Celebrating Community
New – the Phoenix is now online! https://www.digifind-it.com/phoenix/views/home.php COVID takes a Brooklyn newspaper pioneer by George Fiala Michael A. Armstrong, originally from the state of Washington, but who spent the majority of his 79 years in Boerum Hill, passed away last month after spending 17 days on a ventilator at Methodist Hospital. Dnynia, his wife and publishing partner, succumbed a […]
As I sit here about to write this final piece for the April issue, I checked the COVID-19 scoreboard to see that the US has gone over 1000 deaths for the day, the most ever so far, but probably a normal figure for a number of days or months hereon in. The blame game is already starting, with many criticisms […]
The nonprofit world An article in a recent copy of the Villager details some nonprofits that recently received grants from the New York Community Trust. The Trust is a public charity with board members chosen by public figures, including the mayor, judges and heads of institutions such as the Bar Association and Lincoln Center. The Trust was established in 1924 […]
If you pay attention to the financial news, or even political news, you will hear over and over again that interest rates have to be kept low because there is not enough inflation to keep the economy humming along otherwise. I’m all for keeping the economy humming – without jobs there isn’t enough money to pay the rent, something that’s […]
Gowanus cleanup The Brooklyn Eagle just published a great essay by Gowanus scholar Joseph Alexiou. He makes clear what many reporters never mention in their Gowanus Canal Superfund coverage: that New York City is doing its best to sabotage the cleanup. Titled “The Gowanus Canal will never be clean,” the article makes the case that it is local corruption and […]
This January marks the beginning of this newspaper’s tenth anniversary. It’s something I started myself back in 2010. I’ve written lots of news stories, headlines, filler – even crossword puzzles, but I never attempted any sort of creative or introspective writing. It’s probably because I’m not that good at it, and I didn’t want to waste valuable room in the […]
The first time I saw Steve Forbert was the only time I went to CBGB’s, only because back in the day I wasn’t much of a punkster (my loss). When Forbert first came to NY though, Hilly Kristal was booking more folky acts. By 1980, Forbert was already somewhat of a star, playing clubs all over the country, and owner […]
I have a friend who watches MSNBC regularly. The other night, a vaguely familiar face filled the screen – someone who was not the usual liberal face. It was a politician from South Carolina known for something that remains forever etched in my mind. If not for that something, I wouldn’t have remembered him. He started a real estate leasing […]
I’m happy to be able to start off this column by cheering some neighborhood heroes on a hard-fought victory. Last year I wrote about the plans of an investor to build a huge apartment building over where the Chase Bank is on Hamilton Avenue. I called it a ridiculous idea, based upon their presentation at the community board. In addition […]
As I write this, I’m looking at a couple of nice paper tickets for a June 4th Rolling Stones concert in Philly that I’m going to. I got them in the mail after buying them on the Ticketmaster website a few months ago. I’m going with my daughter and I’m sure we’ll have a grand old time. Unfortunately, it didn’t […]