Renowned Chef Daniel Boulud drops off a gourmet meal and jokes with a resident of Stuyvesant Town. The visit highlighted the Citymeals-on-Wheels program which helps to get food to homebound and elderly.

Downtown Getting Back to Business
The Downtown Alliance has made it their mission to mold and maintain Lower Manhattan as a world-leading central business district of today. The devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy pushed this organization to launch the Back to Business Small Business Grant Program that is now able to provide grant distribution for the first time. “Small businesses have been instrumental in the success of Lower Manhattan as a premier destination to live, work and visit, and so it has been vitally important to come to their aid during this period,” said Liz Berger, the president of Downtown Alliance.

As a result, small businesses located in Flood Zone A below Chambers Street, including a nail salon, dry cleaners and wine shop, have been awarded $266,000 in grants and $120,000 in deferred grants. These businesses were the first to apply on the first-come, first-serve basis, and were certainly not the last. The period for small businesses to submit a grant application ended Dec. 13, but all applications received after will be held and processed if funds are still available.

Contributors to the grant fund include Goldman Sachs, Trinity Church, Citibank, the Durst Organization, Howard Hughes Corp., AT&T New York and Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, CB Richard Ellis, the FiDi Association, Platinum Properties and real estate brokerage firm Cushman & Wakefield.

Sen. Squadron Presses for State Gun Control
New York state Sen. Daniel Squadron has strongly advocated for gun restriction legislation throughout his time in Albany. In light of the unimaginable tragedy in Newtown, Conn., other politicians are now joining the fight. Squadron announced last week that the special legislation session he had called in October to pass essential gun control laws may soon be taking place. After thanking Gov. Cuomo and fellow colleagues pushing the cause, Squadron said in a statement, “A package of common-sense measures—including my bill to crack down on assault weapons, as well as critical background checks and limits on guns sales, and the vital crime-solving tool of microstamping—would create the basic protections we need to truly save lives.” He added that the military-style weapon used in the Newtown attack would be banned if his assault weapons bill were passed.

In a statement issued in October, Squadron had called for stronger legislation before another murder could be committed with an assault weapon. “There is simply no reason for a civilian to carry these types of high-powered weapon,” he said. “Before another drop of blood is spilled and another innocent life is lost, New York’s Legislature must do our job and pass these bills.”

An Early Christmas Feast
Last week, New York chef Daniel Boulud and chefs from his finest restaurants teamed up with Citymeals-on-Wheels to make sure the elderly confined to their homes could taste a bit of gourmet comfort this holiday season. On Dec. 20, elderly residents of Stuyvesant Town affected by Hurricane Sandy opened their doors, and mouths, to meals of expertly prepared shepherd’s pie, beef ravioli with carrot confit, coq au vin with pasta, braised lamb with polenta and cassoulet Toulousain.

The meals—300 in total—were prepared by Boulud and his team, who volunteered to help make Christmas extra-special this year. Joining Chef Boulud was William Cox, Bar Boulud; Aaron Chambers, Boulud Sud; Gavin Kaysen, Café Boulud; Eddy Leroux, Daniel; Jean Baptiste Alexandre, DB Bistro; Eli Collins, DBGB; Beth Shapiro, executive director of Citymeals-on-Wheels; and Robert Grimes, Citymeals-on-Wheels board member.

“As a professional chef, I have the privilege of cooking for food-loving guests every night, but Citymeals provides the opportunity to share my passion with those who are less fortunate,” Boulud said.

Citymeals-on-Wheels will continue to provide nourishment and companionship through the weekend and on Christmas Day, supplying over 7,455 meals and 14,694 “Season’s Greetings” boxes to elderly residents throughout the city when many senior centers are closed.

Compiled by Jessica Mastronardi

As proven at trial, in the early morning of May 28, 2008, Suarez followed a 19-year-old woman from the 14th Street subway station to the Spring Street station. Upon exiting the train, Suarez followed the victim, and as she entered her building, he rushed in and followed her to her apartment. Suarez forced her into the courtyard and raped her at knifepoint.

DNA evidence was collected at the scene and was entered into the New York State DNA Database. There were no matches at the time, and the crime went unsolved until Suarez’s information was entered into the system in 2011 after he was convicted for an unrelated crime.

“Using DNA evidence, the skilled prosecutors in our office’s Sex Crimes Unit were able to ensure that this defendant was held responsible for this terrible crime,” District Attorney Vance said.
Suarez is expected to be sentenced Dec. 12.

