MTA TO RAISE FARES
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority unanimously voted to raise fares on the city’s trains, buses, bridges and tunnels last Wednesday, Dec. 19. The new rates, which will go into effect in March, include a 25-cent increase on base subway and bus fares (up to $2.50), an $8 spike on 30-day MetroCards (to $112) and an extra $1 for a seven day pass (to $30).

Bridge and tunnel tolls all will increase, many by 53 cents to $5.33 for E-ZPass holders and by $1 to $7.50 for cash users. Metro-North and Long Island Railroad fares, which vary by time and distance, will go up on average 8.19 to 9.31 percent per ticket.

The bonus on pay-per-ride MetroCards also will decrease to 5 percent from 7 percent. A bonus will be applied to purchases of $5 or more, however, instead of the current $10 minimum.

To determine the fare changes, MTA accepted feedback from customers on four different proposals for increases earlier in the year. The price hike is the authority’s fourth in five years, and it is expected to generate $450 million annually.

CITY SEEKS TO EXTEND EAST RIVER FERRY SERVICE
Major Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and NYC Economic Development Corp. President Seth Pinsky announced their search for a long-term operator for the East River Ferry service. Launched in June 2011, the ferry this year already surpassed its projected 1.3 million passengers for the entirety of its three-year pilot program.

According to Bloomberg, “We now have the opportunity to build upon this success and sustain this essential part of our transportation vision well into the future. Expanding transportation options along the waterfront will better serve communities and spur new housing and economic development.”

A major success of this service was proven in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, in that it was one of the first forms of mass transportation that got back on its feet.

“This ferry has not only proved to be a reliable and efficient form of transportation in a time of crisis, but New Yorkers also really love taking it the rest of the year,” Quinn said.

BillyBey Ferry Co. operated the ferry for the pilot program, which will expire in June 2014. The new Request for Proposals seeks an operator to maintain, improve and possibly expand this system for the following five years. Responses to the request will be collected through March 2013.

KRUEGER ENDORSES LAPPIN FOR BOROUGH PRESIDENT
Last week, state Sen. Liz Krueger has announced her endorsement of Jessica Lappin in the Democratic primary of Manhattan borough president for next year. Krueger, who noted that she had worked with Lappin for almost 10 years, said she had no doubt about Lappin’s ability to lead and make a difference.

“She shares my commitment to reform and has a proven record getting results for all New Yorkers,” Krueger said, listing results such as limited power of big money, three new Manhattan waterfronts, regulation of crisis pregnancy centers and the building of additional schools.

Lappin, in turn, praised Krueger for her tenacity. “I am equal parts excited and honored to have Liz’s support in my campaign for borough president,” she said. “No one has done more to advance the cause of reform and good government in New York over the past decade than she has.”

RED HOOK WORKERS STAFF NEW FAIRWAY IN KIPS BAY
Workers from the Hurricane Sandy-ravaged branch of Fairway Market in Red Hook relocated to Manhattan last week to staff the company’s newly opened grocery store in Kips Bay. The Red Hook branch, which is right on the water in Brooklyn, remains temporarily closed, and the company has been working to place workers in its other locations and provide free shuttle services to transport them there. The new 40,119-square-foot branch, located in the Kips Bay Shopping Center at 550 Second Ave. (at East 30th Street), is the market’s fourth Manhattan store, and 12th overall. The market has opened nine of its locations in the past six years.

The test run spanning June and July on the service road at Second Avenue between East 33rd and 30th streets was a positive addition to the neigborhood where I have lived since 1985.

People in this area are starved for a nice place to sit in open air that is not private property. The trees offered cool shade, and everyone was polite and largely well-meaning as they enjoyed this lovely place for two summer months. The Doe Fund kept the area spotlessly clean and pleasant. I enjoyed seeing them come into Starbucks each morning and evening after their work duties; they were very polite and courteous to all.

As you know, this area fronts the Kips Bay Towers complex, and I understand there was considerable resistance from some of the real estate professionals who deal in those properties, but in fact, I should think that this lovely pedestrian plaza compliments any potential financial value over which these people might be concerned.

I recall one Kips Bay Towers resident was quoted in Our Town as saying, “We’re against it! Who will sit there but homeless people. It’s very sad.” With lovely fresh breezes coming off the ocean via the East River and the lovely shade trees, this is the best-kept summer secret!

