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PACINO DOES

‘MERCHANT,’ p. 17

Volume 1, Number 18 FREE East and West Village, Lower East Side, Soho, Noho, Little Italy and Chinatown November 25 - December 1, 2010

NYCHA’s repair
system is broken,
tenants charge
BY ALINE REYNOLDS ence is yet to be seen.
Lower Manhattan, the Nadya Martoral, who has
world’s financial capital lived for two decades in the
where tremendous fortunes Alfred E. Smith Houses, near
are made and lost, is also the entrance to the Brooklyn
the site of 30 public hous- Bridge on the Lower East
ing developments where Side, is unemployed and
low-income tenants live in takes care of her 11 children
shoddy and unhealthy condi- on her own.
tions. These residents look to As if that were not
the New York City Housing hard enough, she has a
Authority for much-needed host of unfixed appliances
repairs to their decaying in her apartment, some of
apartments. which jeopardize her fam-
But NYCHA, short on ily’s health and darken
funds and, some say, inef- their mood. Floor tiles are
fective, cannot seem to keep cracked, windows are bro-
up with the escalating work ken, and the plaster from
orders. NYCHA promises it her kitchen and bathroom
is devising a master plan ceilings is falling off.
to improve the repairs sys- Martoral has made sev-
Photo by The Anonymous Photographer tem, but whether the new
approach will make a differ- Continued on page 6

Art from the underground


The Underbelly Project, a hidden collection of street art in an abandoned Brooklyn subway station, has recently
been getting publicity — and at least 20 people sneaking in to see it have been arrested. See Page 13 for more
Tea Party’s brew
photos.
doesn’t go down
After Pei protests N.Y.U. plan, well Downtown
BY LINCOLN ANDERSON Local assemblymembers
supermarket site is new focus It was the week after
the election and a longtime
reader of this newspaper,
coasted to re-election, with
Deborah Glick getting 87
percent of the vote, Richard
BY ALBERT AMATEAU broader and shorter, 17 to 20 stories, This week, Alicia Hurley, N.Y.U. a lifetime Village resident, Gottfried garnering 82 per-
After New York University about 200 feet tall; but it would have vice president for government affairs called to say she was won- cent and Brian Kavanagh,
announced last week that it was with- roughly the same total 250,000 square and community engagement, said the dering why the paper hadn’t 84 percent.
drawing its Landmarks Preservation feet of space proposed for the abandoned university will file a uniform land use reported the results of the Sheldon Silver, the pow-
Commission application to build a project, which is the same square footage review procedure, or ULURP, applica- local Downtown races. Sure, erful Assembly speaker, won
40-story fourth tower on the super- of each of the three existing buildings. tion next year for development on both she said, probably all the re-election uncontested.
block site of three I.M. Pei-designed Nevertheless, neighborhood and the south Silver Towers superblock same people won, just like In the state Senate, Tom
residential towers, Village neighbors preservation-advocacy opponents vowed where the Pei buildings are located, as usual, as they’ve been doing Duane took 85 percent of
and preservation advocates were wait- last week to fight the alternative. The well as the north Washington Square for years — but still... . ballots cast, while freshman
ing for the other shoe to drop. Greenwich Village Society for Historic Village superblock. She was right. There senator Daniel Squadron
What comes next is the N.Y.U. as-of- Preservation and the Community Action “The ULURP will also cover the weren’t any surprises — was voted back into office
right alternative to build on the northwest Alliance on NYU 2031 are holding a block east of Washington Square Park and there weren’t any com- with 86 percent.
corner of the superblock on the Morton town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wed., between Waverly Place and Washington petitive races, either. Local Incumbent Democrats
Williams supermarket site — which is Dec. 1, in the basement hall of Our Place, not for a change in F.A.R. [floor Democrats faced little- dominated in local congres-
not protected by landmark designation. Lady of Pompei Church, at Carmine area ratio] but for retail uses,” Hurley known, token Republican sional races, as well. Veteran
Because the supermarket site has a and Bleecker Sts., to explore the impli- challengers, and, in each
larger footprint, the building would be cations of the change. Continued on page 11 case, solidly whupped them. Continued on page 4

145 SIXTH AVENUE • NYC 10 013 • COPYRIGHT © 2010 COMMUNITY M E D I A , L L C


2 November 25 - December 1, 2010

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November 25 - December 1, 2010 3

BROADWAY PANHANDLER
Has a Gift for Cooking SCOOPY’S created such huge, 20-foot-high, bubble letters? we won-
dered. Billy Leroy, he of the antiques-and-props tent next
door, explained, “That’s a legal tag. It’s a tribute to Dash

30-50% OFF*
Enameled Cast Iron
4.5 Qt Rnd
$164.98
Sugg. Rt. $280

5.5 Qt
Rnd
NOTEBOOK Snow. They used a fire-extinguisher technique. One of Barry
McGee’s pals did it. The new mural starts tomorrow. The
artist’s name is Kenny Scharf. He is from L.A. but has been
a New Yorker since 1980.” Ah yes, Billy knows all.
Made in France $18 4.938 15
MCNALLY PULLS OUT: In September, we reported that
g. Rt. $
Sug superstar restaurateur Keith McNally was retooling his plans for SOMETHING TO SCRIE’M ABOUT : There’s more
Come in for nd a new eatery at Greenwich Ave. and W. 10th St. after neighbors good news for Ray of Ray’s Candy Store on Avenue A. He’s
Qt R
SALE prices on 7.25 4.98 objected to having a Pulino’s Cafe at the location. At the time, got his Ansul system, he’s got his lease renewal, he got his,
1
other shapes & sizes $2gg. Rt. $3
70
Su
we were hearing McNally had agreed instead to make the place well, a B+++ on his Sanitary Inspection Grade, though he’s
— the fire-gutted, former Village Paper Party Store — a more obsessed with getting an A. (Hey, two out of three ain’t bad.)
*Mfg sugg. retail, in-store only, while supplies last thru 12/31/10
upscale (read “sophisticated and subdued”) Balthazar Cafe, a Now, he’s also finally got his SCRIE, or Senior Citizen Rent
Support Your Local Family Owned Shops spinoff of his popular Soho bistro on Spring St., rather than an Increase Exemption, which means his apartment rent will drop
This Holiday Season offshoot of his new Pulino’s Bar & Pizzeria (read “younger and
65 East 8th St. (off B ’way) • 212- 966-3434 noisier”) on the Bowery. But now there’s not going to be any Continued on page 16
Mon- Sat 11-7 • Thurs ’til 8pm • Sun 11-6 offshoot, spinoff or anything else there by McNally. “McNally
has withdrawn the application and is no longer considering that
location,” Richard Stewart, vice chairperson of Community
Board 2’s S.L.A. Licensing Committee, tells us. “But I can tell
you that Carlos Suarez of Bobo restaurant [at 181 W. 10th St.]
has taken the lease and has just finalized an agreement with the
neighborhood association, and C.B. 2 has approved his applica-
tion for a beer-and-wine license.” Suarez actually initially had
the inside track on the one-story building, and even sweetened
the pot by saying he’d have a rooftop garden for use by students
from nearby P.S. 41 — but he was then bumped by McNally.
As for why McNally withdrew, Stewart said, “He claimed there
was too much community opposition, though stipulations [on
the restaurant’s operation] had been agreed on by the neighbor- Serving the West Village for 15 years
hood association.” Proprietor Eve Crenovich invites you for
IN THE HEART OF GREENWICH VILLAGE
— Recommended by Gourmet Magazine, Zagat, Crain’s NY, Playbill & The Villager — SORRY, ED: In other eatery news, we hear some action is Breakfast, Lunch, Exciting Dinners
“Gold Medal Chef of the Year”. — Chefs de Cuisine Association
“brewing” at the former Joe Jr. burger joint location at Sixth Weekend Brunch and Catering
.ORTHERNITALIAN#UISINEs#ELEBRATING/VER9EARS
Ave. and W. 12th St., specifically, that a Brazilian coffee-
69 MacDougal St. (Bet. Bleeker & Houston St.)   s   and-sandwich shop will be opening there shortly on Dec. 1.
Don’t forget our famous Cupcakes!
/PEN-ON 3AT PMsWWWVILLAMOSCONICOM
We have this information from a well-placed source, but it’s
hard to confirm, she said, because the place’s windows are
covered with newspaper. The main question is will the new
shop be able to survive the late Ed Gold’s curse — his wish
Happy that his former beloved “headquarters” remain empty for
Thanksgiving! eternity, to spite the landlord for prohibitively raising Joe Jr.’s
rent? Only time will tell.

ED PEGGED IT: Speaking of Ed Gold, at his memorial


the other week, Community Board 2 Chairperson Jo Hamilton,
in her remarks, recalled how she always dreaded his annual
“New Year’s Wishes” talking points in this newspaper — the
ones in which he astutely skewered local leaders in a sort of Home of the NFL Sunday Ticket,
written roast. She said in one such year’s-end column a few
years ago, Gold pointedly penned that she should “sit down
College Football, Premier League
and have lunch with Andrew Berman.” Remarked Hamilton Soccer, MLB Playoffs + World Series
with a smile, “I’m still waiting for that phone call.” Translation: Private Party Room avail. / happy hour 4 -7 Mon. - Fri.
Hamilton and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic 63 Carmine St., Greenwich Village.
Preservation director need to mend some serious fences. Tel. 212 - 414 - 1223 • www.MrDennehys.com
Berman wasn’t at Gold’s memorial, since G.V.S.H.P. had pre-
viously scheduled for the same time an open-house loft tour
of the Westbeth Artists Residence, at which 23 artists’ apart-
ments, along with Westbeth’s public spaces, were on view. Told
 'R\RXQHHGD1DQQ\
of Hamilton’s comments, Berman responded it was the first %DE\1XUVH
he’d heard them. “Not having heard it firsthand, I don’t have a
comment on it,” he said. “But I think one should really focus on +RXVHNHHSHURU
remembering Ed when talking about his memorial service, and +RPH+HDOWK$LGH"
not any extraneous issues.” So, we asked, will he call her? He’s
not telling — at least not us. “Since I didn’t hear this comment, :HKDYHWKHSURIHVVLRQDOIRU\RX
it would be inappropriate to respond in the press,” he said.
x/LYH,Q/LYH2XW
EVER-EVOLVING WALL: Passing by the “graffiti wall” x)XOO7LPH3DUW7LPH
on East Houston St. by the Bowery on Tuesday we did a
double take when we saw it apparently had been “bombed”
x&DULQJDQGKLJKO\VNLOOHG
by taggers yet again, now covered with giant silver bubble OLFHQVHGDQGERQGHG
letters. (Just last week we had a photo of the wall on the
East Villager’s front page when it was still covered with
Barry McGee’s piece of scores of legendary graffitists’ tags
3ULQFH$JHQF\  
written in red.) More to the point, how could a tagger have  3ULQFH(PSOR\PHQW#DROFRP
4 November 25 - December 1, 2010

+DUU\+DQVRQ
 #


Downtown likes its Dems,

 not ‘Tea’; Incumbents coast
Club,” he noted, adding he did later go to
Continued from page 1 the Sheraton Hotel where the statewide
Democratic candidates convened after their
Congressmember Carolyn Maloney — after wins.
fending off a tough primary challenge by East Gottfried hasn’t faced a Democratic pri-
Villager Reshma Saujani — was returned to mary challenger since ’92.
Washington with 75 percent of the vote, He said he knew very little about his
the same percentage that Congressmember Republican candidate in this past race and
Jerrold Nadler got. Topping them both, how- had never met him.
ever, was Congressmember Nydia Velazquez, “I did know who he is. His name is
who won re-election with a whopping 93 Michael Chan — from Hong Kong,”
percent of the vote. Gottfried offered.
In short, the “Tea Party revolution” defi- “In my area, almost anyone running
nitely did not take hold Downtown, as the on the Democratic line would be a strong
Republicans, as usual, went down to defeat candidate,” he added. “I think the fact that
again. Manhattan Democratic officials rarely have
“I think we are very fortunate to have a primaries and rarely have election contests
very well-informed and involved constitu- is a testament to the fact that Manhattan
ency that has the capacity to express concern residents are very vocal and active and keep
and disagreements in a rational and thought- their legislators on their toes. A candidate
ful manner,” observed Glick. “Therefore, that is up to that is going to be a strong
it is not a surprise to me that the hysteria candidate. Being held to that standard keeps
fomented by the Tea Party did not find fertile
ground [here].
“My somewhat partisan view,” Glick con-
tinued, “is that the Republican Party has
not offered up programs or ideas that are ‘“A politician loyal to a
broadly supportive of people, and have gen-
erally sat back and said, ‘No.’ The Tea Party party cannot be trusted.”’
+$1621
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had people saying, ‘I don’t want government
$W+DQVRQ)LWQHVVWKHDJLQJSURFHVVLV Randy Credico
to touch my Medicare’ — totally uninformed
EHLQJVORZHGGRZQ1HVWOHGULJKWLQ\RXU