Former East Village Officer Sentenced to Over 15 Years
Earlier this year, former New York City Police Officer Nicholas Mina, who served in the East Village’s 9th Precinct, pleaded guilty to numerous charges of stealing police-issued firearms and selling them on the underground market. Last week, the Queens resident, 32, was sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison for his crimes.

He was convicted of charges including the criminal sale of firearms, sale of a controlled substance, conspiracy and grand larceny.

After serving on the police force for more than three years, Mina confessed to stealing and selling police-issued guns on the black market for over six months to fund his addiction to prescription drugs.

“The defendant took an oath to protect New Yorkers from criminals. Instead, he worked alongside a gun trafficker in order to feed his drug addiction,” District Attorney Vance said in a statement.
Vance applauded the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and the Firearms Investigation Unit for its work with the case investigating missing firearms from the 9th Precinct station house and monitoring Mina’s illegal sales of the stolen guns.

AIDS Activists Climb Flagpoles At City Hall Park

Two members of Housing Works, a New York-based advocacy group that supports health-care issues and HIV/AIDS patients, climbed two 40-foot flagpoles at the southern end of City Hall Park in lower Manhattan on Wednesday, Nov. 28, around 10:45 a.m. The activists, wearing helmets and climbing gear, unfurled a 30-foot banner that read “Housing Is Healthcare: House People Living With HIV/AIDS” after quickly climbing to the top of the flagpoles without being noticed by several police officers in the vicinity.

Police arrived soon after, blocking the sidewalk and the area immediately under the flagpoles and calling in a cherry picker to bring down the activists. Other Housing Works activists held signs and cheered on Tony Ray and the other unidentified flagpole climber from the ground.

“I am up here today because of the lack of attention to housing for people with AIDS,” Ray said through a megaphone high above the crowd. “If people with AIDS have a safe place to live and a place for them to refrigerate their meds, they are going to stay healthy.”

The two activists stayed on the flagpoles for around 25 minutes before they were removed peaceably by the NYPD and arrested without incident.

The civil disobedience came shortly before World AIDS Day, a global day to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is observed each year on Dec. 1.

Compiled by Aaron Adler and John Friia

Rape Suspect’s Police Sketch Released
Policed have released a sketch of the suspect in mid-August’s Greenwich Village sexual assault incident. The suspect is believed to be around 6 feet tall with a medium build.
According to DNAinfo, the man entered 85 Washington Place, a massage parlor, on Friday morning, Aug. 17, and knocked a 41-year-old woman unconscious, sexually assaulted her and robbed the business.

W. Village Apartment Catches Fire, 9 Hurt
Nine people were reportedly hurt when an apartment caught fire early Saturday morning in the West Village. The fire began in a residential building near the corner of Commerce and Bedford streets, but everyone was able to escape relatively safely. Two people suffered minor burns while seven inhaled smoke, but all injuries are considered minor and not life-threatening.

Dog Shot By Police  Making Steady Recovery
Last month, the pit bull named Star became known around New York City after a video leaked of a police officer shooting it in the East Village, while the dog was attempting to protect its homeless owner. According to several reports, Star is now making a steady recovery.

While Star’s medical bills topped $10,000, they were paid for by a medical fund created for the pooch. Star’s owner, Lech Stankiewicz, still hasn’t reclaimed his quadrupedal companion, and the dog has since been in possession of Animal Care and Control. The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals will reportedly take control of the dog after it recovers.

9/11 Museum to Host New Exhibit
While the 9/11 Museum has yet to open, Daniel Kohn’s new exhibit, “Towards New Jersey,” will be on display as part of the September 11 Museum and Memorial at the World Trade Center’s annual gala Sept. 4.

During the event, to be held at Cipriani Wall Street, a collection of Kohn’s painting and sculptures will be on view. One painting, funded by the MTA, will recall the eastern and western views from the WTC’s upper floors. Kohn was the artist-in-residence in Tower One in 1998-99.

Woman Killed By Truck in W. Village Traffic Accident
A 58-year-old woman, who was riding a scooter, was reportedly hit and dragged by a tractor-trailer on Monday afternoon in the West Village.
Apparently, the driver failed to realize he had struck the woman and he reportedly proceeded to drag her down a couple of streets. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police do not suspect any criminal behavior on part of the driver.

