The Voice of the WestView News VOLUME 15, NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER 2019 $1.00 NYCHA in the Apartment Next Door By George Capsis with other apartment buildings seeking to the tube with the rats through the night.) ish and rebuild all of the buildings to arrive rent to tenants willing and able to pay, and There is no question that massive public at the first neighborhood in that Below is an excellent history of U.S. public continue to pay, market rates, and then have housing does not work. The City Council and integrates incomes by law. housing by our gifted Architecture Editor, 30% of the apartments made available to current NYCHA management continue to I am a firm believer that laws designed to Brian Pape. The article was prompted by the New York’s two million permanently poor. make obsequious noises as they invite NYCHA correct a social inequity in one decade create now year-long discussion here in New York Most of the objections to this solution have activists to voice their solution, which is essen- social inequities of their own in the next— to take government out of the building and been prompted by the utter failure of the City tially tax the rich and fix our NYCHA. take rent control—so I'm anxious about maintaining of housing for the permanently to maintain public housing. (WNBC has a I am betting that the city will go ahead buildings with legally enforced integration. poor and to invite developers via a competi- podcast showing swarming rats running over a and carve out a plot on the Fulton housing The sprawl of NYCHA needs to be ended tive Request for Proposal (RFP ) to build kitchen sink and worst of all a baby on a night- campus and build New York’s first mixed and the buildings demolished so, OK, let’s apartment buildings that would compete ly feeding tube exhibiting scars from sharing income building and then go on to demol- have enforced 70-30 integration.

Gentrifying Public Housing Estates: The Profit Motive is Sharper than Bureaucracy

By Brian J Pape, AIA Chelsea NYCHA estates is more than $344 million; the 20-year capital need is Housing Authority almost $500 million. (NYCHA) is the city’s biggest landlord, Under the NYCHA 2.0 proposal, a new and if any of the city’s other landlords had apartment tower would be built on vacant the track record of broken heating and ground, and when complete, NYCHA plumbing, mold, lead poisoning, cockroach residents in two buildings would be re- infestations, and rodent attacks on sleeping located to it so that more redevelopment infants, they would deserve to be jailed. But could continue on the site. The Fulton and this city no longer has the tax fund-ability Chelsea-Elliott Houses have $168 mil- to build and maintain housing for those lion each in backlogs alone, which averages who can pay no rent or very, very little. about $166,000 per unit. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has tweeted, The Fulton Houses site is an 11-build- “Don’t believe the rumors and misinfor- ing, ca. 1965, complex that abuts the High mation: this administration would never Line, many new condos, luxury hotels, replace an old building until brand new and prominent art galleries in Chelsea apartments at NYCHA rents were ready just north of the Meatpacking District for every single resident. No one in Chel- in the West Village. Fulton’s 944 apart- sea’s Fulton Houses should stay awake to- ments charge an average rent of $660/ night worrying about losing their home.” month, protected by a federal policy that As reported in October’s issue of West- caps tenants’ rents at 30 percent of their in- View News, The Robert Fulton Houses are come. Together with the nearby Chelsea- facing a radical change: The city is pro- Elliott housing developments, they have LOOKING WEST ON 18TH STREET, Fulton House buildings are on both sides of the street in the posing to use the Rental Assistance Dem- about 3,000 residents, although there is no foreground, and new private apartment towers rise in the background. Credit: BJ Pape, AIA. onstration Program (RAD) (see also the accurate or current count because NYCHA sidebar “Primer”) to improve on the aging doesn’t know how many infants and chil- stated, “There’s consistent underfunding of zeroed out the capital [for public housing].” NYCHA project. Activists’ demands for dren reside there. capital by a whole chain of administrations. Given Congress’s refusal to adequately full funding for housing have hit a brick NYCHA Chair, CEO, and General I think it’s particularly egregious that in the fund public housing and the $32 billion wall. The five-year capital need at the four Manager, Gregory Russ, emphatically president’s [Trump’s] proposed budget they continued on page 10

We want to live in a world where humans are free. Free from stigma. From shame. From stereotype. From disease.

2 people have been cured of AIDS. 37 million others await their turn. WE’RE NOT FREE UNTIL EVERYBODY’S FREE. Beth Israel WestView is 15! Candidates Attend this community Celebrating 15 years of forum on November 4th community involvement, on AIDS to have an impact on plans WestView invites readers to U.S. presidential candidates for Beth Israel. help us continue another 15. take position on cure for AIDS. SEE PAGE 26 SEE PAGE 3 SEE PAGE 4

Sunday, December 1 Indochine Restaurant @6pm 430 Lafayette Street

BROUGHT RFTCA.ORG TO YOU BY 2 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org WestView WestViews Published by WestView, Inc. by and for the residents of the West Village. Correspondence, Commentary, Corrections

Publisher Film Production Limits To date I have not received an answer from Also I heard a rumor that they’re now plan- Executive Editor This letter is not a complaint but rather seeks anyone, nor did anyone come to inspect the ning to eliminate the M14A westbound to George Capsis compromise and to alert your paper (the work being done. Well, all the new cheap Abingdon Square—again some people de- Managing Editor amazing !) that there is an is- rough cut bricks have been laid. When I was pend on that bus and that bus stop. Okay, Art Director WestView News Kim Plosia sue at hand that needs to be investigated. taking these pics, the on-site foreman ap- I’ve had my say. I am a native New Yorker. When opposition proached me and said, “so you are the trou- Advertising Manager and Designer —Diane Martella, Longtime Villager Stephanie Phelan erupts is when I see the true essence of New ble maker” adding that “the city knows what Yorkers come to light—they really are about we are doing.” Once before I complained to Traffic Manager There Goes the Neighborhood: Liza Whiting diversity and how we can all live together. Mr. Johnson’s office when they were do- The Dilemma When it comes to film production in ing the same switch at Gansevoort Street. Photo Editor the City, the Mayor’s office operates and Johnson’s office just came back to me with Fourteenth Street is the longest cross Darielle Smolian designates what, when and how it wants to the story the contractor told them, that “the street in New York City—river to river— Photographers approve permits. There are absolutely NO old stones were of an irregular size so could and the southern border of The Grid, our Maggie Berkvist guidelines on how permits for production not be used.” For one, they had no trouble 200-plus-block-long crisscross pattern Chris Manis are approved and the impact in a zoned installing them 150 years ago, and two, if of streets created “for commerce” in 1811 Associate Editors neighborhood. Communication with the they were being laid on a flat concrete base, at the Street Commissioner’s office at the Gwen Hoffnagle, Justin Matthews, community is non-existent until someone they have stone cutters that can cut them northeast corner of Bleecker and Christo- Anne Olshansky raises their voice. All decisions are made shorter to fit. For me, I have had enough. pher Streets, second floor. Comptroller solely by the Mayor’s office. In the future I will just ignore what goes So it is Vintage West Village—and our Jolanta Meckauskaite Calling Patrice at Corey Johnson’s office on. The city either does not care or they are official northern boundary. South of 14th is Architecture Editor and letting them know there are movies is aware of contractors selling these stones and our south-of-the-border claim to the unique Brian Pape not a way for the Mayor’s office to be speak- replacing them with cheap rough cut ones. neighborhood we cherish (likewise Houston ing to the community. There should be a The city Government doesn’t care, so why Street to the south). It is therefore a trans- Fashion Editor Karen Rempel quota of movies that happen in any given should I? formation to our personal sense of home neighborhood. There has to be respon- —Mark Duncan Felix that this long street has become the newly Film, Media and Music Editor sible designation when a neighborhood is minted “corridor of public transportation” in Jim Fouratt deemed a hot zone (ie, suspending permit a secretive Metropolitan Transit Authority Food Editor issuances) and when it gets removed. In the (MTA) plot (see articles by Arthur Schwartz David Porat last five days alone there have been and will and others in our last few issues) to test the Regular Contributors be six-plus movies occurring—some con- enhanced efficiency of buses by banning cars J. Taylor Basker, Barry Benepe, secutively—and they will take over street and diverting traffic in our already overly Caroline Benveniste, Charles Caruso, parking on over 20 blocks. congested downtown . Jim Fouratt, John Gilman, Yes, production does bring revenue for This is reminiscent of the superhighway Mark. M. Green, Robert Heide, Thomas Lamia, Keith Michael, the City but can that actually be traced? I that Robert Moses planned through the Michael D. Minichiello, Penny Mintz, often see OUT OF STATE plates of work- South Village, which would have demolished Brian J. Pape, Joy Pape, Alec Pruchnicki, ers/crews that come to the City. (By the SoHo, the not-yet-formed Tribeca, and of Christina Raccuia, Karen Rempel, ALL THE CHEAP, ROUGH-CUT BRICKS, Catherine Revland, Martica Sawin, way, they often use their own cars and park course much of the West Village, which was Donna Schaper, Arthur Z. Schwartz, in designated production spots for their above, have been laid. defeated by Jane Jacobs and company. It’s Stanley Wlodyka own personal use.) Can we call it revenue also reminiscent of Moses’s plan to pave Fire We endeavor to publish all letters received, for the City when a production company 14th Street Bus Fiasco Island, which now has no road and is one of including those with which we disagree. has to pay taxes on payroll in other states? the great coastal treasures of America. The opinions put forth by contributors What if the company operating in NYC is I, like many Villagers, am appalled by the The City has finally decided to cap the to WestView do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or editor. from out of state? Do their corporate taxes 14th Street fiasco. The 14th Street bus is number of taxis, Ubers, Vias, Lyfts, and WestView welcomes your correspondence, flow into the City? What is revenue when one of the best in the city, it runs very often, gypsy cabs (do they still exist?) at 120,000 comments, and corrections: the City operates their budget in a NEGA- you don’t have to stand waiting in the cold by next year. These vehicles, along with the www.westviewnews.org TIVE flow, almost forced to seek continu- or rain more than a few minutes. The MTA bicycles, pedestrians, trucks, and buses, have Contact Us ous cash flow and revenue? complains that bus ridership has declined. caused massive gridlock and strain on the (212) 924-5718 As mentioned, this is not a complaint There is a very evident and easy reason for city’s streets over the past five years, turning [email protected] but a story for New York City, New York- that. They may be concerned with cutting a our neighborhoods into parades of vehicles. ers and WestView. It is about finding a way minute or two off the crosstown time on the Now, as you cannot turn onto 14th be- for the community and the Mayor’s office , but if you want to take the M55 up- tween Third and Eighth Avenues from to agree and work together, and stand by a town from the Village, be prepared to wait 7am to 10pm, all cars and vehicles are be- set of guidelines not just by happenstance 15 minutes if you’re extremely lucky, more ing forced north and south to be directed and one-sided fly by the seat of your pants likely half an hour or more. The other day I across randomly chosen cross streets, in- decision-making. waited almost an hour. The M20 also runs vading The Village and the 12th Street to —Jonathan very infrequently—it’s listed as three times 20th Street Chelsea neighborhood. an hour, but if one of those buses is missing, This traffic plan is yet another elephant Cobblestones you’re stuck for half an hour or more. Most (or SUV) in the room. How can we main- people riding buses are doing so because tain our Village and New York City charac- This is a follow up to the letter I sent about they cannot walk long distances or climb ter—so beloved to tourists and New Yorkers the street work being done on Horatio St. subway stairs. We can get fairly near our alike—if we make the massive influx of new and what I consider the theft of the original destinations by changing buses, but at what vehicles and their dominance in our commu- 150 year old cobblestones. Besides writing cost of time? If the M55 and the M20 are nity-based city a never-ending obstacle to to Council President Corey Johnson’s office always “tied up in traffic” either at South our time-honored neighborhood way of life? I also wrote to the Soci- Ferry or the tunnel, maybe they should re- My solution: Let’s once and for all dras- MIA SAYS: You cannot win an argument ety for Historic Preservation, NYC Land- route a few of them so they don’t all have tically reduce the Ubers (read: company with the obsessed. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. marks Violations unit and even the Times. to go through that bottleneck at the Ferry. continued on page 11 ATTENTION: If you wish to continue to receive WestView please read and respond to this—please... WestView News’ 15th Birthday!

Searching through the basement know from personal experience. we came upon issue number one of Still it is a bit of a shock that WestView is now all of 15 years WestView News, an anemic 8 1/2 x 11 old (in this same 15 years The Villager has had five owners). photocopied missive with the date We don’t have the funds to do an analysis of who reads the October 2004. paper—we think it’s mostly older folks who wince at the very The front page article complained thought of getting their news from a cell phone. Of course the about a noisy nightclub and offers 6:00 o’clock news does not tell you about the legal thief hit- this modest statement of purpose... ting one shop after another demanding money for noncompli- “a mix of Village news, history, ance with handicapped regulations. But WestView does. current events, human interest and Yes, it’s nice to hear “I like your paper.” Every time I get this positions on business and govern- compliment I think how much better our paper could and mental actions that might detract should be. from our preferred life style.” When you open your email in the morning there should be Well, this is pretty much what the paper has become, “WestView News Today” with the date, the weather and impor- but whenever I get a compliment I think that since the very tant meetings that day in the Village—and of course, breaking beginning we never paid for editorial material, but invited news (we are working on this). our readers to offer their own life experience and skills and to But as I said, this is your paper, you write it and you put it write on what they knew (there is nothing so powerful and together and you even deliver it so we need you to volunteer vibrant as a personal anecdote). and become a member of the WestView News family. So we have doctors, lawyers, teachers, architects, nurses, “OK, George, I’m not sure what you are looking for or what musicians, priests, realtors, politicians, mothers, students, I am letting myself in for but I would like to at least ‘talk’ to filmmakers and even grandmothers to write of what they you about joining the gang and working on WestView.”

HERE ARE SOME OF THE SKILLS WE ARE SEEKING:

WRITERS—on any subject but we like people who have a CONGRATULATIONS particular area of expertise. WestView on your first 15 years! EDITORS — to correct copy of contributors. __ Here is $12 for a one year subscription. DESIGNERS—to work on the print edition. __ Here is $24 for a two year subscription. ADVERTISING SALES AND MANAGEMENT—to respond to re- __ Here is my donation of $______because the paper’s great! quests for ads and to sell ads (you are paid a commission). __ I would like to talk to somebody about advertising in the paper. DISTRIBUTION—delivery of papers to the library and other locations. Name______ADVISE—The most frequent sentence I hear is “you know Address______what you ought to do” but if it comes from somebody who wants to pay for a free senior concert—I am all ears... Phone______

email address______Call George at 212.924.5718 or email at [email protected] Mail to: George Capsis, 69 Charles Street, New York, NY 10014 If you wish to receive our daily briefing email [email protected] Make checks payable to WestView News 4 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org Presidential Candidates Pledge to Cure AIDS

