No Foolin' - Elizabeth Street Garden Event - Tuesday, April 1, 2025

3.31.28 Manhattan _ Just in today, an event tomorrow at 4 pm, to commemorate the garden and its artistic inspirations. This is how they described the event, " ... We are calling on everyone to gather in the Garden tomorrow (Tuesday) at 4 PM to celebrate this special space. We’ll be there for a while, but please try to arrive at 4 PM if you can. We are still in federal court and doing everything we can. At this point, we're taking it day by day. If you're a painter, photographer, poet, or artist who has created something inspired by the Garden, please bring your work. We only ask that it be related to the Garden. We want to show everyone how much Elizabeth Street Garden means to our community and to New York City ...". See related story in the weekend post of 3.28.25 below, next to the E St Garden / Ramones photos. The short story also includes their website url.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Partial Solar Eclipse, Greek Independence Parade, Holi Celebration at the Seaport, IFPDA at Park Ave Armory, Japan (Food) Fes, Dance Festival, Buena Vista Social Club Performances, Cold Sweat at the Players Theatre & Next Week April Fools Day Parade in Manhattan; Bayside St. Patrick's Day Parade & Pubs, First Street Fair of the Season, Greek Indie Parade in Manhattan & Mets Home Opener Next Week in Queens; Luna Park Opens on Coney Island, DeKalb Market, Fort Greene Artisans Bazaar, A Streetcar Named Desire at BAM in Brooklyn; Yankees Home Opener, Bronx Arts Ensemble & Bartow Pell Mansion Concerts in the Bronx; Famous Staten Island Women History, Tavern Concert & Art Opening Reception on Staten Island & Next Week National Action Network Convention, ArtExpo & Qns Colleges & Universities Fair

March 28, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.46 am. Sunset 7.17 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting three hours and 18 more minutes of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Winter Solstice, on December 21, 2024, which is the shortest day of the year. Spring began last week on Thursday, March 20, 2025, which is also the Spring Equinox, when the day is half daylight and half dark.

NYC Weather. The temperature highs will rise from the low 60's on Friday, to about 80 [yes that's not a typo - 80] degrees on Saturday, and then will fall back to 50 on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low 50's on Friday, descending to the mid / high 40's for the rest of the weekend. The humidity will range from 40% - 60% on Friday and Saturday, and then rise to 60% - 80% on Sunday. There's a 50% chance of about a quarter inch of rain Sunday evening after 8 pm. The winds will be between 5 - 10 mph on Friday and Sunday, rising a bit to 7 - 12 on Saturday.

New Album or New Project? The folks in the photo above or at right, reminded me of an album cover of the Ramones, which was a 1970's rock group based here in NYC.

But the folks in the top photo are in fact some of the key members of the Elizabeth Street Community Garden, who have so valiantly fought to keep the Adams Administration from closing it.

The Adams Administration wants to enable several community organizations to erect another unimaginative, glass and steel box pile on the site. The proposed development, like all government sponsored real estate developments of late, is being sold to the public as including all or some 'affordable housing', which - if recent history is any indicator - would then only be affordable to people making $170,000 to $250,000 per year. Please note that these rents aren't the specifics of this project, per se. And the Adams Administration says otherwise, but unfortunately I no longer trust most NYC government officials when it comes to the deceitful affordability claims they've been making about real estate developments since Michael Bloomberg became Mayor [Mayor de Blasio injected more truth into the conversation than either of Bloomberg or Adams]. Also, the numbers often change, and sometimes quite significantly, between the time when the projects are proposed, and when the deals are finalized. Too often it seems the changes are made when the dealmakers know the public isn't watching any longer.

The doors to the garden were expected to be closed as early as this week, but the group continues to fight on. They're working on a proposal to keep the space intact and usable by the entire community, instead of solely for the future owners of a taxpayer-subsidized development, erected by real estate developers, rented to those who can afford to pay the freight for rentals, sold to the public as 'affordable housing', in order to obtain some of the taxpayer funded subsidies. The color photo above was taken this week. Late Edit Saturday Night 11 pm. It occurred to me this evening, to include the Elizabeth Street Garden website info, as you might be interested in getting involved and helping them - https://www.elizabethstreetgarden.com

Saturday Early AM Edition @ 1.45 am. Done. This past week we updated the street fairs and farmers markets to reflect the coming months / season of outdoor activities, which you can find by using the links below.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in NYC

Saturday, March 29, 2025 beginning shortly after sunrise there's a 'Partial' Solar Eclipse in NYC. The peak darkening period may be missed as it is only a partial in the morning after sunrise. Be sure to take proper precautions 1) in evaluating any eyewear you use to view it, and 2) if you do view it, do so briefly, as staring at the sun can cause severe eye damage. The NY Public Library is handing out free solar eclipse glasses. The next total eclipse of the sun is May 1, 2079 - so don't hold your breath.

Wednesday, April 2 to 5, 2025 at various times - National Action Network Annual Convention - at the Sheraton New York Times Square at 811 7th Avenue in Manhattan NYC. The network was founded by Al Sharpton and they will decide which companies to boycott for turning their back on DEI initiatives. For details and to rsvp see - https://www.nanconvention2025.net

Saturday, June 14, 2025 is the Deadline to Register to Vote in the NYC Primary on June 24th. Applications must be received by the NY Board of Elections to be eligible to vote in this election. As it's a Saturday, we recommend you make sure they get it by Friday, June 13, 2025. The winner of the Democratic primary is almost always the person who becomes Mayor [Giuliani and Bloomberg were exceptions because of Rupert Murdoch's NY Post & Fox News manipulations & Bloomberg's $$$], as 56% of NYC voters identify as Democrat, and about 26% identify as Republican [other sources say these numbers are 48% & 21% respectively].

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Manhattan NYC

Thursday - Sunday, March 27 - 30, 2025 from 5 to 9 pm Thursday, opening 11 am thereafter, closing at 7 pm Friday & Saturday & at 5 pm Sunday - IFPDA Print Fair - at the Park Avenue Armory at 643 Park Avenue at 66th Street on the UES of Manhattan. For event details and tickets copy & paste - https://ifpda.org / For location details see - https://www.armoryonpark.org

East Village _ Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 10 am to 6 pm - Japan Food Festival in the East Village at Broadway and Lafayette. For details see - https://www.japanfes.com

Sunday, March 30, 2025 beginning at 1.30 pm until 5.30 pm - the Greek Independence Day Parade will march up 5th Avenue beginnning at 64th Street and ending at 79th Street. For details and related events see - https://www.nycgreekparade.org / or https://www.facebook.com/NYGreekParade/ [previously - https://www.hellenicsocieties.org/]

The photo above or at right was taken at the Greek Independence Day Parade in Manhattan a number of years ago. The parade showcases Greek history and culture, and is worth a visit.

Saturdays, March 22 & 29, 2025 from 2 to 8 pm - Manhattan Bollywood Holi Outdoor Festival by the River - at Cobble Fish at 89 South Street, Pier 16 in the South Street Seaport neighborhood of Lower Manhattan NYC.  For details and $3 tickets [tickets do not include food, drink or colors] see - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-by-the-river-pier-16-bollywood-desi-322-rang-de-nyc-holi-party-tickets-1277345116629?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Friday & Saturday, March 28 & 29, 2025 beginning at 7.30 pm - 10th Annual Dance Festival - at the Riverside Theater at 91 Claremont Avenue in Manhattan.  For $22 / $27 tickets and details see - https://www.modartsdance.com/collective-thread

Saturday, February 22 - Sunday, April 13, 2025 - Performances of Buena Vista Social Club - at the Gerald Shoenfiled Theatre at 236 West 46th Street in Midtown Manhattan NYC. For tickets and details see - https://buenavistamusical.com or https://shubert.nyc/theatres/gerald-schoenfeld

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 - The 40th Annual April Fools Parade - begins sharply at 12 noon at Grand Army Plaza at 59th Street and 5th Avenue and marches down 5th Avenue to Washington Square Park. The King or Queen of Fools Award will be given out when the parade congregates in Washington Square. The event organizer, Joey Skaggs, informs us that this is the 40th year of the parade. This years theme is Exposing Fools & Mocking Madness. Skaggs writes a press release for the event each year, which you can find on his website at - https://joeyskaggs.com/april-fools-day-parade-press-release/

• This year we sponsored one of the floats, so look and wave to us.

Thursday thru Sunday, April 3 to  6, 2025 from 5 to 8 pm Thursday & 11 am to 7 pm thereafter except Sunday closing at 5 pm - ArtExpo - at Pier 36 at 299 South Street in Downtown Manhattan NYC. This is a fine arts trade show. Prices range from $0.0 [public fairs] to $20 to $30 to $50. For details see - https://redwoodartgroup.com/artexpo-new-york/ or https://pier36nyc.com/

CLICK here to view our reports of St Patricks Day parades in Manhattan NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants in Manhattan NYC.

Gramercy Theater concerts - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows

Click here to view the Manhattan Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2025. There are Mom's Day gift markets.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Manhattan NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Manhattan Buzz NYC - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS - Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Manhattan Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Manhattan Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Queens NYC

Saturday, March 29, 2025 beginning at 1 pm - 7th Annual Bayside St. Patrick's Day Parade - marches down Bell Blvd beginning at 214th Place & 35th Avenue to 42nd Avenue. The parade is a fairly new one, now in its seventh year [2025]. For further details see FB - https://www.facebook.com/baysidestpatricksdayparade/ or WS - https://baysidesaintpatricksdayparade.org.

UES MANHATTAN _ Sunday, March 30, 2025 beginning at 1.30 pm until 5.30 pm - the Greek Independence Day Parade will march up 5th Avenue beginnning at 64th Street and ending at 79th Street. For details and related events see - https://www.nycgreekparade.org / or https://www.facebook.com/NYGreekParade/ [previously - https://www.hellenicsocieties.org/]

Saturday, March 29, 2025 beginning at 1 pm - 7th Annual Bayside St. Patrick's Day Parade - marches down Bell Blvd beginning at 214th Place & 35th Avenue to 42nd Avenue. The parade is a fairly new one, now in its seventh year [2025]. For further details see FB - https://www.facebook.com/baysidestpatricksdayparade/ or WS - https://baysidesaintpatricksdayparade.org.

