Update on Develop Don't Destroy

Develop Don't Destroy 

www.developdontdestroy.org

They have news regarding the court date being pushed back so that is good for the opponents of Atlantic Yards development...check it out.

Barry Paddock, tenant since '92 , 47 East 3rd Street

Barry Paddock has been living here at 47 East 3rd Street since 1992.

The case should be heard soon -- the next couple of months. This is one of the first housing cases to be heard by the Court of Appeals in decades. http://www.47e3.0rg/

Please visit the site and read more about the tenants of 47 East 3rd Street and new info should be posted soon. Please donate if you can to help fight for the right to remain in their homes. The landlords are wealthy and have far more options with regard to housing and these much loved community members do not.

Also visit http://www.savestbrigid.com/
because they have news on their court date as well.

Books, East Village Books, St. Marks Books not on St. Marks and the library

What I love about this book store is the community donation book box to the left.  East Village Books  takes donations and uses them to help the community if they can.   The Strand is a great book store and the only book store in Manhattan that moved because of their great success rather than going belly up like the Barnes and Noble at Astor Place.   East Village Books  is a community minded book store like Bluestocking but low key and the window right now is pure '60's which I love.

St. Marks Book Store cannot afford St. Marks rent so they are housed in the safety of the hideous Cooper Union mega dorm. I feel Cooper Union like NYU has been destructive to the community but this is one positive act that NYU should take immediate action and copy and give rental space at low rents to all the stores closing as fast as they Universities supersize our historic area and that includes NY Law, The New School, SVA but the worst by far is NYU and Cooper Union's Science building tear down to supersize and lease for 99 years is just plan wrong and again infrastructure concerns are also worrisome.

My favorite local library. I thought I got a photo of the facade of this building and the one from next door which is more stunning but in the rush I must have lost the image.

NYU's collage promoting the historical area they destroyed for mega dorms and their unending need to expand

I have showed you this collage before and I am rushing but it is of our historic neighborhood and NYU had destroyed as much of it as possible East and West in the name of higher education and supersizing the Village East and West for Student housing. The only thing the mayor and John Sexton, Amanda Burden and friends have not done is provided NYU trolleys and buses to transport us out. NYU waits for buildings to empty to buy or lease them, to tear them down but they still have this collage up of the old Village before NYU mega domination.   We feel this is all part of the tv movie fantasy of the lure.    They have destroyed so much of and they weigh heavy on our infrastructure all the breaks will not happen in front of their mega dorms and mega builds with new pipes. My theory is they happen to the old pipes they connect to as they supersize and cram in huge populations of students.

There is the theory that the city is spending a fortune with an unnecessary rennovation for Washington Square Park because NYU is the number one real estate owner and for tourism rather than spend the money in a poor neighborhoods to improve park conditions.  Rumor is they have found human bones at the unwanted renovation in Washington Square Park.

Cooper Union and their massive crane and rumors

Cooper Union tore down their beautiful old studio building and rumor has it -- this building won't be purely for art studios for college kids but may have some other focus that the community would not be happy about...if they knew. I was also told St. George next door sued and lost to fight them building taller because it would obscure the sun that illuminates their famous glass stained windows. I am rushing so you will have to do the investigative work and historical research. I am under the gun....

Not in Tompkin Square Park anymore

In all the years I have lived in NYC, I rarely if ever leave which is very stressful. I send money to the Fresh Air Fund because I understand how important it is for inner city kids to get away.
It is great to escape but still hard to decompress...the stress of urban living is hard to define and overwhelming especially with the spike in population, tourists, college kids, etc and not stop construction noise and pollution where ever you are in NYC post-9-11 under the Bloomberg Administration.

Heart Constellation Grand Central Station

In New York City every moment is charged with intensity and passion...heart on constellation Grand Central Station--the stunning ceiling

Andrew Berman sent us a new email and I sent an email but when you write the City it has to be under 150 words in an email.  

www.gvshp.org  to join and learn more about the struggle here visit the website...here is the letter that I could not fit in the 150 word count.

www.gvshp.org/trumplet.htm

Message:Trump and the city are wrong to let him supersize the area with his "condo hotel" and the city cannot continue to give out these free passes at the expense of the people of this great city who's rights come before Trump's greed and goal to win at all costs...at the cost of what is right, at the cost of the community, at the cost of safety for the people of this city. We need accountability, safety and community first before greed. Stop Trump's condo-hotel at 246 Spring Street and listen to the people of NYC, safety and community first, safety and community before greed.

