News and events in Lower Manhattan
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Volume 6, No. 80, March 24, 2024 | |
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CONTENTS:
Letter From the Editor: The polls are open
Spring Equinox Festival at the Museum of Jewish Heritage
Bulletin Board: Price Gouging Warning From New York Attorney General James
For the latest weather info: www.weather.gov/okx/.
Go to www.DowntownPostNYC.com for breaking news and for updated information on facility closures related to COVID-19
MASTHEAD PHOTO: Daffodils. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: THE POLLS ARE OPEN | | |
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Early voting in the New York State primary election began on March 23 and will end on Saturday, March 30. In the primary, voters can only vote for candidates in the party for which they are registered.
The primary election is for candidates for US President and for delegates to the presidential conventions. Joe Biden is the candidate on the Democratic ballot and Donald Trump is the candidate on the Republican ballot. The names of some other candidates may also appear, but all of them have already dropped out. No write-in votes will be allowed.
Primary elections for congressional and U.S. Senate seats will be held in June.
Early voting poll sites often differ from those used on Election Day, which is Tuesday, April 2. The hours also differ so if you want to vote early, be sure to check on where you can vote and on when your polling site opens and closes.
Although there are no suspenseful races in this primary, it's still important to vote because pollsters and strategists for the respective candidates will be looking at turnout as a way to gauge commitment and enthusiasm for the presidential candidates.
— Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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Any registered voter can vote early, without having to supply a reason for making this choice. Early voting for the primary election that will be held on Tuesday, April 2 started on March 23. Early voting poll sites are often different from those used on primary election day. To find your early voting poll site, click here. | |
Downtown Post NYC's website (www.DowntownPostNYC.com) is updated daily. That's the place to check for urgent messages, breaking news and reminders of interesting events in and around Lower Manhattan. So be sure to look at the website every day, especially if you want to know about breaking news.
HOW TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN POST NYC: I made Downtown Post NYC free to subscribers so that no one who was interested in reading it would be excluded because of cost. Downtown Post NYC is largely supported by advertising revenue. In addition, some people have made contributions, which are much appreciated. For more information about how to contribute or advertise, email editor@downtownpostnyc.com.
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TODAY! MARCH 24, AT THE
MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE IN BATTERY PARK CITY
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A young man in an idyllic setting of flowering plants, trees and streams is depicted in the Houghton Shah-nameh, which was made for the Safavid ruler of Iran, Tahmasp. He reigned from 1525 to 1576 and was a patron of the arts. | |
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March 24: The Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City is welcoming spring and observing the Persian New Year with a free, day-long festival of Persian music, food, readings, games, dancing and a film.
The festival also honors Purim, which ends at sundown. Purim commemorates the bravery of Queen Esther as recounted in the Bible. She was married to Ahasuerus, a king who is usually identified with Xerxes, the great king of Persia. For reasons of his own, Haman, the king's chief minister, created a plot to kill all of the Jews in the kingdom, which would have included Esther, who hadn't revealed to her husband that she was Jewish. She got wind of Haman's intentions and with the help of her cousin, Mordecai, persuaded the king to enable the Jews to defend themselves. Haman and his sons and all who supported them were defeated and killed. Mordecai, now second in rank to King Ahasuerus, decreed that there should be an annual celebration to commemorate what had happened.
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Purim is a joyous holiday, celebrated with the reading of the book of Esther, sending food gifts to friends, giving charity to the poor and eating a festive meal. Costumes and rowdy parties (on this festival, drinking is encouraged) are also part of the way in which many people celebrate Purim.
This day is also a celebration of spring and of the Persian New Year, called "Nowruz" or "Nou-Roz," meaning "New Day." This festivity had its antecedents in Zoroastrianism, which was the religion of the Persian empire for around one thousand years, ending with the Arab conquest in AD 651. Zoroaster saw the world as a conflict between Good and Evil. The sun represents the force of Good, so its return at the spring equinox is a day to celebrate with special food that includes herbs and other greens.
During the Spring Equinox Festival at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a tea house will offer samples of authentic Persian food that will be accompanied by music and dancing. Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. there will be children's activities and between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. there will be a concert featuring pianist Tania Eshaghoff-Friedberg and an eight-member troupe of musicians with a vocalist who will perform traditional Persian music.
Admission to the festival is free, with an optional $10 donation to help support programming at the museum. Place: 36 Battery Place. For more information, click here.
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The Greek at Greca
452 Washington St. in Tribeca
Breakfast and lunch are served daily. From Thursday to Sunday, in addition to breakfast and lunch, The Greek at Greca also serves dinner.
For hours, menus and photographs, click here
Email: info@thegreektribeca.com
Phone: (917) 261-4795
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Bulletin Board
PRICE GOUGING WARNING FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES
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The Hudson River during Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 4, 2020
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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On April 4, 2020, Channel 7 Eyewitness News reported that Tropical Storm Isaias had "unleashed tornadoes, dangerous winds, and heavy rain sweeping through the Tri-State area with nearly as much power as it had after making landfall as a hurricane near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. More than 12 hours after coming ashore, Isaias still had sustained top winds of 65 mph (105 kph). By mid-afternoon a racing Isaias had crossed the state line just west of New York City, where winds forced the Staten Island ferry and outdoor subway lines to shut down."
Tropical Storm Isaias was a reminder that in addition to Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012, we've had monster storms in New York City and will undoubtedly have them again. With that in mind, New York State Attorney General Letitia James has issued bulletins from time to time telling consumers that "price gouging of essential goods and services in the aftermath of heavy rainstorms that caused flash flooding and significant damages in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and other parts of the state" is illegal.
"New York's price gouging statute prevents businesses from taking advantage of consumers by selling essential goods or services at an excessively higher price during market disruptions or emergencies," says AG James. She "urges New Yorkers who see higher price essential goods and services, including ride hailing, to report the issue to her office."
The goods and services in question include "food, water, gasoline, generators, batteries, flashlights, hotel lodging and transportation options," according to press releases from the Attorney General's office. "When reporting price gouging to the Office of the Attorney General, consumers should report the specific increased prices, dates and places that they saw the increased price and provide copies of their sales receipts and photos of the advertised prices, if available."
Price gouging violations can carry penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. New Yorkers should report potential concerns about price gouging by filing a complaint online or calling (800) 771-7755.
— Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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Some of the Downtown Post NYC bulletin board listings are now on the Downtown Post NYC website. To see the bulletin board listings, click here.
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To see the events and activities on the Battery Park City Authority's winter calendar, click here. Most events are free. For some, reservations are required. | |
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Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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© 2024
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