The Voice of the West Village WestView News VOLUME 16, NUMBER 6 JUNE 2020 $1.00 Village Stage for Outrage engulfed in flames. As they burned, pro- On the evening of Saturday, May 30th, The testors spray-painted them with slogans. Village became the stage for what appeared to Riot police came running down the street, be a well-orchestrated demonstration against causing panic in the crowd. But there was police for the Minneapolis killing of George nowhere to run. In every direction, police Floyd, ending with the skilled firebombing of vans and cars erupted into flames, with so several police vehicles. Covered by WestView much smoke billowing out of them that it News photographer Chris Manis, he was actually became hard to see and breathe. struck by what appeared to be a core group that This attack appeared to be highly orga- issued instructions both moving and harangu- nized, with car fires erupting simultaneously ing the crowds. Manis followed the action to in every direction. It was also clear that the University Place, where he captured the photos persons who started the fires were long gone for this article. His eyewitness account follows. before the riot police arrived at the scene. By Chris Manis I must give credit to the police, who were I arrived at Union Square around 10 p.m. surprisingly restrained in their response as to a line of approximately 200-300 riot they formed a line and pushed the crowd police spanning from University Place away from the burning cars so that the fire to Broadway. Behind them, in the park, department could get through and extin- a large crowd of 400-500 had assembled. guish the blazes. Although several bank and All seemed very peaceful and calm. Most store windows were smashed, the vast ma- people (including the police) were on their jority of damage was clearly aimed at police cell phones and looked quite bored. I then property. Also, as the police vans were burn- noticed, and apparently the police did not, ing, there were several loud explosions that that the crowd started quietly but quickly came from inside the vehicles. streaming out of the park in different di- WESTVIEW PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS MANIS captured this photo on University Place on Sat- It's my observation that the police were rections—almost as if on cue. One group urday, May 30. For more exclusive images, visit www.westviewnews.org caught absolutely by surprise, and it took went down Broadway, another down Uni- them quite a while to organize a response. versity Place, and others headed toward to follow a story, so I walked down Uni- firecracker-type explosions occurred simul- It appeared that the police were up against Fifth Avenue. versity Place to see what was going on. As taneously. I heard breaking glass and more a highly organized and capable group who I know the streets well and I know how I arrived at 13th Street, several large, loud, explosions, and spotted several police vans knew how to incite mayhem. Pandemic May Shutter Small, Local Biotech Addressing COVID-19 By Kambiz Shekdar, Ph.D. and We are two of the co-founders of such his main science project. He was desperate a brand new job as associate at a large law Christian Kopfli a private biotechnology company, called to find a solution and came up with an idea firm in New York City where he worked Chromocell Corporation. Kambiz original- that had the potential to overcome the bar- with many companies including some of We have heard about restaurants and their ly invented the foundational biotechnology rier. The university filed a patent application that era’s most exciting start-ups. We were struggles in this pandemic, but few have behind Chromocell when he was a 24-year on the invention that it would own, as Kam- friends and when we started talking about heard about an atypical group of promising old graduate student in a Nobel-Prize win- biz was considered an employee. the science and how it could help speed biotech companies that are private and in ning laboratory at The Rockefeller Uni- Meanwhile, Christian had just gone from through and overcome obstacles in the lab, jeopardy. The unique biotechnologies these versity. At the time, Kambiz’s research was simultaneously completing his masters in we decided to give it a go and start a bio- companies offer to help address COVID encountering challenges as the then-used law at Columbia University and his Ph.D. tech company together, with Christian as its may perish as collateral damage. methods for engineering cells slowed down in law from the University of Zurich to start continued on page 50
Cuomo at Bat Directory Milestones Raffle Nightlife An analysis of the Gov- Our Village Directory Two full pages of LGBTQ Subscribe to WestView COVID's impact on every ernor's COVID response, provides a list of open historic milestones, events News for a chance to win aspect of life is examined and a look forward at restaurants, grocery stores and accomplishments. Sure great prizes—including through the lens of per- challenges to come. and other businesses. to be a collector's item. Sarah Jessica Parker shoes! formers and night spots.
SEE PAGE 5 SEE PAGE 18 SEE PAGE 28 SEE PAGE 30 SEE PAGE 34 2 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org WestView WestViews Published by WestView, Inc. by and for the residents of the Correspondence, Commentary, Corrections West Village. WestView Triumph writing just so on a page. I also love the blue part of the WestView community. Publisher Dear George and WestView, ink in the ‘7 p.m.’ title. Thank you and an incredible staff for al- Executive Editor The May 1st issue is a wonderful gift from It really draws a subtle attention to the ar- ways enriching our lives. George Capsis you George, and your writers, to our West ticle. I hope I get some offers from house- —Roberta Curley Art Director Village community. cleaners after the paper circulates. My place Kim Plosia I have always loved reading WestView, but is still a ‘virtual’ mess—though I’m unclear as Kudos to Kelton Advertising Manager and Designer this was something more—a healing balm to what ‘virtual’ means anymore… Anyway, I To the Editor, Stephanie Phelan knowing our community will go on, and a know for sure many will identify with me and I was thrilled to see the May issue contained Traffic Manager Liza Whiting testimony to all you and WestView provide my plights. I totally agree with the letter to another personal story “Mom’s Lessons for our neighborhood. the editor re: both the April and May issues. on Love” by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. Her Photo Editor That WestView was not silent while our They show a concern, a warmth of feel- Washington Square and Wegmans pieces in Darielle Smolian entire neighborhood was locked down fac- ing, an invitation for a slow healing to West previous issues showed her warm authentic Photographers ing a hundred year threat is an achievement Villagers, and an empathy that disseminates funny voice. She did that again in this issue. Maggie Berkvist not to be forgotten. to whomever opens the paper. Particularly Keep them coming. Chris Manis Many thanks George to you and the en- great job, especially considering the enor- —David Rose Associate Editors tire WestView team. I will both subscribe and mous gravity of some of the material you are Justin Matthews, Anne Olshansky, Bruce Poli make my small donation to your great effort. working with. A Very Short Letter Comptroller —Steve Wilson Kudos, kudos, kudos on a publishing vic- Jolanta Meckauskaite tory in a time of unusual stress and woe. This will be the shortest article you will Architecture Editor Your words echo even clearer now—we read in this WestView News issue. I planned Brian Pape An Appreciative Contributor NEED a local paper, in print if possible, to to write about the problem of crowding, Fashion Editor Dear George, sew up the “holes” Governor Cuomo spoke no masks, and little social distancing in the Karen Rempel I am so pleased with everything about how of. That includes WestView’s guidance as to Hudson River Park. Mask-less joggers and Film and Media Editor my article came out this May. The pics what and what not to open, and the paper’s bikers expel streams of microbes as they Jim Fouratt framing it are so worthy. Like they say, pic- ad regarding an upcoming All Bach live- pass by. Large groups congregate on the Food Editor tures tell a thousand words. Thank you so streamed concert at St. John’s in the Village piers. The NYPD declared a new policy to David Porat much for publishing my heartfelt piece. Be- on May 25th, 2020. You and Emily Dickin- remedy these problems beginning in May. Music and Eldercare Editor cause it was rather graphic, I think it was son share something wonderfully inspiring, After repeated calls to the 6th Precinct’s Hannah Reimann relatable. In fact one of my brothers, after George.You both possess hope—whether or community relations department, I have not Science and LGBTQ Editor reading it, said now everyone was going to not it has feathers is beside the point. You yet been able to speak with anyone there to Kambiz Shekdar, PhD think I had coronavirus (if I god forbid had, and your paper CREATE hope and share it. answer questions on how their new strategy Regular Contributors I would never have been able to do all that Hope is a darn great commodity at all times. is working. I still see no masks in the park. J. Taylor Basker, Barry Benepe, cleaning up!). You and your finessing staff As a bonus, you allow us to air our sugges- Stay tuned. Caroline Benveniste, Charles Caruso, uncannily knew how to place the piece of tions and concerns by inviting us all to be a Jim Fouratt, John Gilman, —J. Taylor Basker Mark. M. Green, Robert Heide, Thomas Lamia, Keith Michael, Michael D. Minichiello, Penny Mintz, Brian J. Pape, Joy Pape, Bruce Poli, Alec Pruchnicki, Christina Raccuia, Suicide at 45 Hannah Reimann, Karen Rempel, Catherine Revland, Martica Sawin, Donna Schaper, Christopher Street LARRY KRAMER, 84 Arthur Z. Schwartz, Stanley Wlodyka I received an early call on Tuesday, May We endeavor to publish all letters received, 18th, from an obviously alarmed elderly Godfather of AIDS Activism and the Force including those with which we disagree. women who said a neighbor at 45 Chris- The opinions put forth by contributors Behind ACT UP and GMHC to WestView do not necessarily reflect the topher Street had committed suicide by views of the publisher or editor. jumping out of a rear window of the tall West Villager Larry Kramer, American playwright, WestView welcomes your correspondence, apartment house. author, film producer, public health advocate, comments, and corrections: The women who called lived near #45 LGBT rights activist and the principal founder of www.westviewnews.org and was alerted by the very early-morning ACT UP and GMHC, died May 27 at the age of Contact Us appearance of police and an emergency ve- 84. As the foremost and most vocal and pro- (212) 924-5718 hicle. She would not give her name but was active leader in the fight against AIDS, he was [email protected] most anxious to talk and revealed that she a public foe of Ed Koch, New York's closeted was living in a five-story family building all former mayor who refused to address the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. They were neighbors at Two alone; “I am getting it cleaned up,” she said. Fifth Ave, where Edie Windsor and Bella Abzug I sent our photographer Chris Manis to had also lived. the building where the unfortunate inci- dent occurred, but by the time he arrived Renowned as a playwright for The Normal Heart, all was quiet. However, he did have a friend an autobiographical play focusing on the early who lived nearby and had some informa- days of the AIDS crisis, Kramer was a firebrand tion: the women who died had lived with and forceful leader who was known for posing her husband, had mental problems, and LARRY KRAMER, 2010. Photo the Hamletesque provocation—either we fight or talked about having the coronavirus. Her credit: David Shankbone / CC we die—at the LGBT Community Center in March death was reported by a neighbor who saw BY 2.0. 1987, leading to the creation of ACT UP. the body from her window and called the In Kramer's own words, “I was trying to make people united and angry. I was super who then called the police. The pub- known as the angriest man in the world, mainly because I discovered that anger lic information office of the police could got you further than being nice. And when we started to break through in the not give me the victim’s name but did give media, I was better TV than someone who was nice.” MIA SAYS: Forgiving prejudice is the best me her age, which was 77. —Bruce Poli way to end it. Photo by Dusty Berke. — George Capsis www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 3 Pride in the Time of Corona By Chauncey Dandridge would have ever expected. It has been ac- companied with great loss and death, finan- One of the things heavily lamented by cial uncertainty, hardship and resounding members of the LGBTQ community cur- fear and anxiety, but perhaps it was necessary rently, is that this will be the first time in fifty to stand still and regroup, and reinvent and years that there will actually be no organized reclaim our own Pride. We needed to reassess Pride March conjured up to light up The our value and values. We needed to relearn Big Apple in rainbow colors. Considering respect. We needed to remember our history that last year, New York City celebrated the and prepare for our future. fiftieth anniversary of The Stonewall Riots We still do not have any understanding as well as played gracious host to World of how and when and if the nightlife com- Pride festivities, the void left in the wake of munity will rebound after this crisis and coronavirus will be wildly ominous and felt threat is over. Will our favorite watering around the world. Pride season in Gotham holes survive? Will dance floor capacities City promises to be peculiar, painfully anti- be cut in half? Will plexiglass stand be- climactic and disorienting. It will be a stark tween you and your bartender? Will your contrast to joyous, countless celebrations handshakes be rationed out? Will your that stretched throughout every corner and hugs be looser or tighter? Will you have to borough of the city that never sleeps. Luck- find a dark corner in a dive bar to remove ily, some of the positively resounding traits your masks and experience your first kiss? of the LGBTQ community are defiance, So, so many unknowns. This community THIS YEAR WILL BE A STARK CONTRAST TO PREVIOUS ONES: For the first time in 50 ingenuity and resilience. There have been has won many battles, survived many at- years, there will actually be no organized Pride March. