He has served as a co-editor of the Service Committee, and on the automating signals intelligence with Medal at his retirement, returning it in vaccines, Gulf War Syndrome. She has Journal of 9/11 Studies, an organizer Esq. of the Toronto Hearings on 9/11, Advisory Board for the Council for NSA research chief Dr. John Taggart. 2006 to protest the CIA’s involvement written widely on the anthrax letters, William Jacoby, Esq Jane Clark, Responsible Genetics. He drafted the Binney’s NSA career culminated as in torture. McGovern’s post-retirement Ebola and the Swine Flu and and a member of the 9/11 Ed Asner is a Vice President of David R. Meiswinkle, Esq. . is an Mick Harrison, Esq., Director Treasurer, is in private US domestic implementing legislation Technical Leader for intelligence in work includes commenting for Con- Covid-19 pandemics. Consensus Panel the Lawyers’ Committee and long President/ Executive Director of Attorney admitted to the bar of of Litigation, is a Public Interest practice handling Texas Workers’ for the Biological Weapons 2001. He has expertise in intelligence sortium News, RT, and Sputnik News, time truth activist . He’s an Ameri- the Lawyers’ Committee , is a NY, now retired. He has worked Attorney, graduate summa cum Compensation cases,Probate, and Convention, known as the Biological analysis, traffic analysis, systems among other outlets, on intelligence can actor, voice actor and a former criminal defense attorney, retired mostly in management positions laude of the University of the general legal practice including Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, analysis, knowledge management, and and foreign policy issues. In 2003 Christopher Gioia, a 30-year member president of the Screen Actors police officer of 23 years, and in the nonprofit, public, and District of Columbia School of personal injury, collections, that was approved unanimously by mathematics (including set theory, he co-founded Veteran Intelligence of the Franklin Square and Munson Guild. He is primarily known for former U.S. Army veteran. private sectors. He has his law. Attorney Harrison has a domestic relations, and criminal both Houses of the US Congress and number theory, and probability). Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) Fire Department has served as Chief his role as Lou Grant during the Mr. Meiswinkle was a panelist at M.P.A. degree from the Univ. national practice focused on cases law with 26 years experience in signed into law by President George William Binney is an outspoken from 2007-2012. He is also a veteran 1970s and early 1980s, on both the unprecedented 9/11 Justice of Pittsburgh, J. D. from that involve whistleblower protec- these areas. H.W. Bush. He served as an adviser to critic of illegal domestic surveillance of the Marine Corps as well as an The Mary Tyler Moore Show and in Focus Conference. Duquesne Law School, and tion, government accountability, the Palestine Liberation Organization programs and is the creator of Thin EMT for 25 years. its spin-off series Lou Grant.. a B. A. in Government from corporate fraud and false claims, She has her law degree from the (PLO) between 1987-89 and 1991-93. Thread – a surveillance system Dartmouth College. and dangers to public health or University Of Idaho Law School that would protect US Citizens the environment. (Moscow), a Masters Degree from privacy rights. Texas A & M University in Barbara Honegger, M.S. has Biochemistry & Biophysics John O’Kelly is a New York (College Station), and worked served as White House Policy attorney, Member of the Lawyers’ Analyst and Special Assistant to for the famed Professor Emeritus Committee Board of Directors, and Dr. Joseph Nagyvary from the President for Domestic Policy, co-counsel in the lawsuit in the U.S. Director of the Attorney General’s Budapest, Hungary on cancer Jason Goodman Show: It will be live streamed and will be District Court for the Southern research at TAMU. NYFD Commissioner Law Review at the Dept. of Jus- District of New York which seeks to activated for 9/10 show. Chris Gioia tice, and for more than a decade compel the U.S. Attorney to present Thursday September 10th 2020. 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. eastern time was the Senior Military Affairs the Lawyers’ Committee’s evidence Journalist at the Naval Postgradu- regarding the use of explosives to https://youtu.be/bpVsuYW8jFQ ate School, the premiere science, destroy three World Trade Center technology and national security buildings on 9/11 to a special affairs graduate research university grand jury. of the Department of Defense. Barbara Honegger John O’Kelly Esq. Supported by Truth Action Project (TAP) www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 21 West Village Original: Andrew Berman not very likely to be successful.” Last year, GVSHP became Village Pres- ervation to better reflect its mission. “We Delivery & Pickup shortened and broadened the name to exclusively available at ODEONDELIVERY.com reflect the fact that we serve Greenwich Village and the East Village too,” Berman explains. “And because our mission now ex- tends beyond what you would traditionally call historical preservation to small busi- ness and cultural institution preservation as well. It was kind of an organic extension because these were things we cared about.” As to his leadership of Village Preserva- tion, Berman claims that it’s a “dream job.” ANDREW BERMAN, above, became aware “I actually get to do something that I love at an early age of the perils of big public as my job and as the main focus of my pro- projects. Photo credit: GVSHP. fessional life,” he says. “I find the history, By Michael D. Minichiello architecture, and culture of our neighbor- hoods to be wonderful. And I’m still learn- This month’s honorary West Village Origi- ing new things. There are more layers to nal is Andrew Berman, Executive Director be peeled back and more information to of Village Preservation (formerly GVSHP) be found. Finally, I get to work with a re- West Village, Chelsea, & Flatiron since 2002. Berman was born in the Bronx ally engaged community that cares about and grew up in Co-Op City. In 2013, he things.” Every Day until 9pm was named to the Vanity Fair “Hall of Fame” Since this is WestView, we encouraged for his preservation work. Berman attended Berman to express any special feelings lunch • brunch • dinner Bronx High School of Science and then Wes- about our neighborhood in particular. “I leyan University, where he received a degree love the West Village,” he readily admits. in Art History with a focus on architecture. He “It remains one of the most unique, charm- Use code view at checkout has lived in Hells Kitchen since 1991. ing, magical places not just in New York, for a 10% discount but in the world. It faces incredible chal- Growing up in the Bronx, Andrew Berman lenges, though, from enormous develop- became aware at an early age of the perils ment pressure to the fact that it’s become of big public projects. “My mother’s family so incredibly expensive. I guess that’s a val- lived in one of the first apartment buildings idation that it is so desirable, which is what demolished by Robert Moses to make way we’ve fought for. But you also don’t want it for the Cross Bronx Expressway,” he says. “I to become a place that doesn’t remain ac- heard a lot about that. There was definitely cessible to the broader world. I think many a consciousness about how that and other of the new residents, as much as the old, projects by Moses destroyed neighbor- feel that way too. No one is moving here hoods. My father was a hardware salesman because they want to be barricaded from who spent his days driving throughout the the rest of the world. They move here be- five boroughs and sometimes I would go cause there’s a community that’s a mixture with him. He had a very broad knowledge of people, activities, places to shop, and of the City: its different areas, what they things to do and learn.” were like, who lived there, and how they So, does Berman feel the influx of mon- had changed. I think I absorbed a lot of NOW OPEN! ied residents into the Village will allow it that from him and, no doubt, my parents to stay true to what makes it such a spe- influenced my interest in preservation.” SUNDAY 11 AM-5 PM cial place? “Certainly some people of great It wasn’t long after college that Berman means who move into the neighborhood MONDAY THRU SATURDAY 11 AM-7 PM started an eight-year tenure with New York aren’t really invested in the wonderful quali- politician Tom Duane, who represented Maximum of four people allowed in the store at one time ties of the community,” he says. “And then Greenwich Village, among other neighbor- there are those who very much are. Regard- Masks Required hoods. It was, he admits, experience that ing preservation, though, there can be good turned out to be “incredibly useful” in his 212-242-5351 and bad outcomes from the investment of current position. “In order to be successful money and there can be good and bad out- in New York City—in terms of historical comes from the lack of money. I don’t think preservation—you have to bring together money is by itself either the problem or the both knowledge and history of the built solution. Rather, it’s how it’s used. The West environment,” he says. “You also need to be Village has always been about a sense of effective at community organizing and un- community. Maintaining this, along with a derstand how the levers of government af- level of diversity, is definitely important to fect these issues. You could have the most the soul of the neighborhood.” wonderfully argued and researched proposal for landmarking a building, but if you don’t know how to organize people to lobby for Do you know a long-time resident who would it or understand how the system works in make a good “West Village Original”? Con- terms of the decision-making process, you’re tact [email protected] 22 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org A View from the Kitchen Maggie B’s Quick Clicks By Isa Covo There was scant sitting space outside the courtroom, but the two ladies were sitting More than in any other times in recent on a small bench. As I walked in they ges- years, we depend on others: The entire WELCOME TO THE CHIC WEST VILLAGE, tured me to join them: “Come, come,” one hospital staff giving all their skills and ef- said, “we saved you a seat.” I was of course fort to help all who need them, and the grateful for their kindness, but what I still pain they suffer when they cannot suc- keep in my heart is the fact that IT NEV- ceed even as their own lives are at risk. The ER CROSSED THEIR MINDS THAT bus drivers and train conductors who with I WOULD REFUSE. I can’t remember good reason, are at risk of contagion, the their names, and probably they do not re- store clerks, the restaurant staff, the clean- member mine either, or even the story, but ers, police officers, firefighters and more, I shall never forget it. too many to list here. We must thank them Most of those strangers were Black. all, as well as, we the public, protect them and us by taking very simple steps that are not even necessary to repeat here; follow- ing those directives because, like Blanche Dubois said, we “depend on the kindness of strangers.” In my life many strangers showed me kindness that I should never forget: • The gentleman who saw us, my husband and I, stranded in our disabled car in pouring rain trying to get help before the wide spread of mobile phones, who saw us from the opposite lane, exited the road WHERE THE UNEXPECTED to offer us assistance with his own. • The gentleman who helped me up when I stumbled and fell on one of those uneven New York sidewalks, and walked beside me for some steps to see if I was OK. Photo by Isa Covo. • The well dressed gentleman noticing my distress as I was frantically search- Cream Shortcakes ing through my purse for my misplaced INGREDIENTS MetroCard, offered his own, and waited 2 cups cake flour patiently as I continued searching to see if 1 tablespoon baking powder I could find it. With profuse thanks, and 5 tablespoons unsalted butter for all our sakes, I accepted his offer. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted to • The lady who waited with me on a dark brush the tops (optional) street until my wayward hired drive ar- ¼ teaspoon salt rived. We had such a pleasant conversa- 2 tablespoons sugar tion. 1 cup heavy cream • When my shopping cart, hitting a bump, 1 teaspoon vanilla overturned and some produce spilled, he came to my help to collect it while other DIRECTIONS pedestrians walked by indifferent. • Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Set the rack • In Washington DC I was lost some- in the middle of the oven. Line a large IS ALWAYS JUST AROUND THE CORNER where, under a blazing sun without any baking sheet with parchment paper. visible means of transportation and scant • In a large bowl sift the flour, baking pow- car traffic, when suddenly a car stopped der salt and sugar. and a lady popped her head out the win- • Cut the cold 5 tablespoons of butter into dow to ask me if I needed help. I accepted small cubes, and with a pastry blender gratefully, and as she took me to my des- or with fingertips blend it into the flour tination we chatted amiably as if we had until the mixture resembles coarse meal. known each other for years. We separated Add the cold cream and stir with a fork like sisters after a warm hug. or a pastry blender until combined. Knead • The young woman who offered her seat lightly until the mixture forms a dough. in the subway who, as I was protesting, • Pat the dough into an even circle, a half- said to me firmly: “I insist.” I sat down. inch thick. There are many more instances of kind- • Cut rounds with a 2 ½-inch biscuit cut- ness too long to list, but there is one en- ter. Gather the remaining dough and counter that touched me particularly and shape into a round and continue cutting I still remember the way I felt, which, the shortcakes until all the dough is used, happened a long time ago, as I was sum- while progressively arranging them on the moned as a juror. After the jury selection lined baking sheet. we were dismissed and told to return the • Brush the tops with the melted butter, if next morning. Meanwhile I had chatted used. with some prospective jurors, among them • Bake the shortcakes for 20 minutes until All photos by Maggie Berkvist. two Black ladies. golden brown and cooked through. The next morning, like most of the pan- el, I arrived before the courtroom opened. Yield: 6-8 shortcakes www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 23 Employers Likely to Face a Wave of COVID-19 Class Action Litigation By Samuel G. Dobre, Esq. and been misclassified and are owed pandemic- Gregory B. Reilly, Esq. related paid leaves or unemployment com- pensation. As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic con- tinues to drastically impact the U.S., class DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION AND DIS- action lawsuits have been on the rise. De- CRIMINATION: Class claims that relate to spite court closures, class action filings have reopening businesses may include disabili- increased and are expected to continue. ty discrimination claims, retaliation claims, The risk to companies of class and col- whistleblower claims and privacy matters lective action proceedings has been am- relating to COVID-19 diagnoses. plified. Below are the key areas that have Bond already flooded the court system as well as EMPLOYER CONSIDERATIONS: Employers © issues that we expect to drive class action must evaluate the legal implications as well Essential to Your Business litigation arising from the pandemic: as how their actions might be viewed in the Bond’s COVID-19 Recovery for Business is a multidisciplinary “court of public opinion.” WAGE AND HOUR: Under the Fair Labor practice supporting businesses and organizations as they Standards Act (FLSA), nonexempt em- WARN ACT: The federal Worker Adjust- resume operations. Bond can help you assess the shifting legal ployees must be paid for all time worked ment and Retraining Notification Act (the landscape, avoid potential hazards and identify opportunities including overtime rate for any hours over WARN Act) requires advance notice to to get back to work safely and efficiently. 40 in a given work week. employees in instances of mass layoffs and qualified plant closings. Mass layoffs due OFF-THE-CLOCK SAFETY PRECAUTIONS: to the devastating effects of the pandemic Due to the impact of COVID-19, many may lead to class-action suits. employers require new tasks before or af- While employers have the ability to as- ALBANY BUFFALO GARDEN CITY NEW YORK CITY ter work, including, but not limited to: sert the “unforeseeable” exemption to the ROCHESTER SARATOGA SPRINGS SYRACUSE UTICA temperature screening, health assessments law’s notice requirements, the exemption 600 Third Avenue - 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10016 • 646.253.2300 • BSK.COM and/or cleaning of workspaces. Class ac- remains untried in federal courts in the tion litigation has been filed about whether context of COVID-19. Further, it will only time taken for these precautions is com- become more difficult for employers to pensable time. avail themselves of the unforeseeable busi- ness circumstances defense as more time OFF-THE-CLOCK WORK FROM HOME: passes since the novel coronavirus hit the Many employees are now working remote- U.S. in March. ly, which means they may be working out- Though it may be a challenge for plain- side of regular business hours. Again, there tiffs to obtain class certification, once a is a risk of class action litigation should case becomes certified, class action lawsuits employers fail to accurately record and pay have the power to inflict severe damage to for this time worked including work per- businesses. Employers should take imme- formed during any unpaid meal or break diate action to reduce risk and exposure by periods. reviewing wage and hour practices, record keeping procedures, contracts, handbooks WORKER CLASSIFICATION: Independent and other policies to ensure that they are contractors are generally not eligible for in compliance. unemployment compensation or state- mandated paid leave during the pandemic. This has caused some workers and state Please contact Bond, Schoeneck & governments to challenge independent King’s Class and Collective Action Litiga- contractor classification so these workers tion attorneys if you have any questions or may obtain benefits. would like additional information regarding For example: Rideshare drivers have filed the potential scope of exposure, mitigation class action lawsuits against Uber Technol- and/or other legal developments arising from ogies and Lyft Inc. alleging that they have class action litigation. VIEWS BY SUZE Suzanne McAndrews 50 + years in Greenwich Village See Views by Suze at Bonsignour Café Jane Street and Eighth Avenue 646-689-3475 [email protected] 24 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org Historic Maps of Manhattan: 1775 By Brian J Pape, AIA, LEED-AP

