Primary Election

WHAT'S AT STAKE IN TOMORROW'S PRIMARY ELECTION

In August 2020, quotations from poets, playwrights, politicians and others turned a construction fence surrounding the former Union Square Savings Bank on the east side of Union Square in Manhattan into a giant mural for Black Lives Matter. Shirley Chisholm (Nov. 30, 1924 – Jan. 1, 2005) was the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress. She served in Congress for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she became the first Black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's nomination. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

It's time to vote again. In the primary election, currently under way, registered Democratic voters in Lower Manhattan can choose among four candidates to run for City Council, Manhattan District 1. The winner of this primary will be on the ballot in the general election, which takes place in November. The ballot in Lower Manhattan will also ask voters to choose between two candidates for the Judge of the Civil Court, 1st Municipal District.

Primary election day is June 27. You have a right to vote in the primary election if you are registered in a party that is holding a primary election in your district and if you are in line at your poll site by closing time. New York City uses Ranked Choice Voting in primary and special elections for City offices. Elections for City Council, on the ballot in this primary, are subject to Ranked Choice Voting.

What is Ranked Choice voting?

Ranked Choice enables voters to rank up to five candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one. The candidates are listed in one vertical column with the numbers 1 through 5 running across a horizontal column. After filling in the oval next to their first choice, voters can fill in the ovals next to their second through fifth choices, if they wish. OR they can just select their first choice. Only one candidate can be designated for each position in the ranking. The candidate who receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes wins the election. BUT if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, then counting continues in rounds. Each round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. This process continues until there are only two candidates left. The candidate who receives the majority of the votes wins.

(City Council Chambers in City Hall. Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

City Council is empowered to introduce and vote on bills, negotiate and approve the city's budget, monitor city agencies, make decisions about the growth and development of the city and provide constituent support.

This is a detail of an installation from the Whitney Biennial of 2017 by Raúl de Nieves. It covered the entire glass wall of one of the museum’s galleries. The windows referenced peace, love, truth, justice, harmony and hope, which are beset by violence, decay and death.

(Photo: ©Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Photo from a rally in front of 250 Broadway protesting decisions by the Landmarks Preservation Commission favoring a developer at the expense of the historic fabric of a neighborhood and the health and safety of children attending nearby schools. Christopher Marte, who currently represents District 1, was present at that rally. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

The polling site at PS 234 in Tribeca. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Bits & Bytes

PLAN TO DUMP RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN THE HUDSON RIVER; MTA FARES, BRIDGE AND TUNNEL TOLLS EXPECTED TO RISE THIS SUMMER

The Indian Point nuclear power plant is around 35 miles north of Manhattan, near an earthquake fault line. The plant stopped operating in April 2021. The plant’s owner — Holtec International — announced in February 2023 that the site would dump more than 1 million gallons of radioactive water into the Hudson River, starting as early as this summer."

(Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2008)

"NY passes ban on dumping radioactive waste in Hudson River," Gothamist.com, 6/21/2023. "The 'Save the Hudson' bill — a New York measure that prohibits the dumping of radioactive waste into the Hudson River — is one step closer to becoming a law after passing a special session of the state Assembly Tuesday evening,"says Gothamist.com. "The 100 to 44 vote for passage came after an avalanche of community momentum and unanimous passage through the State Senate last week. But even if Gov. Kathy Hochul signs the measure into law, implementation could prove challenging because nuclear facilities and their waste management usually fall under federal law. The measure is written to prohibit the dumping of any radiological substances in connection with the decommissioning of a nuclear facility into the Hudson River. Only one such facility exists along this waterway: Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, which ceased operations in April 2021. The plant’s owner — Holtec International — announced in February that the site would dump more than 1 million gallons of radioactive water into the Hudson River, starting as early as this summer." For the complete article, click here.

"Big New York Legacy Opens Tiny Tribeca Restaurant," eater.com, 6/20/2023.