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. too many successes, too much progress, too tacks, climbed many mountains and still much climbing and resisting and reconcili- have the luxury and honor of being one of Immediately after the initial shutdown, continues to morph and master its tech- ation to stop. Like the members of a church the resident DJs and event producers at the drag shows and talk shows and dj sets popped niques. And we do it in one of the greatest say, from the priest to the parishioner, you bar, and when I was hired back in 2013, up everywhere and filled the vacuum. Fans classrooms in the world, New York City. don’t have to be in church to experience I had no idea the sheer magnitude of ex- adjusted and assimilated to this new way of We have a current administration that is God, because God is everywhere. This year, citement and glory that would reverberate experiencing queer art and performance as certainly not in our best interest, and as we will be reassured that Pride doesn’t need within those walls and outside the front technophobes learned their way around a the letters in our acronym multiply so do a parade to exist. Pride is everywhere, in ev- door when the anniversary of the riots Zoom dance party and learned how to Ven- our enemies. In solidarity, please remember eryone and every day. grew closer in 2019. mo someone a tip. It has been quite remark- that in November on Election Day. And Nostalgia is usually reserved as an emo- Fast forward to March of this year, and able to witness and participate in as well. I this June, remember that, like God, Pride tion one feels about moments in their life New York City nightlife has been com- have found that I and many fellow artists are is everywhere, in everyone and every day. that happened many years ago. In 2020, we pletely upended, the proverbial rug quickly finding newer ways to express ourselves while will be forced to feel nostalgic about all the and carelessly ripped out from under us. discovering talents we were aware of but had Chauncey Dandridge is a DJ, event producer, magic and madness that occurred simply The static and chaos of uncertainty has never fostered before. Activists are leading multidisciplinary artist, author and activist one year ago. The entire month of June filled the blank space where the music once by example, volunteering at food drives and in NYC. Currently enjoying a residency at is usually chock full of events from rallies played and has left dance floors barren and soup kitchens, using the captive audiences The Stonewall Inn, Chauncey helps produce to fundraisers to circuit parties to outdoor barstools vacant. Remembering their inner glued to their phones to valiantly preach their the annual Dance Parade and Urban Bear concerts and everything in-between. It is a divinity, the drag queens, the DJs, the mu- political messages and somehow, despite the NYC Weekend as well as a weekly radio show magical time for tourism, as people from sicians, the dancers, the artists, the activists obvious physical and social distance, make and monthly variety show “Freak Out” which around the world plan to spend their Pride and the audiences have not stopped creat- stronger connections. showcases local queer talent. He has lent his in the city where Pride began and most ing, fighting, surviving or watching. Instead This ‘pause’, as they have dubbed it, has time and talents to countless fundraisers over revelers make sure their itinerary includes of the arts and nightlife community going been obviously life changing, revealing much the years. Follow him on Instagram @house- a journey to Mecca: The Stonewall Inn. I underground, we have simply gone digital! more about ourselves and others than we ofdandridge and @djchaunceyd The Day the Village Stood Still: Mayday By Roger Paradiso both the PPP and the Disaster Loan. They through this crisis.” say there is no more money left in the fund. Jamal was checking in with me by text I remember they used to play this con game, They offered me a business loan at 2.5 per- every other day: “So I talk to other business Three-card Monte. They played it over by cent at another bank, but a week later they on Bleecker and they said they got nowhere the subway kiosk on Sixth Avenue and West called and said they can’t do it. I started yell- with anything the government was offer- 4th Street. You just need a cardboard box. ing at them. What do you mean? I’m your ing. The PPP and all that. They’re thinking Pull out the cards, shuffle the deck, and play customer? You make money off of me. You of shutting down. My landlord is pushing Three-card Monte. Nobody ever won that need to get me a loan. He blamed the gov- me for the rent. He wants all three months game, right? I don’t know where those scam ernment for not giving them more money.” on June 9th. I have some very hard deci- artists went; maybe to Washington D.C. Brock Blake, CEO of Lendio, the larg- sions to make in the next couple of weeks. They must be running the banks too. Right est-business lending marketplace in the Right now, I would say I am moving out.” now, the question is: where’s the money to U.S., stated, “Ninety-four percent of small I emailed Nick, owner of Cinema Village save the small business owners? business owners, many of whom have ap- (and two other theaters in the boroughs), WHERE IS THE MONEY TO SAVE THE I check in with my friend Jamal who is plications pending with Lendio and other and he responded, “Difficult times are here. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS? Village Music facing the loss of his forty-year family busi- lenders, have been left to fend for them- Cinema Village is not looking for any grants, World, above, has yet to receive monetary ness. It’s called Village Music World and is selves. I estimate that nearly $850 billion gifts that will be a burden to our city. All we relief due to the lack of government funds. on the now-barren Bleecker Street. Jamal is what it will take to get small businesses are asking is help from anyone that can get Photo credit: Roger Paradiso. said, “I was turned down by HSBC Bank for continued on page 10 4 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Where Have All the Feel the Power White Folks Gone? opportunity on June 23rd to vote for the Vote on June 23 Sanders slate of delegates. I am one of By Alec Pruchnicki aides, and many others who are essential those candidates—in the 10th congres- for the working of the city. They are often By Penny Mintz sional district. If I am elected I will work There are numerous accounts of COVID paid poorly and can’t afford to miss work, to motivate the national party to focus infecting and killing more people of color or risk being fired for not coming in. I can There is a primary election coming up on on issues that are important to us regular (African-Americans and Hispanics) than only imagine that they ride the subways June 23rd. For a while, it looked like the people: universal health care, environmen- whites in New York and other cities. This because they have to. presidential primary was off—canceled by tal protection, shifting the tax burden to has come from health statistics, govern- Not only does this put them at contin- a decision of the New York State Board of those who can afford to pay, and protec- ment agencies, and investigative reports on ued risk of contracting COVID on the Elections. But things changed when An- tion from corporate overreach. TV and in newspapers. There is one more subways, like the over 50 MTA workers drew Yang, joined by more than a dozen If you live in the 66th State Assembly strong source of evidence that I have no- who have died from it, and on their jobs intervening Bernie delegates and mem- District, you will also see my name as a ticed: the subways. where protective equipment might be in bers of the New York State Democratic candidate for membership in the Demo- I usually get on the 2 or 3 Seventh Av- short supply, but they then go back to their Committee, sued to maintain the right to cratic Party State Committee. The state enue express at 14th Street and take it up communities where their potential infec- vote even though there was no question, committee is the governing body of the to my office near 110 Street and Lenox tions can be spread even further. presumably, that Joe Biden was going to Democratic Party in the State of New Avenue during the morning rush hour. At There are many reasons why poorer be the presidential candidate of the Dem- York. While I have been part of the strug- night, I make the reverse trip. Before this people who constitute a disproportionate ocratic Party in November. I am one of gle to maintain the right to vote in NY pandemic started, most of the riders from number of minority individuals can suffer those interveners who fought to preserve and make democracy greater, my oppo- 96th Street to 14th were a mix of all dif- from COVID. Poverty itself, poor housing, that right to vote because there are still nent in the race, Rachel Lavine, has been ferent races. Although I wasn’t keeping a poor nutrition, higher rates of other diseas- important issues to be determined. using her position in the state committee close count, retroactively I would estimate es, inadequate health care service, and oth- The Board of Elections claimed that to limit voters’ effectiveness. that there might have been a roughly 50- er reasons can all contribute to this. Going the presidential primary was no more than In recent years, Lavine has opposed fu- 50 ratio of white to black with a smaller to work in the middle of a pandemic only a “beauty contest” because the nomination sion voting, which enables a minor party percentage of Asians. At 96th many school adds to this. of Joe Biden was a foregone conclusion. A to run a candidate who is also running kids and elderly of all races would get on. Then, of course, there is the question of federal judge disagreed. In reinstating the on other party lines. That gives people At 42nd Street, what looked like office race. Poorer treatment of minority popu- election, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that the chance to vote for a mainstream workers, of all races, got on. lations by the healthcare system itself has the cancellation “deprived Democratic candidate while also expressing support After the quarantine was started, and the been documented over the years. How voters of the opportu- for the policies of city went into widespread lockdown, all much of these poor outcomes (as we in nity to elect delegates a minor party. So, that changed. The total number of riders medicine euphemistically refer to death [to the national con- However you choose for example, if you decreased dramatically during both rush and disease), are racial and how much eco- vention] who could want Andrew Cuo- hours. Sometimes I would get on a train nomic? Healthcare statistics on income are push their point of to vote, just be sure to mo to prevail over with just a few other riders and there was sometimes harder to get than those broken view in that forum.” his Republican rival almost always enough space to keep dis- down by race. I hope when this epidemic is Ordinary voters— cast that ballot. It is but you would also tance between us, if not exactly six feet. But studied, social scientists will look at mor- you and I—have limit- like him to support the overwhelming majority of riders were bidity and mortality broken down by in- ed avenues of influence precious and powerful. strong unions, you black and Hispanic, with almost all white come. What is the difference between dis- on big public issues. can express that by and Asian riders gone. This has been con- ease rates of poor vs middle class vs upper But, as Judge Torres voting on the Work- sistent throughout the quarantine. class people within the same racial group? recognized, one of the powers that we ing Families Party line instead of on the The most logical explanation for this Meanwhile, for those of you who ride the enjoy is the power to vote for convention Democratic Party line. is that many of these riders where there subways or buses, let me know if you agree delegates who share our views. Torres Lavine, as chair of the Progressive Cau- because they had to be. Many of the es- with these qualitative observations. I could noted that, besides anointing the party’s cus, proposed a resolution to the caucus sential jobs that require staff to come in be wrong in my perceptions, or explanations presidential candidate, the delegates “in- that would have eliminated fusion voting. are low paying positions that can’t be done for them. I also hope that when this crisis fluence the party platform, vote on party The caucus voted down Lavine’s resolu- remotely. Along with the doctors, nurses, has mostly past someone will study these governance issues, pressure the eventual tion, and Lavine betrayed her own caucus and hospital staff members (which also questions so that we might be a little more nominee on matters of personnel or pol- by submitting the failed resolution to the are heavily minority), there are delivery ready for the next epidemic that will surely icy, and react to unexpected developments full committee in her own name. people, food service workers, home health come down the road in the future. at the convention.” That makes our votes On the issue of fusion voting, Rachel meaningful and, because so few people Lavine’s resolution attempted to achieve vote in the primaries, much more power- exactly what the New York Board of Elec- ful than a vote in the general election. tions had tried to do in the presidential Some people argue that a vote for primary—reduce the voters’ opportunity Sanders in the primary is effectively a to express their views. Lavine wanted to vote for Trump. That is simply not true. get rid of the opportunity voters have A vote in the primary is not like voting had to express their views by voting for a for a third-party candidate in the general mainstream candidate on a minority party election. It does not reduce the number line. Without fusion voting, the voters’ of general election votes for Biden. It voices are diminished. cannot act as a spoiler. Nor does it divide I hope you vote for me on June 23rd. or weaken the Democratic Party, which However you choose to vote, just be sure to faces much greater danger of alienating cast that ballot. It is precious and powerful. young voters who might see the party as If you are uncomfortable about voting unresponsive to their concerns. As Judge in person due to the dangers of COV- Torres concluded, the presidential pri- ID-19, request an absentee ballot by go- mary vote is an opportunity for voters “to ing to www.NYCAbsentee.com. Check express their support for delegates who the box for “Temporary Illness” on the ap- share their views.” plication. Every registered voter can vote I, for one, plan to take advantage of this by absentee ballot in the June election. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 5
REALITY CHECK—COVID: Into the Middle Innings