The first traditional street fair of the season is in Queens this weekend. Use link below for details.

Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 6 to 8 pm - Queens College & University Fair - at Richmond Hill High School at 89-30 114th Street in Richmond Hill. For details & to rsvp see - https://www.queensbp.nyc.gov

Friday, April 4, 2025, beginning at 3.10 pm - NY Mets Home Opener vs the Toronto Blue Jays at CitiField in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. For details see - https://www.mlb.com/mets/schedule/2025-04

This link will take you to a section of our coverage of the St Pats Parades in Queens NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants in Queens NYC.

Click here to view the Queens Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2025.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Queens NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Queens Buzz NYC - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS - Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Queens Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Queens Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Brooklyn NYC

Friday, March 28, 2025 from 4 pm to 10 pm - DeKalb Market Hall - indoor market at DeKalb Market Hall at 445 Albee Square in the Downtown neighborhood of Brooklyn. Outdoors. For details see - https://www.brooklynpop-up.com

Model Security Guard. In the photo above or at right, stands one of the men in blue - although not NYPD blue. He's a security guard at the DeKalb Market at CityPoint in Brooklyn, and as you can see, he keeps a pretty watchful eye on things. This photo was taken earlier this past week.

Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 9 am to 4 pm - Fort Greene Park Artisans Bazaar - at Fort Greene Park along De Kalb between Washington Park Avenue and South Portland Street [by the farmers market] in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. Outdoors. For details see - https://www.brooklynpop-up.com

Saturdays & Sundays [and a few select weekdays], March 29 - April 1, 2025 from 11 am to 8 pm - Luna Park opens in Coney Island. _ ALL BUT OPENING DATE UNCONFIRMED _ On Friday, April 18, 2025 the park opens daily from 11 am to 8 pm. For details and tickets see - https://lunaparknyc.com.

CLICK here to view our reports on the Brooklyn St Patricks Day Parades NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pats Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants in Brooklyn NYC.

Daily except Mondays, March 7 - April 6, 2025 at 7.30 pm and matinees at 1.30 pm Saturdays and 3 pm Sundays - A Streetcar Named Desire - at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 30 Lafayette Avenue in the Fort Green neighborhood of Brooklyn. For $45 / $75 tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org

RESCHEDULED TO 4/6/25 _ Sunday, March 16, 2025 beginning at 3 pm - Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Celebrates Holi - in Prospect Park in the Long Meadow near Grand Army Plaza. Bring blankets and it begins with a concert followed by a Holi celebration beginning at 4 pm. Free, but if you want colors to throw on people $6. For details and to rsvp see - https://bkcm.orghttps://bkcm.org

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

Click here to view the Brooklyn Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2025.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Brooklyn BLVD New Member Sign Up. Click this link Brooklyn MCAL - Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.

On Saturday, April 12, 2025 there's an Easter Egg Hunt & Concert in Bay Ridge - organized by www.crossroadsbrooklyn.com in Bay Ridge - click MCAL link above for details.

Also on Saturday, April 12, 2025 there's a Family Passover Seder where all Jews are welcome - click MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in the Bronx NYC

Thursday, March 27, 2025 beginning at 3 pm - Yankee Home Opener vs Milwaukee Brewers - at Yankee Stadium at East 161st Street and River Avenue in the Concourse neighborhood of the Bronx.  For details and $78 on up tickets, see - https://www.mlb.com/yankees/

Sunday, March 30, 2025 beginning at 2 pm - Bronx Arts Ensemble Concert - at the University of Mount St. Vincent in the Bronx. For details see MCAL link below.

Friday, March 4, 2025 - First Friday featuring Miles East of ECR Music Group - in the Double Parlors at the Bartow Pell Mansion in Pelham Park - or details see MCAL link below.

CLICK here to view our reports of St Patricks Day parades in the Bronx NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants in the Bronx NYC.

Click here to view the Bronx Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2025.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in the Bronx NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Bronx Buzz - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Bronx Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Bronx MCAL Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.

TBD - ADD IN THE BARTOW PELL MANSION ACTIVITIES FOR APRIL. & APRIL 8, 2025 in Pelham Park, Supreme Court Judge Villegas wiill talk.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week on Staten Island NYC

Saturdays, March 22 & 29, 2025 - Tavern Concerts - at the Tavern in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island. Great old fashioned fun in an historic setting. For tickets and details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org.

The photo above or at right was taken earlier this week on Staten Island, in the space between the Lighthouse Museum and the Staten Island Ferry terminal. The artwork of Lady Liberty conveys this feeling of being suffocated, which is a fitting metaphor reflecting the current state of our democratic republic. It's going to take a heroic effort for all of us to climb out of this broken situation, because as the saying goes, "United we stand. Divided we fall.". And unfortunately, at this moment in time, we don't feel very united.

Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Talk of the Town - History of famous Staten Islanders - at the Tavern in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island. For tickets and details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 beginning at 6 pm - Art Opening Reception: Found Island - at Freshkills Gallery at 2252 Richmond Avenue in the New Springville neighborhood of Staten Island. It's described as ocean inspired art made from what we leave behind by Lenore Solmo. Free admission. Click the MCAL link below for details or on Instagram @lenoresolmolifestyle

CLICK here to view our reports of St Patricks Day parades on Staten Island NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants on Staten Island NYC.

Click here to view the Staten Island Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Staten Island Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to see Staten Island street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend on Staten Island NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Staten Buzz - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER EVENTS CALENDAR. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Staten Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Staten Island Events - Member Events to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes TBD.

Have a nice weekend.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Happy Spring, Some Farmers Markets Opening, Multiple St. Patrick's Day Parades & Pubs, Bollywood Holi Celebration, Resource Fair Columbia, Buena Vista Social Club Performances, Cold Sweat at the Players Theatre & State of the Borough Address in Manhattan; Bayside St Patricks Day Parade, Phagwah Festival and Parade, LPAC Performances in Queens; Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade, Mayoral Forum & A Streetcar Named Desire at BAM in Brooklyn; Bronx / Yonkers St. Patrick's Day Parade, Bronx Arts Ensemble Concert, Bronx River Arts Center workshop & Yankee Home Opener in the Bronx; St Luke Concert, Play Reading, NY Harbor Oyster Project Presentation & Tavern Concert on Staten Island & Charter Revision Committee TBD

March 21, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.58 am. Sunset 7.08 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting two hours and 57 minutes more sunlight than we were the weekend of the Winter Solstice on December 21, 2024, which is the shortest day of the year. Spring began earlier this week on Thursday, March 20, 2025, which is also the Spring Equinox when the day is half lit and half dark.

NYC Weather. The temperature highs will rise from the low 50's on Friday, to the low 60's on Saturday, before descending back to the low 50's on Sunday. The temperature lows, by contract, fall from about 40 on Friday to below freezing in the low 30's on Saturday, rising back to about 40 on Sunday. It's a very low humidity weekend, starting at 30% to 40% on Friday, levelling off at 40 on Saturday, before falling to 30% Sunday morning and then rising to nearly 50% by Sunday evening. The winds will fall from 10 - 20 mph Friday, to 10 mph Saturday and Sunday.

The photo at right shows a graffiti filled building on the Lower East Side near Chinatown. Vandalism or art? Is it possibly a bit of both? Unfortunately, these days few people seem capable of seeing more than one side of things, and appear intolerant of anything that's not either black or white, male or female, left or right. No? Or Yes? Perhaps. Maybe.

Saturday Early AM Edition @ 1 am. Done but still need to update a few related pages which will be done either now or by midday. As you can see free and paid activities and events are already heating up in NYC, and it gets hotter over the next few weeks.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in NYC

Spring started on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Have a Happy Spring.

Saturday, June 14, 2025 is the Deadline to Register to Vote in the NYC Primary on June 24th. Applications must be received by the NY Board of Elections to be eligible to vote in this election. As it's a Saturday, we recommend you make sure they get it by Friday, June 13, 2025. The winner of the Democratic primary is almost always the person who becomes Mayor [Giuliani and Bloomberg were exceptions because of Rupert Murdoch's NY Post & Fox News manipulations & Bloomberg's $$$], as 56% of NYC voters identify as Democrat, and about 26% identify as Republican [other sources say these numbers are 48% & 21% respectively].

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Manhattan NYC

Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 12 noon to 3 pm - 2nd Annual Resource Fair - at the Bollinger Forum at Columbia University at 601 West 125th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan NYC.  Local organizations and businesses provide health information, screenings, food, presentations, performances and art board.  Free.  For details see Harlem Educational Activities Fund WS - https://heaf.tfaforms.net/166

Saturdays, March 22 & 29, 2025 from 2 to 8 pm - Manhattan Bollywood Holi Outdoor Festival by the River - at Cobble Fish at 89 South Street, Pier 16 in the South Street Seaport neighborhood of Lower Manhattan NYC.  For details and $3 tickets [tickets do not include food, drink or colors] see - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-by-the-river-pier-16-bollywood-desi-322-rang-de-nyc-holi-party-tickets-1277345116629?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 2 to 5 pm - Manhattan Borough President State of the Borough Address - at LaGuardia High School at 100 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan.  Free & almost full. To rsvp see - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/borough-president-mark-levines-manhattan-state-of-the-borough-2025-tickets-1238154285799?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Thursday - Sunday, March 27 - 30, 2025 from 5 to 9 pm Thursday, opening 11 am thereafter, closing at 7 pm Friday & Saturday & at 5 pm Sunday - IFPDA Print Fair - at the Park Avenue Armory at 643 Park Avenue at 66th Street on the UES of Manhattan. For event details and tickets copy & paste - https://ifpda.org / For location details see - https://www.armoryonpark.org

Friday & Saturday, March 28 & 29, 2025 beginning at 7.30 pm - 10th Annual Dance Festival - at the Riverside Theater at 91 Claremont Avenue in Manhattan.  For $22 / $27 tickets and details see - https://www.modartsdance.com/collective-thread

Next Week * MAYORAL FORUM by CITY CLUB. Free.  Zoom details coming.