After the incident, state Sen. Daniel Squadron released called for more to be done “to protect pedestrians and cyclists.”

“There are a number of major gaps in pedestrian and cyclist safety—and now is the time for the city and state to quickly fill them,” he continued.

Squadron vowed to expedite bills intended to further protect New York City’s pedestrians and cyclists from automobiles.

“Of course today’s tragedy is unique and we don’t know if any of these critical improvements would have prevented it. But we must do everything in our power to prevent the next one,” Squadron added.

Edie Falco with the 30-pound cat Sponge Bob

Zadroga Bill to Cover 50 Types of Cancer
Fifty types of cancer have joined the list of covered conditions for the World Trade Center Health Program linked to the Zadroga Bill that was passed in early 2011. The coverage comes after Dr. John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, reviewed the link between exposure to the toxins at the World Trade Center site and cancers affecting the digestive and respiratory systems. He recently issued a proposed rule to accept all of the Science/Technical Advisory Committee’s recommendations.

Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement Friday following the decision. “We thank Dr. Howard and the Science/Technical Advisory Committee for their hard work and diligence, which will get more of our 9/11 heroes suffering from cancer the treatment they deserve,” they said.

Two more peer-reviewed scientific studies will be done to determine if any additional cancers should be included in the list.

“We are confident that with the benefit of new peer-reviewed studies to come, we will be successful in ensuring that first responders and community survivors suffering from other cancers will also get the access to the program they so desperately need,” said Schumer and Gillibrand.

City Has Too Many Bee Hives, Say Experts
If dodging speeding cabs, wayward cyclists and lost tourists on the city’s sweltering streets this summer isn’t enough, here’s another thing to look out for: bees—a whole freakin’ lot of them.

Honeybee swarms of cinematic proportions have terrified citygoers this spring from Brooklyn to the Bronx. They have bombarded a fire hydrant at the South Street Seaport, crowded the Bowery and even trapped a family in a Volvo at Pier 92.

The source of these swarms is one of the city’s fastest-growing hobbies: beekeeping. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani banned honeybees from New York City back in 1999 along with cheetahs, elephants and other exotic pets, but the relegalization of beekeeping in 2010 ushered in a new trend. The New York Post reports that since the ban was lifted, the number of registered hives in the city has increased from three to 161. Hives range in size from small rooftop collections to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which boasts the city’s largest habitat with 20 hives and 20 million bees.

Andrew Coté, founder of the New York City Beekeepers Association, said. “There are too many hives right now. As it increases in popularity, it will be more and more difficult to control.”

Sponge Bob, the 30-Pound Cat, Finds New Home
Sponge Bob, the 30-pound feline media sensation, made his debut with his new owners last week on the red carpet at Animal Haven’s second annual Performance for the Animals benefit concert and auction at City Winery in Tribeca.
Two months ago, Sponge Bob’s previous owner went into hospice and left the nine-year-old cat with Animal Haven, a nonprofit cat and dog shelter on Centre Street in Soho. The shelter started a blog about Sponge Bob to aid his adoption that won him instant fame last week, including press coverage in the UK and an appearance on the Today Show. He is likely the world’s largest living cat.

Sponge Bob now belongs to Courtney and Matthew Farrell, a young newlywed couple who live on the Upper East Side. They hoisted Sponge Bob up for the cameras on the red carpet—no easy task.

Courtney Farrell said she and her husband had occasionally talked about getting a cat, but did not want to bother with a kitten or anything too out of control. When she first read about Sponge Bob, she sent her husband a picture as a joke. A few conversations later, they knew they had found the perfect match.

When asked about the cat’s health, Matthew Farrell promised, “We’re going to whip him into shape.” He and his wife both exercise regularly and believe in promoting healthy lifestyles.

“He’s already on a no-carb diet,” he said with a smile. “Catkins.”

Compiled by Paul Biscegio and Adel Manoukian

DANCE NEW AMSTERDAM RESCUED FROM GETTING THE BOOT
State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Executive Director of Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) Catherine Peila announced last week that the performance center in Lower Manhattan has reached an agreement with its landlord to lower its monthly rent and rental debt. This announcement comes after a three-year effort by local elected officials, residents and cultural representatives to keep the valued dance education center open.

DNA has been serving the Manhattan community for 28 years through public performances, artist services and classes and has worked with roughly 32,000 artists and performers. It was the first nonprofit organization to move into the area, from its former Chinatown location, after the 9/11 attacks.