Fire in the Blood

Intellectually starving...enjoyed reading the pieces on the economy and Russia's new leader in The New York Times...just exhausted...and I don't read, learn do anything in the mainstream way...Someone who loves me but doesn't "get me" hands me "Fire in the Blood" and tells me I must read this book.

I open it up...burst of emotion....Irene Nemirovsky was deported to Auschwitz two days before my birthday...burst....the book is dedicated to Irene by her son and to Oliver Rubinstein and to the two men who found it....and more, to everyone who has been a part of Fire in the Blood.

There is no way I can read this book at this time in my life...think of my first letter published in The New York Times and how Bruno Schulz's birthday and mine -- two days apart and part of my family came from the same area as he...before he was murdered by the SS.

So tired...so tired...grateful to be loved and for the book but I just can't read it right now.  So tired and I can't wait to get these stitches out of my finger.  Took off the band aid so I could type.

How amazing after one is murdered brutally that the future can bring devoted souls that dedicate themselves to your art and writing....but many reasons so many -- have to think how the beauty of "now", the gratitude of the goodness and beauty found in the moment that I am living in...

Bloomberg not running for President!

As an artist and an American in theory, I would be just be speaking up and I did.  I posted my thoughts on this and the future of NYC's budget = crisis and cuts, rumors, theories and thoughts and of course continue to write about infrastructure concerns...but I removed it although friends, community activists that I am connected to city wide have a copy of what I wrote.  

Gee, do you think the mayor figured out that he would get the same reception as  his predecessor?   The money the mayor did not spend running for President...do you call it "vanity money" when it is a multi-billionaire (?) -- can he just donate it to the City of New York because doing so might prevent a tsunami of budget cuts...?

Please remember to ask yourself "Why?".   

my yoga teacher continues YOGA FACE time

www.planetgreen.discovery.com

under beauty you can find the newest piece and I wrote a comment praising her teaching and she does help me "turn on my inner beauty switch"!

My favorite media moment was on ABC news being interview by Laura Glassberg and people from all over and they agreed with what I had to say.  I just have "a moment"(a yoga kiss) on Rachel Ray for Anna Lise Hagen and Yoga Face but wow a lot of people saw that.

My Yoga Face time has been my" happy time" like Anna Lise's magical yoga -- I call "happy yoga".

www.savestbrigid.com

www.savestbrigid.com

please visit the website, read the latest news about the court case and what you can do,  if you haven't already and  you can please help!

The community is working hard -- a noble endeavor to save this stunningly beautiful church with an important history so please visit.

I  heard rumors Charlie Parker used to visit St. Brigids

I have another post on St. Brigid along with Mary Help of Christians and other Churches in the area but you have to search my blog...have some techno challenges...

you can do a search under my name and St. Brigid and it may come up as well...

Support 47 East 3rd Streets right to stay in their home

I just made another donation to www.47e3.org

and I urge you to visit their website and read about their struggle to remain in their homes.  

They are a diverse group of people that have a common thread and that is they are loved by the community.  

www.neighborsproject.blogspot.com

www.neighborsproject.blogspot.com

Beautiful horses

Apple Soho Maroon 5 did a live performance and the women lined up

Maroon 5 gave a free performance at Apple Soho and these beautiful young women and their pals all lined up in advance to get their seats.  I enjoyed the woman highlighted in the light because she was wonderfully expressive.

Best Hot Chocolate

I love chocolate and this ice cream place on St. Marks has the best chocolate ice  cream and very good hot chocolate.   Australian, St. Marks Place across from Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen.