RQILWQHVV
and stupid. The Democratic Party, histori-
EDFN\DUGWKHHLJKWKZRQGHURIWKHZRUOG cally, is the party that offered support for (quoting Charles Sumner)
LVWKULYLQJLQ7KH:HVW9LOODJH middle-class and working-class people, since
the days of Franklin Roosevelt.
:DONRQ3HUU\6WUHHWDQG\RXFRXOGPLVVLW7KLVXQGLVFRYHUHGJHPLV
“The Tea Party’s message was that they
WKH SODFH ZKHUH 1HZ <RUNHUV RYHU  FUHDWH LQGLYLGXDO OLIHVW\OHV WR were very angry. They wanted smaller govern- you in good shape.
HQMR\OLIHWRWKHIXOOHVW ment and fewer taxes,” Glick noted. “Where “I think Manhattan residents have
+DQVRQ )LWQHVV LV D VLPSOH VWUDLJKWIRUZDUG \HW KLJKO\ HIIHFWLYH the Republicans won they were marginally very solid, progressive values by and
H[HUFLVH GLHW DQG PRWLYDWLRQDO SURJUDP  7KH +DQVRQ )LWQHVV PRGHO Democratic areas.” In some of these cases, large,” Gottfried noted. “I think the eco-
Democrats had won these seats in 2008 in nomic and social diversity of Manhattan
HGXFDWHV DQG PRWLYDWHV \RX WR H[HUFLVH VDIHO\ SURGXFWLYHO\ DQG
areas that were typically Republican. has to do with that. There’s also a cer-
IUHTXHQWO\HQRXJKWRORVHIDWVWUHQJWKHQPXVFOHVDQG³VFXOSW´WKHERG\ Glick, who represents Greenwich Village, tain amount of self-selection — most
WRDOHDQHUKHDOWKLHUDQG\RXQJHUORRNLQJERG\,WVWULYHVWRPDNHWKH has been in the Assembly 20 years, which Manhattanites chose to come here and
SDLQSDLQOHVVDQGWKHH[HUFLVHVXVHUIULHQGO\ might seem like a pretty long time. However, live, or chose to stay here and live. If you
+DQVRQ )LWQHVV KHOSV \RX ZRUN \RXU OLIH QRW \RXU OLIH LQWR H[HUFLVH Gottfried, who was elected when he was a live in New York City, you see on a daily
23-year-old Columbia law student, has held basis how important government is in our
1RERG\LVWRRRXWRIVKDSHWRPDNHWKHQHFHVVDU\FKDQJHVWRLPSURYH
his Chelsea seat for 40 years — an Assembly lives — from mass transit and hospitals to
ILWQHVV DQG VHOIHVWHHP  7ZR PDMRU FRPSRQHQWV RI +DQVRQ )LWQHVV¶
record. educational institutions.”
VXFFHVVDUHHQFRXUDJHPHQWDQGYDULHW\7KHYDOXHRIHQFRXUDJHPHQW “Staggering,” Glick noted of Gottfried’s Not surprisingly, Gottfried is not a believ-
FDQQRW EH RYHUHVWLPDWHG  $QG YDU\LQJ H[HUFLVH URXWLQHV W\SH longevity. She said her colleague’s record is er in term limits for state legislators.
UHSHWLWLRQ DQGRU LQWHQVLW\  ZLOO NHHS \RX PRWLYDWHG LQWHUHVWHG DQG LQ not at risk from her, noting, “I can say one “I think term limits ought to be in the
DFWLRQ thing for sure — 20 years from now, I will hands of voters every two years,” he said,
not be in the Assembly.” referring to the length of state legislators’
6SHFLDO2IIHUIRU5HDGHUVRI
2))
Gottfried said his margin of victory in terms and the power of constituents to vote
7KH9LOODJHUDQG7KH(DVW9LOODJHU this year’s race, 82 percent, equals what he them in or out of office.
got in 2008, and that it’s his all-time high Asked for comment on his own re-election
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for whenever he’s faced a Republican can- and Democrats’ firm hold on Downtown

+$1621),71(66
didate. So, “at 40,” he’s the strongest he’s Manhattan, Silver said, “New Yorkers are
ever been. progressive to the core. Whether it’s protect-
“I’m quite happy,” he said of his win. ing affordable housing, expanding access
“I really get an enormous amount of sat- to healthcare or fighting for civil rights, I

QG isfaction out of my work. I’m just always believe that government has a real role to
:HVW9LOODJH3HUU\6W± )O1<&  delighted when I’m rehired.” play in making people’s lives better.”
WK
6R+R*UHHQH6W± )O1<&  Gottfried is long past celebrating his Asked if he was concerned about some
QG
8QLRQ6TXDUH%URDGZD\± )O1<&  now-routine Election Day romps with post- early rumors that Governor-elect Andrew
 election parties and bubbly. Cuomo might be angling to stage a coup
+DQVRQ)LWQHVVȓYHUL]RQQHW_ZZZ+DQVRQ)LWQHVVFRP “I had a slice of pizza and a glass of Diet
Coke at the Chelsea Reform Democratic Continued on page 16
November 25 - December 1, 2010 5

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6 November 25 - December 1, 2010

The Housing Authority’s repair system is broken,


Hospital, said asbestos could still be pres-
Continued from page 1 ent in the floors of older NYCHA buildings,
such as Smith Houses, which was built in
eral repair requests to NYCHA, to no avail. 1953.
“I call and say, ‘Listen, I need this… ’ “It’s usually found in floors and hallways,”
They give [ticket numbers] to me, and they Licht said. “The more you are exposed to it,
never come over here.” the more likely you are to get lung cancer 20
Most recently, a NYCHA operator sched- years from now.”
uled a repair for Sept. 23. Martoral said she Only days after Jubilee hurt herself on
waited all day, but no one came. the tiles, a broken window in one of the
“I feel like that’s abuse, because I can’t bedrooms fell forward onto her arm.
live like that. I understand I owe money,” she “I got up to look at my sister’s closet, and
said in broken English. “But they have to do the whole window came off on my arm,” she
the job in housing, too.” explained.
Her daughter Jubilee Domenech, 16, A handyman showed up a few days later
recently injured the nails on her big toes to repair the window, but didn’t finish the
on broken floor tiles on the entryway to the job.
bathroom. She was forced to give up her “He was here for 10 minutes, tops,” she
spot on her high-school basketball team said. “He just left this piece here with a
this fall because, she said, it’s too painful bunch of screws.”
to play. The window is still broken.
“I can’t play no more until my toenails “Don’t touch it,” her mother warned
come off,” she said. Jubilee, fearful that it could hurt her daugh-
Jubilee visited the doctor the day of the ter’s arm again.
accident, but she was too scared to go back The pipes above the toilet leak intermit-
and get her nails removed. Her goal of earn- tently, causing water and plaster to rain
ing a basketball scholarship at a state univer- down.
sity is now on the line. “When we flush the toilet, it goes crazy,”
“My toes are bothering me,” she said, Martoral said.
“and they’re making me think twice about She has filed a complaint for that, too,
what I want to do.” but doesn’t have a scheduled appointment.
The apartment’s cracked floor may pose Jubilee, in the meantime, wears a sweater Photo by Aline Reynolds
other health problems, as well. Dr. Warren Alfred E. Smith Houses tenant Nadya Martoral showed her work-order list — with
Licht, chief medical officer at Downtown Continued on page 7 about 10 pending items — for her apartment.

STATE SENATOR NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER COUNCIL MEMBER


DANIEL SQUADRON SHELDON SILVER MARGARET CHIN

and THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK


invite you to a

CUNY COLLEGE
INFORMATION FAIR
FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, ADULT LEARNERS

SEWARD PARK EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS | 350 GRAND ST. (LUDLOW STREET) | MANHATTAN

SUNDAY DECEMBER 5, 2010 11 A.M. - 2 P.M. REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED


November 25 - December 1, 2010 7

say frustrated tenants


But the renovations will not come anytime
Continued from page 6 soon.
In the meantime, they face health risks.
in the house to protect her arms against the According to Dr. Licht, “Mold has spores,
falling plaster. and spores act as allergens,” often leading to
Aixa Torres, president of the Smith asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Houses Tenant Association, established a As a short-term fix, Cody sprays her walls
grievance committee last spring to document with Lysol, putting a towel over her nose to
tenants’ complaints and to assist those who avoid inhaling the mold.
don’t speak English. Earlier this month, she “I run out of the bathroom and close the
conducted a training session to teach resi- door, so when I go back inside all those black
dents how to set up an appointment through mold spots are off the wall and the ceiling,”
NYCHA’s Centralized Call Center. she said.
Torres is fed up with the repairs system, Long-term inhalation of mold can lead
which she said is proving futile. Based on to an inflammation of the lungs, according
the repairs schedule, her ceiling fan isn’t sup- to the National Institute of Health. Indeed,

HOLIDAY
posed to be fixed for two years. Cody reported that her allergies have gotten
“I’m just, like, done with them,” she said. progressively worse over the years.
“If we have to do litigation, we’re going to “I’ve taken more allergy medicine this