“This lease amendment lowers our rent and debt tremendously. We are now better positioned to further stabilize, implement educational programs and support the artist’s creative process from studio to stage and beyond,” said Peila.
Since 2010, DNA’s monthly rent has been $70,000, a number that would have risen to $90,000 by 2020 if not for the new agreement. In 2010, the company was unable to pay a month’s rent, which resulted in their possible eviction.

“Over the past 10 years, as Lower Manhattan has recovered, a burgeoning cultural center has come back stronger than ever—and DNA has been a key part of that transformation,” said Squadron. “This agreement is a testament to the fact that it’s possible to find paths forward for community-based cultural organizations and the invaluable work they do.”

9/11 ANNIVERSARY RECOVERY EFFORTS SPURS HONORS
Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Michael DenDekker and Minority Leader Brian Kolb announced the passage of an Assembly resolution yesterday at a ceremony honoring volunteers, including residents of the area, who worked on recovery and salvage efforts at the World Trade Center site in the wake of 9/11. Thursday, May 30 marked the 10-year anniversary of the completion of those efforts.

“In pausing to pay tribute to those heroes who courageously and selflessly gave of their time, their energy and even their personal health to support these efforts, we are inscribing in the record books that their courage and sacrifice is forever respected and appreciated by all who call New York State their home,” said Kolb

A copy of the resolution will be held in the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

The museum also recently launched a web-based interactive timeline of the rescue and recovery events that took place after the 9/11 attacks to honor the efforts of first responders and volunteers.

The timeline, which starts at Sept. 12, 2001, and goes to May 30, 2002, uses images, oral histories and never-before-seen videos by the public to depict the heroic rescues, relief efforts and milestones that followed the attacks.
The museum will also feature a Scroll of Honor, an installation displaying a list of names of all who died on Sept. 11, 2001. In addition, there will be a Recovery and Relief Workers Registry.

“The Scroll of Honor and interactive timeline will be innovative tools for teaching that the story of 9/11 is not just about that one day, but also about the way people came together in the days, weeks, months and years after 9/11 to contribute to the recovery and revitalization of lower Manhattan,” said Alice Greenwald, director of the museum.

COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN RESPONDS TO DOMA’S REPEAL
Last week, the Federal Appeals Court repealed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which outlaws gay marriage, deeming it “unconstitutional.”

In response to the announcement, Council Speaker Christine Quinn released a statement today, agreeing with the decision.

“I’m pleased we’re one step closer to overturning harmful federal legislation that denies same-sex couples the right to wed, depriving them of the security and benefits of marriage,” said Quinn.

“I’m proud of the work we have done, and will continue to do, to ensure equal rights for all people, and I thank everyone who has fought so valiantly to repeal DOMA for their efforts and for their tireless work to end this discriminatory policy once and for all.”

Despite Mayor, City Council Passes Living Wage Bill

On Monday, April 30, the City Council—despite criticism by Mayor Michael Bloomberg—successfully passed the Living Wage Bill. While several cities across the country have passed similar legislation, the mayor has previously said he would veto the bill should it pass, saying it stymies job growth.

According to the City Council, “Under the living wage legislation, direct recipients (projects receiving subsidies from the City) of at least $1 million in government financial assistance must pay their employees a wage of $10 an hour with health care benefits or $11.50 an hour without. … Given the scale and types of City economic development projects, an estimated 600 workers a year will receive a living wage as a result of this bill, with the potential to cover thousands of jobs over the next several years.”

“When we invest in economic development, we should expect that the jobs that are created are good jobs—ones that will protect and grow the middle class. This bill does that and does so in a way that will not overburden businesses,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “The City has negotiated living wage requirements on individual deals in the past, and I believe that we must continue this work to provide as many living wage jobs as possible on subsidized projects. With this bill, we are fulfilling our duty to New Yorkers to make sure that taxpayer dollars are used to provide the maximum public good. By providing a high quality of life, attracting the best talent and protecting our middle class, we will remain the greatest city in the world.”

Pooper Scoopers

According to a release by the Citizens Committee for New York City, every year more than 2 million dogs in New York City’s five boroughs produce over 275,000 tons of dog waste. In Tompkins Square Park, which has the city’s largest dog run, a dozen 50-gallon drums are filled with dog waste every 48 hours. While the “pooper scooper” law passed by the City Council in 1978 requires New Yorkers to clean up after their pets, dog waste, which contains harmful pathogens, is still either landfilled or shipped out of state at considerable expense. On Saturday, May 5, at a West Village dog run adjacent to the Hudson River, Citizens Committee for New York City will announce a citywide competition to design and implement dog waste composting projects that will save landfill space and tax dollars while providing nutrient-rich fertilizer for New York City’s parks, community green spaces, and other public and private spaces.