Devil on St. Marks

This building has lots of horned faces  and is one of many fascinating "face facades" that give the East Village character.

http://kidsmagicgarden.net/ Please visit the site and help because they face eviction. Their story is powerful and can also be found at: http://kidsmagicgarden.net/

Dear Children's Magical Garden supporters and volunteers,There are bulbs peeping up through the snow in the garden, letting us know that spring is on the way! We will be having our first gardeners meeting of the season at 5 PM next Sunday, March 2nd, place T.B.A. so please r.s.v.p. if you plan to attend. It will be at a location close to the garden. We will be discussing strategies to make the garden permanent, as it is still threatened, and this is the year to save our garden for good! We will also be discussing the upcoming grow together! conference, fundraisers, an exciting new compost project, and some of our goals for this growing season. We would love to see you there! This will be a great chance to help envision the future of this important children's community garden.Then.. come to our official kickoff of the growing Season on Sunday, March 22nd from 2-5 PMWhen:Sunday March 22nd from 2-5Children's Magical Garden de Carmen RubioNorfolk and Stanton St., L.E.S.What: Planting seeds for the pizza garden's second year, and beautiful spring flowers, signing up new members, and learning about composting kitchen scraps!Learn how you can become a member of thegarden and help the kids grow a pizza garden and start their newcomposting project. Workday starts at 2, with a composting workshopstarting at 3. Suggested things to bring are: compostables, seeds, and flowers forplanting. We could also use cardboard egg containers for starting theseeds. We suggest you bring (organic) tomato, eggplant, pepper, basil,thyme, oregano seeds and pansy flowers, but any and all contributionsare appreciated. Please also bring your friends and family, towelcome spring and another season of growing pizza, flowers, kids andcommunity! Or...come with just your beautiful self instead and that'll be great too!Hope to see you!

And the Oscar goes to Adrienne Shelly for Waitress

Anyone following this blog knows I identify with Adrienne Shelly based on the first version of her death. The murderer tried to blame the murder on her attempting to pass his heinous act off as a lie...a lie as in suicide about a woman who had just completed a masterpiece that was life affirming and love affirming. Despite touching on the issue of violence towards women it is a film about love and a love letter to her young daughter who has a cameo at the end of the film. Her daughter is always going to know how great her dynamic Mom loved her so deeply -- the film, the song she co-wrote in the film, and so much more I am sure. Tragic and I believe she was murdered for asking the construction to cool it with the noise and he was afraid she was going to call the police. People who know me and what I have been going through know why I think about Adrienne Shelly.

Adrienne Shelly deserves an Academy Award -- best picture or special one for her courage to be original.

DEP calls me today about NYU construction noise+pictures of snowy days

DEP called me today to follow up on my concerns re: the NYU mega dorm construction at 120 East 12th Street on what is now St. Ann's Church grave...I know two people who I won't grace with names took "credit" for getting NYU to quiet down...what a joke but anything to pat themselves on the back. I told the gentleman from DEP NYU's mega destruction-construction is one of 2 reasons I am moving.

So amazing DEP calls me today to check on NYU construction noise. One person was so upset they wrote a note and posted it on every floor expressing their outrage. I am still greatly concerned for infrastructure safety and NYU weighs the heaviest with the most supersification--highest population with the most mega dorms plus buildings they lease and or own that are student housing or extended campus in the East Village with other Universities jumping on the very heavy bandwagon of supersizing the East Village with mega dorms including Cooper Union bent on added a mega structure for leasing across from their Cooper Union Mega dorm, NY Law, SVA, The New School aka NYU-Las Vegas Ville and how ironic mega condos and mega hotels jumped on the supersizing weigh heavy on our old infrastructure.

People stop me and pat me on the back for speaking up for them, commenting about me speaking up on NY1, at the City Council Task Force Meeting on DOB and rallies, especially The Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen which I was mysteriously erased by the little paper that seems to be written by NYU these days.

On to happy topics -- East Village, snowy days....

p.s. I have four stitches in my finger and sleepy tired like I might be getting a cold. I just am blessed to feel a lot of love from a diverse group of people that truly makes this a Village, a community.


p.p.s I will never forget the parishoner's crying some on their knees on 12th Street but NYU had to tear down this historic church because student housing is the most important priority as evictions continue to rise.

To date the USPS and NYU have never been held accountable for the illegal air sale over St. Ann's which made it so wonderful and very quick -- a world record build for NYU to cram 700-900 students on to 12th street which also evokes other concerns that go unanswered.

We still do not have one community outreach resource center which I asked NYU reps for circa 2 years ago...? and I will laugh when it happens and who takes credit for it.

To find out the latest news or more information about the Trump fight, go to www.gvshp.org/trump.htm, or call us at 212/475-9585.

