Corey Johnson Bounces Back
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The Voice of the West Village WestView News VOLUME 17, NUMBER 3 MARCH 2021 $2.00 Corey Johnson Bounces Back By George Capsis parade and the camera is on him, he throws have opinions about how that money is Oh wow, it was only just a short while himself into a few dance steps, and even a being spent, and he will express those ago I read with despair that Corey John- backflip, while beaming joyously. opinions just the way the current comp- son was dropping out of the race for mayor As the Speaker of the New York City troller, Scott Stringer, has been offering because of an extended bout of depression, Council I would catch him lecturing with opinions for months and months, knowing and then, bang, on February 18th I read in careful and compelling speech and think, he would run for mayor. the Times that he is thinking very seriously “Yes, yes, he will make a good mayor.” And But let me tell you of my first encounter about running for comptroller. Wow— I’d also think it was inevitable—no ques- with Corey (it is one of my best stories). great. tion—that Corey Johnson was going to be He was running for city council for the first That he suffered from crippling depres- our next mayor. But now as comptroller, he time and, unannounced, he rang my door- sion was news to me because he is known will just be counting the money. bell to introduce himself and his mission, Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York for his irrepressible ebullience. When in a Of course, he will do more; he will continued on page 4 City Transit WestView News Interviews District 3 City Council Candidates By Frank Quinn and Bob Cooley The New York City Democratic Primary is June 22, 2021. Six candidates will com- pete for the District 3 city council office currently held by Corey Johnson who is term-limited. WestView News interviewed all six can- didates and our short-form videos can be viewed at westviewnews.org. We asked the ALETA LAFARGUE ARTHUR Z. SCHWARTZ candidates for succinct answers so voters can learn who they are and evaluate their posi- tions quickly, and we appreciate the efforts candidates made to comply with our format. The New York City Council is the city’s legislative body, similar to Congress at the federal level. It introduces and votes on legislation, negotiates the budget, monitors city agencies, and makes land use decisions. It is a separate branch of government from PHELAN-DANTE FITZPATRICK LESLIE BOGHOSIAN MURPHY the mayor’s office and an equal partner in how the city is run. And while the mayor has the option to veto legislation, the city council can override the veto with a two- thirds majority vote. Readers can leave comments after watching the interviews. To be included on our mailing list for upcoming election re- porting and events please send an email to [email protected]. MARNI HALASA ERIK BOTTCHER Woody Guthrie Village Cigars Beach in the Village! Woody Guthrie personifies Like many West Village “First public beach” in Manhattan is all the great figures we as- landmark businesses, Village going to be right here in the West sociate with the mythical Cigars has suffered during Village! What’s coming in 2023... Village of the 1960s. the pandemic. SEE PAGE 19 SEE PAGE 11 SEE PAGE 16 2 WestView News March 2021 www.westviewnews.org WestView Two Apartments Available in the Published by WestView, Inc. by and for the residents of the West Village. Sinclair Lewis House Publisher Executive Editor George Capsis Managing Editor and Art Director Kim Plosia Advertising Manager and Designer Karen Rempel Traffic Manager Liza Whiting Photo Editor Darielle Smolian Photographers Maggie Berkvist, Chris Manis, Bob Cooley Associate Editors Justin Matthews, Anne Olshansky Comptroller Jolanta Meckauskaite Architecture Editor Brian Pape Business Editor Caroline Benveniste Fashion Director Karilyn Prisco Music and Eldercare Editor Hannah Reimann Science and LGBTQ Editor By George Capsis Kambiz Shekdar, PhD Maine and her husband writes for West- rent loss. Regular Contributors Because of the Pandemic, I have not one View every month, but renting apartments As I said we have two apartments still J. Taylor Basker, Barry Benepe, but two very nice apartments for rent— has radically changed. for rent—the top floor two bedroom, and a Caroline Benveniste, Mark. M. Green, want to come and see them? There is a tool called Street Easy and you one bedroom with parquet wood floors and Robert Heide, Anastasia Kaliabakos, In the old days I would simply call my can select the city and even the street you marble fireplace Bob Kroll, Thomas Lamia, Kieran Loughney, Keith Michael, Charles Street neighbor and real estate