I collected maps from the Brooklyn His- torical Society, and made notes to relate them to Greenwich Village and waterfront changes. To do justice to the maps and to the read- ers, we present one map at a time, so that they can be reprinted at a larger size that is more legible. Each map captures a moment in the development of Manhattan. Reader comments are always appreciated.

THIS MAP WAS ORIGINALLY DRAWN IN 1775, by John Montresor, dedicated to Ma- jor Gen. Thos. Gage. It includes descriptive notes, “References,” and existing streets, some buildings, farms, docks, and names of property owners and natural landmarks, listed and located.

Of the few streets named here, ‘Broad Way’ ends at the future City Hall Park, ‘Bowry Lane’ begins east of the ‘Fresh Water’ (Col- lect Pond) and soon becomes the ‘Road to Albany and Boston.’ The waterfront road to Greenwich is not named; and at the end of the “Road to the Obelisk,” I wonder what happened to ‘Gen. Wolf’s obelisk’ in Greenwich?

Relief (steep slopes, hills) are shown by ha- chures. This map was “Engraved from the original map by John Montrésor for D. T. Valentines manual for 1855 by G. Hayward 120 Water St. N.Y.”

Cecily Dyer, Special Collections Librarian and Manager of Reference and Outreach, said “Our online catalog is part of a consor- tium hosted by NYU that also includes N- YHS (New-York Historical Society), and the catalog has one record for both our copy of the map and N-YHS’s copy, even though it appears that their copy is an 1855 repro- duction while ours is the original from 1775. The inclusion of the note about the N-YHS copy here is a bit confusing, and hopefully we can address the issue soon.” Credit: Maps at Brooklyn Historical Society

Brian J. Pape is a LEED-AP “green” architect consulting in private practice, serves on the Man- hattan District 2 Community Board, is co-chair of the American Institute of Architects NY Design for Aging Committee, and is a journalist for architecture subjects.

Free Groceries continued from page 8 Waverly Place. Taïm customers can enjoy Courtyard: a time of prayer and fellowship shade, quiet, free wi-fi, the gentle splash much needed these days. resident theater company Rattlestick. November, and Barbara Braun in Decem- of the water-fountain, and the chirping of St John’s has done all this while at It is important for the Village’s visual ber. Kazuya Morimoto, known as ‘Kaz’ to St John’s two blue budgerigars as they eat. the same time experiencing, as have all artists to be able to show their work at this Villagers, and a familiar sight on Village The courtyard is open to everyone (not just churches and not-for-profits, a steep di- time when many commercial and even streets, is now busy painting the new Paris- Taïm customers) between 11am and 3pm minishment in its own revenues due to the not-for-profit galleries are closed. Rev- like, table-lined, diner-filled streets of the Monday to Friday. pandemic. If you feel you might be able to elation Gallery, St John’s own art gallery, Village for his November show. Significantly also, when so many church- help with either the grocery program or the has uninterrupted shows by Village art- As restaurants have now lost their indoor es in the Village are closed, St John’s has concert-streaming (the two costliest of the ists this season: Maria Carla Genovesi (of seating and some have very little outdoor re-opened for in-person worship, with a new programs), please do be in touch (all Parsons School of Design) in September, space, St John’s has offered its lovely in- Eucharist (mass) at 6:15pm every Wednes- details are on our website: stjvny.org) or Joyce Rezendes (of Westbeth) in Octo- terior garden, St Benedict’s Courtyard, to day, followed by ‘distance drinks’ (cham- pop in (the church is open from 11am to ber, Kazuya Morimoto (of W 11th St) in its neighbor Taïm, the Israeli falafelry on pagne and soft drinks) in St Benedict’s 3pm Monday to Friday) and say hello. www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 25 Boarded-Up is Canvas of Art Expression

NEW YORK CITY, JULY 12, 2020: In this photo an artist was kind enough to pose in front of her art work, tagged “@erinkostudios". She was very friendly, and like all the other artists spoken to, very proud of their work. In the streets of Soho, artists came out and expressed their views through art. Photo by Christiana Cintron.

