[media-credit name=”Photo by Scoopy” align=”alignleft” width=”300″]
[/media-credit]Let’s go As-tor! Michael Saviello, a manager at Astor Place Hairstylists, was feeling blue on Tuesday — as in proudly wearing his Blueshirt after the hockey Rangers came back in stunning fashion in Game 5 against the Washington Capitals on Monday night. Brad Richards scored the tying goal with just 6.6 seconds left in regulation time, after which Marc Staal scored to win the game in overtime. Meanwhile, Saviello deftly runs the power play at Astor — whatever kind of cut you want, he’ll pass you to the right barber.
Drivers, start your engines! Community Board 2 Chairperson Brad Hoylman recently opened an account with the state Board of Elections, paving the way toward launching a campaign for Christine Quinn’s District 3 City Council seat. Hoylman told us this week the act isn’t an official announcement that he’s running, but that “it’s the first step for any campaign.” The next step would be to open an account with the city’s Campaign Finance Board. “I definitely have a serious interest in the Third District Council race,” Hoylman told us. “I hope to run a positive campaign based on my record in the community and the ideas I have to improve our public schools, fight for tenants and increase services for seniors, among other issues,” he added. Two other expected candidates in the 2013 race — C.B. 4 Chairperson Corey Johnson and activist Yetta Kurland — have similarly opened accounts for campaign finances; however, a possible fourth candidate, Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, reportedly has not. In addition, we heard from a little bird that, if Hoylman runs, he’ll step down from his job as executive vice president and general counsel at the Partnership for New York City. He acknowledged as much, telling us, “I think a campaign of any sort, for me would consist of a complete commitment to the race. So, yes, I would have to leave my job and devote myself full time to it.” Similarly, we heard, again from an observant birdie, that Berman would have to step down at G.V.S.H.P. if he decides to run. But when we asked him about it recently, Berman told us he was surprised we had even heard this, since it was subject of a confidential discussion among the society’s board members. (Well, apparently, there’s a leak of “historic proportions” on the board!) Anyway, the preservationist told us, the whole thing was “hypothetical” at this point.
Chin not scared: Angling for perhaps yet another rematch, Pete Gleason, a member of the Downtown Independent Democrats political club, in February, threatened to challenge Councilmember Margaret Chin in a primary election next year due to her apparent support of the Broadway Soho Business Improvement District. Back then, Gleason told City & State, “Margaret Chin is one Chinese opponent away from losing.” But Kelly Magee, Chin’s spokesperson, noted Gleason has already twice lost in primaries for District 1 — even once running with D.I.D.’s support — so it’s “No new news here.” However, the following month, attorney Gleason’s attempts to help the “Hockey Mom Madam” hit the front pages of the tabloids. We haven’t heard anything about him running for Council since — though maybe he’s just been too busy with all his new legal work.
A sin to take fins: Speaking of elections, it could cost her some votes in Chinatown, but Chin has introduced a resolution supporting state legislation banning the sale of shark fin. Shark-fin soup is a much-loved delicacy among Chinese people. But to obtain the coveted ingredient, sharks are overfished and brutally stripped of the prized projections, then tossed — rudderless and bleeding — back into the ocean to die. (Sounds a lot like Downtown politics!)
Pot activist getting burned: Paul DeRienzo gives us the latest news on Dana Beal, and it’s not looking good for the Bleecker St. Yippie icon and medical marijuana activist. “Dana is in a lot of trouble,” DeRienzo reports. “He goes on trial in July in Nebraska. They moved him there last week. The trial is for bail violation — not pot — for getting busted in Wisconsin.” Beal is facing a maximum sentence of six years. He was first arrested in Nebraska while trucking what he said was medical marijuana cross-country. He was then subsequently collared in Wisconsin doing the same thing again. There’s no trial date for the Nebraska pot bust yet, according to DeRienzo. “His lawyer in Nebraska advised him to plead to the bail violation charge, but Dana declined,” he said. “He wrote me saying he plans to make a political case out of the charges, which his lawyers and friends think is unwise. But that’s his choice and maybe he’s right — it’s his life after all.” According to DeRienzo, Beal had a second heart attack a couple of months ago in Wisconsin and received a stent. He also sent DeRienzo a copy of the book he’s writing in jail, basically his life story, titled “Letters of Transit.”
Corrections: In last week’s “A Salute to Union Square” special section, an article on education developments in Union Square incorrectly stated that The New School’s new University Center, at Fifth Ave. and 14th St., will be seven stories tall. It will be 16 stories — and, in fact, is slated for a topping-off ceremony next Thursday. Also in the Union Square special section, an article on the area’s tech boom said Yelp recently has taken 3,000 square feet of office space in the neighborhood, when it’s 10,000 square feet.