Eater.com reports, "Through his restaurants, Eiji Ichimura, the 70 year-old sushi chef, has helped educate New Yorkers on what to expect from an edomae omakase experience when he opened his first namesake under-the-radar restaurant on Second Avenue in Midtown that closed in 2008. It was followed by David Bouley’s acclaimed Brushstroke, and later, two-Michelin-starred Ichimura at Uchū, among others. Now, with the help of Rahul Saito and Kuma Hospitality Group behind Tribeca’s one-Michelin-starred modern French l’Abeille, the swankiest of Ichimura’s restaurants opens Tuesday, June 20. Sushi Ichimura, a 10-seat Tribeca slip at 412 Greenwich Street, near Laight Street, displays an East-meets-West aesthetic shaped by Ichimura and Brazilian designer, Marta Carvalho. ...The sushi master who helped fine-tune the Stateside practice of aging fish for modern diners has crafted a menu that includes fish from Hokkaido and elsewhere around Japan, along with wares from suppliers at the Toyosu Market, with many items unavailable in the United States." For the complete article, click here.

"What NYC needs to know about proposed MTA bus, subway, paratransit fare hikes," Daily News, 6/21/2023. "What you pay to ride New York City’s subways, buses and paratransit services is expected to rise this summer for the first time in seven years," says the New York Daily News. "Commuter train fares and bridge and tunnel tolls are also expected to increase. But before the MTA gives the hikes final approval, it’s gathering public opinions about its plans at public hearings you can attend in-person or online. You can also submit opinions in writing. The public hearings are being held in person at MTA Headquarters, 2 Broadway, 20th Floor – William J. Ronan Board Room. The last of the public hearings is scheduled for June 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. To register to comment at this meeting, click here. To watch a live stream of this meeting, click here. Click here for what you need to know about the MTA’s plans — and how you can make your voice heard. For the complete article, click here.

"Inaugural Season Announced For Perelman Performing Arts Center In Financial District, Manhattan," New York YIMBY, 6/23/2023. "Finishing touches are underway on the Perelman Performing Arts Center, a 138-foot-tall cubic structure in the 16-acre World Trade Center site in the Financial District," says New York YIMBY. "Designed by REX with Davis Brody Bond Architects as the executive architect and developed by The Perelman, the property will feature three performance spaces: the 450-seat John E. Zuccotti Theater, the 250-seat Mike Nichols Theater, and the 99-seat Doris Duke Foundation Theater. The halls can also be combined into a single 950-seat auditorium. The property is bound by Vesey Street to the north, Fulton Street to the south, Greenwich Street to the east, and Skidmore Owings & Merrill‘s One World Trade Center to the west....Most of the dark-gray stone sidewalk tiles are now in place surrounding the building, and much of the construction fencing has been dismantled and replaced with smaller barricades. Some light fixtures, trees, and minor below-grade infrastructure work beneath Vesey Street remain to be completed, but should wrap up this summer." For the complete article with photographs, click here.

The fare to ride New York City’s subways, buses and paratransit services is expected to rise this summer for the first time in seven years. Public hearings are now under way.

(Photo: ©Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Raspberry Linzer From Té Company

Raspberries, now seasonally available, are the classic filling for linzer. To go with them, Té Company is bringing back a traditional Chinese Medicine tea for its summer edition. In addition to its classic green tea known for its cooling properties, Té Company has created an oolong tea blend with shiso, an Asian plant of the mint family.

The tea room at 163 West 10th St. is open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information about Té Company, e-mail: hello@tecompanytea.com

For more information and to order, click here.