HAPPENINGS
go that route.” year than any year ever,” she said, noting
Dorothea Cody, her husband, Roland,
and their seven children have lived since
2003 in the Rutgers Houses development
on the Lower East Side, just north of the ‘I’m just, like, done with
Manhattan Bridge. Their crumbling bath-
Holiday Toy Drive
room causes constant leaks in the apartment them. If we have to do
next door, occupied by the elderly Mrs. M O N DAY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 0
Chen. litigation, we’ll go that U N T I L T H U R S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 0
“She gets flooded every time we take a NYU’s Office of Government and Community Affairs and the Administrative
shower.” Cody said. “After we shower, she’s route.’ Management Council are collecting new, unwrapped toys to be donated to
mopping up a quart of water.” over 1,500 children from the Lower East Side. If you would like to make
Chen wasn’t available for comment, but Aixa Torres a donation, please call the Office of Government and Community Affairs
Cody described her neighbor’s conditions: at 212.998.2400. Your gift will be distributed at the 9th Precinct Community
“The wall is so damp, it feels like cardboard. Council Holiday Party.
All of the tile on her floor is up — it’s not
puckering, it’s up. And her hallway wall is that it’s the first year she has taken prescrip- Washington Square Park Tree Lighting
tilting forward. She just had new tiles laid tion drugs for her symptoms.
T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 7, 2 0 1 0 AT 6 : 0 0 P M
again. It looks horrible.” The Codys had another appointment with
Gather by the arch in Washington Square Park for the annual lighting of
The Codys have their own maintenance NYCHA for plastering scheduled for Nov.
the Christmas tree. Sing Christmas carols along with song leader Mary
problems to deal with. Moldy plaster from 15, but they feared it would just be another
the ceiling and walls falls on them when they temporary fix, if that. Getting the affected Hurlbut accompanied by the Rob Susman Brass Quartet and await a special
flush the toilet in their main bathroom. area painted will be a much longer wait, with visit from Santa! The Washington Square Association will provide compli-
“There’s a busted pipe in the wall — they a date scheduled for sometime in 2013. mentary songbooks.
constantly fix the bricks over and over, and By now, Cody and her family’s patience
get the same result in less than six months,” has been pushed to the limit. Washington Square Music Festival Holiday Concert
she said. “I pay too much rent for my bathroom F R I DAY, D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 0 1 0 AT 8 : 0 0 P M
NYCHA has visited three or four times to be looking like this, for so many years,” St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 371 Sixth Avenue
since the spring. Cody said. Don’t miss this free holiday concert directed by Lutz Rath and featuring
“They come in and have a look and they In NYCHA’s Seward Park Extension, just guest artists Stanley Drucker and Naomi Drucker, clarinetists.
say, ‘Oh, that’s the plasterer’s job,’ ” she said. south of the Williamsburg Bridge approach
“And it’s never done.” ramp, Mary Sing, 89, lives in an apartment Winter Choral Concert
“The unions have rules the workers have that is filled with dust. But that’s the least of F R I DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 7, 2 0 1 0 AT 7 : 3 0 P M
to abide by, so they can’t always call in a her problems. Part of her living-room wall
Frederick Loewe Theatre, 35 West Fourth Street
plumber and then a plasterer in the right is ripped wide open, exposing the building’s
Mark your calendar for this annual Winter Choral Concert presented by
order,” explained Victor Bach, a policy ana- rotting interior.
Music and Performing Arts at NYU Steinhardt. For more information
lyst with the Community Service Society, a “They were supposed to fix it,” said her
nonprofit advocacy and research organiza- daughter, Mattie Luther, 70, whose full-time and ticket reservations, pelase call 212.352.3101 or visit www.nyu.edu/
tion for low-income New Yorkers. occupation is taking care of her mother. ticketcentral/calendar. Admission is $10 general; $5 students and seniors.
According to the Codys, there was a time “The minute they fixed it, it started cracking
when NYCHA’s repair system was more — and they left it like that.” Christmas Eve Caroling in Washington Square Park
efficient. The mother and daughter got so frus- F R I DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 0 AT 5 : 0 0 P M
“If they came in and saw what needed trated they called 311, which directed them Meet by the arch in Washington Square Park for caroling on Christmas Eve!
to be done, it was fixed right away,” said back to NYCHA’s call center. The Rob Susman Brass Quartet will lead revelers in singing holiday favorites.
Dorothea Cody. “Now, when you call, they Sing has nightmares of the ceiling caving The Washington Square Association will provide complimentary songbooks.
contradict one another. No one is consis- in on her. She constantly spits into a bucket
tent.” to get rid of phlegm that collects in her NYU’s Office of Government and Community Affairs
Finally, an inspector from the U.S. mouth and throat. 212.998.2400 • community.affairs@nyu.edu • www.nyu.edu/ogca
Department of Housing and Urban “She’s been doing that for four years, since
Development, which has a role in regular I’ve been here,” Luther said.
oversight of all NYCHA properties, visited A few months ago, Luther herself was diag-
the site a few weeks ago. nosed with a throat infection.
“They said the mildew conditions were
unsafe, and we put in an order,” Cody said. Continued on page 8
8 November 25 - December 1, 2010

New repair call center comes under fire; Lack of


developments throughout the city.
Continued from page 7 Annual underfunding “adds to our
structural deficit and hampers the author-
“There was nothing wrong with my throat ity’s ability to meet the maintenance needs
until I came here,” she said, suspecting it is of our aging housing stock,” explained
related to the conditions. Michael Kelly, NYCHA’s general manager,
Eliana Colon, another Seward Park at a recent public hearing.
Extension resident, won’t step foot into her In 2005, the Housing Authority antici-
kitchen, sickened by a putrid smell coming pated a $7.5 billion need for apartment
from a gaping hole above the cabinets. The repairs. Today, however, only one-fifth of
stench comes from mold caused by a leak that those funds is available — not nearly
has persisted for months. enough for the thousands of work orders
Eliana’s son Alfredo, who often stays over- the agency receives each year. Since 2005,
night to care for her, said, “We called [the repair requests have continued to soar,
emergency hotline]. The first time they came, reaching 250,000 last year, while NYCHA’s
they make a little hole to investigate the leak.” budget was further battered by the reces-
That was last February. sion. The authority currently has a backlog
Another handyman visited in June, making of 107,000 work orders, some of which are
an even bigger hole in an attempt to stop the scheduled for 2012 and 2013.
dripping. Tenant advocates, such as Judith
“The guy took a look and said, ‘Oh my Goldiner, supervising attorney at the Legal
God’ — then he went upstairs and never came Aid Society, also believe the problem is
back,” Alfredo said. compounded by NYCHA’s mismanagement
Fungus is now growing in the cabinets, and of the funds it does have. The authority is
the wall below it is soaked in water, making spending excessively on job training, social
cooking in the kitchen no longer an option. Photo by Aline Reynolds services and sanitation, Goldiner said, while
“I have to buy takeout food for her,” The floor tiles in Nadya Martoral’s kitchen, above, and hallway in the Smith Houses neglecting fundamental maintenance of the
Alfredo said. have been in disrepair for years, despite her pleas to NYCHA for repairs. developments.
The Colons’ next repair appointment is “They’re required to provide decent
scheduled for June 2011. In the meantime, times,” Alfredo said of his mother, who has very young and the very old, and people housing. All the rest of it is kind of window
Eliana is considering withholding rent as she been hospitalized for asthma. who already have a diagnosis of asthma.” dressing,” said Goldiner. “There’s a lot of
and her son continue to endure the horrible “Anything that stays damp creates an According to NYCHA, a lack of funding ways that they could save money in their
odor that pervades the apartment. environment for mold to grow,” Dr. Licht is a major problem, affecting the agency’s
“She can’t breathe with the smell some- said. “People who are affected most are the ability to keep up with repairs on its 344 Continued on page 9

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November 25 - December 1, 2010 9

funds is biggest problem


landlords outside of NYCHA, Goldiner
Continued from page 8 explained.
Last March, NYCHA got a welcome
budget and redirect it toward what really infusion of roughly $1 billion from
needs to happen here.” President Obama’s American Recovery and
Kelly announced at the hearing that Reinvestment Act of 2009 that, starting this
NYCHA is trying to do just that: He said fall, is being distributed to the developments
the agency is looking into re-appropriating for basic repairs over the next 15 years. The
$7 million in capital funds for repairs and authority also received a separate allocation
re-evaluating its capital program. of $423 million from the U.S. Department
But it can be a vicious cycle: The less of Housing and Development for capital
the authority invests on its developments’ expenses, including elevator repairs, boiler
aging infrastructure, the greater the need replacements and energy efficiency projects
for individual repairs. in developments across the five boroughs.
“The serious repair needs are coming Now, each development will get its
from the backlog of unmet capital improve- slice of the stimulus money since 21 devel-

HOLIDAY
ments,” explained Victor Bach, a housing opments, previously owned and operated
policy analyst at the Community Service by the city and state, including Rutgers
Society. “With that kind of backlog, you Houses, were federalized earlier this year.
have accelerated deterioration.”
In 2005 NYCHA created a centralized
call center to streamline repair services
across the city. The center operates from 6
a.m. to midnight on weekdays and has an
electronic ticketing system that schedules
‘NYCHA has been plagued
by underfunding, poor
HAPPENINGS
repairs based on urgency. Holiday Toy Drive
Major emergencies, such as gas leaks, M O N DAY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 0
elevator outages or floods, are typically
management and lack U N T I L T H U R S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 0
attended to within 48 hours. But the tenant
still has to schedule a follow-up appoint-
of political will.’ NYU’s Office of Government and Community Affairs and the Administrative
Management Council are collecting new, unwrapped toys to be donated to
ment through the call center for patch- over 1,500 children from the Lower East Side. If you would like to make
up work on the walls or for a floor job.
Daniel Squadron
a donation, please call the Office of Government and Community Affairs
Residents of several Lower East Side devel-
at 212.998.2400. Your gift will be distributed at the 9th Precinct Community
opments believe the system is inefficient.
Council Holiday Party.
“They just pass the buck from one work-
er to another, and nothing ever gets done,” “All developments were hurting before,
Washington Square Park Tree Lighting
said Rutgers Houses tenant Dorothea Cody, because there was less money for each
T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 7, 2 0 1 0 AT 6 : 0 0 P M
who has had a leak in her bathroom for development,” explained state Senator
years. Daniel Squadron. Gather by the arch in Washington Square Park for the annual lighting of
Tenants at Smith Houses and the other But the stimulus alone may not be the the Christmas tree. Sing Christmas carols along with song leader Mary
Lower East Side developments are filling final fix, according to Squadron, who co- Hurlbut accompanied by the Rob Susman Brass Quartet and await a special
out report cards that ask them to assess launched the campaign for federal support visit from Santa! The Washington Square Association will provide compli-
NYCHA’s operations. So far, the call center and has been working with the tenant asso- mentary songbooks.
has received an “F” for timeliness and a “C” ciations of the various Downtown develop-
for overall reliability. ments to expedite repairs. Washington Square Music Festival Holiday Concert
A shortage of union tradesmen is also “The easy solution is always money,” F R I DAY, D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 0 1 0 AT 8 : 0 0 P M
making the situation worse. The total num- Squadron said. “But money is never enough. St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 371 Sixth Avenue
ber of painters, carpenters and plasterers NYCHA has been plagued by three chal-
Don’t miss this free holiday concert directed by Lutz Rath and featuring
available to NYCHA dropped from 805 lenges: underfunding, poor management
guest artists Stanley Drucker and Naomi Drucker, clarinetists.
in 2005 to 765 this year, according to a and a lack of political will.”
NYCHA report obtained by this newspa- Kelly reported at the hearing that
per. NYCHA is making a major effort to fix the
Winter Choral Concert
Meanwhile, the number of individual repair system. The authority is working on F R I DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 7, 2 0 1 0 AT 7 : 3 0 P M

lawsuits against NYCHA over repairs has a comprehensive, five-year strategic plan Frederick Loewe Theatre, 35 West Fourth Street
escalated in the last six months, according to preserve public housing that will “serve Mark your calendar for this annual Winter Choral Concert presented by
to the Legal Aid Society. And some tenants as a vital road map for addressing our cur- Music and Performing Arts at NYU Steinhardt. For more information
are withholding rent, or threatening to do rent maintenance and repair backlog,” he and ticket reservations, pelase call 212.352.3101 or visit www.nyu.edu/
so, until NYCHA fixes their apartments said. The plan will be released sometime ticketcentral/calendar. Admission is $10 general; $5 students and seniors.
— which could jeopardize their housing next year, according to Sheila Stainback, a
status. NYCHA spokesperson. Christmas Eve Caroling in Washington Square Park
“It’s a dangerous situation because when Until then, many residents could remain F R I DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 0 AT 5 : 0 0 P M
you do that, you really risk getting evicted, frustrated and exposed daily to health haz-
Meet by the arch in Washington Square Park for caroling on Christmas Eve!
and you also risk being blacklisted” by ards in their apartments.
The Rob Susman Brass Quartet will lead revelers in singing holiday favorites.
The Washington Square Association will provide complimentary songbooks.
BIG FUN! SMALL BUCKS!
Sun. $3.50 Screwdrivers & our famous Bloody Mary’s, NYU’s Office of Government and Community Affairs

Neighborhood
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281 W 12th St @ 4th St. NYC 212-243-9041
10 November 25 - December 1, 2010

