Morning Reads: Funding For Poor Parks, Samuel Dickstein, “Gotham’s” Chinatown Vibe

Today the mayor announces an initiative to funnel $130 million into small parks in low income neighborhoods.  One park mentioned in news reports is Luther Gulick Park on Willett Street, a project that was already fully funded thanks to the efforts of community activists. State Senator Daniel Squadron has championed funding equity, but called on wealthy park conservancies to pitch in. The de Blasio plan is publicly funded (NYT).

Thor Equities picks up 195 Bowery, a commercial building, for $4 million (Commercial Observer).

The office/condo portion of the East West Bank Building at 77 Bowery has been put on the market; it is expected to fetch up to $30 million (Real Deal).

People who live near the Avenue A 7-Eleven have had it with the store’s noisy refrigeration units (Channel 2).

All about Samuel Dickstein, U.S. Congressman — Soviet spy. As you may know, a campaign is underway to remove his name from a Lower East Side street (Politico).

A look at newly released letters from Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (NYT).

The new Batman series, “Gotham,” includes plenty of LES/Chinatown scenes (Guardian).

Haunted house as performance art: inside Blackout, a very dark Halloween-themed experience on East Houston Street (Daily Beast).