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YOUR WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CHELSEA, HUDSON YARDS & HELL’S KITCHEN

Community Profile Cites Health Habits, Challenges BY SEAN EGAN People often say their neighborhood is teeming with life — an axiom that feels particularly true in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. And like any living thing, a regular checkup is required to see how well everything is running along, and what might need work. A new report issued by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) serves just that function — taking Continued on page 2

Community Council Cites Spikes, Good and Bad BY LUCAS ROPEK A spike in numbers is usually cause for concern for the 10th Precinct Community Council — whose meetings, held on the last Wed. of the month, are an occasion to hear about the month-to-month difference in crimes such as larceny and assault. The Jan. 28 gathering, however, had good numerical news to report: a packed house (the last meeting drew only three local residents), and the addition of seven new faces. The 10th Precinct’s Commanding Officer, Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry, kicked off the first Community Council meeting of the Continued on page 4

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Our homespun pundit, Max Burbank, does a postmortem on Iowa, as the race picks up steam and the herd thins. See page 10.

Photo by Travis Stewart

Members of the newly formed Friends of Hudson River Park Playground Committee at their Jan. 29 event, which kicked off efforts to raise funds for the redesign and renovation of Chelsea Waterside Play Area.

Determined Park Playground Committee Not Kidding Around BY TRAVIS STEWART On Fri., Jan. 29, the Friends of Hudson River Park inaugurated its new Friends of Hudson River Park Playground Committee with a gala luncheon at Pier 59 in Chelsea. Nearly 200 people attended the event, which was promoted as a benefit for the park’s maintenance, beautification, and operational needs. The program was launched with a video presentation from style maven Martha Stewart, who had been the announced keynote speaker, but was forced to cancel at the last minute for work-related reasons. As an active member of the Friends of Hudson River Park, Stewart spoke about her longtime involvement with the park and the frequent use of its playgrounds by her two young grandchildren, Jude and Truman. She celebrated the fact that, thanks to the Friends, the “rotten old piers and warehouses” which used to dominate the West Side waterfront had been replaced by a “Verdant Belt.” Next, Gregory Boroff, Executive Director of the Friends

of Hudson River Park, spoke about the founding of the new Playground Committee, calling it “a game changer.” He handed the podium over to the Committee’s president Catherine Juracich, a self-described “active park user and playground devotee.” Juracich talked about her three children and how, as parent with Southern origins, she originally found the prospect of raising children in an urban environment “daunting.” She spoke of hoping to “build a community of moms and dads and kids of all ages, from different schools, all working together to create more green spaces.” Greg Wasserman, chairman of the capital campaign for Chelsea Waterside Play Area, spoke of the committee’s goal of raising $1.5 million to renovate the playground. Located at W. 23rd St. and 11th Ave., the Chelsea Waterside Play Area opened in 2000. In the 15 years since, there has been wear and tear, and concerned parents and activists have

Continued on page 5 VOLUME 08, ISSUE 05 | FEBRUARY 04 - 10, 2016

Profile Places Us First, in Exercise and HIV Diagnosis Continued from page 1

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

The cover to the Clinton and Chelsea’s Community Health Profile, showing the boundaries of the district.

stock of Clinton (Hell’s Kitchen) and Chelsea, aka Community District 4, within the boundaries of W. 14th and W. 59th Sts., west of Eighth Ave., as well as W. 14th to W. 26th St., btw. Sixth and Eighth Aves. Using information from a wide variety of recent city and state surveys, the department has compiled a comprehensive statistical guide to the neighborhood. In many ways, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen are doing just fine — indeed, better than most of Manhattan, as well as New York City as a whole. In fact, the district is able to lay claim to being number one in one field: exercise. A whopping 90% of residents report that they have engaged in some kind of physical activity during the past 30 days. That figure is 6% higher than Manhattan’s average, and a full 13% higher than NYC, making Chelsea/Hell’s Kitchen the best district citywide in this category. It naturally follows then that the district ranked similarly well in other health and fitness related categories. In both obesity and diabetes rates, Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea ranked 55th (out of 59 districts) in the city, with 10% and 4%, respectively. Rates of smokers and consumption of sugary drinks are also comparably low, while the area ranks seventh in consuming

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at least one serving of fruits and veggies a day. With this clear focus on remaining active and healthy, there should be no surprise that district residents have a healthy average life expectancy of 82 years. In addition, the district ranks relatively low in terms of elementary school absenteeism, as well as teen pregnancies (41st and 46th, respectively). Rates of incarceration are also significantly lower than both Manhattan and the citywide rates. The area ranks similarly well in unemployment, poverty and rent-burden, in which it falls in the bottom third of districts. The news is not all good, however. The report makes clear that Chelsea/Hell’s Kitchen has some serious and unique issues that must be faced in order to improve public health. In the category of new HIV diagnoses, Chelsea/Hell’s Kitchen ranks number one citywide, with 116.8 new diagnoses for every 100,000 population. This figure, staggeringly, is nearly four times the city rate for new diagnoses. In another interesting wrinkle, 66% of adults in the district have ever been tested for HIV, which at 23rd in the city, is far from the worst — but worryingly low considering the amount of new diagnoses. Furthermore, Chelsea/Hell’s Kitchen’s incidents of alcohol related hospital-

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Magnificent Seven: 10th Precinct Introduces New Officers Continued from page 1 year by acknowledging the robust attendance. “We haven’t seen you guys since 2015, so it’s great to see so many people,” Irizarry said, thanking the crowd for braving the cold and “dodging snow piles” to attend the meeting. After being introduced by Council President Larry O’Neill, Irizarry began by acquainting residents with some new faces. “I want to introduce you to these fine gentlemen,” she said, referring to seven graduates of the NYPD’s Police Academy who recently joined the 10th Precinct’s ranks — six of whom were present at the meeting. “They are going to help us continue our work to keep Chelsea residents safe and their businesses secure,” Irizarry said, as the new officers stood for a round of applause. In addition to the rookies, it was announced that a number of newly assigned foot patrols are to be set up along Eighth Ave. and W. 23rd St. This heightened police presence is meant to keep traffic moving smoothly, as well as to maintain the level of neighborhood safety that the police force prides itself on. “With our new officers, and with these guys on foot patrols, I think we have an opportunity to put more of a show out for you guys,” Irizarry said, implying that the new forces would clamp down on traffic and pedestrian violations on Eighth Ave. Next came an overview of crime statistics. Chelsea is currently experiencing an 11.6% decrease in crime over a 28-day period, though it was announced that the year-to-date statistics showed a 14% increase for the overall year. This crime spike has not gone unnoticed. Several neighborhood residents in attendance expressed concern about the surge of slashings that have taken place recently. One local referenced the case

