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.