N.Y.U.’s towering blunder inspires us to fight on


fidence that we do see things more clearly than that basis alone, reflects the fact that no one at Washington Square Village slabs, which would
TALKING POINT N.Y.U. does; and with the sure knowledge that
these high-priced lawyers and architects are
N.Y.U. has any aesthetic sense nor any basis on
which to execute good judgment.
absolutely destroy any sense of common com-
munity; closing the garage on the Washington
BY MIRIAM KAPLAN really only hired to see to the accomplishment Absolutely everything about Plan Square Village block and replacing it with
I want to say that this statement from of the will of those that hire them, and not to 2031 shows poor judgment: the sought- parking on the Pei block, with no mention of
Mr. Pei is extraordinary good news. Not just defer to excellence where it exists. after rezoning to C6-2; putting retail how Washington Square Village’s residents
because New York University has been defeat- I have been studying the history of N.Y.U. on Mercer St. when there is plenty are to get from the garage to their buildings
ed on the landmarks issue. But more impor- this week: For the university campus and for — even if an entrance were to be provided on
tantly, because it shows how completely N.Y.U. several buildings around the square they had Bleecker St., there would still be a minimum of
miscalculated in this regard. the services of Stanford White; for Bobst they the equivalent of a three-block walk in the open
In all of our statements at the Community had Philip Johnson; for the south superblock Everything about Plan from the garage to 1 and 2 Washington Square
Board 2 hearings, we danced around the rea- they had I.M. Pei — all of them great architects, Village.
sons for objecting to the fourth tower. We were who had a vision about what the architectural 2031 shows poor That top-class architects would sign off on
addressing many important issues — in truth, face of a great university should be and who such a design — which effectively destroys
not so clearly and starkly as the statement from had a tabula rasa on which to work. judgment. an existing residential community that pro-
Henry Cobb does — but we were on target. For Plan 2031, N.Y.U.’s biggest redesign vides some blessed open space in an open-
And yet N.Y.U. couldn’t or wouldn’t hear effort — probably since its former University space-starved part of the city — just to sat-
the message. Heights campus in the Bronx — the architects isfy the expansionist plans of N.Y.U. reflects
With all their high-priced consultants were constrained to work within an existing poorly on them. They may be world-class
— architects and lawyers — they couldn’t context. N.Y.U. hired big guns. But an existing of retail one block away on Broadway; hous- but their behavior is that of hacks who go along
see how wrong they were about the overall context is not a proper arena for great archi- ing 1,400 students in a dormitory on a block with anything just to get the commission.
design of the block. And they substituted all tects who have their own vision and ego. that has about 500 apartments; increasing Getting back to Cobb’s statement:
that foolish talk about dialogue for a true What N.Y.U. got was a plan that clashed as the underground acreage, even though there Just because we have this good news,
recognition of the spatial relations. badly as plaid with floral print. is a stream that runs under the two blocks; we cannot relax. But we can go for-
And in that is a great hope to take us for- What was needed were not-so-great archi- eliminating the driveways on the Washington ward, in the full confidence that an army
ward. Just as N.Y.U. was blind with regard tects — people who could subsume their ego Square Village block, which would isolate is going to form behind us. Because I certainly
to aesthetics, they are blind to the intent of and come up with a design for new buildings the two slabs from each other, but more believe that people will come out from the
zoning. And it is that blindness that will defeat that integrated with the existing landscape. importantly would curtail the accessibility of woodwork to support us — now that they
them in the end. That the architects could not see the ugliness ambulances, school buses, deliveries and so forth have the confirmation that N.Y.U. so mis-
So far, it doesn’t look like we will have of their plans (not just the Pei block, but even to each of the complex’s buildings; putting retail judged this one issue.
someone like Pei to come forward on a white more so the Washington Square Village block) in the ground floor of the Washington Square
charger in the coming battle — though who is a serious mark against them, no matter how Village buildings, which would totally destroy Kaplan is former chairperson, Washing-
knows what may happen? high their ratings. That no one at N.Y.U. could their residential nature; installing academic ton Square Village Tenants Association’s
In the meantime, we move on with the con- see the ugliness of the plans and reject them on buildings and a public mall between the two Task Force in Response to N.Y.U. Plan

ST. ANTHONY CHURCH


Christmas
S S :
CHEDULE OF ERVICES
154 Sullivan Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 777-2755
New school with British accent
BY ALBERT AMATEAU
A new private elementary school for chil-
noting that Prince Michael of Kent, a cousin
of Queen Elizabeth II, will preside at the
dren 3 to 11 years old, World Class Learning opening ceremony next year.
www.stanthonynyc.org Academy, an affiliate of British Schools of The new school has renovated 50,000
America, is opening next year in the East square feet of the building at 44 E. Second
Village at E. Second St. at Second Ave., in St., which it has leased from LaSalle, the
the former LaSalle Academy. all-boys Catholic high school. LaSalle is now
December 24 The school is enrolling 3-year-olds for sharing the building at 215 E. Sixth St. with
5:00PM - Vigil Mass for Christmas its nursery school, opening in January 2011, St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic elementary
and is accepting applications for children school.
ages up to 11 for the rest of the school, Full-day tuition for the nursery school
December 25 - Christmas which will open in September, said John will be $22,500 per year; for 4- and 5-year-
Taylor, headmaster. olds, the tuition will be $25,500 per year;
12 MIDNIGHT - Mass of the Nativity preceded “We are the only school in the city to offer and for the upper grades, $31,900 per
the International Primary Curriculum — year. The half-year tuition for the nursery
Christmas carols begin at 11:30pm based on the numeracy and literacy program school in January will be $9,400, Taylor
of the English National Curriculum,” Taylor said.
said. The English National Curriculum is the The British Schools of America, parent
9:00AM - Mass of standard primary-school curriculum in the organization of the World Class Learning
United Kingdom, Taylor explained. Academy, has five other primary schools in
the Nativity The English connection goes further. the U.S.: in Chicago, Boston, Washington,
“We have royal patronage,” Taylor said, D.C., Houston and Charlotte, N.C.

11:00AM - Mass of
the Nativity
Art for Haiti raised $30,000
Last month’s Tribeca art auction for Center. “These funds will go a long way
Haiti raised more than $30,000 to help in rebuilding my sister’s school, which is a
rebuild Children Harvest School in Port refuge for its neighborhood and educates
au Prince, Haiti. More than 70 contem- over 250 children in desperate need,”
porary and Haitian artists donated works said Tribeca resident Jacqueline Fils-Aime,
to the auction, which was held Oct. 20 at sister of the director of Children’s Harvest
Manhattan Youth Downtown Community School.
November 25 - December 1, 2010 11

After Pei protests N.Y.U. plan, market is new focus


director, said he was gratified that the uni- Board 2, said she was surprised and relieved including hotel and housing, in the mix.”
Continued from page 1 versity dropped its original plan, “in the face by the university’s withdrawal of its L.P.C. Lynne Brown, N.Y.U. senior vice presi-
of overwhelming opposition, including from application for the 400-foot tower. dent, said in a prepared statement, “From
said. “We expect the Department of City I.M. Pei.” However, Berman added, “N.Y.U.’s “However, we are equally concerned the beginning, we sought a design for the
Planning to certify our ULURP application insistence on moving ahead with its alterna- about the proposal to build on the Morton Silver Towers block that was most respect-
in the late summer of 2011 to begin a seven- tive plans for a development on the adjacent Williams site,” she said. “It is immediately ful of Mr. Pei’s vision. Some people dis-
month review process, including community non-landmarked supermarket site, as well as adjacent to 505 LaGuardia Place and the agreed with our approach, others agreed.
board and department meetings and final community garden and just across the street We believed that among those who agreed
City Council approval,” she said. from Washington Square Village.” was Mr. Pei himself, who expressed no
N.Y.U. decided to drop the tower plan ‘We will be considering the Hamilton said the community board is opposition to the concept of a tower on
after Henry Cobb, a partner of the architec- now trying to learn exactly what the univer- the landmarked site when we spoke to
tural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, sent impacts on light and air, sity wants to build and how it would fit in him directly in 2008. Mr. Pei has now had
a letter to L.P.C. saying that Pei, 93, was the ULURP application. a change of heart. The clarity Mr. Pei has
strongly opposed to the proposed tower on shadows, wind tunnels, “We will be considering the impacts of now provided that the Morton Williams
the landmarked portion of the superblock. the entire project on light and air, shadows, site is preferable is helpful to us in under-
University design consultants had said the open space, traffic, wind tunnels, open space, traffic, infrastruc- standing how to proceed with our uniform
additional tower would complement the ture and many other factors,” she added. land-use review procedure proposal.”
“pinwheel” arrangement of the Pei design. infrastructure and many N.Y.U. officials said last week that the Cobb said this week that although he
The Cobb letter said in part, “A fourth university withdrew its L.P.C. application was not present at the 2008 conversation
tower is profoundly destructive of the land- other factors.’ as a mark of respect for Pei’s vision and between Pei and N.Y.U., he has spoken to
marked entity because it closes a composition for L.P.C., which in 2008 granted land- Pei and other people who were there.
that was intended to be open and upsets the Jo Hamilton mark protection to the Pei-designed Silver “Mr. Pei made no comment on the fourth
carefully considered balance between solid and Towers plaza with three 300-foot-tall towers tower plan. On that issue he was silent,”
void. It also seriously compromises the gener- around the 36-foot-tall, sculptural rendering Cobb told this newspaper on Monday. Cobb
ous visibility of Picasso’s Bust of Sylvette.” of Picasso’s “Bust of Sylvette.” noted that the conversation occurred shortly
Cobb also said the alternative proposal the remainder of its massive NYU 2031 plan The original N.Y.U. plan called for a hotel before L.P.C. designated the Silver Towers
on the Morton Williams site was “unattract- to add 2 million square feet of space around in the 400-foot tower, and the university complex a city landmark in November 2008
ive as represented in [N.Y.U.’s] filing, but as Washington Square Park, shows that the intends to include hotel uses in an as-yet- — two and a half years before N.Y.U. applied
an as-of-right building…is nonetheless pref- university still does not get it.” undecided location in the larger project. to L.P.C. for approval of the fourth tower.
erable to the proposed fourth tower. Ideally, Berman said N.Y.U. should look to places Hurley said, “Our former proposal had “The letter I wrote to the L.P.C. was nar-
the corner building would be designed so as like the Financial District to absorb its four buildings and our new proposal has rowly focused and carefully written, and the
to make it more responsive to its neighbors growth, and vowed to continue to fight the four buildings. With the withdrawal of the only reason we commented was because we
and to the landmarked entity.” university’s plans for the Village. application for the tower on the landmarked felt obliged to comment on any alteration to
Andrew Berman, G.V.S.H.P. executive Jo Hamilton, chairperson of Community site, we will keep all of the proposed uses, the landmarked site,” Cobb said.

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12 November 25 - December 1, 2010