BERNIE SANDERS MARIANNE WILLIAMSON TOM STEYER BETO O'ROURKE PETE BUTTIGIEG ELIZABETH WARREN

By Kambiz Shekdar, Ph.D. In order to give all the other candidates a medication or health care. Bernie is proud cludes any further detail beyond general sup- In a crowded 2020 presidential chance to state their position, if any, on cur- to say he will, alongside a political move- port for research, similar to Elizabeth War- race, taking the lead on curing ing AIDS in full, I emailed my own set of ment, rise to this challenge. ren’s previously stated position (see Elizabeth questions to all the campaigns (see http:// Warren and Pete Buttigieg campaign state- AIDS may offer candidates an westviewnews.org/2019/10/conquering- MARIANNE WILLIAMSON: ments at https://www.aidsunited.org/Elec- opportunity to differentiate them- aids-in-the-lgbt-presidential-town-hall- Yes, I will marshal our might to cure AIDS. tions-Center/Candidate-Surveys.aspx). selves and resonate with voters top-10-questions-regarding-curing-aids/). We will bring together private research and A cure for AIDS has been proven pos- across multiple key demographics. Bernie Sanders, Marianne Williamson, government efforts to work together for a sible yet it remains a struggle to raise the More than 1.1 million LGBT, Beto O’Rourke and Pete Buttigieg’s cam- cure with the focus and support that the funds needed to make it a reality. AIDS African-American, Latino and paigns all responded. Their complete re- Manhattan Project received. won’t cure itself; what is needed is presi- female Americans are living with sponse and a summary follows. I would support a variety of methods to dential leadership. HIV/AIDS today. Where does each Bernie Sanders and Marianne William- cure AIDS including funding for and sup- An exclusive focus on treatment and pre- candidate stand on curing AIDS? son used the opportunity to introduce cur- port of cellular therapies. We need to look vention (PrEP) alone must be expanded to ing AIDS as a new pillar of their compre- at all means of curing the disease. include support for cellular science and cura- Last month, CNN hosted a presidential hensive approach to address AIDS. Both tive therapies. Special interests and conflicts town hall focused on LGBT issues. With campaigns provided specific responses to In addition, rather than responding to each of interest must be rooted out (see http:// the highest viewership of any such LG- each of my questions, including these and specific question, Beto O’Rourke’s cam- westviewnews.org/2019/09/wild-west-ad- BT-focused event, the town hall provided other significant highlights: paign provided a statement. The following culture-on-facebook-targets-youth/). an unprecedented opportunity to learn is an excerpt attributed to Beto’s campaign My great thanks to Bernie and Marianne more. However, only a single question BERNIE SANDERS: spokesperson: for their leadership on curing AIDS and to about curing AIDS was asked during the Bernie believes that we can and we must Beto, Tom, Pete and Elizabeth for adding entire four-hour event, and that question, end the AIDS epidemic in the United BETO O’ROURKE: “cure” to the national discussion on AIDS. coming at the end of the night at 11:30pm States and abroad, and we can lead the An O’Rourke Administration will fully I look forward to sharing any additional EST, was directed only to one candidate, world by developing a cure for AIDS. Ber- support research efforts by NIH and other follow-ups that we may receive from any Tom Steyer. nie will invest significant federal resources federal agencies in the United States and campaign. An excerpt of CNN’s transcript contain- and convene experts, advocates, scientists, throughout the world with resources need- To read the candidates’ responses in full, ing Steyer’s response reads: and researchers to ensure this goal is met. ed to keep innovating and making progress please visit westviewnews.org/2019/11/pres- The United States has before come togeth- towards ending the HIV epidemic. idential-candidates-pledge-AIDS-cure/. TOM STEYER: er to achieve things once thought impos- What we should be doing in a case like try- sible. What we need is a grassroots political PETE BUTTIGIEG AND ELIZABETH WARREN: ing to come up with solutions to AIDS, movement that will stand up to the greed On the other hand, while Pete Buttigieg’s The author is a biologist, a biotech inventor, with cures for AIDS, is going directly to the of the pharmaceutical industry and take the campaign also got back to us, his campaign a gay man and the President of Research best scientists and funding them as much as steps necessary to ensure we end the AIDS provided several links including to Pete’s Foundation to Cure AIDS. necessary, as much as conceivably effective epidemic by 2025 and ensure no person in coming out story, a press article and his Visit FreeFromAIDS.org to help to make sure that we solve this problem. America dies because they cannot afford LGBT agenda. However, none of these in- accelerate a cure for AIDS. www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 5 Important Ballot Proposals— Vote November 5 By Arthur Schwartz it is nice for voters who like more than one candidate and want to express support for Did you know that the polls were opened two—or three—or four—or five. It will be a West Village for voting on November 5 (and on our great system. Vote Yes! first five Early Voting Days, which have passed)? There are two important things OTHER CHARTER AMENDMENTS: Living on the ballot: • Ballot Question 2—Strengthens the in- • We get to vote on giving Jumaane Wil- dependence of the Civilian Complaint 2 Horatio St 14R | $1,675,000 liams the last two years on the normal Review Board and would add a person four-year Public Advocate term. (Yes, he appointed by the Speaker and by the Luxury corner unit ELIZABETH WARREN has a Republican opponent.) Public Advocate. Oversized 1 bedroom • We get to vote about some important • Ballot Question 3—Takes two Conflict Great open views amendments to the City Charter. of Interest Board appointees away from Mint and newly renovated The City Charter Amendment of greatest the Mayor and gives them to the Public Great closet space interest is about RANKED CHOICE VOTING Advocate and the Comptroller. (BALLOT QUESTION 1). What ranked choice • Ballot Question 4—Allows the City not voting means is that in City races (Mayor, to spend all of its revenues and create a Thinking about buying or selling in the Controller, Public Advocate, City Council), Surplus Fund. West Village or surrounding areas? voters get to rank up to five candidates in • Ballot Question 5—Gives Community Contact local agent Scotty for friendly, order of preference. A voter’s choices will Boards an extra 15 to 30 days to review realistic advice in this challenging market. kick in if one candidate does not get the land-use decisions in the summer. Com- 40% needed under the City Charter to get munity Board input is your input. elected without a runoff. It is a system now utilized in California which has worked My recommendation is to vote Yes on all 5. well. It not only avoids costly runoffs, it forces candidates to appeal to more than a Arthur Schwartz is the Democratic District narrow group in order to get elected. And Leader for Greenwich Village. Scotty Elyanow westvillagebroker.com M: 917.678.6010 Lic. Associate RE Broker [email protected] villagescotty 14th Street Busway— Neighbors Cringe By Arthur Schwartz strictions, partly due to off-board ticketing, Polly Trottenberg, New York City’s most and partly due to the reduction of bus stops arrogant Department of Transportation on the M14 and M14B lines. And Com- Commissioner since Robert Moses, stood missioner Polly is going to tout studies—by on 14th Street on the morning of October not-independent contractors—saying that 4th and declared the Busway a total suc- overall, traffic numbers on the side streets cess. The Busway, which has turned 14th aren’t “so bad.” It is unlikely that she will Street into an urban oddity, sees buses talk about the diminished bus speeds on come through once every 10 minutes dur- Seventh, Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Avenues, ing rush hour and once every 15 minutes or about what will happen when the City after rush hour, and is otherwise free of ve- stops spending $50,000 per week on extra hicles, except for a truck here and there and Traffic Agents. the occasional ambulance. To those of us who fought and continue But on many of the streets parallel to to fight the arrogant display of force utilized 14th Street to the north and south (but by Trottenberg, who could have achieved especially to the north), and on Fourth, similar results with less pain, the issue has Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Avenues, traffic never been bus speeds. Yes we want faster Dina Andriotis, Chris Tsiamis, and Nikitas Andriotis (from left to right). is worse than ever. Twelfth Street, between buses, but we also want our streets to cease Seventh Avenue and and being major crosstown thoroughfares. We 77 Christopher Street west of , is clogged much of have always wanted reasoned, careful study, Between Seventh Avenue and the day, often with trucks looking to turn with neighborhood input—real input, not north on Sixth Avenue or onto Third Av- sugar-coated input. The 18 Block Associa- Pharmacy Hours: enue. Fifteenth, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and tions I represent, which will be arguing an Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM 20th Streets, which already had bad traffic, appeal in January, think that is the way a city Saturday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM are clogged much of the day, with traffic ought to run. And next time we elect people Closed Sunday backed up onto the Avenues. The only rea- to office, we should make sure that it is. son there is some movement is the array of Telephone: 212-255-2525 • Fax: 212-255-2524 40 (yes, 40!) Traffic Agents working 6am to Arthur Schwartz is the Democratic District email: [email protected] 10pm directing traffic. Leader for Greenwich Village and counsel www.newyorkchemists.com Yes, buses are moving faster, partly due to Petitioners in Council of Chelsea Block to the lack of cars, partly due to the turn re- Associations v. Trottenberg.

6 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org Community Pharmacists Rally to Advocate for Patients Rights By John Kaliabakos patient choice, save taxpayers money and re- store fairness to the distribution of prescrip- Hundreds of community pharmacists held tion drugs. rallies across New York State on October The activities today came on the heels 23 to stand with Governor Cuomo and of two successful rallies held in Albany in support legislation containing the nation’s March and May, which led to several victo- toughest protections from prescription ries for neighborhood pharmacists, their pa- drug middlemen known as pharmacy ben- tients and taxpayers. Among these were the efit managers (PBMs). Village Apothecary elimination of “spread pricing” in Medicaid was proud to stand alongside other inde- managed care, the tool that PBMs used to pendent pharmacies in the quest for fair- purloin $300 million from New Yorkers in ness in pharmacy care that could impact 2018, and the bills under discussion today. millions of patients. According to pharmacy organization At a rally on the steps of City Hall in studies, pharmacies actually lose money New York City, hundreds of independent PHARMACISTS DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT FOR SENATE BILL 6531 AND ASSEMBLY BILL when filling prescriptions under Medicare pharmacists gathered alongside support- 2836. Senator Diane Savino (front row, far left), next to Roger Paganelli, a leader of the Managed Care plans almost 50% of the ers and elected officials to thank Governor FixRx campaign. Village Apothecary representatives were present as well (first row, far time. Consequently, 70% of pharmacies in right). Photo courtesy of Tom Corsillo. Cuomo and members of the New York New York have been forced to lay off em- State Senate and Assembly for their lead- need to ensure that pharmacists, patients, Moore, President of the Pharmacists So- ployees or reduce store hours in 2019. In ership in the fight against PBMs. and taxpayers alike are being guarded ciety of the State of New York. “We look 2020 it is expected that 90% of pharmacies Pharmacists demonstrated support for against their abusive and deceptive practic- forward to the increased PBM oversight may be forced into these measures if there Senate Bill 6531 and Assembly Bill 2836, es. It is time to shine the light brightly on and transparency that this legislation makes is no change in the reimbursement system. the legislation passed in June by the New these greedy corporate middlemen,” said possible.” Village Apothecary and other indepen- York State Legislature that would require Parthiv Shah, Chairman of the New York The demonstrations were organized by dent pharmacies are fighting hard behind licensure and regulation of PBMs and pro- City Pharmacists Society. FixRx, a joint effort by the Pharmacists So- the scenes every day to ensure that patients vide increased protections for patients, tax- “We applaud the Governor for his leader- ciety of the State of New York (PSSNY) receive the highest quality care and we ask payers, and pharmacies. ship over the last few years and for taking and the New York City Pharmacists So- for the community’s support in the ongoing “The legislation would be a major step the steps to make real change in the way ciety (NYCPS) to improve the quality of battle against the questionable practices of forward in the fight against PBMs. We that PBMs are able to operate,” said Steve healthcare provided by pharmacists, protect these PBMs and insurance companies. The Villager is Dead VILLAGE By Arthur Schwartz 40) staff at most of his recently acquired papers, and Lincoln was next. And his fir- Late last year, as The Villager passed from ing predated by less than a week Schneps’ one chain of community newspapers to takeover of AM New York, a free daily, which another, Schneps Publications, one had to immediately laid off half its staff. APOTHECARY So where is The Villager now? wonder about its future and that of its sister papers, Downtown Express, Manhattan Ex- CIRCULATION: In the October 26, 2019 is- THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY THAT CARES press, and Chelsea Now. All four papers start- sue, the Postal Statement says that paid ed to look alike other than their mastheads. distribution was 1,811—1,540 by mail They carried the same stories, written by and 271 bought at newsstands. You read the same writers, and shared an Editor-In- that number right: 1,811 copies sold. Come in Chief, Lincoln Anderson. Lincoln had been What was once The Village’s go-to news- for your fREE with The Villager for 20 years and was the paper has a total circulation, including guy the Schneps family was entrusting The free copies, of 1,990. (WestView News dis- Villager and the other downtown papers to. tributes over 12,000 copies.) Lincoln did an admirable job. He knew CONTENT: A look at The Villager is disap- WELCOmE every community activist, every politician, pointing. Several articles republished from every relevant government bureaucrat. AM New York about transit issues. Four And he had a talent for producing material short articles about news items in Lower for The Villager’s website—up-to-the-min- Manhattan (including Chelsea, Down- KIT! ute, hot-off-the-street stories about local town, and the ). Not a events: rallies, meetings, community board word about Village or Downtown music, votes, and cultural happenings. theater, or culture. And things promise BRInG THIs CARd In And RECEIVE $10 off And then, a month ago, Lincoln got fired to get worse. Even its 14th Street article as the 30-some-odd-year-old Josh Schneps quotes only government spokespeople and O n A n Y P u RCHAs E O f $25 OR m ORE cringed when the two disagreed about the not a single community leader. Clearly it newsworthiness of a story Lincoln declined will no longer be a voice of the community. to cover. Actually, even before this disagree- THE OUTLOOK: Bad. Bad for the spread of Store HourS: Mon - Fri 8aM - 8pM • Sat 9aM - 6pM • Sun 10aM - 5pM ment, Lincoln had been demoted and his news about local issues. Bad for communi- access to The Villager Facebook site had ty newspapers and the voices of our down- 346 Bleecker St • Greenwich VillaGe, nY 10014 • VillaGeapothecarY.com been cut off; Schneps was clearly planning town community, as the Schneps octopus to let him go or force him to quit. Schneps swallows over 40 community newspapers 212.807.7566 had gotten rid of many of the older (over across New York City. • •

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Thomas Lee is an associate real estate broker affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by equal housing opportunity laws. Home must qualify under Compass Concierge guidelines. Subject to additional terms and conditions. 8 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org NYC Helped Block President Trump’s The Rise of ADA Proposed Public Charge Rule Litigation in New York

By Samuel G. Dobre, Esq. place of public accommodation. These requirements essentially encourage federal The need for a local online newspaper became litigation, with thousands of lawsuits being dramatically evident last month when we got filed in New York courts each year. a call from the popular Sandwich Shoppe on A major point of dispute: How much Greenwich Avenue that they had been "served" compensation should be awarded to a with a nine page legal brief which explained wheel-chair bound patron who cannot ac- in nearly undecipherable legal gobbledygook cess a place of public accommodation such that they were not in compliance with the as a restaurant due to a staircase or entrance laws to make their shop easily accessible to a lacking an ADA compliant ramp or bath- handicapped customer and that that customer room? Federal courts in New York have was suing them but was open to a cash settle- opined on this question. If a plaintiff has COMMISSIONER BITTA MOSTOFI, COMMISSIONER STEVEN BANKS, NYC Health + Hos- ment along with, of course, "the payment of not established any specific damages other pitals Senior Director Chris Keeley, and LegalHealth Supervising Attorney Sarah Nolan met legal fees." than alleging compensatory damages, courts with reporters at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism to inform communities We discovered that this is a classic bit of le- in the Second Circuit have found an award in the five boroughs about the proposed Public Charge rule and a free legal advice hotline gal theft practiced by crooked lawyers and the of $1,000 to be appropriate. For example, in available for immigrants. Photograph by Karen Rempel. nightmarish part is it is perfectly legal and can Shariff v. Beach 90th St. Realty Corp., the be more expensive using your own lawyer to plaintiff was awarded $1,000 due to a failure Allocated $30 Million to Prevent or’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, said the fend off the legal looter or, God forbid, spend- to establish any specific damages other than the Spread of Fear proposed Public Charge rule would prevent ing thousands to comply and deliver handicap “that he fe[lt] discriminated against.” migrants already in the United States from accessibility. Yes, yes it is cheaper to pay the While the patron’s damages in most of By Karen Rempel obtaining green cards or renewing visas if crooked lawyer. these cases are small, the ADA creates an in- Since 2017, when President Trump took they use government benefits or appear likely What was so awful was we got a call and centive for plaintiff ’s lawyers to pursue these office and began trying to change US im- to do so. The proposed rule also attempts to email from another restaurant hit by the same cases because the ADA permits the award migration policy, 78,000 New Yorkers exclude people on the basis of lack of English lawyer with virtually the same nine page brief. of attorneys’ fees. The availability of attor- who are eligible to receive food stamps or proficiency, poor health, or disability. We learned they had hit all the restaurants on neys’ fees, even for small violations, creates SNAP benefits left the program or didn’t “Each individual’s case is unique, and Greenwich Avenue up to Elephant and Castle. A hydraulic pressure to settle these cases. This enroll. A draft of a new “Public Charge” USCIS [US Citizenship and Immigration call to our 6th Precinct Community affairs officer plaintiff-friendly law that rewards attorneys’ rule was leaked in February of 2018, and Services] evaluates the totality of circum- brought exquisite self-protective silence. fees and costs enables single complainants even though the rule has been overturned stances,” explained Chris Keely, a senior So, if you are a young crooked lawyer you to file dozens of ADA “cookie cutter” acces- for now, residents are scared and unin- director at NYC Health + Hospitals. Le- might want to study the article below written sibility lawsuits against different stores and formed about who the rule applies to and galHealth Supervising Attorney Sarah by a very honest young lawyer at my request. restaurants usually with representation by what the proposed changes would mean. Nolan said, “New York has a lot of immi- Oh, if you are a handicapped person you can the same plaintiff ’s attorney. To help end this fear and confusion, the grants receiving publicly funded healthcare get a fee of $500 for every brief served on your In an ADA case brought by a wheel- City of New York has allocated $30 million through the state... These people aren’t behalf. chair-bound patron who alleged he was for free legal advice. Residents are urged to eligible for the type of federal benefits that Yes, I became outraged when I realized this unable to access a Subway restaurant, Judge call a new ActionNYC Immigration Ho- will be impacted by the rule—they are re- legal lout was walking around the West Vil- Sterling Johnson in the Eastern District of tline (311 or 1-800-354-0365) if they are ceiving State of New York benefits.” Ac- lage dropping off these legal larcenies and I New York noted that “One such legal giant, concerned about how the rule might im- cording to Bitta Mostofi, even if the new could not get anybody to do anything about it. Charles Hamilton Houston, famously said pact them. They will get to talk to a lawyer rule is enacted in the future, it can’t take The only weapon I had was the pages of that ‘a lawyer is either a social engineer or for free, who will help them to determine effect retroactively. WestView. he’s a parasite on society.’ The conduct of whether they are at risk if the new rule New York City joined with New York —George Capsis counsel is indicative of a parasite disguised eventually takes effect. State, Connecticut, and Vermont to file (You see why we need your email address to as a social engineer. It must stop.” In the meantime, the Mayor’s Office, lawsuits as soon as the rule was published, send you a notice to spot and stop this crook from While the intent of the ADA is very lawyers, and healthcare administrators are about a year ago. California and Wash- dropping off more legal larceny.) clear—to prohibit discrimination on the united in urging New Yorkers to continue ington followed suit. On October 11th, ______basis of disability in “places of public ac- to seek required services such as medical judges in three separate cases enjoined commodation,”—Congress may not have care, food stamps, housing assistance, and the Department of Homeland Security Restaurants, bars, stores, and theaters effectively anticipated the influx of Title III so on. Commissioner Steven Banks said from implementing and enforcing the throughout New York City continue to lawsuits. The ADA should not be used as a the Department of Social Services serves Public Charge rule and postponed the ef- fight against sprees of federal lawsuits weapon for exorbitant monetary benefit to three million New Yorkers a year. Banks fective date of the rule until there is final brought pursuant to Title III of the Amer- plaintiffs’ bar through the creation of serial said, “Many need basic benefits. The new resolution in the cases. According to The icans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These complainants at the expense of many busi- policy was grounded in fear, aimed at dis- Washington Post, New York Judge George ADA lawsuits raise claims that physical nesses that are forced to shut down. suading people from seeking benefits they B. Daniels called the new rule “unlawful, and webpage barriers discriminate against Every business that operates a place of are entitled to. New Yorkers shouldn’t arbitrary, and capricious.” Two of the in- the disabled. public accommodation and/or a website disenroll or refrain from seeking support. junctions are nationwide and prevent US- Many businesses hire an ADA consul- is at risk of potential litigation and should They should get legal guidance.” CIS from implementing the rule anywhere tant to work with an architect to focus sole- seek experienced legal guidance to best Commissioner Bitta Mostofi, in the May- in the United States. ly on physical accessibilities, yet they still avoid and protect against ADA lawsuits. may be hit with a surprise ADA lawsuit. The ADA Accessibility Guidelines are Contact Bond, Schoeneck and King’s IF THIS PAPER MAKES YOU THINK complex. For example, the rules respecting Labor and Employment Attorneys We will print your thoughts in the next issue bathrooms impose over 95 requirements. Samuel G. Dobre, Esq., Associate at There also are requirements for entrances, [email protected] or (646) 253-2320 and Send your letter to [email protected] parking, ramps, windows, signage, tele- Gregory B. Reilly, Esq. at [email protected] 69 Charles Street • New York NY 10014 phones, doors, stairs and many more ele- or (646) 253-2330 with any questions or ments and spaces throughout a business’s assistance. www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 9 Let’s Get Real About Aging 962-2720) is operated by New York Foun- dation for Senior Citizens.