Visit www.gvshp.org to become a member and the link above to learn more about the TrumpCondo battle.

I have heard on "the street" the rumor is all these sky piercing condos are going to be half to completely empty which could mean the would try some kind of trump game to fill these places up if they can at all. How ironic they made sky piercing glass aquariums that we can all see are empty or half empty.

Times Up time is up at 49 East Houston Street, moved to Hub Station

Steve Stollman, Primary Public Space Advocate sold the building that housed Times Up at 49 East Houston Street.

http://www.times-up.org/

Hub Station, 73 Morton Street is Times Up's new home for now.

To contact George Bliss his email is HubStationsoho@yahoo.com
George has amazing ideas on how to make NYC green in dynamic ways that would help in the big picture as in the environment and that includes all the massive Universities like NYU and Columbia!

Whole Earth Bakery still here but the evictions make it like the titanic

Above is a photo of Filomena Silvestri and the last photo of Filomena and Peter Silvestri pictured together. Before Filomena died at the age of 94 she knew we won a small victory for her...her dream realized "Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen" would continue on at 130 St. Marks Place and she and her son Peter would not be evicted...at least not yet.

Peter has dealt with this like an East Village Gandhi and continued to get mini-extensions but he continues to be threatened with eviction in 6 months.

It has been like the Titanic and so many businesses die or a few lucky ones relocate.

This is the 2nd push out because of gentrification which I renamed supersification.

Peter needs help on any and all fronts from relocation to coming in and buying food or hiring him to cater events.

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen
The Art of Vegan Baking
Honoring Mother Earth Since 1978
130 Saint Marks Place , NYC 10009
212-677-7597 fax 212-677-7067

wholesale and retail

+Since Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen has been part of the community for so many decades I had hoped Whole Foods who rescue Peter and I asked them to relocate his store to the front windows in their Houston Street store to honor small businesses since they have mega stored the area and their stores are generic so this would benefit their community relations and add a dynamic quality they need to not be so generic. They said no. We did have a conference call and they know Peter needs help. So does NYU and they claim they want to help small businesses but I do not see them doing anything but waiting for evictions to buy up or lease more properties and that includes being a landlord to mega retail chains like Trader Joe's and even having a wine shop in the base of the Pallidium mega-dorm with huge amounts of under age student housing.

mystical magical day in the East Village

Thanks and gratitude with New York attitude,
certain people that are part of the magical diverse mosaic of what I find most beautiful about this great city so touched my heart and soul today---such much joy and beauty today...

Special prayers for a courageous soul who stood up for me front line...tomorrow is a big day for test results...praying for the best.

won't be missing NYU-Las Vegas Ville, just some good people

Lost the picture below which was in my home of 20 years...so picked this one-handy... I can't wait to not be next to the post office and the church grave of St. Ann's aka NYU's newmegadorm

Can't wait to move for many reason including one I can only describe with words like "bad mojo" not my term...friends' term, I would use the term "bad karma" but I also can't wait to move because of NYU's mega destruction and I will always remember the parishoners of St. Ann's crying and praying on the street, some on their knees...so sad. I remember when I first moved in to this building there used to be guys that would be huddled against the side of it smoking crack.

I sent out letters re: Adrienne Shelly's murder and I was hoping they would get published because her contribution has been marginalized and I urge you to rent her film "Waitress". Her cowardly murderer tried to pass his heinous act off as a suicide trying to blame the victim...the typical mo of abusers...blame the victim. Her film addresses abusive men and the blame game but ultimately it is a life affirming and loving film; a love letter to her beautiful young daughter who has a cameo at the end of the film. The love song she co-wrote is also I believe for her daughter. This beautiful girl is going to grow up like many children around the globe with out a mom but she can be confident her mother deeply loved her.

It is so sad how violently women are treated and also are contributions are marginalized or erased. Adrienne Shelly should win an Oscar and people should see Waitress.

St. Marks tongue, tongue tongue

This facade has faces with tongues hanging out...the many blocks around here have "face facades" including one that looks like Karl. There are also angels and even devils...I am not a fan of this one but how odd!!!!!!!!!!! (Across from Kim's where I rent my dvd's.)