By Brian J Pape, AIA that her neighborhood of Soho was covered A phenomenon of the pandemic, or a re- up in drawings. When we parted, I decided sponse to vandalism? to take a walk over there, in spite of being We are hard-pressed to decipher between tired, and the 90-degree hot humid weather. them as we passed the boarded up business Block after block, the artists had made windows throughout the city. the most beautiful guerilla artwork, non- First, the COVID-19 virus spreads commissioned artwork, works of expres- throughout the world; governments began sion. It was truly amazing.” to lock down their cities in efforts to contain “As I photographed these artworks, I knew the spread and save lives. My city too was that I was doing something very important, now locked down, and at first, it was just because who knew how long they would IF THIS PAPER MAKES YOU THINK locked doors and gates. even be there? At times other guerilla artists Then, with the tragic death of George will draw on top of someone else’s drawing, Floyd at the knees of police, many people never mind also that the business owners We will print your thoughts in the next issue were inspired to demand social justice. themselves would remove the plywood. Un- They held many rallies and went out to fortunately, all that great art is gone, except Send your letter to protest, peacefully. Unfortunately, some for the photos I and other people took to [email protected] people took advantage of those crowds and document a time when many talented artists used violence as a form of expression. came out to express their values, their beliefs 69 Charles St. Soon many businesses were vandalized in social justice and equality—that they told New York NY 10014 and looted, and they were worried when the world “we are here.” These artists used the next protest would be, and what might the plywood as their CANVAS, as a means happen; they wanted to be ready, so they of social justice expression. They took to the used plywood to board up their business streets, to change the world.” windows. Block after block, all you could The time came when businesses felt it see was plywood; the streets looked like was safe to remove the plywood and once they were ready for a hurricane. again open their doors. No one had been During this time, we began to see, on the paid or commissioned to enliven our barren plywood, some graffiti and some drawings. street walls during the lock-down; perhaps As the days went on, the art became more no one got to preserve the artwork. But we elaborate and bold. who stayed in the city got to enjoy our own I made an acquaintance with a photojour- outdoor art galleries for many months. nalist who is inspired to document and share what is happening around us, including at Christiana Cintron is working on a photo this time of a pandemic. I soon learned that book of her work. She can be contacted at she had talked to the street artists and pho- [email protected] tographed their art. Here are excerpts from my interviews Brian J. Pape is a LEED-AP “Green” Archi- with Christiana Cintron. tect consulting in private practice, serves on “I took photos of the workers putting the Manhattan District 2 Community Board, up the plywood. I photographed drawings is Co-chair of the American Institute of Archi- in my part of town. I was casually telling a tects NY Design for Aging Committee, and is friend about the artwork, and she told me a journalist for architecture subjects. 26 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org To Shake or Not to Shake: Farewell to a Long Time The History and the Future Resident and WW2 Veteran of the Handshake By Anastasia Kaliabakos Agathon and his brother Sosykrates. One of During my college application process, I the reasons this gesture became so popular had to prepare for a slew of interviews. I then and has now stood the test of time is remember doing some practice interviews that it suggested that the two parties shaking with a “specialist” who told me that one hands were equals in that moment. In fact, of the most important things that leads to that is the main reason handshakes became a successful interview is having a good and a cultural stamp here in the United States. In strong handshake. Therefore, I attempted the 18th century, the Quakers who settled in to achieve the perfect middle ground hand- America popularized the handshake as a form shake—not too tight a grip, but not a limp of greeting. The quakers favored this method one either. I think I gave a pretty good over the then-common bow, curtsy, or hat-tip handshake at all my interviews, if I do say because they believed that the handshake was so myself. And, surprisingly, that was a sig- more democratic, allowing for an egalitarian nificant part of the interviews. Each hand- form of greeting that also offered both parties shake opened a different door. The initial a sense of “fraternal equality.” physical connection can alert you to what In the age of COVID-19 and social dis- type of person you may be dealing with: a tancing, handshakes, as an intimate form firm handshake could indicate a confident of touch and contact, have somewhat lost KY YEE HAND'S LAUNDRY WAS VERY POPULAR AND BUSY: Kwong Yee (KY), above, in person; an overly tight one could mean the their appeal. Back in April 2020, Dr. An- front of the laundry. Photo courtesy of Yee family collection. person is a bit intense; a flacid shake may thony Fauci, one of the leading medical ex-

By Arthur W. Yee Yee Family Association and the American Legion Post 1291 (one of the largest in the If you lived in the West Village anytime U.S.) in New York’s Chinatown. He was during the 1950s–1990s, chances are you highly respected and many would come to may have patronized the KY Yee Hand him for counsel and advice. For example, Laundry located on the corner of Bleeck- at the American Legion location he had a er and Grove Streets. To my recollection, desk and a chair that he alone used. Even there were about six other laundries in a the post commander would yield the chair six-block radius but KY’s was very popular to KY if he was present! He had served his and busy. country with pride! Kwong Yee, or KY, as he was called by Recently, KY was featured, along with his many friends, passed away peacefully his best friend and war buddy John H. on April 17, 2020 at the NYS Veterans Wong, in a 2018 mini-documentary, “We Home in Montrose, NY at the age of 97. Are American Soldiers,” which was pro- He was born in China and came to the duced by his granddaughter Katie May U.S. when he was 14. He learned English, Porter and her husband Gregg. attended high school, and worked with his KY and Mei “retired” in the late 1980s father in the laundry. Upon graduation, he and passed the business along to relatives; AN ANCIENT HANDSHAKE: Image of the 5th century Funerary Naiskos at the grave of Ag- athon and Sosykrates. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons. was drafted into the armed services and but he was often seen there into the early served first in Africa, then in India, and 90s, helping out on the weekends. KY was show the interviewer may not be as inter- perts on the Coronavirus, NIAID Director, then in China with the 14th Air Force loved by his extended family, other rela- ested in being there as you are. A handshake and advisor on HIV and AIDS to six U.S. Group, 407th Air Service Squadron as a tives, and numerous friends. He was always also may be seen as a seal of trust—a type presidents, said that we may have to do away mechanic with the famous Flying Tigers. proud to have served his country and his of “business deal” even. But where did this with handshakes altogether, or at least in the When he was discharged he returned to community. He is survived by his wife form of human connection first begin, and United States. “You don’t shake anybody’s the U.S. but was unable to find work as a Mei, their two children May and Arthur why is it worth writing and talking about? hands… I don’t think we should ever shake mechanic, so he went back to China to get and their spouses, three grandchildren, and It is acknowledged by historians that the hands ever again, to be honest with you. Not married. He brought his bride Mei back four great grandchildren. handshake is a greeting custom that dates only would it be good to prevent Coronavirus to the U.S. and took over his father’s laun- back to Ancient Greece—probably around disease; it would decrease instances of Influ- dry business. the 5th century B.C. Initially, this practice, enza dramatically in this country.” For now, He and Mei worked long hours, some- known as “Dexiosis” in English, which liter- Dr. Fauci may be right—it is important to times six or seven days a week, but because er lo ally means offering one’s right—or “good”— limit the spread of germs (and Coronavirus) of his amicable personality, meticulous w v lo e hand in order to make amicable contact with by wearing masks, social distancing, and defi- workmanship, and perseverance, word f another, was also meant to indicate that nitely refraining from shaking other people’s spread about the business and it took off. a person was not holding or concealing a hands. However, Dr. Fauci was also a Clas- Some of its dedicated clientele included weapon, making it safe to interact with and sics major in college. Therefore, although his famous people like Dean Jones, Shelly talk to them. In addition to being common perspective as a physician and Infectious Dis- Hack, Jack Warden, and William Kunstler. feel it! in the everyday interactions of the Ancient ease Specialist may seem to favor abolishing I recall customers who moved uptown, and Weekly seasonal bouquets Greeks, the handshake also grew in popular- this ancient (Greek) tradition, it is more than even a few to New Jersey, but who would delivered to you ity in their artwork, such as amphoras, temple likely that he understands that feat is impos- return on a Saturday to drop off and pick starting at $35 friezes, gravestones, and more. In fact, one of sible. This custom has existed for thousands up their laundry. Now that’s dedication! the oldest pieces of art depicting a handshake of years, and I am willing to bet that after the On the rare occasions that KY took time Feed Your Soul was found on an ancient sculpture from a fu- ultimate decline of Coronavirus, the hand- off on a Sunday, he was heavily involved Debra Camitta [email protected] details_flowers_bydkc nerary temple at the grave of Athenian poet shake will make a comeback. with, and held leadership roles with, the www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 27 Leash Your Dog…Or Else! By Alec Pruchnicki fired from her job. At first, I accepted this ty that they can accuse her of racism and she didn’t actually say that on the phone. One way to possibly live to a ripe old age in narrative since there are so many similar fire her from her job? She didn’t use the She did appear more frantic (or fright- New York City, a city in which people get episodes documented on YouTube and TV N word but actually the politically correct ened?) while on the phone but we don’t killed over parking spots, is to avoid unnec- news shows. description of him. know how the police responded to her call essary confrontations. They can sometimes But, a column in the New York Daily Second, her phone call was a false report or if they appeared to be taking her seri- quickly escalate beyond your control. Most News by Robert George on May 26th di- since she wasn’t really threatened. There’s ously or ignoring her complaint. dog walkers in The Village have their dogs rected me to Christian’s Facebook page no indication that Christian intended her Although she apologized when inter- on leashes, but not always. When I see some- where a much different picture developed. harm, but how would she know that? It was viewed afterward, she lost her job on the one walking a dog without it being leashed, Here’s the full story from his Facebook 8 AM, in the middle of the woods with, grounds that the one-minute video indi- I’m irritated but I never confront the person. page and the video. apparently, nobody else around. Women cated a previously undetected level of rac- A recent event in The Ramble, an iso- She was walking the dog without a leash do get attacked in parks. If I were in the ism that her employer had not noticed in lated area of Central Park, shows how and the two argued back and forth, as middle of the woods and had an argument all the time she worked for them. confrontation can escalate. The Rumble in previously described. Then he said to her, with somebody, of any race, and I heard “… As an aside, Christian referred to her as The Ramble started at about 8 AM when “Well, if you’re going to do what you want, you’re not going to like it,” I would take a “karen” a sexual and racial stereotype in Amy Cooper was walking her unleashed I’m going to do what I want, and you’re not it as a potential threat, and a physical one and of itself (see article in this issue “What dog in spite of signs reminding owners that going to like it.” He took out some dog at that. If I were on Hudson Street in the is a Karen”). leashes were required. Christian Cooper, a treats and attempted to give one to her dog middle of the day, or in a crowded bar and Jumping on the anti-Amy bandwagon, bird watcher who was there confronted over her objections. That’s when she called someone said that to me, for whatever rea- The New York Times wrote two long ar- her and asked her several times to leash the police. Eventually, she put on the leash, son, I would take it as a potential physical ticles on the incident, both indicating that the dog, and she apparently refused several Christian politely said “Thank you”, and it threat. And feeding something to her dog, her accusation of threatening behavior was times. He took out his phone and started ended until it appeared on YouTube with over her objections, can also be considered unfounded, although the same articles, at to record her, at which point she became the subsequent fire storm of comments. threatening since people simply don’t do the very end, had his exact “…you’re not increasingly upset and threatened to call The first comment that has been almost that under normal circumstances. As she going to like it” statement. the police. When she did, and described universally accepted was that she men- said in a subsequent interview, it could Don’t start confrontations unless ab- him as an “African American man wearing tioned his being African American as a have been poison as far as she knew de- solutely necessary. Don’t walk your dog a bicycle helmet threatening me and my way of speeding up police response. How pending on how angry he was at her dog. without a leash even if he is “friendly” and dog.” it was caught on tape, eventually sent does anyone, sitting comfortably at home Third, people haven’t listened to the vid- “doesn’t bite.” And don’t make judgements to YouTube, and she was universally cas- in front of their computers know what was eo carefully. Although she said she would about people based on one-minute videos tigated as a racist for her description and in her mind at that time with such certain- tell the police he was threatening her life, without trying to get all the facts.

