scoopysnotebook

Scoopy's Notebook

In the zone! Hot on the heels of last Saturday’s mass march and rally to Save the Village, word was leaked that the City Planning Department is set to release a new rezoning plan for the Far West Village, and that the Landmarks Preservation Commission will be issuing a landmarking plan for the same area almost simultaneously. Community Board 2 will hold two hearings on the rezoning plan, according to David Reck, C.B. 2 Zoning Committee chairperson, one in June and another in July. Due to the late-breaking news, The Villager will report on the story in depth in next week’s issue — including photos and a report on last Saturday’s march and rally.

A Better letter: Michael Haberman, New York University director of government and community affairs, called us, and rightly so, to point out that a recent letter by local resident Mary Johnson could have used some editing since it blurred the lines somewhat between issues New York University has attempted to address and others that may be ongoing problems that N.Y.U. has not yet fully grappled with. Johnson’s letter was mainly prompted by Haberman’s allegedly refusing to meet with residents and Councilmember Alan Gerson about conditions on Washington Sq. E., like N.Y.U. garbage pickups. However, Haberman correctly points out that the university did in fact meet and work with the community to varying degrees regarding Grad Alley, New York Is Book Country, emissions from the Brown Building and construction. As for why he begged out of invitations to meet with the community as well as the Community Board 2 Institutions Committee and Gerson, Haberman said the first date that was proposed was inconvenient because a large number of colleagues from his office were going up to Albany for a student day. Subsequently, Haberman said, he thought it would be better if he met with Martin Tessler, the Institutions Committee’s then-chairperson, and a few other concerned residents privately, feeling this would be more productive.

Congrats! (and at-bats): David McWater, chairperson of Community Board 3, and actress Laura Hinsberger were married last weekend and plan to honeymoon in St. Lucia. Never forgetting his priorities, McWater reported that, in his absence, assistant coach Ed Barrios, former star from Boys’ High, coached the L.E.S. Gauchos to a 16-5 victory in their Felix Milan League opener against Aguila. Mike Corona was the winning pitcher and Ozzie Barrios, no relation to Ed, went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI. “The kids love to see their names in the paper,” McWater said.

Rumors, rumors: Jim Smith, chairperson of C.B. 2, says that the rumors that Board 2 was thinking of rescinding its support for the Washington Sq. Park renovation plan were just that. “I, too, heard a rumor that a member might make a move to reconsider the resolution. Just a rumor,” he said. “But if such a move were offered I can’t see it carrying. For all the passion about specific proposed changes, the irreducible fact is that the renovation is necessary and desired. The overwhelming vote in favor of last month’s Parks Committee resolution is evidence of that.”

That’s the ticket: The article in last week’s Villager about FEVA’s upcoming Pantheon benefit didn’t accurately report the full extent of what tickets buy: $300 tickets include the silent auction, cocktails, dinner, presentation and dance party; $50 tickets (discounted to $40 for FEVA members) include the silent auction, presentation and dance party. The difference between the $50 and $300 tickets is simply dinner and cocktails.

Oops: Last week Scoopy incorrectly identified a member of C.B. 2 as Dr. Paul Maggio. The doctor’s first name is John.