John W. Sutter, former publisher of Community Media, center, and Julie Menin, former chairperson of Community Board 1, left, both received the Tribeca Citizen of the Year award, an annual recognition sponsored by the Independence Plaza North Tenants Association. The fundraising event for the tenants association, dubbed “We are Tribeca,” was held Mon., Sept. 10, at Gaetana’s Restaurant, at Christopher and Greenwich Sts. Community Media, which has been renamed NYC Community Media, includes The Villager, East Villager, Downtown Express, Gay City News and Chelsea Now. After 9/11, Sutter took the Downtown Express, which had been bimonthly, weekly to provide critical coverage. Tribeca residents relied on the paper’s expanded coverage to keep them informed during the disaster’s aftermath and the recovery and rebuilding process. In addition, Borough President Scott Stringer, right, was on hand at the Sept. 10 event, at which he presented Sutter with a proclamation proclaiming it “John Sutter Appreciation Day.” Photo by Aline Reynolds
