Monday, August 14, 2023

CM Rivera takes steps to address quality-of-life concerns along 14th Street

In response to the ongoing concerns about drug use/sales and general quality-of-life issues along 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera has partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals and Bellevue Hospital to introduce resources to address these problem areas.

According to a news advisory from Rivera's office:
The Street Health Outreach & Wellness (SHOW) unit is a dedicated team consisting of a physician, addiction counselor, social worker, and community health worker. They work together in the field, engaging with known patients and connecting people in need to comprehensive services. 

They are equipped to offer on-the-spot services while facilitating connections to primary care, substance use treatment, and other social services. The team plans to visit the area on a weekly basis, establishing a usual presence in the community. 

With a focus on medical support, harm reduction, and social services, the team will connect with individuals experiencing homelessness, addressing immediate needs, and connecting them to an array of available services.
This 14th Street corridor has long been a concern for residents (here and here, for instance). In June, the deteriorating conditions prompted 787 Coffee to shut its doors between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

The chainlet's management said the 14th Street outpost suffered five break-ins in four weeks before the closure. In addition, 787 said some customers sitting outside were assaulted the week before the closing. "We make coffee as an excuse to connect, to collaborate, to create… but when we are afraid to even go to work, it defeats our values, our DNA," they said. 

More from Rivera's office:
Historically, this intersection has been a focal point for illicit street vendors peddling subpar goods and intimidating passersby. Our office has worked with DSNY and DCWP to address those concerns. Recently, the area has become a gathering spot for individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling with mental health challenges. 

Residents have brought numerous complaints to our attention including concerns pertaining to individuals frequently found sleeping on the sidewalks, engaging in the noticeable use of drugs, and exhibiting instances of aggressive and or violent behavior toward others. Our office takes these concerns seriously and is actively working toward addressing and resolving these issues.

In a statement, Rivera said:

"Underinvestment in mental health has created a situation where too many New Yorkers in need of mental health care are unhoused, unemployed, and involved with the criminal legal system. This has led to significant concerns about quality of life and public safety, and the well-being of everyone in our communities. We are all too aware of the persistent structural issues that perpetuate inequities in the healthcare system where historically marginalized communities and the most vulnerable New Yorkers are less likely to be connected with the care they need."

In a series of tweets last month, residents pointed out the drug sales outside 418 E. 14th St., adjacent to the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

First section of the new office building at 360 Bowery glassed up

Façade installation continues at 360 Bowery, where workers added floor-to-ceiling window panels on the first level of the 21-story office building...
This development — offering full-floor office suites — replaces the single-level B Bar & Grill (1994-2020) on property previously a gas station here at Fourth Street. 

The developers of this project within the Soho/Noho rezoning area are reportedly a collaboration between SK Development, Ironstate and CB Development.

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

It was a good weekend for live music... including (above) with Federico of Pinc Louds and singer-songwriter K. Porcelain playing a benefit for La Plaza Cultural's solar pavilion on Saturday evening...

Luna turns 4

On Aug. 7, 2019, the Riveras welcomed Luna into their family and home on Third Street

And since then, Stacie has stopped by to help her family celebrate Luna's birthday.

This year was no different, as she photographed parents Juana and Edward Rivera and Luna's siblings Edward Jr., Rex and Isabella Jane on this occasion last weekend ...
... along with many other friends and family members.
Happy birthday, Luna!

Previously on EV Grieve:

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo on Avenue Barbie last night by Stacie Joy) ... 

• Why the lights were off 3 nights in a row in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) ... Early this morning in Tompkins Square Dark (Friday

• These are longtime food writer Robert Sietsema's 10 favorite East Village meals (Wednesday

• Pink Olive is closing its East Village outpost (Wednesday

• A fundraiser for La Plaza Cultural, and a new era for Pinc Louds (Thursday

• The Whiskey Ward set to close next month on Essex Street (Thursday

• The Tompkins Square Library branch now has a late August reopening date (Wednesday

• Get a little of the old Essex Card Shop at the new Essex Card Shop (Friday

• At the O'Flaherty's Café, come for the art, stay for the chicken fingers (Thursday) ... At the opening night of the O'Flaherty's Café (Saturday

• Last week for Huertas (Monday)

• Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe coming to this prime East Village corner space (Monday

• Please do not urinate on the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday

• The Wren is temporarily closed for renovations on the Bowery (Tuesday

• Cooper Union's Foundation Building (almost) returns to full view (Tuesday)

• Openings: Memphis Seoul on 1st Avenue (Friday

• Today in photos of a dead rat, bottle of tequila and pizza box on St. Mark's Place (Saturday)

• First sign of El Primo Red Tacos on Avenue A (Friday

• Motel No Tell announces itself on Avenue A (Monday

• Raíz Modern Mexican is closed for now on 1st Avenue (Monday)

.... and the 50th-anniversary of hip-hop took place on Friday... this mural by William Power and phetus88 has been up in First Street Green Art Park in recent months...     
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EVG Etc.: Checking in with the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park; revisiting 'Frances Ha'

Some headlines from other sources in recent days...

• Remembering veteran character actor Mark Margolis who had roots in the East Village (Variety ... The Hollywood Reporter ... previously on EVG

• A tribute to Brice Marden, the decades-spanning abstract artist who ran Rivington Arms on the LES (Artnet News

• Ex-con who allegedly made menacing threats to women along Second Avenue and Fifth Street back on the corridor after a short jail stint (The Post

• NYPD investigating an assault on 13th Street and Broadway from June as a hate crime (Gothamist

• Cat Marnell makes a statement about the Marc Jacobs ads with Kim Kardashian, as seen in the photo above on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place (The Sun)

• This 12th Street co-op for sale has a plant wall (6sgft

• Red-tailed hawk highlights from Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)

• Remember the John Spacely "Gringo" mural on St. Mark's Place (Flaming Pablum

• Some love for P&T Knitwear on Orchard (USA Today

• There are several upcoming screenings of the 2013 comedy "Francis Ha," co-written by and starring Greta Gerwig — and directed by Noah Baumbach... with scenes filmed in the East Village and Lower East Side (Metrograph and part of a series titled The Color of Black and White)

 

Sunday's opening shot

Photo by Lori E. Seid 

A summertime scene on Avenue A and 11th Street...

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Daniel Efram 

The awesome JessX were among the bands playing in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon. 

There are more bands tomorrow afternoon via Show Brain, including Uncle Skunk, Pop Music Fever Dream, Tits Dick Ass, Shred Flintstone and headliner Dead Tooth.

At the opening night of the O'Flaherty's Café

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The latest installation is now open at O'Flaherty's, the gallery-performance space at 44 Avenue A and Third Street. 

On Thursday night, a steady stream of curious gallery-goers stopped by to check out the work of seven artists... not to mention the accompanying café offering tasty vittles like mac & cheese and chicken fingers...
Artist, curator and co-owner Jamian Juliano-Villani was busy making sure attendees were taken care of...
... and her parents stopped by as well...
... and scenes from inside and out, 
Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 2-7 p.m. Cafe Hours: Thursday-Saturday 5-10 p.m. (Tonight, Aug, 12, the hours are 8 p.m. to midnight.) 
Previously on EV Grieve

Today in photos of a dead rat, bottle of tequila and pizza box on St. Mark's Place

EVG reader Jackflashnyc assures us that this photo on St. Mark's Place just west of First Avenue was NOT staged. 

August in NYC. ❤️