Please bring it back immediately—not a year from now or never.

—Virginia Hooper

Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons

Remember Geico’s reality show spoof commercial “Tiny House”? It may be turning into even more of a reality for solitary New Yorkers who could find themselves living a little more like Alice in Wonderland after imbibing the growing potion. Or, the City could simply be updating itself to resemble living situations in comparable cities worldwide.

(by Alissa Fleck)

Mayor Bloomberg announced today a contest to design a small apartment layout—like 300 square feet small, reports Gothamist. The goal is to meet changing housing and demographic needs and put an end to rampant illegally subdivided apartments in the City.

“Developing housing that matches how New Yorkers live today is critical to the City’s continued growth, future competitiveness and long-term economic success,” said Bloomberg in a statement. 76% of New Yorkers currently live in 1-2 person households, according to Gothamist. 

The competition is called adAPT NYC and the aim is to develop a model building in the Kip’s Bay neighborhood consisting of “micro-units,” or residences smaller than what is allowed under current regulations. The statement okays designs as small as 275 square feet. According to Bloomberg, NYC housing has thus far not evolved to meet the City’s shifting demographics.

Bloomberg said the benefits and stability of affordable housing in the City outweigh the sacrifices for space. The City will temporarily waive zoning regulations for the units in the pilot program while their viability is ascertained. Rental price cannot be determined at this time, but will likely be lower than typical studio rental.

Hopefully this will simply create more options, as Bloomberg promises, rather than merely lower living standards for New Yorkers.

Nine-year-old author Carrie Berk poses with her book Peave, Love and Cupcakes, which she co-wrote with her mother Sheryl Berk, during a book fair for the St. Gregory the Great School at Barnes and Noble. The mother and daughter team met with and took questiongs from students in the third, fourth and fifth grade.

Compiled by Megan Bungeroth, Amanda Woods, Adel Manoukian

ART AT THE ARSENAL
Urban artists will gather June 18 for The Horticultural Society of New York’s Block Party to feature new and original street work in the Arsenal building at Central Park. The silent auction and meet-and-greet event benefits the Society’s GreenHouse Program, which provides horticultural therapy and vocational training for Rikers Island inmates. One of the contributing artists is New York City-based photographer Sue Kwon, known for her black-and-white photographs of the five boroughs as well as portraits of hip-hop performers.

Why do you choose to focus on urban art and the subjects you have photographed?
I lived in Little Italy for a good many years, which is probably why that is the biggest chapter in [my] book. I was fortunate to have lived in a vibrant, multiracial neighborhood with a wealth of characters to get to know and go on to take their portrait.

Why did it take a few years to publish your book, Street Level?
I have the unfortunate tendency to get lost in my contacts while viewing and editing them. It is overwhelming at times to look at so many images, images that tell a definite timeline of my life. I am trying to be more objective when I edit—it is easier to edit with new work, but not so much with the older ones.

What interests you about photography?
For me, photography was the most gratifying way I could express myself. Not a great writer nor always articulate, I felt completely at ease behind a camera, writing/creating black-and-white images that told a story I had experienced. I was also a bit obsessed with capturing time because I found it too fleeting.

The first job you had in the field was working for The Village Voice. How has working for a paper helped you?
The Village Voice was one of the first publications to give me the opportunity to shoot images for them that would support a story and/or cover trends that were going on and needed photo documentation. This to me was far more interesting than assisting fashion photographers—it gave me great practice in shooting organically on the streets, reacting quickly to whatever may come one’s way when shooting in uncontrolled situations.

If any, what frustrations do you encounter when working in your field?
I miss the days when it wasn’t so difficult to find a film lab in NYC.

What advice can you give to new urban artists who are looking to make it?
Work from the heart, with passion. If you have a true vision, don’t let others try to tell you what “style” to have and, of course, stay focused. These things will help you stay true to yourself and your work.

FIFTH AVENUE CHURCH NAMES NEW DIRECTOR
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, a landmark congregation at Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, announced the appointment of Ryan William Jackson as its new director of music and fine arts ministries. Jackson, currently the associate organist and conductor at Christ Church United Methodist in Manhattan, will join the Fifth Avenue staff on July 1.

A native of Toronto, Canada, Jackson is a candidate for a doctor of musical arts in organ performance at The Juilliard School. He holds a master of sacred music in organ performance from the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University and a bachelor of music in organ performance from the University of Toronto.