Green $ NYU empty trolley, well aprox one student

Green NYU continues to clog the streets and waste away our neighborhood with empty trolleys and buses and uses Lafayette Street as their bus and trolley depot when they could a) get rid of most of the trolleys and buses and donate it to senior citizens homes. b) park what is left of their fleet on their private property aka NYU's empire c) give their students incentives to walk and take public transportation or loan them bicycles.

rapistcaught may be The Box rapist and robber

Woke up early, turned on 1010 news and I thought I heard the police caught a rapist and it could be the same one who raped and robbed women leaving The Box.
Two attempts to rape women, one fought him off.
I heard one victim blame herself and that is what every abuser wants...they want the victim to believe it is their fault.

Ladder 3, honoring the memory

I will be moving as soon as I can but for now I can still hear Ladder 3's sirens and it is strange because I know they are going on a call which could be very dangerous but I also find the sounds of their loud sirens comforting. I will miss Ladder 3.

I see Capt. Patrick Brown's name and I remember the first time I saw his stunning blue eyes was when he joined a karate school I had been attending. He seem to love my passion and intensity. I encounter people that want to break my spirit but he was clearly a dynamic soul that enjoyed the fiery passion...his own and others I am guessing. He was in phenomenal shape and he was loved by many people. So many people encountered from the many activities he participated in and that included teaching blind students Karate. Like Fireman Bobby Beddia, these were older men in great shape with that certain something that evoked a lot of love by many people they touched along the way.

"Betrayal at Ground Zero" my letter in The Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB111457272166718054.html%20

Capt. Pat Brown was a decorated Viet Nam Vet but he died in the line of duty here in NYC on our darkest day and he was so brave and to date the Mayor refuses to give our Firemen, NYPD, PAPD and EMS their rank. For years they have remained invisible on the seemingly unending fence at the WTC site where millions of visitors come and the largest loss of rescue workers in our Nation's history -- this historical fact is erased although a global audience saw them running in to the WTC towers to rescue people. NYPD officer, Moira Smith was seen escorting a man to safety and going back in to save more people only to die and yes there were so many heroic people, many civilians but this was the largest loss of rescue workers New York's and the USA's history and zero -- nothing to acknowledge this historical heartbreaking fact all these years at the site.

+ A young fireman who survived by seconds told me if he had died, he wanted "fireman" after his name. He was so passionate and intense he was the 10 alarm fire that inspired this letter of mine to be published in The Wall Street Journal.

Also note I talk about "betrayal" being a daily staple for me as a passionate New York artist...so true.

Two women catch me eye -- drag?

I am fascinated by sexual politics and when I saw these two gals, I had to photograph them.

dining and sexual politics

I love Italian food. I was eating Le Zoccole and asked what the name meant. It is the name of a street in Rome but is the connotation is shocking and the interpretation could be considered darkly supportive of women's rights or not. It is a relaxing place to sit down and eat.

I am writing about violence towards women. We speak up and are marginalized, ignored, told we are liars, bitches, trashed and blamed for violence directed at us. We are told we deserve it. It is our fault. We have to endure hostile environments by our abusers and even just being alive to talk about it is a luxury. Having the resources to leave is powerful.

Even The Styles Section in The New York Times which is "light" reading talks about the double standard -- and quotes Colin Farrell using the word "sexism". It is true women are judged very differently than men.

My first letter ever published on this topic talked about how globally women are lagging behind men from economic power to basic human rights and it was in The Financial Times.

Nixymary

My theories, thoughts 4:00 am....I have been writing a lot about women and violence and that here in the U.S.A and globally I believe more females die "death by violence" than die by breast cancer but it is not being addresssed. I woke up and put on 1010 news and Nixymary's short horrific life and the role of her mother and step-father are constantly repeated. I have written about the pattern of men blaming the victims which seems to go hand and hand with the violence and murder. In this case which is too horrifying to fully grasp the mother is clearly in my opinion guilty as well.

I was discussing with a friend the "witch hunts" where they would burn women at the stake. We talked about "scapegoating" and how it is "easier to be dumb" (a different kind of dumbing down than refered to in the media) to not ask questions and challenge "the blame game". How many people saw some signs of abuse and acted deaf and dumb? This is not always gender specific and clearly women or even gangs of girls can be equally leathal or join in with male counterparts to all kinds of violence from verbal to the worst cases that result in death.

