City Council hypocrites
To The Editor:
Re “‘Save Our Supermarket!’ 14th grocery faithful take protest to landlord” (news article, March 24):
Déjà vu all over again. The City Council speaks with a forked tongue when it comes to addressing this longstanding small business crisis. No way the Council will bite the real estate industry that feeds them.
We have had at least five Council bills addressing this problem dating back to the Koch administration, yet not one bill has made it out of committee for a vote on the Council floor. It is easy for councilmembers to claim to support a bill, when they know full well that they will not be called upon to actually vote for the bill.
The “legal problem” claim that is being utilized by some for delaying a vote is a red herring. There is no legal opinion from the corporation counsel opposing the bill. It is time for our councilmembers to vote on the Small Business Jobs Survival Act or get off the pot.
Alfred Placeres
Placeres is president, New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
Hey, sorry…things change
To The Editor:
Re “Time to look at bigger picture on small businesses” (editorial, March 17):
Look folks, that store has been there ever since I can remember, at least 20 years. The fact is that New Yorkers have changed in the Chelsea and West Village area during that time. New folks have moved in and paid 10 times more for their co-op and condo apartments, or are paying 10 times more in rent.
Google moved in two blocks away from Associated and their people don’t want anything at Associated. They buy Starbucks and pay for organic, luxury and gourmet instead of wholesale, discount and secondhand.
Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Gristedes, Western Beef, Gourmet Garage, Garden of Eden and FreshDirect are all market-driven viable alternatives.
Donald Moder
Politicians heed power
To The Editor:
Re “Time to look at bigger picture on small businesses” (editorial, March 17):
Under current laws, the owners of commercial properties can charge whatever rents they wish. I may be ignorant, but my perception is that politicians have the power to change existing laws and to make new laws to protect the city, its culture and ideals, and its inhabitants. But the city appears, in case after case, to be “giving the store away.”
I understand that a show of support from citizens is helpful in passing laws. But it seems to me that the support of the citizenry has not been necessary for passing pass laws in cases where the interests of rich and powerful international and corporate entities are concerned. Indeed, my perception as a plain, nonrich citizen is that large groups of local citizens only get their way when higher-ups were planning to do what these citizens wanted anyway.
How do our elected officials see our future? More important, how do elected officials analyze the present situation in New York City? And, most important, why do the elected officials appear to be protecting their own power bases at the expense of the life and health of the city?
Minerva Durham
The same old problem
To The Editor:
Re “Time to look at bigger picture on small businesses” (editorial, March 17):
Some 30-odd years ago, then-City Councilmember Ruth Messinger created the Small Business Task Force in an attempt to initiate rent protections for small businesses that were closing due to their increasing unrestricted commercial rents. Unfortunately, the task force became bogged down, with the city saying the state needed to pass legislation and the state saying the city needed to act first.
Around that time, Community Boards 3 and 6, in response to the drug problems along E. 14th St., created a task force that evolved into Sweet 14. One of this group’s early efforts was to encourage local landlords to renew commercial leases at nominal increases in return for tax advantages and low-interest loans offered to both the businesses and the landlords. The results included a study, an expensive economic development design project placing plastic signs along stores, and new or newly painted tree guards, subway grates and lights.
There are now very few small businesses left to protect. Will there be any left before legislation catches up to reality?
Susan Leelike
A ticking time bomb
To The Editor:
Re “Indian Point 11 plead ‘guilty and proud’ in court” (news article, March 17):
Thank you all for standing your ground!
Indian Point is a ticking time bomb and must be closed, before it’s too late.
Erica Gray
Purple answers
To The Editor:
Re “The dark side of Purple” (news article, Dec. 31, 2015):
Credit Lincoln Anderson with excellent reporting about a sick, narcissistic, individual who nevertheless contributed a lot to his times and community.
Covering the later stages of Adam Purple’s court battles and the garden’s demise taught me a lot about journalism, as did the old professor from Headquarters of Intergalactic Psychic Police.
