'Pretty evil' — city is working around the clock this weekend to cut down trees in East River Park

Work continues around the clock this weekend as the city cuts down more trees in the southern portion of East River Park — despite the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in place to halt the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project. 

The @1000people1000trees account posted a video clip of trees being cut down at 3 a.m.

 

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Activists, who have been protesting as the work proceeds south of Stanton Street to Montgomery Street, say that the city is moving quickly to demolish as much as they can before tomorrow when the Court of Appeals is expected to act on the contempt citation East River Park Action attorneys sent to Albany. 

As of this morning, witnesses say that the work has reached the amphitheater. Activists from East River Park Action and @1000people1000trees are calling a meeting at 2 this afternoon at the amphitheater.

🚩Important Change🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩Destruction of Amphitheater is imminent. Instead of meeting at Houston St at 2pm we are meeting at Amphitheater. Access at Corlears Hook Overpass. @1000treesNYC pic.twitter.com/PY2AhJ2rzX

— Our Park (@ERPAction) December 12, 2021

Demonstrations continued yesterday south of the East Houston Street entrance... (photos below by Stacie Joy)...

During a rally/press conference, Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, who represents the Lower East Side, called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to immediately stop the tree-cutting. 

"I'm appalled that the mayor and his team would toss aside a temporary restraining order granted by the Court of Appeals, but this is sadly emblematic of elected officials who view themselves as above the law and above accountability," Niou said at the rally, as quoted by the Post. 

During the press conference, attendees could view the ongoing tree cutting...

More pointed comments were directed toward the outgoing mayor, dubbed "Bulldozer Bill."

"It's fairly unusual that orders of the court are disobeyed," said Arthur Schwartz, one of the pro-bono attorneys working on behalf of the activists. As The Village Sun quoted: "Bill de Blasio wants to just get this done and in the ground before Eric Adams is mayor. He wants to make sure Eric Adams doesn't have any way to deal with it." 

On Wednesday, Court of Appeals Judge Rowan Wilson issued the TRO. According to East River Park Action, who has been opposed to the city's current plan for the park, the TRO remains in effect at least until the next hearing on Dec. 20. 

The city's interpretation of the TRO is different. 

Per NY1: "The city has reviewed the Court's written order and we do not believe it prevents us from continuing work on this vital resiliency project," said Ian Michaels, the head of public information for the Department of Design and Construction, which is overseeing the project.

As former judge Kathryn Freed, another attorney for East River Park, told the Sun: "The city is just being willfully obtuse. … They're betting that if they cut down half of the trees, we'll just go away. It's pretty evil. And what they've done to this community, it's pretty evil."

City Comptroller Scott Stringer is also questioning the city's actions right now.

I sent the East River Park contract back due to serious unresolved issues, yet the City moved ahead. I'm still concerned that the community isn't being heard, and actions like today's don't help.
⁰https://t.co/b7Jwn3Nsi9

— Scott M. Stringer (@NYCComptroller) December 10, 2021

East River Park north of Houston Street remains open.

Top photo by @1000people1000trees

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Witnesses: City continues to cut down trees this morning in East River Park 

• Report: City continues cutting down trees in East River Park despite Temporary Restraining Order

Reminders: The Tompkins Square Park tree lighting is TODAY

ICYMI: The tree lighting takes place today (Sunday!) in Tompkins Square Park from 4-5 p.m. Entertainment in that hour includes the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and music from the Mandel & Lydon Trio ... with refreshments via Veselka and C&B.

2022 Mulchfest signs arrive before some people have even bought trees

It's never too early to think about tossing your Christmas tree — possibly even before you buy (or find) one. 

Signage is up now outside Tompkins Square Park for the two-day event set for Jan.8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As always, Tompkins is also a chipping site, which means residents can take home a bag of fresh mulch for gardens, tree beds and stir fries.

Before dropping off your tree, please remember to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and stands. Perhaps to save time, don't bother putting anything on the tree this year.

Saturday's parting shot

A familiar holiday scene on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

East Village businesses focus of this 'Neighborhoods of New York' episode

Producer Alan Goldsher has teamed up with the East Village Independent Merchants Association to help small businesses "spread the word to shop local" in a 30-minute "Neighborhoods of New York" feature on ABC's Localish tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 12) morning at 8:30.

The episode, hosted by Cristina Cote, features Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, Rivington Guitars, Elisa's Love Bites, East Village Vintage Collective, Random Accessories, J. Antonio Gallery, Studio duArte and La Sirena Mexican Folk Art. 

