An Upper West Side contingent at the Women’s March. Photo by Cindy Stern.
October 19, 2020 Weather: Rainy, with a high of 55 degrees.
Notices:
Our calendar is full of local events.
The state will start enforcing the plastic bag ban starting today, so remember to take your reusable bag.
News:
Some good news on the education front. A round of Covid-19 testing in public schools has found relatively few cases. “Out of 15,111 staff members and students tested randomly by the school system in the first week of its testing regimen, the city has gotten back results for 10,676. There were only 18 positives: 13 staff members and five students,” the Times reports.
Another Upper West Sider — Citigroup Vice Chairman Ray McGuire — has thrown his hat in the ring in the race for mayor. He’s considered more moderate than other Democrats, the Post reports. “The Upper West Side resident, who has served on the boards of several philanthropic groups like the New York City Police Foundation and The New York Public Library, would be the city’s second black mayor. One Wall Streeter with knowledge of city politics positioned McGuire as an underdog in the race.”
Could a program like the Works Progress Administration put New York’s artists back to work? David Brand considered the idea in a piece for City Limits. “Artists, historians and even some lawmakers imagine a time where artists and builders seed the five boroughs with these sorts of transformative monuments, murals and music — and they would get paid for it, through government-funded programs that put unemployed residents back to work and shape how New Yorkers see themselves and their city.”
The building at 60 West 91st Street (between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue) is being sold under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. “Built in 1900, this five-story, 5,780-square-foot building on the Upper West Side has nine one-bedroom apartments. It will be delivered nearly vacant, with a path to vacancy,” the Times reports.
Did you lose your parrot? “We found this bird on our terrace. It was found today at 1:15pm,” a reader tells us.
Regarding the lost parrot, please contact local veterinary practices to report it. Especially the Center for avian and exotic medicine which specializes in birds: 212-257-3807. I hope you find the owner! And in the meantime if you do not know how to properly care for birds perhaps the veterinary clinic can take in the bird until the owner is found?
“Out of 15,111 staff members and students tested randomly by the school system in the first week of its testing regimen, the city has gotten back results for 10,676. There were only 18 positives: 13 staff members and five students.”
The fight now will be the which direction the causal arrow points. Does this mean much ado about nothing? Or great policies and compliance.
McGuire is exactly what this city needs. Our finances are a mess so we need someone who can right the ship, but still has the values of a Democrat guiding him. He might not be as “woke” as some would like, but “woke” is not going to pay the bills, and it takes money to support all of the programs everyone wants.
Concerning the beautiful bird in distress: best to get in touch with the Wild Bird Fund rescue and rehabilitation center, located right here on the Upper West Side: 565 Columbus Avenue, between 87th and 88th Streets; call 646-306-2862.
Do keep me and my fellow concerned West Side Rag readers posted!
It is a huge mistake to vote for someone who has never held a prior position and then decides to run for the highest office the City has. No experience in a complicated city like New York is a recipe for disaster.