NEW YORK FOUNDATION CASE MANAGE- MENT AND SELF-HELP PROJECT PILOT CASE MANAGEMENT: Geriatric case man- agers help their clients plan for current and future needs and connect with services. Funded by the New York City Department for the Aging, New York Foundation for Senior Citizens offers free case manage- ment services to Village residents (212-962- 7817) and Self-Help Project Pilot (212- 787-8106) serves Chelsea. Case managers at these agencies will assess your needs (and help you define them), develop a care plan GAIL EVANS, above, shares resources to for you, and connect you to government- help seniors live as independently as pos- funded services that meet those needs— sible. Photo by Robert Asinari. some examples: home-delivered meals, non- Medicaid homecare, transportation services, By Gail Evans friendly visiting, mental health services, el- My husband and I are in our eighties and, der abuse services, and senior centers. Your yes, we’re slowing down. We tire more easily, case manager will also evaluate your eligibil- take longer for daily chores, and complain ity for entitlements and benefits, including about aches and pains. Still, we’re getting by. Medicaid, and provide ongoing guidance as But what if our health changed or we suf- your needs change. fered a life-changing illness? We and our concerned family would face a bewildering SAGE CASE MANAGEMENT (212-741-2247): array of in-home service options, ranging Located in Chelsea, this program is part in cost and type, from money management of the many supports and services SAGE help and minor household repairs to servic- (Senior Advocacy in a Gay Environment) es that meet our nutritional, personal care, offers to the older LGBTQ community. It medical and mental health needs. is a good first place to turn to for LGBTQ And we’d face money questions! Can we seniors and their caregivers when in-home afford private pay care and for how long? If supports are needed. we’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan what would it cover? Are we eligible for Medic- CITYMEALS/DEPARTMENT FOR THE AG- aid Home Attendant services, and what is ING FUNDED HOME-DELIVERED MEALS Medicaid spend-down if needed for eligi- SERVICE. Home-delivered meals service bility? What other personal care providers is the entry point to other needed services are available aside from those that charge for many basically home-bound elders who full cost or are covered by Medicaid? can no longer prepare meals. The city’s If you have these same concerns, here’s Department for the Aging (DFTA) funds a quick primer on entry points to in-home community agencies to deliver meals to support that help seniors live as indepen- eligible seniors on weekdays. Citymeals- dently as possible. on-Wheels, through the donations it re- ceives, funds delivery of weekend, holiday HOSPITAL OR REHAB DISCHARGE PLAN- and emergency meals to those same clients. NING: Hospitals are mandated to do dis- To receive home-delivered meals from this charge planning for older patients. Should great partnership, your need for meals must you be hospitalized, your discharge plan first be established by a case management would require decisions about your cur- agency. Villagers should call NY Founda- rent and future capabilities; caregiver tion Case Management (212-962-2720) to availability; finances; preferences for care; begin the process. ability to live safely at home and need for in-home services. These decisions are too GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER (212-294-8100; important to leave solely to professionals. WWW.GLWD.ORG) provides medically au- Make sure you are involved in the deci- thorized meals to seriously ill people of all sion-making process. ages, including people diagnosed with de- mentia/Alzheimer’s. NY CONNECTS: With offices in every bor- ough, this New York State program is a There are other avenues that lead to ser- free information and referral service for vices, of course. But the organizations I’ve seniors, caregivers, and persons with dis- named are nearby and ready to assist you! abilities who need services. NY Connects Please share your comments and stories specialists can help you define your needs, about aging through Letters to the Editor inform you about all available programs in- or with me personally at gailevans@veri- cluding nursing home and other residential zon.net. You can also leave a message for options, and make referrals on your behalf. me or Hannah Reimann (apartment-shar- New York Connects in Manhattan (212- ing) at 212-414-4883. 10 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org

Public Housing continued from page 1 Development (HUD), was quoted saying that he loves RAD, an Obama-era fed- needed for backlogged repairs, support- eral initiative that has gone largely under ers say RAD is the best available option to the radar. He said he’s “very encouraged” preserve the affordable units lest they be- by RAD’s early results and “looks forward come too uninhabitable for anyone to live to working with Congress to expand this in at all. worthy program.” Mr. Russ was interviewed by NBC I- All public housing tenants should tech- Team’s Chris Glorioso one month into his nically be able to return to the new “pri- new job as NYCHA Chair, facing multiple vate” units if they want to, though housing massive challenges including $32 billion in advocates fear that the RAD statute has unfunded repairs, a tough federal monitor, loopholes that could prevent this goal from and a lead scandal plaguing the authority. being realized. Jessica Casella, a staff attor- He discussed how they will close the fund- ney with the National Housing Law Proj- ing gap, including partial privatization of ect, said that her organization documented some buildings. “RAD brings private in- many kinds of tenant RAD issues over the vestment and private capital,” Russ said. past few years. She also admitted that there “We need that.” are many places where nobody really knows When he led the public housing agency in how these conversions are going. “One of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Russ transferred our major concerns is the level and qual- all the city’s public housing units to its RAD ity of oversight by HUD,” said Casella. “I program, and he worked on similar transfers think HUD has put its emphasis on get- when he had the job in Minneapolis. ting properties to closing, and much less RAD works by transferring public hous- effort in making sure that after deals are ing units to the private leaseholder as finalized, the transitions go smoothly.” Section 8 housing so that developers and Kathryn Garcia, former Interim Chair- housing authorities can tap into a broader woman at NYCHA, said NYCHA will range of subsidies and financing tools to soon introduce the Connected Communi- rehabilitate and manage the units. This is ties Guidebook, a publication that embod- an experiment using private entrepreneur- ies the principles, guidelines, and goals ship and government money to try to solve of the initiative. Connected Communi- the problem of housing the permanently ties / NYCHA 2.0 is an initiative in the poor. They add tax abatement and the sale Capital Projects Division of NYCHA, to of air rights, and I would suppose any other better connect residents to surrounding benefit that does not actually cost the city neighborhoods through the design of the hard cash. But developers still have to an- physical environment by using land-use ticipate the variables in a changing market. planning, ground-floor activation, open- But why aren’t those subsidies and fi- space improvements, programming, and nancing tools available for the public sec- resiliency efforts. In other efforts toward a tor, backed by the federal government? FULTON HOUSE ESTATE is in the white dashed lines, with the development sites highlighted. smooth transition, Director Rudy Murillo Alicia Glen was the Deputy Mayor for The green box on West 17th Street is an open lot for possible new construction, and two in the Office of Emergency Management Housing and Economic Development for orange boxes on 16th Street and 19th Street are for potential redevelopment construction brought on 12 new field coordinators to over five years, overseeing the troubled after the first tower is complete. Image Credit: NYCHA2.0/nyc.gov. address emergency incidents on NYCHA public housing authority, the implemen- property; Jay Flaherty started recently as tation of a new ferry system, investments income and most vulnerable residents in proven model for providing quality af- the new Quality Assurance Officer; and into public land to spur business develop- distributing this public resource. As a result, fordable housing in this country. Abstract Brian Honan was promoted to Vice Presi- ment, and the rezoning of East Midtown. developments are often 100 percent occu- promises of ‘permanent’ government fund- dent of Intergovernmental Relations, hav- According to a citylab.com article writ- pied by very low-income residents, perpetu- ing and less bureaucracy ‘down the line’ are ing successfully advocated for significant ten by Glen, she expressed excitement about ating economic segregation and the stigma hard to believe based on the effect our po- state investment in NYCHA for the first the “NYCHA 2.0” plan the administration that all too often is associated with living in litical past, and present, have had on public time in almost 20 years. announced at the end of last year, which public housing. We know mixed-use build- housing in this country.” We can only hope this initiative is im- includes a more aggressive program to ings and mixed-income neighborhoods pro- In a gothamgazette.com article she is plemented more productively than the rest build new housing on underused NYCHA duce better health, education, and economic quoted: “I think most people felt really of NYCHA’s programs to date. land—housing that will be a mix of 75 per- outcomes. That is why fully funding RAD positive about the city. I continue to think cent market-rate and 25 percent affordable is a far better approach than just increasing the mayor’s position and our position was Brian J. Pape is a LEED-AP “Green” housing, with the proceeds from leases to funding for public housing in its past and that you have to link density to more equi- Architect consulting in private practice, serves developers / private landlords going toward present form.” table growth and you have to buy into the on the Manhattan District 2 Community other NYCHA repairs. “Housing owned by Glen believes “Investing in strong pub- notion of growth.” Board, is Co-chair of the American Institute the public sector also creates intense pres- lic-private partnerships will improve the In a related citylab.com article, Ben of Architects NY Design for Aging Committee, sure on localities to prioritize their lowest- lives of public housing residents and is a Carson, Secretary of Housing and Urban and is WestViewNews.org Architecture Editor.

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First, the the affordable housing model continued, However, many of these projects require Act passed with coverage for only the lowest in- embraced by both parties: In 1992, HUD incremental funding, and Congress failed ALICIA GLEN, FORMER NYC DEPUTY come residents, due in part to fear that middle- launched the HOPE VI program, incen- to authorize enough to complete all these MAYOR, is currently serving as the Chair of income housing would compete with the private tivizing the demolition of distressed public conversions. the Trust for , and Chair of market. And second, while federal government housing projects that were then replaced This brings us to the present, with evi- a multiservice platform for women, Women. provided the funding, the implementation of with mixed-income housing built and op- dence of inhumane living conditions in nyc. She helped design, redesign, and push the Act was left to local housing authorities, al- erated by the private sector. And in 1999, developments from the South Bronx to St. ahead the administration’s 300,000-unit af- lowing each municipality to decide if and how President Bill Clinton signed the Faircloth Louis, and incompetent, bloated, and some- fordable housing plan, which has coincided they wanted to engage. In tandem, these two Amendment, prohibiting the creation of any times corrupt public housing authorities with changes to the city’s land use rules to amendments drove the development of much of new units of public housing. HUD’s budget operating with inadequate resources to ad- help spur affordable housing and the up- zonings of several neighborhoods. Photo: the public housing we still have today: largely for the maintenance of existing stock also dress the growing capital needs of the more Paige Polk/Mayoral Photography Office. segregated, often isolated from city and local steadily declined, leading to multibillion- than one million apartments still in public services, and tenanted predominantly by low- dollar deficits nationwide. ownership. to very-low-income families. Recognizing the toll that years of disin- Keeping up with both major capital repairs Editor’s Footnote: New York City Housing vestment had on public housing residents, and the day-to-day maintenance issues of Authority (NYCHA) has had a tumultuous In 1974, President Richard Nixon created and driven by the core belief that build- large portfolios requires the talent, technol- past few years, from charges of mismanage- the Section 8 program as a replacement for ings managed by third parties generate ogy, and financial resources that the public ment to illegality, with questions about mold new public housing, shifting federal fund- better outcomes for low-income families, sector simply cannot provide at scale. Even remediation, lead paint remediation, and ing either directly to tenants to rent in the the Obama Administration launched the the best public housing authorities struggle forged documents, plus ongoing sagas around private market or to private developers and Rental Assistance Demonstration Pro- to compete for talented property managers in buildings that are falling apart. NYCHA owners to build income-restricted projects. gram (RAD). Under RAD, public housing strong markets. Housing authorities are also and the city recently entered into an agree- The Reagan Administration later cut the units are converted to Section 8, leveraging forced to bid out construction contracts pur- ment with federal authorities at the Depart- Department of Housing and Urban Devel- private capital to renovate and upgrade the suant to Byzantine procurement rules that ment of Housing and Urban Development opment’s (HUD’s) budget by more than 50 buildings. The Section 8 contracts ensure slow things down and drive up costs. (HUD) that includes a federal monitor of percent, including funding for Section 8. current residents pay the same low rent and NYCHA. RAD also includes three HUD In 1986, it introduced the Low-Income that all units remain affordable to low- and From an article by Alicia Glen, Former “legacy” programs: Rent Supplement, Rental Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which now moderate-income households, ultimately Deputy Mayor for New York City, in a Assistance Payment, and Section 8 Moderate provides the “subsidy” to for-profit and allowing a wider mix of incomes to popu- citylab.com blog. Rehabilitation.

months ago. Already I’ve had adventures you only read about in trade journals Hi, Mr. G. Capsis: This is Lily. I am in third Super “Hero” like “Pest Control Fancier” and “Lock- grade at PS340. Today, I met a photographer smith Quarterly.” Or the “Vindow Viper’s from your newspaper who wanted a photo of Views.” Man’s Adventure. me and my new puppy, George. She told us By Robert Kroll There will be regular articles that you can that her boss was also named George. There are around a quarter million co-op sink your teeth into and come away with We named him George because he first living units in “The Naked City.” There are chipped teeth and an understanding of how lived in the country, so we were thinking of around 80,000 supers running them. Every to be a “super hero,” how to be a super ten- the name “Farmer” but it didn’t sound right. So I said, “What about ‘George’ because he one of those supes has a fantastic story to ant, and how get the most from your super. reminded me of Curious George.” That’s when tell. I will be telling at least some of these. How do you feel about your super? What daddy said, “That’s a great idea because I plan to tell the stories of my Brook- do they do well? Poorly? What is the most ‘George’ means farmer in Greek!” So Mommy lyn Heights brownstone. Nine apartments. valiant thing the super did for you when in said, “Hmm, maybe. I’ll tell you by tomorrow.” Fourteen occupants. Two dogs. Two babies. need? The shittiest? Is your super a hero The next morning she came to wake me up Three goldfish. I am the super. At the risk or a villain? How so? We will be imparting and said, “George it is!” And that’s how we of sounding boastful, a note I wrote to my some of what we consider best practices named him George. residents, posted on the front door and for supers but we will not engage in super In the picture, George is in a sling. We got signed “The Super,” was vandalized, and shaming. Ultimately the super gains “hero” inspired by a woman on the street with an the word “Hero” was added after my ID. status when they solve problems, make life adorable pug about ten-weeks old. His name The city may arrange a party in my honor better for residents, and recede into their was Butters. And, I think that’s it. Thanks for reading my at the local Gray’s Papaya. den. We will not be identifying any supers, story. I’m new to this supering business. I but will tell their stories, their adventures, Love, Lily Fernández-Victor (8) moved from Berkeley to 15 their lives. You know who they are. Photo by Dusty Berke.

Letters continued from page 2 with a criminal history throughout the Safety (read: Yellow Taxi Owners). I have that the benefit to buses and bus riders High Is Up,” bemoaning the shanghaiing world), Lyfts, and Vias, not cap them at observed how palpable the suicides and might outweigh the damage to the West of the 57th Street and Manhattan (and 120,000. They’re choking our streets, hog- despair of yellow taxi drivers are—unable Village character and experience, but ig- now Brooklyn) skyline and the destruction ging our neighborhoods, and turning travel to make ends meet—in this David and noring the real elephant in the room—the of New York’s character. The same can be into an urban circus of commerce super- Goliath struggle. It’s crushing them. (She highly unregulated commercial rider in- said of how congested our choked streets gridlock. was the first spokesperson to call out Uber’s dustry (I call it the Uberfication of Urban have become. I know this because 1) I am a driver and creepy and deceitful practices, leading— America) will be at our collective peril… Buses have their rightful place, but at observe it in the traffic congestion, and 2) among other events—to the ouster of the not something we cherish in our beloved what cost? my daughter was for two years the Execu- CEO, Travis Kalanick.) West Village. There goes the neighborhood! tive Director of the Committee for Taxi Corey Johnson and others may be right I wrote an article years ago entitled “How —Bruce Poli 12 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org

LOYALTY PROGRAM • GIFT CARDS FREE DELIVERY The Village Speaks Out on Single Payer Healthcare By Alec Pruchnicki, MD ficials advocated for the bill with short statements. These GREENWICH VILLAGE included Congressman Jerry Nadler, Borough President 512 HUDSON STREET • NYC 10014 On Sunday, October 6th, residents of Greenwich Vil- Gale Brewer, State Senator Brad Hoylman, and City WWW.SEAGRAPEWINES.COM • 212-463-7688 lage and much of lower Manhattan had a chance to speak Council Member Carlina Rivera. out on the possibility and advisability of bringing a single After all the presenters on the panel and elected repre- payer healthcare system to New York State (my article in sentatives spoke, the audience had an opportunity to ask WestView News last month was, “Want Single Payer in questions and make statements for and against the legis- New York? Speak Up!”). A forum was held at the Elisa- lation. In a spirited detailed back and forth question and beth Irwin High School on Charlton Street. It was initial- answer session, which lasted almost an hour and a half, HOPEFULLY ly organized by the Village Independent Democrats and many views were expressed, with the majority appearing later co-sponsored by a range of Democratic party clubs, to support the bill. including the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, Coali- There was no formal resolution adopted by the audi- WE WON’T tion for a District Alternative, Downtown Independent ence, but a follow-up did take place on Thursday, Oc- Democrats, Gramercy-Stuyvesant Independent Demo- tober 10th at the monthly meeting of the Village Inde- crats, Hell’s Kitchen Democrats, Samuel J. Tilden Demo- pendent Democrats at Lenox Health Greenwich Village cratic Club, and the United Democratic Organization. on West 13th street. Another detailed spirited discussion BORE YOU The speakers included Assembly Member Richard ensued, topped off by a statement by State Senator Brad Gottfried and Senator Gustavo Rivera, who co-sponsored Hoylman, one of the bill’s co-sponsors. A resolution was the New York Health Act which would establish a single passed by the membership urging the legislature to pass payer insurance system in New York State. Speaking in the bill, and the governor (who will be running for an- LEFT BANK BOOKS 41 PERRY ST. NYC 10014 favor of the bill were Kim Behrens, a nurse, and Mary other term) to sign it. O’Brien, a physician. Providing a somewhat alternative One resolution coming from one club in a busy elec- AN ECLECTIC SELECTION OF USED, position was Margaret Flowers, a physician who has been tion year legislative session might not get much atten- VINTAGE AND RARE BOOKS involved for many years in advocating for a single payer tion. Advocates for the bill are hoping that the spon- system on the federal level. She pointed out the weak- soring clubs, other Democratic clubs, and the general @leftbankbooksny www.leftbankbooksny.com nesses of a state system and the various ways the federal public will express support for it. As occupied as we will [email protected] 877.212.6778 government could sabotage it. This led to a detailed dis- be with other events in Albany and Washington, deci- cussion of potential legal obstacles to a state program and sions and policies still need to be addressed. This forum the methods for overcoming these obstacles. helped to give people the information they will need to In addition to the scheduled speakers, local elected of- decide on action.