InWe these fondly unimaginable remember and the challengingloved ones times,we’ve I hopelost. everyoneTo our first is staying responders safe, supportingand essential local workers: via delivery where we can, and reflecting whatTHANK is meaningful YOU! in our lives.NYC Weis coming will get throughback. thisPlease soon support and I look our forward tolocal seeing restaurants! our community PROTECTED FROM THE VIRUS...BUT AT WHAT COST? Graphic artist: Genaldri Tjahjadi. rebound joyously. By Jesse Robert Lovejoy some perspective. He must recognize that he does not understand the suffering inflicted by For a starting pitcher, the most dangerous in- the shutdown and the pain of being jobless ning is the first. He isn’t really warmed up, and and hungry. He has to stop talking about lives Visit www.westvillagebroker.com he doesn’t know what’s working that day. If his versus the economy. That is a phony issue, and for information on staying fastball has life and his command is good, he the talk is disrespectful. The governor’s only safeFor Candovi dprotected. Resource s and a note can settle in, begin to mix in the curve, and job is to restart the economy as fast as possible Newfrom info Sco availabletty on th one m buyingarket, andplea se cruise the first two times through the order. with as little damage to health as possible. sellingvisit w inw wthe.w Westestvil lVillage.agebroker.com But the third time through looms ominously. There are tons of details to get right—like Batters have seen the fastball and the curve a the criteria for reopening. The CDC has Scotty Elyanow Long time West Village few times. A starter needs a third and even been wrong a lot. Their dictates for reopen- westvillagebroker.com fourth pitch. He’s going to have to throw sink- ing need to be analyzed, not blindly adopt- Resident/Broker/ (new and updated) ers, cutters and changeups. Andrew Cuomo is ed. Be incisive; throw a cutter. Does it make Community Volunteer M: 917.678.6010 [email protected] starting his third time through right now. We sense to set the same hurdles for reopening Lic. Associate RE Broker villagescotty are going to learn a lot. in the sparsely populated North Country as Cuomo’s first time through the order in the densest-packed city in America? How was all fastballs. He shut down schools and can people trace all contacts in a city where businesses, found ventilators and PPE, ex- millions have already been infected? Can panded hospitals by 50 percent, reorganized parents go back to work before the schools the state hospital system, and sparred with open? These issues need more analysis. Washington about most of it. He spoke on The governor will also have to work his TV for an hour every day to report progress. way out of trouble. The virus is tough, and It was all cheese and strong command. he will make mistakes. The State must keep The second time through the order moving forward when infections increase, Cuomo mixed in the curve. He negotiated because they will. Several states and nations with Trump and got a lot of federal help, have already seen it happen. Cuomo likes effectively and without partisanship. It was to quote Churchill: “When you’re going surprising, and it worked great. Cuomo through hell, keep going.” Take that to heart. asked, Trump delivered, Cuomo said thank Cuomo also has to get funding from you. Refreshing. A plus curveball. Washington to fill the hole in the state But it is rare for a leader to make no mis- budget. This is going to call for a changeup. takes, and Cuomo certainly made a few, in- You can’t sneak a fastball past Mitch Mc- cluding the brutal error of requiring nursing Connell. Put aside your party’s wish list of homes to admit COVID-positive patients, programs and its platform for November. with tragic results. Just ask for the actual costs and the actual The early surge was flattened, but now shut- lost revenues. That’s all. down orders have crushed the national econo- Maybe the governor’s battle against CO- my. Forty million Americans—including two VID can even begin to reinvent an honor- million New Yorkers—are out of work. U.S. able role in public service—the guy who joblessness approaches 25 percent. Hundreds reaches across the aisle and gets things done. of thousands of small businesses are bankrupt, There was a time when eminent people did the owners’ life-savings are gone. The drop in that. It could turn out to be important once second quarter GDP will be like a bottomless again, and there’s zero competition for the elevator shaft. This virus will be out there until job. If he does it all, that’s four plus pitches. we have a vaccine, but the American people Cooperstown? Let’s not get ahead of our- have to get back to work fast or everybody is selves, but he gets the start next Tuesday. going to be busted and starving. This—right now—is Cuomo’s third Jesse Robert Lovejoy, a lifelong New Yorker, time through the order. Is he just another worked in Manhattan for over 50 years in strong-armed kid, or does he really know law and finance. He now operates a personal how to pitch? consulting business. With all due respect, the governor needs Edited by: Felix von Moschzisker 6 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org For LGBT’s Future… Notes From Away Partisan Democracy(an Oxymoron) Allies Make a Difference By Tom Lamia In expanding the First Amendment pro- On the road to partisanship, we have trav- tection of free speech to include campaign eled all but the last mile. If there is no off- financing, unlimited and anonymous con- ramp to be found before or at the November tributions in support of political causes elections many, if not most, of our represen- gained protection from regulation, corpo- tatives in Washington, D.C., in our state rations included. Those seeking election capitals, and in the cities, towns and special no longer can get by on placards, posters purpose districts throughout the country and policy handouts. The big money is will continue their accustomed role of serv- there to be had; it only requires faithful ing their individual interest in winning their devotion to the cause, a condition insepa- next election. I could include in this group rable from heavyweight financial support. the unelected staff, aides and bureaucrats Chamber of Commerce support was once whose expertise in legislation and adminis- enough for Republican votes. More is now tration is fundamental to good governance. needed. Their jobs, and careers too, now seem de- The character of a president in the cur- pendent on pleasing the President; and they rent social, political and financial environ- are not just his political appointees. ment seems the only protection that our Backed by the Attorney General, the Constitutional government can rely on, and President claims a free hand under Ar- that is a slim reed. If we can elect (“ . . . a ticle Two of the Constitution to adminis- system that gives power to a celebrity [etc.] ter all executive power without constraint, . . ..”) a person with no knowledge or appre- whether of law or custom. Using that ciation of our form of government or of our simple idea, and extending it as a shield founding principles and historic reliance on against Congressional or Judicial oversight, checks and balances within government—a
LGBT EQUAL RIGHTS depends on active, visible ally support. Photo credit: © Suzanne Poli.
By Bruce Poli, Executive Director, tion and a variety of social barriers and fears Equal Rights Foundation which of course influence young people and the psychological composure of an en- In 1961, future U.S. Attorney General tire sexual orientation in our country that Ramsey Clark was sent to Mississippi for has never been seen as ‘right in God’s eyes’ Civil Rights work by then Attorney Gen- by millions. Far worse, transgender people eral Robert Kennedy. are literally being killed every month. This was in anticipation of support for Racism, sexism, hatred, bigotry, name it Kennedys’ political Civil Rights agenda, what you will—the human condition—is which led up to the Civil Rights Acts of to defend itself against those not like us. 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act Unlike African Americans, Latin Ameri- cans or any other ‘immigrant’ group, you of 1965, the latter two of which Clark ARTICLE ONE OF THE CONSTITUTION enshrines the right of the people to a democracy drafted and supervised under Lyndon Ba- cannot see Gay, though there is something acting through an elected Congress. ines Johnson. called “Gaydar” (yes that’s short for Gay They changed America. radar) which is being developed and pro- he has hired, fired, demoted, transferred, person who does not respect public officials, In the following years, hundreds of ‘white’ moted as an extra sensory perception. humiliated, disgraced and sought the in- other than himself—both we and our sys- men and women flooded the South follow- One of the reasons I feel so supportive vestigation and criminal prosecution of tem have failed to protect the democratic ing the murder of three young activist work- of LGBT rights is that I recognize a so- those who have crossed him—all without republic entrusted to us. A system that has ers in Mississippi (depicted in the filmMis - phistication, intelligence and awareness effective reprisal. This is not representative allowed this result is not a working democ- sissippi Burning), under Alabama Governor that seems natural and inherent to the Gay democracy; it is medievalism of the kind racy. It has fallen into partisan control in George Wallace’s racist white supremacy community. Also, when we look at our cul- that existed in England before the Magna the most naked of terms: control no longer rule. ture, there have been hundreds of historic Carta. The heads of all who do not please lies with the individual citizen; it has passed White people were allies to black people figures—from Leonard Bernstein to Ed- the monarch are on the chopping block. to the representatives of special interests. in the 1960s. Without their visible public ward Albee to Melissa Etheridge to Lily As a foreign observer commented re- It has become a dictatorship of a partisan support, the two Presidents would never Tomlin—who have contributed to some of cently in a London publication, “The pro- “base” (an electoral core for whom loyalty to have been able or had the courage to pass the greatest aspects of American culture, democracy cause [outside the U.S.] has been a leader is the definitive issue). Such a “par- such important progressive legislation. arts and science. We would not have the weakened drastically since Trump took of- tisan democracy” is an oxymoron. My wife Suzanne and I have been in- NYC / West Village character of Ameri- fice. How do you defend a system that gives Devotion and loyalty to a person who volved with and supportive of Heritage of can leadership without a disproportionate power to a celebrity with no knowledge of holds power over others based on extor- Pride, the LGBT Center and the LGBT contribution by LGBT, Gay and Lesbian international relations who filed for corpo- tion and fear is not a basis for democracy. Civil Rights movement since the mid- pioneers, artists and cultural leaders who rate bankruptcy half a dozen times?” Well, Our form of state and federal represen- 1980s.I believe it is true that allies are as have shone the light of human intelligence one might say, that would be easier than de- tative government has evolved over our important to legislative rights for the LGBT and awareness progressively upward. fending an unelected dictator, but that would history. It has never been stagnant, never community today as they were to Martin Frank Kameny, the historical Gay activ- not fully offset the criticism. Democracy perfect, always subject to and open to criti- Luther King’s movement in the 60s. And it ist famously held the sign saying “Gay is does demand a free exchange of ideas, free cism. With the exception of the years im- is time for allies to become VISIBLE. Good.” Gay is more than good; it’s the elections and a free citizenry. Partisan regi- mediately before and after the Civil War, Despite the right to marry, the momen- fabric of our beautiful diverse nation and mentation is incompatible with these needs. the constitutional tenets of our federal re- tous celebration of World Pride last year, we allies are responsible for stepping up Our current dilemma is a primary con- public, have been generally honored, if not and seeming acceptance in NYC in 2020, and making ourselves known in the more sequence of Citizens United v. FEC, the always praised. When disagreements over gays still face homophobia, job discrimina- than half century fight for LGBT equality. 2010 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. continued on page 7 www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 7 Even Without a March, Pride Marches On By Erik Bottcher ebrates LGBTQ Pride with events around the world that mark the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising. This tradition began here in the Village, one year after LGBTQ people fought back against op- pression, when New Yorkers and LGBTQ people from across the Northeast gathered around the corner from the Stonewall Inn to demand their civil rights and to assert their humanity. Carrying banners and signs, they walked defiantly up Sixth Av- enue to Central Park in the first Christo- pher Street Liberation Day March. Year after year we’ve gathered as a com- munity to celebrate the progress we’ve made, take stock of where we are, and forge ahead with renewed determination to rid ERIK BOTTCHER the world of hatred and discrimination. This year is the 50th anniversary of New The LGBTQ community is as vastly di- York City’s first LGBTQ Pride march, yet, verse as humanity itself. Like a brilliant paradoxically, for the first time since 1970 rainbow, we occupy every gradient in the there will be no march. spectrum of race, gender, nationality, socio- Though we won’t be marching or rally- economics and more. ing at the Stonewall Inn this year, we must Yet, we are bound together by a com- still celebrate and commemorate pride. mon thread, a shared experience rooted in This will be a test of our creativity as a com- a feeling of “otherness” that is always there munity, but it’s a challenge we must meet. and will always be there. Our shared expe- That is why this special LGBTQ Pride is- rience is also rooted in our sense of pride as sue of Westview News is so important. I a community. want to thank the publishers and contribu- For me, this sense of community was tor Kambiz Shekdar for making it happen. forged by my experience growing up as an Somewhere, a young LGBTQ person will isolated gay teen in the Adirondack moun- find this issue and know that not only are tains. in the early nineties Finding the they are not alone, but that they are also LGBTQ community saved my life. Nev- part of an incredible community. er could I have imagined that being gay would be a gift, not a curse, and a source of Erik Bottcher is Chief of Staff to City Coun- pride, not of shame. cil Speaker Corey Johnson and a candidate In June of every year, our community cel- for City Council, District 3.
