New Home: The Enterprise sits safely inside the Space Shuttle Pavilion its new home on the deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Surrounded by dramatic lighting and a series of images and video stations, the Enterprise sits just 10 feet off the ground, allowing visitors to walk underneath and around the original NASA orbiter.

Brewer Intros New Bike Legislation

Following last week’s news from the Department of Transportation (DOT) that they will be unleashing a new education and enforcement team for commercial cyclists on the Upper West Side, Council Member Gale Brewer announced that she’s also introducing a new bill to reform the city’s commercial cycling laws at a Council meeting on July 25. Brewer teamed up with Queens Councilman and Transportation Committee Chair James Vacca to craft legislation that will give the DOT more enforcement power over businesses whose delivery cyclists break the law.

“The legislation…will relieve the burden on the NYPD to chase down commercial bicycle scofflaws and grant enforcement responsibilities to the DOT,” said Brewer in the statement. “We are all working together to come up with a new way to educate businesses and delivery cyclists about relevant laws. If businesses and their delivery cyclists don’t know the laws, we will educate them. Once they know the laws, DOT will have discretion to enforce them.”

“I am tired of hearing complaints from every corner of the city about commercial cyclists riding recklessly and with abandon,” said Vacca. “The creation of a civil penalty will give DOT what it needs to enforce the laws on the books.”

Right now, if a business fails to post signage explaining the rules of the road to their cyclists, it’s up to the NYPD to enforce the rule. Vacca’s bill would create a civil penalty up to $100 per violation for breaking the existing laws, and Brewer’s gives a special team of DOT inspectors enforcement power.

Former UWS Officer Remembered
Long time Upper West Siders may remember Det. Vincent Lupinacci as a community affairs officer who truly cared about the neighborhood. Lupinacci retired from the NYPD in 1992 after serving on the force since 1960; he passed away on Friday, July 13 of complications from a series of strokes, according to Sam Katz, the former 20th Precinct Community Council president.

Katz remembered Lupinacci as a “fixture” in the 20th Precinct and noted that he was promoted to the rank of detective in 1988. Current precinct Community Council President Ian Alterman said in an email that Lupinacci was the first police officer he got to know personally, meeting him when he was a teenager at I.S. 44 in the early ’70s. “Although he was no pushover, all the kids loved him,” Alterman recalled. “It may well be that his example (he practiced ‘courtesy, professionalism and respect’ long before it became an NYPD slogan) helped give me a view of the NYPD that ultimately led to my presidency of the Council four decades later.”

Land Mark West! Screens Indie Doc
Upper West Side preservation advocacy group Landmark West! is hosting a screening of the film The Vanishing City on Thursday, July 26 at 6 p.m. The movie takes a critical look at New York’s luxury developments and zoning policies while chronicling the loss of some of the city’s old neighborhoods. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers.

At the Macaulay Honors College Screening Room, 35 W. 67th St. Tickets are $15, $10 for Landmark West! members. Space is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance by emailing landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org or calling 212-496-8110.

Meltzer Publishes Short Story book
Upper West Sider Dan Meltzer has been chronicling the goings-on of his neighborhood for years, and has now has released a book collecting his short fiction, often inspired by real life. The book is entitled Outsiders. Meltzer, who is also a playwright and a journalist, has won O. Henry and Pushcart prizes for his short fiction, and he brings his best work to the collection. The unidentified first-person narrator of many of the stories offers stark observations of a city that many will recognize as one they almost know. The characters could be real New Yorkers—only a touch stranger than reality.
Meltzer says in his author’s note that the stories are all about “individuals who live outside the fold, who can’t or won’t conform to the demands and customs of society. Some thrive; others either seem to get by or they don’t or they just drive those around them crazy, usually thanks to some peculiar need or idiosyncrasy.” The book is available on Lulu.com.

Economic Boom from Same-Sex Marriage
A year after the Marriage Equality Act was enacted, the city estimates that the law has generated $259 million in economic impact and $16 million in direct city revenue. The city issued 8,200 same-sex marriage licenses over the past year, resulting in a boost in the tourism and hospitality industries, as half of those couples held wedding celebrations somewhere in the five boroughs. NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism agency, and the city clerk’s office conducted an economic impact survey that found that over 200,000 guests traveled from outside the city for their same-sex weddings, leading to over 235,000 hotel room bookings.

The news follows the economic predictions many made before marriage equality was passed in the state.

“Marriage equality has made our city more open, inclusive and free—and it has also helped create jobs and support our economy,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement.

“As the legislative sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act, I couldn’t be more proud that so many same-sex couples have taken advantage of their long-awaited right to marry across our great state this past year,” said Upper West Side Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell, who married his longtime partner last year in the city.

Neighbors Try to Thwart Vendors with Parking Meters

Last week, Community Board 7 narrowly voted down a resolution from their transportation committee that would have recommended a major change in parking regulations on a small strip of West 68th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. The measure came about as a way to keep food vendors off of the mostly residential street, which some residents vigorously support. The resolution was to recommend that the Department of Transportation switch the street from regular alternate side parking to metered parking, making it illegal for vendors to set up there. When the measure came before the full board, however, many board members were adamantly opposed to a change that would inhibit resident parking on the street and give over spaces to temporary visitors. Despite impassioned pleas from some residents who say they’re fed up with food vendors on their street, the board ultimately rejected the measure, and the street will remain, for the time being, open to both resident parking and street vendors with the proper permits.

