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From the in-box, Senator Daniel Squadron’s statement on the signing into law of the “Bruno Gap Bill.”
In Albany, the struggle for reform is slow, and true steps forward are rare. That’s why I am pleased that today Governor Paterson signed into law the bill I wrote with Speaker Sheldon Silver to close the “Bruno Gap” in state ethics law, making it illegal for a public officer to use government resources for outside, for-profit business.
Continue reading Squadron’s Statement on the Signing of “Bruno Gap” Legislation
 
We’re heading over to City Hall for this afternoon’s public hearing on the 9/11 trials…
As we mentioned earlier, there are lots of events today and stretching into the weekend, tied to the Chinese Lunar New Year…
And we’re working on a full accounting of last night’s hearing at P.S. 188, to consider the expansion of the Girls Prep Middle School.
We’ll have posts on all these stories coming up this afternoon and tomorrow.
 For a date your valentine is bound to remember, head over to the Living Room this Sunday to catch an LES favorite, The Main Squeeze Orchestra. Touted as “The Western World’s Only 14-piece All-female, All-accordion Orchestra,” under the direction of Main Squeeze shop owner and performer Walter Kuhr (he gives lessons and sells his own accordions at his store on 19 Essex St.), the Village Voice wrote of the group, “More sugar cube than vegan icing, they do cabaret and camp along with all the bellows’ best, while dressed, coiffed, and rehearsed like some Central European Berry Gordy fantasy.” Listen on myspace. 8pm. $12.
A whole slew of gallery shows will be closing this weekend. The first show, “Undressed” by Jessica Lichtenstein, was extended at Gallery Nine5 (24 Spring Street), and ends today. The sexually charged figurines in the show depict women in various, and sometimes explicit, poses that offer a dialogue about female empowerment and self-confidence.
Continue reading Last Chance To See LES Gallery Shows Before They Close On Valentine’s Day
Chanting ‘save our neighborhood schools,’ students and parents are rallying in front of PS 188 right now. A hearing is scheduled here at 6pm on the expansion of the Girls Prep Middle School.
 The Lower East Side Girls Club is throwing a big party and benefit next week in honor of Fat Tuesday. It’s their Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball. The event features Mardi Gras Queen and King (respectively) Grammy-nominated singer CuCu Diamantes (Yerba Buena) and author Joathan Ames (HBO’s Bored to Death). There will also be live music by Loose Marbles (a New Orleans band) and the Hungry March Band, as well as special guest DJs.
Continue reading Celebrate Mardi Gras with the LES Girls Club
 Tote bags from the Nomi Network It was during a trip to a remote village in Cambodia that Diana Mao first met a little girl who changed her life. Nomi, 8 years old, (not her real name) was the victim of sexual slavery. Mao was so moved by her story that upon returning to New York, she began building the Nomi Network, an organization devoted to helping women and girls involved in Cambodia’s sex trade.
The non-profit, based in Chinatown, helps businesses establish “transparent supply chains” using fair-trade labor – and connects consumers with socially conscious retailers. The group also sends designers and marketing specialists to Cambodia to help trafficking survivors create a high quality line of products.
Continue reading The Nomi Network: Helping Businesses and Consumers Fight Trafficking
This weekly feature spotlights a wide variety of people who live and work on the Lower East Side. If you would like to participate in “My LES”, please email us here.
 Jessica Delfino - photo by Traven Rice What do you do?
I’m a controversial satirical / comedic musician who travels the world, performing, and also performs regularly around NYC. I play an assortment of odd instruments, such as the flying V ukulele and a guitar my friend made for me out of parts he found in the garbage. (I purell’d the whole thing first). I even made up a song on my rape whistle which I play on stage, too. I’m also a writer, a blogger, a show producer, an artist, activist, sometimes model, animal lover and a sassy pants. I’m very googleable. (Jessica was recently featured in Time Out NY in their “Most Stylish New Yorkers” series.)
Continue reading My LES – Jessica Delfino
 The group show, Portrait of a Lady, opened last night at Allegra LaViola Gallery (at 179 E. Broadway – formerly named LaViolaBank Gallery). The show aims to explore and challenge the relationship between women and portraiture through a variety of media and sizes.
Nicedisc‘s show “Trace,” will open at Audio Visual Arts Gallery (34 East 1st St.) tonight from 7-9PM. Nicedisk, a Brooklyn-based duo composed of Jeffrey Pash and Nick Phillips, have created a light and sound installation for this show, which seems to jump between being an extreme perceptual overload and a more indirect sensual experience.
Continue reading LES Gallery Openings
A new poll suggests a majority of Americans don’t want the 9/11 suspects tried in New York, or in any civilian court.
Comptroller John Liu calls for changes in the way community benefit agreements are drafted and enforced.
Curbed reports the DOB is launching its ‘stalled buildings program.’
Continue reading Terror Trial Poll, Stalled Buildings Program, Snow Creatures at Night
 Community activists in Chinatown are, of course, pleased members of the City Council are pushing a resolution demanding the federal government move the upcoming terror trials out of New York City. But they plan to fight language in the resolution calling on the feds to pick up the tab for the trials, if they refuse to find a new location. Tonight Community Board 1 Chair Julie Menin told The Lo-Down she agrees the language, “weakens our position.”
Continue reading Menin: Council Resolution “Weakens Our Position”
 Jan Lee is not one to hold back. As the driving force behind one of Lower Manhattan’s most active neighborhood groups, the Civic Center Residents Coalition (CCRC), he is brash and outspoken. In the past, he’s taken on New York City’s Transportation Department, the NYPD and even the Mayor. But now, Lee has a new target: Community Board 3.
In recent weeks, the CCRC has been on the forefront of the battle to get the 9/11 terror trials moved from the federal courthouse on Pearl Street. Long before elected officials lined up in opposition to the Obama Administration’s plan, the members of the group were speaking out against a decision they believed would make them prisoners in their own homes.
Continue reading Jan Lee vs. CB3
We’ve received word from co-producer/performer Jessica Delfino that, as of 12:30pm today, the monthly talent extravaganza that is Skits N’ Tits is still ON for tonight at the Bowery Poetry Club.
Continue reading Skits N’ Tits Forges On – Blizzard and All
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