Native Manhattanite and West Village resident MY 5 YEAR OLD SON LUCAS IS A HUGE HUGH JACKMAN FAN, especially in his role in The Greatest Showman movie. for the past 42 years. We have watched the movie a large number of times and play the soundtrack and sing our hearts out every weekend in Licensed in Real Estate for the past 21. the car. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to attend “Hugh Jackman The Show” in concert yesterday at the Prudential Board Certified New York Residential Specialist (NYRS®). Center. My son of course in full out Greatest Showman costume. We had pretty good seats, nine rows back. At the Here to help you and yours find your next perch or move end of one of the last songs my son ran up to the stage and luckily caught Hugh’s attention. And they exchanged a on whether in New York or elsewhere. high five, and Hugh asked me to lift him up on stage. And sure enough the crowd went crazy and Lucas and Hugh had Alexander de Bordes a small conversation. It was an unbelievable moment and a dream come true for Lucas. As a matter of fact, their pic- 917-640-3707 ture was up on Hugh’s social media within a few minutes. This is especially relevant for WestView News, as both Lucas [email protected] and Hugh are West Village residents and both live on Perry Street!! Photo and text by Peter Grech. www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 13 A New Store for Li-Lac Chocolates master chocolatier. Anthony pointed out that Li-Lac has always been run by either former employees or enthusiastic customers or both. Under its new ownership, Li-Lac con- tinued to expand. Five years ago Li-Lac moved its factory to Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Industry City was built as a manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution center in the 1890s. It had fallen into de- cay until 2013 when a new group of owners, which included Jamestown Properties, took it over and began to redevelop it. ( James- IN OCTOBER, JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOW- town Properties is the company that invest- EEN, Li-Lac moved its flagship to a cheerful ed in in 2003 and turned it new shop on Greenwich Avenue. Photo by into the huge tourist attraction it is today. Darielle Smolian. In 2018 they sold it to .) Li-Lac was one of the first food tenants at Industry By Caroline Benveniste City, and now that move seems prescient, as many other food purveyors have set up shop In the December 2016 issue of WestView there—including Sahadi’s (Middle Eastern News we ran an article entitled “The market and restaurant), Hometown BBQ Best of Food Shopping in the West Vil- (perhaps the best BBQ in NYC), and Japan lage” in which we listed our favorite food Village—making it a fun dining destination. stores. Somehow, we neglected to include a In 2015 Li-Lac opened a store on Bleecker chocolate category and our readers quickly Street, and in 2016 they set up shop in alerted us to this oversight. And, of course, Chelsea Market. This year they opened a the winner in that category was Li-Lac store in Hudson Yards, and also moved their Chocolates. Last month, Li-Lac moved flagship store when they were unable to ne- their flagship store from 40 Eighth Avenue gotiate a new lease at the Eighth Avenue (at Jane Street) to 75 Greenwich Avenue location (they had been there on a month- (between Bank and West 11th Streets) to-month basis for a while). where the Roasting Plant used to be. Anthony admitted that opening two Li-Lac is the oldest chocolate house in stores this year has been a huge undertak- Manhattan; they opened at 120 Christo- ing. However, they are very pleased with pher Street (near Bedford Street) in 1923. their new Greenwich Avenue location: it is The business was the brainchild of George larger, has more visibility, more foot traffic, Demetrious, a Greek immigrant who learned and is in an attractive spot (overlooking the his chocolate-making skills in France. When AIDS Memorial Park and Northwell Health Chocolate Turkeys & More George passed away in 1972 he left the com- Greenwich Village). The area is becoming Shop our Selection of Thanksgiving Sweets pany to his long-standing employee Margue- more lively as, finally, the Seventh Avenue rite Watt, as he had no family. Marguerite ran storefronts in Rudin’s Greenwich Lane de- it until 1978, when she sold it to a devoted velopment have tenants (Nordstrom Local customer, Edward Bond. Edward’s sister is open, the veterinary clinic at the corner of Martha also came on board, and they ran 12th Street is under construction, and a fancy the business jointly. Among other initiatives, Starbuck’s will be coming to the corner of they started amassing the large collection 13th Street.) The new store takes advantage of chocolate molds that are still used today. of the additional space with a hot chocolate Martha continued to run the business after bar. The day I visited, the staff was being her brother’s death in 1990, and started Li- trained to make the perfect Café Mocha. Lac’s expansion with a second store in Grand Even though Li-Lac has the Industry Central Station in 1999. In 2005 Martha was City factory, the chocolates are still made by forced to move the first store to Eighth Av- hand, limiting the number that can be made. enue after the rent at its original Christopher The mold collection continues to expand, Street location skyrocketed. (120 Christo- and the themed chocolates are popular as pher Street is a Croman building. In 2009 gifts. My personal favorites are the choco- Pho Sure, a Vietnamese restaurant, opened late covered orange peels, glacé ginger, but- there but closed a few years ago after issues ter crunch, and the hazelnut truffle squares with the landlord. Red Paper Clip, a trendy which resemble the three-layer Italian Cr- Asian-accented restaurant whose chefs had emino but with an external chocolate shell. previously cooked at a number of prestigious On October 19th the store held a grand spots, now occupies the space. Many of the opening event with five of their signature other storefronts in the building remain chocolates selling at 1923 prices (23 cents empty.) per piece) and some boxes of chocolates In 2011 Martha retired and sold Li-Lac to available for $9.23. While the prices have two of her customers and an employee. The returned to 2019 levels, Li-Lac’s new store two customers, Anthony Cirone and Chris- is still definitely worth a visit. When we see topher Taylor, were longtime Village resi- so many beloved Village institutions closing dents and Li-Lac devotees. Anwar Khoder it’s nice to know that Li-Lac has long-term WEST VILLAGE GREENWICH VILLAGE GRAND CENTRAL BROOKLYN CHELSEA MARKET HUDSON YARDS 75 Greenwich Ave. 162 Bleecker Street 43rd & Lexington 68 35th Street 75 10th Ave. & 31st St. was an immigrant from Lebanon who start- leases on all its stores, assuring a supply of (at 7th Avenue) (Sullivan & Thompson) (Marketplace) (Industry City) (at 15th Street) (4th Floor) ed working at Li-Lac in 1989 and is now the delicious chocolate well into the future. 14 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org

of 2019, Christine Santelli decided to open a jazz club in rate over time.” Banter (635 Hudson Street between Jane the underground space. It turns out that it also previously and Horatio Streets) has taken over the space that used to housed a jazz club called The Pied Piper. The new Café Bo- be the dessert spot Sherri B. It is an Australian coffee bar, hemia will feature Jazz, Blues and Folk, 3 or 4 days a week the second location in the Village (the first location is at IN initially, on the newly outfitted stage. Christine also men- 169 Sullivan Street near ). Like all Austra- and tioned that noted double bassist Jymie Merritt had played at lian coffee spots, it offers nicely crafted coffees and avocado OUT the original Café Bohemia, and now the second generation toast, as well as smoothie bowls and many egg dishes. of Merritts will also play there: Jymie’s son, Mike Merritt, by Caroline Benveniste who is the bassist for Conan O’Brien will be joined there by Closed/Closing his musician brother as well as the drummer from Saturday I never would have believed that instead of opening, Duane We had some good news this month: a beloved chocolate shop Night Live. Specialty drinks, beer, and wine are served along Reades would be closing, but the location at 33 7th Avenue did not close, a new jazz club opened, and Bleecker Street con- with small plates and selected entrees. (between 12th and 13th Streets) abruptly shut its doors to- tinues its metamorphosis with a couple of new shops. We also wards the end of October. Also gone is the mall shoe store noted two spots that are either owned by women or feature Famous Footwear (50 West 14th Street between 5th and products made by women. 6th Avenue). I was excited when Kopi2 opened at 6 West 14th Street near 5th Avenue as I had been eager to try the Open Indonesian food available at the original Kopi Kopi at 68 TOP OPENINGS West 3rd Street but hadn’t quite managed, and this one was closer. But the new branch served only coffee and pastries, and now both are closed. I was always prejudiced against Horchata (470 6th Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets) as it had replaced BLT Burger, a favorite of mine. Both were part of the ESQUARED Hospitality Group, and now Horchata, like BLT Burger, appears to have closed. The THE RIDDLER—51 at West space looks deserted, and the restaurant is no longer listed The second branch of a San Francisco champagne bar has on the ESQUARED Hospitality Group webpage. A reader opened in the space that most recently housed an old-fash- points out that cosmetics and perfume shop Jo Malone ioned soda fountain. There are over 100 bottles of cham- London (330 Bleecker Street at Christopher Street) has pagne on offer and about a dozen champagnes by the glass, closed. According to the reader, who spoke with an employ- CAFÉ BOHEMIA—15 Barrow Street between West 4th most of them made by women winemakers. Many of the ee there, it had been at that location for ten years. There are and Bleecker Streets champagnes are from smaller producers that are not well- three other Jo Malone locations in the city. We expect to read about jazz clubs closing in the Village, known. There are also a few sparkling wines available by the but it’s big news when one opens, particularly when it is glass and bottle including Pet-Nats (sparkling wines made Coming Soon a venerable one that is returning to its original space. Ac- using a different and older method than the methode cham- Two new mostly on-line shoe stores are coming to Bleecker cording to the new owner, Christine Santelli, Charlie Parker penoise), which are cheaper than the champagne. There is Street, joining Margaux. Inkerman (353 Bleecker Street be- used to drink Brandy Alexanders across the street from 15 a full kitchen, unlike in the San Francisco incarnation, and tween West 10th and Charles Streets) boasts that they make Barrow, and when he couldn’t pay his tab, he offered to play the food spans the gamut from oysters and caviar to ham- high-quality, handmade shoes which would normally cost instead. The owner of the bar decided that he should build burgers and icebox cake. The spot is owned by Jen Pelka, over $400 for under $200. The shoes are made in Mexico, a stage across the street, but unfortunately Charlie Parker and the other investors are also women. and are mostly sold on-line. They have a flagship on Mott died before it was completed. The new music venue was Street in NoLita, and also locations in L.A. and Nantucket. called Café Bohemia, and Miles Davis was the first to play Also Open Rothys (407 Bleecker Street between West 11th and Bank there. Between 1955 and 1960, many famous jazz musicians When the Two Boots location at the corner of West 11th Streets) makes comfortable, washable women’s flats out of and bands such as John Coltrane, Art Blakey and the jazz Street and 7th Avenue closed, I thought that was it for recycled water bottles at a “sustainable, zero-waste” factory messengers, and Charles Mingus played there and several Cajun-Italian pizza in the Village. But true to their prom- in China. They have recently started offering merino wool albums were recorded. Later, many restaurants occupied the ise, Two Boots Pizza West Village (101 7th Avenue South shoes as well. They also have a store in San Francisco. A ground floor space at 15 Barrow, including Tupelo Honey in at the corner of Grove Street) has opened near Sheridan reader reminds us that Jimmy Choo Shoes once occupied the 1980’s, a restaurant I frequented often as I was living on Square in the space where baked donut concept Holey Do- the space. Goodlife (400 Bleecker Street between Perry and the second floor of the building for a couple of years. Now nuts briefly existed. The new shop is longer and narrower West 11th Streets) is a men’s essentials clothing brand. The the ground floor houses the Barrow Ale House. In February than the old one, but it looks much the same, just brighter, store is small, and will carry its signature t-shirts and sweats, since in the old store the wall and tabletop decorations had as well as some other items, but many of its offerings will faded with age. They’ve added a pizza called The Duch- be displayed in the store, but shipped directly to consum- ess as a tribute to the lesbian bar by the same name that ers when purchased. Goodlife will also debut some wom- occupied the space in the 1970’s. The pizza has concentric en’s items, and will collaborate with SeaVees for men’s and circles of pestos, creating a rainbow effect. The rest of the women’s shoes. This is the first bricks-and-mortar location THE menu is pretty much the same. The Neta space (61 West 8th for the brand. Gentile Gelatieri will open at 41 8th Avenue Street between 6th Avenue and MacDougal Street) did not (between Jane and West 4th Streets), next door to French remain empty for long. The same management has quickly meringue and brioche spot (and, according to Eater, home opened Bumu, which they describe as an izakaya-style spot. of a delicious chocolate ganache sandwich) Les Merveil- PASSBALANCING REALITY WITH DREAMS The chef, Joaquin Baca, briefly operated Teo in Bushwick. leux de Fred, making that a very sweet block. The business WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY DENISE MARSA Before that he had been a chef in the David Chang em- started as a kiosk in Bari, Italy, in 1880, and there is also a For upcoming performances visit: pire. The restaurant is cheaper than Neta, and the owners store in Brooklyn. thepassmusical.com hope it will become a neighborhood hang-out rather than a special occasion spot. Bleecker continues to evolve with Moved/Other a slew of unique shops—a big change from the days when Li-Lac Chocolates moved their flagship from 8th Avenue “A Nuanced and many upscale national brands had an outpost there. Keentu to Greenwich Avenue (see article on page 13). Last month Fascinating Show. (345 Bleecker Street between West 10th and Christopher we reported that Baby Brasa (173 Seventh Avenue South It all fits like a glove.” Streets) carries jewelry, accessories, clothing and home dé- at the corner of Perry Street) had been closed by the City London Theatre 1 cor from more than 40 women-owned businesses in Africa. Department of Consumer Affairs, but recently we noticed According to their website, all the items are ethically and that it had reopened. Vada Spa is moving across the street sustainably made. Thakoon (397 Bleecker Street), a cloth- and south a block to 364 6th Avenue (between Waverly Place New York Debut: 26 November 7:30 ing store by Thai-American designer Thakoon Panichgul and Washington Place) leaving three empty storefronts on Revelation Gallery 224 Waverly Place explains their concept as follows: “the idea is to create a the of 6th Avenue north of Waverly Place (Pet- Drawing: Philip Burke 15% Ticket Discount Code: REVELATION Design: A Creative Experience modern, accessible wardrobe that women can wear and cu- continued on page 15 www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 15

There are war-torn countries where mil- the number of people invested in helping, if lions of people have lost their homes, their there is war and unrest around the planet, A View from the Kitchen neighborhoods, often their lives; there are suffering won’t end anytime soon. However, also those who flee repressive regimes and some small acts of personal kindness will be By Isa Covo large. In general, we are thankful for still those in search of better lives than the ones gladly received by those who need them; if being here, for having a family, for little they have in their home countries. A le- you know someone who is lonely, impaired, What do we think about when we think children bent on rearranging our apart- gally protected refugee told me she would or homebound, a short visit or phone call is about November? There may be other ment, for grandchildren who have reached love to return to her country of origin and a nice thing to do. If possible, perhaps you guesses, but there is one essential one and adulthood and still find us interesting, for family but cannot find a decent job where could ask if they need help with some shop- that is Thanksgiving. friends, for living comfortable lives in rela- she came from. There are refugees who ping or anything else, and for those who are There is the meal of course: the turkey, tively good health, for sharing in an envi- need help but can’t find any and have no mobile, but still lonely, offer to take them cornbread, many vegetables, different pies ronment which suits our lifestyle and more. place to settle. Whatever our source of the out to have coffee, a meal at restaurant, or (usually pecan and apple). There are also the It is unfortunate that some people in our news, the newspapers, television, and the a movie; they will be grateful. If a neighbor guests—those who live nearby and others country do not have much to be thankful for: internet make it difficult for us to ignore hasn’t been seen in some days, call to inquire who cross the country, even oceans. It’s good the lonely, the homeless, the sick and those these painful and tragic situations during if all is well. People need us, we must not to see them all at such a convivial occasion. who can’t afford treatment. There are those our celebratory times. abandon them. But there is another aspect to Thanks- who lost their homes, sometimes their towns, I know that many people are helping, Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and re- giving, the real meaning of it when we to fires, hurricanes and floods, those whose donating their time and money, but not member that Mr. Rogers asked, “Won’t you reflect about our lives and the world at farms and cattle are suffering from droughts. enough of us do. It is also true that whatever be my neighbor?”