Photos by Lucas Ropek

L to R, recent Police Academy graduates assigned to the 10th Precinct: Police Officers Giordano, Horner, Caulfield, Osofsky, Palermo and Williams (not pictured, Officer Fahrbach).

of Carmen Rivera, a 71-year-old grandmother from Brooklyn who was slashed in the face while riding the subway last week by a man wielding a razor. Though locals were concerned that the stabbings were perhaps coordinated, or even gang-related, Irizarry assured them these incidents were not the result of an organized effort. “It appears to be the work of unrelated, mentally disturbed individuals,” she said, noting that several of the culprits had been apprehended — including Bronx resident Kari Bazemore, 41, who attacked a 24-yearold woman in the early morning of Wed., Jan. 6, as she walked on W. 23rd St. near Seventh Ave. All of these perpetrators are “emotionally disturbed” people who, due to “frustration, or drug abuse, or whatever it is,” have targeted complete strangers, Irizarry reiterated. When asked what residents could do to defend against future attacks, one officer recommended “self awareness” as an

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antidote. “People have gotten into the bad habit of staring down at their cell phones while walking in the street, completely oblivious to their surroundings,” the officer said. “There are simply not enough officers to put on every street corner to cover all of the random acts of violence that occur out of nowhere,” he continued. “Be self aware. If something doesn’t look right, do not hesitate to call 911.” Besides safety concerns, traffic and parking disputes were the most recurrent issues at the meeting. Stanley Bulbach, president of the West 15th Street 100 and 200 Block Association, brought up a detour on 17th St. that has repeatedly caused traffic congestion for W. 15th St. The detour is the result of an Oct. 20 fire that decimated The Dorian, a W. 17th St. building slated to be transformed into a 10-story condominium complex. The necessary renovations to the building have since caused the adjacent street to be repeatedly closed. In an interview with Chelsea Now directly following the Council meeting, Bulbach asserted that the Department of Transportation has repeatedly ignored his Block Association’s pleas to negotiate a more manageable detour. Irizarry asserted she would do her best to reach out to the right people and mitigate the conflict. Finally, it was announced that the new year would see the opening of two largescale establishments in Chelsea: Flash Factory, a music venue owned by nightclub mogul Michael Satsky (229 W. 28th St., btw. Seventh & Eight Aves.), and the yet-unopened La Sirena, owned by famous chef Mario Batali (in the Maritime Hotel; 363 W. 16th St., btw. Eighth &

Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry, Commanding Officer of the 10th Precinct, assured residents that the surge of slashings and knife attacks were not coordinated efforts.

Ninth Aves.). Both are expected to bring an influx of nightlife traffic to the area, and Irizarry assured residents that police personnel would be working to ensure the new businesses obey standard noise and parking guidelines. The 10th Precinct is located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.). Follow on Twitter: @ NYPD10Pct. Main number: 212-7418211. Community Affairs: 212-7418226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212-741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-741-8210. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meeting, open to the public, takes place at 7 p.m. on the last Wed. of the month. The next meeting is Feb. 24. .com

Game Changer: New ‘Friends’ to Improve Hudson River Park Play Area Continued from page 1 reported a variety of aesthetic and safety-related concerns — including drainage problems, degraded safety surfaces, sharp edges on playground equipment and several non-functioning park features. Wasserman, an area resident whose two toddlers make frequent use of the park, mentioned his and the committee’s efforts to get community input into the park’s redesign, which included a charrette at the Hudson Guild earlier in the week. The committee’s plan is to raise money through fall of this year, when work on the park will begin with the goal of finishing work in time to re-open by spring 2017. He announced that a little over $1 million had already been raised. By the end of the event, a silent auction sponsored by Sotheby’s International Realty brought in an additional $50,000 for the project (high-bid items included a Pier 62 Carousel creation, a one-on-one cooking lesson with Chef Scott Conant, and a private dinner event at The Little Owl, a popular Mediterranean restaurant in the West Village). Wasserman then introduced City

Photo by Travis Stewart

Photo by Katie Lyman

Greg Wasserman, chairman of the capital campaign for Chelsea Waterside Play Area, spoke of the committee’s goal of raising $1.5 million to renovate the playground.

L to R: Councilmember Corey Johnson, Hudson River Park Trust CEO & President Madelyn Wils, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.

Councilmember Corey Johnson of District 3, who announced that $820,000 in city capital funds make up a portion of the amount already in place. “The Chelsea Waterside Play Area is a remarkable gathering spot for our neighborhood families,” said Johnson. “I look forward to working with the community and Friends of Hudson River Park to make it even better. I can’t wait to see the faces of

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HARASSMENT: Canned bads At about 2:15 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 28, a man entered a Duane Reade (315 W. 23rd St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.), and “started to go irate,” according to a police report, behaving in a disturbing way towards the 36-year-old woman behind the cash register. He then began to throw cans of food at her. Thankfully, she did not sustain any injuries from the airtight assault, but the perp got away.

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The NYPD is rarely so lucky as to have criminals delivered with a bow directly to their door — but that’s exactly what happened at 4:25 a.m. on Fri., Jan. 29. The criminal in question was a 29-year-old man, and his un-amused escort was a 59-year-old cabbie, who had driven him all the way from Astoria to his W. 41st St. residence. When the passenger refused

THE 10th PRECINCT Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.). Commander: Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-924-3377. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meets on the last Wed. of the month, 7 p.m., at the 10th Precinct or other locations to be announced. The next meeting is Feb 24.

to pay his $91.80 tab, the driver simply rounded the corner to bring him to his neighbors at the NYPD Manhattan South Task Force (524 W. 42nd St., btw. 10th & 11th Aves.). There, an officer attempted to make the belligerent passenger pay his fare, which he again refused to do, and then attempted to close the door on the officer. This method of defense went over just about as poorly as one might imagine, and he was promptly arrested.