The scapegoating process makes it easier for people to not address what is really going on and scapegoating distracts from the real problems.

Nixymary is in a special place in Heaven if there is one and I can't write very much because her story is just too devastating but again it fits into my statiscal theory on violence to females and the death rate. There was also a clear pattern of verbal abuse and blame that is part of systematic expressions of hostility that were ignored by many and leads to escalated forms of violence and in Nixmary's short painful life, her murder.

Tompkins, Anthony, basketball and me

Thought of Michael who passed away Jan. 15th and how much he loved photographing the character and characters...we are the same age...he is gone and I am here...saw the light in sky and him... http://ohenrosan.blogspot.com/ We both have roots in the neighborhood and we loved it here but we could not get along although we were drawn to each other. He had a lot of pain from the rare form of cancer but he was so productive and he died surrounded by love and that was world wide because he blogged about his experience, wrote poetry and of course his powerful photographs live on. New York has character and I am glad I am one of the characters...the mosiac of people is as beautiful to me as the historic New York city I love.

Anthony came over to shot some baskets with me. I handed him my blog card which also lists http://www.vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/ and asks "Do you love New York?"

Anthony gave me his thoughts on the rapid development that is hard to ignore...

"Yes, I like the diversity and more money coming in to the city. No because sky rocketing rents, less jobs and it drives people out."

I asked Anthony to take some pictures of me playing ball. I was a high school basketball star and should have played in college but didn't. I did play some full court games at West 4th Street and I did play some ball in the gym at Rutgers University, New Brunswick and I remember the guys said "She plays like the brothers." I was touched and painted a basketball and put their quote on the ball as part of my art.

Today I had none of the terrible pain in knee, etc and it was a blast listening to music and playing ball! Over a decade ago basketball gave me the gift of a friend that I rarely see but really gives me spiritual cpr and has a great capacity for empathy...really tuned into what I am going through...Having some time to just shoot some baskets by myself and listen to some music was so fun. I was happy to see Shirley and Amy who work so hard to keep our beautiful park beautiful. It meant so much to me to have some b.ball time in Tompkins. I just wish I could go for one of my runs...running was my love letter to NYC but I can't run...thrilled to play some ball though.


http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rulib/spcol/bookarts/ianatcases.jpg

If you click on this link you can see the basketball with paint and their kind words on display along with my unconventional "book art" and art with poems and text.....

Karen "Love Saves the Day"

Karen sells all kinds of unique items in front of Love Saves the Day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. She is liked by the diverse group of constant passer bys and is a welcomed appreciated part of our community. I am trying to give away and let go of as much as possible and Karen not only sells items but she relieves clutter monsters like me (that is most of us New Yorkers) and I appreciate Karen and her warmth big time!

unconvential Valentine's Day and FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!

How can you not love a store name "Love Saves the Day"? East Village, 2nd Avenue

Fire on 2nd Avenue (so tired I can't remember) and there was a large turn out of trucks. I thought of Fireman Bobby Beddia who should be alive and I am glad his sister is sueing and I hope she wins. I wasn't his girlfriend but he had the gift of making people feel loved and these gorgeous women flirted with him in front of me and the told them I was his wife! (So honored...he had the gift to make people laugh too.) He was so intelligent, funny, compassionate and of course very handsome. He is missed and by many because he had the gift...that special something...

My buddies...

La Palapa on St. Marks, a women owned business and they are artists too. A tribute to Auden who lived here in the neighborhood.

2 Canvases and a body stocking art work

I am moving my art out and like most New Yorkers, I have most of my life cluttered in to my studio of 20 years. I carried 2 unstretched canvases and this body stcking about sex and relations to "Post-Al" and Gary, a humble true blue New Yorker packed my art up and shipped it up.

Post-Al, 341 Lafayette Street, 212-77-3400

Support small businesses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adrienne Shelly's murderer changes his story

The New York Times reports Adrienne Shelly's murderer changed his story and his possible motivation to do so was to receive a less harsh sentancing. Either way he ultimately was a coward and blamed her for her own death by trying to pass his heinous act off as suicide.

See "Waitress" and experience a masterpiece that understands the violence towards women and yet the optimism of rising above despair and celebrate love. "Waitress" is a life affirming love letter to Adrienne Shelly's beautiful daughter that has a cameo in the film.