continued from page 14 In and Out used to be called “Continental Cuisine.” An Honey-Pecan Pie land Discounts and Onegin were adjacent eagle-eyed reader noticed the following sign and also closed recently). Gran Gelato (335 at 621 Hudson Street (at Jane Street): “FI- By Isa Covo Bleecker Street), which opened in June, has NAL NOTICE, Empire Merchants LLC Pecans are one of my favorite ingredients, paper on the windows and a sign that says vs Frisolino inc d/b/a/ Picolo Angolo. Due whether pecan rolls, pecan pies, toasted they are closed for renovation. No one an- Immediately $5,412.83. You must contact with spices, chopped, or toasted and sprin- swered the phone and voicemail was not ac- my office immediately to make payment on kled on roasted peaches. The pie recipe be- tivated. Frankies 570 Sputino was the Man- this judgment. Failure to do so will result in low is less gooey than the traditional one, hattan outpost of Frankies Sputino on Court seizure of assets and possible auction of con- very delicious, and is just right for Thanks- Street in Brooklyn, but now it has closed and tents of business.” giving or any time one is in need of a pecan will re-open as a different restaurant called sweet. Anton’s. The exciting news is that the chef We need your help! Please email us with any at the new restaurant will be Nick Anderer additional insight at wvnewsinout@gmail. INGREDIENTS who was, until recently, the executive chef com. We really appreciated all your help on this at Danny Meyer’s excellent Maialino. The issue, and hope you keep up the good work! For the crust: description of the food sounds like what Photos by Darielle Smolian. 2 cups unbleached cake flour 1/3 cup sugar 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more to grease the pan 1 large egg White HorseTavern For the filling: 567 Hudson Street, Corner of West 11th Street 8 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ cup honey ½ cup light brown sugar 3 tablespoons heavy cream 3 cups pecans, chopped the oven to 350F. 1 teaspoon vanilla 6. Set the rack in the middle of the oven. Blind bake the crust in the DIRECTIONS preheated oven for 20 minutes. 1. Grease generously a 7.5 x 11-inch 7. Meanwhile, in a deep saucepan rectangular baking pan. melt the butter over low heat. Add 2. With a heavy knife, or a half-moon the sugar, honey, and vanilla and chopping blade (mezzaluna), chop stir to mix. Stir in the chopped pe- the pecans coarsely. can meats to cover them complete- 3. Prepare the crust: in a medium ly with the butter mixture. Remove bowl, sift together the flour and from the heat and cool slightly. the sugar. 8. Remove the crust from the oven 4. Cut the butter into the flour until and spread the pecan mixture over the mixture looks like coarse sand. it evenly. Return the pie to the oven Make a well in the middle of the and bake an additional 35 minutes, flour mixture and break the egg or until the sides brown lightly. into it. Beat the egg slightly and 9. When the pie is ready, transfer it to combine it with the flour mix- a rack and cool completely before ture until the mixture forms a soft unmolding. smooth ball. 10. Present the pie whole or cut it into 5. Roll out the dough into a rectangle rectangles, squares, diamonds, or and line the prepared pan on the any way you chose to serve it. bottom and about halfway to the sides. Cover with wax paper and Yield: refrigerate about 15 minutes. Heat 24 pieces or more, depending on size. Unchanged Since 1880 16 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org November Means Thanksgiving in the West Village By Gordon Hughes me to work writing this monthly column, and his trusted executive assistant, Dusty. I sit on an outside bench at Cafe Panino Those two and the remarkable staff at Mucho Gusto in a heavy shirt, and there’s a WestView News, I’m thankful for. chill in the air. As I enjoy my coffee on these I’m thankful for Sue, Randy, Molly and fall mornings, I contemplate the things I’m the cast and crew at Come From Away. thankful for this Thanksgiving. Being able to What a remarkable musical, and I’m so live here in the West Village tops my list. proud to be a part of it. I’m thankful for I recently read an article in Vanity Fair having been a part of The Cher Show. I WE ARE NOW TAKING ORDERS about Bleecker Street and also a couple of have a Cher Show hat to prove it. Thank chapters in Jeremiah Moss’s book Vanishing you Flody, Jeffrey, Sarahbeth and of course FOR THANKSGIVING! New York about the West Village, which Stephanie Block, and another remarkable Bell & Evans Fresh Turkey • Bourbon Red Heritage mirrored two of my previous articles in this cast and crew. And as we go into the fi- Free Range Turkey • All-Natural Capons newspaper. One was positive, one not so. nal stretch of An American in Paris, I’m so Turkey Breast • Squabs • Geese • L.I. Ducks • Poussins I understand those who feel a loss here thankful to have worked with Robbie, Le- in The Village but I also try to understand anne and Chris along with my great friend Please place your orders early for best selection. those new folks moving here who are mak- Sarahbeth. ing changes. What I find in life is that there In The Village itself I’m thankful that appears to be a big—very big—pendulum Marie’s Crisis Café is still open along HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING! that swings back and forth. The cycles thus with its neighbor, Arthur’s Tavern, and created tend to equalize life, sort of like for Village Cigars, Bus Stop Cafe, MéMé O. OTTOMANELLI Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” theory. But Mediterranean, The Village Vanguard, I’m getting a bit off track. and the Saturday NEW YORK’S MEAT MARKET So living in the West Village is number Greenmarket, Village Apothecary, Three 285 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014 one on my thankful list. Second are the Lives & Company bookstore and of course Tel. (212) 675-4217 • Fax (212) 620-7286 people I have been fortunate enough to Christofle. We lost a number of wonderful meet here in The Village and at the Cafe. joints this year, and for that we are not so Top Quality Poultry and Provisions Cheryl, Chet, Alex, Claud, Tod, Frank thankful; there is that pendulum again. m m m m m m m m m m m m m and Duane—to his friends “D-Man,” not All in all the West Village is still a re- m m m m m m m m m m m m m to mention the owners Sarah and Arshad markable part of our city and I for one m m m m m m m m m m m m m who always make us feel at home here. I am thankful—very thankful—to be just a can never forget George Capsis, who put small part of it this Thanksgiving. KS E REA T HER B TAR FUN S

The City’s Best School Break Camps For Tots To Teens!

ENROLL YOUR CHILD TODAY HARVEST HOME IN OCTOBER AT ST. JOHN’S IN THE VILLAGE FEATURING FARM TO CHOOSE FROM A VARIETY OF CAMPS: PEOPLE. Here, Anina provides delicious produce, cheese, bread and cider samples GYMNASTICS • HOCKEY • JUNIOR GOLF for this wonderful new service that delivers weekly from farm to apartment and door- MULTI-SPORT • NINJA PARKOUR • PRESCHOOL chelseapiers.com/camps man buildings starting at $25. Full report coming in December! farmtopeople.com

West View Camp 10-18.indd 1 10/15/18 12:20 PM www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 17 West Village Original: Denise Marsa

IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING HER SHOW AND RUNNING HER PR COMPANY, Denise Marsa, above, is committed to mentoring young singers and bands. Photo by Jim Dyke.

By Michael D. Minichiello be rich and famous, or did I want to stay true to myself? It’s a struggle to be an artist trying This month’s West Village Original is singer/ to stay relevant throughout it all. I’ve had a lot songwriter Denise Marsa, born in Trenton, of luck but at the same time, things just hap- New Jersey, in 1954. In addition to a decades- pen out of your control. I’m sure part of it was long career in the music business, Marsa owns me as well. There are so many things I said Key Media Group, a public relations and mar- no to early in my career. But it doesn’t matter keting firm. She also mentors young singers and now because I do what I do, and I still love bands in navigating the industry. On Novem- doing it. My one-woman show is a vehicle to ber 26th, she will present her one-woman show tell my story and get my songs heard. It’s also about her life in music, The Pass, at Revelation where I started: in musical theatre. I’ve gone Gallery at St. John’s in The Village. Visit the full circle.” show’s website at www.thepassmusical.com. These days, in addition to developing her show and running her PR company, “I had good parents who were very affec- Marsa is committed to mentoring young tionate and always encouraged me when I singers and bands. “When I was younger was growing up,” says Denise Marsa. “Ex- no one really empowered me to understand cept when I told them I was moving to the music business, let alone the entertain- New York. Then they freaked out! But I was ment business,” she says. “So instead of be- headstrong and said, ‘I don’t want to hear ing angry, I decided to take my energy and it. This is what I’m doing.’ That was in the put it towards helping young people protect Do You Need Home Care? seventies when a lot of not so great stuff was themselves. I love doing it. There are a lot going on here, so I don’t blame them. But I of dreamers in the music business but only was paying my own way, just like I had paid a small percentage actually make a living in Continuity Home Health Care for my own education, and I reassured them it. I think my experience can be instructive.” that I wouldn’t be chewed up and spit out.” Marsa has lived in the same apartment What drew Marsa to music in the first on Christopher Street since she moved here place? “I was always musical,” she says. “My over 40 years ago. How is the neighborhood Where Healing Continues... brother got a drum set for Christmas one different from those days? “Oh my God! A licensed home care agency providing year and I just started playing it. Same with How isn’t it different?” she replies. “My health care services, both professional the piano. I had both the instinct and the perspective, though, is that New York both and paraprofessional, for individuals inclination. And my mother really pushed changes and doesn’t change at the same living at home since 1996. me. I think she had been overshadowed by time. By that I mean when you live in The her siblings growing up, so she put her en- West Village you get a chance to hold on to ergy into me. I was singing, taking acting a bit more of the charm of life. And I think classes and I landed my first professional the most charming part of New York is The gig in musical theater at age eight.” West Village, hands down. Everything is Call Tim Ferguson at (212) 625-2547 Fast forward all these years, and it was when smaller so maybe smaller is charming. But Marsa was performing her songs in a couple of the people themselves live large lives in or drop in to 198 Avenue of The Americas clubs that the idea for her current show came small spaces. I’ve done that as well.” about. “My life has been funneled through “My apartment is full of history too,” she We accept most private song,” she says. “There are people who are continues. “It’s small and dates from 1810, passionate about songwriting and I’m one of but I have a lot going on in that small space. insurances them. It’s like breathing for us. When I did My building has a backyard and it’s been and private pay. those club shows, people came up to me after- a very magical existence. I come into my wards and said, ‘Why aren’t you a household house and shut everything off. Sometimes I name? You’re like a female Billy Joel or Elton wish I had one extra room. But this is what [email protected] John.’ Well, that’s a long story. The story of my it is, and it’s also a reminder to make the best life, really! It’s about timing and where you put of what you do have. That’s always been my your energy. It’s about choice. Did I want to attitude: ‘Make it work!’” 18 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org Bell Labs’ Second-Best-Kept Secret of the secrets of its success was Mervin the top floor of what is now the A Section would soon change the course of the war. Kelly’s only requirement of his employees: where these different disciplines met to edu- The work on this super-secret project, perfection. cate each other, with tea and cookies provid- code named Rad Lab, was done in a non- ed by management. “It was held after work descript, converted biscuit factory across USEFUL FREEDOM hours because it was entirely our show,” said from the West Street building, but accord- Of all the researchers who have contribut- nuclear physicist Foster Nix, “informal, live- ing to team leader Jim Fisk it was no walk ed to the oral history of Bell Labs, Kelly’s ly, and incredibly helpful. Einstein and every in the park. “Reverse engineering is simple name comes up the most frequently be- other eminent European scientist who went in theory,” he said, “but in practice it was cause, perhaps, he understood the needs to New York came here to visit or give talks. turning us inside out—tedious, immensely and complexities of the exceptional mind. The only rule was clarity—no footnotes, no frustrating modifications—but once re- “It’s exceedingly unlikely to find multiple jargon. We were there to learn how to com- solved it was the gift that kept on giving.” talents in a single person,” he wrote in a re- municate with each other.” Within two months the team had port to management, “but it is in the mind achieved the impossible, adapting and repli- of a single person that creative ideas and SULTANS OF SOUND cating 30 prototypes, ready for manufacture. concepts are born.” Undoubtedly it was The human ability to locate unseen objects In another three months, collaborating with Kelly who persuaded the corporation to in the sky or underwater is achieved by a Rad Labs at Columbia and MIT, they had provide the cradle. system called radio detection and rang- designed a compact version that fit into an “We were cut loose to fuss around,” said ing, a.k.a. radar. It was still in the early airplane, which required team members to 463 WEST STREET: an important address acoustics engineer Harvey Fletcher, the in- stages of development in 1940, but early go on test flights “because absolutely no one in the allied victory of World War II. Photo ventor of stereophonic sound. “I spent ten that year two British scientists achieved a else knew how to run the system.” By 1942 courtesy AT&T Archives and History Center. years and got nowhere, ten years learning major breakthrough called the cavity mag- they had developed the magnetic airborne to listen with two ears, and finally it was netron. By manipulating streams of elec- detector (MAD) that located and torpedoed By Catherine Revland perfect. As perfect as they come.” tronic waves within a magnetic field they German submarines. By 1944 they had Another secret of Bell’s spectacular suc- were able to vastly increase the power and perfected an anti-aircraft version that was Part Two of a series, You Must cess also comes from Kelly: working in close frequency of radar, a feat that immediately shooting down 9 out of 10 of Germany’s Remember This, about World War II collaboration with people of different disci- revolutionized the industry. horrific V-2 rocket bombs. and its relevance to our times plines. “I was part of probably the greatest When the magnetron arrived at West Having witnessed the unveiling of the research team ever put together on a prob- Street, shipped by the British govern- magnetron at Bell Labs, renowned nuclear “How do you manage genius? You don’t.” lem,” recalled William Brattain, winner of ment to the U.S. for safekeeping during physicist I. I. Rabi headed straight to the —Mervin Kelly, director of Bell Research Labs the Nobel Prize for magnetic resonance the Blitz, it couldn’t have been in a better Rad Lab at MIT. “When people asked us imaging (MRI). “One person’s remarks sug- place. Bell’s acoustics researchers had been why we weren’t working on the bomb,” he In the industrial Monopoly game of the gesting an idea to another always went to “pulling sound out of the air” for decades, said, “we told them we were serious about 1940s, Bell Labs and Western Electric the heart of things—people in other disci- and Fletcher had been tinkering with elec- preserving the future of humanity. The were Boardwalk and Park Place, an entire plines who got interested in what you were tron waves for 30 years. He called them bomb ended the war, but radar won the war.” city block where the cream of the scientific doing—so hard to get in a university, so “the physics of sound.” Now, instead of When the future of humanity is under elite was busy creating the latest wonder. At beautifully available at Bell Labs.” perfecting acoustics for the next Leopold a dire threat, certain people rise up, shift that time the Bell Empire was the world’s This collegiality extended far beyond 463 Stokowski recording, he was keen on de- into high gear, and achieve the impossible. largest and wealthiest monopoly, and one West Street. There was an auditorium on veloping this astounding invention that Remember this. Take the Reins and End the Slaughter By Anastasia Kaliabakos unsung heroes. After men domesticated tions and lessons, horses whose trust I have Approximately 100,000 horses are trans- horses, they were able to harness their im- painstakingly earned have protected me ported annually across the United States measurable power and speed, becoming not from countless obstacles—both emotional border to be slaughtered for the sake of hu- only their teachers, but their companions as and physical. Horses can sense fear in their man consumption. People seeking to profit well. Horses gave men new and incredibly riders and quell their nerves—a talent that off of these magnificent animals cram significant advantages in transportation, often and unfortunately goes unacknowl- them into crowded trucks without food trade, herding, agriculture, and warfare. Ad- edged. In volunteering at a horse rescue, I or water—oftentimes for over 24 hours— ditionally, they have become man’s partner have seen horses abandoned by their previ- to meet their demise in slaughterhouses, in various sports and recreational activities ous owners repurposed into the best lesson where many are gruesomely dismembered ranging from the ancient Olympics to the horses who continue to spark a love for rid- while they are still alive. In early 2019, a modern-day Kentucky Derby, oftentimes ing in new equestrians year after year. What bill known as the Safeguard American Ex- functioning as the ultimate symbol of social has impressed me the most, however, is the ANASTASIA KALIABAKOS, above, with her ports Act was presented to Congress. This status and wealth. These majestic creatures effect that horses have on people with spe- partner Shenandoah Sweet Dreams. Photo bill can ensure that the slaughter of horses have given their heart and soul to man—life cial needs. I have served as a volunteer for by Jeannie Wood. for human consumption would be banned would not be as we know it today without the past four years at Great Strides Long and that the inhumane export of horses for their impact. Island, a therapeutic riding program. At The entire practice and industry as a whole this purpose would be prohibited as well. It As an equestrian, it has been a tremen- this facility, each and every day, horses who are barbaric. After all that horses have done is up to the citizens of the U.S. to take ac- dous privilege to spend time with—and have been rescued help children with con- and that they continue to do for man, they tion and demand that their representatives atop—these magnificent animals. I have ditions such as autism or cerebral palsy and should be treated with the utmost respect pass this bill. witnessed their gentleness, patience, grace, even veterans with PTSD slowly overcome and be valued as precious assets and part- Horses have played a pivotal role through- intuition, and care towards people for both physical and psychological limitations ners by people across the world. These are out the history of humankind. From the many years and I am constantly inspired that most people could not even compre- God’s creatures—it is an immense gift to be time of antiquity when Alexander the Great and amazed by their endless empathy. It hend. These horses have taught me the able to interact with them. Ultimately, it is rode Bucephalus into battle, to the famous is impossible to put into words the mag- true meaning of patience and compassion. our duty as stewards of the earth to act in a midnight ride of Paul Revere, to modern day nitude of the impact that a relationship How could anyone stand idly by while responsible manner and to end the abuse of American Pharoah, horses have been man’s with a horse has on a human. In competi- these animals are brutally sent for slaughter? these animals immediately. www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 19