PETIT LARCENY: Rite Aid Red Bull rip-off Preparing for a monster all-nighter (or labeling for individual resale) seems to be the only logical modus operandi for one bold Rite Aid thief. The perp entered the location (188 Ninth Ave., at W. 22nd St.) at about 2 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 29, and filled up a grocery bag with 39 single cans of Red Bull ($93), and an additional quartet of Red Bull four-packs ($34), then walked out without paying. In a spot of bad luck for the caffeine fiend, video evidence of the heist is available from the store upon request.

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: Weed at the wheel

At about 4:50 a.m. on Sun., Jan. 31, at the northeast corner of 11th Ave. & W. 35th St., an officer in a marked NYPD traffic car observed a gray Volvo driving the wrong way down 11th Ave. and attempted to stop it — but the driver just kept going. By the time the officer was able to get the car to stop, the reason for the driver’s traffic inobservance became clear. In addition to three passengers, Mary Jane was keeping him company, in the form of a large sandwich bag by his feet and an envelope in the door handle, both in plain view of the officer. An additional glass pipe with marijuana residue was found in the pant leg of the 25-year-old Suffolk County man when he was arrested.

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The Good, Bad and Unexpected of Area Health Continued from page 2 izations and drug related hospitalizations land the area in the top third of districts in both categories — 16th and 19th respectively, higher than both the borough and city averages. In addition, in psychiatric hospitalizations Chelsea/ Hell’s Kitchen ranks 12th citywide, and with 989 instances, is 234 cases higher than the Manhattan average. One of the more unexpected revelations is that the district has the third highest air pollution rate in the city. The report goes on to explain that Chelsea/Hell’s Kitchen has an average of 11.4 micrograms per cubic meter of a pollutant known as PM2.5. Described in the report as “the most harmful air pollutant,” PM2.5 are fine particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, which can lodge themselves easily in one’s lungs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), common sources of said particles are any combustion reactions — a possible source of which may be the traffic that comes in through the Lincoln Tunnel and Port

Authority. Both the EPA and the survey note and that the very young and the elderly are most at risk of suffering due to PM2.5, as well as adults with pre-existing conditions. While certain issues, such as air pollution, might seem to be out of one’s control on an individual level, the idea behind the report is to bring these larger scale issues and trends to the attention of the general public — with an emphasis on bringing about improvement and change. “Reducing health inequities requires policymakers, health professionals, researchers and community groups to advocate and work together for systemic change,” wrote Dr. Mary Basset, Commissioner of the NYC DOHMH, in the preface to the report. “Our hope is that you will use the data and information in these Community Health Profiles to advocate for your neighborhoods.” Councilmember Corey Johnson acknowledged the welcome news from the report, but also cited its “troubling statistics.” In a Jan. 29 email to Chelsea Now, Johnson called Chelsea’s “stubbornly high” HIV infection rates “unacceptable in 2016,” and called

for an influx of necessary resources to the neighborhood, in line with New York City and New York State’s vow to end AIDS in New York by 2020. The asthma rates cited by the report, Johnson said, “highlight the need to reduce the number of buses, trucks and cars on the West Side. These statistics should be taken into account when decision makers are considering transportation and infrastructure improvements. I look forward to working with Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett and her team toward making concrete public health improvements in Council District 3.” All things considered, life is going pretty well for residents — at least by their own assessments. In one of the report’s most direct and telling inquiries, 84% of residents claimed their health was “good,” “very good” or “excellent” — a figure that’s a bit higher than both Manhattan and the city’s average. There may be room for improvement, but most are satisfied with themselves, and their neighborhood. For a more detailed discussion of the report, attend Community Board 4’s

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This chart shows how Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen match up to the rest of the city, in terms of general health categories like exercise and eating habits.

Housing, Health and Human Services Committee meeting on Thurs., Feb. 18 at 475 W. 57th St. (2nd Floor, at 10th Ave.), where a discussion of the report, with reps from DOHMH on hand, is scheduled for the agenda. To access the report, visit http://www1.nyc.gov/ site/doh/data/data-publications/profiles.page. Select “Manhattan,” then “Chelsea and Clinton.”

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Rhymes With Crazy THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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Jennifer Goodstein

True Tales of Slow Lane Insanity

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BY LENORE SKENAZY In New York, our lives overlap on many fronts. Your car alarm goes off, your street wakes up. You overcook your fish, your neighbors gag. You hold the subway door open, you have saved the guy behind you’s job. We are densely, intensely interconnected, but no place more so than on the sidewalk. And no time more so than after a snowstorm. As I waited my turn to traipse single-file through the Kilimanjaro of snow at my corner last week, my teeth gritted in fury even as I attempted a cheery, “We’re all in this together!” grin. (Hard on the jaw.) The truth is, we are all in this together, but our sidewalks are like L.A.’s freeways: A place we’d all love to gun past absolutely everyone else, if only we could. “I hate slow people,” says substitute teacher Elizabeth Atkinson Cuccia. Her strategy for avoiding them is the same used by NASCAR drivers. “My eyes are always scanning for a potential opening so I can scoot around them. I’m good at finding holes that I can worm my way through.” It’s not that Cuccia, of College Point, feels no empathy for the slow. Her mother uses a walker and she herself broke her foot a few years back, hobbling so pitifully that strangers stopped to offer her a ride. (See? We

may be impatient but we’re not heartless. We’re scary people who offer rides to strangers who can’t run away once we start driving them to the Jamaica Wildlife Refuge.) Now, however, Cuccia is back to fighting trim, and when those in front of her are busy gaping at tall buildings, or wearing headphones, ambling in time with Adele, her sympathy gets displaced — as do those slow pedestrians. Whoosh! She’s on her way. Then, unable to stop herself, she turns around to see just how far behind they are. I’ve done that too. We all have our favorite techniques for passing the pokeys. “On the street, I usually walk along the curb to go around the slow people. Or I huff and squeeze past them, sometimes with a little extra shoulder check action,” says Kate Schliebin, a Brooklyn mom not to be messed with. “There are times when I will sneeze a big sneeze so they get grossed out and move out of the way,” reports resourceful Freddy S. Zalta, an author. Another guy I know walks as loudly as possible. Me? I whistle, aggressively. It’s part of that “cheerful” thing again — “We’re all in this together! (But you are in the way.)” About five years ago the group Improv Everywhere went down to the Flatiron District and painted a line down the middle of the sidewalk. They labeled one lane, “Tourists” and the other “New Yorkers.” Then, wearing official-looking vests, they queried pedestrians, “Are you a tourist or New Yorker?” directing the amazingly compliant folks to the right lane or left. “Excuse me, m’am,” one of the actors said (you can watch it on YouTube. Look for “Tourist Lane”), “are you just going to stand there? Stand in the tourist lane.