Thursday - Sunday, March 6 - 23, 2025 - La Gota Fria: Cold Sweat - at the Players Theatre at 115 MacDougal Street in the Village neighborhood of Manhattan. For details and tickets see - http://www.theplayerstheatre.com

Saturday, February 22 - Sunday, April 13, 2025 - Performances of Buena Vista Social Club - at the Gerald Shoenfiled Theatre at 236 West 46th Street in Midtown Manhattan NYC. For tickets and details see - https://buenavistamusical.com or https://shubert.nyc/theatres/gerald-schoenfeld

CLICK here to view our reports of St Patricks Day parades in Manhattan NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants in Manhattan NYC.

Gramercy Theater concerts - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows

Click here to view the Manhattan Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2025. There are Mom's Day gift markets.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Manhattan NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Manhattan Buzz NYC - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS - Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Manhattan Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Manhattan Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Queens NYC

GREEK FLAG RAISING EVENT IN ATHENS SQUARE PARK at 30th Street and 30th Avenue IN ASTORIA ON SATURDAY 3/22/25 FROM 1 - 3 PM. They recommend rsvp at - https://www.nycgreekparade.org

Saturday, March 22, 2025 beginning at 2.15 pm - Holi Phagwah Festival - at Flushing Town Hall at 137-35 Northern Blvd in Flushing Queens. The festival includes Indian music and dance. For details and $15  $12  $8 tickets copy & paste - https://www.flushingtownhall.org.

Monday - Friday, March 10 - 21, 2025 - Celebration of New Voices in Theater - at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thomson Avenue in LIC Queens. For details and tickets copy & paste - https://www.lpac.nyc/

Sunday, March 23, 2025 assembling at 10 am & kicking off at 12 noon [post parade festivities run until 6 pm] - the Phagwah Parade - beginning at 133rd Street and Liberty Avenue in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens NYC.  The parade route is - Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street, west on Liberty, north on 124th Street to 97th Avenue and then east to 125th Street to Smokey Oval Park / at Phil Rizzuto Park at 125th Street. At the park there will be a festival including music, other cultural performances [and likely some food and shopping] until about 6 pm. For details see - FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/phagwahparade/

Saturday, March 29, 2025 beginning at 1 pm - 7th Annual Bayside St. Patrick's Day Parade - marches down Bell Blvd beginning at 214th Place & 35th Avenue to 42nd Avenue. The parade is a fairly new one, now in its seventh year [2025]. For further details see FB - https://www.facebook.com/baysidestpatricksdayparade/ or WS - https://baysidesaintpatricksdayparade.org.

This link will take you to a section of our coverage of the St Pats Parades in Queens NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants in Queens NYC.

Click here to view the Queens Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2025.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Queens NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Queens Buzz NYC - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS - Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Queens Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Queens Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes

Monday, March 10th, basketball players from St. John’s University will be doing a meet & greet at Doherty-owned Applebee’s of Fresh Meadows.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Brooklyn NYC

Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 2 to 4 pm - Mayoral Forum: Whose City Is It? - at BRIC Brooklyn at 647 Fulton Street in the Fort Green neighborhood [blocks from Downtown] of Brooklyn.  Hear the NYC Mayoral candidates live or on Zoom.  Hosted by the Nation and Working Families Party.  Free.  For details see - https://www.thenation.com/events/mayoral-forum-2025/

Sunday, March 23, 2025 beginning at 1 pm - 30th Annual Bay Ridge Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Parade. The parade kicks off on 3rd and Marine Avenues and marches north along 3rd Avenue to 67th Street, turning west and ending in Owl's Head Park in Bayridge. The grandstand is at 77th Street. For details see - https://www.brparade.com or FB - https://www.facebook.com/brparade. St Pats Day parades in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn NYC.

In the photo at right was taken in 2022 in Bay Ridge Brooklyn at their annual St. Patrick's Day Parade as we were pulling out of the pandemic. The parade returns Sunday and the weather should be dry and in the high 30's and low 40's.

CLICK here to view our reports on the Brooklyn St Patricks Day Parades NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pats Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants in Brooklyn NYC.

Next Week * MARINE TERMINAL BK by CITY CLUB. Free.  Details coming.

Daily except Mondays, March 7 - April 6, 2025 at 7.30 pm and matinees at 1.30 pm Saturdays and 3 pm Sundays - A Streetcar Named Desire - at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 30 Lafayette Avenue in the Fort Green neighborhood of Brooklyn. For $45 / $75 tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org

RESCHEDULED TO 4/6/25 _ Sunday, March 16, 2025 beginning at 3 pm - Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Celebrates Holi - in Prospect Park in the Long Meadow near Grand Army Plaza. Bring blankets and it begins with a concert followed by a Holi celebration beginning at 4 pm. Free, but if you want colors to throw on people $6. For details and to rsvp see - https://bkcm.orghttps://bkcm.org

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

Click here to view the Brooklyn Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2025.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Brooklyn BLVD New Member Sign Up. Click this link Brooklyn MCAL - Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.

On Saturday, April 12, 2025 there's an Easter Egg Hunt & Concert in Bay Ridge - organized by www.crossroadsbrooklyn.com in Bay Ridge - click MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in the Bronx NYC

Yonkers / Bronx _ Saturday, March 22, 2025 - 67th Annual Yonkers St. Patrick's Parade. The parade begins at 1 pm and marches up what they call the Emerald Mile, which is along McLean Avenue aka 240th Street / Nereid Avenue. The parade begins at Bronx River Road / Webster Avenue and marches west to Coyne Park in Yonkers. The Parade Dinner Dance precedes the parade by a week on Saturday, March 8, 2025. For details see - http://www.yonkersstpatricksparade.org or FB - https://www.facebook.com/McLeanAveParade/. St Pat's Day parades in and around Yonkers near the Bronx.

In the photo at right was taken up in the Woodlawn Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. John Mulligan's Fireside Tavern is located along Katonah Avenue, just a few blocks south of where the Bronx / Yonkers St. Patrick's Day Parade begins on Saturday. See the Bronx section below for details.

Fridays, February 14, 28 & March 14 & 21, 2025 from 6 to 9 pm [adults] & 5 to 8 pm [families] - Bronx River Art Center Winter Workshops - at the Bronx River Art Center at 1087 East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. For free family or $20 adult [wine sipping included] workshops and details see - https://www.bronxriverart.org/

Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 2 to 4 pm - A History of Pelham Parkway - at the Bronx House at 990 Pelham Parkway South in the Pelham neighborhood of the Bronx. For details see - https://www.ppna.org or use the MCAL link below.

Thursday, March 27, 2025 beginning at 3 pm - Yankee Home Opener vs Milwaukee Brewers - at Yankee Stadium at East 161st Street and River Avenue in the Concourse neighborhood of the Bronx.  For details and $78 on up tickets, see - https://www.mlb.com/yankees/

CLICK here to view our reports of St Patricks Day parades in the Bronx NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants in the Bronx NYC.

Click here to view the Bronx Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2025.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in the Bronx NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Bronx Buzz - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Bronx Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Bronx MCAL Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - Click into the MCAL link above for details about The PPNA is hosting a very important Community Meeting at Bronx House located at 990 Pelham Parkway. Bally's executives is will be there to inform the community of their proposed Casino in the Bronx.

March 30, 2025 - Bronx Arts Ensemble Concert - For details see MCAL link above.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week on Staten Island NYC

Saturdays, March 22 & 29, 2025 - Tavern Concerts - at the Tavern in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island. Great old fashioned fun in an historic setting. For tickets and details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org.

Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 2 to 4 pm - State of the Harbor with the Billion Oyster Project - at the National Lighthouse Museum at 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island. Zeke King Phillips, an aspiring Climatologist, working on his graduate degree will talk about an effort to restore one billion oysters to the New York Harbor by 2035. For details and $5 / $10 tickets copy & paste - https://lighthousemuseum.org.

Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 2 to 3.30 pm - The Reading of 'Buried Stories' a New Play - at the Carpenters Shop at Snug Harbor at 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood of Staten Island. For details and $5 - $20 tickets see - https://snug-harbor.org

Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 2 to 3 pm - St. Luke's Orchestra - at the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art at Snug Harbor at 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood of Staten Island. For details and to rsvp free tickets see - https://snug-harbor.org

Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Talk of the Town - History of famous Staten Islanders - at the Tavern in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island. For tickets and details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org

CLICK here to view our reports of St Patricks Day parades on Staten Island NYC. And CLICK here to view our report on the St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants on Staten Island NYC.

Click here to view the Staten Island Farmers Markets NYC.

• Click here for Staten Island Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to see Staten Island street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend on Staten Island NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Staten Buzz - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

MCAL _ MEMBER EVENTS CALENDAR. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Staten Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Staten Island Events - Member Events to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes TBD.

Have a nice weekend.

* Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Buried Beneath the City & Baby Bonds in NYC; Winter Jazz Fest in Brooklyn & Manhattan, Mulchfest in NYC, Femme Collective at the 14th Street Y, Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library in Manhattan, Digital Illustrations at BAM in Brooklyn; Curators Choice Films at MoMI & last Weekend of the Affordable Art Fair in Queens; Holiday Train Show at the NYBG in the Bronx; Hot Rock Yacht Revue on Staten Island & Year Round Indoor & Outdoor Markets [coming] and Some Open Calls [coming], as we Gear Up Again for 2025, beginning with MLK Day next Weekend, followed by the Chinese New Year of the Snake (c'est appropo?)

January 10, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather. Sunrise 7.19 am. Sunset 4.48 pm. The days are longer by 14 minutes of sunlight, versus the week of the Winter solstice in late December. Yahoo?

The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 30's on Friday and Saturday, rising to 40 on Sunday. The temperature lows will be around 30 all weekend. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph all weekend, at the lower end on Friday and Sunday and at the higher end on Saturday. The humidity will generally range between 55% - 65%, except in the latter part of Friday when it will dip into the low 40% range. No precipitation is expected.