Peter H. Kostmayer, CEO, announced the organization will award $10,000 in awards to dog owner groups, composting groups and neighborhood groups that develop innovative ways to compost dog waste in the city’s more than 400 neighborhoods.

Chinatown & Lower East Side

Council Member Chin Chides After-school Cuts

According to a release distributed by Council Member Margaret Chin, close to 70 percent of after-school programs in Chinatown and the Lower East Side are on the verge of being closed in the fall if Mayor Michael Bloomberg doesn’t restore cuts to the OST (out of school time) program.

“The cuts to after-school programs in Chinatown and the Lower East Side are extremely alarming,” Chin said. “The loss of these after-school programs will have a debilitating effect on our community and on our schools. For thousands of parents, after-school programs are the only way they can make a living and ensure that their children are safe in the afternoon hours. Parents in Chinatown and the Lower East Side cannot afford to lose these programs, and our community cannot afford to send our children out into the streets. These cuts are irresponsible. Mayor Bloomberg should be focused on expanding access to these programs and making after-school universal for all children in our City.”

Chin, along with other local officials, will hold a town hall on the after-school/OST cuts today, May 3, at 6 p.m. at P.S 134/137.

Lower Manhattan

Downtown Alliance Honors 12 Public Safety Officers

On Wednesday, April 25, the Downtown Alliance honored 12 of their public safety officers for helping to keep Lower Manhattan one of the safest areas in New York City.

“You’ve done your jobs with dedication and distinction,” Robert R. Douglass, Chairman of the Downtown Alliance, told the organization’s public safety officers. “You’ve made life better—year after year—for Lower Manhattan’s millions of workers, residents and visitors. Thanks in part to your work, we’re one of the safest districts in the city today.”

The 57-person public safety staff, recognizable by its distinctive red uniforms, patrols the streets of Lower Manhattan 24/7. Security officers check in with neighborhood businesses, provide visitors and residents with friendly directions and assist the New York City Police Department. Criminal activity in Lower Manhattan has dropped sharply since the Downtown Alliance and NYPD began working together.

Several officers received multiple awards for their actions:

Oct. 21, 2011– Supervisors Rosa Ellis and Joel Delgado, Lt. Turhan White, and Security Officers Jonathan Molina and Joseph Cuadrado helped evacuate pedestrians after a fire occurred on the 28th floor of 120 Broadway.

March 18, 2011– Security Officer Jose Matias found a $1,599 check on the sidewalk at Wall and Nassau streets and returned it to the branch manager of Valley National Bank.

March 21, 2011 – Security Officer Lyudmila Melnik reported a theft at Lenny’s Deli on John Street to the NYPD. Officers quickly arrested a suspect, and the items were returned.

May 10, 2011 – Security Officers James Paige and Shawn Soto came to the aid of an injured man after a fight broke out in the 2-3 subway station. Officer Soto stayed with the injured man while Officer Paige called the NYPD to the scene.

June 8, 2011 – Security Officer Aisha Martin helped the NYPD apprehend a man who had been arguing loudly with a security officer at a New York Stock Exchange checkpoint at Broadway and Wall. As the man fled, Officer Martin notified dispatch and gave a description to the NYPD Scooter Task Force. Officers later saw the man in Zuccotti Park and charged him with criminal possession of a weapon (brass knuckles, Mace, Taser and knife).

July 25, 2011 – Supervisor German Rosario, Security Officers James Paige, Rodrigue Bonnaire and Shawn Soto guided pedestrians to safety amid falling debris coming from a building at 16 Beaver St.

DANGEROUS INTERSECTION GETS TRAFFIC LIGHT
The Tribeca intersection of Duane and Greenwich streets has finally received a traffic light, first approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in October 2011. The light, which was officially welcomed to the neighborhood when Council Member Margaret Chin, State Sen. Daniel Squadron, Borough President Scott Stringer and CB1 Chair Julie Menin unveiled it on Feb. 22, signals relief for many advocates and members of the community.

