By Arthur Z. Schwartz The fight to keep Beth Israel open took a major step forward on September 24th. Over 100 neighbors gathered outside the hospital to demand that it cease shutting down, that services be restored, and that nothing more be done without a thorough government review of the potential consequences of a shut
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St. Veronica’s for Healing
Hi George, St. Veronica’s is a spectacular space with healing qualities. Apart from using it for concerts, I feel that it could be a great space to use for AA meetings, PTSD healing groups, etc. Something to explore. — Christina Winholt Raccuia
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Offensive Language
Dear Mr. Capsis, I was greatly taken aback and offended to read the copy accompanying Maggie Berkvist’s photo on page 29 of the September issue. The caption includes incorrect information (there is no bamboo pole evident) and the offensive wording “Alien Skills” is a stunning example of racism. There is no basis to identify the
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Diller Island: The City Club Perspective
Dear George, As President of the City Club of New York, one of the three plaintiffs in the Pier 55 (a.k.a. Diller Island) litigation, I’ve followed the history and collapse of this project very closely over the past two and a half years. The fantasy style of the island seems to have inspired a parallel
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A Common Perspective on Diller Island
Dear James, I wanted to thank you for the commentary you provided in your advertisement in the Op-Ed section of the New York Times on Wednesday, September 27th. Having lived on the west end of Bank Street for many decades, I hated the idea of Diller Island, not only for allowing Barry Diller’s blatant ego
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Thoughts on the Skeletal Remains of the City’s Abandoned Bikes
An interesting quality-of-life matter in the Village concerns the enormous amount of abandoned bicycles all over the City—and particularly the Village. One does not need to walk far to witness the unsightly empty shell of a bicycle where most accoutrements have been stripped. Often only the frame remains—no chain, no pedals, no seat, no handle
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Jim Fouratt’s Have You Heard? OCTOBER 2017
Council Member Corey Johnson is term-limited and out-of- office in 2021. It will be an open race. Already, there appears to be one candidate circulating: Village dad and active Community Board 2 (CB2) member, Richard Caccappolo, whom Deborah Glick had encouraged to run when Johnson and Yetta Kurland were battling it out. Caccappolo declined then
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso There’s no fury like the fury of an honest man who realizes he’s been cheated. ___ Blood is thicker than semen. Family ties outlast the sexual. ___ A man’s love for a woman was the beginning of civilization. ___ Fiction is realer than history. In fiction, the characters love and hate, laugh
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How Yoga Helps During Grieving
By Christina Winholt Raccuia 2016 was a trauma-filled year for me, as I experienced multiple losses. I lost my mother, a pregnancy, a relationship, and my home. When we experience such loss, we also lose all of the hopes, dreams, and expectations connected with those people or places. Grieving is unique to each individual and
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A Cartoonist’s Background and Perspective
By Elliott Gilbert I was born in Brooklyn, in 1924, the son of young immigrants from Poland. My mother, Regine Gilbert, was a painter, once described as “America’s most exuberant and imaginative Primitive.” She was compared to Grandma Moses, exhibited in many galleries, and encouraged my talent early on. My early education included the Brooklyn
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Notes and Perspectives from Away: A Maine Fish Story
By Tom Lamia The fish story is social currency wherever men gather. There are many variations but, essentially, it is an unverifiable tall tale in which fish or fishing is the subject. Its essence is “the one that got away.” Supporting details draw upon imagination. Where strict fact is elusive, fishermen everywhere fill gaps with
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Readers Support St. Veronica’s Revival
Dear Mr. Capsis: Thank you so much for all you are doing to try to reopen St. Veronica’s Church. I attended Sunday mass on June 25th and the final reunion mass on July 23rd. Both times, I could barely hold back the tears. I had lived around the corner from the church from 1982 to
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Elizabeth Street Garden Debate Continues
Dear Editors: I want to respond to Alec Pruchnicki’s “analysis” of the demographics of those who use the Elizabeth Street Garden. I visited the garden on Saturday, August 5th, a gorgeous day full of sunshine, which made everything look magnificent. I didn’t see any zombies there. What I did see were families, children playing, international
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Tracking Changes in the Village
Dear Editors: I just looked at the August issue of WestView and noted that the recent passing of Paul Bellardo was not mentioned. I assume that was because you had already gone to press when he died. I remember well his shop on Christopher Street. I also noticed that, in “In and Out,” you say
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Tearing Down Statues
Dear Editors: If we must tear down statues, then let’s tear down the one of General Philip Sheridan in Sheridan Square. My suggestion for a replacement is either Benjamin Lay, 18th-century Quaker dwarf and abolitionist, or the great Lakota Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse. John Early West Village resident
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Illegal Postings: Making an Impact
WestView reader and contributor Ben Benson, along with other concerned residents, tirelessly protects the Village landscape from the onslaught of illegal postings. Benson consistently informs the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) of the fliers he observes and even works to remove them himself. Below is the message he received from the DSNY’s Director of Enforcement,
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Everybody’s Doctor
Dear George, My name is Kelly Ferguson, and I am the granddaughter of Matt Ferguson and the daughter of Andy Ferguson. Matt, and his kids Matt, Andy, Terry, Timmy, Michael, and Mary Kate, said that they grew up with you and your family in the West Village. I had been living with my grandfather in
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Saving Beth Israel
To All: I am delighted by the vigor of your collective efforts to save Beth Israel. It is what we should have done when they were closing St. Vincent’s Hospital. The pages of WestView are open to you. — George Capsis Dear George: I am insulted by your statement, “…what we should have done when
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George Complains
I have the feeling that our WestView readership tends to be older. I mean, I get calls from people who do not have computers, or even a nearby friend who has one, and we still get subscriptions by mail. My tech savvy production people lecture me on revamping the online edition for “younger readers” and