The UWS on Two Wheels

Local preservation advocacy group Landmark West and the American Planning Associations Members are sponsoring a bicycling tour of historic railway, subway and greenway sites on the Upper West Side next Saturday, May 12, starting at 3 p.m. The tour will be led by transportation planner and Upper West Sider Josef Szende, who will take bikers past spots historically significant to the Hudson River Railroad and the IRT subway as well as the Hudson River Greenway and the Columbus Avenue bike lane. The trip is about 10 miles long, beginning at Columbus Circle Bike & Roll, 59th Street and Central Park West, and bike rentals will be available at the start of the tour. Tickets are $15; $10 for Landmark West members. Email landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org to RSVP.

West Siders Say No to Horn Noise

Most New Yorkers would likely agree that horn-honking is one of the biggest disturbances of urban life—yet inevitable. Last week, however, West Side group CHEKPEDS (Clinton Hell’s Kitchen Coalition for Pedestrian Safety) joined forces with the Citizens Committee and Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky to try to curb the incessant honking. The groups convened at 10th Avenue and West 44th Street to lure taxi drivers with free coffee and donuts and politely worded entreaties to lay off the horns unless it’s absolutely necessary, like to prevent a collision or warn a pedestrian of oncoming danger. Citizens Committee is also upping the ante by offering implementation grants, from $500 to $3,000, to neighborhood groups with innovative ideas to reduce horn honking. Among other steps toward a more peaceful city, Yassky noted that the city’s “Taxi of Tomorrow,” the Nissan NV200 slated to hit the streets in fall of 2013, features a low-annoyance horn. Stated Citizens Committee CEO, Peter Kostmayer, “This is a small problem that we can solve on our own just by being a little more polite.”

Lincoln Square BID Annual Meeting

The Lincoln Square Business Improvement District will be holding its 15th annual meeting on Friday, May 18, at 8 a.m. Property owners, commercial tenants, businesses and residents are welcome. The BID will review the past year’s accomplishments and discuss new initiatives as well as adopt the 2012 fiscal year budget and elect directors for the coming year. Guest speakers include Thomas Farley, commissioner of the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Alair Townsend, chairwoman of the City Center of Music & Drama Inc. Fordham University, 113 W. 60th St., 12th floor. Reservations required; call 212-581-3774 or email info@lincolnsquarebid.org.

Help for Unhealthy Air

Last month, Mayor Bloomberg announced deadlines for eliminating the use of heavy heating oils, No. 6 and No. 4, in all city buildings. While these oils are used in only 10,000 of the city’s buildings, a mere 1 percent, they account for more soot pollution than car and truck usage combined. Many of these buildings are located in Manhattan, emitting a substantial amount of pollution on the

Upper East and West Sides, where many older buildings use the outdated systems that rely on these heavy fuel oils. Air pollution contributes to 6 percent of annual deaths in New York City, afflicting those exposed with ailments ranging from asthma to heart disease. NYC Clean Heat, an initiative to expedite the city’s conversion to cleaner fuels, anticipates that full compliance with these regulations will save 1,500 lives by 2030, alleviating the burden on our neighborhoods and health care system along the way. The initiative helps building owners by providing information, technical assistance, financial resources and incentives to encourage immediate action to convert heating systems before the compliance deadlines. For more information on the program, dial 311 and ask for Clean Heat, call 212-656-9202 or email info@nyccleanheat.org.

Free Breast Health Screenings

The American-Italian Cancer Foundation will be providing a mobile clinic for free mammograms and clinical breast exams on Friday, May 11, on the Upper West Side. The van will be parked near P.S. 84, at 32 W. 92nd St. To be eligible for the no-cost services, women must be age 40 or older, have a New York City mailing address, and not have undergone a mammogram within the past 12 months. Bring Medicare, Medicaid or insurance information if applicable. Appointments required; call 877-628-9090.

A landmark preservation group is taking advantage of modern-day technology to describe the architectural history of the Upper West Side.

On Aug. 17, Landmark West launched an online campaign to fund its own application for the Apple iPhone to provide a guided tour of Central Park West.

“We are really excited about how people are getting behind the technological aspect of [the] project, and also how people are eager to share the history of the Upper West Side,” said Cristiana Peña, the organization’s director of community outreach.

The organization is raising money through Kickstarter.com, a website that gives artists and organizations a way to promote their endeavors and solicit financial support. To get the money, however, a group must meet their fundraising goal by a deadline. Landmark West needs to have $3,000 in pledges by 5 p.m., Sept. 21.

So far, Landmark West has received $115 from six backers.

Landmark West wants the iPhone application to educate its users about Central Park West, which neighborhood groups are trying to get landmarked. If it receives the proper funding, the application should hit the App Store on Apple’s iTunes in either late 2010 or early 2011. Landmark West plans to funnel any excess funding into a second application, a guided tour of a second neighborhood on the Upper West Side.

Landmark West, celebrating its 25th year, has helped nearly 2,700 buildings earn historical designations from the city’s Landmarking Preservation Commission.

Correction added.