Volunteers may match with as many seniors as they like and schedule allows for. Com- What is a Karen? mitment duration is up to the volunteer. All By Alec Pruchnicki press women, and women in particular, made that is required by the volunteer is a working A new expression or meme has come into this phrase particularly unacceptable to her. phone and access to the internet for training the English language. A “Karen” (sometimes We’ve been through this before. When I and participation. Minimum age to partici- described as a “karen” to turn it into an ad- first entered high school in The Bronx, I met The Neighbor Network is a volunteer- pate 16. jective from a proper noun) is an entitled, many Jewish boys who used the phrase JAP, based non-profit program aimed at dimin- If you are a senior who would like to re- obnoxious, spoiled, often middle-aged white to describe a “Jewish American Princess” ste- ishing isolation among the lower west side ceive calls or be a volunteer, come join us too! woman who believes she has the right to reotype. Like all generalizations, it was often seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Join the Neighbor Network and be a special treatment. She is the type of person used aggressively and inaccurately, but widely Volunteers are matched with seniors to good neighbor to your fellow seniors! who will call the store manager for what she used nonetheless. Eventually it was used have regular calls for friendly conversa- For more information: https://theneigh- perceives as a lack of recognition of the treat- to describe other women who were “JAPy” tions, connect older New Yorkers with the bornetwork.org/ Ready to sign up or have ment she believes she is entitled to. It is also or sometimes even used against a similarly resources they need, and build relation- questions contact us at (914) 573-5526 or a racist, sexist, and possibly ageist stereotype spoiled “Jewish American Prince”. It eventu- ships that will bring joy and comfort to se- [email protected]. which should be avoided like any other simi- ally disappeared from common usage, maybe niors and volunteers alike. lar stereotype against any other group. because its obvious anti-Semitism, even Older adults face a higher I’ve never used this phrase in my writings coming from other Jews, was unacceptable. I health risk due to COV- . 100% cotton, fully lined in but I recognized the term and the ease with haven’t seen or heard it in decades. ID-19, these neighbors are 100% silk crepe de chine which it is used. Like many stereotypes, it Recently, a much more profane phrase likely to face many more . Reinforced for more is convenient and immediately recognized used to stereotype women was graphically months of physical isola- protection and structured and I didn’t think much of it. Often, it is a described by Representative Alexandria tion and the challenges that for comfort snap accusation people make on Facebook Ocasio-Cortez on the floor of Congress. come with it—difficulty ac- . Adjustable ear loops or Twitter after seeing a short video of some Whether a woman is described as a kar- cessing food, medicine and . Reusable and hand women acting this way. But my eyes were en, a JAP, or a fucking bitch, they do have mental health services, a washable opened to the toxic nature of this term by certain things in common. They describe lack of reliable information, . Starting at $45 a letter to the New York Daily News by a behaviors in a woman that were they to oc- and separation from friends Karen Temple who complained about the cur in a man might be considered admirable. and family. By volunteer- racial and sexual aspects of this phrase. It Aggressive, assertive, taking control, forceful, ing to regularly make calls became immediately clear to me that she decisive, etc., male behavior can easily overlap to seniors during this time, was right. If an obnoxious black woman with similar female behavior but without the you can help connect your were described as an Oprah, or a histrionic negative implications. Criticizing the female neighbors to the resources black male were described as a Kanye, there version of this behavior, but not the male, can they need while building would be universal condemnation. sometimes be used as a common, simple cul- meaningful relationships. A Karen Martin in a letter to the Los Angeles tural tool to keep women quiet. The thresh- Calls can last as short as Times bemoaned the fact that she would never old for unacceptable obnoxious male behav- 10 minutes and are as fre- have her name back without having a negative ior just seems a little higher than for similar quent as both the volun- tinge to it. Misogyny and the desire to sup- female behavior. No more karens, please. teer and senior agree upon. 28 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org

UNODE50 AMETHYST, LEATHER, AND SILVER BEAD BRACELET. The Oculus at World Trade Center. 185 Karen’s Quirky Style Greenwich Street. By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor Karen Rempel has been contributing to WestView News since 2017. She is a photojournalist, technical writer, model, You might wonder how a simple dress relates to wom- and artist. Her words and pictures have appeared in the lit- en’s empowerment. This month’s photo series is an all- erary journal Room, TV Week Magazine, Vancouver Sun, woman effort, featuring this stunningly simple bespoke and many other pubs. Her artwork has exhibited at New dress by Engineered by Andrea T, photography by Tess York’s Salmagundi Club and Revelation Gallery. Visit her Malone, and the bronze sculpture Fearless Girl by Kris- blog at loveaffair.nyc and her YouTube channel. ten Visbal. Fearless Girl has had quite an eventful life for a three-year old. Tess captured us together at our girl’s new location, staring down the New York Stock Exchange. The Equal Rights Amendment was passed in the U.S. Senate in 1972 and should have been ratified in January 2020 when the state of Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the amendment. With Kamala Harris making a run for Vice President, it’s an exciting time for women and equal rights for all people. For the full story and more Tess Malone photos of Fearless Girl and me, see westviewnews.org and karen- squirkystyle.com. ______

STYLE NOTES

NAVY WAFFLE COTTON PIQUÉ A-LINE DRESS AND MATCHING MASK WITH BOW. Engineered by Andrea T. 147 West 35th Street (by appointment only).

PLEASER TRANSPARENTLY INVISIBLE DANCER SHOES. Hustler Hollywood. 41 West 8th Street.

BLUE SAPPHIRE DROP EARRINGS. Whole Bead Show WEST VILLAGE MODEL KAREN REMPEL in bespoke dress and mask by Engineered by Andrea T. Fearless Girl also NYC. Hotel Pennsylvania. wears mask with bow by EAT. Photos by Tess Malone. Local Finds. Local Love. Support some of our favorite West Village shops and designers.

LINGUA FRANCA, 382 Bleecker POOLSIDE, "The Poolside Tote: "Nevertheless she voted" 100% Cashmere, Large lace handwoven raffia hand-stitched. www.linguafranca.com www.wearepoolside.com

BREAD MONSTER Sold at "THE ELK" ROTHY'S, 407 Bleecker 128 Charles St. "The Mask 1.0" in Camo, washable Glass Bead, SJP BY SARAH JESSICA PARKER 2-pack, www.rothys.com silk thread bracelet "Rampling" in Hamilton/Rish, Pointed-toe pump, Custom inquiries: signature grosgrain, sjpbysarahjessicaparker.com IG@breadmonster_inc www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 29 Style on the Street: Walking on Sunshine