POLICE BLOTTER
station at Canal and Varick Sts. around 5 p.m.
Guilty of murder Sun., Nov. 14, to discover that her parents,
who had been on the train with her, were
A Manhattan jury on Thurs., Nov. 18, nowhere to be seen. A stranger stopped her
found Jeromie Cancel, 24, guilty of the and said, “You look lost. Let’s look around on
August 2008 strangling murder of Kevin our tiptoes,” and then took her by the wrist.
Pravia, 19, a Pace University student, in The stranger then grabbed the woman’s wallet
Pravia’s Chelsea apartment. The jury delib- from a strap on her wrist and fled. The victim,
erated a day and a half after the end of the 38, lost $68 in cash, credit cards and her
trial, which began Nov. 5, before they ren- Florida diver’s license, police said.
dered the guilty verdict. Cancel encountered
Pravia near Union Square Park and went
him to Pravia’s apartment at 239 W. 15th
St., where he garroted him with an electric A washout
cord while the victim was asleep, according
to the charges. Pravia, an honors student A man entered Savon, the specialty
in the Lubin School of Business at Pace’s soap boutique at 78 Seventh Ave. near
campus near City Hall, had last been seen 14th St., around 5 p.m. Fri., Nov. 19, and
by friends getting into a cab at Gold and told the saleswoman, “This is a robbery.
Fulton Sts. after a party. Cancel was arrested Give me your money,” police said. The Photo by Jefferson Siegel
three days later after burglarizing his father’s woman thought it was a joke and burst
home in Queens. He told police at the time
how he killed Pravia while watching a hor-
ror film. Cancel’s lawyer, Michael Alperstein,
out laughing, but the intruder put his hand
in his pocket simulating a gun and said,
“Give me the money or I’m going to kill
‘Hey, Regis — check it out!’
failed to have the confession excluded as evi- you.” But the woman pushed the burglary Last Thursday was Juror Appreciation Day at Manhattan Supreme Court. An annual
dence. State Supreme Court Justice Daniel button behind the counter and the robber celebration saluting New York City jurors, guest celebrities filling the courtroom jury
Fitzgerald is to sentence Cancel on Fri., fled, police said. box included Kelly Ripa, Jimmy Fallon, Tom Brokaw, Ralph Lauren, Julianna Margulies,
Dec. 10. America Ferrera and Julia Stiles. The celebrities themselves were called for jury duty
in the past year. Ripa, above, held up her certificate of appreciation outside Manhattan
‘This is a stickup’ Supreme Court.
L.E.S. serial burglar pect had credit cards and debit cards, a motorcycle to the Ducati Triumph agency
Police are looking for a man involved driver’s license and $5 in cash in his pos- at 155 Sixth Ave. at Spring St. at 11:20
Police are looking for a suspect they in the robbery of two Greenwich Village session that belonged to the apartment’s a.m. Fri., Oct. 19, for servicing returned
identified as Irving Walker, 40, for 13 bur- bank branches last month. The suspect, residents, police said. on Saturday afternoon Nov. 20 to find
glaries on the Lower East Side from Oct. described as a heavyset white man, 5 feet the bike, valued at $25,000, was gone.
12 to Nov.15. The suspect entered the front 10 inches tall, between 55 and 60 years The agency owner said the bike had been
door of apartments on Madison St. between old, with wavy gray hair, walked into the parked at the curb in front of the location
Rutgers and Catherine Sts.; East Broadway Capital One bank, at 21 University Place, Immaculate arrest after it was serviced.
between Pike and Rutgers Sts.; and Eldridge around 11:10 a.m. Tues., Oct. 5, told the
and Forsyth Sts between Hester and Grand teller, “Let me get my wallet out,” and then Police arrested Michelle Harris, 44, on
Sts., mostly during the early morning hours, tossed a black plastic bag on the counter. Tues., Nov. 16, and charged her with the Aug.
police said. “This is a stickup. No dye, right?” he added. 16 theft of a handbag belonging to a woman Auto-theft reduction
The suspect often woke sleeping resi- The teller began filling the bag with bait who was praying at Immaculate Conception
dents during the burglaries, police said. money, whose serial numbers are recorded, Church, 414 E. 14th St. near First Ave. Car owners may join auto-theft preven-
Police described Walker as a 6-foot-tall, 210- while the robber said, “You know what to Harris was recorded on a surveillance tape at tion sticker programs that all precincts are
pound, black man whose last known address do. Good job.” The thief put the bag of the time taking the bag from a pew next to the offering neighborhood residents. The CAT
was 2636 University Ave., Bronx. money in his coat pocket and fled south on victim, according to the charges filed with the (Combat Auto Theft) program is for cars
He is suspected in the following bur- University Place, police said. Manhattan district attorney. not usually used between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
glaries: 133 East Broadway on Oct. 12; 33 On Fri., Oct. 22, a man with the same Decals on registered cars’ rear side windows
Catherine St. on Oct. 14; 120 Madison St. description walked into the HSBC branch, tell officers they may stop the vehicles oper-
on Oct. 18; 7 Monroe St. on Oct. 22; 105 at 576 Hudson St. at W. 11th St., at 11:34 ated between those hours.
Henry St. on Oct. 25; and 114 Madison St. a.m. He filled out a bank slip at the side Auto theft The HEAT (Help End Auto Theft)
on Oct. 26. counter and then walked up to a teller, put a program is for car owners over age 40
On Nov. 3 he entered an apartment at black bag under the window and said, “This A Brooklyn woman who parked her car who sign waivers saying that people under
122 Madison St. at 2:10 a.m., and entered a is a stickup. Give me the money.” The teller near the southwest corner of Vandam St. age 25 do not drive the vehicle. Decals
residence at 69 Eldridge St. the same day at pushed the bag back out empty and the rob- and Sixth Ave. at 12:05 a.m. Fri., Nov. 19, allow police to stop those cars if the driv-
5:10 a.m. He is also a suspect in burglaries ber walked out and fled, police said. returned at 5 p.m. to find her 2000 Dodge ers look younger than 25. For those and
at 201 Madison St. on Nov. 7, 113 Madison Charger was gone. Police determined the other car-theft prevention programs in the
St. on Nov. 11, 75 Madison St. on Nov. 13, car had not been towed and there were no Sixth Precinct, which covers Greenwich
215 Madison St. on Nov. 14, and 74 Forsyth signs of broken glass indicating a forced Village, see or contact Officer Robert
St. on Nov. 15. Perry St. burglar entry. Jackson, 212-741-4811, at 233 W. 10th
St. In the Ninth Precinct, which covers
A witness who saw a man climb the East Village east of Broadway, contact
through a window at 80 Perry St. at 6:05 Jaime Hernandez, 212-477-7805, at 321
Bad samaritan p.m. Sun., Nov. 14, and climb out again Motorcycle gone E. Fifth St.
a few minutes later, called police, who
A visitor from Florida exited the subway arrested Aniyah Simone, 16. The sus- A Brooklyn man who brought his Alber t Amateau
November 25 - December 1, 2010 13

Photos by The Anonymous Photographer

In the empty underbelly of the beast, street art lurks


The Underbelly Project, an illegal show of street art, curated by street artists PAC and Workhorse, fills the inside of an abandoned Brooklyn subway station. The project began
in 2009. Artists, 103 in all, were escorted into the space individually to create their works. According to the project’s Web site, “Unobstructed by the pressures of commercial
sales, e-mail or daily routines, each artist painted one full night.” (There’s definitely no e-mail, since four stories belowground in the century-old station, there’s no WiFi.) It’s
one of the largest shows of such pieces ever mounted in one place. Many of the contributors are significant figures in both the street-art world and the commercial trade that
now revolves around it. Following the space’s opening to select viewers earlier this month, police have made at least 20 arrests of people sneaking in or out. It’s not that
surprising — given that the old station is located underneath a police precinct. Police have said there are no plans to remove the artwork.
14 November 25 - December 1, 2010

EDITORIAL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Hope for SPURA Art squeezed out of the parks Wish list for the streets
After decades of inertia at the Seward Park Urban
Renewal Area, on the Lower East Side south of the
Williamsburg Bridge, the makings of a viable develop- To The Editor: To The Editor:
ment scheme are taking shape. Where six blocks have Re “East Side, West Side, park improvements all around; Re “The peddling of pedaling and those pesky pedestri-
lain vacant, occupied by open-air parking lots, there are It’s a green golden age” (Progress Report article, by Adrian ans” (talking point, by Daniel Meltzer, Nov. 18):
now visions of housing and commercial development, Benepe, Nov. 18): The situation is astonishingly weird already in the East
and much-needed jobs and economic development. What Commissioner Benepe’s “Green and Golden Age” Village: First Ave. is so chopped up and impossible for cars,
It must be stressed that what exists now are only guide- refers to is green for the money and gold for the profits he is taxis and the disabled, that setting regulations for bikers ain’t
lines, not a plan, per se. But Community Board 3 — which funneling to corporations, BID’s and park conservancies at solving the problems most of us have with this ditzy plan.
has been spearheading this process for the past several the public’s expense. He is the commissioner of park privati- I personally want more bikes and more, more mass tran-
years — is indeed now working toward a final plan. zation; a real estate agent trying to get the highest price per sit, but government continues to conspire against this.
The guidelines were presented Nov. 16 at C.B. 3’s Land square foot for our public parks. I want cyclists (and I also want them regulated, fined,
Use, Zoning, Public and Private Housing Committee. Free speech, artists’ rights and public use of the parks are imprisoned for life if they ride on the sidewalk, ignore sig-
Basically, they call for a mixed-use project, with equal the collateral victims of this real estate scam that puts giant nals, etc.). I want mass transit. I want private cars outta here.
parts residential and commercial development. There holiday vending markets in the most crowded parks, and O.K., so I want too much.
would be 800 to 1,000 units of housing. Under one pos- luxury condos in new parks. Soon enough, he’ll have all the
sible scenario, the mix could include 40 percent market- trees removed from Union Square Park because they take up Lu Krasne
rate, 30 percent moderate and middle-income, 20 percent valuable space needed by park concessions.
low-income and 10 percent senior housing. For a graphic example of Benepe’s “Golden Age”
No retail spaces would be larger than 30,000 square see this link, http://www.scribd.com/doc/42641529/
feet, effectively excluding big-box stores, though a Holiday-Market-2010-USP . Incoming! Look out — bikers!
supermarket of larger size would be allowed. A movie
theater and parking space would also be included. Robert Lederman To The Editor:
In addition, although they weren’t in the original Lederman is president of ARTIST (Artists’ Response to Re “The peddling of pedaling and those pesky pedestri-
1965 renewal plan, C.B. 3 is also including in its rede- Illegal State Tactics) ans” (talking point, by Daniel Meltzer, Nov. 18):
velopment concept the four Essex St. Market buildings, Great article and right on! The bikers are like kamikazes.
between Stanton and Houston Sts. They ride their bikes everywhere and anywhere at any speed,
Leading the C.B. 3 committee on the renewal area with total disregard for traffic direction, stoplights or pedes-
is David McWater. McWater, when he was board Cyclists must obey rules trian safety — and that’s not just the delivery bikers. There
chairperson, initiated the community-led, contextual needs to be far more oversight and penalties for breaking
East Village / Lower East Side rezoning approved by To The Editor: the law.
the city two years ago, which put height caps on new Re “The peddling of pedaling and those pesky pedestri-
development. He’s confident the SPURA plan will also ans” (talking point, by Daniel Meltzer, Nov. 18): Gretchen Berger
win approval. I used to be a biker and was terrified to bike on the
Next month, the SPURA guidelines will be fleshed streets. Thus, I had to limit my pedaling to the parks, and to
out at C.B. 3, and it’s hoped the board will vote on the get there I would have to walk my bike on sidewalks. I would E-mail letters, not longer than 250 words in length, to
concept in January. But there’s still far to go. The city will have certainly welcomed a bike lane. news@thevillager.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to The
need to do an environmental impact statement (E.I.S.), I no longer bicycle, and am now mostly a pedestrian or Villager, Letters to the Editor, 145 Sixth Ave., ground floor,
then a uniform land-use review procedure (ULURP), bus rider. Bikes scare me to death. They come zooming out NY, NY 10013. Please include phone number for confirma-
then issue requests for proposals (R.F.P.’s) to get devel- of nowhere when I cross the street, completely ignoring red tion purposes. The Villager reserves the right to edit letters
opers for the 10 various sites. All this could take three lights. for space, grammar, clarity and libel. The Villager does not
years, and, of course, construction would be phased in What to do? Bike lanes are not the problem — prop- publish anonymous letters.
over many years. McWater stressed it’s important to get erly used, they could be a boon. But, wherever they bike, if
the approval process completed before Mayor Bloomberg cyclists don’t obey the rules, they are a danger. I don’t really
leaves office — since who knows what could happen
under a new administration? Whatever consensus has
been painstakingly built over the past two years could
evaporate.
understand Meltzer’s objection to the lanes. If there weren’t
lanes, wouldn’t the bikers be on the streets instead, posing
the same menace as they do in the lanes?
Sound off!
The renewal plan itself has expired. But McWater Joan Wile Write a letter to The Editor
said, the city will give priority to former renewal-area
residents who seek to return and get affordable hous-
ing, if their income meets requirements.
In 2003, the city pitched a SPURA proposal with a
EVAN FORSCH
mix of housing, including 400 low- and middle-income
units. That plan was scrapped due to vehement com-
munity opposition. In contrast, this current process has
been community driven.
The key will be getting the area’s local elected officials
onboard, namely Councilmember Margaret Chin and
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. While many residents
of the Grand St. co-ops, where Silver lives, have his-
torically resisted SPURA’s development, opposing more
affordable housing, the co-ops’ residential mix has been
changing, getting younger, more diverse. There’s new
sentiment for movement on these eyesore blocks.
Now that a new, consensus plan is materializing, it’s
incumbent on Chin and Silver to engage and support the
process. If not, a golden opportunity will be lost; who
knows what sort of plan for SPURA will be proposed in
some future round, if any? It’s time for Chin and Silver
to help shepherd this long-paralyzed project through to
fruition. That would be a legacy to be proud of.
November 25 - December 1, 2010 15