The photo at right was taken along Park Avenue near Lever House in Midtown Manhattan, on the last weekend of December. The MetLife Building [renamed in 1992], which was originally erected in 1963 as the PanAm Building, is located in the background, colored in blue light.

Saturday late morning edition at 11.15 am. Mostly done except the markets and open calls which will be updated over the weekend and coming week.

CLICK here to view our report on things to do this weekend in all five boroughs of NYC January 2025 events NYC.

New Years Resolutions 2025: The Road Ahead

A Few Axioms To Keep In Mind Throughout The New Year

January 1, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Holidays / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

For all of us, today starts the beginning of a new year. It's an opportunity to start anew. And even if we don't fulfill our highest expectations, moving the needle in the right direction, is always a good thing.

The rest of this report is about some of the things you can do personally to make 2025 a better year for you.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report on New Years Resolutions 2025 - The Road Ahead.

City of Yes Passes by a Vote of 31 - 20

Stephen Ross, REBNY Members & the Adams Family Won & NYC Lost

December 6, 2024 / NYC Real Estate & Business / NYC Government & Politics / City of Yes Special Section / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

The City of Yes for Housing Opportunities bill passed yesterday afternoon / evening in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The City of Yes or NYC Municipal Legislative Bill - L.U. 181 & Res 689 - App. N 240290 ZRY (City of Yes Zoning for Housing Opportunity) amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, modifying multiple Sections to expand opportunities for housing within all zoning districts, Citywide. *

The photo snapshot at right shows the NYC Council voting on the City of Yes.

City of Yes [Wo]Men - Roll Call Vote Tally 31-20

Voting For the City of Yes Members. Carlina Rivera District 2, Eric Bottcher District 3, Keith Powers District 4, Julie Menin District 5, Gale Brewer M District 6, Shaun Abreu District 7, Diana Ayala District 8, Yusef Salaam M District 9, Carmen De La Rosa M District 10, Kevin Riley Bx District 12, Pierina Ana Sanchez District 14, Oswald Feliz District 15, Althea Stevens District 16, Rafael Salamanca Bx District 17, Amanda Farias District 18, Francisco Moya Q District 21, Tiffany Caban Q District 22, Shekar Krishnan Q District 25, Julie Won Q District 26, Nantasha Williams Q District 27, Speaker Adrienne Adams Q District 28, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers Q District 31, Lincoln Restler District 33, Jennifer Gutierrez District 34, Crystal Hudson District 35, Chi Osse District 36, Sandy Nurse District 37, Alexa Aviles District 38, Shahana Hanif District 39, Rita Joseph District 40, Justin Brannan Bk District 47.

Pay attention to the delineation of NYC Council members by the boroughs noted above by letters. Speaker Adrienne Adams delivered enough Queens council member votes (7) in favor of the legislation, which had they voted as their Community Boards did, would have killed the City of Yes bill.

Did Adrienne Adams and these NYC Council members betray the people of Queens they were elected to represent? Well, if so, keep in mind they are up for re-election in June 2025. So please educate yourself, fact check the statements made herein by using the power of the internet, and then after you've done enough research to know what's true, start spreading the news and get behind people who will represent you, the voters, not the big money that funded their campaigns.

Voting in the Negative. Joann Ariola District 32, Chris Banks District 42, Joseph C. Borelli District 51, David Carr District 50, Eric Dinowitz District 11, James Gennaro District 24, Kamillah Hanks District 49, Robert Holden District 30, Linda Lee District 23, Farah N. Louis District 45, Kristy Marmorato District 13, Christopher Marte District 1, Diane Mealy District 41, Mercedes Narcisse District 46, Vickie Paladino District 19, Lynn Schulman District 29, Sandra Ung District 20, Inna Vernikov District 48, Kalmar Yeger District 44, Susan Zhuang District 43.

We will keep this roll call of the vote on our site indefinitely in the City of Yes Special Report Section, because you, the voters, can use it as one benchmark vote, that helps you understand who is representing you, and how they are representing you. This becomes particularly important as there is the Democratic Primary in June 24, 2025 and the general election is November 4, 2025. Almost all of the elections are decided in the June primary because 56% of NYC is Democratic and only 26% is Republican. The remaining 18% are independent.

* Editor's Note.  The summary of the bill leaves out the part about the NYC Council members forfeiting their power, and because they represent us, they are forfeiting our power and legal rights to weigh in on new developments in our neighborhoods.  The summary also leaves out the part where by rushed passage of the 1,388 bill, the real estate developers and international investors can harvest a huge amount of tax abatements for 'affordable housing' that would be 'affordable' to individuals making up to $141,000 and a family of three making up to $183,00 per year or making rental payments of $4575 per month.  And the summary leaves out the part about the negotiated deal, wherein how Eric Adams is going to miraculously fund the $4 billion, that magically appeared just by Eric Adams promising it, after Eric Adams tried to cut $100 million from the budgets of public schools in January 2024 and cut $22 million from the budget for public libraries as recently as November 2023.  Adams promise of $4 billion is just that, and only that - a promise - as it is NOT IN THE BUDGET. And we all know the value of a politician's promise, especially when it's made by someone like Eric Adams, who has a documented history of lying, and is managing a tight budget that doesn't have $4 billion of funding lying around. He's going to have to take that funding from other places like public schools, public libraries and the NYPD.

Click this link for holiday parties, party venues, party halls and catering halls in Jackson Heights Queens NYC.

Stats & Facts Missing in the City of Yes Proposal

Have Mayor Adams & Daniel Garodnick been Selling Us 108,000 Units of Hooey?

November 12, 2024 / NYC Government & Politics / NYC Real Estate & Business / News & Analysis / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Adams Administration Fails to Provide Straight Answers Two Very Specific & Very Basic Questions - 1) How Many Affordable Housing Units Guaranteed by Passage of this Legislation & 2) a) What Size Units, b) at What 'Affordable' Price and c) in What Borough?

What 'Affordable' Housing Guarantees? It is being sold as a cure-all for NYC's housing crisis, yet when I asked the Adams Administration Department of Planning how many units of affordable housing would we be guaranteed by passage of this legislation, the answer that came back to me was a long-winded form of 'none'.

I'll say this again - No 'affordable' housing units are guaranteed by passage of the City of Yes legislation.

What Size Apartment, at What Price & in What Borough? When I asked the Adams Administration's Department of City Planning to provide me with details of how many units of affordable housing would be built, at what 'affordable' price, for what size apartment, and in what borough - I again received another round-about answer via a link they sent me, to one of their selling pitches on a website, where I found no specifics related to the question above.

Let me say this again - No description of what sized units, at what 'affordable' price and in what borough. I found this hard to believe, since for the past year Mayor Adams and Daniel Garodnick of the Department of City Planning have been publicly selling this legislation, by promising it will result in over 108,000 new units of 'affordable' housing being built.

My papa once told me, "No proof. No sale."

Or as the 1980's Reagan commercial asked, "where's the beef?". In this case 'beef' = 'affordable housing'.

How Believable is Donald Trump's Denial he's not Behind Project 2025?

Quick & Dirty Review of What Trump & Elon Appear to be Planning - Especially #2 & 5

November 3, 2024 / U.S. Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

Project 2025 was put together by a group, of very conservative, right wing groups working in concert. This includes, according to a CNN report, 140 Trump affiliates, of which more than a dozen played some role in the first Trump Administration.

To see this yourself, visit https://www.project2025.org.

1. They say they want to secure the border, but when a bi-partisan bill was generally agreed upon by both parties in both houses and ready to be passed into legislation, they / Trump nixed it, so Trump could use it as a campaign issue against Joe Biden. This is just a gimmick, because if they really wanted it, they could have had it over six months ago. As for deporting over 10 million immigrants who are already here ... think long and hard about what that looks and feels like - not just here, but abroad. It will probably look and feel a bit like the Nazis rounding up the Jews, back in the 1930's.

This is a nation of immigrants, and we should be happy that so many people are willing to pick up, and move themselves, to live and work here. In 2023 the U.S. had a population growth of just 1.2%, so we need immigrants to help power the labor force, help pay our retirements, and help pay our national debt. When we no longer look like a destination to move peoples' lives to, we're going to be in big trouble. And deporting over 10 million people, many of whom grew up here, really isn't thinking this thing through.

2. They want to 'de-weaponize the Federal Government by increasing accountability and oversight' of the FBI and Justice Department. Both agencies are already managed by the Executive Branch of government, and monitored and funded by the Senate and Congress. Specifically, the Senate and House both hold hearings, review agency policies, monitor agency enforcement, oversee agency functions, and perhaps most importantly is that they have the power of the purse in terms of reviewing appropriations. So the question here is - TO WHOM - do they want to make them accountable? The answer is to the very rich people who are supporting Trump, like Elon Musk.

It appears to me that they should reword this demand to reflect what they really want, which is to defang / cripple federal law enforcement.

3. Unleash American energy and reduce American energy prices. This is their way of saying 'drill baby, drill'. They don't want more clean energy, they want more dirty energy, by deregulating the oil industry, What we should be doing is taxing this cash cow [fossil fuels] out of existence, and refunneling the higher taxes into clean energy incentives, to accelerate the transition to powering society cleanly, before we run down the clock and it's too late.

4. 'Cut the growth of the federal government to reduce inflation'. First take note that the last time Donald Trump was president, he significantly increased government spending, and super-sized the national debt from $20 trillion to $28 trillon - breaking all records by a landslide. So quite frankly, this is simply not believable.

What makes this statement even more of a lie is that the inflation they plan to reduce is currently running at 2.1%, which isn't much different from the Federal Reserve's target rate of 2.0%. So maybe they want to take credit for reducing inflation, but reducing inflation any more than the Biden Administration already has would probably not be good, as 2% is the Federal Reserve's target rate for a smooth running economy.

Also recognize that inflation was a worldwide phenomenon caused by the pandemic, because worldwide production slowed / stopped for CoVid. Consumers and businesses began to bid up the prices of the things that had already been produced that were available, because they didn't know when production would resume. And after production recommenced, then the international shipping carriers and ports had to catch up on the back orders. Today, all of that has long been sorted out, which is why current inflation, using last month's reading was 2.1%. Again, not believable.

