By Arthur Z. Schwartz On April 10, 2017, I texted a politician whose thoughts about running for Governor had been cut short by Cynthia Nixon’s candidacy, and said, “Don’t go home. #MeToo is going to get Eric Schneiderman soon.” On May 7 my premonition came true. Eric and I had been friends. We were both
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June 6th — 50 Years Since RFK’s Death
On June 6, 1968, a year of intense turmoil in the U.S. and in the world, our country, still reeling from the assassination of Martin Luther King, watched in horror as Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down. RFK was not just John Kennedy’s little brother. At the time of his death he was New York’s
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14th Street Closure: MTA Talks, DOT Balks
By Arthur Z. Schwartz It was apparent to anyone attending the “Town Hall” meeting held at the New School on May 9 that the L Train shutdown, that we’re dealing with two very different approaches to the notion of public input. On the one hand, the MTA/NYC Transit Authority, and its new President, Andy Byford,
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Notes from Away: God and Country
By Tom Lamia Hypocrisy: It comes at you in waves of indignation and self-satisfaction on cable news, where spokesmen (and they all seem to be men) for religious organizations give us their views on politics and government. Oddly, these views often seem contrary to the fundamental principles of their religions. Are they hypocrites? All religions
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Is Class War in the Village About to Begin over Senior Housing?
The fierce battle between the squatting Moms of Soho vs. seniors seeking affordable housing in CB2 has moved to the next step. The Mayor seems to be the only politician who supported the seniors in the battle over one of the only available pieces of land in CB2. Council-member Chin had the land designated for
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Don’t Just Sit There, Resist – Part III: How Will Dems F_ _k It Up This Time?
By Alec Pruchnicki Do not divide your forces in the face of a superior enemy — Military axiom Although the Republicans completely control many state governments and almost the entire federal system, Democrats are giddy with the possibility of a big “blue wave” sweeping this away because of numerous victories in special elections. They should
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Where’s the Real Story?
To the Editors: There appears to have been a breach in WestView News security, and a major article was hijacked and replaced with another. I was looking forward to reading the article by Arthur Schwartz in support of Cynthia Nixon, which would explain her political history and proposals for her fight with Governor Cuomo. But,
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Notes and Perspectives from Away: New Life
By Tom Lamia Rejuvenation is a word I seldom use, but it has come to mind today as I think of what I might write to honor a new season. Spring is not here yet, not fully in the West Village, and certainly not here in Maine, but it is near enough to inspire. On
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Don’t Just Sit There, Resist. Part II: Join a Club
By Alec Pruchnicki “Don’t Mourn, Organize!” —the legendary last words of Joe Hill For many years, I’ve worked with an organization called Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), which has been advocating for a single-payer health system in the United States. But, every time we would approach politicians—even those favorable to our cause—to argue
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Hospital Coalition Meets with Speaker Staff
By Penny Mintz For the past few months, a committee within the Progressive Action of Lower Manhattan (PALM) has been working diligently on organizing a coalition of community organizations aptly named the Community Coalition to Save Beth Israel (CCSBI). In the interest of transparency, I must state that I am the chair of that organizing
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“Postcards to Voters” Brings Hope
By Sarah O’Neill In March 2017, Tony the Democrat saved me. I was still walking around in a post-election funk, recommending Timothy Snyder’s book, On Tyranny, when a friend emailed me a photograph of a handwritten postcard reminding a Georgia Democrat to vote in a special election. One note can be a game-changer. Tony is
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DOT to Lower Manhattan: Drop Dead!
By Arthur Z. Schwartz On October 29, 1975, President Gerald Ford gave a speech to the Federal Reserve, in which he denied Federal assistance to NYC, which was then teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The next day the NY Daily News ran its now famous headline: “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD” Last month, a
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Shelter Life and the Struggle to Exist
Living in a homeless shelter is as bad as one can imagine. It is a life of regimen, with often very little in return. As a caseworker, working in this environment has more let-downs than you can imagine. One client has done all that was required of him; he started working and obtained an open
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Two Takes on Cynthia
Vanity, Thy Name is Nixon By Alec Pruchnicki “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Cynthia Nixon has as much experience in government as President Trump did when he entered the White House. She has less experience in setting educational policy than Betsy DeVos did when she became Secretary of Education. Success, even
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Why I am Supporting Jumaane Williams for Lieutenant Governor
By Arthur Z. Schwartz This year could be a watershed year in electoral politics, as Democrats attempt to win the House from the Republican Party, and regain hundreds of seats in State Legislature, including in New York. But there will also be a fight within the Democratic Party for who its candidates will be. Will
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Don’t Just Sit There, Resist. Part I: Sign That Petition
By Alec Pruchnicki “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” —Edmund Burke “Excuse me, but are you a registered Democrat living in this neighborhood? Please sign this petition to help politician X get on the ballot for the next election.” “How annoying”, I used to think.
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How Cynthia Can Become Governor
By George Capsis “There is a beautiful young lady out here who wants to see you— do you want to talk to a beautiful young lady?” called my wife Andromache (Maggie) from the hallway on her way to put out the garbage. I shouted back that I was always interested in talking to a beautiful
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Correction
Within the February 2018 issue of WestView (print edition only), the dollar amount referenced in the article entitled “Give it Back, Chuck” was incorrect (page 6). The corresponding phrase should read: “…at a $1,200 per plate dinner.”