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Congratulations, You Just Won a Scam
A West Village resident recently told me, “George, I just got this crazy call that I had won money and all I had to do was go down to Rite-Aid…[S]omebody was waiting to give me a check if I would just pay him.” She gave me a number and I called it and reached a
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Kill the Zombie Park Already Part IV: Put the Garden on the Roof
By Alec Pruchnicki Yes, put it on the roof. This is a complicated but not impossible process if both sides work together. There are rooftop farms (e.g., Rosemary’s restaurant), rooftop gardens (e.g., P.S. 41), and extensive green roofs with potential public access proposed for Essex Crossing at Essex and Delancy Streets. These and many others
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Little girls don’t walk. They skip. There is more politics at a family dinner table than in any smoke-filled convention room. Sleep is a many-peopled ride through a carnival funhouse with familiar faces popping out at every turn. Which is more fun: Going out or coming home? President Thump. God good, Devil
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Notes and Perspectives from Away: The Gins of Maine
By Tom Lamia For the end of a summer day in Maine, nothing beats a frosty, lime-topped gin and tonic at the barbecue pit. Taking in the sunset and sharing opinions with visiting family adds to the pleasure. For most of my years, Gordon’s Gin was all that I required as the base ingredient. Some
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Ben Benson, Our Graffiti-Buster, Gets City Response
Dear Mr. Benson: I am writing in response to your e-mail dated July 26, 2017 regarding handbills posted in the vicinity of the West Village, Manhattan. On August 8th and August 10th various members of the Department of Sanitation’s Enforcement Division inspected the area outlined in your complaint and sighted a total of eighteen handbills
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Bureaucrats Should Not Practice Medicine
By George Capsis I have macular degeneration in my right eye and became aware that my eyesight was getting worse. I started to condition myself to accept it as one of the penalties of old age but my eye doctor said, “No, you have a bit of debris from the insertion of an artificial lens
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Notes and Perspectives from Away: Summer in Maine
By Tom Lamia In a sweeping gesture of nature (and with a mass exodus from cities) summer comes to Maine. It brings euphoria, like the last day of school in fifth grade: There is no limit to tomorrow and no interest in yesterday. One day in early June, it is cold, wet, gray, and generally
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A Phoenix Rises
This letter represents the overwhelmingly kind and supportive feedback Eileen Millan received following her July article in WestView, “Second Act.” Hi Eileen, Nice article. I had no idea what you went through. You have risen from the ashes, like a phoenix! Keep on creating. May you keep having success in your second career (or maybe
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14th Street Closing
Dear Editors: In order to see the draft concept plan released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), visit mta.info, scroll down to ‘L Canarsie Tunnel Reconstruction,’ and click on ‘View community presentation.’ The impact, not only on 14th Street, will be significant when the L
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Oh Wow, People Like the Paper!
One of my familiar laments was, “Nobody ever sends us a compliment.” That was the case until we tested our popularity by publishing a return coupon asking: “Should We End WestView?” Below is a sample of the comments we stirred. (It is not too late to add yours to the September issue.) —George Capsis Love
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Continuing the Fight Against Illegal Fliers
Dear Mr. Capsis: On Saturday, July 15th, while removing one of the numerous ads defacing lamp posts at the four corners of 8th Avenue and 28th Street, I was approached by an individual claiming that I had no business preventing someone from advertising. This individual took my picture on his phone “to put it on
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Reflecting on NYCHA
I recently watched a show called “History of China” and it ended with images of how China is doing today. The show included a shot of several beaming Chinese people who said that they pay no rent and that food is free. That is the ultimate form of socialism that Dr. Lenora Fulani would like
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Kill the Zombie Park Already Part III: The Hidden Problem
By Alec Pruchnicki When I started writing about the Elizabeth Street Garden last year, I made about a dozen trips there and to the surrounding parks, playgrounds, and gardens and became aware of an aspect of this controversy that has been unmentioned: race. This year, to confirm or refute my suspicions, I completed a very
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Everyone laughs at the boss’ jokes. ___ The term ‘summer reading’ is absurd. You should read all year long. ___ Nothing serious over the phone. Face to face only. ___ When you stay at a hotel you’re sleeping on a bed <br> that a perfect stranger slept on the day before. ___
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Jim Fouratt’s HAVE YOU HEARD?
August 2017 Good news: Once again, the Village, like in old times, is ground zero in the NYC battle against the Trump administration and its attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Rise and Resist (RAR), a grassroots, direct action political group, meets every Tuesday night at The Church of the Village (201 West 13th
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Clarifying Statements in June’s “In and Out”
Dear Caroline: I read your “In and Out” column with interest, as usual, in the latest WestView issue. I always welcome your news. But two things you wrote puzzle me. You ended the section by saying that, “Perhaps the West Village is just not a favorable location for vegan restaurants.” What vegan restaurant? Certainly not
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Diller Island Perspective
Dear Editors: I would like to respond to the article entitled “The Ego Fight for Diller Island,” published in the June issue of WestView News. The amendment to the Hudson River Park Act in June 2013 was not passed by Assemblymember Deborah Glick alone, but by the entire New York State Legislature by a vote
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America, The Same Country
Dear Editors: America killed Philando Castile, who had his seat belt on while his girlfriend and child were in the car, and while it was streamed live. It’s the same country that allowed racist Jeff Sessions to become the head national law enforcement officer. It’s the same country that allows a billionaire with zero experience,
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West 12th Street Water Pipe Construction…
Dear Mr. Capsis: Firstly, many, many thanks for WestView News. It is a lifeline for West Villagers. I have lived in the townhouse my father bought, since 1946. He was a doctor, who needed to be near St. Vincent’s. Currently, West 12th Street is being victimized by the City’s construction to replace water pipes. The