DERREL THOMAS BRIANNA HUNTER DAVID SPILLANE BARBARA UHLAND RICHARD GIEN CRISTINA LI

Photos by Dusty Berke and Karilyn Prisco. Follow us on Instagram @styleonthestreet_WestViewNews Submit your favorite neighborhood fashion looks for a chance to be featured. A Day in Sarah Jessica Parker’s Shoes By Karilyn Prisco mal evening dress for a night at the NYC When the paper was brainstorming ways to Ballet—and everything in between. With boost subscriptions during the COVID-19 the closed toe and exposed top-foot de- pandemic, Sarah Jessica Parker, our neigh- sign, the Celine has versatility for any sea- bor and loyal supporter of WestView News, son. Rock them bare for the spring/sum- volunteered to gift a pair of shoes from her mer months and layer them up with cute SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker collection to the socks or patterned tights for the fall/win- New Subscriber giveaway initiative. We an- ter. You’ll be bringing the party wherever nounced our winner, Erin Mintun, in our you go—which is exactly what we need in July issue and took her to the street for some these times. Any chance to smile and shine. shoe shopping in August. Great choice Erin! Erin was invited by Sarah Jessica to visit Our drooling session doesn’t just stop her SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker NYC flag- there. All shoes from the collection are ship boutique which is located on West proudly made in Italy by third and fourth 54th Street in Manolo Blahnik’s former generation Tuscan shoemakers. The SJP store. The brand’s new Midtown Manhat- Collection has been thoughtfully detailed tan brick and mortar boutique, across the to include a wide array of styles. One thing street from MoMA, complements its other remains consistent—the products’ silhou- NYC location at South Street Seaport. ettes are truly stunning. You may not even ERIN, WINNER OF THE WESTVIEW NEWS GIVEAWAY, is shown around SJP by Sarah Jes- The flagship store is outfitted with bold, sica Parker by store representative Alyssa, helping her choose which pair of shoes will go be able to recognize your own foot, as each rich- colored furniture that makes any cus- home with her. Photo by Bob Cooley. design somehow makes every customer feel tomer feel luxurious, lavish, and energized. they should be a foot model for Disney’s The space feels fresh, open, and safe. Hand about the collection is that the majority of it is not surprising this silhouette is a top Cinderella. We won’t lie, Sarah Jessica’s de- sanitizer was provided on-site and Erin the shoes have the flexibility to be styled seller. Think Dorothy meets Studio 54— signs make it hard to pick and choose. But was greeted by the SJP iconic floor-to- for multiple tastes and many occasions. it’s comfortable like your house slipper and who needs to make a decision when you ceiling glass shoe wall display and accented After trying on numerous colors and styles fun like a disco; it’s pretty much like hav- can buy them all? Lucite fixtures—immediately transporting from the SJP Evergreen Collection, Erin ing a party on your feet without having to Well if you are like me, you can’t buy her to a world of shoe heaven. landed on the block heel Mary Jane named take your shoes off when you dance! Erin them all…or even one pair. Unfortunately, From playful to flirty, to street style, to “Celine.” With its unapologetic combina- can easily pair these with her distressed these economic times aren’t welcomed by black tie occasions, the SJP Collection tion of crystal-embellished buckle, signa- boyfriend’s jeans when running out to my shopping wishlist but, no worries— covers them all. What is most impressive ture grosgrain detail, and scintillate body grab a coffee, or match them with a for- continued on page 31 30 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org The Choreography of Survival rives she starts counting toward the next one, “The masses pressed into me so much recall sandy vales of wind, and inhabitants so eager is she to reach the next milestone. I thought that my ribs would crack, and of villages by the sea will incorporate moves That’s because she believes she accumulates before I knew it I was inside the train.” reminiscent of the casting of a fishing net. wealth with the passage of time. However, And even if she was able to gather enough It’s all firmly based on logic, and for despite the massive fortune of nearly a cen- breath to breathe a sigh of relief, it was Vija it couldn’t make more sense. She was tury of life, Vija still can find herself sur- short-lived. Safely outside of Vienna, taught by her Indian dance master that the prised. Asked whether, in all her life, she’s that trainload of civilians was targeted by supreme Indian deity Nataraja created the witnessed something akin to the spread of American bombers. Running for her life, universe through a cosmic dance. This di- COVID, she answers without hesitation, away from the stalled train in the middle vine directive helped her accomplish her “Never ever, and I don’t think anybody else of the countryside, she recalls, “The fly- life’s work. In the U.S., aside from teach- has either. Because it has taken over globally. ers came down so low until they could see ing generations of dancers their power in a This way—it has never happened.” Consid- we were not a military train. We were just classroom environment, she was a pioneer ering the variety of experiences she’s had, people trying to get away.” of sacred dance—the act of dancing as a that is saying something. It was in this way, running into the for- mode of worship in religious settings like Vija has lived on five continents, given ests of Bavaria, that her life as a refugee churches. For her, dance has always been a a command performance for the queen began. After the war, her native Latvia fell way of elevating the soul to a higher plane. of England, and studied under arguably under the rule of the Soviets. Scores of her The changes we’ve seen in recent months the most celebrated practitioner of Indian fellow countrymen were removed to forced have been, admittedly, a challenge for Vija. "I AM FOR CELEBRATING THE DIFFERENC- classical dance in history. She’s the sub- labor camps in Siberia where most of them Normally, she makes an annual trip to her ES OF PEOPLE as well as their similarities. Both have to be venerated,” says Vija Vetra, ject of two books (which you can find on eventually died. For the next 45 some odd homeland to perform for audiences filled with above, when considering nearly a century of Amazon) and three documentaries. With years, she returned only once to her home- notable Latvians, including the president of life across five different continents. Photo by all that life, the only period that was more land before the Iron Curtain fell, to give that Eastern European country. It’s always Edgar Zalite. traumatizing for her than the current one a performance in 1979 in a theater filled something to look forward to, and (a secret to was World War II, when she was a young with Communist officials. After the per- her incredible longevity) something to work By Stanley Wlodyka Jiménez woman studying ballet in Vienna. formance, her friends, family and even ac- toward. This year, however, everything has During that time she found herself quaintances were questioned by secret po- changed. “Performance is something special, Vija Vetra, a dancer living at Westbeth, trapped in a building that was bombed by lice. The Soviet government considered her because you give it to the people. You share of is exceptionally proud of her country of the Russians. With little air and less hope an American Mata Hari—a dancing spy. yourself. So being in quarantine as I am, I feel birth, which isn’t India, in case you made for survival, Vija considers her unlikely Though she’s never shown up on any left out and depressed,” Vija laments. that assumption after having watched her salvation from the rubble to have been her government’s payroll, one would have done Despite today’s unprecedented challenges perform. It’s surprising that she should feel first encounter with the supernatural realm. well to recruit her as she’s learned a lot about she does manage to find blessings to count. so Latvian at her core, considering that she She believes the fact that she is alive today humans through dance. At 97 (and a half), An original tenant of Westbeth Artists spent only a fifth of her life in that Baltic to tell the tale is a miracle. there’s one thing that she’s quite certain Housing, which this year celebrates its 50th state, leaving when she was just a teen- She fled Vienna with scores of other ci- about: people are basically the same every- anniversary as the largest artist residency in ager. It’s a testament to this idea that first vilians anxious about the advances of the where you go. Vija believes that environ- the world, she appreciates the network of impressions can last a lifetime. It follows, Red Army, and remembers with a chill the mental factors affect the way communities support that this community provides for then, that Latvia must be an incredible scene of her escape at the train station. It behave and are ultimately responsible for her. For example, she’s able to stay safely country since, at 97 and a half (she insists wasn’t at all certain that the train would the differences that can be observed be- quarantined because the man who lives on that the half be counted) Vija has lived even leave the station, but when the pistons tween one group and another. This is blar- the floor above her at Westbeth gets her more life than most have. began to pump, the desperate crowd leapt ingly obvious when the trained eye consid- groceries for her and a few of the other se- As with a lot of things, Vija’s perception into action, crawling through the windows ers regional dance styles. People who live in niors. “I’ve never met him before and I don’t of aging is different from the average view- and climbing up on top of the train, any- the mountains create dances that reflect the know what he looks like, because when he point. For one, the minute her birthday ar- thing9/11 to get out and Memorial away. elevation, desertConcert dwellers spin in ways that comes half his face is covered.” September 11, 7 pm

West View News is partnering with the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus to present a virtual 9/11 Memorial Concert at 7:00 pm September 11th. The virtual program will feature a cappella African-American Spirituals, and full -orchestra performances of Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and the councluding “Amen” from Handel’s Messiah. You can join us on any device—phone, tablet or TV. Contribute What You Can: $5—I just want to help $15— Fan of Schiller Institute NYC Chorus $25—Friend of Schiller Institute NYC Chorus $50—Patron of Schiller Institute NYC Chorus $100—Benefactor of Schiller Institute NYC Chorus

Tickets available at bit.ly/memorial-concert or by phone (917) 740-9694 www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 31