bro- want to live on and in seconds it will offer Now I would rather give my tenant the Michael D. Minichiello, Penny Mintz, ker who owned a beautiful 1840s townhouse you a showing of available apartments and broker's commission, perhaps in the form Brian J. Pape, Anthony Paradiso, just down the block and in a week or two bang—hit another key and it will take you of a new fridge or a dishwasher. Roger Paradiso, Bruce Poli, they would be rented to very nice people. Alec Pruchnicki, Christina Raccuia, Getting an apartment with marble fire- Hannah Reimann, Karen Rempel, Catherine Revland, Ede Rothaus, places in an 1886 Greenwich Village town- Donna Schaper, Stanley Wlodyka house just doors away from where Sarah Jessica Parker lived until she moved around We endeavor to publish all letters received, the corner, and a building in which Sinclair including those with which we disagree. Lewis wrote his first published novel, is The opinions put forth by contributors something to write home about. to WestView do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or editor. And then came the Pandemic and within WestView welcomes your correspondence, days all office doors were shut and people comments, and corrections: went home to New Jersey. Without missing www.westviewnews.org a beat work continued, making the same calls Contact Us and sending the same email messages they (212) 924-5718 had been sending in the office with an occa- [email protected] sional Zoom meeting—who needs an office? The office towers and restaurants and HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY even the cabs went empty and there is even talk of converting office buildings into apartments. And rents on the emptying apartments dropped by 20 to 30%. Seeking those lower inside the apartment and give you a guided Last month I let our readers know we had rents, two of my tenants moved out in the walking tour. apartments available and we got a perfect same week. Now you call your broker (there seems tenant who was the secretary to Governor I rented a third apartment to my grand- to be only one left called Compass) and an Cuomo but could not get released from a son Teddy who was locked out of his com- agent will meet your prospective tenants lease he signed with a vacationing friend. puter security company in Boston after and rent your apartment. But wait—you can also have access to signing a group apartment lease with two Yes, yes, this is all very nice for the tenant the garden with an outdoor barbecue stove other recent graduates. Although now liv- but what about the landlord? He (or more to treat your family and friends. ing in New York, he sends his former Bos- correctly “I”) has to pay for the Street Easy Call George at 212-924-5718 and make ton apartment-mates $800 a month be- service and I have to give Compass one a date to see either apartment and get a cup MIA SAYS: Recognizing your mistakes is cause he “signed the lease” (nice boy). month’s rent and it will take a month or of coffee. I would rather give you the bro- wisdom. Photo by Dusty Berke. My old real estate broker is now in more to rent so that is at least two months ker's commission ... www.westviewnews.org March 2021 WestView News 3 A Mayoral Candidate With Significant New York City Experience By Frank Quinn Houses in Chelsea is just such an example, From 2014 to 2020 Kathryn Garcia was with tenants opposing each other over the the 43rd Commissioner of the largest sani- plan. Garcia explains “although a private de- tation department in the world. Before that veloper will manage the project, NYCHA she was Chief Operating Officer of the maintains certain control. The tenant asso- NYC Department of Environmental Pro- ciation gets the same amount of money, and tection, and an interim Chair of the New tenants get the same rental agreement and York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). rights of succession. We understand why She grew up in Brooklyn as an adopted residents are fearful, and that’s why the plan child in a multi-racial family. at Fulton Houses will provide a new build- Garcia thinks voters are most concerned ing before anyone has to move.” about the economy and affordability. “Hous- The next mayor will have to confront the ing costs seem very high and burdensome. size of the municipal workforce given the And People, especially from my generation city’s massive budget deficits. When asked and older, are concerned about a return to specifically if she thought the municipal MAYORAL CANDIDATE KATHRYN GARCIA and her campaign manager Monika Hansen the 70s and 80s when crime was high and workforce was too big she says “my belief speak with George Capsis, WestView News Publisher, and Frank Quinn, contributor.