Sanitation Services Are Expanded!

The Partnership is pleased to announce that it has substantially increased the level of sanitation services with increased staffing hours throughout the district!  On April 1, 2006 the BID expanded its sanitation service hours throughout the district from 26,890 per year to 29,764 - that's a 10.5% increase!!  With the additional hours --we're starting 2 hours earlier everyday at 7 a.m. and extending hours later, the BID will provide the community with better cleaning services throughout a greater proportion of the day, and keep up with the demands as our district grows more and more popular.  One example of our ever increasing rise in popularity: In the past decade the number of people using the Union Square subway station has doubled!  Last year, over 30 Million people used the Union Square station as their originating station!  The Partnership collects 14,000 tons of refuse a year!  That's a whole lot of garbage that the Partnership sanitation team is removing from the area!

The Union Square Partnership, in conjunction with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, is presenting a series of small business forums to benefit our local entrepreneurial, retail and commercial communities.  Our first Forum, "Financing Your Small Business," held on April 17th at the McBurney YMCA, drew over thirty local business owners and entrepreneurs.  In addition to hearing presentations by successful entrepreneurs, financial professionals, representatives of city agencies, attendees at the first event were able to network and ask in-depth questions of the panelists. 

The Forums are another in a series of Union Square Partnership initiatives and programs to assist our area's businesses.  There are two upcoming Forums:
How City Rules Affect Your Business
Featuring a panel of lawyers and city agency representatives.  Tuesday, May 23, 6:00p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Con Edison building, 4 Irving Place.
Getting the Most Out of Business Technology
Featuring a panel of business technology experts.  Tuesday, June 20, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at North Fork Bank, 31 east 17th Street.
For more information, call 212.460.1200, or register here.

Joe Tango has been involved with the Union Square neighborhood for nearly 14 years now, first as a member of the NYPD and now as USP's Director of Operations!!  On May 1st, Joe will have officially served the community as the Partnership's Director of Operations, supervising the USP's sanitation, security, and park services, for 7 years!  Previous to arriving at the Partnership, Joe was a Special Operations Lieutenant at the 13th Precinct for almost a quarter of his 26 years on the New York City Police Force.  As the 13th Precinct Lieutenant, Joe helped to significantly decrease drug dealing and prostitution in the area and witnessed an immense decline in crime.  Among the most notable of Joe's accomplishments during his tenure with the Partnership  include procuring funding for and installing pedestrian lights throughout the entire BID!  Said Joe of his experiences in the Union Square area, "I remember when crime was so rampant in the area that you couldn't even walk through the park.  I am happy to say that the relationship between the Partnership and the 13th Precinct, and with the Precinct's Commanding Officer, Inspector Michael McEnroy, has helped us achieve an improved quality of life in the neighborhood.  I have enjoyed working towards bettering the quality of life in the community for the past 14 years and I look forward to another 14."  We look forward to it too Joe!

The 13th Annual Union Square Partnership Cus D'Amato Community Service Award Luncheon, honoring Bob Kerrey, President of the New School, and the New School will take place on Monday, June 5 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the W Hotel (201 Park Avenue South at 17th Street). The Cus D'Amato Luncheon is the Partnership's chief fundraiser for its Education Program at Washington Irving High School.  As a result, award recipients are selected based on their efforts on behalf of the school.  To purchase tickets to attend the Cus D'Amato Luncheon, please contact Tanya Navas, Partnership Director of Education & Community Resources, at navast@coned.com.

WIHS Student Rallies in DC!

Irais Mendoza, a Partnership English as a Second Language (ESL) student at Washington Irving High School, has become an inspiration to her fellow students after attending an anti-immigration law rally in Washington, D.C. on March 27th.  Upon returning to the school, Irais continued her involvement with the issue, handing out informative flyers and encouraging other students to attend a similar event on April 10th in New York.  Irais enjoyed her first time in the D.C. area and will carry the feeling of empowerment that the politically charged city has to offer with her as she finishes her senior year at Washington Irving and heads off to college next year.  Way to get involved Irais!

Welcome Signature Bank!

On January 23, 2006, Signature Bank, a New York-based full-service commercial bank, opened its 16th location at 200 Park Ave South in Union Square, Manhattan.  Bank President and CEO Joseph J. DePaolo commented on the Bank's entrance into the Union Square neighborhood by saying, "With the opening of the Union Square office and two banking teams now in place, we have further strengthened our growing network by attracting banking professionals who will focus on providing superior relationship-banking services to our clients."  For more information on Signature Bank, please contact Group Director and Senior Vice President, Gregg Kirschner at (646) 822-1911.

If you have a small business, or if you are interested in starting a small business, consider a microfinance loan from the Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union, which lends on the Lower East Side, as well as in the Union Square district.  LESPFCU is a member owned, non-profit financial institution which reinvests members' money in the Lower East Side community to provide a full range of personal, affordable financial services to stimulate economic and community development of the neighborhood.  Microfinance loans are small - less than $500 - and are designed for businesses to purchase specific items.  Most business lending is designed for large loans, but microfinance lending limits exposure without heavy leverage and with reasonable terms.  It's the perfect option for people considering starting a business or who have a home-based business.

For more information, visit LESPFCU's website, www.lespfcu.org, or contact them at 212.529.8197.

Join your neighbors in the community and come on out for the NYC Grows Garden Festival in Union Square Park on Saturday, April 29!  Co-presented by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and the National Gardening Association (NGA), the day-long event celebrates April as the National Garden Month 2006 with hands-on gardening demonstrations, activities, and workshops from a variety of 'green' organizations, children's story readings by National Wildlife Federation's Ranger Rick, and a Union Square Park planting program conducted by the New York City Urban Park Rangers.  Please attend the spotlight event of NYC Grows and NGA's Garden Month 2006 in our own Union Square Park (near the Green Market) and gooooooo green!!  To learn more, please visit www.nationalgardenmonth.org.

Tavalon Tea Bar has opened their doors at 22 East 14th Street.  With a tea sommelier and a D.J. on the premises, this new tea bar, opened by John-Paul Lee and Sonny Caberwal, takes a unique approach to selling their 30-something selection of teas.  Pastries from Amai Tea & Bake House and Balthazar Bakery and tea samples in test tubes are also offered.  For more information, contact the Tavalon Tea bar at 212.807.7027 or visit www.tavalon.com.

Union Square Partnership

Visit the Union Square Partnership online:
www.unionsquarenyc.org