Chin said, “I want to thank [the] DOT for recognizing and responding to the needs of a growing community. It is important to constantly evaluate and revise our traffic environment to make sure the safety regulations that are in place are adequate to protect pedestrians.”
Chin’s sentiments were echoed throughout the community. Nelle Fortenberry, a mother of two children and a past president of Friends of Washington Monument Park, reacted earlier this month to the construction of the light, saying, “We are thrilled for every preschooler on their way to the park, every elementary student en route to school, every elderly resident crossing to and from Independence Plaza and the thousands of neighborhood residents who have traversed Greenwich daily at their own risk. Safer days are ahead.”

The intersection has been the scene of numerous accidents involving pedestrians. A recent victim was a 3-year-old boy, who was struck by a taxi while crossing the intersection with his mother last fall. The DOT subsequently agreed to install the light and a new crosswalk.
Prior to this, their stance had been that the Duane and Greenwich intersection did “not meet traffic flow standards for a traffic light.” Now, pedestrians will receive 25 seconds to cross the street, is a welcome grace for Tribeca residents both young and old.

CITYWIDE

TIME WARNER AND MSG REACH AGREEMENT
Just in the knick of time, New Yorkers are celebrating the agreement reached between Time Warner Cable and MSG Network. The well-publicized resolution, which ended a blackout that had forced Time Warner subscribers to forego MSG content—including the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers and the surging New York Knicks—was at center court this week as leading city officials continued to campaign for fair play.

State Sens. Daniel Squadron and Tony Avella have promised to take another important step in ensuring New Yorkers’ longterm enjoyment of their favorite television programming with the introduction of a new bill into the state Senate Feb. 29.

Avella has spoken at length about the unfair negotiating tactics of service providers and networks, saying, “The people who get the most affected are the customers,” whom the senator believes “need to know that their cable franchise will provide the proper programming.” The bill proposes mandatory arbitration hearings by the Public Service Commission in disputes between major cable networks and service providers.

STRINGER CALLS FOR END OF STOP AND FRISK
Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, joined by a diverse coalition of elected officials, community and religious leaders representing all parts of Manhattan, held a rally Feb. 26 hailing the Manhattan Borough Board’s recent unanimous vote approving a resolution demanding reform of the NYPD’s controversial stop and frisk policy. The borough president called for a citywide campaign against the program, which he said unfairly targets black and Latino men.

“Stop and frisk as currently practiced is not just an outrage in communities of color, it is a stain on the conscience of our entire city,” said Stringer. “Today I am standing with a broad coalition of Manhattanites—members of all 12 Community Boards, people from east side and west side, downtown and uptown, and we are all speaking with one voice, demanding an immediate reform of stop and frisk in New York City.”

The borough president pointed to statistics showing that the NYPD recorded nearly 700,000 stop and frisk encounters in 2011, a record and a 600 percent increase since 2002. Police failed to find a gun in 99.9 percent of these encounters and failed to make an arrest in 94 percent of these cases. Nearly 86 percent of the stops targeted black and Latino men.

“In large parts of the city, today’s stop and frisk policies have made entire communities feel like suspects targeted by law enforcement instead of citizens protected by it, even if they have done nothing wrong,” said State Sen. Daniel Squadron. “As it’s practiced, stop and frisk has created a climate in which young black and Latino men and their families have a fundamentally different relationship with the NYPD than other New Yorkers.”

Tourism Up by 800,000
According to the Downtown Alliance’s 2011 Year in Review, 9.8 million tourists flocked to Lower Manhattan’s major museums, events and attractions last year—800,000 people more than in 2010.

“Tourism is thriving in Lower Manhattan like never before,” said Elizabeth Berger, president of the Downtown Alliance. “While business travelers remain a significant market element, the growth of leisure visitors and special events has had a significant impact on the industry.

“The secret is out: Lower Manhattan is a destination of choice in the region, nationally and around the world, for leisure and business travelers alike.”

The growth–an 8 percent increase over 2010–reflects growing interest in all that Lower Manhattan has to offer and comes in a citywide tourism boost. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYC & Company, the city’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, recently announced that New York City ended 2011 with a new record 50.5 million visitors, with visitor spending reaching an estimated $32 billion.

“This past May, we launched the Get More NYC: Lower Manhattan campaign to highlight the Downtown neighborhoods to visitors from around the world,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta.