Sarah Jessica continued from page 29 City Tails: Leroy Street’s Mom- ally delivering online and phone orders on perhaps paying homage and channeling her way home from a day of work at the her famous SATC character “Carrie” a NYC locations. and-“Pup” Hidden Treasure bit, Sarah Jessica respects a girl on a bud- Just like our West Village neighbor, the dancing to the music (the staff takes turns get. And that’s why we love her! Charac- store is beautiful, sophisticated, lovely, and rotating their favorite tunes throughout the teristic of her usual thoughtful self, Sarah grounded. It’s the type of place that makes day). Even though many dog parents are Jessica is able to accommodate everyone you feel like you are at a slumber party working from home due to COVID, it is with something. The flagship store is ac- raiding your best friend’s fabulous shoe clear that dog socialization is still impor- cessorized with delicious fragrances, cute closet instead of having an impersonal, tant. Dogs need to get out and socialize as smartphone cases, the SJP x Sunglass Hut stiff, typical retail store experience. Let’s much as us humans do. At the end of the capsule collection, and a ton more. I found just say you won’t feel judged if you haven’t day, dogs are pack animals and its part of myself eyeing the iconic SJP shoe-wall grid gotten a pedicure in five months and are their emotional and physical wellness to design that is printed on canvas tote bags, trying on a $400 pair of shoes. It feels like play, run, and be around other pups. The cosmetic sets, beach towels, and S’well wa- family and it’s definitely worth the trip City Tails pups play all day, come home ter bottles. I couldn’t help but make a quick above 14th Street. happy, and are well-rested. gift list for my SJP addict friends. Birthday Thank you Sarah Jessica for your gener- Joel and his wife Michelle love raising gift, check. Christmas gift, check. Bach- osity, grace, and ongoing patronage of our their family in the city, and have called the elorette gift, check. Oh! And just in case I JOEL'S DAUGHTER, MILA, participating in “small but mighty” community newspaper. doggy daycare chores while pups Moby and West Village “home” for the past 13 years. need wrapping paper for that last-minute gift pick-up…yup! Sarah thought of that Walter supervise. Photo by Joel Bass. They were actually brought together by dog SJP BY SARAH JESSICA PARKER walking, thanks to Michelle’s American Es- too. Forever fashionable and prepared—it’s NYC FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUE By Karilyn Prisco kimo puppy, Luka. “We met when I started the true New Yorker in her. 31 West 54th St., New York, NY 10019 walking Luka,” recalled Joel. “I had a strict Whether it was the gorgeous shoes or Tues-Sat 11am-5pm | 646-863-2133 “The coolest job ever!” That’s the reaction no-client dating policy, so I’d try to set Mi- my socializing starvation seeping through, Facebook, IG, Twitter: @sjpcollection Joel Bass gets whenever he describes his job. chelle up with my friends, but quickly real- I just wanted to stay and hang out with For all store locations, hours, and products Joel is a local dog walker who founded City ized it was meant to be.” In recent years, the Erin and the wonderful staff members please visit SJPbySarahJessicaParker.com Tails NYC in the West Village in 2007. If Bass Family has expanded to include three that have become new friends. However, I you live in the West Village, chances are little girls who love dogs just as much as their didn’t want to hold up the store operations Karilyn Prisco is the fashion director of you’ve run into this cute, laid-back South- parents do. Joel enjoys giving an annual dog as only three shoppers are allowed in at a WestView News and social media manager ern Cali guy with a baseball hat, shorts year- safety lesson at his kids’ local West Village time, ensuring strict safety measures are for WestView News’ “Style on the Street” round, and playful pups in tow. Originally schools, PS 41 and Village Preschool Cen- in-place for the well-being of customers. (IG @styleonthestreet). Recently, after pivot- from San Diego, Joel moved to NYC on a ter. He also offers free dog health advice and There is an outdoor garden at the back of ing from her career as a project manager in whim, and stumbled upon a dog-walking ad safety lessons to any local families with new the store that provides a waiting area. For advertising for 15 years, Karilyn enrolled on Craigslist to help pay the bills. dogs. When Joel isn’t dog walking, you can customers that prefer less direct contact, in the FIT Fashion Styling Certificate Pro- Over the past 13 years, Joel has grown City usually find him running on the West Side the boutique has curbside pickup service. gram to follow her true passion for fashion Tails from a one-man show to a full-scale pet Highway with a double stroller or grabbing Sarah Jessica has also been spotted person- styling and visual expression. care business offering dog walking, doggy some ice cream with his kids at Bleecker or daycare, overnights, puppy training and Horatio Parks. If you haven’t checked out more. He founded City Tails as a mom-and- City Tails yet, you’ll find it’s the perfect op- pop business and continues to run it like a tion for anyone looking for a small-scale, small family business today. Joel and his staff personalized, and exceptionally caring expe- are a tight-knit crew that offers the most lov- rience for their pup. And don’t be surprised ing dog care imaginable, and works with each if your dog has so much fun they really don’t client to fully customize their pets’ needs. For want to go home. where dogs play all day. example, each client gets their own “cubby” Joel has known most of his clients for that includes anything from your dog’s favor- years, and he and his staff treat each pup as a ite treat and leash to storing a raincoat and member of their family. The City Tails crew hairbrush. The letter board the staff updates goes above and beyond to serve their clients, Code: regularly with different messages is a nice which even includes bringing a client’s pup WESTVIEW touch and acts as a great photo op for birth- to their wedding ceremony for a cameo ap- 15% off days and ice-cream socials! pearance during family photos. Speaking of 1st week In late 2019, City Tails opened its first photos, you can expect to get real-time pho- doggy daycare facility, located at 55 Le- tos, throughout the day, of your pup playing, roy Street (near 7th Avenue). Although napping, and being spoiled with affection. City Tails briefly paused operations due Even if you don’t have a pup of your own to COVID-19, it is now fully re-opened. but need a doggy fix, I highly recommend I visited the new space this summer and following their Instagram @CityTailsNYC. couldn’t believe how clean and open it Their account is filled with adorable dog was. Unlike typical doggy daycare facili- shots and funny captions. After spending ties that are often overly commercial, cold, a day at doggy daycare and exploring the and more prison-like than home-like, Joel West Village streets with Joel, I can defi- stayed true to his roots with the Leroy nitely agree that he and his team do have space. City Tails daycare looks and feels the coolest job ever. like home—instantly, I fell in love with the living room-like décor, the cage-free man- Get your free quote at citytailsnyc.com. Men- City Tails NYC is a family-oriented, full service dog business proudly tra and, of course, the gregarious greetings tion “WESTVIEW” and save 15 percent on serving the West Village since 2007. We offer a full suite of services and licks that I received from the pups your dog’s first week of care. including dog walking, doggy daycare, puppy care and more. when I arrived. As a dog owner for over 30 years I could tell these dogs were happy, CITY TAILS NYC Schedule your doggy daycare playdate or walk today! well-behaved, and liked to have fun. They 77 Leroy Street NY, NY 10014 were all wagging their tails enthusiastically, (347) 907-4345 @citytailsnyc | www.citytailsnyc.com | 55B Leroy Street NY NY 10014 playing fetch with the City Tails staff, and IG: @CityTailsNYC 32 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org The Day the Village Stood Still: (Part 5) The Fog By Roger Paradiso ity, with one or two seats between the two of you, this is a risk situation and…movie There was a fog around the Village the past theaters are not that high on the list of es- few weeks. It was the fog of war against sentials.” “He’s a politician,” Nick explained. this virus. “He wants to keep his numbers low.” I talked to Vittorio, owner of the res- Nick goes into his theaters once a week taurant on MacDougal Street that bears with a small crew. He owns several the- his name. He said, “It’s so bad here that aters and a bar, and has some tenants above it’s almost funny,” as a construction truck the bar. He keeps his three theaters clean whizzed by his street-side tables. Not only and ready for opening. He keeps spending are all shop owners in Greenwich Village money and swears that he will never leave suffering and losing money, but now they New York or sell his theaters. “That’s what have to deal with a city government that I love. How can I sell them?” has allowed major infrastructure work to I usually love to walk around the Village. take place on all the streets near Washing- But on this warm summer’s day I couldn’t ton Square Park, especially Bleecker Street. hang out any longer. The buzzards were fly- How would you like to dine near a jackham- ing. The Senate had left for summer vaca- mer or the beep beep beep of dump trucks JAMAL, OWNER OF VILLAGE MUSIC WORLD on Bleecker Street waits for customers. Photo tion without passing a relief bill (though and other construction equipment? As one by Roger Paradiso. there is talk that the House and the presi- observer noted, “Why couldn’t they do this dent are talking). Our president has gone several months ago before we opened up?” money, but I didn’t get what I wanted, but gone from bad to worse. The restaurant busi- campaigning and left the virus battle up So, our tale of greed, gentrification, and every little bit helps.” ness is the second highest-grossing business to the states. The mayor and governor are a virus has delivered us to what seems like He comes to his shop every day, but he in the state. We don’t have a voice to guide kicking the can down the road on the mora- a war zone. These conditions are all re- starts later in the day, around 1:30 in the af- us or protect us. Now we are trying to get to- torium for evictions. The executioner’s song lated and they will continue to be hanging ternoon, and leaves at 6:00 p.m. “I bought gether. You can go to a museum and have a (the moratorium) has been extended to around us like buzzards flying around a some more merchandise for a lot of money hundred people inside, but not a restaurant. September 5th. As Vittorio says, “What can dead carcass. but what can I do? I need to keep the shop We’re on very slim margins these days.” As Cuomo do? The state has no money.” Nei- Our country and our villages are at war. going.” He says that the Village is too dan- we get off the phone Tory tells me that her ther does the city. Who has all the money? This will only be resolved when we con- gerous and empty at night and he and a lot sidewalk café is being shut down for ten days The resilience of Villagers is amazing. quer the virus and kill it with a vaccine of his fellow shop owners close early. They due to work on the water lines. All the residents and shop owners struggle and/or a cure. However, every state is do- used to close up after 10:00 p.m. But it is I called my friend Nick the Greek, owner to stay alive every day. As Tory says, “I think ing what they want to, and the virus lingers dangerous with people circling the Village of several movie theaters. The gem of his it is disgusting that the Senate takes a vaca- in the South, Midwest, and western states. who they haven’t seen before. “There are a collection is the Cinema Village at 22 East tion in the middle of a crisis. Millions of Sadly, there is no national plan. lot of arguments and fights and I don’t feel 12th Street. He was busy planning an open- Americans are living hand to mouth right Jamal, owner of Village Music World on safe anymore.” Well, sad to say, as we got to ing. He would not be able to sell popcorn, now. Mental health issues are soaring, and Bleecker Street, said, “Last week I called press there had been a murder on Christo- candy, or drinks, and people would have to to throw an added financial burden of un- (the SBA) and I was a little mad. They pher Street a few days earlier. wear masks and sit six feet away from each certainty to people who are already on the are unreal. They keep deleting my applica- I call Tory at the Half Pint, but they are other. But he said optimistically, “I have the breadline is just unbelievable.” tion. So, I said I want an answer—yes or closed until 3:00 p.m. It seems they don’t perfect environment. People don’t talk dur- If there is any justice in the world we no. Yesterday I got cut off the phone three make much money at lunchtime anymore; ing a movie and they can sit by themselves.” will outlast this virus and this current gov- times. Waiting. Waiting. Then they came there are no students or faculty at NYU, there Then I got an email from Nick. Cuomo ernment led by a president who spends on and said, ‘Call tomorrow we will give are no tourists who want to visit an Irish pub. will not open theaters in New York, and so much time playing golf and tweeting. some good news.’ I think they gave me the When I reach Tory by phone she says, “It’s said, “Even if you are at 50 percent capac- There will be a reckoning in November. Guilty Transmissions: An Emotional Toll of COVID & AIDS By Kambiz Shekdar, Ph.D. opportunity. HIV/AIDS is life-long and tively straightforward way to fool-proof in our role to make the serodivide a piece of deadly when left untreated. SARS-CoV-2/ against the risks and fears of transmitting history and not a part of our future.” Whether it is to spare one’s parents, friends COVID-19 is deadly in a small percentage COVID-19, but in the case of HIV/AIDS, No pill is a wonder-drug. Short of a cure or loved ones, the pandemic has changed of cases but has as yet unknown long-term maybe there is. and/or vaccine, single-minded embrace of our daily routines and customs. Some have consequences. It takes some doing to catch Truvada/PrEP is an AIDS medication Truvada/PrEP will only ensure that HIV put an end to family visits. Others subject HIV/AIDS. Coronavirus/COVID-19 that provides a once-a-day pill to prevent festers forever among gay men. Did we themselves to two-week bouts of self-quar- comes to us as easy as our breath. Despite HIV infection in people who do not already jump into this new world with eyes com- antine before visiting friends. Blurring the their differences, both diseases create feel- have it. By putting an easy HIV prevention pletely wide open or were we also prodded lines between germaphobes and the rest of ings of fear and guilt. tool in everyone’s hands, some argued that by our emotions? Were we guilted into it by us, some strip naked upon coming home Like a COVID test, an accurate lab- HIV/AIDS would no longer be a big deal. HIV/AIDS? followed by elaborate disinfection routines. based HIV test takes days to deliver results. Condom use, especially among young white Let’s keep in mind that our feelings And as always, some don’t care. During those days, people’s thoughts often gay men, is pretty much a thing of the past. about disease factor in our behaviors re- COVID-19 and AIDS are diseases as wander. If I tested HIV-positive, would I “If you do happen to contract HIV while garding treatment also. As the world pur- vastly different as are our mechanisms to ever date any HIV-negative person again, taking PrEP (chances are you won’t), you’ll sues COVID-19 treatments, vaccines, and deal with them. They have different foot- fearing I might infect them? For that mat- potentially go from taking one pill a day to cures, let’s make sure that eager embrace of prints across our populations. HIV/AIDS ter, if I tested positive, would anyone not taking one pill a day,” or so says Grant Roth, possible early half-solutions does not scut- primarily affects marginalized and un- already infected with HIV ever want to an HIV peer counselor, ending his state- tle our stamina for ultimate cures. derserved populations including gay men, date me? “Serosorting” is a practice that ment with an emoji shrug. And in response black women, those in our jails, injection developed among some gay men; HIV- to the news of one of New York City’s first Rockefeller University graduate Kambiz drug users, trans women and sex workers, positive and HIV-negative people would cases of PrEP failure, activist physician Shekdar, Ph.D. is founder and president of those with the fewest resources and/or the tend to have sex with only those in their Demetre Daskalakis said of Truvada/PrEP, Research Foundation to Cure AIDS. Follow weakest voices. COVID-19 is more equal respective groups. There may not be a rela- “We should stand unapologetically together RFTCA on Instagram @RFTcureaids. www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 33

