It is no surprise that the South Street Seaport is still heavily feeling the effects of Superstorm Sandy. At a recent legal clinic aimed at helping small business owners in the area, several owners spoke about the difficulties they are facing.

“The whole neighborhood, which to me is the most important neighborhood in New York City, is dark” said Amanda Byron Zink, owner of the Salty Paw, a South Street dog grooming business.

Issues of damage repair, applying for grants, paying back loans and qualifying for insurance are just a few of the challenges these small business owners face. Not to mention the question of when, if ever, they can put that “open” sign back on their front doors.

Amanda Byron Zink has lived in the South Street Seaport neighborhood for 17 years, with 6 of those years dedicated to running The Salty Paw along historic Front Street.

“I am raising my family here so this is personal,” Zink said. “It’s not just about getting my business up and running again, which is still closed along with 13 other storefronts in long historic Front Street.”

Even businesses that know they will be re-opening soon have found little cause for celebration just yet.

Stella was, and will be again, a Front Street neighborhood bistro owned by Fernando Dallorso. He appears to be better off than many with his restaurant ready to re-open, but as any true South Street Seaport patron knows, true success will only be established in numbers. These small businesses have an unparalleled sense of camaraderie and pride in diversity that has made them historic, and will keep that history alive.

“It’s all hands on deck, or it’s not going to happen,” said Dallorso.

Linda Marini, co-owner of the Italian restaurant Barbarini, intends to re-open as well, though unfortunately it will not be in South Street Seaport. As one of the first storefronts to open on Front Street seven years ago, it will be hard for her to leave this neighborhood. Where does Barbarini go from here?

“I don’t know, right now it’s a lot of question marks,” said Marini.

But in the midst of this four-month haze of uneasiness and uncertainty, there appears to be a little glimmer of hope and help.

Last Thursday, local business owners participated in the first 100 percent pro-bono legal clinic intended specifically for those in the Seaport neighborhood, hosted by Senator Daniel Squadron,  law firm Proskauer Rose LLP, Manhattan Community Board 1, and the City Bar Justice Center.

On the third floor of the Seaport Museum, numerous business owners and lawyers gathered to discuss both the challenges and possible solutions for these local businesses.

“They are going to provide hundreds of hours of pro bono legal services not once, not twice, but on an ongoing basis to those who are affected down here,” explained Senator Squadron in a press conference shortly following this first session.

On the city, the state, and federal level, Senator Squadron acknowledged that there is a lot that still needs to be done. The senator himself, along with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, are sponsoring tax relief legislation for businesses and residents affected by Sandy.

There’s also a simple way for residents to help these businesses.

“One of the most important things is to walk with your feet and your pocketbook and support the businesses that have re-opened, and encourage them to stay open,” said CB1 Chair Catherine McVay Hughes.

The Parks Department announced last week that the restoration of the John Merven Carrère Memorial Stairs at Riverside Park is finally complete. This architectural memorial, located at West 99th Street and Riverside Drive, received renovation funding from both Mayor Michael Bloomberg, amounting to $375,000, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, amounting to $300,000.

Park officials, as well as Borough President Stinger, were extremely happy with the outcome. NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica White expressed her gratitude to Bloomberg and Stringer and noted, “Riverside Park, a New York City scenic landmark, is a recreational oasis of green along the Hudson River waterfront, and we are pleased that New Yorkers can once again access it at the newly restored Carrère Memorial Stairs.”

Borough President Stringer was overjoyed to take part in this monumental restoration. “Riverside Park is the natural sanctuary of the West Side—a place to read, run, walk dogs, and spend time with friends and family,” Stringer said. “With the restoration of this distinguished entryway, the park’s millions of visitors will enjoy safe and easy access to its lawns, courts, and scenic waterfronts.” Riverside Park Conservancy President John Herrold shared in these sentiments, exclaiming, “We have been looking forward to their restoration for a long time. It was worth the wait—they’re beautiful!” Parks Landscape Architect Margaret Bracken designed the beautiful restorations, including a large elevated overlook terrace and bluestone steps.

One might be inclined to ask, who is John Merven Carrère, and why are these steps named after him? John Carrère was a well-respected architect who designed various New York landmarks, including the main building of the New York Public Library and the Frick mansion, with his firm partner Thomas Hastings. Hastings designed the memorial in Carrère’s name in 1919 after his tragic death in an automobile accident in 1911. Hastings’ drawings for the monument created in 1916 make up a large part of the renovation you see today.

Crosstown Bus Capers

Upper West Side residents and commuters should be advised that, in the past week, there has been a string of wallet thefts on the crosstown buses during rush hour from the East Side to the West Side, according to the 19th Precinct.

Near 2nd Avenue and East 86th Street, a 74-year-old Upper West side resident was riding the M-86 crosstown bus at 9:30 in the morning. The victim had her wallet when she boarded, but when she reached her destination, noticed that it was missing, with debit and credit cards as well as $125 in cash inside. Her bank told her that her debit and credit cards had been used, and she canceled them.

Just two days earlier, a 27-year-old woman was riding the crosstown bus at 4:45 p.m. When she got off the bus at East End Ave and East 86th Street, the victim said, she left her wallet on the bus. Her credit cards were used, and she promptly canceled them.

No arrests have been made in either case. Commuters should be aware of their surroundings on the bus, and keep an eye on wallets and other personal belongings.