Partisan Democracy continued from page 6 slavery erupted in secession and war, the folded its tents and the federal government country was saved only by military victory folded its cards in 1865. Now we have reb- that came at an appalling price. Lincoln’s els in every corner of the country believing assassination and the elevation of a South- that their resentments are also worthy of ern sympathizer to the Presidency side- recognition and accommodation under the tracked Reconstruction and led to the early banner of Confederate flags and the para- removal of United States troops from the phernalia of armed resistance. former Confederacy. The lesson was that Partisanship will keep us from our goal neither the law on the books nor military of peace, security and good government victory, alone, can compel unity and rub through representative democracy, unless we away the resentments of defeat. A victory recognize the danger and defend against it. requires a defense of what has been gained. In January 2021, we could have a new As military victory brought power and President, one who can lead us out of the control to the North and held the country awful partisanship and mean-spiritedness together, allowing enactment and ratifica- that now engulfs us. tion of the Civil War Amendments (XIII, These combative factions—the white XIV and XV) to the Constitution, what nationalists, American Nazis, hinterland might have been a regionally unpopular anarchists, gangster militias, media trolls, but peacefully enforceable mollification and other “good people on both sides”— and law enforcement process of reunifi- are a part of the solution because they‘re a cation, left the defeated South to nurse part of the problem. Somehow a way must resentments and to deny full rights of be found to put the positive whole before citizenship to the formerly enslaved. These the negative part. If we cannot do this we resentments linger “on both sides,” as our will have run out of democratic road and, President likes to say. The Union Army finally, be consumed by partisanship. 8 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Celebrating Gay Pride in Severe Times By Robert Heide writer and producer of the Candy Darling documentary In June 1961 my one-act play West of the Moon opened as Beautiful Darling; Albert Poland who co-authored the Off an off-Broadway production at New Playwrights Theater, Off Broadway Book with Bruce Mailman and his own just on West Third Street at Thompson. It was produced and published Stages: A Theater Memoir which chronicles his ca- directed by Lee Paton (later called Lee Nagrin) who had reer as a veteran theater manager and producer of more than first introduced the early one-act plays of Eugene Ionesco 90 Broadway and off-Broadway productions; and Doric at the Sullivan Street Theater. At New Playwrights, West Wilson, co-founder of the gay theater company TOSOS, of the Moon was part of a triple bill with my play Hector, a a Caffe Cino playwright, and a bartender at the Christo- work that starred Henrietta Strom and The Blood Bugle, pher Street tavern Boots and Saddles, who later marched in an anti-war play written by Harry Tierney Jr. whose father many of the annual Pride Parades held yearly since 1970 in had written the musical Rio Rita which had a long run on commemoration of the Stonewall uprising. Broadway. The young characters in my play were cast with For me this revolution was in the air starting in the early two top Broadway actors, Paul Giovanni who played a sixties with the civil rights movement in full swing, the beat down and out street hustler named Luck, and Joe Poneze- poets Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac, Gregory Corso, Jack cki who played an innocent young man named Billy. The Micheline, Taylor Mead and the rest over at the Gaslight two meet in a Village doorway during a rainstorm. When on MacDougal Street, and the rousing music of folk singers the triple bill opened, the critics from all top seven news- like Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Peter, Paul and Mary (We papers arrived in the lobby. One of them, Judith Crist from Shall Overcome), Gale Garnett (We’ll Sing in the Sun- the New York Herald Tribune, even before seeing the pro- shine), Bobby Darin (A Simple Song of Freedom), Bob duction, aggressively cornered the producer/director and Dylan (...’the answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind’), asked her “where the hell did you get the money to put on Roger McGuinn and The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Jop- these plays?” Word had gotten out that my play featured lin, The Stones, the Beatles and so many more. One floor ‘homosexual’, i.e. ‘gay’ characters, and in those days such below me in my own building on Christopher Street I lis- a subject was verboten. Newspapers, like the New York JUNE 28, 1969: Robert Heide (left) and John Gilman on tened to my neighbor Zal Yanofsky and his girlfriend, Jackie Commerce Street. Later that night, they joined the Stone- Times, and the others, never even used such words in print. Burroughs, with John Sebastian and the rest of the Lovin’ wall Riots on Sheridan Square. Photo by Philip Cohen. West of the Moon was singled out and condemned with one Spoonful singing Do You Belive in Magic? Academy nomi- critic stating, “Robert Heide will never write another play and the actors to different engagements all over town. nee Sally Kirkland and Fluxus founder Dick Higgins, who again.” And another writing, “Heide should go home and Recently, re-reading the first book about the 1969 gay both lived upstairs, as well as John and myself, all believed break his typewriter over his hands.” revolution Stonewall, by historian and activist Martin Du- in the magic of the time. Andy Warhol’s no-holds-barred On the night of the day I read these attacks I went to berman, I found a quote from the author describing West of Pop Art lifestyle acted out all over New York and the world, the famous San Remo Tavern on Macdougal Street for a the Moon officially as one of the very first gay themed plays in the tabloids and in movie theaters (in 1966 Andy filmed drink. There I encountered Edward Albee with his pro- ever done off Broadway. I must add that Duberman’s book my play The Bed which premiered at the Filmmakers Cin- ducer Richard Barr. Edward’s play The Zoo Story was run- highlights many stories about one of WestView News' edi- ematheque) his gigantic silk-screens of Marilyn Monroe, ning at the moment at the Provincetown Playhouse, and tors and writers, Jim Fouratt, and a young, handsome Jim Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley and Campbell’s Soup cans the play focused on a straight married man who stabs and in a striped shirt in a gay protest march is also pictured on coming to life everywhere in unimagined ways. PS—there kills a beatnik drifter in Washington Square. Barr said to the cover. A later book, entitled Stonewall: The Riots That is a big, fantastic new Warhol biography out this month by me with a snicker, “Well Bob, what are you gonna do now?” Sparked the Gay Revolution, considered definitive and most Blake Gopnik. Lots of drugs, marijuana and LSD included, I thought, “Yeah, what?” What I was thinking was that I comprehensive, was written by David Carter who, in ad- added to these enhanced trips. And also, let us not forget, probably never would write another play. Some time later dition to being a major consultant for a TV documentary Judy Look for the Silver Lining Garland, the Somewhere I ran into Joe Cino, who said he had seen West of the Moon about the Stonewall, also worked closely with the National Over the Rainbow girl who had coincidentally and tragi- and wanted me to write another one just like it for his Caffe Park Service on the Obama era designation of the Stone- cally died June 22 in London and was brought to New York Cino which was on Cornelia Street. Subsequently I wrote wall Tavern, Christopher Park and the surrounding area as for her laying out. The body of the great singer and movie The Bed, an existential time-warp scene wherein the two a National Historic Monument. Like Duberman, Carter star went on display in a clear glass casket at Campbell’s men, drinking and drugging, could not get out of their bed interviewed me about the events of the Stonewall riots Funeral Home, almost like Snow White, where long lines for weeks. Surprise! This one got a great review from The that played out over several days and nights in late June, of gay men waited to have a last look at their idolized icon. Village Voice critic Eleanor Lester who wrote about it again 1969, setting the stage for the new gay liberation. Sadly he In some strange way her death added to the gay revolution in The New York Times Magazine stating, “Heide brings two passed away in early May from complications of a heart about to happen. singularly appropriate characters literally lying in the bed attack possibly related to the coronavirus. For now, self quarantined and in isolation, only going of their dissolution. Two men on a bed when ‘sex is dead’ In these Stonewall books and other written and verbal out for necessities in facemasks and latex gloves, we are and ‘God is dead’ is what the play is about. Here is the ulti- accounts, readers will find a wealth of information from the told not to congregate and “Stay Home” is the motto— mate hang-up, psychologically and metaphysically, and the participants of those days and nights fifty-one years ago. It and, oh yes, it is officially—“Welcome to The New Great playwright focuses hard on the essence of the matter. The was then and there I became, with my partner John Gil- Depression.” The world community is stuck, and so are playwright clearly establishes that what we are witnessing man, a rebel with a cause (not to cast aspersions on the we—but then we all must persevere to have hope and here is the anguish of existence.” Her review gave the play great James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause). You will come cheer for better times to come. quite a jump-start, and after the run at the Cino, the direc- across the names of Marsha P. Johnson, also known simply tor, Robert Dahdah, who also directed Bernadette Peters in as ‘Black Marsha,’ a cross-dressing man who could kick and The recently published volume Robert Heide 25 Plays her theater debut at the Cino, Dames at Sea, took the play fight like a superman if needed, and his friend Sylvia Rivera includes The Bed and many essays and original production (memorial statues in Greenwich Village for these two are photographs. It’s available on Amazon. currently in the planning stages); Rollerina waving a wand as she sailed past on roller skates in a light blue chiffon gown with a flowered straw hat; Ruth Truth, the gay Statue of TUNE IN: THE BED—LIVESTREAM ON Liberty, dressed in pale green, walking on large wooden SATURDAY, JUNE 20 AT 6 PM NYC’S PIZZA PIONEERS SINCE 1987 platform shoes with bright flame colored hair, a face cov- The TOSOS Theater Company production of Rob- ered with glitter and holding aloft a torch; fashion editor ert Heide’s play, The Bed, featuring Christopher Borg HERE FOR YOU, at the New York Times Robert Bryan, who like other gay and Desmond Dutcher and directed by Mark Finley THROUGH THICK (Sicilian & Grandma) men had been in other raids in bars but this time decided to will be live-streamed to YouTube, launching at 6 pm fight back and really enter the fray;Village Voice ‘Scenes’ col- Saturday, June 20. After the launch it can be uploaded AND THIN (unique cornmeal crust)! umnist Howard Smith who was actually barricaded inside on YouTube with a search of the title—THE BED. the Stonewall Tavern with the police; Jeremiah Newton, www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 9