You can find Localish on Optimum Cable Channel 110, Verizon Channel 467 and Spectrum channel 1240.

Find more details here.

Image courtesy of Alan Goldsher

Witnesses: City continues to cut down trees this morning in East River Park

Witnesses say that city-contracted workers are back in East River Park this morning cutting down trees — despite the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that Rowan D. Wilson, Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, issued on Wednesday. 

In addition, according to activists who have been speaking out against the city's current plan to floodproof the park, the Department of Design and Construction is showing documents that day the TRO has been lifted. The paper is not valid, activists say...

The TRO is to remain in effect until the next hearing on Dec. 20. A copy of the court order follows...

East River Park Action released this statement this morning: 

Capt. Luis E. Barcia, Commander of the 7th Precinct was on-site where construction workers entered at 6:30 this morning. Park Activist Tommy Loeb said that Barcia acknowledged that he has a copy of the court order that should stay the work. It's from the Appeals Court, the highest court in the state. 

However, according to Loeb, "He has been told by higher ups that he's supposed to let the construction workers in.” Protesters have been unable to stop the work. Harriet Hirshorn and Alice O'Malley were arrested yesterday trying to deliver the Temporary Restraining Order to supervisors of the demolition inside the construction fence. 

Attorney Kathryn Freed said that the document the police were using to allow the demolition to proceed was "an internal memo" from the Department of Design and Construction. "They're taking that as more important as the highest court in the state." 

Activists, who have been protesting as work proceeds, say that the city is trying to demolish as much as they can before Monday, when the Court of Appeals will act on the contempt citation East River Park Action attorneys sent to Albany.

From NY1's coverage from yesterday:

In a statement, the city said that the order from appeals court Judge Rowan D. Wilson on Wednesday did not amount to an order to halt work at the park pending a final ruling. 

"The City has reviewed the Court's written order and we do not believe it prevents us from continuing work on this vital resiliency project," Ian Michaels, the head of public information for the Department of Design and Construction, which is overseeing the project, said.

You can read find more coverage at The Village Sun and CBS 2. 

Activists scheduled a press conference today at 1 p.m. at the Houston Street entrance to the park.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared this photo from yesterday... where there was an active construction site.

With the TRO in place, activists say that workers cut trees from Houston Street to the tennis courts just north of Delancey. Workers also ripped up the soccer field south of the Williamsburg Bridge and the seal park across from Grand Street. 

Read our previous posts for more background on the ESCR and the opposition and controversy over the city's current plan.

East River Park Action and other activists say they will continue to fight for alternatives to preserve much of the park and provide interim flood control.

Top photo by @1000people1000trees

Friday's parting shot

Photo on Seventh Street this evening by Derek Berg...

Report: City continues cutting down trees in East River Park despite Temporary Restraining Order

On Wednesday, Court of Appeals Judge Rowan Wilson issued a new Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), halting construction underway in East River Park as part of the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project.

According to East River Park Action, who has been opposed to the city's current plan for the park, the TRO remains in effect at least until the next hearing on Dec. 20. 

However, despite the TRO, activists at the construction site just south of Houston Street report that city-contracted workers continue to cut down trees today. (There are also reports from people at the scene that police have arrested several of the activists.)

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Top photo by @jeremoss

A rally for Casa Adela

Tomorrow morning from 10 to noon, supporters of Casa Adela are holding a "fair lease" rally for the longtime restaurant here at 66 Avenue C between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

As previously reported, the building's landlord — a Housing Development Fund Corporation — is looking to increase the rent from $1,350 to, eventually, $6,750, a number that the current owner Luis Rivera, the son of founder Adela Fargas, says is not feasible.

Rent negotiations are underway, though the two sides haven't reached an agreement, said Frank Gonzalez of Loisaida Realty, who helped organize the Save Casa Adela Committee.

Adela Fargas started serving her Puerto Rican cuisine here in 1976. She died in January 2018 at age 81.

Image via @loisaidarealty

Previously on EV Grieve:

Rent hike threatens Avenue C mainstay Casa Adela

A visit to the new East Side Ink on the Lower East Side

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

We last checked in with East Side Ink’s attitude-free tattoo, laser and microblading shop on Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street during the pandemic’s third-stage PAUSE order from then-Gov. Cuomo. 

The shop recently moved to a spacious yet cozy second-floor loft at 88 Rivington St. between Orchard and Ludlow. 

I dropped by to talk with owners Jen Terban-Hertell and Josh Lord (the third partner, “shop mom” Yadira Mendez-Firvida, was off at the time of my visit) about the move, their new location and the shop’s history in the neighborhood. Josh was busy inking, so Jen answered my questions.

