Neighborhood Chatter
LOWER MANHATTAN
NO CHARGES YET IN NEWS ANCHOR GREG KELLY'S ALLEGED RAPE CASE Last week, both national and local media news outlets were abuzz over an alleged rape case involving Good Day New York co-anchor Greg Kelly, who is also the son of NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly.
According to reports, the alleged victim, a woman in her late twenties, visited the 13th Precinct Tuesday, Jan. 24, to report that Kelly had raped her in October in the Lower Manhattan legal office where she works. The pair reportedly met on the street at one point and had drinks at a Downtown bar directly before the incident occurred. It has been further reported that the woman became pregnant as a result of this incident and later had an abortion.
NYPD spokesperson Paul Browne confirmed to several publications that the woman's boyfriend confronted Commissioner Kelly about the incident at a public event around the holidays and Commissioner Kelly urged the man to write a letter to the NYPD. Due to the possibility of a conflict of interest if the NYPD were to investigate the case, it has been handed over the district attorney's office, which is refusing to comment. No charges have been filed yet.
In an emailed statement, Kelly's lawyer, Anthony Lankler, wrote, "Mr. Kelly is aware that the New York County district attorney's office is conducting an investigation. Mr. Kelly strenuously denies any wrongdoing of any kind, and is cooperating fully with the district attorney's investigation. We know that the district attorney's investigation will prove Mr. Kelly's innocence."
LMDC APPROVES $14 MILLION FOR PIER 42 Lower Manhattan is about to get a whole lot greener, as the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation voted to approve $14 million in funding to redevelop Pier 42 at Wall Street and complete the East River waterfront park. The vote included $1.9 million set aside for the East River Greenway. The overall redevelopment project for this area would create an almost continuous greenway from Battery Park around to East River Park.
Last November, State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Sen. Charles Schumer announced that they had secured these funds. "For over a year, I worked with Senator Schumer and our colleagues to secure funding for the redevelopment of Pier 42 and the completion of the East River waterfront park," said Squadron. "This funding will be a step toward the world-class waterfront and open space we've long fought for, while continuing the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. By connecting Lower Manhattan's waterfront parks, it will create a 'continuous green ribbon' and move us a big step closer to a Harbor Park-a central park for the center of our city.
"I'd like to thank LMDC for approving this key funding, Senator Schumer, CB3, CB1 and the many community leaders who fought to make this a reality and Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo, Speaker Silver, Council Member Chin and my colleagues in government for their support," he continued.
THE GREATEST CITY ON EARTH Last week, the Downtown Alliance announced their latest ReConstruction installation, The Greatest City on Earth, by artist Linda Zacks, located at Nassau Street between John and Fulton streets in Lower Manhattan.
"As Lower Manhattan continues to grow, construction can be tough on small businesses and confusing for pedestrians. While we look forward to all the great improvements happening Downtown, this latest ReConstruction installation is a creative and resourceful way to support small businesses, direct visitors, residents and local workers and beautify Lower Manhattan all at the same time," said Elizabeth H. Berger, Downtown Alliance president.
The Greatest City on Earth is an ongoing series of skylines by Zacks Funded by a grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Alliance. To learn more about the project, visit. www.downtownny.com/programs/reconstruction.