Correcting some misperceptions post-St. Vincent’s


of St. Vincent’s decided to close the hospital in no small allocated to St. Vincent’s can be used to reopen a hos-
TALKING POINT part because of its overall debt of more than $1 billion,
much of which is owed to TD Bank and GE Capital. It
pital. In fact, only after we have the pieces in place for
a viable hospital will federal funds — such as mortgage
BY CHRISTINE C. QUINN, is true that a Health Department regulation does require insurance and healthcare grants — be available. By con-
JERROLD NADLER, that while a hospital is shutting down, it must care for its ducting an assessment, and clearly establishing a strong
THOMAS K. DUANE patients as it arranges for them to be moved elsewhere. foundation for a hospital, we can and will attract a new
AND RICHARD N. GOTTFRIED sponsor and generate crucial city, state and federal gov-
As we move forward in the aftermath of the tragic loss of ernment support.
our community hospital, we — the many friends, advocates The bottom line is: There is no magic bullet that’s going
and supporters of St. Vincent’s — must work together to There’s no magic bullet to get us a to get us a hospital immediately. It will take a lot of hard
take all of the positive steps we can to restore emergency work to get the decisions made and the financing raised. No
and acute-care services to our community. Having all the hospital immediately. one is happy with this situation. In fact, we are all angry and
ammunition we need in this battle is essential. Therefore, devastated by this tragedy. However, we are taking the need-
documenting the specifics of what services we need with a ed steps to make our healthcare whole again. Getting good,
community health assessment is critical to this mission. solid data to prove the case is an essential part of the job. So,
We believe our community needs an acute-care facility Unfortunately, we cannot rely on city zoning to force too, are demonstrations, letter writing, community building
and emergency room. But it will take hard facts to convince a hospital to re-emerge. Nowhere in the city’s Zoning and other advocacy, creativity and strategic thinking and
a potential hospital operator to invest the necessary hun- Resolution does it allow for a local government to force planning. No one tactic is exclusive. All are necessary. We
dreds of millions of dollars to finance a new facility, and no a property owner to use a piece of land for one specific must and we will work together to regain a hospital and, in
one else is going to gather this key data. Therefore, we, as a purpose — especially when the land is currently con- the meantime, maintain and expand high-quality accessible
community, must undertake this process ourselves and work trolled by the federal bankruptcy court. That is the real- healthcare for all, regardless of ability to pay.
together to compile that information. ity of the situation.
Opening a hospital takes more than knowing in our And, also unfortunately, neither the federal funds Quinn is speaker, New York City Council; Nadler is con-
hearts that it is needed and demanding it fervently. It also received by the Lower Manhattan Development gressmember for the Eighth District; Duane is state senator
takes reliable data to document to others that the facil- Corporation for rebuilding and revitalizing Downtown for the 29th District; Gottfried is assemblymember for the
ity is necessary and will be viable. That’s precisely what post-9/11, nor the federal healthcare grants previously 75th District.
we’re trying to do, with the support and participation of
a long list of community members, community organiza-
tions, healthcare workers and other advocates.
In our efforts to move forward in meeting the health
needs of the community, we would like to correct some
misconceptions that we have recently heard.
First of all, the assessment is about guiding future
healthcare planning efforts and its scope is being driven
by a broad coalition of community stakeholders, not by
any private parties or special interests.
Additionally, North Shore-L.I.J. has already begun
development of its urgent-care center and that center
will move forward regardless of the community needs
assessment already underway.
We would also like to clarify that while the New York
State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st
Century (the “Berger Commission”) did identify several
hospitals and nursing homes as unnecessary and forced
mergers and closings, it did not state in the affirma-
tive that every other facility was needed. In a July 15,
2010, letter to Community Board 2, David Sandman,
the executive director of the Berger Commission, stated,
“The Commission made no specific recommendation or
findings regarding St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan —
Greenwich Village Campus.”
While Section 2806 of the New York State Public
Health Law does require the Health commissioner to Photo by Lincoln Anderson

make certain findings before closing a hospital, that sec- Call it the ATM that never sleeps in the city that never sleeps. Raising the
tion only applies if the commissioner, not a hospital’s
board, is going to force a hospital to shut down. It has
SCENE ordinary ATM sign to another level, a deli at Ninth St. and Second Ave. sports a
sidewalk-spanning, completely ATM’ed-out, neon canopy — leaving no doubt that
nothing to do with the St. Vincent’s situation. The board there is, truly, a 24-hour, cash-dispensing machine within.

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16 November 25 - December 1, 2010

G.O.P.’er: Democrats could be in for a close shave


“The Tea Party, it’s O.K., wake up a lot of retrospective on the process, particularly Through his New York Uprising group,
Continued from page 4 people,” Scala said. “I think it’s a good idea. on the spiritually and corrupt Democratic Koch has been leading the push for reform
We gonna be in great shape.” Party of New York, which is anything but in Albany. In the state Senate, with 62 seats,
against him and depose him as speaker, Randy Credico, another local candi- democratic. As Senator Charles Sumner said all but eight members have signed onto the
Silver said he wasn’t worried. date, not an incumbent, didn’t fare too in 1854, ‘A politician loyal to a party cannot Uprising pledge; in the Assembly, with 150
“No. New York has serious challenges,” well running on a third-party line. A stand- be trusted.’ ” seats, 83 have signed.
Silver said. “Right now I’m focused on Unlike Gottfried, former Mayor Ed Koch “So we have a majority in both Houses,”
working with Andrew Cuomo to get New said he does believe in term limits for both Koch said. The pledge calls for three spe-
York’s fiscal crisis under control and get our city and state elected officials. On Nov. 2, cific things: independent redistricting, ethics
economy moving again.” ‘The city go for the in a stinging rebuke to the City Council and reform and a GAAP (generally accepted
Meanwhile, Frank Scala, president of the Mayor Bloomberg, New York City voters accounting principles) balanced budget. So
Albano Republican Club, does feel the tide is, Democrats. They gotta do strongly backed returning to a limit of two far, though, Silver has failed to sign onto
in fact, starting to turn in favor of the G.O.P. terms, overturning the Council’s legislative the pledge.
in both the state and city. A Stuyvesant if the person is good.’ extension of term limits in 2008. But Koch “Ultimately, I don’t give up,” Koch said,
Town resident, Scala has in the past run said he supports a limit of three terms, not “and hope that I’ll be able to get Shelly to
against former Councilmember Kathryn Frank Scala two. join the reform movement.”
Freed and former Assemblymember Steve
Sanders, whose seat Democrat Kavanagh
now holds.
In a heavy Italian accent, Scala spoke
in a phone interview from his E. 30th St.
barbershop, La Scala — “like the opera,”
up comic and former head of the William
Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice, he ran as
a Libertarian against U.S. Senator Chuck
SCOOPY’S NOTEBOOK High Line maintenance-and-operation build-
he noted. Schumer after failing to qualify for the Continued from page 3 ing in our Progress Report section last week
“The Republicans decide to wake up a Democratic primary. He got 0.6 percent — incorrectly stated that the Downtown Whitney
little bit,” he said over the sound of whirring or 26,000 votes — on Nov. 2 to Schumer’s $100 a month and can’t be raised. It’s about Museum would be completed at the same
electric shears. “We pick up seven congres- 2.7 million votes. time he got it, since he’s 77 and qualified for it time as the adjacent, planned “M-&-O” build-
sional seats in New York State.” “I lost my interest after Schumer and the 15 years ago. Ray once again is amazed by his ing, in mid-2013. While the article was cor-
A problem for the G.O.P., though, he state Democratic Party knocked me off the super staffer Eryn, who not only single-hand- rect in saying the Gansevoort St. museum’s
acknowledged, is that New York City voters Democratic primary ballot,” Credico said. “I edly saws up and demolishes old refrigerators groundbreaking is scheduled for May 2011
tend to back the straight party line. lost even more interest when I was restricted for him, but biked all the way Downtown — just six months away! — setting the record
“New York City go for the Democrats. to one box on the ballot, even though I was several times to get the necessary paperwork straight, museum spokesperson Stephen Soba
They gotta do if the person is good,” he said, nominated by two parties. The judge ruled so he could get his SCRIE. said, “The Whitney has no intention of com-
as in, voters should base their decision on the in my favor but stayed the decision till pleting construction by 2013. Our planned
individual candidate, not solely the party. after the election. I am writing a scathing CORRECTION: The article on the new date of completion is 2015.”

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November 25 - December 1, 2010 17

EASTVILLAGERARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Pacino ‘very good’ — but ‘Merchant’ misses the point
Tallmer ranks four Shylocks, wonders what Mostel would have done
or? Indifferent to indistinguishable. One
THEATER is the show’s Bassanio (David Harbour).
He’s the heavy who needs the dough,
almost gets his buddy carved up for the
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE sake of those 3,000 on-demand ducats
Written by William Shakespeare and then wins the girl who won the case,
only to betray her in the next minute by
Directed by Daniel Sullivan giving away that ring she’d given him.
Through Jan. 9, 2011 Another is that most obliging buddy,
Antonio (Byron Jennings). In director
At The Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th St.) Daniel Sullivan’s staging, these two chaps
For tickets ($66.50-$136.50), call 212-239-6200 spend an awful lot of time periodically
clenched in one another’s arms, staring
into one another’s eyes.
I’m fully aware that Shakespeare has
BY JERRY TALLMER Bassanio more than once employ the word
Believe it or don’t, but I am not old enough “love” in passages like:
to have seen the great Jacob Adler’s astonish-
ing 1902-03 performance as a Shylock who To you, Antonio,
spoke only Yiddish throughout a Broadway I owe the most, in money and in love,
production of “The Merchant of Venice” in And from your love I have a warranty —
which all around him were speaking elegant To unburden all my plots and purposes
Elizabethan English. How to get clear of all the debts I owe...
That in itself was a point sharply made:
“The Merchant of Venice” is bad for the One footnote. At the Broadhurst these
Jews. Is good for the Jews. Is both. days and nights, Al Pacino is the shortest
Al Pacino can never be accused of bom- male on stage. I imagine this was deliber-
barding us with either Yiddish or high- ate casting: the Little Jew, dashing here
flown-sounding English. He just gives us a and there among these giant gentiles.
Shylock of high Pacino intensity and a lot of As for the ladies, Portia is a bifurcated
motion — Jews and Italians do a great deal role (half merciless ingenious mercy-quot-
of speaking with their hands, so the legend ing lawyer, half idiot love-struck teensy-
goes — and high Pacino intensity is compel- weensy) that has defeated more than one
ling enough to make anyone, even me, want actress over the ages. I don’t know if it
to rush to The Broadhurst Theatre to see defeats Lily Rabe, because, if I could
how he, and it — this outdoor “Merchant” hear every syllable of Pacino’s, I could
brought indoors — makes out. fully decipher not one of hers until she
He: Very good. It: Not so good. exploded — over-exploded — as the trial
First place, the costuming. The gentle- of Antonio and/or Shylock begins. For the
men of the Rialto in sort of stiff, dark, rest, her unfortunate output was rather
wide-shouldered Ad Age business suits circa like duck quacks.
1950, the idea being to prove once more Unfortunate, too — I guess the word is
for the thousandth time that Shakespeare is gratuitous — is the interjected acting-out
really really relevant, even now. of the punishing baptism of Shylock, in
The women — well, Portia — in sort of the dark, like a mime show, complete with
high school prom gowns circa 1955, when Photo by Joan Marcus splashing water. Pacino took his baptism
Joseph Papp’s Public Theater to be — then Al Pacino ‘gives us a Shylock of high Pacino intensity and a lot of motion.’ and scuttled off, as did the play when
the Shakespearean Workshop Theater — was all those Christian gentlefolk repaired to
just setting forth in such inexpensive plum- we? who spit upon his gabardine and call him revel and romance at Belmont. I am sorry
age on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. There must have been, in theater, such “dog” three times a week and twice on to have to confess that, even if it con-
Relevance? If “If you prick us, do we huge cage-like settings going back into the Sundays, even as they haughtily apply for tains some of the most exquisite poetry
not bleed?” isn’t relevant, now and forever, Twenties and even earlier — but the first a fatal loan. in Shakespeare (“On such a night…”),
what is? ones to thrust themselves into my aware- At the Broadhurst Theatre I could hardly this whole courtship half of the play has
Second place, the setting. I don’t know ness were when Julian and Judith’s Living tell one of these good lads from the other. always bored the socks off me.
where we would be these days without skel- Theatre came back from exile abroad to a They were each trying so strenuously to I mean the Belmont subplot, caskets
etal expressionistic (impressionistic?) stage 1968 repertoire at the Brooklyn Academy of speak that elegant Elizabethan English, in and all. Or is Shylock just a subplot?
sets constructed of metal piping and such- Music with their “Frankenstein” and other contradistinction of the whole Joe Papp idea Oy oy oy, there’s the rub. Over the
like, rods and joints and slabs and chicken such disturbances of the peace. of bringing Shakespeare alive and well and years I have seen four Shylocks: Boris
wire and nuts and bolts; nothing more than Third place, the acting. Pacino is busy- organically to our own populace. Tumarin, 1962 (at Off-Broadway’s no
giant cages, really. busy-busy, dashing all over the stage — but From Pacino’s lips I heard every syl- longer existant Gate Theater); George C.
“Like a prison,” an acquaintance sug- his Shylock is also a good and deeply seri- lable loud and clear. So much for those Scott, also 1962, ripping a passion to tat-
gests. Exactly. But there are no prisons in ous individual. He wants to dig up and who deplore (a) method acting, (b) the ters in Central Park; Dustin Hoffman on
“The Merchant of Venice” unless you mean examine not just his own humanity but late Lee Strasberg — Pacino’s beloved Broadway, 1989 — methodical, reason-
that all Venice is (was) a prison — at least whatever humanity must somewhere exist mentor.
for Jews. But we already knew that, didn’t within all these despicable bullying goyim The other male actors in this endeav- Continued on page 19
18 November 25 - December 1, 2010

Let’s Have Hanukkah...and Chanukah...and Hanukah!