Why did you leave Avenue B for Rivington Street?

Everybody knows the pandemic year was a struggle for most businesses. We were sad to see so many closed.

However, because of our amazing artists and clients, we survived. We learned a lot about what our clients and artists want for the future of tattooing. So, we created a space that was private and warm yet open and inviting. We were all separated for so long that we just wanted to be together again. Safely. We wanted a studio that worked better for the artists and their needs. A studio that supports the artistic growth and privacy of our clients. We wanted a studio that was for us, our little artist family.

You mentioned this is your fifth location (since inception) in the neighborhood. Why is the East Village/Lower East Side area vital to you?

Well, besides being respectful of our original name…the East Village/Lower East Side has nurtured art, diversity and culture. Growing up in NYC, I remember being genuinely inspired by the scene in the East Village and Lower East Side. The art, music and fashion you could find on most blocks in the East Village were like nowhere else in the world. East Side Ink has been a part of that culture since the 1990s. 

Even if the rents get high and the landlords don’t respect the neighborhood’s culture, it will always be our home, and we will prevail.

Were all your artists able to make the move with you to the Rivington Street shop?

Yes! And both the artists and clients have expressed how happy they are in the new studio, and they even say they like it better. It was difficult to physically and mentally move, so we couldn’t be happier with everyone’s reaction and support. It was important that the artists feel at home at the shop. We considered every detail to make a space our artists would be inspired to create in. We want to support them as best we can to give each client and tattoo the attention it deserves.

How is the new space different from previous ones, and has the clientele changed?

Our clientele has always been diverse, from Oscar-winning celebrities to locals on the block. Unlike our previous locations, our new studio provides a sense of inclusion and warmth. A professional coziness. I could describe the artwork and the wood floors and the lighting, but really, it’s a vibe. 

What can we expect from East Side Ink going forward?

You can expect us to grow old! We are not going anywhere. We have always been ahead of our time in the tattoo industry, leading the way with how a shop looks and feels. We are a close-knit little artist family. We’ve been through 9/11, hurricanes, flooding, blackouts and pandemic. We prevailed! 

Over the last few years, we’ve grown, we’ve gotten married, we had babies, we’ve broken up, moved on, and moved up! You can expect to see us for a long time. Come visit: bring your dogs and your kids. We have made it this far because we have always had the support of our artists, clients and neighbors.  

You can keep tabs on the shop on Instagram here.

Here are the proposed locations for new Citi Bike docking stations in the East Village

Admittedly overdue on a follow-up on this story... last month, DOT reps provided Community Board 3's Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment Committee an update about Citi Bike's expansion in the East Village and Lower East Side. 

That presentation is online now right here. (The DOT is making presentations to other Community Boards this month, and find all that via this link.)

According to the presentation, "demand shows 1,804 docks [are] still needed in CB3." For now, though, the proposal calls for an installation of 683 docks ... with more capacity coming by extending existing stations.

The maps below (click on the images for more detail) show where the infill is slated. The green dots are extensions at existing stations (the only EV extension on the map is at 13th Street and Avenue A) ... while the red circles denote new stations (11 in total, with an "equipment swap" on 10th Street between A and B) ... 

A study by the DOT and Citi Bike found that the ride-sharing service was falling behind in keeping up with the cycling demand of New Yorkers.

As Streetsblog reported on Nov. 2:

Citi Bike announced that it needs the DOT to provide it with sites for an immediate Lyft-funded infusion of docks and bikes because the system is under "added stress [in] its original service area, which serves a disproportionate number of the total rides."

In other words, too many people are either showing up at docks that are empty or trying to return bikes to full racks. Even as it is breaking its own records, Citi Bike estimates that it lost 4 million rides in 2021 because customers are getting frustrated. The company cited the ridership increases as well as "unpredictable commuting patterns as a result of the pandemic.

"An unbalanced system results in riders finding empty or full docks during periods of peak demand," a problem that cannot be totally mitigated through rebalancing or Bike Angels, the company said.

Stories of Citi Bikers wandering around for 30 minutes looking for an open dock — or just a bike — in the evening have become common in recent months. (East Village resident and cycling advocate Sophie Maerowitz wrote an op-ed on the topic for amNY on Nov. 15.) 

The Times checked in with an article on the topic as well the other day, reporting that through Nov. 17, Citi Bike had recorded 25.2 million rides in 2021, 4 million more than in all of 2019. (Citi Bike debuted here in 2013.) 