That’s for slow people.” A woman directed to the fast lane said, “As a New Yorker, I appreciate this!” The Improv folks told her to thank the mayor — Bloomberg at the time, who later declared the project “a nice thing to do.” (Does he count as a New Yorker, considering he’s from Boston?) Another Improv Everywhere participant held a clipboard as she explained to passersby, deadpan, that, “There are a lot of pedestrian accidents between New Yorkers and tourists.” This lane initiative, she said, was just one possible way to keep everyone a little safer. The lanes remained on the sidewalk for four days before they were removed. One wiseacre on the group’s website suggested that next time, they should create a smartphone lane to make for a “safe, obstacle-less, continuous walk.” But I guess it’s no surprise that the Improv folks had already tackled that problem: In another project, they provided “Seeing Eye People” to help people text-and-walk safely. Improv participants in bright orange vests cleared the way as people holding on with leashes followed behind them, texting. “Watch out! Texter coming through!” the guide-people shouted. It’s all really funny — except when I’m texting. Or gawking, or gaping, or totally confused as to where I’m going or where I’ve gotten out of the subway. Then I’m the speed bump and you’re the New Yorker who can’t give me one single second to get my bearings. And I go home and overcook my fish.

Lenore Skenazy is a keynote speaker who authored the book, and founded the blog, Free-Range Kids (freerangekids.com).

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February 04 - 10, 2016

Our self-taught political pundit’s election coverage continues. Turn to page 10! .com

Sidewalk Labs Moving Up, to 10 Hudson Yards BY YANNIC RACK The man who gave Hudson Yards its name is moving his own company into the new West Side neighborhood. Last week, the developers of the eponymous endeavor announced that Daniel Doctoroff, who served as deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding under former mayor Michael Bloomberg, is relocating his tech firm to the project’s first commercial tower, 10 Hudson Yards. “As a leading data-driven, connected neighborhood, Hudson Yards is the perfect fit for us,” said Doctoroff, who is now Chief Executive of Sidewalk Labs, a tech company that focuses on urban quality-of-life issues. “Moving here will also mark a milestone for me,” he added. “The effort to turn this neighborhood into an engine of growth for New York City has been a personal mission for me for 20 years and it is very exciting to see that dream becoming a reality.” Under the Bloomberg administration, Doctoroff pushed for building a football stadium where Related Companies is now erecting high-rises across active railroad tracks. Although the stadium plan, which was supposed to lure the Olympic Games to the city, was ultimately defeated in 2005, ensuing zoning changes paved the way for Hudson Yards. “It’s somewhat of a homecoming to have Dan and his team at Hudson Yards, since this new neighborhood would not have been possible without his foresight and dedication,” Related’s founder and chairman Stephen Ross said in a statement. Sidewalk Labs, which Doctoroff started with Google last year, will take roughly 67,000 square feet across two floors of the 52-story tower at W. 30th St. and 10th Ave. It will share the space with Intersection, a media-centric tech company chaired by Doctoroff and partly owned by Sidewalk Labs. The two firms are set to move in this spring, along with the tower’s other tenants, such as Coach Inc., The Boston Consulting Group, L’Oréal USA, SAP and VaynerMedia. “Hudson Yards is the first New York City neighborhood to offer a .com

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At right: the commercial tower 10 Hudson Yards, where Daniel Doctoroff will relocate his tech firm.

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true 21st century experience to New York’s residents and employees, and is an ideal location for Intersection and Sidewalk Labs to design innovations that will make other cities more resilient and efficient,” Ross said. Ten Hudson Yards is now almost fully leased, according to the developers, after construction on the 895-feet tower topped out last Oct. with the symbolic lifting of a bucket of concrete to the building’s roof. It is not the only building sprouting up across the development’s 28 acres. Right next door, construction is underway on the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, a retail and food complex that will include New York City’s first Neiman Marcus and restaurants by chefs like Thomas Keller, José Andrés and Costas Spiliadis. Workers are also busy at 30 and 55 Hudson Yards, the two other office towers that will make up the neighborhood’s Eastern Yard. The former is now fully committed, with tenants Time Warner Inc., KKR and Wells Fargo Securities sharing 2.6 million square feet, according to the developers. It will open in 2019. Construction has also begun on 35 Hudson Yards, a hotel and office building, and sales will begin later this year on 15 Hudson Yards, the site’s first residential building.

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Dr. Burbank’s Audacious Iowa Autopsy

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BY MAX BURBANK Oh my goodness! The Iowa Caucuses! It’s so exciting! After all the polls and debates and Op-Eds, we’re finally off to the races — and the results! Good lord, can you believe it? Why, this means… Okay, before we talk about who won what and all that portends, let’s just take a breath, shall we? Stop for a moment and consider something we all know deep down. The entire nation is involved in a conspiracy to mutually pretend that a Caucus is pretty very nearly the same thing as a Primary, and here’s the thing: it isn’t. There’s a reason why the circular race in “Alice in Wonderland” that goes on for a while and then just stops with no one discernibly in the lead is called “The Caucus Race.” It’s because “Caucus” is just another way of saying “Meaningless Political Exercise.” There is no way to even start thinking about the “meaning” of Iowa’s brief quadrennial foray into quasi-relevance until you understand what a “Caucus” is and how it differs from a “Primary.” To help you, I’ve prepared:

February 04 - 10, 2016

YOUR IOWA CAUCUS FAQ

Q: So, Max, just what is the Iowa Caucus? A: That’s “Mr. Burbank.” The short answer is, “No one knows,” which is not exactly true. In any given Caucus year, anywhere between six and a half-dozen people truly know what a Caucus is, with at least 20 more scattered throughout the state who “pretty much know but couldn’t really explain it.” Here’s how it works, I think, kind of, anyway: Iowans gather in all of the state’s 1,681 Precincts (times 2, 1 for Republicans, 1 for Democrats = 3,362; or 3,363, since one party has an additional Precinct, usually decided by “one potato/two potato”). They gather with the purpose of electing delegates to the corresponding county conventions, one for each of the 99 state counties. Q: Wait…what? A: Hang on, I’m not done. Republican and Democratic Caucuses follow different rules and procedures. While both are generally defined as “gatherings of neighbors”

(as opposed to the “voting” that goes on in primaries), participants must be registered to the party of the Caucus they attend, but can change registration at the actual Caucus as long as they are in possession of a “ring-a-levio” card or can prove their nickname is “Slapsy.” The Republican Caucus — which should not be confused with the Republican Straw Poll, held in August of the preceding year, an event mostly notable for being of even less importance than the Caucus, and now they aren’t going to do anymore ’cause word got out it was mostly just a liquor-fueled, corn on the cob eating contest — features lengthy speeches by “Precinct Captains” followed by paper balloting done right out in the open where anyone can see you, which accounts for all the fist fights. Iowa Democrats think the Republican process is way too simple and suspiciously like “voting.” On arrival, Democrat Caucusers are sorted into designated candidate sections, (sometimes called “Voter Pens” or “Idiot Boxes”). There, they are counted. If one candidate fails to get at least 15% of voters, his “Pen”

is opened, releasing its Caucusers. Precinct captains are allowed to speechify, cajole, threaten and prod released Caucusers into the remaining “Pens,” with the warning that if they continue to vote for their original candidate they will get a punch in the mouth. The number of delegates for each Precinct will be assigned based on Democratic turnout in that Precinct from the last two elections. That’s a sentence I cut and pasted directly from the Washington Post. If anyone knows what it means, tell me, and we’ll both be happy.

Q: So, do the Iowa Caucuses matter?

A: Let me be clear. No. Q: What? Wait, now…but, Max— A: “Dr. Burbank,” please. Look,

the Iowa Caucuses are deliberately structured to select a very specific set of voters. You have to be willing to give up a whole evening you could spend with loved ones watching TV like a normal person, drive who knows how far through what kind of hellish Iowan winter weather to .com

Stump Speech: Election 2016

y: Sifting Through The Caucus Fracas some godforsaken school gymnasium/cafeteria that smells like boiled cabbage and capitulation, listen to teeth grindingly boring sound bites translated by neighbors who understand them even less than the candidates who spoke them in the first place, and find the entire process “fun.” The chances that you are (in ascending order of likelihood) without hobbies, evangelical, white, some sort of fanatic or an outright kook are very, very good. This is not meant as a slight against Iowans, of whom the vast majority are lovely, well-adjusted people who almost certainly don’t Caucus. For the most part, Americans don’t even register to vote. Of those who do register, most of them still don’t vote. Apparently, we find voting kind of a drag. Is that good? Of course not — but Caucusing is a much bigger drag. So the results of the Iowa Caucuses tell us pretty much nothing. That being said, let’s move on to feverishly discussing the results of the Iowa Caucuses as if they were really, really exciting…and important.

Q: What?! But you just said— A: Oh, what the hell else are we going to do? We’ve spent almost a year now pontificating, analyzing and chewing over every word 20-some odd megalomaniacs (and yes, anyone who thinks they should or even could be president is clearly a megalomaniac) have said without any real idea of what actual people might actually want. Now we have a data sample that, while tiny, bizarrely selective and not even arguably significant of anything, still undeniably exists. Are you kidding? We’re going to go to town with this! The only reason we are not actually wetting ourselves is we’re saving that for New Hampshire! So! The mind blowing, astounding, game-changing results!

THE REPUBLICANS Trump was leading in the polls right to the end, but Cruz was edging ever closer toward a photo finish! Iowa Republicans faced a tough choice, a nightmarish game of “would you rather,” as in: “Would you rather .com

gargle with toxic waste or shove a road kill possum down your pants?” — except Iowans seemed oddly enthusiastic about both possibilities. In the end, Cruz (27.6%) crushed Trump (24.3%) decisively, winning by a whopping 3.3% — or roughly, I don’t know, like, 60 Iowans? What this means for Trump’s future is uncertain, but this much we do know: Iowans prefer a complete a-hole with some actual government experience. By, you know, about 3.3%. The big news here was always going to be who came in third, ’cause isn’t the bronze medal always the most exciting? Marco Rubio (23.1%) finished right behind Trump, giving his campaign a huge boost in credibility, always assuming you didn’t stop paying attention right after you heard Cruz won. Ben Carson, who came in fourth with 9.3%, may have been hurt by Cruz supporters spreading rumors that he was dropping out of the race after it was revealed he had plane tickets to Florida, not New Hampshire. Carson’s Communications Director leapt in, releasing a statement that Carson was not dropping out, just getting out of Iowa ahead of a “snow storm” and going home to get “a fresh set of clothes.” I guess Detroit is between Iowa and Florida. He probably has a favorite bathing suit. Jeb! Jeb. Jeb? In sixth place at 2.8%, he called Trump “unstable” and referred to Cruz and Rubio as “backbenchers who have never done anything of consequence in their lives.” Besides, you know, beating the crap out of Jeb! in the Iowa Caucuses. John Kasich, at 1.9%, wanted to remind the voters of New Hampshire that he was the only Republican candidate who was an actual human being and not “some kind of reptile, or demon thrall or whatever the hell those other guys are.” Okay, that’s not really something he said, but it is true. Carly Fiorina, also at 1.9%, said she was the most successful CEO in history, and that she had a suitcase full of baby parts she’d bought directly from Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, and that

Continued on page 19

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Ted Cruz surreptitiously reaches out to Iowa’s gay voters, through a secret coded message scrawled across his campaign bus.

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“My male member is this large, it’s one of the largest in fact. You could fit 25 Jeb Bush members into my member, with room left over for Cruz and Rubio. Because my member is yuge. Yuge.”