This is close to home for me for many reasons and I started out my life here in NYC on Carmine Street aprox. 25 years ago so bravo to the 6th Precinct for swiftly catching this cowardly murderer.

Another child grows up without a parent because of violence but most of all I am sick of the violence towards women and the most extreme act is murder and along with the usual "blame the victim", lie and trash her. In this murder case the irony is the murderer tried to pass his murder off as suicide.

Adrienne Shelly, a loving mother and dynamic film maker had completed her film "Waitress" which touchs on violence towards women and yet was ultimately hugely a love and life affirming film. There was no way she would kill herself.

Rent "Waitress" and wait until you see the end of the film and her beautiful little daughter and hear the loving song she co-wrote clearly a love letter to this beautiful child. Waitress is a powerful film and I wish she would receive a special Academy Award because she dared to make a unique film from the heart. I was even frustrated that all the newspapers refered to her as "actress" -- she was a talented actress, powerful film maker and clearly a deeply loving mother. I feel "we" women, our contributions are continually minimalized in many and all ways which makes violence that much easier. I believe in this country and globally more females die by violence than by breast cancer but it is not addressed and the small violences are very much accepted.

The New York Daily News page 47 photo of sink hole W. Village

Please make sure to look at this photo in today's The New York Daily News
and again I repeat myself...thank goodness no one was injured or died...

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=69978&search_result=1&stid=8
May 2007 the East Village...you can see me and a diverse group community members in front of a fairly large water main break.

My point is our safety should be the number one concern instead of the rush to supersize the area with mega dorms, sky piercing condos and glittery hotels that reflect "not welcome sign" to long term community members and small businesses and ALL ON AN OLD INFRASTRUCTURE...yeah they lay down the mandatory new pipes for their sky piercing builds but they are connected to old pipes....all too tall, too fast; safety/community first!!!!!!!!!

My Valentine's to my neighborhood

Self portrait at Web Zone where I upload my blogging and my hexagon in Tompkin Square Park which is from a poem I wrote from the short story "The Going". Special love to all those that have been so loving and supportive to me. I had to make my poem extra short to fit into the hexagon mosaic but it is a love letter to the community, Tompkins, and the people I love--the ones that are here and to loved ones that have died, many way too young. Special thanks to my activist lawyers David Rankin and Mark Taylor.

www.47e3.org

http://47e3.org/


I just made a donation and I urge you to visit their website...read their story and make a donation as well!

NYU considers Broadway and Lafeyette their parking lot for NYU buses and trolleys

This is where I want the first NYU community outreach resource center that I confronted the mayor about on the John Gambling show which is archived and the link the last comment on my first blog ever on http://www.suzannahbtroy.blogspot.com/ "I am" This is NYU's student housing center and reflects a community no longer and a history destroyed and that is East Village, West Village, Washington Square Park and anywhere NYU dominates and occupies including Stuy Town which was meant to be affordable housing.

Broadway is also NYU's parking lot -- NYU the East Village's very own Evil Empire treats Broadway and Lafayette as their huge parking lot and the only thing NYU has not done is provide NYU buses and trolleys to move us out to make from for NYU's unending need for student housing as evictions continue to rise!

Note: The next block down you can see the front of yet another NYU bus and there was also one parked directly across the street from this one on Lafayette Street because NYU considers the neighborhood one big parking lot although they have so much private property to park these monsters that are usually half to completely empty and congest our small streets.

Photographer Marlis Momber's photo exhibit, auction Viva Lisaida Lower East Side Photos: 1976-2008

Alfredo called me and invited to visit Umbrella house and see the photos of Marlis Momber who documented the Lower East Side in the 1970's on ward showing the political turmoil. I empathize with her concerns for archiving her work because I am an artist and have similar concerns for my art. I bought a photo of the NYPD arresting a squator/eviction 267 East 4th Street to add to my collection. . I continue to want to support other's artistic endeavors although right now is one of the most difficult times in life. I welcome change but there is enormous stress moving after all these years so it was very difficult to show up and even buy a photo when I just crammed so much of own work in a temporary storage space.
It was great to see Alfredo and we worked together to make the streets by the schools where his garden with Carmen safer and we are still hoping the City of New York will allot speed bumps because the kids deserve them and I noticed the others schools have them and why not these schools.