Other than the black-and-white photos illustrating Villager stories of that era, nothing was black and white dealing with the Rev. Les Ego or his more passionate followers. You’ve answered questions stretching back decades.
I won’t condemn the Purple Man. The Garden and “Zentences” were each bigger, in a sense, than their creator. And the times themselves arguably invited some of the personal excesses. But there’s no forgiving David L. Wilkie’s selfish and, what you so credibly present as, persistent abuse of innocents and vulnerable souls who looked up to him.
Brian Patrick O’Donoghue
O’Donoghue was a reporter for The Villager from 1982-86, covering Adam Purple and his fight to save the Garden of Eden, squatters and drug crackdowns. He is now an associate professor of journalism at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. His current efforts figure in the Alaska Innocence Project’s bid to exonerate the “Fairbanks Four.”
Hungry for Pier 57
To The Editor:
Re “Fox has his facts all wrong on Pier 57 project” (talking point, by Diana Taylor, March 3):
My family and I are Chelsea residents and I am writing in support of Diana Taylor’s recent comments regarding Pier 57.
We’re very excited about the upcoming plans for the pier. It’s great to see something finally happen with the unused structure that currently stands there offering no value to the neighborhood. We’re thrilled to see that the proposal currently calls for even more green space along the Hudson River, providing park users with an expansive area to relax and enjoy views of New York. I’m sure that my family will love the no- and low-cost programming and events to be offered throughout the warm months.
We are especially excited for Anthony Bourdain’s food hall. As foodies, we love having new options in the neighborhood and think the idea of lots of stalls mixing local and international cuisines will help to develop a great neighborhood destination.
Finally, attracting businesses like Google to expand their presence in the area will be a smart investment that benefits the West Side and Hudson River Park as a whole.
Pier 57 is an exhilarating new model for the use of public space. While it’s disheartening to know that there are some detractors, I hope that the project moves forward in a timely manner and that everyone can enjoy the benefits of this high-potential, unused space.
Greg Wasserman
Waterfront jewel
To The Editor:
Spring is in the air, and as Hudson River Park comes alive again, it’s a good time to acknowledge the many people in our state, our city and our community who make it possible.
A hearty thank you to our New York State officials for supporting the park with a request for $3.5 million in the governor’s 2016-17 budget. We are grateful to all of them for their much-needed advocacy: state Senators Brad Hoylman, Daniel Squadron and Adriano Espaillat and Assemblymembers Richard Gottfried Deborah Glick and Linda Rosenthal.
Hudson River Park is the jewel of New York City’s waterfront. It provides us with salty air, blue sky, grass and ball fields, bike paths and dog runs. It hosts 17 million visits each year from local residents and tourists from all over. It’s hard to imagine life without the park — and yet its financial situation remains precarious. So the state’s funding will be put to good use on critical park infrastructure: security cameras, LED bulbs, repairs to pavers and docks — lots of different fixes to keep the park safe and beautiful.
We owe thanks to our city officials, as well. Councilmembers Margaret Chin and Corey Johnson have historically supported park requests. Johnson deserves a special shout-out this year for the leadership gift he is making to our capital campaign to refurbish Chelsea Waterside Park. Borough President Gale Brewer’s role in the park’s development is strong and constant and has included financial support.
We expect soon to see the restoration and repurposing of Pier 57 near W. 15th St. into a gorgeous rooftop park above an international food market to be developed by Anthony Bourdain. Community Board 4 worked hand in hand with the Trust to scrutinize and contribute to this plan. It’s gratifying that this important financial project was able to garner strong and consistent public support through its years of review.
All of us who love and use Hudson River Park should recognize the hard work by so many people — not the least of which, the Hudson River Park Trust, which operates the park. Let’s make sure our elected officials remain aware of how much this park means to our community.
Gregory Boroff
Boroff is executive director, Friends of Hudson River Park
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