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“The billionaire class needs to get the hell off America’s lawn, and keep the hell off America’s lawn. And close those windows, billionaire class! What, are we heating the outdoors now?” February 04 - 10, 2016

At Gala, Good News for Chelsea Waterside Play Area

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L to R: NY State Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, Hudson River Park Trust CEO & President Madelyn Wils, State Senator Brad Hoylman, and Community Board 2 member Tobi Bergman.

Continued from page 5 “comfort station” bathroom facilities for Chelsea Waterside Play Area, a feature that has long been desired. The elected officials’ portion of the program was rounded out by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who commended those in attendance for being “good economic development ambassadors,” pointing out the positive impact that Hudson River Park has had on New York City’s quality of life. The program closed with “Mom Comedian” and author Karen Bergreen, who performed a few minutes of stand-up. According to Wasserman, Friday’s

event had three goals: “Educate attendees and the public about the mission of the Friends of Hudson River Park Playground Committee, build a community to help us advocate for our mission, and raise capital to support all of the Park’s offerings for children and families, including the reimagination of the Chelsea Waterside Play Area. By all measures, the Luncheon was an enormous success.” For more information on the Chelsea Waterside Play Area Capital Campaign, or to make a tax-deductible gift, send an email to ChelseaWaterside@fohrp. org or visit hudsonriverpark.org/ ChelseaWaterside.

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT Science and Spirituality, in Conversation Rubin Museum series explores brains, Buddhism

Courtesy Rubin Museum of Art

The Rubin Museum of Art’s Brainwave series melds tenets of Buddhist thought and neuroscience.

BY SEAN EGAN The burgeoning field of neuroscience and the ancient tenets of Buddhism, seemingly incompatible at a glance, are not so far apart. Tim McHenry, the Director of Programs and Engagement at the Rubin Museum of Art, argues for the “commonality between the frontier science of neurological exploration — of neuroscience, and understanding how the mind works — and the innate understanding of how the mind works in Buddhist philosophy. They both try to do the same thing, but with very, very different means.” This train of thought was the impetus behind Brainwave, an annual series McHenry has been curating since its debut in 2008. Anchored by a series of conversations between notable personalities and leading neuroscientists, Brainwave discussions address various mind-related topics by drawing on science and spirituality. “It’s proven to be a subject of inexhaustible interest to not only me, but anybody who

February 04 - 10, 2016

attends,” McHenry notes. For this year’s installment, the theme is “emotions,” a topic McHenry finds particularly interesting — though he makes it clear that Brainwave is concerned with digging deeper than just examining basic emotions (such as fear and happiness) and calling it a day. “Emotions are really, really interesting in that they’re both useful and necessary, and yet deeply problematic” he says. “Buddhism is really about trying to mitigate or reduce the effect of your emotions on you in a way that is damaging, detrimental, and makes you beholden to them, as opposed to [feelings that] you enjoy, and using them to inform yourself and inform your understanding of the world. So that’s why emotions are interesting in this particular context.” Elaborating on the kinds of programs one can expect, McHenry says, “Nobody really wanted to address the idea of a single emotion because quite frankly, it’s so much more complex than that. We

just ended up in the realm of people talking about the role of emotions within a particular context,” he explains. On Feb. 8, “Sigourney Weaver is going to talk about autism, which is, you know, on paper such an unlikely subject for her to address. But she played a severely autistic character in ‘Snow Cake,’ ” says McHenry, noting that this experience left her interested in the condition — and is indicative of the method used to develop Brainwave’s programming: working with guests to develop a topic of interest specific to them, and pairing them up with a scientist who can facilitate that discussion effectively and entertainingly (Weaver, paired with neuropsychologist David Amaral, will explore the grey areas of the autism spectrum). “It’s a dialogue between who you want to have participate and what they want to talk about, and what you want them to talk about,” says McHenry of his booking philosophy. “It’s a juggle. It’s like matchmaking. You’re sort of the Dolly Gallagher

Levi of neuroscience programming.” This Dolly-esque form of matchmaking has worked well — and this year’s Brainwave lineup promises to build on the festival’s reputation for intrigue and illumination. Upcoming dialogues include a talk between Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim and experimental psychologist Steven Pinker (Mar. 9); the Roots drummer Questlove discussing food and emotions with neuroscientist Stuart Firestein (Apr. 25); “Star Trek” actor Zachary Quinto discussing spirituality and the brain with neuroscientist Heather Berlin (Mar. 6); and drag artist Courtney Act in conversation with Tim Pychyl about procrastination (Mar. 30). Even the less-than marquee entertainment names seem to be highly interesting — such as the Feb. 12 pairing of neuroscientist Morgan Cerf (returning after a discussion with Jake Gylenhaal on dreams last year, McHenry notes) with former US representative and mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner about so-called “emotional politics,” which McHenry asserts “will be intriguing.” But then again, McHenry is intrigued by everything on Brainwave’s docket. “I’ve made a rule to say that you don’t program something unless you’re really interested in seeing how it plays out,” laughs McHenry, who makes it clear how fascinating and thrilling he finds these improvised talks, where the participants have only just met prior to the audience assembling and cameras starting to roll. “They have to [have] their exploration in real-time, and we get to witness that. That’s a binding, intriguing factor about putting these dialogues together onstage at the Rubin, is that in the great majority of cases, this is a moment of risk, where nothing is pre-ordained,” he asserts. “So these two people have to meet each other as adults and forge a conversation, and broker a language that they might have in common to talk about something that is of mutual interest, of which they’re approaching from two very, very different angles.” While these talks are the bread and butter of the festival, McHenry’s made sure to expand beyond this. Running

