December 1st, 2009
The before and after pictures tell the story. Residents of 112 Eldridge Street (between Broome and Grand) were living in terrible conditions. Walls had decayed, ceilings buckled, water could only be run in one unit at a time. But thanks to an innovative government/non-profit partnership, the residents of this once-typical Chinatown tenement will soon be moving into beautifully refurbished apartments. Last week, I toured the building with Chris Kui, the executive director of Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), which led the restoration project. What was accomplished at 112 Eldridge, Kui says, reveals a great deal about where the fight for affordable housing in New York City is headed in the years to come.
Continue reading Preserving Affordable Housing – One Tenement Building at a Time
December 1st, 2009
Jurors in Albany are beginning a third day of deliberations in the federal corruption trial of former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. As The Daily News pointed out the other day, the case has "sparked a new round of talks on ethics reform." Our own state senator, Daniel Squadron, is at the center of the fight for more transparency in New York's ethics law.
A bill he's co-sponsoring would create three panels – one each to oversee lobbyists, the executive branch and the State Legislature. Any recommendations from those commissions would be made public. Lawmakers would be required to report their outside income. Those who have outside consulting businesses (like Bruno) would have to disclose details about their clients. However, legislators who are lawyers (like Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver) would not be compelled to disclose their clients.
Continue reading Squadron Remains Hopeful For Ethics Reform
December 1st, 2009
Julius Singer Press and Awkward Press team up to present "Old Notebooks," an evening of readings by authors Sara Jaffe (The Art of Touring), Chris Leo (Feathers Like Leather), Zack Lipez (No Seats On The Party Car) and Jason Diamond (vol1brooklyn.com). Awkard Press writes, "In addition to reading from their published works, writers will have a chance to dust off something buried within their old notebooks, something they've never read from before, something they never intended to see the light of day. Ever." There is an after-party at a dumpling place "up the road".
8pm//FREE//Happy Ending Lounge//302 Broome St.
December 1st, 2009
Sheldon Silver says he sees "significant progress" in negotiations to close the state's huge budget deficit. The governor still contends lawmakers have not come nearly far enough – cuts in education spending appear to be the main sticking point.
The City Council is moving to ban those roll-down metal gates used by many New York City stores.
Sen. Dan Squadron is holding a town hall meeting on the F Train December 10th in Brooklyn.
Continue reading Budget Talks Drag On, F Train Town Hall, Assessing the Bowery’s Transformation
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