Talking Dirt in The Village Revelation Gallery By Aaron William Perry, with Joanie Klar the atmosphere since the beginning of the in- dustrial revolution! 224 Waverly Place, New York, NY Our village—The Village—is the most fertile ground of American culture: mag- Here’s how: nificent, gritty, thoughtful, proud. COMPOST • PURCHASE • ACTIVATE Long before vogue terms like influencer or cultural creative entered popular par- COMPOSTING is essential. When we lance, generations of the most thoughtful, mindlessly discard food scraps, cardboard, creative, and influential figures generated and newspapers, they are buried in land- great turns in the evolution of our culture. fills, where they off-gas methane into the Sat. Nov. 9th, 5:30pm Here, we walk atop the same well-worn atmosphere. On the other hand, when they cobbles trodden by Walt Whitman, Abe are composted instead, a virtuous cycle of Lincoln, Anais Nin, Mark Twain, Upton soil-building (and carbon sequestration) Sinclair, Billie Holiday, Kurt Vonnegut, is activated. And those old copies of West- Jack Kerouac, Ella Fitzgerald, and Miles View? Perfect for composting! Davis. Here scholars fleeing violent re- PURCHASING certified organic, biody- gimes in Europe founded the New School. namic and regenerative food, beverage and These cobbles echo memories of footsteps clothing products, we are further augment- of bygone times. Today, Anderson Cooper ing this essential soil-building imperative. It lays his head after reporting the day’s news. is the moral imperative of our time to wield Our Village is hallowed ground. this powerful weapon wisely and with stew- Sacred ground. ardship and regeneration at the fore. Fertile ground. ACTIVATING soil is a quality-of-life en- Here, heroes wielding mighty pens have hancing practice that invites us to engage A Special Evening with Author slain fierce dragons—dragons of slavery, with the soil in our home, our houseplants, suppression, racism, bigotry, and mean, our gardens, our parks, and our village com- Aaron William Perry nasty conformism. munity. The benefits range from increased Now we face a new dragon: an ecological serotonin (the feel-good neurochemical) crisis, a toxicity crisis, a climate crisis—an levels, to enhanced cognitive performance existential crisis of the highest degree. And, and even boosted immune system function. like all the nasty dragons we have slain be- It’s time to talk dirt and get dirty together! fore (defeating slavery, attaining women’s Join us November 9th at 5:30pm at the suffrage, achieving civil rights), this one, Revelation Gallery (224 Waverly Place, too, appears at first to be invincible. New York, NY 10014) for a special Biody- But we have a secret weapon. We have namic Soil Activation Ceremony experience David’s sling to Goliath’s fearsome might. with Aaron Perry, Joanie Klar, and friends! We have the special sauce, the secret code, For more information on soil regeneration the lost word. visit yonearth.org. Use the exclusive code: We have: THE SOIL. WESTVIEWNEWS for a 50% discount on all And we have the HUMAN SPIRIT. of Aaron’s ebook and audiobook resources. Here’s what we need to know: If you join the Y on Earth Community’s Worldwide, soil is the greatest terres- Monthly Giving Program (yonearth.org/ trial carbon store—and it can hold much, support) you will receive a special code for much more. As soil regenerates, through FREE DOWNLOADS of all of these resourc- beautifully complex natural processes with es—which you can share with friends, family which we can conspire and collaborate, it and neighbors! (countless micro-organisms, along with all the plants and trees growing in it) inhales Aaron William Perry studied as a Galla- carbon from the atmosphere and deposits it tin Scholar at New York University in the back in the ground. This carbon—the won- mid-1990s, and is the author of Y on Earth: drous element found in all life—is the key Get Smarter, Feel Better, Heal the Planet. element regulating the thin sheath of atmo- The Founder of the Y on Earth Community, sphere, our single, shared life-support sys- a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organiza- tem on this great spherical spaceship: Planet tion dedicated to community mobilization for Earth. Carbon—in the molecules carbon climate action, soil stewardship and culture dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and oth- of kindness (yonearth.org), Aaron is also the ers—is what acts like the blanket of the host of the Y on Earth Community’s Steward- biosphere, trapping some of our sun’s con- ship & Sustainability Video/Podcast series stantly streaming heat energy, and keeping (yonearth.org/community-podcast). enough from escaping to space to maintain conditions conducive to life. Joanie Klar is a producer, activist, entrepre- But we have loaded too much carbon in neur, and thought leader who resides in both the atmosphere, and this dragon must be New York and Colorado. She is on the Y on tamed! Earth Community’s Global Advisory Board, By collaborating with the natural soil-build- co-producer of Farmer’s Footprint with Dr. ing systems that are the foundation of life on Zach Bush, served on the Board of Directors land, we can amplify the carbon-sequestrating of John Denver’s Windstar Foundation, and power of soil. A mere 10% increase in soil car- helps lead soil stewardship and regeneration bon world-wide is tantamount to sequestering projects in New York, Colorado, and through- ALL of the fossil carbon we have released into out the world. 20 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org

Modernism lives in Tribeca.

A collaboration of design visionaries. KPF. David Rockwell. David Mann. Edmund Hollander. www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 21

turesque coastline from Penobscot Bay of the Abenaki Nation who married into the Notes From Away (Bar Harbor) to Muscongus Bay (Port family some four or five generations back and Clyde and Monhegan Island) to Casco who produced offspring whose genes would Bay (Portland) and the hundreds of off- have passed into the present generation. Maine History Lesson shore islands along the way; Several firsthand accounts of Lois were • A continuing flow of the world’s poor and given to living relatives in the 1940s that with a hero of the American Revolution; shunned—Poles, Russians, Jews, Leba- gave credence to these stories when I first • A plebiscite among Maine residents freed nese, Somalis, Rwandans—have come heard them in the 1970s. Some particular the state from Massachusetts. because there are jobs for them; it’s cheap interest surfaced among my children when to live here; and, most importantly, be- their high school counselors noted set- That Maine agriculture, industry, trade and cause they are welcomed; aside opportunities for college admission finance underperform: • Immigrants have found their place in or financial aid. Various back-of-the-en- • Throughout its history and continuing state politics not because they are joined velope calculations of sanguinity indicated to the present day, Maine has been and together as representatives of foreign cul- that eligibility was possible. Someone went is among the poorest of American states; tures, but because they are not. Although to 23 and Me for a definitive answer: plen- • A century and a half of near constant all were born and raised in Maine, this ty of European DNA and traces of others, warfare between and among European limited roster exemplifies the point: Ed but no trace of Native American. Elizabeth and Native American nations left its pop- Muskie, son of a Polish immigrant father Warren has a ton of sympathy in my house OCEANFRONT MARKER ON PEMAQUID ulation and economy undeveloped; and a first generation Polish immigrant for her assumption that family tales are a PENINSULA noting peaceful settlement of a • Its winters are long and severe; its land mother, Governor from 1955 to 1959 and reliable basis for ancestry. century and a half of conflict between Penob- rocky; its soil poor; and its rail and high- U.S. Senator from 1959 to 1980; John The overlapping presence in Maine of scot Indians and English settlers. Photo by way transport challenged by mountains, Baldacci, son of Lebanese-Italian im- prerevolutionary European and Native Tom Lamia. rivers, forests and granite ledges; migrants, Governor from 2002 to 2008; American cultures, and the subsequent im- • Its logical trading partners, Canada’s George Mitchell, son of a Lebanese im- pact of immigration to Maine from outside By Tom Lamia Maritime Provinces, are its principal migrant mother and a father who was ad- of New England, have their own impacts competitors in its leading industries of opted into a Lebanese immigrant family, on present-day life in Maine. A further As the State of Maine heads into its annual lumber, fishing and shipbuilding; U.S. Senator from 1980 to 1995, Senate family story comes from the 1980s: Cousin state of hibernation, I leave you with a few • Of these, the first two are non-renewable Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995 and Barry, making a summer visit from the odd facts (culled from the internet, an unre- and threatened, and the third is obsoles- later a peacemaker in Ireland and the West Coast with his family, spent an after- liable source). For example, did you know... cent in the age of steel ships and high- Middle East; William Cohen, son of a noon with us at our farm in South Bristol. tech motive power. Russian Jewish immigrant, U.S. Repre- Our household at the time included our six That well into our nation’s existence, Maine sentative from 1972 to 1978, U.S. Senator children and two African-American teen- was an orphan: That immigration is its greatest strength: from 1979 to 1997 and U.S. Secretary of agers. After a few hours of swapping fam- • Neither its borders nor its sovereignty • Maine’s respected place in national affairs Defense from 1997 to 2001. ily stories, the visitors left. During the ride were established; is the product of several extraordinarily Now, with that as backdrop, allow me a back to Newcastle where they were staying, • Those contesting ownership included talented immigrants and immigrant com- moment of family reflection about what I re- the eight- or nine-year-old son of Barry is not only nation states, such as England, munities; gard as a consequence of this Maine history reported to have said, “The Lamias seem France, the United States and the Wa- • The wealth of the nation’s elite has been lesson. I am not a native Mainer, but I mar- like nice people, but why do they keep banaki confederation of American Indian transported to Maine by its “Summer ried into a family that has deep roots here. For slaves?” And that’s the best I can do to il- tribes, but also (a) a private citizen, and People”—seasonal residents who have the 40-plus years of my close association with lustrate the temporal proximity of the on- (b) the State of Massachusetts; built their cottages (called such whether this family, I have been hearing the legend of set of Somali and Rwandan immigration • The private citizen’s claim originated 20 rooms or one) along Maine’s long, pic- Lois Ellis, a full-blooded Penobscot member into Maine history. Hindsight: The West Village Committee in the Sixties By Brian J. Pape, AIA Hudson and Christopher Streets to the they were able to rally support and convince river and to 11th Street. the powers-that-be to grant a reprieve. Today’s residents of the West Village owe Mrs. Jacobs, now famous for her leader- In March of 1962, the City Board of Es- a lot to the activists who lived here before ship since 1955 and authorship of seminal timates, at the behest of the Department us. They say “Hindsight is 20/20,” but we texts, and Dr. Dodelson, respected for sav- of Marine and Aviation, resolved to study still speculate on “what might have been.” ing the area just north of 11th Street in the reuse of the viaduct for a truck route Google the still active committee, West- 1949, worked with subcommittees to deal serving the existing industry. It would VillageCommittee.html, and you’ll find a with many challenges, coming to decisions have been similar to the elevated Westside little history and their current activities, but on a consensus basis. Fighting City Hall Highway to the west, or the proposed free- you have to dig deeper to get a true sense of seemed like a quixotic endeavor. way through SoHo, complete with on-off their accomplishments. And for that we can They knew what “Urban Renewal” ramps, of course. More destruction. The thank Village Preservation for a newly post- meant: wholesale demolition to make way Village rallied again and defeated it, and ed archive on their website, https://www. for superblocks of tower apartments, per- proposed the West Village Houses in its gvshp.org/_gvshp/pdf/WVCScan1.pdf. haps exactly like the Robert Fulton Houses place (finally built in 1974). Let’s recount the battles and victories in Chelsea constructed in that same era. In historic preservation, the maxim is and imagine what might have been if they The Urban Renewal impetus may have that once it’s gone there is no return. The had not fought for their ideals. been aided by plans to utilize the High Village knew there would be no second On Feb. 26th, 1961, a meeting of resi- Line viaduct running adjacent to Wash- chance—they had to stop the destructive dents was called to form the Committee to ington Street, which had already destroyed plans or there would be no West Village to Save the West Village (changing it to The 640 buildings in its . come home to. We celebrate with them the West Village Committee a year later). Jane The Village wanted to conserve and pre- 50th anniversary of the declaration of the WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN if Title I hadn’t Jacobs and Dr. Don Dodelson were elected serve their community, not scatter people far Greenwich Village Historic District. been defeated in 1961: This current Chel- co-chairs. The immediate crisis was that and wide, perhaps never to return. By not sea housing project is the model for what the Board of Estimates had petitioned the only opposing the Title I project, but also Contact The West Village Committee at the city had in store for the West Village. federal government for a Title I project for initiating a positive vision for the empty P.O. Box 20017, New York, NY 10014 or Chelsea is nice, but it ain’t The Village. Urban Renewal funds for the area from sites and the existing fabric of architecture, [email protected] Photo by BJ Pape, AIA. 22 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org Visitation By Keith Michael

My phone vibrates on my desk. I hit “Send” on a work email before checking the message: Text? Gmail? Face- book messenger? Instagram notification? Millie’s photograph, of course, is the wallpaper on my phone. Her doe-like corgi eyes look up out of the palm of my hand, virtually, ever-hopeful for a treat. Tapping in the passcode over Millie’s vigilant gaze brings the tidy grid of icons to life (like autumn leaves waiting to fall). It’s an In- stagram reply back to my cryptic “What? Where? Wow!” comment on a friend’s bird photo caption: “Taken on Sun- day. It was still there yesterday, maybe it’s still there to- day. Foraging among the planted area of Abingdon Square Park in the West Village.” It’s nearly lunchtime. Maybe I can wrap up a few more things at work, hop on the train, and book it to Abingdon Square. If it’s still there and easy to find, I can snap some photos and get back for my afternoon meeting. (What a great subject for my next WestView article!) A VIRGINIA RAIL stalks lunch in Abingdon Square Park. Photo by Keith Michael. Oh, you might like to know what the “it” is. It’s a Vir- ginia Rail, a starling-sized marsh bird, brown with gray while I walked to release it in . My Decem- Remarkably fearless, it flies in front of me to the afore- and blueish highlights, red-orange on its decurved bill, ber 2016 WestView article, “Crash Course,” documented mentioned northwest corner of the park. Hidden for a mo- and long toes for walking on soggy ground. A striking that encounter. ment, I go to the outside of the fence for a better view physical feature is that, after millennia of squeezing be- Logging off, I throw away “Done” notes, square the piles under the bushes, but then it returns to scavenge along the tween narrow reeds, their bodies have evolved to be later- of papers on my desk, close my door, and hurry down the inside walkway. The number of delicacies it finds seems ally compressed. They are literally “thin as a rail”—though labyrinth of stairs to the subway. The #1 Train is behav- limitless. What a smorgasbord! I’m clicking away and at that colloquialism likely refers to fence railings rather than ing, so I arrive downtown in record time and hightail it to one point I actually need to step backward so that it doesn’t this skinny bird. Not particularly rare, they are infrequently Abingdon Square. While waiting for the light to change walk across my shoes (though that would have been a great seen as they quietly live their lives among the dense grasses to cross Eighth Avenue, I look for a gaggle of long-lens- shot!)—it’s too close for my camera to focus. of wetlands. wielding birders. (That’s the easiest way to find a rare bird In the blink of an eye this Virginia Rail became my I have nothing to back this up, but it’s possible that sev- in NYC). No such luck. Entering the park, a quick scan 106th West Village New Bird. The last additions to eral or dozens of them have spent their summers raising reveals no binoculars—no lurking, circling denizens who My List were a Hairy Woodpecker (#105 in 2016) and their families while skulking through the damp edges of might be “in the know” that there is an unusual bird in the a pair of Mute Swans flying down the Hudson River Manhattan. Even though they are strong on the wing, they shrubbery. (#104 in 2015). are more likely to run and hide than to fly to escape preda- I discover an earlier weekend post detailing that it had After the recent stunning revelations that the number of tors. However, while migrating they can show up almost been seen in the northwest corner, so that’s where I begin. birds in North America has plummeted by a third during anywhere, like this current avian star walking the red car- But nearly simultaneously, behind me, I hear a muffled my lifetime (nearly three billion individuals, while the hu- pet at Abingdon Square Park. “What is that!” I spin around, and there, energetically man population on the planet has increased by more than I’ve only seen a Virginia Rail in New York City once crossing the green of the lawn, is the “that”: the Virginia three billion), and that climate change additionally threat- before. That was another bird on migration that collided Rail. Gardeners have been planting the fall chrysanthe- ens the survival of nearly half of North American bird spe- with the glass at Lincoln Center. I well remember hold- mum spectacle (thank you!), so the rail is feasting on the cies (more than 300), seeing any bird gains proportionately ing that wary bird, stunned but not injured, in my hand unearthed worms from the freshly turned ground. more wonderous weight. One gloomily optimistic thought is that since birds survived the extinction event that wiped out the other dinosaurs 66 million years ago (yes, birds are VIEWS BY SUZE surviving dinosaurs), they are likely to outlive us. Before heading back uptown to work, I again swipe up Millie’s wistful photo on my phone. My thumb whiz- zes through the passcode (grazing Millie’s nose and front paws). I text my friend, “Saw it! Awesome. Thanks!” and hit “Send.”

Visit keithmichaelnyc.com for the latest schedule of New York City WILD! urban-adventures-in-nature outings through- out the five boroughs, and visit his Instagram @newyorkcity- wild for photos from around NYC.