COMPILED BY SCOTT STIFFLER ELEANOR REISSA CELEBRATES box office at 646-437-4202 or visit www.
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Congregation Emunath Israel has come equal sharing on a bill headlined by Tony
up with an innovative way to celebrate nominee and international artist Eleanor CHANUKAH WONDERLAND
Chanukah — by incorporating ice sculpting, Reissa — in her only NYC appearance this What happens for eight consecutive
Jewish music, Chanukah crafts and kosher season. Hailed as one of the world’s most nights, is different each time and offers
latkes. Attendees will have an opportunity gifted interpreters of Yiddish song, Reissa sizzling latkes, delicious donuts, meno-
to choose from a variety of Chanukah activi- is accompanied by a band of musical lumi- rah lighting, chocolate Chanukah gelt and
ties, listen to Jewish music, and participate naries under the direction of Frank London prizes galore? The answer’s not exactly a
in creating Chelsea’s fist ever ice Menorah. (of the Klezmatics). Marty Confurius on brain teaser, given that this is a Chanukah
“Chanukah on Ice” takes place on Dec. 2, the upright bass, Rex Benincasa on per- (Hanukkah?) listing. But one thing’s for
6:30 visit www.chanukahchelsea.com or call cussion and drums, slide trombone player sure — the fact that this particular celebra-
212-242 9882. Brian Drye and pianist/accordion player tion is jam-packed with fun (and maybe
Patrick Farrell bring their talents to the some jam for those latkes?) is a no-brain-
table, as Reissa breezes through an after- er. “Chanukah Wonderland” is My Little
FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKAH noon of Hanukkah songs and musical gems School’s gift to you. Dec. 1 through Dec.
Stuyvesant Square Community Alliance from the Yiddish theater — including Abe 8. Locations, times, prices vary. For event
presents “First Night of Hanukah” — a free Ellstein’s “Abi Gezint” and “Oy Mama details and registration, visit www.mylittle-
Hanukah Lighting led by TORAHnyc (with Am I in Love.” Those who aren’t fluent schoolnyc.com.
East End Temple) in Yiddish (and aren’t even Jewish) won’t Photo by Stephen Kunken
There will music, refreshments and be left in the dark: Reissa will intersperse Keep your eye on the (Yiddish) sparrow:
Hanukah surprises for the kids! Wed., Dec. Yiddish selections with songs like “Que Eleanor Reissa. COMMUNITY HANUKKAH
1. Two lightings, at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sera, Sera,” “Brother, Can You Spare a CELEBRATION ON THE L.E.S.
at W. Stuyvesant Square Park (16th St. & 2nd Dime?” and even “Yankee Doodle.” Sun., 36 Battery Place). Tickets are $18 ($15 for What do you expect for nothing? How
Ave., near the statue of Peter Stuyvesant). For Dec. 12, 2:30 p.m., at the Museum of Museum and National Yiddish Book Center
info, call 212-717-4613 x6. Jewish Heritage (Edmond J. Safra Plaza, Members). To order, call the Museum Continued on page 19

Just Do Art!
COMPILED BY SCOTT STIFFLER proceeds to animal charities). The two-drink
minimum is your gift to yourself. So drink
CHITA RIVERA AT BIRDLAND up and rock out — Fido and Fifi are counting
Too bad the charismatic, won’t-coast- on you. For reservations, call 212-757-0788
on-her-legacy Chita Rivera is like Christmas after 4:30 p.m. Find out more about the
— because we wish she’d come around (to band at www.HouseCallsForYourPet.com,
Birdland) more than once a year. Her most and listen to them at Pet-Rox on MySpace
recent concert there, in 2009, was a nearly Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures &
90-minute intermissionless lesson on how Music Downloads.
to work a crowd, sell a song and earn an
audience’s love and respect (even though
it was hers for the taking from the moment LECTURE: INVESTIGATING
she set her tiny feet and toned gams on the MANHATTAN’S MOST HAUNTED
stage). Ever the seasoned pro, it’s likely this HOUSE
week’s two-night/four-show gig will deliver The Merchant’s House Museum
the same dishy pre-song patter that gave delivers a unique trip back in time all
2009’s performance its inside track appeal. year long — but from October through
No word on the set list, but you’ll be telling December, they’re especially busy. A vari-
the story for years to come if Rivera dips ety of holiday-themed fare is coming
into last year’s repertoire and blazes her soon. But before the calendar page turns
way through the most articulate, relentless, to December, MHM hosts one last para-
practically breathless interpretation we’re normal-centric event (which acknowl-
ever likely to see of the Jacques Brel song edges its well-earned reputation as the
“Carousel.” At 8:30 p.m. & 11 p.m. on Fri., most haunted house in Manhattan). For
Nov. 26 & Sat., Nov. 27 — at Birdland (315 three years, paranormal investigator Dan
West 44th St. btw. 8th & 9th Aves.). Music Photo by Laura Marie Duncan Sturges has been collecting startling evi-
charge: $40 side seating and $50 center We should all look so good: Chita Rivera rules the roost at Birldand. dence which makes a convincing case
seating ($10 food/drink minimum). For that something intriguing, strange and
reservations, call 212-581-3080. Visit www. minimum; 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. But just below the furry surface, the band (so far) unexplained is happening here.
BirdlandJazz.com. is concerned with how those songs speak Is it the work of former Tredwell family
Mondays at Birdland, “Jim Caruso’s Cast to the human condition. Now, after hav- residents and servants reaching out from
Party” features open mic talent from journey- ROCK ‘N RUDOLPH HOLIDAY ing performed at pet-centric places such as the final frontier? The skeptical Sturges
men crooners and more than one Broadway FUNDRAISER Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Zoo, the band is won’t say — he does invite you to draw
baby who just can’t stop singing on her one It’s been over a dozen years since vet- bringing their act to a place which has seen its your own conclusions after learning about
night off. Taming the wild cabaret aesthetic erinarian Jeffrey Levy formed “Pet-Rox” — a share of rare and strange birds: that legend- his investigative techniques and hearing
— and charming the socks off the crowd as musical charity group founded composed ary Restaurant Row cabaret space known as recordings of disembodied voices and
he plugs elsewhere gigs of guest performers entirely of individuals involved in the pro- Don’t Tell Mama. Thurs., Dec. 2, 9 p.m. at, viewing photos containing orbs of light
and hawks “tonight only” discounts on those motion of better animal welfare. On the well, Don’t Tell Mama (343 W. 46th St. btw. and a ghostly silhouette. Tues., Nov. 30, 7
swanky $10 “Cast Party” T-Shirts — is your surface, their musical selections all relate to 8th and 9th Aves.). The donation, $25, is
affable host, Jim Caruso. $10 cover/$10 the creatures we co-inhabit the planet with. your gift to Pet-Rox (who will donate partial Continued on page 20
November 25 - December 1, 2010 19

Hanukkah
ing, dreidel games, kosher refreshments,
Continued from page 18 tours of the Preschool and more. This
year’s celebration will also feature the
about dreidel games, storytelling, songs and premiere screening of a new series called
a menorah lighting? That’s what you’ll get, “Shalom Sesame” (from the creators of
for FREE, at this Hanukkah celebration Sesame Street). “Chanukah: The Missing
for the Lower East Side community! Join Menorah”finds that super-special blue
friends, neighbors and classmates for a fun, monster Grover stressing when his spe-
meaningful kickoff to this year’s Festival of cial friend Anneliese van der Pol (of
Lights. Play dreidel for gelt, and take part in “That’s So Raven” fame) gets caught in
storytelling and songs before promenading a game of tag with a chicken and loses
from the historic Mazer Theater to event her special menorah — just as Chanukah
sponor The Educational Alliance — for a fes- is about to begin! This first-ever com-
tive first lighting of the menorah. This event munal viewing of the film, coordinated
is FREE and open to the public (perfect for by the JCC Association, will be a special
families with kids of all ages). Wed., Dec. 1, holiday treat for kids and parents alike.
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 197 E. Broadway Sun., Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The
(btw. Clinton & Jefferson). For info, visit Educational Alliance Preschool (197 E.
www.edalliance.org or call 646-395-4245. Broadway. btw. Jefferson & Clinton Sts.).
FREE. Appropriate for children age 6
and under. For info, call 646-395-4251
HANUKKAH CELEBRATION AND or visit www.edalliance.org/preschool.
OPEN HOUSE NOTE: The Preschool offers full day, half
The Educational Alliance Preschool day, extended day and 2, 3, 5 day/week
hosts this FREE Hanukkah event for Kids options. Financial aid is available. To
& Families. Come celebrate Hanukkah learn more and set up a tour, please call
and learn about Educational Alliance 646-395-4250 or email preschool@edalli-
programs for toddlers and preschoolers. ance.org. Applications are due December
Festivities will include Hanukkah arts 30th, 2010. The Preschool is located at
& crafts, dancing, sing-a-longs, storytell- 197 E.Broadway on the Lower East Side.

‘Merchant’ misses the point


disdainful man of some intellect, looking
Continued from page 17 down with utter contempt on all these
wastrel mercantile pleasure-seeking godless
able, businesslike; and now Al Pacino, yahoos gambling away recklessly with car-
2010, at the Broadhurst. goes far at sea. It was the kind of perfor-
It isn’t every day you get to see a motion- mance and sheer conception that made you
picture superstar return to the living stage shiver.
and do a very good job, like three of the four But the best Shylock that could ever be
above. Mr. Pacino, with his unmatchable imagined neither I nor you will ever get to
nervous energy and his bred-in-the-bone see. The son of a bitch died on us in 1977
sincerity, certainly gives us a Shylock to keep during tryouts in Philadelphia on the way in
in the books. to Broadway with this confounding drama.
But the best “Merchant of Venice” I’ve His name was Zero Mostel.
ever seen and savored was the one directed Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimen-
by and starring Russian-born actor-teach- sions, senses…? Anyone who ever saw Zero
er Boris Tumarin, at that little lost Off- in full dimension as Leopold Bloom or
Broadway theater back in 1962. anyone else knows the answer to that. I’m
Tumarin’s Shylock was a cold, austere, confident Al Pacino would agree.