Senior Pastor Scott Black Johnston called Jackson “an accomplished choral conductor, a brilliant organist, a gifted composer, a thoughtful liturgist and, by all accounts, an excellent colleague.”

Jackson will conduct and lead the 30-voice professional and volunteer choir and serve as the primary organist and pianist for Sunday worship and special events. He also will be the staff liaison to the church’s thriving Arts and Our Faith Committee, which organizes art shows, concerts and other arts events on behalf of the congregation and the community.

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
The East 79th Street Neighborhood Association will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, June 14, at 6 p.m. at the City University of New York, 535 E. 80th St. A representative from the Upper East Side’s 19th Precinct will share crime reports and updates, and the guest speaker will be the director of community relations from the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs. Representatives from local elected officials will also give reports.

KIPS BAY DAY
The Kips Bay Neighborhood Alliance, the Department of Transportation and Community Board 6 presents Kips Bay Day at the Plaza this Saturday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature live music from the Craig McGorry Jazz Trio, chess games with NYChessKids and Zumba with New York Sports Club. Local elected officials will be on hand throughout the day. The plaza is located on the service road on the east side of Second Avenue and is closed off to traffic from 30th to 33rd Street through July 31.

For a full schedule of events, visit KBNA.tumblr.com.

SENATE HONORS EAST SIDE WOMAN
Each year, the New York state Senate honors a group of women recognized for their outstanding community work as “Women of Distinction.” This year, Sen. Tom Duane nominated East Midtown Plaza resident Jeanne S. Poindexter, Ph.D., a fierce advocate for the preservation of New York’s limited equity, affordable co-op apartment buildings and a renowned research scientist who dedicated her career to the education of undergraduate students in the biological sciences.

Poindexter received her award in Albany on May 15. In his essay submitting her for the honor, Duane wrote, “Jeanne is heroic in her efforts, upholding the true spirit of caring, supportive, broadly diverse, cooperative communities.” He also pointed out her volunteer service as a viola player with the Greenwich Village Orchestra, which performs free and low-cost symphony concerts. She has won the national Carski Foundation Distinguished Teaching Award and was chosen to be a fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology.

Pols say Danger in MTS Plans
This Saturday, local politicians joined Upper East Side residents to yet again protest the East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station (MTS), citing the recent placement of the Atlantic sturgeon on the endangered species list as another reason to trash the plan. Opponents also seized upon FAA regulations that strongly advise against placing trash facilities within five miles of an airport in order to lessen the threat of bird strikes on planes taking off.
“Today we are urging the federal government to block the city from constructing this facility just three miles from LaGuardia Airport, in violation of federal regulations intended to prevent bird strikes from endangering air passengers and communities near airports, and to consider this site’s impact on the Atlantic sturgeon, which was recently added to the endangered species list and is known to live in the East River,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney. She released letters she had written to the FAA, as well as to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, asking them to carefully weigh the environmental factors before granting the federal permits the city needs to construct the expanded dock for the transfer station.
Maloney, along with all of the East Side electeds, has been fighting tooth and nail against the garbage transfer station—she appropriated a quote from Winston Churchill that was originally about fighting the Nazis in World War II to demonstrate how hard she will fight the MTS, if that’s any indication of how much she thinks is at stake. She was joined on Saturday by State Sen. Liz Krueger, Assembly Members Micah Kellner and Dan Quart and City Council Member Jessica Lappin, and the fish and aviation puns flew with abandon (the plan should “sleep with the fishes,” the city should “go fish,” the proposal is “fishy,” the whole thing “isn’t going to fly”) as each issued forceful statements against the MTS, hoping that these new factors will hold sway with the right people in government.

Kips Bay Day
This Saturday, May 26, the Kips Bay Neighborhood Alliance, along with the Department of Transportation and Community Board 6, is hosting a community celebration at the Kips Bay pedestrian plaza. The plaza is located on the service road between 30th and 33rd streets, on the east side of Second Avenue, and is closed to traffic through July 31 to allow for community events and create more open space in the neighborhood. The events on Saturday run from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and include live jazz music, chess games for kids, a puppet show by Repertorio Espanol, belly dancing with the Stein Senior Center, pet training from Walter’s Pets, bike training from Sids Bikes and NYBikes and other activities for kids and adults. For more information, email mholli@nyc.rr.com.