5. Make the bureaucrats more responsible to the President and Congress. They already are.

But this is where the hard right and Elon Musk, emasculate the federal government and make it work for them, and them only. Pushing the pain and hardship as far as the American people will tolerate, without rising up and taking to the streets in rebellion.

I don't have time to do #6 and #7, which are [#6] to move control and funding of education to the states [Education of a society is very complicated, so I haven't the time to properly address this, but local governments and states are already mostly in charge of education, and the Federal Government incentivizes programs and curricula they think are in the national interest [like math & science] which local schools may or may not participate in], and [#7] ban biological males from competing in women's sports [don't know enough about this, except to say that local institutions, if they clearly define who may participate on sports teams, should be able to manage this issue. This as a major point of Project 2025 vis-a-vis the other points, seems more designed to be an attack on the hot button issue of gender identity].

• CLICK here to view the rest of our report on How Believable is Donald Trump's Denial he's not Behind Project 2025?

The Brain-Dead, Kiddie-Hosted, TV News

They Televise Musk Giving Out Millions of Dollars, & None Ask Why

October 31, 2024 / U.S. Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

Background Regarding the Crumbling News Foundation, Upon which TV News Once Relied

If you've been reading my work, especially in recent times, you'll notice how increasingly frustrated I have become with TV News. If you want to know why America doesn't seem quite right, it's because the TV folks rarely seem to do any real reporting. In times gone by, the real reporting was done by the journalists working for the newspapers, and then the TV newspeople essentially rewrote and then reread the newspaper journalists' work on air.

Newspapers have been decimated by the search engines, specifically Google, undermining the newspaper business models, by using newspapers' content to create a really wonderful apparatus - internet search. But the problem is that the technologists reap most of the advertising revenue, and virtually all of the profit, so that most newspapers can scarcely afford to do much real news anymore, because their staffs are being cut, and they can't invest in real journalism, which costs money.

Fast Forward to the State of Modern TV News Rooms Today

TV News used to generate much larger audiences, and hence ratings and revenue, than they do today. This is because most folks are spending far more time on their cell phones or on their computers, and thus watching far less TV. Part of the reason is the new technologies, but ...

But the other part of the equation is that the content on TV has growing incredibly old and stale. You can probably find as much content on TV today that was created in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and 1990's as you can find content created in the first quarter century of this millenium. And moreover, most of the content created for TV in this millenium are those super cheap-to-produce games shows, that some segment of the population has the time, interest and / or boredom to watch. And a lot of the rest of the content produced today is either hospital or law enforcement shows, which really narrows the field in terms of viewing options, if you're interested in anything else.

Back to TV News. If you read our reporting on government and politics the past few months, or over the years, we are constantly in pursuit of the back story. Unfortunately, TV News which reaches a far larger audience than we do, make their living reciting headlines, which is not the same as reporting the news. This brings me to telling you why I'm writing this report.

The Real Swamp & The Real Story of Trump and Musk & Why They 'Need' to Win

Musk Didn't Think Trump was the 'Right Guy' in 2016 & Trump Called Musk a "Bullsh@t Artist"

It takes one to know one.

Back then, they were both right. But things have changed. At present both have a common interest in social media and in that business their respective fortunes seem somewhat aligned, as they are both seek to attract the white uneducated males in our country, to whom they have been feeding misinformation and propaganda, as if it were real news. And while financially, that business model doesn't appear to be working, perhaps they can make it work by getting Trump elected.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report on what seems Putin's role in why Elon Musk is trying to help Trump win election 2024.

Get it While it's Hot - 'Affordable Housing' Lottery in LIC

150 'Affordable Housing' Units Available for Folks w/ Incomes of 'Only' $99K to $250K

October 23, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Real Estate & Business / Gotham Buzz NYC.

'Better hurry' to participate in this 'affordable housing' lottery for apartments in the Jasper at 49-20 5th Street in Long Island City, Queens. Studios are renting for the 'low, low price' of $2,900 per month and two bedroom apartments are a 'steal' at only $4,400 per month.

To qualify you 'only' need to be earning between $99,000 and $250,000 per year. These annual incomes, which are an eligibility requirement, are only 'slightly' higher [+50% to +291%] than the median NYC salary of $64,000 per year.

But don't worrry, if you miss this 'great' opportunity for 'affordable housing', because the real estate developers, real estate investors, billionaires, property owners and Mayor Adams, are pushing hard to get through the City of Yes Zoning Law changes, which will provide huge tax breaks to investors, billioinaires and real estate developers to make even more of this kind of 'affordable housing' available all over NYC.

Isn't that 'exciting'? It looks like more 'affordable housing' is finally on its way ...

See related stories below and in our City of Yes Special Report section on Gotham Buzz.

And you still have time to be heard by the NY City Council regarding your opinion of the City of Yes. Written Testimony is accepted for 72 hours after the hearing that was held Tuesday 10.22.24. Use this email address to send them your opinions - landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov. I believe the comment period expires at the close of business on Friday 10.25.24.

Trump Presidency Deficits Cost Each American Household $62,000

Trump Talks about how Great the Economy was While he was President

What he and Network TV Nothingness News don't talk about, are the Deficits he Incurred to Fuel Spending

October 22, 2024 / Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The graphic at right shows your household share of the debt racked up by the federal government while Trump and the Republicans were in charge.

Trump Breaks Record for the Greatest Deficits in American History

Donald Trump keeps heralding the economy during his presidency 2016 - 2020, but what he doesn't talk about is how he put each household in America on the hook for $62,000 within just four years, or $23,188 per person. We know the Billionaires received that and then some via the 2017 tax cut, but most of the rest of us received pennies on the dollar - at best.

So why haven't the TV Networks newspeople talked about this or questioned Trump or Vance about this? Trump and Vance are both Republicans, and much of this debt was incurred while Republicans also controlled both the Senate and House. The Trump presidency $8 trillion deficit incurred within four years, was equal to 40% of all debt accumulated [and still on the books] by America's 44 previous presidents in the prior 225 years of the nation's existence.

The graphic at right shows the federal government debt trendline ending at the end of the Trump Administration.

Trump Calls for the FCC to Revoke TV News Licenses - I Agree, but for Different Reasons

So why aren't the TV Networks newspeople informing the American public and telling people about this when the subject of the 'Trump Economy' arises?

Probably because they are too busy looking in people's backyards in Springfield, Ohio for non-existent bones of the dogs and cats that Trump told their TV audience were eaten by Haitian immigrants. Or because they just had to cover the Donald doing a photo op flipping burgers at a McDonald's, propagandistically showing he's a working man. Or because they've buried their ostrich heads so far in the ground that they can't get them out when it really matters. They've taken the nation along with them into the black hole of nothing-newsworthy-news.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that the FCC licenses of TV News should be revoked. While his reasons are that they didn't give him a sycophantic, slatheringly obsequious interview; one of my reasons is that they have been failing the American public for decades, by not presenting real news, and also when they do, it's not done in a fair and balanced manner.

But my primary reason is that they are not owned by, nor do they represent, the various demographic groups / voices in the nation. Like their news coverage, they put a glossy shine on the appearance of representation, just as they pretend to do real journalism; but when you scratch the surface, it becomes very apparent, that just as it's not real journalism, their broadcasts do not give voice to the various demographic groups within the country.

I think we may be on a roll until election day.

The LIC Summit 2024

The Changing Cultural and Real Estate Landscape in Long Island City

October 8, 2024 / LIC Neighborhood / Queens Real Estate & Business / Queens Buzz.

A. Prelude to Attending the LIC Summit 2024

It was a beautiful, sunny, dry day as I walked over to the Museum of the Moving Image in LIC / Astoria.  I arrived around 11 am to attend part of the second half of the LIC Summit, which is a real estate and business conference which examines in depth, an LIC centric world, but also mindful of the surrounding environment.

After I made my way through a flawless check-in, I found my way into the theater and sat down to listen in on the panel providing a Long Island City real estate update.  These panels are structured such that the moderator serves up a number of questions to the panelists for comment, which is then followed by audience questions, which sometimes are the best, because they are asked by people like you and me, who have lived and worked in the area for a long while and witnessed and have adjusted to the huge changes that have occurred in Long Island City over the past couple of decades.

I.  First Panel - LIC Residential Real Estate Update

This panel included Patricia Dunphy of SVP of Rockrose Development, Eric Benaim CEO / Founder of Modern Space, Dan Mogolesko SVP of the Durst Organization, Peter Papamichael Principal of the VOREA Group and Crystal Xu Director of Business Development United Construction & Development Group.

As I came in at the end of the panel presentation, I only caught the Q&A portion of the program, which follows.

A performance theater / school owner pondered aloud whether the developers were still interested in involving and supporting the arts and culture scene in Long Island City.  At the turn of the century LIC was well known as a thriving artists community, as it offered very competitive rents and good access to mass transit.  In the near quarter century since then many - if not most - of the artists have moved out of the area as they can no longer afford the rents, which have skyrocketed from under $1,000 / month to over $4,000 per month.

One of the panelists said they are interested in supporting the arts and he mentioned Culture Lab LIC as one of the arts institutions that has survived the changes.  But that was pretty much the full extent of the conversation surrounding the arts community.  So I reckon the short answer would be no.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report on the LIC Summit 2024 - Real Estate Development in LIC Queens NYC.

Coney Island - Final Fireworks of the Summer 2024

August 30, 2024 / Coney Island / Brooklyn / Brooklyn BLVD.