Here is the contact info for Marissa and I will also ask you to visit the web site for Alfredo and Carmen's garden because the magical kids garden if facing eviction under this tsunami of development.

Marlis Momber marlis@marlismomberphoto.com

http://www.marlismomberphoto.com/

Umbrella House 21-23 Avenue C. near Houston Street Feb. 8- Feb. 17, 2008

Archival Photographs 1976-2008 to raise money to finance archiving 1000 + negatives and prints

http://kidsmagicgarden.net/ Dear Readers of my blog: I ask you to visit this web site and read about the struggle to keep this garden for the community and the history. Please help and remember as you examine the history of this neigbhorhood through photo exhibits like Marlis Momber and Clayton Patterson that you remember to help in anyway possible the people fighting eviction like the kid's magic garden, Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen and http://www.47e3.org/ and many others city wide!

View from The Metropolitan Museum

I know it is funny that I am not showing you art from the museum but the view from the cafe with glass windows. So many thoughts...Jennifer Levin was murdered very nearby and I remember the jury never saw the footage of Robert Chambers breaking off a Barbie doll's head and laughing with a group of adoring young women all laughing. Violence towards women is done on so many levels and much of it is dismissed protecting the abusers and the abusive people always blame the victim.

My Dad took a rest as I sat at a table and I took this photo. He and I have been through so much he nodded out for 15 minutes and I felt in my heart how we have a finite time in this world and despite up and downs, the overwhelming feeling is great love. I remember he and I where in Paris sitting together with a very similar view...Paris New York....two very different cities but many landmarks are similar if not the same...oddly connected from the Statue of Liberty to Egyptian hieroglyphics. Art is like hieroglyphics, maybe like a murder mystery understanding the subtext....the surface and what is below the surface. My art themes are varied but what connects them is the supercharged surfaces, the energy and what is below the surface...the meaning even when the art seems "light" and funny be assured I am talking about much more than what you first visually experience.

Snow Tompkins Square my thoughts and friends

The snow came in fierce dustings and than disappeared as quickly only to return like ocean waves. Karl told me of a pastor at Heuss House that is helping him and also the difficulties and stresses involved in getting shelter so just having a warm roof over my head is clearly a blessing. I was very concerned Friday as I moved my art out of my home for 20 years and the support network I have in place knows why. Community activist and friends showed up to support me. I will need more support in the following weeks.

can't sleep, wish I could fast foward

sigh

Heaven is no NYU-mega dorms, no posers or cowards

Cannot wait to move on. I have lived here more than any place in my entire life and it is traumatic to move after aprox 25 years here and circa 20 years next to what is now St. Ann's Church grave aka NYU's newest hideous mega dorm...but circumstances are such I will not miss my home and in fact I will never set foot in the building again. (If you have not seen the NYU destruction of St. Ann's in person look at photos on my blog. www.myspace.com/suzannahbtroyartistcom to read my rant on posers aka cowards. )

Someone made me laugh so much despite all my concerns...so suprising who steps forward and touches your soul, comforts you and who can't be bothered. This underscores "village East and West" and "community" as opposed to NYU-Las Vegas-ville. Did you see NYU's newest plans for mega domination for their continued destructive expansion?

I love the neighborhood even though NYU has destroyed it completely because of the mosiac of the people...amazing the people that touch my soul, local characters, police officers, firemen, fellow activists, homeless people, fellow artists, the people that work at The Strand especially Ben, Cafe Orlin Yossi, Al from Benny's, Dr. Katherine Keil, so many magical wonderful people, a diverse mosaic of people that have a common thread...they touch me with their humanity...they are as beautiful as the trees and buildings that have so far survived the tsunami of community crushing development.

Suzannah B. Troy at Web Zone....keys computer keys, another fenced park, Karl

Very blue...my mind turns to motorcycle...the fierce and beautiful, moving art, a Jimmy Morrison song "Break on through to the other side!" I am cat co-dependant, not portable but I got my ride, love my neighbhorhood, love the real people, Karl is getting some support at Heuss House but it is not easy being homeless and the resources and or the lack of...I use computer keys in my art but tonight more like a pillow...web zone...