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'Naggging prohibionists,' not bars, problem on White Street

To the Editor:

I read the article in last month’s Trib, “West B’way Bars Facing License Ban.” My message to our so-called “neighbors” who oppose the liquor licenses of Bubble Lounge, Tribeca Tavern, and Cercle Rouge is: You live on White Street, not in White Plains!

The noise generated by these bars and (the sorely missed) Liquor Store Bar pales in comparison to the hyper-nagging of these prohibitionists of White Street.

Tribeca is hardly suffering from an oversaturation of bars, but is surely suffering from an oversaturation of uber-wealthy residents who thrive on sucking the lifeblood out of the melting pot that used to be New York City.

I was employed as a bartender at the Liquor Store from 2001 until its closing in 2004. In addition to my employment there, it was also my favorite bar in all of Manhattan because of its laid-back clientele of local residents, local artists and employees of the financial district. This is exactly the reason why so many truly interesting and thoughtful patrons populated our establishment.

Our sidewalk café tables were always pulled inside by midnight every night of the week, the music was played at a volume to accommodate conversation, and the very few troublemakers were immediately ejected. We never tolerated obnoxious behavior and noise from anyone. Nevertheless, our “neighbors” and their bar/restaurant-hating posse continually harassed us with false claims of loud behavior, smoking in the bar post-smoking ban, and whatever else they could dream up while constantly glaring down over their stuck-up noses at us through the windows of their Tribeca palace.

Obviously, the issue at hand hasn’t a thing to do with the “quality of life in a neighborhood that is mixed use” (as Janna Townsend was quoted in The Sun newspaper on March 6). Plain and simple it is a purely selfish motive to turn one of the greatest corners of Manhattan into a quiet, blasé, close-minded suburb, where the sidewalks roll up at 5 p.m.

Christy Dailey

Bar owners should have known better

To the Editor:

Who does Eric Benn, co-owner of The Bubble Lounge, think he is fooling when he says that “none of us knew there was a mosque there.” (“West B’way Bars Facing License Ban,” March Trib.)

If you apply for a liquor license, checking each and every building within 200 feet of the entrance of your premises is exactly what you are supposed to do; in fact, you are required to do so by law.

Filing your license application and giving the State Liquor Authority the impression you have done this when you haven’t is making a false material statement, grounds for forfeiture of the license gotten under false pretenses.

Marcia H. Lemmon
150 Ludlow Street
Ludlow Block Association

Washington Market Park story shows dynamism of community

To the Editor:

Wow, what a great photo! From dust to verdant green. Kathryn Freed’s story of Washington Market Park (“The First Washington Market Park,” March Trib) is an inspiring one, especially these days when the effort to move forward with the dust bowl at the World Trade Center site is so stymied.

As a resident of Independence Plaza, a newcomer of 12 years, and a member of the Washington Market Community Park Board, I tingle with the reminder of what a dynamic, ever-changing and significant community this is.

I often reflect on the genius of the Mitchell-Lama affordable housing program, which brought an economically diverse population and a critical mass of active, committed and politically savvy residents to Independence Plaza and the area. The program was one of the most successful social experiments of the late 20th century, creating communities nurtured by families of diverse economic, educational and social backgrounds.

IPN, sadly, is no longer part of the Mitchell-Lama program, which is breathing its last breaths. Fortunately, the spin-off benefits such as the park, schools, shopping and political clout are now vibrant and self-perpetuating. Such institutions have drawn the capital needed to renovate old buildings. Once-decrepit manufacturing buildings have been reborn as elegant homes to new neighbors.

It is timely to revisit the spirit of Washington Market as a group of people working together toward a shared future. I would like to invite new IPN tenants to join our tenants association and the whole of the community to participate in the activities of the Washington Market Community Park Board, which is a continuing community effort.

Harriet Grimm

Tribecan spots riderless horse and wonders: Why no cop on top?

To the Editor:

An interesting thing happened this evening. I was walking down West Broadway right in front of 60 Hudson Street around 8:30 p.m. when, to my surprise, a horse came strutting eastward on Thomas Street and turned left onto West Broadway (against traffic). The interesting thing was, the horse had a saddle, but no rider. It was traveling solo.

Most of the cars in the vicinity had been stopped for a red light, but there was some concern on the part of myself and other passers-by that something ugly might happen at any moment as the creature proceeded northward, presumably toward the police stable. As he crossed Worth Street, Mr. Ed migrated to the sidewalk, and about halfway up the block a couple of good samaritans got hold of his reins. Whew! One of them began leading the horse northward. By this time I had already called the 1st precinct on my cell phone and they put out a radio call.

The officer at the other end of the phone line seemed concerned but not surprised and, to my amusement, I could hear as he said to someone else, “The horse is on West Broadway.” Within seconds a couple of squad cars turned from Thomas onto West Broadway, as if following the horse’s tracks, and raced up to his location, now around Leonard Street.

I’ve lived in Tribeca for 15 years and this is a first for me. While I’m certain that there’s a perfectly logical explanation, I must say that I’m a bit curious as to precisely how New York City’s finest managed to lose a horse.

David Silver

‘Great news’ about trees, flowers and the Tribeca streetscape

To the Editor:

As a follow-up to your February story about our Tribeca Trees project, I am pleased to report that a number of people from across Tribeca have responded to that article. In fact, volunteers have already begun looking for sites for new trees, and are finding ways to better nurture the trees that we already have.

Of course, we hope to match up people to care for each of our trees, and so anyone interested who missed the story in February’s Trib can send an email to us at president@friendsofgreenwichstreet.org to learn how to get involved. We will hold a gathering for questions, updates and planning every third Tuesday of the month; show up anytime between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. If you email us, we’ll send you back a note about the location.

The other great news is that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has just announced that it is awarding us a grant to support the project. This grant will help us to coordinate the program and work effectively with the businesses and other institutions in Tribeca alongside the residential community.

On other matters, we have been awaiting spring like everyone else, and we’re especially eager to see how the 1,000 daffodils we planted along Greenwich Street will look following this upside-down winter.

Finally, within several days we’re expecting the arrival and installation of the next crop of 59 named sidewalk bricks, for which many families and individuals have been waiting patiently (sorry that it’s taken longer than we’d prefer).

If you’d like to be part of the next “summer sidewalk brick crop,” please go to our website (friendsofgreenwichstreet.org) for the order form, and for all the news about Friends of Greenwich Street.

Steve Boyce
President, Friends of Greenwich Street

The Tribeca Trib welcomes signed letters to the editor. Send them to tribeditor@tribecatrib.com Letters may be edited for length and clarity.