“As a result of our efforts to attract visitors to New York City, we not only reached a record 50.5 million visitors in 2011 but helped create a significant, positive impact for Lower Manhattan,” he continued. “This area has seen an incredible resurgence in the last decade and will, no doubt, continue to be a focal point for visitors from around the world. We look forward to continuing to work with all our partners to ensure that visitors and New Yorkers take advantage of all Lower Manhattan has to offer.”

The National September 11 Memorial Plaza, which opened in September 2011, has been a significant draw to the district, attracting 1 million visitors in its first three and a half months alone.

“More than 1 million visitors have traveled to the National September 11 Memorial since its opening on the 10-year anniversary, honoring and remembering those we lost in the 9/11 attacks,” said 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels. “The Memorial is already an important part of this historic neighborhood and its visitors are helping make Lower Manhattan thrive.”

Other museums and attractions in Lower Manhattan include the River to River Festival, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the South Street Seaport Museum, among many other cultural institutions.

According to Downtown Alliance research, the number of tourists visiting below Chambers Street was 7 million in 2008, grew to almost 8 million in 2009 and reached 9 million in 2010.

Tribeca

Military Fams and Art Institute Provide Scholarships
This week, aspiring artists received another glimmer of hope when The Arts Institute, which has a location on Beach Street, forged a partnership with Military Families United to offer spouses of Armed Forces members a $25,000 scholarship to study at any one of the Arts Institutes schools.

Up to four scholarships will be given each year, and the spouses of those on active duty, active National Guard and reserves, as well as the spouses of those killed on duty post-9/11, are eligible. The deadline for applications is March 15.

Citywide

Investigating NYPD Accident Response
On Feb. 15, Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, spoke at length to a City Council hearing focused on the NYPD’s accident response and enforcement of traffic rules relating to cars, bikes and trucks.

White spoke of the dangers that motorists and cyclists pose to pedestrians and to themselves, as well as the potential for the NYPD to crack down on reckless driving. He called for the formation of a special task force within the department, stating, “Simple amendments to department policy won’t solve [department deficiencies relating to traffic protocol].”

New York State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh have also proposed a bill to the State Legislature that would specifically authorize police officers to issue violations for accidents involving pedestrians and for careless driving, which is currently not department policy.

“Lower Manhattan is one of the world’s best-known business addresses an international tourism destination and family central,” said Berger. “For over 40 years, J&R has been one-stop shopping for the latest and best in consumer and electronic goods. With J&R Jr., J&R’s new baby and child emporium, workers, visitors and residents will have another great reason to shop in Lower Manhattan.”

The new store goes hand in hand with a recent Downtown Alliance survey that demonstrated Lower Manhattan’s burgeoning population growth and transformation into a thriving, mixed-used neighborhood. Residents have continued to put down roots, and the survey found that 87 percent of residents believed that the quality of life in the area was a key reason for living in the area, with nearly half of residents owning their own apartments.

(For our feature story on Jason Friedman and J&R Jr., turn to page 14.)

GREENWICH VILLAGE

CELEBRATING 95
Edith O’Hara, who founded the 13th Street Repertory Company in 1972, celebrated her 95th birthday Feb. 15. To honor the theater icon, who still serves as its artistic director, friends, family and fans gathered on Sunday, Feb. 12 to celebrate her storied career. She has overseen hundreds of productions. Over the course of her career, O’Hara has been honored with awards by the City Council and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. O’Hara first became interested in theater while attending a one-room school in Idaho, where she saw the 5th grade present a play. Her theater produces the longest running Off-Broadway play, Line, by Israel Horovitz.

CITYWIDE

WELCOMING BENEFIT CORPORATIONS
Fourteen businesses have joined with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and State Sen. Daniel Squadron in making New York the seventh state to allow public benefit corporations. The new legislation, signed in December, allows for a double bottom line of profit and social responsibility. Unlike traditional corporations, which are run by their boards and directors exclusively for the maximization of profit, public benefit corporations allows business leaders to pursue the public interest while still turning a profit. “Starting today, benefit corporations will bring new businesses into our market and unlock billions in investments, all while promoting a new socially minded approach to entrepreneurship,” said Squadron.

