USP News
Our New Executive
Director's First 30 Days |
Jennifer
Falk's first month as Executive Director of the Union
Square Partnership was described by Crain's New York
Business as being "thrust into a whirlwind of meetings
aimed at getting her up to speed on the city's first BID
and local development corporation." Jennifer has been
reaching out to residential groups, local businesses,
community boards, elected officials, and other vested
parties. "My plan is to meet with as many
stakeholders as possible to build consensus around a
plan that will move the organization forward. At the
same time, we'll continue our work on the physical
improvements to Union Square Park, look for ways to
partner with the City to provide area businesses,
especially small businesses, more support, and look for
new ways to promote the area as a place to live, work
and shop," Jennifer (pictured above with the USP's Public Safety
Officers) told Crain's. Tackling the neighborhood's growing
quality-of-life issues including noise, congestion and
sanitation is another primary focus. USP staff
visited the City's 311 Citizen Service Call Center in
January to learn more about how the organization can use
the successful program to improve the linkages between
the community and their government services. Going
forward, USP is focused on creating better lines of
communication between the organization and the
community. Anyone interested in writing the
Executive Director is encouraged to do so at
info@unionsquarenyc.org.
|
What's Ahead for the
City and the Neighborhood:
PLANYC
|
In December of 2006, Mayor
Michael R. Bloomberg issued PLANYC, a blueprint for New
York City's projected growth, at an event hosted by the
League of Conservation Voters at the Queens Museum of
Art. During the next few months, the City will be
engaging New Yorkers in a discussion of how to plan
thoughtfully for the decades to come. This effort
gives us an opportunity to think about our own
neighborhood's future as Union Square's modern
renaissance enjoys its third decade of dynamic
change. We ask that you visit the PLANYC
website at www.nyc.gov/2030 and add your voice to
the dialogue helping to imagine the City's
future. |
Passing of Norman
Buchbinder |
| USP is deeply saddened to report that Norman
Buchbinder, a founder and stalwart of the Business
Improvement District, has passed away this month.
Buchbinder & Warren, Norman's real estate management
and brokerage firm, has been situated in Union Square
since the 1950s and was pivotal in the creation of one
of New York's most exciting and diverse areas while also
supporting small businesses and artists. Norman's
vision, leadership, and good nature were an inspiration
to all those who aided in the neighborhood's
renaissance. We will miss him. |
Mariela Alberto, Washington
Irving High School Student, awarded a Posse
Scholarship |
 |
Mariela
Alberto, a graduating senior at Washington Irving High
School, will be attending Vanderbilt University in the
fall on a Posse scholarship that provides for four years
of full tuition. The Posse Foundation, identifies,
recruits, and trains student leaders from public high
schools to form multicultural teams called "Posses" of
ten to twelve scholars. Chosen as one of 120 New
York City students from a pool of over 2,500 applicants,
Mariela attributes much of her academic success to the
Union Square Partnership's Education Program. In
addition to taking advantage of the S.A.T. preparation
course (for two years!) provided by USP in conjunction
with the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb, Mariela has been
an After-School Ambassador, and has been actively
engaged in the Next Steps college preparation run by our
own Michael Gianakos (pictured above with
Mariela). Mariela, who will take part in an
eight-month preparation program with nine fellow Posse
Scholars going to Vanderbilt, plans to be an education
major. We Congratulate Mariela and wish her the
best of luck at Vanderbilt! |
USP Gears Up for Summer
|
Even
though it is cold outside, USP is busy preparing for the
warmer months and ramping up its beautification efforts
for Union Square Park. Working with the Department of
Parks and Recreation, USP is committed to making the
park a fun, interesting, and exciting public space.
USP will be adding art exhibitions
and new plantings throughout the Park, and we will
increase sanitation and security services as pedestrian
traffic grows. In addition, USP is spearheading major
improvements to the central lawn by installing a new
sprinkler system, and reseeding and maintaining the lawn
so New Yorkers and visitors will be able to relax in the
plush grass throughout the
summer.
|
Union
Square Partnership
|
| Union Square
Partnership, a non-profit organization, works to ensure
the community's vibrancy as a center for business,
culture and education and to improve the quality of life
for its residents and businesses, by providing
supplemental public safety, sanitation, business
promotion and economic development services throughout
the district. Union Square Partnership, comprised of a
Business Improvement District and Local Development
Corporation, facilitates economic development by
spearheading educational, economic development and park
enhancements and acting as a liaison between community,
business and government leaders.