But!

[A]s the city has sought to accommodate the surge in both bike-share use and overall cycling by adding hundreds of miles of bike lanes, it has provoked a backlash from drivers and some elected officials who complain that parking and driving are now more difficult.

No word on when the infill might happen within the confines of Community Board 3. The DOT and Citi Bike said they plan to add 8,000 more docks and 4,000 more bikes by the end of 2022, mostly in Manhattan.  

Wednesday's parting shots

The holiday MUD Coffee wreath at Mudspot on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ...

Photos by Steven...

Noted

A dead rat sculpture on Avenue A near Ninth Street... artist unknown at the moment. 

Pic by Derek Berg.

Judge issues new Temporary Restraining Order to stop work in East River Park

Today, Court of Appeals Judge Rowan Wilson has issued a new Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), halting construction underway in East River Park as part of the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project. 

According to East River Park Action, who has been opposed to the city's current plan for the park, the TRO remains in effect at least until the next hearing on Dec. 20. 

Arthur Schwartz, an attorney for the activists, told the Post: "We will be asking for all fences to come down and for the bike path and park south of Houston Street to be reopened [as soon as possible.]" (NY1 has more here.)

This is the second TRO advocates have been granted since the start of the demolition work on Nov. 1. (Last week, the Appellate Division lifted the TRO that had been in place starting on Nov. 2.)

As previously reported, the community lawsuit is challenging the project because it still needs an "alienation" vote by the state Legislature. 

On Monday, workers fenced off East River Park south of Stanton Street. An estimated 13 trees were removed yesterday, witnesses said.

East River Park Action and other activists have said some alternatives could preserve much of the park and protect the Lower East Side and surrounding neighborhoods from a 100-year-flood event and sea-level rise — one that doesn't cause 1,000 mature trees to be chopped down.

In late 2018, the city surprised community stakeholders by announcing a complete overhaul of a plan discussed over four years of local meetings. As Gothamist reported: "City officials cited fears about maintaining a floodable green space, as well the disruption to motorists on the F.D.R. Drive and potential dangers to Con Ed's power lines under the previous proposal."

The current plans call for gutting East River Park — burying the existing 57.5-acre park under fill and elevating it by 8-to-10 feet above sea level.

Meanwhile, still pending: A nonprofit sued the city for allegedly not including enough minority- and women-owned businesses in the construction contract for the ESCR.

A third lawsuit (dating to the spring) was brought against the city by The Tully Group, a large contractor that issued one of the two bids for the ESCR. 

Photo yesterday by Allie Ryan

[UPDATED] Details on the Community Holiday Feast in Tompkins Square Park this Dec. 18

Updated: With the threat of rain on Dec. 18, the Feast will now take place on Dec. 19. Same time and place.

On Dec. 18, a group of East Village residents, including author Jeremiah Moss and EVG contributor Stacie Joy, is hosting a Community Holiday Feast in Tompkins Square Park. 

From 2-4 p.m., volunteers will be serving free hot meals provided by East Village businesses and residents. 

Organizers are currently looking for volunteers and welcome additional food and other donations. Interested residents and merchants can use this email to contact the group.

The following businesses have volunteered food and other products for the event: the Bean, C&B Cafe, East Village Vintage Collective, Food for Life, Mary O's, Rossy's Bakery & Café, San Loco, S'MAC and Subject NYC. The local volunteer group East Village Loves NYC will also donate. 

Meanwhile, individual donors include Chris Flash, Scooter La Forge, Marjorie Ingall and Jonathan Steuer. 

In case of rain or, lordy, snow, the event will occur on Dec. 19.

Long & Short Barber Co. cuts out of 250 E. Houston St.

Long & Short Barber Co. has closed its outpost at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

EVG regular Salim shared the photos here ... including one of a goodbye note for patrons... Long & Short will continue with its shop in Brooklyn and the new location at Columbus Circle...

This is just the latest retail change along this strip, though this one may not have anything to do with the future development on this block.

Businesses in the storefronts just to the east of this — in the unrenovated portion — have all vacated, a list that includes Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway (sandwich shop) and China Town. Workers boarded up the unrenovated section last month ahead of its demolition for an unspecified new development.

You can read our previous posts (all 34,567) on the topic right here. 

BikeFix NYC relocates to a larger storefront on 6th Street

A quick bit of retail news... BikeFix NYC is now open in its new larger location at 334 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

They relocated here from the small storefront at 150 E. Second Street just east of Avenue A... (and at 56 Avenue C before this).