Therapist’s Office For Rent Excellent Village Location Available Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays 11th Street Café [email protected] Call Christina at 917-957-1895 www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 23 Then&Now: The Weathermen Bombsite—18 West 11th Street in New York City to come before the also By Brian J Pape, AIA fresh Landmarks Preservation Commission. Replicate the prior structure? Combine THEN: The Greek Revival townhouse at traditional architecture with an expression 18 West 11th Street was originally built of the disruptive impact on the street? Or in 1845, one of four houses on the block go fully contemporary to reflect the event built by Henry Brevoort Jr. for his children. and times? Mr. Hardy’s proposed design It was later (in the 1920s) the home of joined a historic-styled base and top floor Charles Merrill (of Merrill Lynch), whose with an angular bay window on the parlor son, the poet James Merrill, was born and third floors, in brick that blended with there. On March 6th, 1970, shortly before the row of Greek Revival houses of which noon, firemen were called to fight a blaze the former building had always been a part. there caused by an explosion of dynamite- Even the cornicework matched adjacent and-nails bombs being assembled by buildings. Hardy said, “It was this whole members of the Weather Underground, idea that a new building should express aka the Weathermen, a radical leftist something new.” The proposed design group, in the subbasement furnace room went through many hearings and media coverage promoting all sides of the debate, in the townhouse owned by the parents and was narrowly approved by the Land- of one of the Weathermen. The blast and marks Preservation Commission. The site ensuing blaze of ruptured gas lines com- remained a vacant lot until 1978, when a pletely destroyed the four-story structure in couple bought the property and Hardy’s the heart of the newly designated Green- design, with the LPC-approved exterior, and wich Village Historic District. Three of the sick Blues.” Actor Dustin Hoffman and his NOW: Reconstructed in 1978, this modern built their home. Later this home became Weathermen died immediately, and two wife, Anne Byrne, lived next door at 16 interpretation was one of the first new struc- known for the Paddington Bear placed in were rescued alive from the rubble by a West 11th Street at the time, and Hoffman tures in the historic district to be approved the bay window. New owners bought the police officer but immediately escaped and was seen on the street watching the fire- by the LPC. Hugh Hardy, the nationally home for $9.25 million in 2012, and added remained at large for several years while on men battle the inferno. This 1940 tax photo famous modern architect, and Francis a new rear facade and roof alteration, ap- the FBI’s Most Wanted list. The Weather- of the streetfront of 18 West 11th Street Mason bought the now-vacant land at 18 proved in 2014. Traditional and modern in men had other connections to Greenwich shows the typical details of the 1845-era West 11th Street after the explosion and one facade—jarring to some, quirky Village Village, having taken their name from the single-family townhouse. Credit: Municipal demolition. The challenge was ominous, oddity to others—but quality construction Bob Dylan lyric “You don’t need a weather- Archives. not just due to the violent tragedy there but nevertheless, adding to the vibrant dyna- man to know which way the wind blows,” also because this would be one of the first mism of the Village. Photo credit: Brian J from his 1965 song, “Subterranean Home- new buildings here or in any historic district Pape, AIA.

MEDICAL DERMATOLOGY | COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY MOHS SURGERY | LASER SURGERY

Bay Ridge West Village 7901 4th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11209 67 Perry Street, NY NY 10014 718-491-5800 (t) 212-675-5847 (t) 718748-2151 (f) 212-675-7976 (f)

Ronald R. Brancaccio, M.D | Peter Saitta, D.O. Sherry H. Hsiung, M.D. | Lisa Gruson,M.D. | Anna Karp, D.O. 24 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org

office with my gunslinger flair. It was the most fun on-the-job week I’ve ever spent Karen’s at a technical writing gig. (That’s what pays the bills, in case you were wonder- ing.) So I’m happy that this moment Quirky Style from my old world has come forward into the future to intersect with my West Village lifestyle. Fiddler, strike up the By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor music and let’s get to the hoedown!

With apple-picking season flying by For more stories, style notes, and fun pho- and Thanksgiving fast approaching, I tos, see karensquirkystyle.com and connect brought out my cowboy boots for this @karensquirkystyle. month’s adventure on Bleecker Street. The weather was still so warm on the day of the shoot that I decided to pair the boots with flared black shorts and fishnet stockings (think Beyoncé at Coachella!). GIPSY BY MAURITIUS VEGETABLE- CURED YELLOW LEATHER JACKET. I scored these boots and the Western All Leather 99/Master Leather, blingy belt at Lammle’s, a famous West- 51 W. 8th Street. ern-wear chain in Calgary, Alberta, when I was there for the Calgary Stampede in BLACK TANK. Pink Penguin NYC, 2016. I had just submitted my US Im- 110 Macdougal Street. migration application on July fourth of that year, and took a short contract in EXPRESS BLACK FLARED SHORTS. Calgary while I waited for the results. Gift from a friend. Some friends lived in Calgary and in- vited me to stay with them, and it just GREY DISTRESSED LEATHER COWBOY so happened that I arrived the week of BOOTS BY DAN POST. Lammle’s Western Wear, Calgary. the Stampede. My first day at the office, everyone was dressed in Western gear. I ANGEL RANCH BLACK GATOR-PRINT thought they just dressed that way ev- CRYSTAL BELT. Lammle’s Western Wear, ery day! But they explained that it was Calgary. Stampede week, and we had fun events like pancake breakfasts and parking-lot SILVER, BLACK, AND CRYSTAL BRACE- barbecues all week long. LET. CVS, 475 Sixth Avenue. Naturally I wanted to get in on the fun, so I went to Lammle’s and got the CRYSTAL DROP EARRINGS. Whole Bead boots, a couple of flashy belts—which I Show NYC, Hotel Pennsylvania. wore criss-crossed gun-belt style over my RHINESTONE NECKLACES. Shopper’s jeans—and an Australian-style cowboy WEST VILLAGE MODEL KAREN REMPEL ON BLEECKER STREET, stepping out for a Drug Mart, Vancouver, British Columbia. hat. I caused a bit of a stir around the Thanksgiving hoedown! Photograph by Dusty Berke.

Style on the Street: Sunny Sunday By Dusty Berke

There is nothing like a sunny Sunday after- noon in The Village. So nice to see everyone out and enjoying the last days of sunshine.

1. Mommy and me rockin’ the Zebra pants! 2. Meet me at the Standard Hotel. Now. 3. Too cute for words…!

All photos by Dusty Berke. ❶ ❷ ❸ www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 25

Dusty Berke Joins the Ranks of Award-Winning Artists at the Salmagundi Club’s Village Preservation Exhibit v

music • at St. John’s in the Village WestView News Concert DUSTY BERKE WITH HER AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPH Playing Statues on Bleecker. Photo by Karen Rempel. Saturday December 7, 4 pm Dusty Berke received an award for her rest. The symmetry of the triangular shapes arresting photograph Playing Statues on of the statue, pedestal, and trousers demon- Bleecker on October 16th at the presti- strates Dusty’s true artistic eye. A tiny detail, gious Salmagundi Club. The photograph visible in the enlarged printed photo, is the Strathmere Ensemble Present of West Village model and photojournalist words “Greenwich Village Historic Dis- Karen Rempel originally appeared in the trict” on the West 11th Street sign. “Karen’s Quirky Style” column in the May It’s fitting that this photo appeared in an Mozart in the Village 2019 issue of WestView News. exhibit of artwork celebrating the diverse, Program: A combination of elements contribute to unique character of Greenwich Village and the photo’s appeal. Dusty captured Karen’s marking the 50th anniversary of the Green- Selections for Soprano Arias eye-catching style, engaging smile, and lu- wich Village Historic District. The exhibit, minous joie de vivre—the first things to which ended on October 27th, also cele- 1 “Conservati Fedele” k 23 draw the viewer’s attention. Karen strikes a brated the centennial of Salmagundi Club’s prayerful pose with Chaim Gross’s uplift- present location in an Italianate mansion at 2 “Laudate Dominum” from ing bronze sculpture The Family, which he 47 Fifth Avenue. cast in 1979 and presented in 1991 to the There were about 90 artworks in the “Vesperae Solenne de Confessore” k 399 City of New York in honor of Mayor Ed exhibit. Six awards were granted—five Koch’s service to the city (1978-1989). The of them to established artists and current 3 “Alleluja” from “Exsultate Jubilate” k 165 complementary orange tones in the jacket members of the Salmagundi Club. Our “Ave Verum Corpus” k 618 and brick building, balanced with the gray Dusty was the breakthrough artist of the shades of the granite and paving stones, show. Congratulations, Dusty! We at West- Piano Concerto in c major k 415 please the eye and offer both excitement and View are very proud of you. Soprano Solo : Amber Evans Piano Solo : David Oei Tickets $20 Free to Seniors and Children Booking is essential at: stjvny.org or (212) 243-6192

ST. JOHN’S IN THE VILLAGE at the corner of West 11th and Waverly Place St. John’s in the Village is fully heated and ADA accessible.

WVNConcert_Dec2019.indd 1 10/31/19 12:32 PM 26 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Beth Israel Forum on Monday, November 4th even by the most powerful, can be forced to per year, although there are about 84,000 Avenue. Dr. Boal answered precisely that change. MSBI cannot go forward reducing ER visits at present. Anthony Feliciano, question: “These women can have their ba- our medical system if the politicians know director of the community-based health bies in an emergency room.” He said that that the people are watching and find the advocacy organization Commission on the Beth Israel’s ER has delivered several ba- plans unacceptable. Public’s Health System (CPHS), told Dr. bies that way. Last month, on Wednesday, October Boal that the planned ER had the capac- That begs yet another question: If babies 16th, MSBI made a public presentation ity to handle only 45,000 visits a year. Feli- can safely be delivered in an ER, why is a of their plans for the final closure of Beth ciano based his assertion on MSBI’s official small maternity unit at the new hospital less Israel. Who knew? You probably did not. application to the Department of Health safe? Dr. Boal explained that as well: The MSBI had informed elected officials and for a certificate of need (CON) to build new hospital cannot have a maternity unit THIS HOSPITAL RENDERING, above, depicts community boards about the time and place the new facility. In the CON, MSBI stat- or a birthing center because it would take up how the corner of and 14th of the presentation, but they made no effort ed that the new ER would have a total of too many of the 70 beds and force out other Street will look after construction of the new to inform the public. Accordingly, barely 18,885 gross square feet of space. Accord- services. That explanation begs another ques- 70-bed replacement hospital is completed. Image courtesy of Mount Sinai. 40 people attended. Half of those seated in ing to the American College of Emergency tion: Why has the new facility been limited the 400-plus-seat theater at Baruch College Physicians, each ER treatment room takes to 70 beds? Why not add a 5- or 10-bed ma- By Penny Mintz were either elected officials, their staff, or up 800 to 1,000 square feet of space and ternity unit and have a total of 75 or 80 beds? representatives of community boards. can handle 1,500 patients a year. Thus the You can get answers to the questions Few people have any leverage over the It is to MSBI’s benefit to have insignifi- allotted ER space can only handle 35,000 raised here, and raise your own concerns, large political goings on in Washington or cant attendance. That shows that people to 45,000 patients a year. at the community forum on the future of Albany. But when it comes to quality of have no objections to the changes. Right now it has about 84,000 visits. Beth Israel and its services on Monday, life issues here in our community, there is a Dr. Jeremy Boal, president of MSBI The new ER cannot handle more than November 4th, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at chance, right now, to have an impact. Downtown, explained that MSBI will be 45,000. This does not make for a rosy fu- the Sirovich Senior Center, 331 East 12th Mount Sinai/Beth Israel (MSBI) has building a new 70-bed hospital on East ture for true emergency medical services Street, between First and Second Avenues. plans for Beth Israel Hospital and the 13th Street behind the Near York Eye and in Lower Manhattan. I have been handing out flyers about the medical services that will be available to Ear Infirmary at 14th Street and Second The question of maternity care also came forum and talking to people outside of PS the communities of Lower Manhattan, Avenue. He had lovely pictures of the pro- up at the meeting. Before MSBI closed the 11 on West 21st Street. People are con- and we in the community have an oppor- posed building. That 70-bed facility will re- maternity unit in 2017, there were over 450 cerned. Most are upset to learn that Beth tunity to be heard on the acceptability of place the 800-plus-bed Beth Israel building births a year at Beth Israel. According to Dr. Israel is closing. Everyone knows that after those plans. at 16th Street and First Avenue, which still Boal, 450 births is too low a number to assure the closing of St. Vincent’s Hospital, the At a community forum on Monday, No- fills 250 beds every day despite all that has safety. Staff with the capacity to handle diffi- local emergency rooms are overwhelmed. vember 4th, 2019, the MSBI plans will be been done to make it inhospitable to doc- cult situations cannot be sustained at a facility It’s not too late to change the outcome. To explained and most of our local public of- tors and patients. Dr. Boal said the 16th with so few births. He said that prenatal and do that, people have to show up at the forum ficials will be present to listen and respond Street building will be sold at the highest postnatal care will continue to be handled on November 4th and voice their concerns: to community concerns. A large attendance price possible to raise money to pay for the in local, downtown practices, but the births at the community forum can force a better changes. He expects the buyer to put up lux- have to go uptown to Mt. Sinai’s main facility Monday, November 4th outcome. Look at the impact that massive ury residential units but hopes there will be at Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street. 6:00pm to 9:00pm objections by lawmakers had on President some agreement about affordable housing. You might wonder what downtown Sirovich Senior Center Trump’s decision to hold the next G7 con- According to Dr. Boal, a new emergency women in labor are supposed to do if they 331 East 12th Street ference at his Florida resort. Decisions, room will be able to handle 70,000 visits cannot make it in time to 103rd and Fifth (between First and Second Avenues)

The West 13th Street Alliance’s November/December Community Event Offerings By The West 13th Street Alliance to discover the benefits of Yoga, even if gral Yoga Institute (227 West 13th St.) on sion is to improve the quality of life on West The West 13th Street Alliance is pleased to an- you’ve never practiced before. Our second November 19 from 2 to 3 p.m. and on De- 13th Street between 7th and Greenwich nounce its November/December Community event is INTRO TO ZUMBA WITH TESS GHIL- cember 17 (time to be announced at later Avenues and its neighboring areas) says Events schedule that aims to bring together AGA from 6-7:30 p.m. Zumba is a Latin- date) at Lenox Health Greenwich Village. “neighbors have overwhelmingly requested the community in a fun way with events/ inspired dance class that On Saturday, Decem- events that will help build community and classes/lectures like, Exploring the Original incorporates an aerobic ber 7th from 4 to 6 p.m. provide important socialization, learning, West Village, Intro to Zumba, Holiday Card- fitness program with we will offer a HOLIDAY and cultural enrichment. We hope that our Making, Chair Yoga and Tea and Conversa- movements performed CARD-MAKING class programming will help to fill that need.” tion. All of these events are free and delicious to popular Latin and in- with mixed-media art- Wayne Kawadler, Director of Commu- snacks and refreshments are provided. ternational dance music. ist, Linda Edkins Wyatt nity Relations at Lenox Health GV and Our first event is a lecture called EX- This introductory, basic at The Church of The Chandra/Jo Sgammato, Executive Director PLORING THE ORIGINAL WEST VILLAGE by level class is suitable for Village. Explore stencils, of Integral Yoga Institute, are Co-Executive Alfred Pommer, local guide and author of all ages ranging from 18- stamps, collage, and heat- Directors of Community Programming for four Manhattan guidebooks. The lecture is 100. Ghilaga is a NYC- embossing techniques to The West 13th Street Alliance. They are on Wednesday, November 13th from 6 to based yoga and Zumba create your own unique interested in hearing from the community 7:30 p.m. at Lenox Health Greenwich Vil- instructor, and lifestyle and festive cards. All sup- with your ideas for programs that promote lage (200 West 13th Street). His talk will journalist, who teaches at plies will be provided. connection and fun. Please email them at include an extensive slide show of historic The Vanderbilt YMCA This event is co-spon- [email protected]. photographs of the original West Village. and privately. sored by The Ink Pad, Many more exciting programs are in the On Friday November 15th we have two TEA AND CONVERSATION will be led by a mixed media and paper arts shop in the process of being scheduled for January and events, both at The Church of The Village lifelong Integral Yoga practitioner, teacher- West Village for over 21 years. February as well and will be announced (201 West 13th St.). First is CHAIR YOGA, trainer, and West Village resident, Kali Co- Birgitte Philippides-Delaney, President of with flyers and onWestView’s Events Cal- from 3:30-4:30 p.m., which is a great way line Morse. The event will be held at Inte- The West 13th Street Alliance (whose mis- endar. Stay tuned! St. John’s in the Village Enjoy these arts events in the fully-heated, air-conditioned, and ADA accessible St John’s (corner of W. 11th Street and Waverly Place). Almost all concerts have some allocation of tickets free to seniors, but booking ([email protected] or 212 243 6192) is essential.

ALL OTHER BOOKINGS AND RESERVATIONS THROUGH STJVNY.ORG This is a partial list of the arts events at St John’s. Visit stjvny.org for a full listing.