DOWNTOWN MUSIC PRODUCTIONS


Mimi Stern-Wolfe, Artistic Director
EAST VILLAGE CONCERT SERIES

BENSON AIDS CONCERT


WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2010 @ 8PM
ST MARKS IN THE BOWERY
131 EAST TENTH ST. (NR. SECOND AVE)
SUGGESTED DONATION: $12
20 November 25 - December 1, 2010

Just Do Art!
HOLIDAY RECORD & CD SALE
Continued from page 18 The ARChive of Contemporary Music’s Holiday Record
& CD sale helps support the ARChive — a not-for-profit
music library which collects, preserves and provides infor-
p.m. at the Merchant’s House Museum (29 E. Fourth St. mation on popular music from 1950 to the present (they
btw. Lafayette & Bowery). For reservations ($20 general keep two copies of all recordings released in America, and
admission, $10 for MHM members), call 212-777-1089 their collection numbers over two million sound record-
or visit merchantshouse.org/calendar. ings). There will be over 20,000 items for sale — but
don’t worry about depleting the permanent collection.
The items are new donations from record companies and
BLACK GOLD — THE PASSION OF ALEIJADINHO collectors, and there’s not a used, returned or defective
Music, dance, mask work, puppetry, poetry and video product in the bunch. What you will find, though, will be
projections are used to tell the story of Antonio Francisco collectible LPs priced below book value, hundreds of CDs
Lisboa (1738-1814) — Baroque sculptor of Brazil. “Black priced at $1 to $5 each and cassettes 4 for $1.00. Not
Gold” is the dramatic account of a man born a slave and enough? There will also be many hard to find 7” singles,
freed at birth by his Portuguese father, a master builder shelves of new music books, African, Reggae & world-
of churches. Winning Brazil’s Grand Prize at the age of music releases, Classical LPs (most for 50¢ or LESS),
18, Lisboa became the Michelangelo of his country. His videos, 60s psychedelic posters, and Sony Yule log DVDs
life parallels the gold rush in the colonial cities and the (just released by Johnny Cash, Mariah Carey and Kenny
development of Brazil in arts, religion and politics, reach- Chesney, for $5 each). For the dis-en-vinyled, ARChive’s
ing for independence from the Portuguese and its own newly-departed food stylist neighbors left behind “TONS
identity. Sat., Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 5 at 3 of high-end and everyday kitchenware.” Support the
p.m. at Shooting Star Theatre in South Street Seaport ARChive mission by becoming a member, and you’ll shop
(40 Peck Slip, 2 blocks north of Fulton St. btw. Front the sale before the general public and be welcomed at
and South Sts.). Admission $18.00. For reservations, Image by Eric Zim their Dec. 9 cocktail party. For membership details and
directions, and further info: www.ShootingStarTheatre. Ho, Ho, Retro: Stock up on Record & CD stocking other info, call 212-226-6967, visit www.arcmusic.org
org or 646-825-1864. Also visit www.NYartists.org or call stuff at the ARChive Holiday Sale. and check out their blog (arcmusic.wordpress.com). The
212-242-6036. sale takes place Sat., Dec. 11 through Sun. Dec. 19, daily

Support your local cinema!


FILM FORUM CINEMA VILLAGE FILM FORUM
At 209 W. Houston St.; Call 212-727-8110 or visit www. At 22 East 12th St. (btw. University Place & 5th At 209 W. Houston St.; Call 212-727-8110 or visit www.
filmforum.org. For the Box Office, call 212-727-8112. Ave.). Call 212-924-3363 or visit www.cinemavillage. filmforum.org. For the Box Office, call 212-727-8112.
A nonprofit cinema since 1970, Film Forum is serious about com. A nonprofit cinema since 1970, Film Forum is serious
delivering on its original mission statement. That mission? To Built in 1963 “in the shell of a turn of the century fire sta- about delivering on its original mission statement. That
provide a home for “NYC theatrical premieres of American tion,” Cinema Village’s three screens thrive thanks to the fact mission? To provide a home for “NYC theatrical premieres
independents and foreign art films” as well as “repertory selec- that they “exist where we are: in the midst of most diverse, of American independents and foreign art films” as well as
tions including foreign and American classics, genre works, cosmopolitan and cine-aware of cities.” “repertory selections including foreign and American clas-
festivals and directors’ retrospectives.” The third screen “is sics, genre works, festivals and directors’ retrospectives.”
dedicated to extended runs of popular selections from both The third screen “is dedicated to extended runs of popular
programs, as well as new films for longer engagements.” ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES selections from both programs, as well as new films for lon-
At 32 Second Ave (at 2nd St.). Call 212-505-5181 or visit ger engagements.”
www.anthologyfilmarchives.org.
THE ANGELIKA FILM CENTER & CAFE Since 1970, Anthology has sought to “preserve,
At 18 West Houston St. (at Mercer St.); 212-995-2000; exhibit, and promote public and scholarly understanding IFC
www.angelikafilmcenter.com. of independent, classic, and avant-garde cinema.” That At 323 Sixth Ave. (at West Third St.) Call 212-924-7771. For
This Arthouse cinema, with a cafe for discussion and translates, rather well, into screening over 900 film and the Box Office, call 212- 924-5246 or visit www.ifccenter.com.
socializing, boasts locations in both New York and Texas. video programs annually — with time left over to publish Open since 2005, it’s hard to imagine the neighbor-
Its sister space here in the city is Village East Cinema (www. books and catalogs and preserve films (over 800 films hood without this three-screen source of independent, foreign
villageeastcinema.com). to date). and documentary features. IFC regular happenings include
“Weekend Classics” at 11 a.m. every Friday, Saturday and
Sunday — and cult movies every Friday and Saturday at
Midnight. Those dependable happenings are supplemented
by “Short Attention Span Cinema” (short films which screen
before every feature). It also has (as the website boasts and this
author can attest to) — “organic popcorn with real, natural but-
ter” at the concession stand. Sure, you’ll pay a little more for the
real thing; but what else is new?
2
November 25 - December 1, 2010 21

Just Do Art!
giver extraordinaire Edwina Spoonable) sharing he wis-
Continued from page 20 dom on everything from setting the table to making new
friends. That it’s done through clever, catchy and poi-
from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. At 54 White St. (3 blocks south gnant songs makes the experience enjoyable and engag-
of Canal, btw. Broadway & Church. Take the 1 train to ing for kids who know what Edwina’s going through as
Franklin, or any train to Canal). well as adults who remember what it was like. Dec. 17
through Feb. 25 at the DR2 Theatre (103 E. 15th St.).
For tickets ($39), call 212-239-6200. For groups of 10 or
MONK IN MOTION: THREE C’S more, call 646-747-7400. Visit www.dearedwina.com for
“Monk in Motion: The Next Face of Jazz” is a partner- additional details and full playing schedule.
ship between BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center and
the Thelonious Monk Institute that presents the top three
winners from the renowned Annual Thelonious Monk ADVENTURE THEATER!
International Jazz Competition. Each concert features one This interactive theatrical adventure for heroes of all
winner and their combo from various parts of the world, ages is brought to you by The Metropolitan Playhouse.
demonstrating the versatility and variety of different jazz The dynamic improv company Freestyle Repertory
styles. The “Three C’s” program showcases Cécile McLorin Theatre (which has been known to bring audience mem-
Salvant, Charenée Wade and Cyrille Aimée — who will per- bers on stage to become part of the action) leads this
form three 7 p.m. solo concerts on Sat., Dec. 4, 11 and 18 family-friendly immersive experience in which you invent
respectively. Single tickets are $25 (students/seniors, $15). the plot, provide sound effects, become the scenery and
Those who purchase tickets to two performances can see play important characters. “Adventure Theater” is per-
the third presentation free. At BMCC Tribeca Performing fect for children ages 5-13. The details differ every time,
Arts Center, Theatre 2 (199 Chambers St. btw. Greenwich but here’s the plot in a nutshell: The inhabitants of a
& West St.). magical land desperately need your help. A wicked leader
has risen to power, and an emissary is sent to the mortal
world to seek a hero powerful enough to return peace,
DEAR EDWINA happiness and prosperity to the inhabitants. Our Hero
After debuting in 2008, scoring two Drama Desk — played by a child chosen from the audience — travels
nominations and enjoying a successful 2009 holiday sea- to the magical land, meets fabulous creatures, makes
son run, the musical “Dear Edwina” is fast becoming a powerful friends and faces great dangers. Meanwhile,
seasonal family-friendly tradition in league with visiting the wicked leader is all too aware of our Hero’s presence
the Macy’s windows and presenting a long wish list to a and is gleefully making plans for their ultimate meeting!
certain jolly fellow on temporary leave from the North Photo courtesy of the Merchant’s House Museum Dec. 4 through Dec. 12, 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays,
Pole. This heartwarming show about the joys and frus- Who’s that man in the mirror? See “Lecture” on page at Metropolitan Playhouse (220 E. 4th St. btw. Aves. A
trations of growing up. Has our spunky heroine, (advice- 18. & B). Tickets are $10 for children twelve, $12 for adults.
To order, call 212-995-5302 or visit www. metropolitan-
playhouse.org.

WALKING TOUR: MARK TWAIN’S NEW YORK


This walking tour lets it be known that 100 years after
his death, (figurative) footprints remain in Manhattan
made by Samuel L. Clemens (better known as Mark
Twain). “Mark Twain’s New York” reveals the specifics
of the famed Missouri-born, Mississippi-bred author’s
decades-long relationship with our decidedly northern
town. Writer Peter Salwen leads this tour of little-
known Twain-related sites peppered throughout lower
Manhattan. Tickets are $20. The walk starts at Broadway
and Spring St., on the Southeast corner (in front of the
Gap store). Walks take place at 1 p.m., Saturdays and
Sundays, through Nov. 28. The “Mark Twain’s New York”
birthday tour happens at 1 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 30 (Mark
Twain’s 175th birthday!). For details, call 917-620-5371
or visit www.salwen.com/twain.pdf.

FDNY PHOTO EXHIBITION


The FDNY is showcased through the work of New
Orleans native, and photographer, Lilli M. Albin —
whose exhibition “Selections from ‘On The Job’ ” fea-
Image courtesy of Sears-Peyton Gallery NYC tures pieces focusing on the public and private space
“4 Boats and Orange Sky” (2009, 45 x 65 inches framed, oil on paper). within NYC’s firehouses. As for the sponsoring venue:
The New York City Fire Museum (the official museum of
the FDNY) is located in a 1904 firehouse which has been
KATHRYN LYNCH: CHOPPY WATERS repurposed to house over 10,000 artifacts from NYC’s
Whether floating on tranquil waters against a brilliant orange sky or struggling amidst a blue-hued storm, the new oil on rich heritage of firefighting. The Museum is open Tue.
canvas works which comprise Tribeca artist Kathryn Lynch’s third solo exhibition at Sears-Peyton Gallery are intimate con- through Sat., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m.–4
templations of the bliss and danger we court when venturing into uncharted territory. “Choppy Waters” features composi- .pm. Suggested admission is $7 for adults and $5 for
tions centered on a small sailboat navigating stormy waters and charged climates. Lynch describes her creative experience children, students and seniors. The exhibit runs through
as “getting to go on an adventure.” Go on one of your own — through Dec. 18, at Sears-Peyton Gallery, 210 11th Ave., Jan. 30, 2011. At the New York City Fire Museum (278
Suite 802 (btw. 24th and 25th Sts.). Hours: Tues. – Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m and Sat., 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Call 212-966-7469 or visit Spring St.) For info, call 212-691-1303 or visit www.
www.searspeyton.com. nycfiremuseum.org.
22 November 25 - December 1, 2010

CLASSIFIEDS www.thevillager.com
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DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 5:00 PM MAIL 145 SIXTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10013 TEL 646-452-2485 FAX 212-229-2790

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Envelopes, Letterheads &   Helping our
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Call Elizabeth @ 718/812-1910 for the fantastic pizza
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www.thevillager.com
November 25 - December 1, 2010 23

Photos by Clayton Patterson

Oh, ja! Freaky fun at the Wild Style show in Germany


For the past several weeks, documentarian Clayton Patterson has been in Germany with the Wild Style show, a combination of
CLAYTON’S PAGE sideshow-type acts and tattoo convention. He’ll return to the Lower East Side in early December. Above and below left, Lucky
Diamond Rich, the world’s most tattooed man — whose tattoo transformation Patterson has photographed over the years — per-
formed for the crowd. Below right, a horned acrobat hung around.
24 November 25 - December 1, 2010

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