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Northwell.edu/ForTheVillage 10 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org A Nobel Laureate Crying Out in the Wilderness By Stanley Wlodyka Jiménez reality of how the deeply corrupt government was planning further oppress its citizens. “Everything is going to change because The devil was exposed in the details. of this pandemic. Everything about life as Though post-coup President Lobo (who’s we know it is going to change. Nothing is name, fittingly, is the Spanish word for going to be the same. It will be a sharper “wolf ”) signed a decree naming Romer and break than many people realize from the life four other individuals to a transparency com- that was familiar to us a few months ago,” mission in 2011, the decree was never pub- said 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics recipi- lished in a Honduran newspaper. The revela- ent Paul Romer in a recent interview with tion that the Honduran government failed WestView News. “I’m afraid, frankly, in many to satisfy the public notice requirement for ways it’s going to be a change for the worse.” new legislation—a common enough legisla- If that’s not a popular thing to say, then it tive practice employed throughout the world, won’t be the first time that Mr. Romer has ruf- even in New York—and, more importantly, fled some feathers. In October of 2016 he was maliciously manipulated Paul Romer’s inter- chosen as the Chief Economist for the World national celebrity to attract investor interest, Bank amidst much fanfare, only to resign in “A CRISIS IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE,” Paul Romer famously proclaimed back in led Romer to soberly report to the media at January of 2018 because he lacked “confidence 2004. Here construction (essential?) workers signing up to get tested at the CityMD on the time, “the Transparency Commission in the integrity” of the World Bank’s relation- 14th Street and 6th Avenue. Photo by Stanley Wlodyka Jiménez. does not exist in the eyes of the law and the ship with Chile, as well as their self-governing five named members have no legal basis for ideology, about which he stated, “The worst economy’s death knell. chairperson of a Transparency Commission reviewing any agreements.” word I’ve ever encountered [is] operationaliza- Romer feels that testing is the nation’s best for the government of Honduras, then the Regarding the actions taken by authorities tion; this is used at the World Bank,” Romer hope of getting out of this unprecedented most murderous nation in the world and em- concerning the pandemic, Romer contin- shares as something of an explanation. “It’s a moment in history with the least number of broiled in political turmoil due to a coup right ues to take the risk of his big ideas getting terrible way to communicate. It’s the worst wounds to lick. Test fast, test often, and test around the time of the famous TED Talk. hijacked by less-than-genuine partners, be- type of bureaucratic jargon.” everyone! For some, these ambitions may Criticized by some who viewed it as “neo- cause of what he fears are stakes on the line By December of 2018 he married his bring up anxiety about a government with colonial,” the charter cities proposal called for that are just too high. “Our job right now is to fiancé (who teaches littérature française a license to kill, so to speak—Big Brother developing nations to invite outside investors defend the things that are important to us.” at Barnard College) and was awarded the with a double-speak that extends beyond to build cities within their borders that would “When there’s a sudden loss…people tend Nobel Prize on the same day. even operationalization. People are worried be exempt from the host country’s laws and to go in a couple directions. One is denial: Now at New York University, as the about their civil liberties. constitution. The post-coup government of you just can’t believe it’s happened. Another founding director of the NYU Stern Urban- “That’s one risk that we face right now. Honduras was keen on the idea. However, is recrimination: whose fault was this? Who ization Project, Romer much prefers clarity. There can be incursions of civil liberties. when investors were lured to snatch up some should be blamed? Denial is keeping us from “Clear communication is the heart of social There could be a further erosion of privacy,” of that Central American country’s famously responding to the presence of this virus ef- life, and it’s the heart of economic activity.” Romer concedes, but asserts, “Just to be clear, beautiful coastlines, it turned out that the fectively. Recrimination is going to lead to Since the shutdown, Romer has been work- my plan [for testing] is designed to make sure Transparency Commission—supposedly an attacks on strangers. At least, the discus- ing every waking moment to clarify the sit- we don’t need any kind of digital tracking.” objective third party organization that would sion, the language, the discourse of hostility uation, throwing his full weight into ringing Who said the road to hell is paved with oversee the rollout of charter cities in Hon- to strangers, to foreigners, to those who are the alarm: the United States should invest good intentions? Paul Romer is perhaps best duras—was a sham. Romer resigned as Chair not like us, those who are threats to us. That $100 billion per year on testing. With the known for a 2009 TED Talk about his Char- when he realized, along with everybody else, ugly side of human behavior, around us ver- shutdown costing $500 billion per month, ter Cities Proposal. Not long after that went the irony of a Transparency Commission sus them, is going to get worse in the wake he hopes that he isn’t actually sounding the viral, Romer put his plans into action as the formed for the sole purpose of obscuring the of this crisis.”
Mayday continued from page 3 apply for up to 250 percent of their month- those struggling little businesses that need have raked in over $10 billion on the first SBA to approve our pending loan applica- ly payroll: if your payroll is $100,000 per it desperately, and that this city certainly phase of the PPP.” tion.” Nick, who is his own landlord and ten- month, you can apply for a $250,000 loan. will need when this disastrous lockdown I pass by the kiosk where Three-card ant, emailed again, “I operate Cinema Vil- The loans are forgiven if 75 percent of the finally ends.” Monte hustlers used to hang out before lage at 22 East 12th Street for all these years money is used to pay employees. Banks, So yes, the PPP is a poorly written scam they went to work for the banks. They were (since 1964). Although my credit is excellent, naturally, will profit. Collecting fees ranging of sorts, conceived by the Three-card Monte right there behind the subway kiosk. The I am willing to give a personal guarantee and from one percent for loans over $2 million crowd in the swamp in D.C. and adminis- dealer was always looking for a sucker. The whatever it takes to get through this while all to five percent for loans under $350,000, tered by the banks. OMG, is there a snow- mark has no chance whatsoever of win- our revenue, 100 percent, has being wiped they stand to make billions from the PPP.” ball’s chance in hell of this ever working? ning. Zero chance. The only one winning out by the NYC order to shut down, while I check in with Torrie at the Half Pint on Jamal called me on May 18th. “I got the is the shill who is part of the hustle. They we must pay full rent/property tax, and we West 3rd and Thompson Streets. In desper- PPP but this is crazy; it’s at half what I ask. spot a cop car and boom! They scatter like will pay every dollar back.” I tried to help ation she has started a delivery service but They gave me seven grand for eight weeks. rats leaving only an empty box. Nick, but he wasn’t getting responses from explains, “there’s no one around, no kids in I need double that. And where is the rent When I called or emailed several own- the people I referred him to. the dorms, nothing.” Torrie thinks that the coming from? No customers now. I lose ers of iconic village businesses there was James Drougas of Unoppressive Non- insurance companies need a bailout so that money for what?” I tell him there is hope. no May Day this year, which is the official Imperialist Books on Carmine Street called businesses can collect on their losses due to They can extend the PPP and fix it. “I’m celebration of spring. When I visited the me to say, “I applied for the various loans the pandemic. A pandemic is an exclusion going to the bank,” says Jamal. “Now Ja- Village later in the month, I thought of the on offer with no success and very little on the policy. She says, “If nothing happens mal,” I say, “don’t get into a fight.” “No, I other definition of “mayday,” which is the communication except basic acknowledge- soon, we’re all shutting our doors for real.” tell them I’ll take the personal loan,” he re- international call of distress. If things don’t ment, by email, and subsequent apologies I emailed my friend, Mark Crispin sponds. I ask what percent the loan is. “6.5 change with aid from our government, I’m for running out of funding. At least I know Miller from NYU. He teaches media and percent,” he says, for $10 thousand. “But if afraid we will crash and there will be a lot they got the applications.” culture and knows the Village inside out. I put up my house I could get more; but I of casualties. There is still time to prevent I read an article in the Los Angeles Times: Mark says, “The PPP is a disaster in it- really don’t want to put up my house.” I see this crash by contacting your elected offi- “The PPP is a Small Business Administra- self, providing millions in assistance to the the Three-card Monte guys smiling. You cials; or send a letter to the editor at West- tion loan program designed to give small banks and other mammoth enterprises that following the cards? View News, at [email protected], and we businesses financial relief. Businesses can don’t need it while giving far too little to According to Motley Fool, “the banks will forward it to local officials. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 11 How We Survive By Jim Fouratt We wanted to picture a world where we were liberated and I am looking forward to celebrating the anniversary of not afraid. We invited over four weeks of announcements the first Christopher Street March for Liberation. It is at the GLF weekly meetings that anyone who wanted to important to honor the 200 brave people (including my- be in the poster should just show up. Peter had us run- self) who left Sheridan Square and marched up to Central ning down a street (actually below Houston in what later Park on Sunday, June 28th, 1970. By the time we got to became Soho). Peter took the photo (I was in it): Lesbians the Park we were over 500 people. We marched into the and gay men smiling and not hiding in shadows, a sharp Sheep Meadow filled with what looked like thousands of contrast to the fear a closet culture had built to defend
New Yorkers sunning and picnicking on a perfect late June itself against homophobia and misogyny. sunny, but not too hot, day in the Park, Brenda Howard was active in the GLF women’s caucus Yes, there were also Marches in LA and SF and a gath- and joined me at that meeting, When we finished we set ering in Chicago that I knew of that day, but New York’s a new date to meet. Craig announced he was going to ask was first. The language of the signage we carried reflected the newly forming Gay Activist Alliance to join our orga- the politics of the early movement’s desire for liberation, nizing group. He did, and despite GLF and GAA’s heated equality, and freedom. We were amused that the New York political difference, we planned the March together.