Friday, November 1—6:15 pm Saturday, November 9—7 pm Sunday, November 17—3 pm ALL SOULS REQUIEM CIVIL DISCOURSE: AN EMBER CONCERT ‘PETERSBURG’ AND OTHER RUSSIAN SONG The Requiem is sung to plainsong at 6.15pm in the In our noisy world of high decibels and unrelenting Frank Mathis, baritone, with, Jonathan DePeri, piano, church, followed by prayers and candle-lighting in St. electronic input, listening may be a lost art—and performs Sviridov’s masterful song-cycle, along with Benedict’s Memorial Garden. Opening reception is free, a necessary key to Civil Discourse. Commissioned other Russian art song. $20 in advance. $25 at the but registration is necessary for catering purposes. world premiere: “Mending Wall” by Bill Heigen. East door. $10 off for students. Free to children. Coast premiere of “Singing Together” by John Mue- Friday, November 1-17—8:00 pm hleisen. $0-20. Sunday, November 17—8 pm MONSOON SEASON Sunday, November 10—11am BEETHOVEN: COMPLETE WORKS FOR VIOLIN This romantic comedy for a toxic world by 2019 AFO AND PIANO I FAURÉ REQUIEM FOR REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Artist In Residence Lizzie Vieh comes alive with bit- The first in a series of three concerts, in which Nata- ing humor and blinding insight. The play runs Thurs.- At the anniversary of the Armistice, the end of the sha Lipkina, violin, and Vladimir Rumyantsev, piano, Sun. (with some matinees) until 17 November. $25. Frist World War, we honor the Americans, British, present all of Beethoven’s opus for violin and piano. Canadians, French, and others who died in that war Saturday, November 2—4 pm and in subsequent conflicts around the world. Music: Requiem by Gabriel Fauré. Drinks and Sunday Lunch Tuesday, November 19—7 pm LECTURE-RECITAL—MAGDALENA GARBALINSKA follow. Registration is necessary for catering purposes. GERLACH & TETZLOFF DUO An afternoon rich with depth, drama, dance, and the timeless beauty of Bach’s violin solo works. Free. No Sunday, November 10—3 pm Alexia Pia Gerlach, cello, and Reed Tetzloff, pia- registration required. no, perform repertoire by Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, MUSIC FROM THE ALPS and Piazolla. $20. Saturday, November 2—7:30 pm Jeffrey Palmer (countertenor) and Irena Portenko (pi- ano) bring their acclaimed program of music featur- Friday, November 22—8 pm SOHYUN AHN: COMPLETE MOZART PIANO SONATAS ing selections from Austria’s own Franz Schubert, as $10-20. well as music by Handel, Debussy, Schumann, Björk, CHAMBER MUSIC FROM NYU Huang Ruo, and new arrangements of traditional folk Marilyn C. Nonken curates a program of chamber mu- Sunday, November 3—3 pm songs. $25. sic performed by some of the most talented of NYU’s up-and-coming classical musicians. Free admission. MARYAM KHEIRBEK IN CONCERT Tuesday, November 12—8 pm A piano recital of Schumann études and Chopin SINGER-SONGWRITER & SPOKEN WORD NIGHT Saturday, November 23—9 am-8 pm nocturnes. $20 in advance. $25 at the door. $10 off for students. Free to children. $10. Free to performers. BYO wine. MAKING MUSIC TOGETHER Making Music Together, a community-based musical Monday, November 4—7.30pm Tuesday, November 12—7:30 pm encouragement program, gathers in Revelation Gal- AIRBENDER: BASSOON CONCERT PARTNER EVENT AT BARUCH COLLEGE: lery for a day of learning and collaboration, culmi- DAEDALUS QUARTET nating at a concert at 8pm. Free, but registration by Matthew Kneale (bassoonist), visiting from email ([email protected]) is advised. Melbourne, Australia, presents a concert of Renowned Israeli pianist Renana Gutman joins the music, new and old, for piano and woodwinds. award-winning Daedalus Quartet to present a sonic exploration of the human response to repression and Saturday, November 23—7:30 pm exile. From $16. Tuesday, November 5—6:15 pm GIOIA DE CARI IN CONCERT GUY FAWKES NIGHT Thursday, November 14—8 pm Gioia De Cari was a third of the way through her doctoral thesis in math at MIT when she up and left. Evensong is sung simply to plainsong using the ‘Gun- PINKNOISE X SPACE ODDITIES She became an actress and a playwright and hasn’t powder’ provisions of the Book of Common Prayer of Kevin Kay - duality ii, for ensemble & electronics thought about research mathematics again. What 1662. It is then followed by the lighting of the fire in the happened? courtyard and the Burning of the Guy (symbolizing the Yifan Guo - Fragile Balance, for violin & cello rejection of terrorism). Sausages are cooked on the Simon Kanzler - random/control, for ensemble & live outdoor grill and served with wine, beer, and soft drinks. electronics Tuesday, November 26—7:30 pm Free; but registration is necessary for catering purposes. Zosha Di Castri - La forma dello spazio, for ensemble Chaya Czernowin - Duo Leat, for 2 bass clarinets. THE PASS Friday, November 8—7:30 pm THE PASS, a musical starring Denise Marsa with the Friday, November 15—7:30 pm effervescently talented Tracy Stark at piano & vocals. HELLENIC DRAMA HOMAGE TO FEODOR CHALIAPIN The piece will have its first NYC performance. $10-18. The Greek-American Writer’s Association presents Works that were sung by the great Russian bass, Feodor an evening of short plays and a musical performance Thursday, November 28—10 am by Nektarios Antoniou. A wine reception follows in Chaliapin. In addition to performing works, Nick Hay will Revelation Gallery. $10-20. also show film clips of Chaliapin from the movie Don THANKSGIVING LUNCH WITH REFUGEES Quixote. He will be joined by pianist Amir Farid, violinist Jose Pietri-Coimbre, and a small men’s chorus. $15. Thanksgiving Eucharist (to which those of all faiths Saturday, November 9—5:30 pm and of none are welcome) is sung in church at 10am. TALKING DIRT IN THE VILLAGE: COMMUNITY MO- Saturday, November 16—3 pm Drinks follow in the Common Room at 11am, and a BILIZATION FOR CLIMATE ACTION traditional Thanksgiving Lunch is served in Reve- JKLM DUO IN CONCERT lation Gallery at about noon. We welcome refugee A presentation by Aaron William Perry, writer, public friends whom we have come to know through speaker, impact entrepreneur, consultant, artist, and Katty Mayorga, guitar, and Jaimie Lee, flute, present a AdsUp (ads-up.org). Those attending lunch should father. Free. No registration required. concert of repertoire for their instruments. From $10: book ($10) online. on the door only (no advance booking). 28 WestView News November 2019 www.westviewnews.org

IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD Maggie B’s Quick Clicks Be prepared to expect the unexpected. All photos by Maggie Berkvist.

FROM STILL LIFES

TO STREET SCENES—

be they mysterious... enterprising... incongruous... or reminiscent of a Hopper painting.

last name. That’s the beauty of any documen- citizens are called persuadables, and are The Great Hack (2019) tary, and particularly this one—it’s at its best bombarded with manipulative propaganda. when showing real people talking about and They become brainwashed citizens who red in middle America that election night reacting to real events. are persuaded to vote for clients of danger- in 2016, didn’t you shiver and wonder how There is no preaching or manipulative ous companies like Cambridge Analytica that happened? It seemed like it was a video love story to get in the way of this horror who represent sketchy political candidates. game or a reality show, didn’t it? Well it was. film of brainwashing and mind control. The two bad guys shown on film rep- The Great Hack is a terrific and frighten- There are no weapons of mass destruction ping this evil company are Cambridge Ana- ing documentary film about Cambridge or slash and burn scenes. The real story is lytica CEO Alexander Nix and CFO Julian Analytica and the Trump (and Cruz) cam- scary enough to keep anyone up at night. Wheatland. Their posture is, of course, to lie paigns in America. The film also deals with Cadwalladr and The Guardian have been and pretend they were only following orders. the Brexit voter referendum in the United following Cambridge Analytica for years, Yes, we’ve heard this before, and it’s getting Kingdom. In both cases it shows how they aided by her own source, former employee tiresome. You can find the same weasels on played dirty tricks to swing public opinion Christopher Wylie, who rats out the rats the boob tube shouting from the halls of towards their clients. We all know the sad who made a fortune manipulating vot- Congress or the White House that it’s not results. The film documents how some of it ers. “Cambridge Analytica is a full-service their fault it’s the other side’s fault. happened. propaganda machine,” says Wylie. “You Assuming there is a God above, these Thanks to three incredible citizens and shouldn’t win by cheating." Cheating is weasels will rot in hell for their lies and one whistleblower, we see how a nightmare what Wylie contends his bosses were doing deceit. Yes, there is a right and a wrong, of Orwellian proportions has occurred. Is it to elections around the globe. and these bad guys took the wrong side for a crime? The courageous filmmakers Karim Cambridge Analytica was busy elect- money. They wanted to sway public opin- Amer and Jehane Noujaim think so, and ing many dubious or authoritarian char- ion to win an election by any means. It has THE GREAT HACK is a terrific and frighten- most of us would think so too. acters across the globe including our very pushed ethics to the lowest levels. ing documentary film about Cambridge The film starts with David Carroll, a me- own Donald J. Trump and family. The A good example of how to handle this Analytica and the Trump campaigns in dia professor in New York, bringing a law- tech giants and companies like Cambridge came in the 2008 campaign when Repub- America. suit against the British company Cambridge Analytica are pushing the boundaries of lican presidential candidate John McCain Analytica. He simply wants his data back marketing and advertising norms. Let’s be refused to follow the birther shouts coming Film Review by Roger Paradiso from this Orwellian brainwashing cabal. clear, governments and corporations have from many, including citizen Donald Trump. His point is that he has not consented to for years been massaging our brains. Tele- It was racist and unethical, and McCain, to –Facebook ads used by the Hillary Clinton having his human rights, data rights includ- vision was the perfect advertising machine. his credit, quashed it in his campaign. campaign in 2016 totaled 66,000. ed, used for any purpose without this permis- It is now being replaced by the computer Terms like psycho warfare, and even the im- –Facebook ads used by the Donald Trump sion. As Mr. Carroll is bringing his suit to the and cell phones, which are far less regulated age of Breitbart or a Fox News correspondent campaign in 2016 totaled 5.9 million. London courts, an investigative reporter for in the wild west of the internet. shilling for Trump ca. 2016, can scare anyone For those of you who are wondering how The Guardian based in London, Carole Cad- The techniques now used in serious ar- with an unwashed brain. We see gestapo- Donald Trump and his corrupt team stole walladr, has also been on the trail. You know eas like politics have indeed become weap- like attacks on Facebook—ads powered by the last election, this is a good film to see. this is a documentary, by the way, because no ons capable of turning “the fence voters” “targeted” marketing to the “persuadables.” When you watched all those districts turn screenplay would ever give a character that towards their clients. These unsuspecting continued on page 29 www.westviewnews.org November 2019 WestView News 29 Centennial for Uta and Ellen Eva Le Galliene as Ophelia, with Le Gal- course under Stella Adler, who had also in the filmJudgment at Nuremberg, which liene taking on the top role of Hamlet. When worked directly with Stanislavski—it was earned Garland a Best Actress in a Support- she turned 18 she was cast in a Broadway Adler who sent me up to Stratford, Con- ing Role nomination. production as Nina in Chekhov’s masterwork necticut, along with another “apprentice,” Following many accolades, Hagen was The Seagull opposite the great stage couple Peter Bogdanovich, where I met actors like elected to the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, both of James Earl Jones, Nina Foch, Katherine and in 1999 she received a Lifetime Achieve- whom took her under their wing. Hepburn, and Fritz Weaver, and primar- ment Tony Award. In 2002, two years before In 1951 Hagen received rave reviews for ily got to work with the great director John her death, she was given the National Medal her performance in Clifford Odets’s Broad- Houseman who began his incomparable of Freedom Award by George W. Bush. way play The Country Girl, for which she career with Orson Welles and the Mercury Hagen was a lifelong Village resident took home a Tony Award. Another major Theatre. Following that summer I audi- and for many years lived in an apartment highlight was in 1962 when she was cast tioned for Uta Hagen’s acting class, where I building on Washington Square. A friend by producer Richard Barr as Martha in received favorable critiques from her in her of mine, Rochelle Oliver, an actress and Edward Albee’s first Broadway play, Who’s scene-study class when I acted in William teacher at HB Studio, lived in the same Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for which Albee Saroyan’s Hello Out There! and when I at- building with her son John Patterson. She provided her with lines like “I wear the tacked the role of Archie Lee in The Long had acted with Hagen on Broadway as pants in this family because somebody’s got Stay Cut Short, or The Unsatisfactory Supper, Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to!” At the time, in a news interview, Al- a one-act play that Tennessee Williams later Every Christmas Eve Rochelle had a party bee stated that “Uta Hagen is a profoundly developed as the screenplay for the brilliant in her spacious apartment decorated with A STUNNING PHOTO PORTRAIT of the great truthful actress!” The well-known director film Baby Doll, which was directed by Elia a big tree, which I attended along with actress and teacher Uta Hagen. Image Austin Pendleton stated, “The most excit- Kazan and starred Eli Wallach, Karl Mal- Hagen and other acting teachers from courtesy of HB Studios. ing evening I’ve had in the theater was a den and the great Carol Baker. HB, Carol Goodheart (Carol starred in By Robert Heide preview of the original production of Who’s Harold Clurman directed Hagen in the my Caffe Cino play Moon at the Actor’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” national tour of Streetcar Named Desire in Studio West in Hollywood alongside John 2019 is the year that both Uta Hagen and Another of her starring roles on Broad- 1947-1949 opposite Anthony Quinn, and Garfield Jr.) and Amy Wright, as well as Ellen Stewart, two great ladies of the the- way not to be forgotten was the title role Hagen said it was Clurman who changed the actor James Broderick; his wife, Patsy; ater, have been honored and celebrated when in Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan. Her perfor- her direction in acting at that time. He re- their son, Matthew (they lived in the build- each would have turned 100. In the world of mance in Othello opposite Paul Robeson fused to accept her hiding behind a mask ing too!); and actors like Fritz Weaver and dates, Uta Thyra Hagen, actress and teacher, and Hagen’s then husband, Jose Ferrer of mannerisms and brought her into the Hallie Foote, and her father, the playwright was born June 12th, 1919, in Göttingen, (as Iago), was a sensation. She and Ferrer deeper, more emotionally directed method Horton Foote, who later taught theater at Germany, and died in Manhattan January were married from 1938 to 1948, and their of acting taught by the great Stanislavski. In the Playwright’s/Director’s Unit at The 14th, 2004. Ellen Stewart was the head of daughter, Letitia, was born October 15th, 1957 she married the director-teacher and Actors Studio where I was a member. the famous La MaMa Experimental Theatre 1940. In 1947 Hagen began teaching act- founder of HB Studio, Herbert Berghof. Club at 74A East 4th Street in The East Vil- ing at the Herbert Berghof Studio, which In later years Hagen wrote her own books Tune in to WestView’s December issue for lage, which she co-founded with the prolific still functions as an important school for on acting entitled Respect for Acting and Part II of this 100th anniversary account, playwright Paul Foster. She was an African- actors in two buildings on Bank Street in Challenge for the Actor. A passion for cooking which will focus on the career of Ellen American woman who was born November Greenwich Village. up great dishes led her to write a cookbook Stewart and her La MaMa Experimental 7th, 1919, and died January 13th, 2011. Following my own theater studies—first called Love for Cooking. Some of her illus- Theater as well as the La MaMa Coffee- at Northwestern University under the great trious students over the years have included house Chronicles celebrating Stewart’s life. PART I – UTA HAGEN teacher Alvina Krause, who had studied Matthew Broderick, Faye Dunaway, Liza Robert Heide’s plays and essays were recent- Uta Hagen’s acting career began when she with Konstantin Stanislavski in Russia, and Minnelli, Jason Robards and Al Pacino, and ly published in a volume entitled Robert Heide was cast at a very young age by the legendary then in New York where I took a two-year she also coached Judy Garland for her role 25 Plays, which can be purchased at Amazon.

Great Hack continued from page 28 One of the main characters in the film While she is no Daniel Ellsberg, she does company. What about all the rest of them? These take the form of ads about unsubstanti- is played by former Business Development help bring down this monolithic Joker Perhaps that will be another film. I hope ated corruption committed by opponents, and Director for Cambridge Analytica, Brittany called Cambridge Analytica. She enters so. In the meantime, The Great Hack has scandals of any and every kind, and even con- Kaiser, who has turned whistleblower. She the film late in the first act and dominates opened our eyes to the snake oil salesmen vincing minorities not to vote since it doesn’t gives evidence to the UK Parliament de- the action as we follow her on her whistle- of the internet. What can you do? When matter. In the film we see many of these ads, tailing her former employer’s involvement blowing life. No doubt it takes courage and you see propaganda on Facebook such as even those that played in third-world coun- in the Leave.EU campaign during the EU will power, but the question does remain: Hillary “Crook” Clinton in handcuffs, re- tries around the globe. By 2017, Cambridge referendum. She also speaks out about her “Why did you do it, Brittany?” She tries to port the spam to Facebook or Google. Will Analytica had a hand in an alarming number company’s involvement in the Trump presi- say that no one else would hire her and give they do something about it? Maybe, if our of elections across the world. dential campaign. She was brought to testify her a good living, but sorry, that is not good Congress regulates them better. One of the highlights of The Great Hack before our Congress. Did it make the news? enough. Let me be clear that the filmmak- For her part, Cadwalladr speaks before was watching the much-publicized Mark Kaiser is a flawed heroine as she faces the ers don’t present her as the perfect heroine. a TED audience in Silicon Valley and Zuckerberg’s Congressional hearing. We moral fight within herself of squealing on the It’s up to us to decide how we view Kaiser. asks the tech giants, whom she refers to as watch as the filmmakers show the side-by- rats while she has received all the financial re- David Carroll meanwhile wins his case “gods of Silicon Valley,” “Is this how you side reactions of disbelief from the likes of wards of working in this field for many years. and helps bring down the bad guys. But want history to remember you? As the David Carroll and Brittany Kaiser as they She lived the life of the rich and famous for will he ever get his data back from the tech handmaidens to authoritarianism?” The watch Zuckerberg squirm and BS a duplic- the last decade, even turning herself into a giants? That remains to be seen. He and audience is left stunned, as we are after we itous Congress. There are so many villains Republican after working for Obama and Guardian reporter Carole Cadwalladr are the watch this bold and entertaining film. here it seems like a rerun of a great Batman human rights organizations. Did she brain- most sympathetic characters in the film. We The Great Hack is running on Netflix now. movie. However, this is not a comic book. wash herself or was it the money? watch Carroll as he tries to teach his students It is real, even though the characters are as On the one hand you pull for her and on the pros and cons of social media. He wor- Roger Paradiso is a filmmaker whose recent cartoonish and evil as the Joker. How do the other you want to see her pay society ries about the world his daughter will inherit. film, The Lost Village, has won many we stop this modern brainwashing? There back in spades. Perhaps she should start a Will she be able to resist the manipulation? awards and appeared at festivals around the are no easy fixes, folks. The genie is out of charity. The film mentions briefly that she In the end we are left with a far deeper world. It is available to buy from Amazon the bottle. We must contain and regulate. now works as an advocate for data rights. problem. Cambridge Analytica was but one and to view on Vimeo. EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS We want to live in a world where humans are free. Free from stigma. From shame. From stereotype. From disease.

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