B.P.C.A. Re-nominations
State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are pushing Gov. Andrew Cuomo to re-nominate Anthony Notaro and Martha Gallo to seats on the Battery Park City Authority Board of Directors. Both had been nominated to the B.P.C.A. by Gov. David Paterson but the nominations had not been ratified by the State Senate before Paterson left office, and so they were nullified.
Notaro is the president of the1st Precinct Community Council and a member of Manhattan Community Board 1 and the Battery Park City Neighbors Association. Gallo, who is a business executive, also worked with the Battery Park City Neighbors Association and serves on the boards of the Alliance for Downtown New York and the Women’s Refugee Commission.
“The B.P.C.A. requires both financial and government expertise as well as input from neighborhood residents to ensure that long-term plans are financially sound and reflect the needs and interests of the residents,” said the officials in a letter to Leslie Leach, the appointments secretary at the State Capitol.
Irish Food Tour
On Saturday, March 12, the Downtown Alliance will jump start the St. Patrick’s Day festivities by hosting a “Taste of Ireland” food tour through Lower Manhattan. The highlight of the tour should be the newly reopened restaurant in Fraunces Tavern, where, at the end of the American Revolution, George Washington famously said farewell to his officers before departing for his home in Virginia.
Also on the shamrock-themed, gastronomical adventure will be the Bailey Pub and Brasserie as well as two pubs whose names allude to literary great James Joyce — Ulysses Folkhouse and the Dubliner.
The Downtown Alliance food tours are led by culinary expert and licensed city tour guide, Liz Young, who sandwiches Downtown history between restaurant stops. At each location, tour participants sample food and drink. The last Downtown Alliance food tour, “Savor the Romance,” was sold out. For information and reservations for the Irish outing, go to www.DowntownNY.com. Tickets for the tours are $25.
9/11 Memorial Tour Buses
After the National September 11 Memorial opens in September at the World Trade Center site, around 900,000 people a year are expected to visit Lower Manhattan on tour buses. The City has created a task force to study the problem of increased traffic congestion. On Tuesday, March 8, several Downtown elected officials sent a letter to New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janet Sadik-Khan proposing the creation of a committee to provide input on the task force’s proposals.
“The plans presented thus far have been vague and inadequate,” said the letter. “As elected officials representing the Lower Manhattan community, we must have a seat at the table when decisions about this matter are made.”
The group, which would be made up of elected officials such as Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Assemblyman Sheldon Silver; and other local representatives, would hold its first meeting on April 15.
“It is our firm belief that meaningful community participation in the Lower Manhattan visitor management plan will result in a proposal that carefully balances the needs of area residents and businesses with our shared commitment to the Memorial,” the letter said.
25th Senate District Community Convention
New York State Senator Daniel Squadron is inviting community residents to the 25th Senate District Community Convention to share their views on issues affecting the district. Previous community conventions have helped Sen. Squadron prioritize legislative issues and to consider various solutions.
Participants will discuss many different topics in small groups, where they will have the opportunity to speak directly to Squadron. The convention will be held on Sunday, March 13 at St. Francis College (180 Remsen Street in Brooklyn.) R.S.V.P. to Rosemarie Diaz at (212) 298-5565 or rdiaz@nysenate.gov
Affordable Housing Survey
In an effort to gather more information about existing affordable housing units in the community and better advocate for new ones, Manhattan Community Board 1 is asking residents of affordable housing to take a survey. The survey covers the Community Board 1 area, which takes in Lower Manhattan below Canal Street. Anyone who lives in an apartment that is rent controlled through government programs is urged to fill out the survey. Click here to fill out the survey.