Times said we were thousands, But the truth is our actual History was made. A West Village Bake Shop serving cinnamon buns, numbers, not counting all the sun-worshipers in the Sheep We marched without a police permit, not knowing if pastries, bagels, custom cakes and more! Meadow, was much less than a thousand we would be arrested or attacked. Our energy was high But it was the beginning because we were out and we were together. 72 Bedford Street • harrisbakes.com The person most responsible for organizing the March Looking back, these marches have become quite different, was the owner of the Oscar Wild Bookstore, Craig Rodwell. reflecting not only our success at being visible everywhere, We were friends before the Stonewall Rebellion. He had but also because we have become a market to be exploited. bravely opened the Oscar Wilde Bookstore, a lesbian In the ’70s at one point, the Mafia took control of the and gay bookstore on a side street just above Washington march and named their bag man at the Stonewall Inn, Square and right in the heart of NYU’s campus. I remem- Ed Murphy, an Irish gay thug, as Grand Marshall. They ber I would visit frequently. We would sit around and talk changed the name to parade, and the word stuck to the politics. Sometimes Robert Martin, a Columbia University dismay of older activists. Murphy invited Marsha P. John- student, would join us. I was in my hippie anti-war organiz- son, a GLF member and co-founder, along with Sylvia ing drag and Craig a cross between bookseller and beatnik. Rivera of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolution) We developed a close friendship. It was late October to ride with him in his official convertible. Marsha did…. 1969 when he called me and said, “Come over to the store, in complete male drag. Marsha had always identified as a I have something serious to talk to you about Digger, gay man who liked to dress up and be pretty. Marsha told (Digger was my hippie name sometimes). I got there and me that “Gay Day” was always the happiest day of his life he said right after he let me in. “We have to do something The ’80s and 90s brought the AIDS pandemic, parades to celebrate our year of coming out and building a move- became more militant with the emergence of ACT UP ment as out gay people.” and became Marches for our lives. I was very much involved in the Gay Liberation Front The success of the LGBT labor organizing efforts over at the time. GLF had over a dozen active cells in the New 30 years made it safe for corporations to publicly support York City chapter. They focused on everything from politi- their LGBT workers. This is a victory. The success of the cal actions to community outreach to reflect the diversity of commodification of our community as a market (meaning who we actually are to cells for women, Hispanics; cells for co-optation) and the money that flowed into the organi- conciousness-raising (gender-specific); cells for organizing zations that had rebranded liberation as PRIDE was self- our dances and other social events as an alternative to the evident. The tension between a celebration of some of our bars and finally to publishingCOME OUT, our newspaper! success, and the increasing issue of racism, police enforce- Independent chapters were springing up all across the ment, gender expression repression, and elected officials’ tion of Church and State, a foundation of our Democracy country, mostly on college campuses. I remember being actions or inactions, resulted in a break up of unity. and Constitution; the increasing success of the religious- in a cell that would go to other cities to help people form It meant that in the year of what should have been a nationals who seek a theocracy, not a democracy. We have their own GLF. We held demonstrations in front of the celebration of 50 years of change and advancement instead a Vice President who believes in conversion therapy. We Village Voice (because the liberal paper’s advertising direc- brought about the creation of ReClaim Pride dedicated to have a Supreme Court now stacked with Justices who ap- tor refused to take our ad announcing a gay dance); we returning to the radical roots that produced the Christo- pear to let religious bias temper their rulings instead of demonstrated at the Women’s House of Detention in sup- pher Street Liberation March. equality and protection under the law for all. port of Angela Davis; we joined anti-war marches wel- In 2019, in NYC, the birthplace of the Stonewall Rebel- These are dangerous times: The COVID-19 pandemic come or not. The lesbians targeted homophobia in the lion, the “Queer March” took place in the very streets that is being used to control population growth and frighten woman’s movement. had produced the Stonewall Rebellion. 40,000 LGBTQ+ people into compliance. At this time “gay” was the word being used to include people marched to show solidarity as out homosexuals These are dangerous times, heightened by a worldwide both men and women, GLF was co-gendered. It was and gender expression rebels committed publicly that we health pandemic and the failure of the current economy to agreed it had to be reflected in our language; it soon be- would fight against racism both in and out of our com- guarantee equality and full life as promised in the Declara- came a GLF principle that when we said gay it meant munities, fight for justice equality, fight for workers docu- tion of Independence for all citizens, It is a “...let them eat men, lesbian was used to signify women. mented or not, fight for sane gun policy, and an environ- cake” moment. We were coming out across the country. We were be- ment where we can breath and all life is sustainable, and Homophobia, sometimes called transphobia, is on the coming visible. finally, and perhaps most importantly, the right to control rise again. My communities have survived pandemics But we still had no job protection, we could be fired for our own bodies. when we were left to die. My community endured cen- being homosexual, for fulfilling our erotic desires. These are dangerous times: The Supreme Court will de- turies of the quarantining of our desires, and we survived Craig invited a small group again in mid-December and cide this year if we have the right to be different in gender These are dangerous times. AIDS taught me that when this time he was prepared, He stood up and unfolded the expression and appearance, and whether neither will be we come together to fight hate and disease, we will also GLF COME OUT recruitment poster that Peter Hujar the basis for being fired or not hired for work; the right fight inequality in every corner where it hides. and I had worked on. It was to be a recruitment poster for for all citizens regardless of race, gender, age, ability, and These are dangerous times. It is time to WAKE UP, cast GLF and published by the COME OUT newspaper. Peter gender expression to be treated equally under the law. off fear and the feeling of powerlessness, take action, by and I had decided that COME OUT would be our theme These are dangerous times: The attacks upon the separa- any means necessary: I choose the vote, and you? 12 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org
humanity in our decisions. We do not see beyond today’s weather report. We are blind, Society Is Ready for a Renaissance deaf and absurdly primitive in the way we approach and tend to solve problems. What scarce and people were fearful and looking for age for a new world, a rebirth of our cruel and this pandemic is obviously depicting is how a scapegoat to blame for the crisis, which in unfair society where capital accumulation and disparaged our society has been toward the that case was the Gay community as a whole. selfishness dominates every aspect of it. have nots who happen to be the vast majority. This unfortunate reality has been com- I thought for a time, that when we re- These are difficult times for all of us. mon throughout humanity’s history. It hap- sumed our lives, we would be stronger and These are moments of majestic importance pened with the imprisonment of Japanese healthier and look at these devastating for our well-being and that of our commu- American citizens who were placed in con- times as a point of departure for the birth nities as we collectively face a rollercoaster centration camps in American territory, to of a new civilization. ride that is impacting the whole planet in the European Jewish people during WW2, A place where people would be respect- ways we never imagined. to Muslims in Croatia, to the Kurds, to in- ed as individuals and not just as numbers; This global pandemic is making us realize digenous tribes all over the world, to the where women will be equally valued; where how interconnected we all are and how similar FILMMAKER CALOGERO SALVO at his Nepalese, to the Indian Muslims and most all minorities would have a chance to con- our trajectories are across the world. I believe it home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Photo recently to Mexican immigrants in the USA trol, and reshape their communities; where is of paramount importance to react with se- Credit: David Hubschman. who were also placed in detention camps. LGBTQ+ people would be able to safely renity but with courage because such is needed By Calogero Salvo The weak, the different, the so-called “black come out everywhere; where medicine and to regroup, rethink and relaunch our new so- sheep” have to pay for the ignorance, racism, education would be available for everyone ciety. If we ever had a chance for change, per- During this reclusive period, my mind has classism, bigotry, sexism and homophobia that no matter their social status; where econom- haps this is the moment—carpe diem. been flying to other moments of my life continues to be rampant the world over. ics would be seen as a tool to create growth A quote by Confucius has been stuck where, similar to the current experiences, I These are our constant plagues that have and betterment for everyone and not just in my mind: “When it is obvious that the felt fear. The fear I lived during the AIDS no end in sight. the typical status quo; where government’s goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the pandemic in the early 80’s when I was a As we continue to quarantine in our iso- functions would be to ameliorate our com- goals, adjust the action steps.” young man was extraordinary. I thought lated homes I cannot stop thinking about munities and not as a never-ending, dishon- Now more than ever we need everyone’s death was imminent. My life and that of my what will it be like when all of this is over. est, distorted, ugly and absurdly expensive vision, diligence, guidance, smartness and partner, friends and the community where Will society really change? Will individuals blah blah blah of political campaigning. toughness to help us move forward and I lived seemed to be coming to an end as lose their narcissism and give to society more But as the days of confinement became overcome these arduous and painful times. many of us saw no hope and no future. For- than they take? Will the economic turbulence longer, my dream dissipated and I grew It will not be easy and it will not be fast ty years later, during the COVID-19 crisis, subside and life will be restored to “business angrier and restless as I kept realizing that but the opportunity is before us. Society is I have been experiencing similar feelings of as usual”? Will poverty, disenfranchisement, whatever we had before the pandemic was ready for a renaissance. panic, doubts and anxiety. Of course the ac- homelessness, sexism, sexphobia, bias, big- already unstable, decrepit and filled with tual situation is not exactly the same. otry or apartheid cease to exist? false expectations. Calogero Salvo, is an independent filmmaker At the very beginning of the AIDS pan- At this instant I am sad to admit that I What would become of the homeless, living in NYC. Originally from Venezuela, demic mostly gay men were pointed at, ac- have doubts there will be major changes. the poor, the migrants, the sick, the disen- Salvo has been part of the independent film cused, attacked and in some cases killed. We For a moment during these long days en- franchised and the ecosystem itself? community since the beginning of his career were persecuted, fired and evicted from our closed in our cocoon together with my hus- I was disturbed and scared because we con- and has served on the Boards of Directors of homes. The information about the disease was band, I dreamt of a better future, a coming of tinue to be unprotected, we continue to lack many organizations. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 13
Please join us in showing Pride and Solidarity! Let us work together to end all forms of systemic oppression!
The Church of the Ascension in the City of New York at Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street
On-line worship and fellowship/discussion, Sundays 11am, weekdays 5:30pm For information on all our programs and how you can be involved: [email protected] 212-254-8620
