Stars aligned against Bush: We hear that among the leaders expected to be “on the banner” at the head of United for Peace and Justice’s anti-Bush march on Aug. 29 are Jesse Jackson, Rosie Perez, Danny Glover and Pete Seeger.
A Supporting newspaper: United for Peace and Justice’s Bill Dobbs, of Soho, tells us that in supporting papers for U.F.P.J.’s lawsuit against the city for use of Central Park for its rally on the eve of the Republican National Convention, U.F.P.J. included editorials and articles on the issue by The Villager.
Bush-free landscape: Artists will paint and draw landscapes with bushes omitted or covered by the international red “forbidden” logo on Aug. 29, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the Conservatory Garden in Central Park, at Fifth Ave. and 106th St. For information, call 212-677-4045.
Not a pen pal: John Kerry was working the crowd after his speech at Cooper Union’s Great Hall on Tuesday, when a security official noticed a Villager reporter expectantly holding a mini-cassette recorder and a Bic pen and told the reporter to put the pen away. When the reporter identified himself as such, the security man shrugged and relented.
Poetic injustice: Leave it to a poet to find symmetry amid the tawdry allegations of extortion that have plagued outgoing New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey since he admitted two weeks ago that he was gay and had had an affair with a man. Bob Holman, proprietor of the Bowery Poetry Club and himself a poet, noted that McGreevey’s troubled tenure as head of the Garden State was bookended by poets. Early in his administration, McGreevey’s appointment of Amiri Baraka as New Jersey’s poet laureate caused a hubbub when Baraka was later accused of reciting an anti-Semitic poem. Golan Cipel, McGreevey’s reputed ex-lover — whom the governor hired as a high-paid aide, and who allegedly tried to extort millions from the governor in order to keep their relationship under wraps — is also reportedly a poet (although Cipel’s verse has received far less attention than his alleged club-hopping on the Bowery and in Chelsea). Of McGreevey’s entanglements, Holman said, “It sort of shows poets have a hard time getting into the news, but somehow or other they figure out a way.”
Give me a break: David McWater, new chairperson of Community Board 3, said he is a bit irked by some recent letters in The Villager that criticized the alleged influence of bar and nightclub owners on community boards. McWater, who owns several bars on Avenue A, said that anyone who wants to criticize the way he runs the East Village/Lower East Side board, should at least attend some board meetings to see how he conducts himself. “This is known as one of the most anti-nightlife community boards in the state,” he said, “and they elected me with 70 percent of the vote.” In other C.B. 3 news, Barden Prisant, whom McWater beat in the chairperson election, has stepped down as chairperson of the Housing Committee, probably the board’s most important committee. McWater said he offered to let Prisant continue on in the position, but Prisant declined. McWater has appointed Sam Wilkenfeld as the new Housing Committee chairperson.
Food tranquilizer: We noticed Craig Lopez, co-owner of Accidental CD’s, Records and Tapes on Avenue A, was reading The Villager last Friday night. He said he was particularly interested in the article about residents being bothered by noise from the tropical rooftop bar at The Delancey, because his girlfriend’s apartment is right next to the roof. Lopez noted that the bar is trying to smooth things over with residents by inviting them to free, biweekly barbecues on the roof.
Staff changes: Two members of State Senator Tom Duane’s staff are going to work for City Council Speaker Gifford Miller. Brian Sogol, Duane’s liaison to Community Board 4 covering Chelsea and Clinton, will become Miller’s scheduler, and Danielle Castaldi-Micca, liaison to C.B. 2 covering the Village, will be Miller’s assistant for members services.
