Photo: The view of the Lower East Side from Brooklyn at dusk.
In the news this past week:
–There are different opinions about whether the latest lawsuit meant to block the mega-towers in the Two Bridges area is justified under the state’s Green Amendment. Some say the projects would obviously harm the environment and endanger the well-being of low-income residents in the area. Others believe the lawsuit, if successful, would lead to unintended consequences, including potentially making it more difficult to build affordable housing. [Streetsblog]
–Lower East Side tenants participated in a rally at City Hall on Tuesday to pressure NYCHA to reform its slow and dysfunctional process for completing repairs. [ABC 7]
–In a new book, “Do For Me,” local reporter Bill Sanderson takes another look at Sheldon Silver’s dealings with cancer researcher and doctor Robert Taub. Legal business from Taub’s patients was a key issue in the corruption trials that ultimately sent Silver to prison. [Daily News]
–At the “Tin Building by Jean-Georges,” where the old Fulton Fish Market once thrived, “the restaurants have a synthetic, studio-lot appearance, like the frozen-yogurt shops in ‘The Good Place.’ The interior design,” writes Pete Wells, “is a shiny fantasy of a city built for consumers, with all the roots clipped off and the physical labor swept away, no doubt to the Bronx.” [The New York Times]
–What’s the difference these days between a wine bar and a restaurant? Eric Asimov goes looking for an answer. One of his favorite new spots is Gem Wine on Broome Street. [The New York Times]
–And while we’re at it, here’s a survey of some of the Lower East Side’s better wine bars. [Condé Nast Traveler]
–Revisiting the rich history of the section of the Lower East Side surrounding Seward Park. [Bowery Boys]