On Friday night, the final fireworks show by the Alliance for Coney Island, started around 10 pm on the Reigelmann Boardwalk just east of the Steeple Chase Tower and adjacent to the Luna Amusement Park. It was a comfortable evening, with a slight, cool breeze coming in off the water. There were hundreds of spectators who came to see the show and enjoy an end of the summer ride and snacks at Luna Park. I shot the 10 - 15 minute show from various locations around the Boardwalk, water and Luna Park and then edited it down to about 2 - 3 minutes, ending with a bit of island music. Enjoy the show.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Last MoMA Summer Sounds Concert & Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit Closed in Manhattan; Oracabessa Festival, Rockaway Beach Music Series, U.S. Open, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Queens Boro Dance Festival & Queens Jazz Trail Concert in Queens; West Indian American Day Parade & J'ouvert, Battle of Brooklyn, 24th Street Festival and Coney Island Fireworks in Brooklyn; Latin Foto Festival in Hunts Point, Bronx Writers' History at the Bronx Historical Society and Orchard Beach in the Bronx; and Do Portugal Circus at Staten Island Mall, the British are Coming & the Richmond County Fair on Staten Island

August 30, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analytis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 8.30.24. Sunrise 6.20 am & Sunset at 7.31 pm. Some rain expected Saturday night and early Sunday morning, so it should be a good weekend. Temperatures in the 80's during the day and 70's at night. A gentle breeze and humidity climbs gradually during the weekend, falling again on Monday.

In the photo at right, is one of Historic Richmond Town's finest citizens, doing his thing in the woodwork shop. The man reminded me of, Geppetto, the kind and fatherly woodcarver who created Pinocchio, the fictitious wooden puppet who comes alive.

Saturday 8.31.24 Final Weekend Edition @ 11.45 am. All done. Looks to be a fair weather weekend with plenty of fun things to do as the unofficial end of the summer arrives. Enjoy your three day / end of summer weekend. Fall events to follow in September.

Things To Do This Weekend in New York City

Saturday, May 25 - September 8, 2024 from 10 am to 6 pm - NYC Beaches and public swimming pools are Open all Summer.

• CLICK here to view our weekly reports about things to do each weekend in August in all five boroughs of NYC.

* How Dense are the Self-Defeating, Biden-Denying, Democrats?

Why aren't Democrats Promoting the 'Biden Team' Accomplishments, instead of Undermining the Top of their Ticket?

Updated July 19, 2024 vs 7.18.24 / National Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

Democratic Leadership Deeply Disappoints - Schumer & Jeffries et al

I am very disappointed in the behavior of the Democratic Leadership, including U.S. Senate Majority Leader (D-NY) Chuck Schumer, U.S. Congressional Minority Leader (D-NY) Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) for making public their calling for Biden to step down, right in the middle of the presidential race.  Note that these Democrats are - like the corporate mass media - urban and bicoastal - not from the Midwest / heartland / swing states.

A day after first posting this, a friend sent along a political cartoon published in The Week [shown at right]. It seems to capture the sentiment expressed above pretty well and shows all of the above named Democrats seated in the train, mentioned in order, from right to left.

Lincoln Said "It's Foolish to Change Horses in the Middle of a Race"

There's an old adage that goes something like this, "never change horses in the middle of the race".  That quote is attributed to President Abraham Lincoln, who is said to have used it to persuade voters to re-elect him, rationalizing that, "... it would be foolish to change leaders in such a turbulent time ...". It seems the same wise advice has some relevance to today.

Since both Biden and Trump became their parties' presumptive presidential nominees on 'Super' Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the presidential race began that day.  And since election day is approximately eight months later, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, we have already passed the midway mark for this presidential race, which ends only three and a half months from now.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report on How Dense are the Self-Defeating, Biden-Denying Democrats.

Coop City Fireworks in the Bronx

July 6, 2024 / Coop City / Bronx Buzz NYC. I attended and recorded the Coop City fireworks in the Bronx this year. The fireworks display was launched from the Coop City Field located along the Hutchinson River which empties into the Long Island Sound.

They started around 9.30 pm and went for about 15 - 30 minutes, and I fouind it to be a fireworks display worth watching. Check out a few clips we put together from the show.

Cable TV's Knucklehead News

CNN's SuperFantastic Debate Fiasco

The CNN Presidential TV Debate Between President Joe Biden & "Former" President Donald Trump Showcased how Disinformative Modern TV News can be, Particularly When Moderated by Anchors who Don't Seem to Know Who the Current President is

June 27, 2024 vs 6.21.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

I was horrified Thursday night, as I watched the CNN TV debate unfold between President Joe Biden and 'FORMER' President Donald Trump. Not only because of Joe Biden's performance, but even more so because of CNN's performance, including Jake Tapper's and Dana Bash's mega journalistic failure, for moderating a show, advertised as news [which is supposed to be about facts], that disinformed their TV audience.

Improper Sound Set Up - CNN Technical Failure?

The horrors started with the sound [wo]man's failure to properly amp or set up Joe Biden's microphone so that it properly projected his soft spoken voice at a level audible to the TV viewing public. I had to ratchet up the volume on my TV to twice the level I normally use, to hear what President Biden was saying.

No Fact Checking the Biggest Liar in Presidential History? Only on TV 'News'

Then there's the incredible failure by the TV anchors to properly moderate the debate. First of all they should NEVER have agreed to moderating a debate where fact checking was not a part of the process. I mean really, how can CNN look itself in the mirror tomorrow morning and tell everyone they are a news organization, when facts don't matter in of all things, a Presidential Debate?

And then add to that, that one of the candidates is known to be one of the biggest liars on the planet. According to a January 24, 2021 Washington Post report, they noted that Donald Trump had lied 30,573 different times, in the four years he was president.

Former President Trump went off on some of his predictable mendacious campaign tirades, about January 6th, abortion, immigration, the economy ... and pretty much everything else - without any corrections - save from President Biden, who quite frankly, in part because of his stutter, and in part because it was difficult to hear him, didn't do a very good job.

• CLICK here to read our report on CNN's News Failure on the 1st Presidential TV Debate of 2024 - Knucklehead News.

Juneteenth - Things To Do NYC

Juneteenth Things to do in NYC, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx & Staten Island

June 17, 2024 / Things To Do NYC / Holidays, Parades & Ethnic Culture / Gotham Buzz.

Over the past ten years or so, interest and awareness of Juneteenth has grown fast. Juneteenth commemorates American slaves obtaining their freedom on June 19, 1865 in Texas, when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, wherein President Abraham Lincoln officially freed the slaves effective January 1, 1863. Unlike today, word didn't travel so fast, and in the Confederate states, the white slave owners did their best to keep the slaves from learning of Lincoln's Executive Order. Juneteenth is a word blend denoting June [nine]teenth. President Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, taking effect immediately and in time for folks to first celebrate the holiday two days later, on June 19th, 2021.

In the photo at right is John Watusi, who was a Founder and the Executive Director of the Afrikan Poetry Theatre in years gone by [now deceased]. John was a poet and a civil rights activist who recognized, along with others, the important role that history and culture play in people's lives. So, while Juneteenth is a celebration of an African American liberation day, it is also a celebration of African American culture.

This year NYC Mayor Adams cited a number of NYC cultural and historical sites and tours related to Juneteenth and the African American experience in NYC. In an OpEd he penned and we published Monday, you'll find links to some of the sites and tours he references of interest. Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Gotham Buzz NYC.

Juneteenth Historic Sites in NYC - Brooklyn, Manhattan & Online

Here are a couple of African American Historical Sites in NYC, some of which are referenced in the Mayor's OpEd. Brooklyn Juneteenth Historic Sites - Juneteenth Grove at Cadman Plaza in Downtown Brooklyn. It's there 24/7. Manhattan Juneteenth Historic Sites - African Burial Ground - located at Elk and Duane Streets just a block north of City Hall in downtown Manhattan. Online Juneteenth Historic Sites - African American Landmarks and Historic District Interactive Map & Seneca Village Online - created by the Landmarks Preservation Committee.

• CLICK here to view the rest of our report about things to do on Juneteenth NYC - Juneteenth Events.

Click Manhattan 4th of July fireworks for Manhattan independence day fireworks or click July 4th fireworks in NYC for NYC independence day fireworks in the 5 boros of NYC.

Saying No to the City of Yes

City of Yes is ...

• An Attempt to Overcome NIMBY [Not in My Back Yard] in Favor of YIMBY [Yes in My Back Yard]

• Yes to the Billionaires & Developers Who Created the Plan

• No to the New York City Residents Who Already Live & Work Here

May 15, 2024 / NYC Real Estate & Business / NYC Government Media & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Since the beginning of the new year I've attended over a half dozen different lectures, presentations and community discussions, about the City of Yes and related topics. Two of them were presentations given by the NYC Planning Department who are selling the plan, one by the Federal Reserve which took a stance that leaned pro business but did not ignore the possible destructive ramifications of passing the legislation, one by a community activist group in Brooklyn, another by a Community Board in Manhattan, and two others by a civic group, also in Manhattan.

I tried to keep an open mind about the pros and cons of the legislation, but I couldn't help but begin forming opinions about the proposed legislation, as I collected, sorted and analyzed the legislation and information surrounding it. Over time, the ramifications of actually passing this legislation have begun to appear.

The Mayor's Rationale for Pushing Legislation Created by and for the Billionaires & International Real Estate Development Community

The legislation was concocted by billionaires, real estate developers and the NYC Planning Department, headed by Daniel Garodnick. As such, it reflects their interests, and seems to almost completely ignore the interests of the communities that the NYC government is supposed to be serving.

The Mayor has been pushing the City of Yes, because he believes it will eliminate the 'Not in My Back Yard aka NIMBY' that many infrastructure projects [including affordable housing] encounter when the government or real estate developers are trying to foist them on a community. Hence this would have the effect of enabling projects to move more quickly from conception to fruition, and at a lower cost to the government, billionaire or real estate developer pushing the project. The Mayor also believes that this will enable the creation of more affordable housing.

It might enable the creation of more affordable housing, and it might not. It could just enhance the bottom lines of the billionaires and developers pushing the plan, which in my mind is the more likely scenario.

The Downside of Passing Legislation that Usurps the Power of the People

But, more importantly, it would usurp the power that the people living in these communities currently have, to voice their concerns about new construction projects like affordable housing, commercial buildings or transit, being built within their neighborhoods. While I appreciate the Mayor's interest in reducing the time and cost of getting things built - like affordable housing - I don't think that taking away the power a community has over what is developed within their midst, is the right answer. And perhaps even more importantly, I think any time you're transferring power from the little people to the rich and mighty, you're moving power in the wrong direction.