Stop the Press. Mugging on Cornelia St. v It's Monday night—the day after a tragic crowd. As I opened my hand, we saw a neighborhood incident. I call it stalking bogus chain. That thief was a pro. What and grand larceny. assails my thoughts and nerves the most is My husband, Anthony Blanche, who that he was a pro. A pro of stalking, await- will be 88 in October, born of Thompson ing his opportunity. He pounced on his Street (long before SoHo) ultimately living prey like a stealth animal! 911, 311, call to on Cornelia Street for fifty years, I for 34, the Sixth Precinct proved pointless at the was mugged in front of our door at noon. moment of need. Yesterday we walked. A lovely Sunday The desk sergeant said she couldn't help walk that included Jefferson Garden. It was me if I wasn't the victim. I explained that • noon as we walked home. My husband is the victim was in shock, vision impaired WestViewmu Newssic and a wonderful local guy whose circle included and deaf and very difficult for him to come. many neighborhood famous artists, writers, He must go there as the end result. Not a St. John’s in the Village Present restaurants and wiseguys. He was chosen bit of sympathy, no empathy, no commu- several years ago to represent New York nity outreach. I need the police report in City in the international Ubuntu Project order to see if any neighborhood cameras A CandlelightSt. John’s Concert in documentary film. More recently quoted in caught anything. I was told by a neighbor the New York Times about the neighborhood that two police cars showed up long after opening up and welcoming dining out. we all hugged, some crying, some showing in Memoriam of 9/11 The noon mugging resulted in a sacred, sympathy and support disbanded. No one the Village personally loved, blessed by the Pope, chain rang our bell; had police inquired of anyone with all its charms—ripped so hard from they would have been given that info. and WestView News Present his neck that it knocked him off balance Everyone at West Fourth, Sixth and Cor- September 11, 5 pm and marked him. "Stop him, Stop him" nelia at noon on Sunday, thank you from the Strathmere Ensemble in a we screamed. People were immediately bottom of my heart. And, to the dear young InLive honor Streamed of all thoseMemorial we lost Day on frenzied. I must thank a selfless young man who gave chase, you are a true hero, a man who took to the chase and never gave prince among men. We pray you have many September 11, 2001, please join us up. He returned valiant, a hero to us. We blessings. And, to the stealth thief, who hugged, traumatized, and he handed me could have chosen track instead of thievery; Allfor theBach following Concert program: a chain. He quickly disappeared into the we pray you will learn of Kharma. Brandenburg Concerto #5 Samuel Barber, Beethoven, Mondayand Gabriel May 25,Fauré 4 pm Enjoy thisPerformers live streamed concert on yourThe computer, Strathmere tablet orEnsemble smart phone at www.youtube.com/stjvnyShiz’ka Barbee Monk Gordon King Artists: Robert Wolinsky, Harpsichord WeTBA, will Flute be broadcasting from St. John’s in the Village. Mitsuru Tsubota. Violin Eriko YouSato, can Violin join us on any device — phone, Louise Schulman,tablet, Viola computer, tv. THIS IS US. Our neighborhood, our city, our country. Our lives. A decisive moment in the Daire Fitzgerald, Cello history of our country. Who do we want to be? Our choices will decide the future on No- If you’re struggling due to the coronavirus vember 3. Photo by Philip Maier. Jack Kulowitsch, Double Bass Billsituation, Zito, Lute take advantage of our “Pay What You Can” offer. If you’re able to pay more, to help If you are interested someoneTickets else pay less, $20 please do! in advertising in WestView TICKETFree / toCONTRIBUTION Seniors and Children, LEVELS — digital or print — $5 — butI Just registration Need to Smileis essential Right Now please contact $10 –To Fan buy ofa ticket Strathmere or to register, Ensemble contact [email protected]. Dana Costantino $20 – Supporter of Strathmere Ensemble $50 – Patron of Strathmere Ensemble [email protected] ST. JOHN’S IN THE VILLAGE 917-693-4234 at the Tickets/info:corner of West bit.ly/9-11memoriam 11th and Waverly Place 34 WestView News September 2020 www.westviewnews.org Great Art Returns to the West Village: Back to the Future By Bruce Poli includes legendary gallerist Patti Astor of Few galleries have a backstory like this one. Fun Gallery fame (she put graffiti on the Art of Our Century, which opened map and first exhibited Keith Haring and at 137 West 14th Street in January, was Jean-Michel Basquiat), curator and art ad- named with a reverential wink at Peggy visor John Gagne of Gagne Contemporary, Guggenheim. It is located in the space that and young gallerists Ali Haselbeck and housed New York’s first Spanish-language Katerina Levantis. bookstore—Librería Lectorum—and run Like Guggenheim, McDarrah aims to by a true child of the Village. It was also showcase works by established artists, and the first gallery to safely reopen after the also exhibit works of lesser-known artists, pandemic. often for the first time, and always artists “We were classified as a retail business, with some personal connection. as we try to sell things—art—and we don’t The August show, for example, was of charge admission,” said gallery director solo paintings by Suzanne Scott who lives Tim McDarrah. “It worked out beauti- on Waverly Place and was an assistant to fully. People put on their masks and were Bond Street resident and global art icon so happy to get out of the house and see art Chuck Close. “One of the first professional in person again.” interviews I ever conducted was with Close. McDarrah grew up under the desks at So it made sense that one of our first shows the Village Voice newspaper, where his had a Close collection,” McDarrah said. TIM MCDARRAH AND ARTIST SUZANNE SCOTT at Art of Our Century gallery in front of her father Fred W. McDarrah was the paper’s Opening September 10th is a show by work, "Self-Portrait: Scott's Great Snake" (54 x 54 inches, oil on canvas). Photo by Meryl Meisler. first picture editor and, for decades, its only Uman, the Somali-born gender-fluid mul- photographer. Tim often accompanied his then having been sidelined by a cancer di- the son of the couple that had opened Li- timedia artist who has been friends with father to artist’s studios, gallery openings, agnosis (now in remission), McDarrah was brería Lectorum in 1960 on what was then McDarrah for years. and other cultural events that were the bai- at the McBurney Y on West 14th Street a Spanish-influenced strip of West 14th “I am fortunate that I met my landlord liwick of the late alternative weekly paper. with an artist friend who was lamenting Street. at PS 41 when I was eight, and that he His childhood included crayon work with that his pop-up show had been canceled. Long story short, Art of Our Century too believes in art, personal relationships Andy Warhol, digging holes in Central McDarrah explains, “I said to him, ‘Well, was born; the name is derivative of Gug- and the bohemian and artistic legacy Park with Claes Oldenburg, and asking I have a friend that inherited a building genheim’s legendary 1942-47 gallery. of Greenwich Village,” said McDarrah. Nam June Paik why his TVs didn’t have down the street and there’s an open loft. Acknowledging he had zero experience “And hey, if you can’t champion your tal- any cartoons playing on them. I’ll open a gallery for you.’ He looked at me running a gallery, McDarrah assembled ented friends, then what’s the point of Last fall, after a career in journalism and like I was bat-shit crazy.” The friend was a team to help insure success; the group having a gallery?” Artists Collaborate With Seniors in Quarantine Through New Program at Greenwich House By Celeste Kaufman arts, with the seniors carefully matched to an artist from their same area of inter- While restrictions are lifting around the est. Members of Greenwich House Senior city, seniors are still practicing strict social Centers have been turning to art as a way distancing as one of the populations that to cope with the pandemic from the begin- are most vulnerable to COVID-19. At ning, attending arts classes and showcasing the beginning of quarantine, Greenwich the work they’ve created independently in House quickly adapted their senior cen- a virtual art show, and were eager for a new ter programming to an Online Learning creative outlet and to make some virtual Center packed with Zoom arts and culture friends. classes, exercise classes, and social groups to “We have been so thrilled to add Inter/ help combat the effects of isolation. Now, Generate to our arts programming,” says while the centers remain closed for in-per- Laura Marceca, Director of Center on the son programming, the offerings for virtual Square. “It’s such a creative way to connect programs and events continue to grow. In older adults with artists from different gen- August, a new program was launched that erations, and art can be a really powerful pairs artists from around the world with PHOTOS BY INTER/GENERATE PARTICIPANT, WARREN WYSS, taken during the Chronicles of Daily Life photography class at Greenwich House by SUCASA. Photo credit: Warren Wyss. tool for healing that I think our members seniors to collaborate on projects in their are needing right now.” Virtual program- chosen fields. lum Arts, helps artists across generations ect was a natural fit for their particularly ming is not a perfect substitution for the Michael Leibenluft, an Obie award- to support one another and create together, creative community of older adults. supportive sense of community that can be winning director, created Inter/Generate as finding solace and hope in the process of For eight weeks starting August 10th, found at the centers, but the enthusiasm a way for artists to both give back and find making art again. Jesse Freedman, Julia groups of two to five artists are meeting for adapting to new technologies and cre- connection with new creative partners. The Vogl, Noa Ginzburg, Rutie Borthwick, weekly over video call to work on a project ating innovative solutions for staying con- art world has largely been put on pause, Sophia Janowitz, Victor Esses and Yehuda related to that session’s theme, culminating nected is inspiring. During a time when and these artists have also been stressed Hyman signed on from New York, Boston, in a final presentation of their creations. it’s easy to feel isolated, projects like Inter/ about their futures and feeling stifled by and London. Then Leibenluft reached out The artistic mediums range from writ- Generate help to remind us that we are not confinement. This project, funded by Asy- to Greenwich House, who knew the proj- ing and performance to painting and fiber in it alone. www.westviewnews.org September 2020 WestView News 35 The Summer of 1956— The American Shakespeare Festival and Academy at Stratford, Connecticut

