C.O. change:
We hear from a reliable source at the Sixth Precinct that Deputy Inspector Kevin Fitzgerald will be leaving as the precinct’s commanding officer this week. Fitzgerald is currently on a two-week vacation. Two names are being mentioned to replace him, one of them a woman: Captain Christine Kay, executive officer at the 17th Precinct, and “McCarthy,” though which McCarthy isn’t known: There are two who are C.O.’s., one of them being Captain James McCarthy, who took over at the Ninth Precinct only a few months ago, and so would seem an unlikely candidate. Another McCarthy is Patrick, former C.O. at the First and 13th Precincts, though it wasn’t immediately known where McCarthy ended up after leaving the 13th or if he’s still on the force. Asked for some help pinpointing which McCarthy it might be, a Police Department spokesperson said, “There’s one McCarthy who is a deputy inspector and, at least 10 Captain McCarthy’s — and I have no idea who is taking over at the Sixth.”
Canal Clark:
Retired General Wesley Clark attended a fundraiser hosted by independent filmmaker Jesse Peretz last Thursday night at his Hudson Sq. loft at the end of W. Canal St. (Right by The Villager’s office — and we weren’t invited!) A neighbor who attended, requesting her name not be used, said the highlight of Clark’s speech was when he spoke about the inappropriateness of the war in Iraq, that American foreign policy was in a moment of crisis and that immediate action was needed.
Beep candidate:
We hear from a Jane St. source that former Upper West Side Councilmember Stanley Michels plans to run for Manhattan borough president. The source said he asked Michels why he wanted to be B.P., since the job is largely appointing community board members. “He said, ‘Yes, but it’s a bully pulpit,’ ” the Jane Streeter said. Michels, term limited out of the Council in 2001, hasn’t yet publicly announced he’s running. Michels told The Villager it’s true, he’s investigating whether to run. He said he’s heard State Senator Tom Duane, who had once been mentioned as a candidate, has dropped out of the race. The main names Michels said he’s now hearing are Councilmembers Margarita Lopez, Bill Perkins, Eva Moskowitz and Phil Reed — all of whom face term limits — and Assemblymember Scott Stringer. However, Carlos Manzano of McManus Democrats is the only candidate to have announced he’s running for B.P.
Tenants forum:
Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, the Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition and Mitchell-Lama Council are sponsoring a Mitchell-Lama Convention on Mon., Dec. 1, 5:30-8 p.m., at Hunter College, Danny Kaye Auditorium, E. 68th St. and Lexington Ave. Tenant leaders, Mitchell-Lama advocates and representatives of city, state and federal housing agencies will be on hand for the discussion and to answer questions on issues like rent increases and buyouts. R.S.V.P. at 212-669-4460.
Hear Kucinich:
A free L.G.B.T. community forum with Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, will be held Sun., Dec. 7, at noon at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, 208 W. 13th St.
Parks potpourri:
At Community Board 2’s Parks Committee meeting on Wed., Dec. 3, at 7 pm, at N.Y.U.’s Silver Building, 24 Waverly Pl., room 714, Manhattan borough Parks Commissioner Bill Castro and landscape architect George Vellonakis will discuss and present a preliminary design plan for renovating Washington Sq. Park. Also, Bob Redmond from the Parks Dept. will present the renovation plan for the park’s play mounds. A third item on the agenda will be the issue of Bob Bolles’ metal sculptures being returned to Sunflower Park at Broome and Watts Sts.
Corrections:
In last week’s Scoopy, we misspelled the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, which was being honored at the National Arts Club’s gala…. A photo caption in the arts listings in the Nov. 12 issue incorrectly attributed a sketch to artist Aaron Krach.