Continued on page 16 .com

Howl! Happening: Embracing Us All Gallery celebrates creation, community, legacy BY PUMA PERL Years back, a good gallery opening provided enough food and drink to carry you over for days. You saw friends, checked out the art, and strolled over to the next place (if you were desperate, you might even carry a doggie bag). These days, you’re lucky to find a stale cracker lying around — and many of the galleries, regardless of quality, demonstrate a disconnect with their surroundings. Not the case with Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project — the love child of the late Arturo Vega (19472013) and Howl Arts, Inc. board members Jane Friedman, BG Hacker and Bob Perl (no relation to this reporter). “Arturo Vega was our good friend,” said Jane Friedman, who serves as executor of his estate. “He was an amazing artist and supporter of arts and artists in every way possible. Part of his legacy is to counter the cynicism of the art world and champion artistic endeavors. The gallery is a first step toward the creation of an East Village Museum that showcases the unique imagination and talent in our community. We have two major archives and also house the Tom Murrin Alien Comic archive.” In addition, the Howl! Happening gallery (6 E. First St., btw. Bowery & Second Ave.) offers poetry readings, film screenings, panel discussions and concrete support — in the form of workshops geared toward obtaining health care and affordable housing, both of which are provided by the Actors Fund. “Arturo Vega, American Treasure,” the gallery’s first show, opened on Mar. 29, 2015. Subsequent events, which change monthly, included installations by Downtown icons Lydia Lunch and Clayton Patterson. “Secrets of the Great Pyramid,” the Sept. event, paid tribute to the great ’80s nightspot and included signature performances from that era. “Insults,” which will display a series of Vega’s paintings imprinted with text fragments, will open on Mar. 5. One of the unique aspects of Howl! Happening is the merging of the old school with younger community members, musicians and artists who are learning firsthand about their roots, while contributing their own work and energy. It is rare to find such a natural sense of inclusion. .com

Photo by John E. Espinosa

Victor Bockris and Marcia Resnick signed copies at the Nov. 2015 release party for “Punks, Poets & Provocateurs: New York City Bad Boys, 1977– 1982.”

Photo by Shell Sheddy

Cartoonist and PUNK co-creator John Holmstrom, at the 40th Anniversary Exhibition’s opening event.

The PUNK Magazine 40th Anniversary Exhibition, which opened on Jan. 14 and closed on Jan. 30, illustrated the sense of belonging one feels at these events. Cartoonist and PUNK founding editor John Holmstrom and collaborators displayed both early art and new work by contributors. Copies of the first PUNK issue, featuring an illustration of Lou Reed on the cover, were available for sale. In a corner of the room, artist Ken Weiner drew his “ugly portraits” (he was one of many magazine contributors in attendance). Also in the crowd were Martin Rev, Tish and Snooky, Lenny Kaye and Anthony Haden-

Guest, to name a few, and, naturally, Holmstrom, greeting dozens of friends and signing books and zines. Making my way through the packed room, I encountered Emily Armstrong and Pat Ivers, who are known for their GoNightclubbing Archive of 197580. Their Nov. 2015 show, “Alone At Last,” featured an interactive peep show and closed with one of Friedman and Hacker’s famous holiday parties. “Howl! Happening is our artistic playhouse,” said Ivers. “It reminds me of sharing ideas with my friends at CBGB — now, we actually see the outcomes. Our crowd never stopped creating.” Photographer David Godlis, another

PUNK contributor, agreed. “It’s like sitting at the end of the bar again; everyone is here.” Alison Aguiar, whose older sister brought her to shows in the late ’70s, was standing nearby. As a young adult, she worked for CBGB and Manic Panic. “In the post-CB years,” she said, “Jane and BG have been the glue that connects us, brings us together, and provides places we can go. They embrace us all.” “Gallery Director Ted Riederer is the facilitator and Jane Friedman is the visionary” is how artist/activist Clayton Patterson put it. “What I admire most about the vision is the people they show — everyone is very connected to the underground and the avant-garde. Some of them were the ones who made things happen, but they were too far ahead of the curve.” In keeping with that vision, Howl! is committed to emerging artists and their supporters. Riederer, at 46, is a generation or two younger than many of the folks with whom he works. He is an artist and a member of The Antagonists, a group committed to mentoring others and to carrying on the work of Arturo Vega. “All of my hard work and dedication is a tribute to Arturo’s spirit,” Riederer told me. “He generously supported neighborhood artists and musicians of all ages and abilities. I’m really lucky to be part of that legacy.” Antagonist co-founder Ethan Minsker, who screened his film “Self Medicated” at the gallery last June, agreed. “Howl! Happening is the real deal,” he said. “Their track record not only demonstrates the historical importance of documenting the arts that put the Downtown scene into the forefront, but they keep an eye on the present and future of that same community.” Photographer Marcia Resnick, who also attended the PUNK Anniversary event, has been documenting the Downtown arts and music scene since the 1970s. In Nov. 2015, she signed books with a beatific smile throughout her wildly successful release party for her book, “Punks, Poets & Provocateurs: New York City Bad Boys, 1977–1982.” Writer Victor Bockris, who contributed most of the text, was by her side. Like the PUNK exhibit, it brought people from far and wide, including photog-

Continued on page 17 February 04 - 10, 2016

Useful and Problematic: Brainwave Gets Emotional

Courtesy Okayplayer

Courtesy Rubin Museum of Art

Roots drummer Questlove is set to talk about food and emotions on Apr. 25, following the Apr. 12 release of his new book “something to food about.”

“Wheel of Life Tibet” (19th century, pigments on cloth) connects to the emotion of sadness, as it depicts the Buddhist realm of Hungry Ghosts, where people never satisfied in their past lives are reborn.

Continued from page 14 on Fridays throughout the festival is the “Cabaret Cinema: Emotions/Emotocons” series, which pairs up classic films like Lynch’s “Eraserhead” (Mar. 4) and Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” (Apr. 15) with specific emotions and emoji. There’s also what is referred to as an “experience” called “Waiting Rooms,” courtesy of NYU game designer Eric Zimmerman and architect Nathalie Pozzi, which McHenry is particularly excited about. “[Eric’s] building a prototype of an experiential piece that will be set in the museum, that uses different chambers, different rooms to replicate the feeling of the immigrant and refugee experience of being shunted from one space to the other, without clear direction,” McHenry explains of the Apr. 16 and 23 event. “It’s incredibly relevant now, and it’s not something we’ve done before.” While always looking forward to new frontiers, Brainwave will soon make it

February 04 - 10, 2016

easy for audiences to look back on where they’ve been — and not just during the festival’s yearly run dates. They’ve filmed all of their programs, and will soon be housing the full talks online on the Rubin website for all to see. “People who are coming to Brainwave for the first time can revisit earlier programs in video format,” McHenry says. “The knowledge that comes out of these conversations, the spark, the energy, is still transmitted that way, and it’s really worth seeing.” Ultimately, Brainwave comes all down to the knowledge gained from the festival — be it in the form of “a-ha” moments from participants in the conversation, or in an audience member witnessing it. McHenry hopes people leave the Rubin with a better understanding of the topics, and a determination to employ the effects in real life. “It’s about these small awakenings and realizations,” he says, citing how people could change their behavior to be a little kinder and more perceptive. “It might seem minor, but if you stick at it, the cumulative effects, hopefully, would be profound.”

