BY RICH CACCAPPOLO  |  The Community Board 2 Parks and Waterfront Committee, working with the Parks Department and the Hudson River Park Trust, as well as block associations and neighborhood organizations, and backed by the support of our local elected officials, drove several noteworthy accomplishments in 2012. The committee has great plans in the coming [...]

BY RACHEL LAVINE  |  What does it mean to be the New York Democratic State Committeewoman for the 66th Assembly District, a long title for a political position whose duties are obscure to most voters? It entails two principal duties. The first is voting for candidates for statewide office at the New York State Democratic [...]

BY BRAD HOYLMAN  |  I heard a lot about Albany’s “pay-to-play” culture before I took office as a state Senator last month. Still, it was a culture shock to see it in action. For example, there is a practice that allows lobbyists to call senators off the Senate floor during session for face-to-face meetings about [...]

BY JENNIFER E. FALK  |  Union Square continues to be one of the hottest neighborhoods in New York City. Working with our neighborhood partners, the Union Square Partnership continues our dedication and commitment to one of the city’s most vibrant, 24-hour communities. BUSINESS Anyone who lives, shops or even passes through the Union Square district [...]

BY COREY JOHNSON  |  I want to thank The Villager once again for allowing us the space to report on what Community Board 4 continues to advocate for on behalf of residents and business in the Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and Clinton neighborhoods. BOARD FOUR To start, we applaud the M.T.A.’s proposed new bus route on the Far West Side of Manhattan from W. 59th [...]

BY DAVID GRUBER  |  This past year we have seen many changes at Community Board 2. In June our then Chairperson Brad Hoylman chose not to stand for a second term and instead run for the vacated state Senate seat of Tom Duane, which he did successfully. BOARD TWO I was honored to be elected [...]

BY SARA ROMANOSKI  |  The East Village Community Coalition is a community, nonprofit organization that works to support and sustain the architectural and cultural character of the East Village. COMMUNITY E.V.C.C. traces its roots to the struggle over the former P.S. 64 / CHARAS building, at E. Ninth St. and Avenue B. E.V.C.C. along with [...]

BY ARTHUR Z. SCHWARTZ  |  I have lived in the Village for 31 years now, long enough to measure progress in terms of decades, not years. The Village I moved into in 1981 was very different from today’s Village, so there has been change. Progress? It depends how one defines it. PERSPECTIVE I love living [...]

BY WILLIAM KELLEY  | As we begin our 20th year in operation, the Village Alliance would like to thank our neighbors, merchants and friends for your continued support.  Last year was a particularly challenging one for our merchants, in light of the lengthy power outage and damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. But the spirit of resilience [...]