City Club of NY - ReThinking the Housing Crisis

So, with this in mind, I'm going to take you into a Zoom conference hosted by the City Club of New York which was entitled ReThinking the Housing Crisis, held on May 7, 2024. While not specifically about the City of Yes, it provides some contextual background which should help in evaluating it. And later this month we'll also have a report on the Federal Reserve's April 25, 2024 conference entitled 'Fostering Neighborhoods: Faith-Based Organizations and the Development of Affordable Housing' which was largely about the proposed City of Yes legislation. At that conference there were several speakers who promoted the legislation, but not without reservations, both of which we'll include in our report.

• Later this week you can - CLICK this link to read the rest of our report on ReThinking the Housing Crisis.

The Queens World Film Festival Mirrors the Changing World

The Queens World Film Festival 2024 Opened Up Deep & It Has Enabled a Number of Queens Youths to Venture into the Wily, Woolly, Whale of a Tale, World of Cinema

April 23, 2024 / Queens World Film Festival / Queens Film Scene / Queens Buzz NYC.

Last Wednesday, April 17, 2024 I headed over to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria / LIC, to catch the opening night of the Queens World Film Festival. To be perfectly candid, I had a lot of other things on my mind, as I'm in the midst of several big projects that require my full attention.

I entered the museum close to the beginning of screen time and noted a fairly subdued mood relative to the festivals I had previously attended, which were all prepandemic. I then made my way into the theater and found a spot where I could camp out with my camera and notebook, where I wouldn't disturb my fellow viewers.

The festival began with opening remarks by some of the Queens World Film Festival alumni, all from Queens, who talked about their voyages into the world of cinema, led by Captains Katha and Don Cato, the Founders of the Queens World Film Festival.

As a bit of history, the festival began in 2011, some 13 years ago and I'm happy to report that we were there. I covered the festival in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2024. That's seven out of a total of about [I'm guesstimating, pending receipt of confirmation] nine or ten - as the festival went on hiatus during the pandemic, like just about everything else during that time.

We'll have more later on in the week. In the meantime I've aggregated our previous coverage into this report, so you can sift through prior festival reports we published. The festival runs through Sunday, April 28, 2024. Tickets are $23 which you may purchase at https://queensworldfilmfestival.org

CLICK here to read the rest of our report, as well as view a history of the Queens World Festival for 2024 and back to its inception.

City of Yes or Planning Mess? Zoom Conference with City Club NY

Three Presentations [Awaiting a Fourth] About the City of Yes Proposal

April 16, 2024 / City of Yes Special Report Section / NYC Real Estate & Business / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Last Thursday, April 11, 2024, I attended a Zoom Conference Call hosted by the City Club of NY, wherein four zoning experts presented their assessments of the sweeping zoning changes proposed in Mayor Adams' City of Yes zoning legislation.

The City of Yes zoning proposal is being pushed hard, and it is being pushed fast, by the Adams Administration in tandem and with the strong support of the billionaire class and the real estate development industry. These two groups are supportive of Mayor Adams' proposal because it will free them from the time, expense and hassle of answering to us, the locals ... the people who actually live in the places, where the uber rich and real estate developers want to transact business.

Remember - Democracy Doesn't Work on Auto Pilot

So you'd better pay attention before the people's [aka your] input - into the sorts of structures and activities allowed in their [your] communities - is rolled back sixty years, and possibly far further back. The City of Yes legislation will provide the super wealthy and the real estate developers, from all around the world, with the power to dictate to NYC community neighborhoods what structures they're going to erect, in many cases where, and what sorts of activities will take place on the property - within the very lax parameters embedded into the City of Yes legislation.

We've been tracking this legislation for a couple of months now. First via Alicia Boyd of MTOPP [Movement to Protect the People], a community activist in Brooklyn; then via the Mayor's Office of Ethnic & Community Media [MOECM] via Zoom; then via Community Board Meetings in Sunnyside Queens where the NYC Planning Department presented the City of Yes, followed by a Community Board Six in Manhattan Zoom Conference Call; and most recently with the City Club of NY, whose presentations are being published today.

We are thankful to these people and organizations for investing the time to help do the work of a functioning democracy, which is to engage and inform the people about the decisions being made by those in power on their behalf that - may or may not - be on their interest.

• CLICK here to view the slide show presentations given at the City of Yes or Planning Mess NYC Zoom conference call on April 11, 2024.

Solar Eclipse Grazes NYC

There was a Partial Eclipse in NYC & a Total Eclipse in Buffalo

April 9, 2024 / NYC Parks & Environment / NYC Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather as of 4.9.24. Sunset 7.30 pm. Sunrise 6.24 am. Other than a forecast of nearly an inch of rain between 8 pm Thursday and 11 am Friday, the rest of the week should be dry. The temperatures will hit 70 today and possibly Sunday, otherwise in the 60's, while the lows will be in the 50's. The winds will range from 5 - 10 mph, except from the evening of Thursday, through Friday, and descending into the weekend. The humidity will rise through the week, until Friday when it hits about 60% and then begins dropping into a very dry Saturday [35%], before climbing on Sunday.

The image at right shows a number of New Yorkers out in the park observing the solar eclipse on Monday.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report on NYC Solar Eclipse & NYC Earthquake.

City of Yes Text Amendments - Huge Zoning Changes in the Works - Part II.

The Proposed 'City of Yes Text Amendments' will Roll Back Local Community Board [and Hence Communities] Input into What is Built & What Activities are Allowed in Their Communities

April 2, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Real Estate / NYC Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Just over a week ago I attended a Zoom call, organized by Community Board 6 in Manhattan, regarding the proposed City of Yes Text Amendments Part II being promulgated by Mayor Adams and his Administration. We collectively sat through about an hour long presentation, which I found to be most enlightening as well as a bit disconcerting should the proposed changes pass without significant alteration.

I have obtained permission to publish the slides, which due to technical issues, I have had to publish in the three [vs one] slide shows you see below [they are in chronological order].  I'll post my full report early next week, but in the meantime the slides should give you an idea of how big the changes really are and has been done in such a manner that you can begin to figure out how these changes may affect you.

Whether you are a tenant, landowner or real estate developer - and no matter in which borough you live - these changes, if passed unalterred, are going to significantly change how things are done in NYC. And the more I dig into this, the more it seems to be a roll back of community input, which is - in my mind - an essential / core element of any democratic process.

Isn't it?

While I'm still not done with the research, these changes look to be quite harmful to the people of NYC, in so many different ways, while failing to provide any sure path to growing our inventory of truly affordable housing.

Much more coming next week and over the next couple of weeks.

•  CLICK here to view the slide show presentation made regarding the City of Yes at the Manhattan Community Board 6 Meeting on March 25, 2024.

NYS Primary Voting Tuesday, April 2, 2024

In addition to the presidential primary, there are also NYS primary races on the ballot.

City of Yes Text Amendments - Huge Zoning Changes in the Works

How Much Will the Proposed 'City of Yes Text Changes' Strip Communities of Input into What is Built in their Communities & What Activities Take Place within Each Property?

Updated March 9, 2024 from 3.6.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Real Estate / NYC Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

On Thursday, February 1, 2024 I attended a Community Board 2 Queens meeting about the proposed City of Yes Text Amendments at the Sunnyside Community Services Center. The presentation was given by the Department of City Planning and the focus was the second piece of the massive, nearly 1,157 page City of Yes Text Amendment proposal.

The photo at right shows two City Planning Department representatives fielding questions from the audience following their presentation of the zoning law changes proposed in the City of Yes Text Amendments - Part II - Economic Development.

What are the City of Yes Text Amendment Zoning Law Changes?

The first segment of the proposal included changes to zoning in order to enable green energy powered buildings. The second segment of the proposal, which was what this meeting was all about, was to make changes to zoning laws to provide more zoning flexibility to enable more economic opportunity. And the third segment of the City of Yes Text Amendments is to address the need for affordable housing. As previously mentioned, for the purposes of this report, we're sticking to the second segment of the three part proposal, which moved front and center following the passage of the green energy initiative passed by the City Council in December of 2022.

City of Yes Text Amendment Changes - Part II - Economic Development

I am including a slide show from the February 1st, 2024 meeting mentioned above. And I have also reached out to Alicia Boyd, a Brooklyn activist in this area, and have obtained her permission to post a slide show she presented on January 16, 2024 at the Richmond University Medical Center on Staten Island. By providing you with both slide shows you'll obtain both a 'Pro' perspective and a 'Con' perspective. The Pro perspective, provided by the City Planning Department, also includes a description of the specific changes to the zoning laws for which they are advocating. We'll have more on this in the coming weeks because we think it is one of the most important issues of the day and the City Council is expected to vote on it in April 2024.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report, including competing slide shows about the proposed City of Yes Test amendments - Part II - Economic Development. As of this post we've not yet heard back from Alicia Boyd of MTOPP, but expect to hear from her today / tomorrow or by the end of the week. So please stay tuned.

* Updated - How Many Stops Act Veto Overridden & Was the Mayor Justified in Vetoing the How Many Stops Act Bill [586-A]?

And Did Corporate TV News Inform or Distort the Issue by Televising the Yusef Salaam Stop?

Updated February 1, 2024 from 1.30.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Law Enforcement / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The NYC Council voted to override Mayor Adams veto of the How Many Stops Act - Bill 586-A by a margin of 42 to override the veto and 9 in support of it, with 0 abstentions. The City Council also revoked the use of solitary confinement at Rikers. A number of the councilmembers stated an interest in working with Mayor Adams on implementation of the changes, to ensure there's no degradation of law enforcement effectiveness because of the change.

Some council members shared negative experiences of their own and their constituents, of being stopped by the police. Many NYC Council members also commended NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for drafting and pushing the legislation through the council.

The photo at right was taken at City Hall in December of 2023, when the Mayor met with members of the ethnic and community media, to discuss past, present and future issues and efforts.