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14th Street Traffic Plan: It’s Not Being Handled Lawfully
By Arthur Z. Schwartz It is rare to see our community so united. And when it is united in opposition to a government project, you know something is wrong. Over the last month, as a West 12th Street resident, and as Democratic District Leader, I have attended a series of meetings held by over a
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We Still Need Beth Israel
By Penny Mintz City Council Member Jumaane Williams, a Brooklyn Democrat running for lieutenant governor, spoke with Progressive Action of Lower Manhattan (PALM) members in late January. He presented progressive credentials quite impressively and answered questions about the threatened closing of Beth Israel Hospital’s main building at 1st Avenue and East 16th Street. But Williams
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Reflecting on American Ideals
Dear Editors, While I have to agree with Anne Olshansky that most New Yorkers still extend a welcome to immigrants, after reading her article “Emma Lazarus’ ‘The New Colossus’: A Timely Reminder of American Ideals” in the February 2018 issue of WestView, I looked back at a letter I had written to the New York
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Maggie B’s Quick Clicks
A GREAT DAY FOR COREY, COREY JOHNSON THAT IS – when, on January 29th, he was sworn in as City Council Speaker by New York Senator Chuck Schumer at a festive Inauguration Ceremony in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Morris W. and Fannie B. Haft Theater. And a very good time was had by all:
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Notes and Perspectives from Away: Talking Points
By Tom Lamia It’s been cold here in Maine, with overnight temperatures below zero. The pond behind my house has developed a thick layer of ice. It is ice fishing season, a time for true Mainers to get out of the house and enjoy food, drink, and good stories with friends while sitting in a
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My Birthday Message
By Arthur Z. Schwartz I turn 65 this month. I finally move to middle age. (Hey, I have 12 and 14-year-old daughters!) This is my birthday message. The world around us continues to be very disturbing. We have a president who not only has authoritarian tendencies, but also engages in common bullying, using his Twitter
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Jim Fouratt’s – Have You Heard?
February 2018 2018 is a critical year for electoral politics in our country and in our state. I want to talk to you about what can be done to change how politics are being played out in Washington, DC, the state, and the city. I will ask you, the reader, the same questions I have
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Kill the Zombie Park Already Part V: Well, Now It’s a Business
By Alec Pruchnicki “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”—Eric Hoffer The great cause of preventing housing on Elizabeth Street is slowly transforming into a business, although with nonprofit pretensions. On December 8, 2017, Council Member Margaret Chin’s office released an announcement that developers for the
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The Importance of an Impartial Health Care Needs Assessment
By Penny Mintz Newsday, the Long Island daily, ran a story on January 16th (entitled “Southside Hospital upgrades emergency room, creates more parking”) about a Northwell hospital in Bayshore that is expanding its emergency room five-fold and has been opening a new hospital unit every seven weeks for the last 18 months. Instead of enlarging
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Do We Really Need Newspapers?
By George Capsis You read in the diminishing number of newspapers about the death of these publications, even community newspapers like The Village Voice, which died after 62 years in business. Okay, as the Publisher of WestView, which is now in its 15th year, I wonder if we can keep this up. But maybe the more
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Keeping America Free
By Michel J. Faulkner The contempt for people with dark skin that slipped out of the mouth of our president caught the anger of every white liberal, but how did it make African Americans feel? I am one of them, and after a lifetime of hurt, I have a hardened, protective scar, and I am
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Give It Back, Chuck
By Cynthia Chaffee and Mary Ann Miller On January 18th, a frigid Thursday evening, the senior senator from New York, Chuck Schumer, was feted by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) at a $1,200 per plate dinner. This all took place at the Midtown Hilton Hotel on 6th Avenue and 53rd Street. While
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Can St. Veronica Become a Permanent Concert Hall?
By Carol Yost The beautiful St. Veronica Church, at 149 Christopher Street, is now a former Catholic church that (it is hoped) can become a permanent concert hall, which would offer free admission to seniors. Its exterior is landmarked but, as explained by Andrew Berman of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, its interior
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The Role of the City Council
The New York City Council, which dates back to the Dutch colonial days, has the important role of counterbalancing the power of the Mayor. It monitors the performance of City agencies and makes land use decisions. It also legislates on various other matters and has the sole responsibility of approving the City budget. Council members
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The Ghost of Robert Moses Stalks the Village
By Gary Tomei The planning process was secretive. After months upon months of sham public meetings in which community opinion was solicited, including constant discussions with officials from the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), local public officials, and various “transportation experts,” we in the Village were handed an unanticipated bombshell. Disregarding the opinions
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Welcome to 2018
By Arthur Z. Schwartz 2017 was a horrific year. Trump took office on January 20th, and within 11 days, I had a heart attack! (This is true, but I am joking about the correlation.) He took office on that date and made sure the world would never be the same again. I don’t like writing
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Net Neutrality in the West Village
By W. Russell Neuman ‘Net neutrality,’ whatever that might mean, sure sounds like a reasonable idea. It’s got to be better than whatever the alternative could be. Let’s see: Net Narrow-Mindedness? Verizon Villainy? Time Warner Turpitude? You’ve seen headlines with the phrase ‘net neutrality.’ Perhaps you have heard further that net neutrality is an Obama-era
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A Declaration for Independence
By Tom Lamia “Greed is good!” is a memorable line from the movie Wall Street. Not long after the movie finished its run, the financial condition of most Americans, and of the country at large, was significantly worsened by what appeared to be a greed-induced recession. There is an analogy here to the current state