tained. Experience of it is very personal, being about 40% LGBT+. And our col- yet it’s definitely not something that can be lective pride inside steadily leads to vari- mine alone. Neither can my pride be over ous hands-on ways of growing that living Pride Inside and against yours. That living energy wants energy in ourselves and others. Whether By Ed Chinery to expand and come to characterize all of it’s hunger relief (pantry program), subver- known how to help me, but what was going humanity. Wants to be communicated in sion of immigration injustice (hosting New Do you know that feeling that everything’s on in the world did. I still cherish those first the world in ways that affirm shared vul- Sanctuary Coalition trainings), combatting okay? When you’re safe and loved? Feel like inklings of pride in who I truly am and how nerability in the human need to feel loved voter suppression (film program/postcard you belong? And the opposite. A sense of that changed the world and me. and safe and that we belong. campaign) or supporting local efforts to foreboding. Uneasy in mind, body or spirit. The fears I had as a secretly gay boy don’t Then maybe that’s the best part of the cure AIDS (go RFTCA!)—we’re all about What difference do these feelings make in live in the front of my consciousness any- Pride Parade. It’s a celebration, the living joy-filled inward recognition and outward your thinking and behavior? more. And, honestly, I don’t think so much energy of which also wants to spill over into demonstration of making safety, belonging I was born in 1957 and have known since about ‘pride’, either. Sure, I totally work all of life, so attendees will go forth empow- and feeling loved the reality for everybody! age five that I’m gay. I didn’t have a name the Pride Parade in June. It marches right ered by our own pride inside, and know we for it then, but I knew I wanted what mom past the Episcopal church on Fifth Avenue can always draw from that well. Know we Ed Chinery is Associate Rector of The and dad had, except with a boy. It didn’t where I currently serve. But for me—and I can adopt, as a result, kinder ways of think- Church of the Ascension – 5th Avenue and take long, even as a child, for me to realize mean no disrespect—the parade has become ing and behaving that generate and share 10th Street. For further information on that because of who I was, there was less about entertainment and marketing. Sure, the living spirit of pride, in our homes, their programming: 212-254-8620, belonging for me and less safety. Both at there’s tons of belonging, which is great, but neighborhoods, and city. [email protected], home and in the world. questions sometimes hang over it, for me, The faith community I serve celebrates [email protected] In my teens, though, things began to about how the event helps make connection change. Women, blacks, gays—no longer with deeper meanings of love and safety. able to remain ashamed and hidden—we I probably wouldn’t be making observa- stood up, one after another, with what seemed tions like this if it weren’t for quarantine. a newly invented brand of pride. Pride was It has me considering lots of things differ- declared in both speech and action, and it ently and has led to hidden wonders about was breathtaking. A new enlightenment was layers of pride deep within me. making for fresh understanding of common “Pride inside” is partly my response humanity, and it was happening just as I be- to social movements that have wrought gan to feel grown-up. Best of all, it meant I change. But the underlying longing to no longer felt I had to keep running to get make manifest or strengthen safety, feel- away from that foreboding that comes of not ing loved and belonging—that longing is belonging. My otherwise loving family hadn’t like a living energy field that won’t be con- 14 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Tipping the Balance of Power NYU Graduate Student Workers Sick-Out Protest Due to COVID By Anthony Paradiso perate for help from the University during On Mar. 9, New York University moved the unforeseen circumstances that the pan- all of its classes to remote learning and on demic has set forth. Beckman glosses over Mar. 13 NYU officially closed its campus NYU’s responsibility to assist its graduate buildings due to the onset of the COV- student workers during a pandemic that ID-19 pandemic. As a result, the graduate has left most of them poorly equipped to student workers, who help teach classes as continue their studies and unemployed. teaching assistants at NYU have lost their NYU says on their website NYU.edu that jobs and become dependent on financial they have not received the “Federal CARES assistance from the University to make Act funding” they are supposed to get. NYU ends meet. goes on to say “If and when NYU takes pos- “NYU Sick-Out” was a three-day-strike session of the funds, the University is com- 1984 CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED OFFICE in the front row: (L-R) Bill Thom, Civil Court mitted to using all the money it receives for Judge, Larry Seabrook, Bronx State Assembly, and Chuck Hitchcock, State Assembly can- organized by a group of NYU graduate stu- direct student assistance, including con- didate from Long Island. FAIRPAC Boardmembers appear in the back row. (Author: back dents who wanted to protest what they felt row center.) Photo credit: Roberta Raeburn. was a lack of financial support from NYU to tinuing the COVID-19 emergency grant address the needs of its students during the program through the rest of the spring, By James Roman two of our nine boardmembers, the politicians pandemic. On Mar 31, the Sick-Out sent the summer, and the fall for students with who blocked gay civil rights needed to feel an financial need.” According to an article in Discrimination was legal in the early an open letter to NYU’s Provost outlining indignant bitch-slap from the gay community. Forbes titled “The Colleges Getting The 1980s. Gays could lose their homes, jobs, the demands they wanted the University Could thousands of gay dollars tip the balance Most Money from the Stimulus Bill” NYU custody, you name it, because there were to meet. Those demands include providing of power? We were the first ones to try. will receive $25 million from the “coronavi- no laws to prevent it. New York City had graduate students with “three months of City Council races were two years off. rus relief package” that Congress has desig- an Ordinance: No discrimination based on emergency summer funding in the form of Our test run came one year earlier, as FAIR- nated for higher education institutions. The race, color, creed, age, gender, or disability. a living wage” and the “option of a degree PAC supported candidates for State Assem- article also shows that the relief funding To that list, gay New Yorkers requested extension for all graduate students.” The bly. In the photo, FAIRPAC contributed to designated for NYU is the second highest three more words: “and sexual orientation.” letter also demands the University provide the 1984 campaigns of Bill Thom, a gay among private, non-profit higher education For eleven years, those three words incited “immediate support for international and Civil Court Judge, Larry Seabrook, a candi- institutions in the United States. some of the angriest, ugliest debates in the undocumented students,” who are facing date for Bronx State Assembly, and Chuck According to a resource document detail- City Council, where the “Gay Rights Bill” the end of their Student Visas. Hitchcock, a gay State Assembly candidate ing NYU’s finances, these are the three high- consistently failed to earn votes by a two- Jackson Smith is a doctoral student at from Long Island. (FAIRPAC Boardmem- level administrators at NYU, who earn the thirds majority to secure its passage. NYU, who was among the core organiz- bers appear in the back row.) richest annual salaries: President Andrew I attended those hearings. I saw who ers of the Sick-Out. Smith described how Larry Seabrook’s candidacy gave FAIR- Hamilton’s “annual compensation” is $1.9 voted against gay rights. In 1983, when graduate students at NYU came together PAC a terrific start, a black man living in million, NYU’s Chief Investment Officer the bill’s passage failed for its tenth con- to start the Sick-out in late April. a black neighborhood that had never been Jacobs’ annual compensation is $1.5 million, secutive year, I took action. Out of my own “A group of us got together at this town represented by a person of color. Incumbent and NYU Law Academic Director R. Stew- pocket, I hired an attorney and registered a hall last Wednesday to talk about how Vincent Marchiselli was a devout Catholic art’s annual compensation is $8.7 million. political action committee that could raise we could escalate this campaign and our who consistently voted against Abortion According to the document, NYU pays its funds in New York City and State. I invited demands,” Smith said. “Then someone and Gay Rights; he didn’t even live in the graduate students a stipend worth $28,145. nine friends with money, responsibility and brought up the idea of having a sick-out neighborhood. To defeat him, FAIRPAC Meanwhile the document estimates that the enormous rolodexes to join me in forming and using our guaranteed sick days in our gave Seabrook the legal maximum, then cost of living in New York City is $37,000. FAIRPAC, to “support the friends and de- contracts as TAs to withhold our labor as staged a press event at the Gay Community The document also reveals “In 2018, NYU’s feat the enemies of gay rights legislation.” TAs. So we decided to get the ball rolling Center where we introduced our candidates. President received the equivalent of 67.5 In that pre-Internet era when most orga- on it from there.” Months earlier, Jesse Jackson made head- graduate student stipends.” nizations kept records on paper, FAIRPAC The graduate students who met at the lines as a candidate for US President, calling According to the document, NYU has had a computer. We pooled our rolodexes, town hall on April 30, held a vote to de- his diverse supporters “The Rainbow Co- a $4.264 billion endowment, which it can and our computerized mailing list was cide if they should follow through with the alition.” Now, Seabrook stepped up to the use with respect to “donor restrictions,” so it born. From my midtown office, we printed Sick-Out. Smith said, “we voted on [the podium with tears in his eyes. He looked is not completely available. The document slick solicitations, then rallied an army of sick-out] and it was supported by more at the Press and announced: “I am here to also says that NYU is receiving an estimated volunteers to stuff envelopes; we convinced than 95 % of the attendees.” tell you what Jesse Jackson told me. There $25 million in federal bailout money”, and donors to send our solicitations to their Nevertheless, NYU has not been stirred is LAVENDER in the Rainbow Coalition!” that “50 % will be used as emergency finan- mailing lists too. As persistent mercenar- by Sick-Out’s momentum. That statement earned a huge laugh; this cial aid student grants for expenses due to ies raising money within gay networks, we “The provost didn’t really respond to [sick- friend to the gay community won his race, campus disruption.” It remains a mystery succeeded promptly. out] and said that we’d have to wait longer and launched a lengthy political career. where the other 50% of that federal bailout Next task: locate the incumbent enemies, for any response. Meanwhile the semester is FAIRPAC succeeded too. In the follow- money will be used. NYU has campuses then identify candidates who are “friends” coming to an end and NYU graduate stu- ing year, we supported seven candidates across the globe and may need it to prop up to replace them. It was shocking to discover dents, most of whom don’t get paid over the in NY City Council races, and saw six of its expansion plans. how far a small donation could stretch. We summer and instead rely on jobs and sources them win. In 1986, when the Gay Rights Jackson Smith described how NYU were legally permitted to donate a nickel- of academic funding for research and teach- Bill came up for a vote, it passed by one could change the way it handles its financ- a-name for every registered voter in each ing that is now not available or less available vote. On that historic day, FAIRPAC once es in the future to provide better financial district. A one-time donation of just $2500 due to the current economic crisis.” again tipped the balance of power. assistance to its student workers during the to a friend seeking to defeat an enemy ab- On Mar 31, 2020, NYU Spokesperson, pandemic. solutely tipped the balance of power. John Beckman responded to Sick-Out “We think this is time for NYU to shift From our growing war-chest (a first for the A third-generation New Yorker, James and said, “a job-action by graduate workers some of the wealth it has away from its fledgling gay community), we donated the Roman served on the faculty of New York would be a violation of the contract they capital plans, away from its real-estate maximum legal amounts to the campaigns University and as Sales Manager at The signed and agreed to.” portfolio and towards student workers that of our enemies’ opponents. This was no dip- Halstead Property Company. His “Chron- Beckman does not acknowledge the fact rely on this institution to make a living in lomatic effort to win hearts and minds. With icles of Old New York,” is available for sale that the student workers decided to orga- New York City.” friends dying of AIDS every month, including online and in bookstores everywhere. nize the Sick-Out because they were des- www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 15 Let’s Get Real About Aging: COVID-19 and Ageism
By Gail Evans staff and ignore quality of care concerns because fines and penalties were low, and, “The pandemic has amplified ageism,” anyway, they could count on society turn- read the headline in the May 1st Los An- ing a blind eye. Now, we are horrified at the geles Times. “It’s open season for discrimi- deaths. But where were we when alarms nation against older people.” If anyone can were raised decades ago? Things now may speak to ageism, it’s my friend Jack Kupfer- not be as bad as they used to be, and I’m man, I thought. So, I called and asked him not saying all nursing homes were a disas- to weigh in. Jack is President of New York ter. Nursing homes being petri dishes for City’s Gray Panthers, an advocacy organi- infection, we probably would have had this zation that’s been fighting for the rights terrible outcome no matter what. But there of older people since the early 70s. Work- needn’t have been this dramatic and exces- ing with the Florence Belsky Foundation, sive loss of life.” Gray Panthers recently developed Senior Jack cited other examples of institutional Strong NYC (www.seniorstrongnyc.org), a ageism. “Home care workers are notori- Resource Guide with sections on how to ously underpaid because we don’t value the live well and, yes, even thrive, despite being lives of the elders they care for. We have shut-in by the coronavirus. yet to learn how to get the best from older Jack agreed that we’re seeing more in- employees in the workforce, overlooking stances of overtly ageist behavior and their experience and institutional memory rhetoric. But he is less concerned about the in favor of technological expertise. Older flare-up of anti-elder sentiment than about people are under-represented in medi- the deeply embedded institutional age- cal clinical trials. In fact, data collection ism uncovered by the pandemic. As with about older persons lags across the world, homophobe- so we don’t ism, racism have enough and sexism— research to the other suggest evi- “isms” that dence-based plague our so- solutions and ciety—there approaches to are personal improve not and inten- only elders’ tional acts of health care ageism, and and economic then there welfare, but to are the more THE SENIOR STRONG NYC campaign, above, is a good create oppor- insidious and example of how to stand up to invisibility. tunies for them pernicious in- to fully partici- stitutional biases. These pervade our social pate in their societies. Even in social ser- structures and affect how we distribute re- vices, elder abuse is only beginning to get sources, power and opportunity. Systemic the attention given to domestic abuse.” and diffused, they are hard to eradicate. If the economy continues to falter, age And because their noxious nature is dis- discrimination will be emboldened, Jack guised as societal norms, we unwittingly believes. “The idea of a fair share for se- accept and even subscribe to them. Ageism niors will go on a back burner. It’s been a perpetuates inequalities in the workplace, battle to get senior housing, and that push housing, medicine, marketing, advertising, will weaken. There will be retrenchment entertainment, the media—the list could and competition for resources, so retirees go on. It works by devaluing older people who use their expertise as consultants in a as a group, shunting their interests aside in gig economy won’t have a chance. There policy and practice decisions, and treating will be cutbacks in senior services.” them either with pity, or with contempt I asked Jack how we fight ageism. “By and neglect, solely on the basis of their age. re-envisioning the relationship between Institutional ageism in long-term care the generations and creating partnerships,” has now come home to roost in the hor- he answered, “and by seniors themselves rific spread of the virus in nursing homes, not yielding to marginalization and in- Jack pointed out. “Profit has won out over visibility. Our Senior Strong NYC Cam- people, time and time again,” he said bit- paign is a good example of how to stand terly. “Nursing home residents are mostly up to invisibity. Especially in these times, old, shut away, have no voice, and are liter- it’s critical that every older person has the ally invisible, so they’re easily expendable. resources to ensure health, love, security, Even before the pandemic, many homes dignity and rights. Living your best life, run by for-profits were cited for poor even when shut-in, is the best antidote to infection-disease control and inadequate ageism.” The campaign (@SeniorStrong- and ill-prepared staffing. But the operators NYC) is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter didn’t care. They continued to underpay and LinkedIn. 16 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org COVID-19: Tales from the Frontline
