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We’re here at Community Board 3′s last meeting of 2011 with real-time (please contain your excitement) updates throughout the evening:
- A community liaison from the District Attorneys office announced a youth basketball program will be coming to the Boys & Girls Republic in January. The facility near Avenue D and East 6th Street is run by Henry Street Settlement. The program is meant to address growing concerns in the neighborhood about youth violence.
- A resident is speaking out about noise coming from Chloe 81, the night spot at 81 Ludlow Street (between Delancey and Broome). The man, speaking in Chinese, is also telling CB3 members he’s concerned about the risk of fire in the mixed-use (commercial and residential) building. District Manager Susan Stetzer says she’ll advise the 7th Precinct about the situation and she suggested residents attend the next precinct community council meeting.
- Borough President Scott Stringer’s rep. reminds everyone that community board applications are due January 13th. More info here.
- Land Use Committee Chair David McWater discusses a resolution in support of the residents of 400 Grand Street, which sits on the Seward Park redevelopment site (SPURA). The resolution calls on the city to relocate the people living in the city-owned building and to give them “first priority” when new residential units are built on the SPURA site.
- Lisa Kaplan, formerly Council member Rosie Mendez’ chief of staff, has joined CB3. She was a member for many years before going to work for Mendez.
- Board members are discussing a resolution in support of a proposed law allowing temporary public access to stalled construction sites. Harvey Epstein expressed concerns the proposal would make it too easy for property owners to set up makeshift nightlife operations on stalled sites. David McWater agreed that the community would likely not benefit from the temporary use of neighborhood eyesores. Susan Stetzer, CB3′s district manager, Susan Stetzer, suggested the borough president (who is pushing the idea) neglected to properly consult community boards. Stringer’s representative, Alec Schierenbeck, defended the initiative, saying it is designed to address a major problem in the city. No one doubts the large number of stalled construction sites poses major economic development and quality of life issues for the city.
- CB3 votes to postpone the “stalled sites” issue until next month.
- 8:29 p.m. — meeting adjourned!
 
This afternoon word came from HBO that it has decided to cancel “How To Make It in America.” The Lower East Side-centric show averaged about 2.3 million viewers in its second season. The cast, including Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk, Luis Guzman and Lake Bell were frequently seen filming around the neighborhood.
Today Guzman, who was raised on the LES, is tweeting about the cancellation:
OK MY PEEPS….JUST FOUND OUT HBO WILL NOT BE BRINGING HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA BACK FOR A THIRD SEASON…WHAT’S UP WITH THAT!!!!!
The most diverse show on HBO…light up that switchboard and let them know how you feel….
Thanks my PEEPS FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT ….THATS REAL COMMITMENT! !!!!!
By the way that switchboard number is 212-512-1000!
Hanging out on Clinton Street, near East Broadway this afternoon.
 Photo by Cynthia Lamb. I’m something of a traditionalist when it comes to pizza. I cringe at toppings like pineapple, laugh at some options available in Japan (potato and mayo pizza with shrimp and sweet corn?!) and turn my nose up at the idea of cheese in the crust. (What kind of back room lobbying deal brought us that?) If a pizza place has a proper oven and uses good ingredients I see no reason to get more adventurous than a pizza margherita. Most of the time, that is. I have found a couple offbeat pizzas that work well right here in the neighborhood, from places that deliver. Today I’m going to share two of them with you. Continue reading JP’s Food Adventures: Pizza Delivery on the LES
 Seniors at the Educational Alliance's Whittacker Center light a menorah. As we mentioned this morning, Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight. Here are a few events happening on the Lower East Side in connection with the Festival of Lights. Continue reading Hanukkah on the Lower East Side (Updated 4:37 p.m.)
 Video game guru Dave Gilbert with his wife, Janet. The following article was written by Patrick Hickey, Jr. of the web site Review Fix:
As a video game designer, East Village-native Dave Gilbert creates brand new worlds, full of weird and interesting characters. He prefers to keep them on his doorstep. The founder of Wadjet Eye Games, Gilbert and his wife Janet, earn a living making games based on their neighborhood. “You write what you know,” David said. Continue reading East Village Video Game Designer Draws on Neightborhood For Inspiration
- Common Cause thinks Sheldon Silver’s district (AD-64) should be redrawn to incorporate all of the Lower East Side, including Latino-leaning areas north of Houston Street. More affluent neighborhoods, such as Battery Park City, would be eliminated (WNYC).
- 145 Avenue C sells for $9.7 million (EV Grieve).
- A Soho boutique pops up on Stanton Street (Racked).
- The stars come out for the opening of Lola Montes Schnabel show at the Hole Gallery on the Bowery (NYT).
 Pell Street, Chinatown. Cloudy with a high of 45 today. We’re expecting rain tomorrow. Happy Hanukkah! The Jewish Festival of Lights begins at sundown tonight.
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