Courtesy Rubin Museum of Art

In 2015, neuroscientist Eric Cerf (right) discussed dreams with Jake Gyllenhaal. This year, Cerf returns to talk emotional politics with Anthony Weiner.

Brainwave runs through Mon., Apr. 25 at the Rubin Museum of Art (150 W. 17th St., btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.).

Ticket prices and times vary. For a full schedule and tickets, visit rubinmuseum. org. For more info, call 212-620-5000. .com

Photo by David Godlis

Clayton Patterson will host the Acker Awards on Mar. 18, at Howl! Happening.

Sex Pistols cover and original art, displayed at the PUNK 40th Anniversary Exhibition.

Howl! Happening Fosters Love for Art and Humanity Continued from page 15 rapher John E. Espinosa, one of many who have reluctantly left New York due to the difficulties of surviving as an artist. “Marcia is my best friend and heroine,” he wrote. “Even after having to move back to Texas after 22 years, there was no way I would miss her party. When something is true and real it manifests a jolt of electromagnetic energy. Marcia’s photographs burst out from a sincere love of the scene and its players, and from herself, as a partner in crime.” An upcoming show, opening Feb. 4 and running through Mar. 2, will display her work and is sure to turn into another great party. “I love that Howl! Happening provides a magnetic attraction for those who frequented places like CBGB’s, Max’s and the Mudd Club in the ’70s and ’80s, and also for younger people who admire punk culture,” said Resnick. “Like those Downtown .com

venues of the past, people now have a place where they can share their artistic creations, ideas, and mutual admiration. It was a perfect place for my book launch, and I’m hoping that my photo show attracts an equally enthusiastic audience!” No matter whom I speak with about Howl!, certain keywords come up: Community. Spirit. Creation. Legacy. Support. Energy. There is a joyousness and celebration of the artistic endeavor that is palpable, created by the love of both art and humanity. Who needs stale crackers, anyway? Upcoming events include Marcia Resnick’s “Punks, Poets & Provocateurs: New York City Bad Boys, 1977–1982” (Feb. 4, 6 p.m.), an Actors Fund Affordable Housing Workshop (Feb. 16, 2 p.m.), Arturo Vega’s “Insults” (Mar. 5, 6 p.m.), and The Acker Awards (Mar. 18, 6 p.m.), in which Clayton Patterson and friends pay tribute to members of the avant-garde arts community.

Photo by Marcia Resnick

Marcia Resnick’s 1981 photo of David Byrne will be part of her gallery show, which opens Feb. 4 at Howl! Happening.

Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project is located at 6 E. First St. (btw. Bowery & Second Ave.) Gallery Hours:

Wed.–Sun., 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Visit happening.howlarts.org or call 917-4751294. February 04 - 10, 2016

February 04 - 10, 2016

.com

After Iowa: Sinkers, Swimmers & Floaters

facebook.com/marcorubio

“Okay Jimmy Fallon, yes, my parents were immigrants. That doesn’t mean I don’t hate immigrants. A lot of people hate their parents.”

Continued from page 11 she was already Queen of America, so Iowa could suck it. Chris Christie, at 1.8%, wanted everyone to keep in mind that while technically he tied with Huckabee for last place, he wasn’t last place. Huckabee was last place ’cause he dropped out like a little baby quitter. Then he gave Huckabee a wedgie.

THE DEMOCRATS Hillary Clinton (49.9%) won, which makes her the winner, and Bernie Sanders (49.6%) didn’t lose by very much at all, which makes him also the winner. Clinton took Sanders to the cleaners by .3%, some unknowable sliver of which she got from six (or possibly more, who knows) Precincts where there were exact ties, so they tossed a coin…unless Sanders won more of them than Clinton — because in Iowa not all precincts even report on coin toss decisions. While this column is peppered with whoppers, that isn’t one of them. But let’s be clear: this tie was not a tie. It was a clear victory largely decided by coin tosses where the loser of the toss still defied expectations enough to be the real winner, and Martin O’Malley decided a refund on his airline ticket to New Hampshire was the better part of valor.

THE LOSERS As of this writing, Martin O’Malley (0.6%) and Mike Huckabee have thrown in the towel — both forgone conclusions, really. O’Malley, because since Lincoln Chafee dropped out, he’s had no one to sit with at lunch — and Huckabee, because no one in America can say “President Huckabee” without giggling, on account of the visual of a grown man throwing a bee. Huck-a-bee? Seriously? If he’d really ever wanted to be president, he’d have changed his last name a long time ago. Surprisingly, fifth place finisher Rand Paul is also calling it quits. His spokespeople had initially called his finish “strong” and said the race was “wide open” — but they may have meant it was wide enough to exit through without difficulty. Rick Santorum (1%) also dropped out just before we went to press. Google “Santorum Urban Dictionary” to find out why. Now, on to New Hampshire, “The Granite State” — a place every bit as cold, weird and marginalized as Iowa, but a place where there’s a Primary, so it’s easier to vote, and more people who care less will show up. And since caring less is what the vast majority of us do, the results will be more representative. Is that enough to convince ourselves that anything before Super Tuesday makes any difference? If you’re still reading, the answer is a resounding, American “YES!” .com

February 04 - 10, 2016

Join New York City’s LGBT Community at the

Please join us for the Impact Awards Gala:

THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 6–10 PM

GRAND PROSPECT HALL 263 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn

In its inaugural LGBT Community Impact Awards, Gay City News will recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions to New York City’s LGBT community, its progress, and its achievements.

For tickets:

GayCityNews.nyc/Impact/