CLICK here to read our report about why we think the Mayor was right in vetoing the Too Many Stops Act.

What They’re Saying: New York Leaders Continue to Voice Opposition to City Council Bill That Could Make NYC Streets Less Safe

This is a Reprint of a Press Release Issued by the Mayor's Office Regarding the How Many Stops Act

January 29, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Law Enforcement / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The Following is a Press Release issued by the Mayor's Office

NEW YORK – Following today’s veto on City Council bill Intro. 586-A — which could make New York City less safe by forcing New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers to spend more time filling out reports after Level 1 interactions with the public instead of patrolling the street and keeping the public safe — faith leaders, community advocates, business organizations, district attorneys, law enforcement professionals, and everyday New Yorkers voiced their opposition to the bill.

Here is what New York leaders are saying. What follows is the full reprint of a press release issued by the Mayor's Office on January 19, 2024. 

• CLICK here for a press release by the Mayor's Office regarding community leaders' response to Mayor Adams Vetoing the How Many Stops Act - 586-A in NYC.

* The Federal Reserve in NYC Assesses the Risks due to Climate Change

Climate Change is Real. Its Impact is Already Affecting Economic Investments & Outcomes. The Federal Reserve Shared a Closer Look with us in October 2023.

January 23, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Issues / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

On Monday, October 2, 2023 I headed down to the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC to make a withdrawal. Not a withdrawal of money, but to collect some information about Climate Change, at a Conference they hosted for local media outlets.

Keynote Speaker - Economics Professor Stiglitz

The Keynote speaker was Joseph E. Stiglitz, a professor at Columbia University, who participated in a discussion with John C. Williams, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY.

Informational Economics - Investment & Business Decisions are Based on Imperfect Information

The keynote speaker, Joseph Stiglitz, has expertise is in economics, and more specifically, informational economics. Stiglitz was preceded by economist George Stigler [not to be confused with the keynote speaker Joseph Stiglitz] who is credited with first developing 'The Economics of Information' in 1961 while a professor at the University of Chicago. This was the beginning of an entire area of study of how information and information systems affect economic decision making.

In the 1970's three researchers, one of whom was Joseph Stiglitz [the keynote speaker], is credited with developing the theory of 'Asymmetric Information' which posits generally that one of the parties - in a two party transaction - has better information. For example the seller of a used auto knows more about the car than the buyer, or a borrower likely has better information about whether there will be problems in repaying the loan than the lender.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report on a cursory assessment of the risks associated with climate change at the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC.

* Exclusive: One on One Interview with the Mayor

The Eric Adams Story - Part I

Mayor Adams is a Complicated Man, Who Rose from Poverty, to the Highest Office in NYC

November 6, 2023 / NYC Government & Polltics / NYC Neighborhoods / Gotham Buzz. News Analysis & Opinion by Michael Wood.

This past summer, while working on another story in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Ethnic & Community Media [aka MOECM], I entered into discussions with the MOECM, about the possibility of an exclusive interview with the Mayor. The Mayor's Office of Ethnic & Community Media was created a couple of years ago, to enhance local media access to the goings on at City Hall, in order to better inform the public. Under the Adams Administration, part of that program included providing greater government official availability to somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 local media outlets.

Famod Konneh, Associate Director for Outreach and Engagement collaborated with me to make arrangements for the interview, which took place on Friday, October 20, 2023. It's worth noting that every reporting story done live, is a collaboration of a sort, between the journalist and the subject(s) covered.

The photo at right shows Jose Bayona, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Ethnic & Community Media [aka MOECM], at the MOEDM operations cener which is in the basement of City Hall, while he was setting up the video conference.

Interview Preparation - Doing My Homework

I did a considerable amount of research into the Mayor's past, while preparing for the interview. I did all this prep work, even though Famod had told me I would be limited to 20 minutes via a Zoom video call, as I was pitching him for more time. When I first first started the research, I did it in preparation for the interview, but, as sometimes happens with the kind of reporting I do, the more I learned, the more I became interested in learning even more about the Mayor and his life story.

Initially I thought I would do a standard hard news interview about key topics of the day including immigration, crime, the public schools and the budget. But, as I journeyed into the Mayor's past, I became more intrigued with the idea of doing a different story.

The Adams Administration's Unheralded Herculean Effort Managing the Immigrant Influx

As I conducted my research, I decided that NOT to inquire about the Mayor's - seemingly unappreciated or underappreciated - Herculean effort to manage the huge influx of immigrants into NYC. This situation, turned crisis, began when Texas Governor Greg Abbott began bussing immigrants from Texas border towns, beginning in August 5, 2022, to NYC. Governor Abbott began transporting immigrants here without any communication nor coordination with NYS Governor Hochul or NYC Mayor Adams.

Nonetheless, Mayor Adams somehow found enough lodging for somewhere between 65,000 - 125,000 immigrants bussed in since then, who arrived in the city within the past year or so. The Mayor also managed to carve enough funding out of the NYC budget to provide security, food, healthcare and logistics for the newcomers, with what - until fairly recently [the past three months or so] - appeared somewhere between scant and lagging help from the likes of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and NYS Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY), respectively.

In spite of this gargantuan challenge, Mayor Adams made sure NYC didn't miss a step. His Administration kept the influx of immigrants mostly off the streets, and appeared to ensure they were't coopted into criminal activities by providing for them, in spite of laws which forbade them from earning a living. This nearly heroic effort has mostly gone unheralded by the corporate media.

The photo above right shows the Mayor pondering a question I posed to him, during our Zoom interview. He's in the Mayoral limo enroute to his next event.

CLICK here to read the rest of the story about my exclusive interview with Mayor Adams about his life - profile.

NYC Things to do in November in All 5 Boros of NYC

November Events in NYC by Week

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

NYC Marathon & Daylight Savings Time Sunday, Dia de los Muertos in Times Square Thurs Nite, Comedy Festival, Park Avenue Art Show, Washington Heights Jazz Fest, NY Comedy Fest & Bryant Park Winter Village Shops & Baltic Film Fest [Nxt Wk] in Manhattan; Diwali Festival in Jackson Heights, Off the Wall Affordable Art Fair and International Food Expo Next Week in Queens; Brooklyn Folk Music Festival and FAD Holiday Market in Brooklyn; Veterans Memoral Event in Van Cortlant Park & Universoul Circus at Orchard Beach in the Bronx; Holiday Market, Cranberry Festival & Fall Retreat on Staten Island

November 3, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low 50's on Thursday, rising to the low 60's for the rest of the weekend. The temperature lows will be in the low 40's on Thursday, rising to the high 40's for the rest of the weekend. The winds will be about 4 - 6 mph all weekend. The humidity will be 40% - 60% on Thursday, rising to 50% - 60% on Friday and Saturday, and rising again to 60% - 70% on Sunday. No rain is in the forecast this weekend ... finally.

Sunrise / Sunset Times. On Thursday 11/2/23 the sun rose at 7.27 am & the sun set at 5.51 pm. But note that because of Daylight Savings Time, this Sunday, 10/5/23 the sun will rise at 6.31 am and the sun will set at 4.48 pm.

The photo at right was taken at the 2011 NYC Marathon as the marathoners were coming across the Pulaski Bridge which connects Greenpoint in Brooklyn to Long Island City in Queens.

CLICK here for things to do in things to do in November in NYC - ALL weekends Events NYC in November.

Oktoberfest Parties & Celebrations in NYC including in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx & Staten Island

Oktoberfest Begins Mid September in NYC and run thru October

UPDATED October 7, 2023 from 9.19.23 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The official / unofficial kick off to the month and a half of Oktoberfest events in NYC begins in Manhattan with the Steuben Parade. This report identifies a number of Oktoberfest events around NYC beginning mid September and running through the end of October.

The photo at right shows one of the floats in the Steuben Parade celebrating the consumption of bier, which in tandem with consumption of bratwurst, is an integral part of Oktoberest. One thing the photo doesn't show is the music, that also goes hand in hand with Oktoberfest.

A Brief History of Oktoberfest in NYC

Coming with time. We've posted a number of Oktoberfests in this report, but a few more are coming. Also watch the front page, as this year [only] they are likely to be posted there first.

• CLICK here to view the rest of our report on Oktoberfest in NYC, including the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.

911 Commemoration Events & Remembrances in NYC & Boros

911 Commemorations this Weekend and Monday

September 10, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

This weekend, there are a number of events around the five boroughs commemorating the losses of 911. The following are a few of those events.

The collection of photos at right shows an cultural performance at Lincoln Center honoring the victims of 911. The performance returns Monday at 8.05 am.

911 Remembrances / Commemorations NYC

Ongoing _ Daffodil Project in NYC Parks. For details see - https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/sept-11-memorials

• CLICK here to view our report on 911 Memorial and Commemoration events in all 5 boroughs of NYC.

Easter & Passover Celebrations in NYC & Boros

Next Sunday is Easter for Western Christians and the Following Week it's Easter for Orthodox Christians

April 3, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC / 438

Very Brief Introduction to Christian Easter Traditions

On Friday, April 7th, Christians observe Good Friday, which is when the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross. On Sunday, April 9th, Christians celebrate the Biblical account of Jesus rising from the dead.

Emperor Constantine became the Roman Emperor in 306. In 324 Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, wherein Christianity split into two different sects - Roman Catholic Christians [primarily in Western Europe] and Orthodox Christians [primarily in Eastern Europe]. The traditions have much in common, but one of the differences is in how they calculate the time of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Western European Christians [Protestants and Catholics] use the Gregorian Calendar which was created in the 16th century and made the official calendar by Pope Gregory, while the Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar which was made law in the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. by Julius Caesar.

Thus there are years where the Western European and Eastern Orthodox Easter events fall at the same time, and there years where they do not. This year [2023] the celebrations of the two traditions are separated by a week, with the Western European Christians celebrating next weekend and the Orthodox Christians celebrating a week later.

• CLICK here to view our report on NYC Easter events, Easter parades, Easter egg hunts, Easter brunches & Greek Orthodox Holy Friday processsions in NYC, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx & Staten Island.