|
For
more information visit the Union Square Partnership
website at
www.unionsquarenyc.org.
| |
Neighborhood
News
Chocolate Fest at Whole Foods Market Union
Square
|
Get ready for
Valentine's Day at Whole Foods' annual chocolate
celebration. Whole Foods will be offering samples
of goodies throughout the store,
including, chocolate
soufflés, Tiny Trapeze
fudge,
heart shaped
brownies, chocolate
dipped fruit, oysters on the
half shell, Chocolove Chili
Cherry Chocolate Bars, Giovanni Hot
Chocolate Sugar Body Scrub, and much
more. And don't forget to place your Valentine's
Day floral orders...1 Dozen roses for just
$19.99!
Date: Thursday, February 8
Time: 5pm
until the chocolate runs out!
Where: 4 Union
Square South, between University Place and
Broadway
For more information visit www.wholefoods.com
|
Blue Mahoe
Celebrates Black History Month
|
Celebrate
Black History Month at Blue Mahoe, 14th Street's elegant
Caribbean restaurant. Blue Mahoe will be serving a
special lunch buffet every Thursday and Friday in
February in honor of the month-long celebration of
African American history. Home to the
neighborhood's best soul food and Caribbean favorites,
Blue Mahoe is open Tuesday through Sundays for Lunch,
Dinner, Tea and Brunch.
Where: 243 East 14th St,
between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
For more information
visit www.bluemahoenyc.com or call
212.358.0012
|
Rubin Museum Offers
Movies on Friday
Nights
|
CABARETcinema
Where
movies and martinis mix
Part of the Spiral film
series. Inspired by the Museum's spiral
staircase.
February 9 - Alphaville, une etrange
aventure de Lemmy Caution
1965, Jean-Luc Godard,
France, 99 minutes
February 16 - Vertigo
1958,
Alfred Hitchcock, USA, 129 minutes
February 23 -
In a Year of 13 Moons
1978, Rainer Werner Fassbinder,
Germany, 119 minutes
Films are free with a $7 bar
minimum. Happy Hour (2 for 1 cocktails) is from 6-7 p.m.
every Friday. The Rubin Museum of Art is located
at 150 West 17th Street, between 6th and 7th
Avenues. For more information call: 212.620.5000
or visit www.rmanyc.org
|
Dept of
Buildings Cracking Down on Illegal Shed
Signage |
On January
9th, Buildings Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster
announced the launch of a new enforcement campaign
designed to combat illegal advertising signs posted on
sidewalk sheds. As part of the pilot program, the
Buildings Department will cover illegal advertising
signs that building owners have failed to remove despite
prior notification and warning.
The Department of
Buildings will also post a list of violators on its
website. To report illegal advertising signs posted on
sidewalk sheds, New Yorkers are encouraged to call
3-1-1.
For more information visit the Department of Buildings website
|
Listing on
New York City's Business-to-Business Directory is
Free |
Did you know that New
York City has a web site where you can list your
business and reach other businesses for free? If
you supply goods and services to other businesses, be
sure to list your website with the City's online
Business to Business (B2B) Directory. Listing your
business on the B2B Directory is free and provides you
with exposure to other business owners and entrepreneurs
visiting the City's website.
For more
information visit the City's B2B website
|
Street
Trees Workshops
|
Partnerships for Parks,
a joint program of New York City's Department of Parks
& Recreation and the City Parks Foundation, is
providing volunteers with free registration and training
at their Technical Training Workshop: Caring for
Greenstreets and Street Trees.
You can help
with urban tree survival by learning to care for young
street trees and greenstreets at this popular workshop.
You will receive free gloves, a trowel, a cultivator,
garbage bags, and watering tools. Participation is
required in order to receive a volunteer permit to
garden and maintain young trees and Greenstreets
throughout the city.
There are two workshops
remaining:
Thurs., Feb. 22, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the
Overlook, Conference Room, 80-30 Park Lane, Kew Gardens,
Queens
Thurs., March 15, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at
the Arsenal, Third floor, 830 Fifth Avenue at E. 64th
St., Manhattan
Space is limited. To register or
for more information, call Channaly Oum at (212)
676-1929 or email channaly.oum@parks.nyc.gov
|
Links to Community and City
Websites:
The City of New York
Department of Parks &
Recreation
Department of Small Business
Services
Community Board #2
Community Board #3
Community Board #4
Community Board #5
Community Board
#6
| |