pated in many events with such people as starring Geraldine Page and Louis Jordan. in Much Ado About Nothing with Katherine Mickey Hargitay who was Mr. Universe in In this, Dean played the part of a gay hus- Hepburn in Washington DC and walked 1955 and Harry Johnson, a Mr. America tler. out in the middle of a scene. Three days in 1959. Attractive posing photos of Bobby I remember my part in King John was a later he phoned John Houseman, who in his speedo were featured on the pages ‘walk on the wild side.’ As an apprentice I was the director, and asked to be rehired. of a popular physique magazine called was high up in the rafters with a very old Several hours after that he leapt out of an Tomorrow’s Man which in the 1950s had actor, Whitford Kane, who in the 1920s eighth floor window at the Hotel Touraine a print run per issue of 40,000 and was had played the gravedigger in John Bar- in Boston, landing on the marquee and dy- marketed for the gay crowd. Later, after a rymore’s Hamlet. We had to be raised up ing instantly. After a very slow, underfund- stint in summer stock Bobby enrolled in high on a platform with no backing, seat- ed restoration, which began in 2012, the the American Academy of Dramatic Arts ed on chairs, forced to wait to be lowered Stratford Shakespeare Theater burned to in New York where he was one of two stu- down at the end of the play. I felt it was the ground in 2019 to the dismay of many dents who received a scholarship to intern a very dangerous situation both for Kane in the theater community. Two teenagers at the American Shakespeare Festival. I and myself. Kane was born in Ireland in were charged with arson. attended AADA for a short time before 188l and had had a very lengthy theatrical According to the book Bobby Morris dropping out after finding that ‘represen- career on Broadway. He died in December obtained representation with the William tational’ acting was not what I was looking of 1956 and I presume our aerie in the raf- Morris Agency and appeared in several for. I had been to Northwestern University ters was his last stage appearance. Other guest roles on television series including studying with the great Alvina Krause, who memories of King John include John Em- The Texan, Studio One, The Lineup, Law of taught the Stanislavski method. Eventu- ery, who played the title role, who was very the Plainsman, Wanted Dead or Alive, Death ally I enrolled in a two-year course with displeased with the original costumes, they Valley Days, Deadline, The Defender (a two- the actress and teacher Stella Adler, also a being too hot and heavily padded as well part show where he appeared with Steve proponent of Stanislavski. Both Stella and as tacky. At one point during a dress re- McQueen, William Shatner, and Ralph PROMISE UNFULFILLED: A biography by Alvina actually had been to Moscow and hearsal of the play he ripped off his wig—a Bellamy) and Naked City which featured Vernon Gravely. Cover photo of Robert met with the great Russian master teacher red one—and yelled, “You got me looking Morris and George Maharis (an actor who Morris by Van Williams. and author of the actors’ ‘bible’ An Actor like a God damned Joan Crawford here!” later starred in Albee’s The Zoo Story) in By Robert Heide Prepares. Later Stella recommended me to Another time Emery escorted several ap- an episode which was a ‘backdoor pilot’ her colleague John Houseman, the produc- prentices, including Bobby Morris and for Route 66. Morris missed out on the Several months back this year I received a er and director of the Shakespeare Festival myself, to see his ex-wife Tallulah Bank- co-starring role in that famous series but call from a writer named Vernon Gravely in 1956. head perform in her play Welcome Darlings the William Morris Agency finally landed who lives in Murphysboro, Illinois. He Of course I was enthusiastic to be an ap- at the Westport Country Playhouse. After him a contract with 20th Century Fox with told me he was finishing up a biographical prentice at the Festival in Connecticut (then the show Emery and we apprentices were the stipulation that he relocate from New book about an actor named Robert Morris in its second season after being constructed making our way to a local restaurant, the York to California. In 1957 Morris met who had been an apprentice in 1956 at the in 1955 along the banks of the Housatonic Café Le Plaige, when a trio of teenage girls and married a teenage singer named Janice American Shakespeare Theater in Strat- River), along with Peter Bogdanovitch approached us. One of the girls said, “Tal- Caplin at the famous Colony Record store ford, Connecticut. In the authors’ research (later the director of Paper Moon and The lulah, please say dahling.” Tallulah looked on Broadway, and in 1959 they moved to he had found my name in a list of appren- Last Picture Show), another of Stella’s stu- at the girls and said, “Fuck you…dahling!” Santa Monica and soon after gave birth to tice/interns who worked at the festival that dents, to work with the master, Houseman, At Stratford I shared a cottage on Lord- a son, Paul. In May of 1960, Bobby Morris, summer; and asked if he might interview who had been one of the founders of the ship Beach on the Long Island Sound with aka Bobby Morawczynski, who had epilep- me about Mr. Morris who many at Strat- Mercury Theater and a mentor to Orson Stanley Bell whose family lineage purport- sy, choked to death at a health ranch in the ford called ‘Bobby.’ The book is entitled Welles—and later went on to produce and/ edly extended back 18 generations to the California desert after suffering a seizure. Promise Unfulfilled—The Brief Life and Bi- or direct major Hollywood movies, in ad- Globe Theater at the time of Shakespeare. He was 25. His short career is a poignant zarre Death of Actor Robert Morris. There is dition to winning an Oscar as an actor in Once we were visited by Gladys Cooper, story—that of an actor who almost made a foreword from Michael Lindsay-Hogg, The Paper Chase (1973) as well as founding the great English actress, who stayed at the it big time. one of the apprentices that summer who is the drama division at Juilliard School. At cottage for a time. One of the apprentices, Promise Unfulfilled—The Brief Life and the son of the famous British actress Geral- Stratford I was able to act alongside some Ted Otis, heir to the Otis Elevator Com- Bizarre Death of Actor Robert Morris, a bi- dine Fitzgerald; in later life Lindsay-Hogg of the most talented people in New York pany, and his brother, found out that she ography by Vernon Gravely, an illustrated excelled as a stage and television director theater at the time including John Emery, was there and to draw attention to them- paperback book (and a ‘Kindlebook’) can including directing the Beatles documen- Mildred Dunnock, Fritz Weaver, Nina selves, drove around and around the house, be ordered from the publisher Valigor Press tary Let It Be. Foch, Kent Smith, Jacqueline Brooks, Jon- revving up the motor of Ted’s 1955 green ([email protected]) and on Gravely refers to Robert Morris as a athan Frid (who achieved immortality as a MG sports car. Gladys kept saying, “Who Amazon. The book The American Shake- ‘blonde God’ who had many women and vampire named Barnabas Collins in Dark is that boy skulking around our house?” speare Festival—Birth of a Theater, pub- men who were attracted to him. Harvey Shadows on television) and many others. Also, before the summer was over, appren- lished by Simon & Schuster can be ordered Grossman, a mime teacher at the Shake- Both Bobby Morris and I were among the tice Clarence Burbage (aka Peter Burbage) from betterworldbooks.com, at abebooks. speare Festival Academy told the author interns cast in King John and Measure for declared himself to be Peter Burbage Bell com and on Amazon. that “Morris did swing both ways” and Measure in the summer of 1956. I personal- and a relative of Stanley Bell and moved there are accounts of many of his bisexual ly remember Bobby as a very sensitive and in forcing me to get a room next door in a Most recently, Michael Smith, former drama activities. There are pictures in the book intense actor with a personality similar to larger house where Nina Foch was staying, critic of the Village Voice, edited Robert showing Morawczynski (his real name) that of James Dean whom I had previously which was fun anyway since she regaled me Heide 25 Plays published by Fast Books, as a champion football hero both in high seen on Broadway at the Royale Theatre endlessly about her Hollywood experienc- P. O. Box 1268, Silverton, Oregon 97381— school and college in Pennsylvania. He in The Immoralist, an adaptation of Andre es. In Promise Unfulfilled, the author writes fastbookspress.com and is also available on was a competitive weightlifter and partici- Gide’s novel by Augustus and Ruth Goetz that Stanley Bell, in 1958, was appearing Amazon. Save the Voice of the West Village

Dear Readers, Neighbors, Friends, and Supporters,

We're asking for help because our beloved local newspaper is in danger of folding forever. With ad revenues sink- ing as our local businesses struggle to survive in the face of the COVID 19 pandemic, WestView News can no longer make payroll and pay printing costs. We have distributed the paper for free to 12,000 West Village homes, year after year, and to another 500 paid subscribers. Without your help, we can’t do it anymore.

When I started the paper 17 years ago, I found myself giving it a subheading, “The Voice of the West Village.” I wanted the readers to talk back—to ask the newspaper to use “the power of the press” to get things done. This paper has made incalculable contributions to the West Village community during the past 17 years, from holding free concerts for seniors to successfully campaigning for a Village Heart Lab at Lenox Hill Hospital—a vital local resource to save a heart attack victim in the 15-minute window from attack to medical treatment.

But the news for newspapers is not good:

The Daily News recently closed one of their offices. Hinting at the cost, the New York Times recently announced it will no longer print their TV guide. Shortly after the Times finished their gleaming new headquarters, they found the mortgage onerous and sold the building and rented back their offices.

A major New York real estate firm contracted to buy the expensive back page of WestView when the pandemic prompted a quick cancellation. Restaurant ad sales have fallen as well: you don't advertise a restaurant that can't be entered. The traditional way of funding a newspaper via advertising is dead and it is very easy to predict that the bankruptcy of newspapers will continue until they will only be found in museums...

We think that some of us still like the feel of a real newspaper, and would like to try to continue WestView for a few more years and maybe even make it a little bit better.

Today, we are reaching out to our neighbors and community. If you love the paper, we ask you to help save WestView News. We need community support to help us pay a backlog of bills and keep the paper printing for the remainder of the pandemic and the following year as our community rebuilds.

Your contribution will help pay our staff and our printer, but more importantly, you will help us bring the local news to the people of the West Village. Our stories, told by the people who live here. Which bird Keith Michael and his dog Millie spotted in the Village this month… How you met your husband… What the Village was like 40 years ago… The most exciting thing that ever happened in your life… This is your paper. Without WestView News, there will be no one left to tell these stories. Please help if you can.

Please support our crowdfunding campaign. Please give what you can afford, what you think the paper deserves. And please ask your friends and neighbors to give as well. Thank you. We greatly appreciate your support.

George Capsis, Publisher And the WestView News Staff and Contributors

Please go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-westview-news