plastic shields. one has a mask on. Who do we test? Do we thought when I chose a career in medicine I think the best way to share and paint have tests? Will we have tests tomorrow? that it would be hard to find work. The Ur- this crazy picture is to separate my clinical Things are a bit different in the other gent Cares were hit hard and many closed settings. My main clinical setting is an inter- hospital. It is on an island that is primar- their doors. It wasn’t until recently that I city Level I Trauma Center Emergency De- ily a vacation destination with 20,000 full returned to work there. partment. Sometimes here it feels like anger time residents. In the summertime the Many Urgent Cares are again starting to painting. Things are just insane and all over population is almost 250,000. The number see an uptick in volume. Many are offer- the place as we see about 135,000 patients of COVID-19-positive patients when I ing drive through COVID-19 swabbing, per year. Oddly enough, until recently our was last there was 12. and where I work they offer bloodwork for numbers have been down. I think people They were incredibly well prepared and antibody testing. It has become our bread were and still are just afraid to come into the had an infectious disease specialist with and butter. I am starting to see the simple department. This is a “be careful what you Ebola experience help prepare them. Tyvek things again. For example, sprains/strains, wish for” type scenario. At times, we have suits, PAPRs (protective breathing appara- lacerations, pink eye, etc. hoped that some people wouldn’t come to tus) N95 masks, separate areas to take on I have seen a lot of interesting, crazy, WELL-PROTECTED: Matt Razon, above, in the ER. The runny noses, belly pain for a and off your PPE, a place to get out of and amazing things over the last 20 years. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). year, and hangnails. However, now the folks your hospital supplied scrubs, shower, and Nothing at all compares to what I have By Matt Razon that aren’t coming are the chest pains, facial get back into your street clothes. seen since the beginning of the COVID-19 droops, and appendicitis that has been go- On the island there is a tent set up out- Pandemic. In an ever-changing world, I Before I get to telling you all about my expe- ing on for four days and now has burst. I side the hospital, staffed with a nurse and am grateful that one thing hasn’t changed. rience as a frontliner in the fight against CO- worry what the long term ramifications of a provider. We triage people as COVID vs Every day that I go to work, regardless of VID-19, let me tell you a little about myself. I COVID-19 will be for these patients. non-COVID risks. The COVID risk pa- where, I am able to put my PPE and do my am a Physician Assistant and have been prac- Now, what you have all been waiting tients are walked through the ambulance best to make a difference in people’s lives. ticing in Emergency Medicine for almost 20 for. What about the COVID-19 patients? bay and into the “dirty” side of the depart- This is more important to me than ever, as years. I currently work in several locations. I They are sick!!!! Intubated (on breathing ment. Some who are young, healthy and patients are not allowed family or friends to work in a Level I Trauma Center, a Critical machines), proned (on their stomach), not acutely ill are tested and sent home to accompany them. We will get through this Access hospital and an Urgent Care Clinic. and on high-flow oxygen. Now we have quarantine with a seven plus page docu- but we have to do it together. Stay safe!!! Therefore, what I have seen varies greatly. all heard that the old and people with pre- ment on how to do that correctly. I have to say however, I have been ex- existing conditions are at most risk, but ev- After the patient leaves the tent, everything Matt Razon PA-C is a Physician Assistant tremely lucky that all my locations have eryone is sick. Young and healthy are sick is wiped and sprayed down with a bleach so- with 20 years of experience in Emergency supplied me with great PPE (Personal as well. People are dying that shouldn’t be. lution. It is then not used for at least 10 min- Medicine. He currently works in a Level Protective Equipment). Some better than It has changed the way things are done. utes and another cubicle is utilized. Once the I Trauma Center, a Critical Access Hos- others, but nonetheless, I have been ex- Rooms are closed with signs not to go in nurse or other clinician is finished in the tent pital and Urgent Care Clinics throughout tremely well protected and I feel for those without PPE. No one is in the hallway they undergo a 10-15 minute rigorous sani- Massachusetts and Connecticut. Matt also that haven’t been. My PPE has varied from anymore. They are holding ICU (Inten- tizing process which includes being sprayed has experience and expertise in Wilderness N95 masks and Tyvek suits, and helmet sive Care Unit) patients in the ED because down with a bleach solution. Medicine and is part of Wild Med Adven- and face shields to N95, paper gowns and there isn’t room for them upstairs. Every- Lastly, is the Urgent Care Center. I never tures, www.wildmedadventures.com. Find Your Sparkle and Supercharge Your Immunity By Timothy Stahl heart, kidney, skin, and mood disorders, I call this the quiet killer. It can be a part- Coach Tim, CHHC, AADP, HIVegan and a significant increase in dementia and time job keeping things together and many HIV/AIDS, once an obvious killer, is now Alzheimer’s. We’re only beginning to un- fail miserably. You don’t have to. quiet and subtler. I don’t know about you, derstand what it means to age with HIV. I want to help. In 2013, nearly nine years but I’m tired of hearing about PrEP, viral I care about your health and can coach you after being diagnosed, I was suicidal, with suppression, meds, doctors, etc. After all, to live your best life, being thankful, even brain fog, insomnia, acne, stomach issues, we’re adults and should have the basics un- grateful, to have HIV. Yes, grateful. Take this endoscopies and colonoscopies, eye exams, der control. That’s where I come in as your as a wakeup call you must answer. We didn’t throat exams, etc. I went through it and you life, health and wellness coach, guiding you come all this way to let those less fortunate don’t have too. Nothing helped, not switch- down, and must live and give respect to those ing meds or specialists. Although my num- through what comes next. When learned I COACH TIM, CHHC, AADP, HIVegan. had HIV in 2004, I wanted to know more who gave us this great opportunity. bers were ok, I suffered with wanting to stay of how to control my own health and thrive The LGBTQ community can be cau- alive, depression, anxiety, loneliness and de- thing I can to stay healthy into my fifties, with HIV. Something told me there was tious, even pessimistic, for obvious rea- feat. Little did I know a holistic approach to sixties and seventies. You should be doing more than appointments and meds. sons. We’ve been through hell to be true to life and nutrition could help me thrive with the work now, reducing inflammation, so Not to make light of HIV education and ourselves. I don’t blame naysayers for be- HIV. I wish someone had told me in 2004 your body will hold up for decades to come. the importance of medication and viral ing skeptical of a health coach about HIV; what to expect and what was possible. If you are coachable, let us set up a free twen- load suppression, but there’s much work it’s not them I want to coach. You must be Doctors are good at the basics but less so at ty minute immunity consultation by phone or being done in this area, and little informa- coachable and want, not to only survive, discussing nutrition and a holistic approach computer and discuss how I can assist you to- tion reaching a community seeking more. but thrive with this disease. to HIV regimens once meds are controlled. wards better health; physically, mentally and HIV is no joke; the meds are tough on There’s a notion that becoming HIV I don’t blame them; our healthcare system emotionally. Check out my website at www. the body, even if you don’t feel these ef- positive is a now walk in the park; many only allows so much time to spend with us timothyericnutrition.com. You can also sign fects. Although they help us live as long stay silent thinking they’ll be fine. Silence and much of that is paperwork. up for an appointment on my Facebook busi- as our HIV-negative counterparts, they is deadly and I acknowledge that it’s not My life changed when I took control ness page at TEN, Timothy Eric Nutrition. age us significantly, putting our organs in easy living with HIV; we need to talk of my health and my doctor became part I have one goal, to share my knowledge super overdrive and continual inflamma- about that and support each other. Some of my tribe. It takes a village. My t-cells with you and support you anyway I can. To tion. Being positive gives a smaller win- of us have guilt for surviving, are in denial, tripled, my meds remained the same, and be a friend and mentor in this crazy world, dow for mistakes with our health, carry- or think we're indestructible. Many think everything melted away. I still have hard while living with a shitty dis-EASE. To be ing complication-risks including cancers, we should suck it up, after all, we’re living. days, but now I know I’m doing every- a part of your village. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 17 The Last Stand of St. Vincent’s: Healthcare Heroes in Another Pandemic By Drew Davis Although hospitals were mandated to take in the sick, many did so reluctantly. Pride will feel different in the West Village They found various excuses for why they this year, but the LGBTQ community has couldn’t treat patients; at the time, unbri- persevered through hard times before. Our dled homophobia and fear afflicted some vibrant pocket of New York City stood first, healthcare workers too. But word began to and stood tall, for the gay community in the spread through the gay community about a midst of another pandemic 40 years ago. At place to go if you needed help. NEW YORK CITY AIDS MEMORIAL PARK. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. that time, staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital, a “If other hospitals could find a way to flagship of New York City healthcare from delay, postpone, or obfuscate the symp- care as excellent as existed anywhere. Pa- with AIDS, the hospital entered a financial 1849 to 2010, showed that heroes tend to toms, saying ‘we’re not capable,’ the word tients weren’t patients, they were family. hole it never emerged from and finally shut wear scrubs more than capes. Dr. Victor got out that St. Vincent’s would take you.” “From a personal point of view and from its doors in 2010. Today, all that remains Keyloun, a physician at St. Vincent’s in the Under the compassionate leadership of an institutional point of view, it was a dev- is the New York City AIDS Memorial lo- early 1980s, shared this story. the Sisters of Charity nuns, the healthcare astating time. But through it all, the entire cated in the park on Seventh Avenue across In the late 1970s, medical journals began workers at St. Vincent’s took in those who AIDS epidemic, they were heroic.” from where the hospital stood. to describe case studies of young, previously had nowhere else to go. No matter how As the years passed, therapies emerged Those days passed, and the perseverance healthy men across the nation who’d been sick, gay, or poor they might have been, St. that could slow the advance of AIDS and, of the LGBT community during subse- afflicted with uncommon disorders like Vincent’s welcomed them. And as people finally, combination therapy replaced pal- quent challenges is one reason why Pride Kaposi’s sarcoma and pneumocystis pneu- with AIDS gravitated to this sanctuary liative care. And while people with AIDS holds such a special place in so many hearts. monia. Before long, the epidemic reached West Village hospital, the doctors and desperately needed this treatment haven, This year, even though rainbows may shine New York City, and young gay men who’d nurses there, only five blocks north of the St. Vincent’s had also relied on AIDS pa- through our screens instead of in our streets, suddenly become very ill showed up at Stonewall Inn, became increasingly adept tients out of financial necessity—another there’s still cause to rejoice. The story of hospitals, often having been turned away at caring for these tragically sick individu- reason they took in these sick young men St. Vincent’s reminds us that acts of kind- by family due to phobia about their sexual als, evolving into national leaders in the without judgement. This hospital that had ness for those in need can outlast any virus. orientation and the pathogen they carried. charge against AIDS. Of course, compas- served the city through disasters like the That’s something worth celebrating. “By 1981, it became pretty obvious that sion and spirit alone weren’t a cure; these sinking of the Titanic and the 1918 Span- whatever was infecting this group of peo- were heartbreaking times. But day after ish flu was running out of money before Drew Davis is a copywriter entering medi- ple was devastating, because they were dy- day, the dogged St. Vincent’s staff came AIDS emerged. Even with the financial cal school in the fall. Originally from Mary- ing very quickly.” to work, put on their scrubs, and provided support that came from caring for people land, he moved to New York City in 2018. WHAT IS MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN?
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new health condition associated with COVID-19. SEEK CARE IF YOUR CHILD HAS PERSISTENT FEVER PLUS ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS: Irritability or decreased activity Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting Conjunctivitis, or red or pink eyes Red, cracked lips or bumpy tongue Swollen hands or feet Lack of appetite Rash
IF YOUR CHILD IS SEVERELY ILL, GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.