Bike Fix has posted hours of 12:30-6:30 p.m. You can check out their website for products and services.

Tuesday's parting shot

As the city's East Side Coastal Resiliency Project moves forward, workers began cutting down trees in East River Park south of Stanton Street today. 

This small grove of cherry trees was the first to go. 

Photo via @1000people1000trees. (Follow that account and @eastriverparkaction for ongoing updates throughout the day from East River Park.) 

In total, the city plans to cut down 1,000 trees during the five-plus year rebuild of the park.

The pandemic in the East Village as seen through the eyes of Billy the Artist

Photo by Stacie Joy

Billy the Artist has unveiled his latest book — "East Village Closed."

The book, a year in the making, is "a photo illustrative experience of life in the East Village during the pandemic," as seen through the eyes of the longtime neighborhood resident.

This past Saturday, he signed copies at one of his favorite local haunts — the International on First Avenue. 

You can read more about the 86-page book as well as find ordering info via this link.

SantaCon announces 2021 route; East Village in the crosshairs once again

After a year off with the pandemic in 2020, SantaCon returns for in-person binging and bar crawling at the expense of the rest of the city this Saturday. (First reported here.) 

Yesterday, SantaCon organizers unveiled the 2021 route, which starts at 10 a.m. at 40th and Broadway. Per the SantaCon website: "We will be dancing in the streets and will unleash a holiday celebration NYC has never imagined possible!" 

A $13 donation gets your Santa Badge and access to participating bars, mainly in Midtown West and East. Six of the bars are in the East Village: The Grayson, 16 First Ave., Amsterdam Billiards & Bar, 110 E. 11th St., Doc Holliday's, 141 Avenue A, Horseshoe Bar/7B, 108 Avenue B, the Phoenix, 447 E. 13th St., and Solas, 232 E. Ninth St. 

However, as we've seen in previous Cons, bars not on the official list are often all too happy to participate, including the 13th Step.  (The SantaCon website states that participants must have proof of COVID vaccination.)

Meanwhile, ahead of the 2021 bar list, someone launched a Cancel SantaCon petition...

Per the petition: 

SantaCon is the worst day of the year in New York City. Each year thousands of belligerent drunk people in Santa costumes flood New York City streets, leaving behind a trail of fistfights, vomit, urine and garbage. John Oliver did a segment on the event which highlighted the faux-charitable nature of the pub crawl. He stated that each SantaCon participant only raises $1.66 for charity, which is hardly enough to excuse the violent and inappropriate behavior. The evidence is crystal clear: Santacon does more bad than good. 

This year New York City residents have had enough! We are calling for Mayor Bill de Blasio to show leadership and order the cancelation of Santacon. We believe that this is an issue that unites New Yorkers of all races, religions, and political beliefs. 

Please sign this petition so we can end SantaCon in New York City once and for all. 

You can find the petition here. 

And the petition garnered some support via Twitter...

Dare I say that I’m aligned? https://t.co/u7cybp4GDL pic.twitter.com/x9Twdjp67x

— Gossip Girl (@gossipgirl) December 5, 2021

Oh, and here's the John Oliver segment from December 2019 mentioned in the petition ...

 

Original Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches closes in 2nd Avenue A location this year

The Original Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches outpost has closed at 216 Avenue A (the storefront on the right in the pic) between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

The shutter comes nearly seven months after the quick-serve restaurant moved into the space from the SW corner of Avenue A and 13th Street. We didn't hear any reasons for the departure, or whether Nicky's might turn up in another storefront sometime soon.

Nicky's, related to the one that had been on Second Street several years earlier, opened on Avenue A in March 2019.

Thank you to the readers who mentioned this!

Sinkhole claims tree on 6th Street

The sidewalk- and tree pit-eating hole outside 338 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue has apparently claimed a victim — the small tree that was in the pit.

Several EVG readers have noted this latest development here in recent days... 

It's not known if, perhaps, workers removed the tree ahead of repair work ... or someone else decided to cut it down.

As we've noted four times previously: The sinkhole formed during the drenching rains from Tropical Storm Ida on Sept. 1.

Since then, a makeshift barrier including parts of Awash's outdoor dining space and other found objects have been guarding/blocking the sidewalk. Pedestrians must walk on Sixth Street on the south side of the street to bypass the sinkhole.

Several residents have told us that they have contacted 311, Community Board 3, Councilmember Carlina Rivera's office, the DOT, the 9th Precinct, etc., to report the sinkhole — and the swastikas someone added to the barrier a few weeks back.