Bulletin Board

DOWNTOWN VOICES SEEKS NEW MEMBERS; FREE SUMMER MEALS; FULTON STALL MARKET SUMMER FARM SHARES AVAILABLE NOW

The Fulton Stall Market at 91 South St. in the South Street Seaport is a non-profit public marketplace for local food, connecting farmers and producers with the Lower Manhattan community. During the summer, the Fulton Stall Market offers shares in Community Supported Agriculture, enabling consumers to support local farmers and producers and to receive high quality food at a good price. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Free Summer Meals: Breakfast and lunch will continue to be available in some public schools beyond the instructional school year. The Summer Meals Program is open to anyone age 18 years old and under. Designated public schools, community pool centers, parks, and food trucks will be open for service. No registration, documentation, or ID is necessary to receive a free breakfast or lunch meal. The free Summer Meals Program runs from June 28 to Sept. 1, 2023. Select locations will open on June 28. All locations will be open as of June 29. Among the local schools participating in the program are P.S. 89 at 201 Warren St. and the Spruce Street School at 12 Spruce St. Both of them will be serving breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. starting June 29 and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. For more information about the program and about the food menus, click here.

Downtown Voices seeks new members: Trinity Wall Street’s semi-professional choir, Downtown Voices, is welcoming new members. High-level volunteer singers can request an audition to join this acclaimed ensemble. Members of Downtown Voices learn from an experienced choral conductor, rehearse weekly alongside professionals from The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, perform with Trinity’s professional orchestras, sing at major venues, and work on recording projects. For more information about Downtown Voices, contact the Chorus Manager at dtvtws@gmail.com. Auditions will be held on Aug. 27. To sign up for an audition, click here.

Fulton Stall Market farm shares: The Fulton Stall Market at 91 South St. in the South Street Seaport is offering fresh, local food sourced directly from farmers and local producers. This program of CSA shares (Community Supported Agriculture) helps farmers by giving them a guaranteed market for their work and it helps consumers by delivering high quality food at a reasonable price. The program runs from June 22 to Sept. 14 but it's possible to join at any time on a prorated basis. The products included in each food delivery may consist of summer vegetables, summer fruit, sprouts, eggs, mushrooms, farmstead cheese, charcuterie, bread, fresh pasta, seafood, chicken, beef and pork and more. When they sign up for the program, customers choose which products they want to purchase. Customers must come to the Fulton Stall Market to pick up their food. For information on the suppliers and on the cost of their products, click here. For answers to questions about the program contact the CSA manager, Zigi Lowenberg, who can be reached at zigi.fsm@gmail.com.

Swedish Midsummer Festival in Battery Park City

The weather was unpredictable. Though the sky was overcast and mist shrouded the tops of the Jersey City skyscrapers, it didn't rain. Thousands of people were grateful. The Swedish Midsummer Festival in Battery Park City proceeded as usual.

With Wagner Park in Battery Park City under construction, the venue for this year's Swedish Midsummer Festival was moved to Rockefeller Park, also in Battery Park City. But that was the only thing that differed from previous years of a happy, giddy, delightful, sometimes raucous celebration of the summer solstice based on pagan fertility rites with an overlay of Christianity. The midsummer celebration, observed throughout Scandinavia and in neighboring countries, takes place on June 23 when possible, the eve of St. John's Day, which marks the birthday of St. John the Baptist.

Accompanied by traditional music (mostly played on violins), the dancers wearing wreaths of flowers join hands and circle a midsummer pole, also decked with flowers. The celebration is more pagan than Christian. A Swedish midsummer pole has two large loops at the top. Why? Some say it's a symbol of fertility, while others believe it stems from Norse mythology and represents a link between the underworld, earth and the heavens.

The dancing requires some agility from time to time but no special expertise. One of the favorite dances is the "frog dance" during which the dancers hop around, imitating frogs. Other dances are along the same lines — with dancers forming large circles while holding hands.

In northern Europe, this is a time of 24-hour daylight. The midsummer festival goes on and on, fueled by ample food and drink. For various reasons, the Battery Park City version doesn't go on that long. Just before eight o'clock, the musicians from Minnesota played their last tunes for the night and a DJ took over. However, gradually, the park cleared out. Eventually, everyone went home...until next year.

(Photos: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2023)

Paul Dahlin and fiddlers from the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis played traditional music. The dances were led by Ross Sutter, a Scandinavian folklorist.