Scoopy’s Notebook

Going, going, gone postal: According to information posted on the door of the “under-renovation” West Village Station Post Office at 527 Hudson St., that P.O. will be reopened as an “automated” station with only P.O. boxes and vending machines — no employees. The flier was put up by “concerned citizens,” not the U.S. Postal Service. According to our tipster, Thomas Hoover, this information was confirmed anecdotally by a former employee there who now works at the Varick St. Post Office. “The Far West Village no longer has a P.O.,” Hoover said. “Did we vote the wrong way? Hello FedEx.” Hoover said he’s particularly concerned about the effect the postal station’s closing will have on “those aging taxpayers who are not as used to walking half a mile as they once were.” Other stations serving the Lower West Side area are at 10th St. and Sixth Ave., Canal St. near Church St. and W. 18th St. west of Seventh Ave.

Fresh ideas for 40: A new group of local residents, The Pier 40 Partnership, has formed to try to come up with a more sensible plan for the 14-acre W. Houston St. pier’s future. We hear the group includes some well-funded “hedge-fund types” and “venture capitalists” whose kids play in the local sports league games on the pier. The group’s near-term goal is to raise at least $1 million toward the pier’s improvement. The new organization grew out of dissatisfaction with the two current proposals being considered for the pier’s redevelopment under a process led by the Hudson River Park Trust.

What’s the rush? With term limits facing Councilmember Alan Gerson in just more than two years, speculation is already percolating about his next move. Some wonder if he might challenge State Senator Martin Connor. But Gerson quashed those rumors. “No, no, no, no, no, no,” he told us emphatically. “Marty Connor is a friend and a good state senator. I’ve always supported him and will continue to support him.” Gerson said he’s been preoccupied dealing with crises in his Lower Manhattan district — like the recent Deutsche Bank disaster — and dealing with constituent concerns. “I’ve been very busy serving this district, so I haven’t had the time to sit down and figure out what I’m going to do next. … I want to remain in government and in policy,” Gerson did allow. “I know that there are several of my colleagues that have master plans and have been busy with fundraising. Obviously, a lot in this business depends on what opportunities open up.” Gerson noted that when he recently joined some Chinatown seniors to celebrate a man’s 106th birthday at Project Open Door, many were urging Gerson to run for mayor. “Everyone has ideas,” he said. Pete Gleason, who plans to run for Gerson’s seat, also has an idea for him: “I think he would be perfect as a Civil Court judge,” Gleason said. “He’s got an even temperament. He’s a nice guy.” Speaking of judges, Gleason has one more idea: “I would like to see Kathryn Freed come back,” he said. If Freed — who represented the district until she was forced out by term limits six years ago — runs for the Council seat, Gleason said, “I would not run. She’s perfect for the job.” If Freed doesn’t run, though, Gleason said he will, and is eagerly looking forward to two other anticipated candidates, Julie Menin and Madelyn Wils, “tearing each other apart.” Hey, what if Menin and Wils happen to read this and instead decide to team up on Gleason? Look out, fella!

N.Y.U. alarms: Some Villagers were up in arms on Sunday when they saw uniformed New York Police Department officers helping direct traffic for New York University’s Moving-In Day. However, John Beckman, the university’s spokesperson said the services of these 29 officers were obtained through the N.Y.P.D.’s Paid-Detail Unit, meaning the officers were in uniform but off-duty and working on their private time. Villagers were up in arms again on Tuesday when N.Y.U. chopped down 13 trees — and removed five more for transplanting — at Mercer and W. Third Sts., clearing the way for its hotly contested co-generation plant expansion project. When the project is done, N.Y.U. will replant the strip with trees and foliage.

Scoopy roars: Scoopy has done it again. Carol Rinzler, of 200 + Friends of NYC Parks, called us Tuesday to report that she had just received a four-page e-mail from Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe that appears to include the long-awaited answers to the 20 questions that former City Councilmember Carol Greitzer posed to Benepe almost a year ago in a letter in The Villager. Last week, Scoopy had pointed out that the 200 + Friends’ patience was beyond wearing thin. “I want to thank you for putting that item in the paper last week,” Rinzler told us.

Video man: Our Police Blotter earlier this month reported that Tim Royes, 42, was fatally struck by a car in Chelsea at 1 a.m. on Mon., Aug. 13. What wasn’t mentioned was that Royes was a top music video editor and director in England and also was well known in New York and L.A. He had just done the video for the new single by Melanie C (formerly Mel C, formerly Sporty Spice) and also had worked on Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” video. His videos for bands like the Sugababes were known for a “wet look,” drawn from his work in fashion. “Apparently, he was staying at a friend’s place in Soho,” said Karen Alchin, a longtime friend from Australia. “We know he was on his way back there that night from a club. We don’t even know what club it was. … His huge, lovable personality made him stand out from the crowd, which is what makes his death so very sad, such a waste.”

Cameraman: You’ve seen his photos in The Villager. Now, a show of 50 of Clayton Patterson’s Lower East Side photographs spanning from 1987 to 2005 will be on view at Kinz/Tillou Feigen gallery, 529 W. 20th St., from Sept. 10 to Oct. 27. Subjects range from the late John Sex of Pyramid club fame to Cochise, a murderous drug dealer, to gritty slices of L.E.S. sidewalk life. William Leroy, of Billy’s Antiques and Props on E. Houston St., served as the key go-between to help set up the exhibit at the swank Chelsea gallery. Patterson documented what has basically now become a vanished world, “and he always had his camera with him,” Leroy said.

Correction: Last week we printed an incorrect U.R.L. for John Penley’s Mike Bloomberg for president Web site. The correct address is mayormikeforpresident.com.