STRONGER DRIVING LAWS
State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh recently announced new legislation to strengthen Hayley and Diego’s Law, introduced after the tragic deaths of Hayley Ng, 4, and Diego Martinez, 3, when they were struck by a van in Chinatown in 2009. The law, which is aimed at reckless and careless drivers, offers stiff penalties for drivers whose actions result in pedestrian death or injury. Under the current law, drivers on their first offense can have their license revoked or suspended, be fined or face jail time and face a misdemeanor charge if they commit a second offense. However, the new legislation seeks to end the stipulation that an officer must be present at the time of the accident to issue the violation. Now, officers would be able to charge drivers if they have reasonable suspicion that the violation was committed by the driver.

—Compiled by Andrew Rice

FAMOUS ARTISTS’ BUILDING GAINS LANDMARK STATUS
The Westbeth Artists Community, located in the West Village, has had its historic landmark status approved by the City Council, saving the 19th-century building complex from having its historic status stripped by City Council members and being sold to commercial developers. Westbeth was the headquarters of Bell Telephone Laboratories before being converted into low-cost living space for artists in 1970. It was one of the first examples of adaptive reuse of industrial buildings. Famous former residents include actors Vin Diesel and Robert De Niro and musician Gil Evans.

CHINATOWN

COUNCIL APPROVES DANNY CHEN RESOLUTION
Five months after Pvt. Danny Chen, 19, of Chinatown was found dead in Afghanistan of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the City Council voted in favor of a new resolution calling upon the Department of Defense (DOD) to prevent similar future deaths.

Chen, who was bullied and abused by his fellow servicemen for six weeks, was found dead in his guard tower in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Resolution 1188, which was proposed in honor of the former private, asks the DOD to closer examine its policies on cultural diversity and sensitivity and to impose more effective training regimens for military personnel to prevent discrimination and harassment of servicemen and women of all ranks.

“We need to know that our sons and daughters will not be victimized by their fellow soldiers at home or at war,” said Council Member Margaret Chin, a primary sponsor of the resolution.

BATTERY PARK

STATE-OF-THE-ART MARKET OPEN
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the new Battery Place Market opened at 200 West St. to serve some of the best grab-and-go food in New York City. The state-of-the-art space, located on the Hudson River side of the Goldman Sachs Building at 240 Murray St., offers sandwiches made with the best ingredients possible on bread from some of the best bakeries in the city.

Also available will be custom coffee blends and artisan pastries. Robert Sckalor, the executive chef, has been given carte blanche to source the best local organic fruits and vegetables from farms local and exotic to populate a diverse and ever-changing menu.

“We have sourced from the best bakers, meat and fish purveyors to obtain the best ingredients in the marketplace so that every one of our customers can eat healthy, but tasty, food that they can get quickly, hot and fresh,” said Sckalor.

Lower Manhattan

J&R Jr. Grand Opening
There’s a baby boom in Lower Manhattan and downtown retail icon J&R Music and Computer World is giving birth to a new store just to serve this growing population: J&R Jr. According to New York City Department of Health statistics, there were more births in 2010 within the boundaries of Lower Manhattan’s Community Board 1 than any other district in Manhattan.

With a grand opening scheduled for Feb. 11-13, J&R Jr. will be a 15,000-square-foot, one-stop shopping and social destination for the community at 1 Park Row, co-located with the other J&R stores.

The brick-and-mortar location will feature more than just baby goods. Jason Friedman, founder of J&R Jr., says, “As long standingmembers of this community, we wanted to create an inviting space for residents to gather, share experiences and gain valuable parenting and consumer information.”

Catering to an initial age range of 0-9 years old, J&R Jr. will carry hundreds of items including strollers, high chairs, car seats, activity centers, bags and educational toys.

CITYWIDE

REPORT SHOWS DECLINE IN COMMUTER EXPERIENCE SINCE 2009
Straphangers are speaking out against a decline in service by the MTA. Transportation Alternatives surveyed subway and bus riders about the quality of their commutes, and an astounding 61 percent reported that their commutes have gotten worse since 2009.

A missive released by the nonprofit highlights the effects of the loss of two subway lines, 36 bus routes and 570 bus stops since Albany cut funding for the cash-strapped transportation giant.

“After years of declining transit funding from Albany and the resulting service cuts, our commutes have gotten worse. From higher fares to longer wait times to overcrowded trains, transit riders have seen the quality of their commutes drop precipitously over the last three years,” said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Paul Steely White.

In the three consecutive budget eliminated since 2009, state officials have eliminated $260 million in dedicated transit funding, which resulted in the service cuts and ever-increasing fares, despite New York City already having the highest fare burden nationally. White urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to stick to funding the struggling public transit system in coming years.