A war is raging over school resources

A war over school resources is raging in New York City. The latest battle was fought in Chelsea on Feb. 23, when parents and students confronted PEP — the Panel on Educational Policy that replaced the independent Board of Education when the mayoral control of city schools was instituted in 2002.

A call for ending policy prohibiting gay/bisexual men from donating blood

On the windswept morning of Saturday, March 6, Congressman Anthony Weiner (of New York’s 9th District) stood outside the Beth Israel Medical Center. He was joined by Dr. Sean Cahill — Managing Director of Public Policy, Research and Community Health at Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC). Both men called for the Food and Drug Administration to end a decades-old ban which prohibits gay and bisexual men from donating blood (regardless of their HIV status).

Press adds to St. Vincent’s trauma, hospital’s docs say

As St. Vincent’s Hospital struggles to stay afloat, top physicians at a “visibility rally” on Sun., Feb. 21, said a main obstacle the hospital is facing is negative media coverage.

Special-ed school move would set students back, parents cry

Relocating a group of special-needs students from their Chelsea school to free up space at another elementary school in the neighborhood would erase years of effort to teach disabled children effectively, claimed parents and advocates at a recent public hearing regarding the move.

Locals say hospital’s ills result of bad dollars and sense

Frustration, anger and fear were palpable at a Chelsea town hall meeting convened on Wed., Feb. 17, to search for solutions that would allow St. Vincent’s Hospital to continue caring for the community.

Cyclists deflated after latest ruling on group permits

A Manhattan federal judge last week ruled that the New York Police Department’s policing of the monthly Critical Mass bicycle rides doesn’t violate the cyclists’ rights, and dismissed the lawsuit that seeks to block police from requiring bicycle groups of 50 or more riders to obtain parade permits.

James McCaffrey, seaman, housing activist, dies at 86

James McCaffrey, a longtime Chelsea resident who sailed in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II and had a ship torpedoed from under him, died in a New Jersey hospice on Feb. 11 at age 86.

Moynihan Station gets $83M boost

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer recently announced that the federal government would provide $83 million in stimulus funds to help jumpstart the long-in-the-works Moynihan Station project.

Art D’Lugoff receives Music Legends Award

Art D’Lugoff, the owner of the Village Gate performance venue, was posthumously honored by the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce with its Music Legends Award on Fri., Feb. 19.

Village middle school will move to Financial District

Greenwich Village Middle School will move to the Financial District this fall, after the city Panel for Education Policy approved the relocation last month.

Closing the Door: Decades-old homeless shelter faces ax

The Port Authority’s elevated vehicle ramp keeps the corner of Ninth Ave. and 41st St.—where the Open Door homeless drop-in center stands—shrouded in semi-darkness. Even a photocopied sign duct-taped to the facility’s brown steel door strikes a discouraging note: “Open Door will no longer be offering meals or showers to people who are not clients.” Though no strangers to misfortune, the shabby men who hang out here daily, sipping Styrofoam cups of instant coffee, increasingly worry about their future.

St. Vincent’s on life support, needs bank-style bailout

The future of St. Vincent’s as a full-service, acute-care hospital with a Level 1 trauma center and emergency room remains threatened even as the state and creditors infused emergency cash to keep the 160-year-old institution going.

Pols reject Clinton School move, creating rift among ’rents

As parents continue to challenge a plan that would shuffle students among several Chelsea schools, a half-dozen local politicians have joined in calling for the Department of Education to withdraw its proposal to relocate the Clinton School for Writers and Artists from its current home at PS 11 to PS 33.

Gay nightlife gets boost with ambitious hotel project

At a time when city officials nervously double-check and then triple-check their once confident projections about tourism growth, and more than a few gay locals grumble about the dearth of fresh nightlife choices, a $20 million project could bring nearly 80,000 square feet in tourism and dance club space to W. 42nd St.—in the form of New York’s first full-service gay hotel and the first new nightclub serving the LGBT community in more than five years to have a cabaret license.

Neighbors thwart planned Roxy relaunch

The former Roxy nightclub in West Chelsea has proven to be kryptonite for club owners looking to revive the massive disco.

Chelsea Hotel tenants, club owner spar over bar

A vocal group of Chelsea Hotel residents turned up at a local community board meeting to contest the legendary lodge’s bid to open two bars inside the lobby—but instead ended up sparring with the owner of the hotel’s subterranean nightclub.

Hell’s Kitchen bias-attack perp nabbed in England

The man responsible for hurling anti-gay slurs and assaulting a trio of gay men in Hell’s Kitchen has been identified and charged in the September attack.

Disabled benefit from Chelsea apartment’s ‘universal design’

A state-of-the-art Chelsea apartment specially designed to serve residents with both visual impairments and developmental disabilities was unveiled on W. 23rd St. on Wed., Feb. 3.

Parents, students ruffled by Chelsea school shuffle

The steps of City Hall served as a classroom for participatory democracy on Tues., Jan. 26, as dozens of students from the Clinton School for Writers and Artists in Chelsea came to protest a Department of Education proposal to move the middle school to another location for an undetermined number of years.

10th Ave. freeze-out: NJ buses blocking straphanger access

Every weekday night presents a dangerous proposition for Maria Callado. She must dash into 10th Ave. near 34th St., barely avoiding the oncoming rush-hour traffic that swerves sharply around the corner, to see if her bus is coming.

Despite drag appreciation, neighbors blast illegal ad

While gender-bending entertainment icon RuPaul helped jumpstart her career performing in Chelsea, the drag queen’s most recent foray into the neighborhood has provoked its fair share of backlash from residents.

Plan to remodel Dyer Ave. would ease traffic, add parks

The concrete labyrinth of access ramps that snake under and through the streets of Hell’s Kitchen connecting to the Lincoln Tunnel will make room for trees, grass and park benches while also improving traffic conditions in the area, according to a new plan being floated by Community Board 4.

St. Vincent’s faces takeover; rebuilding plans in doubt

St. Vincent’s Hospital is on the verge of another bankruptcy, its second in five years. Its 160-year history as the West Side’s full-service hospital appears to be ending, with the hospital facing a possible future as a community health center — with no acute care and limited emergency room service.

Westbeth residents have beef with closing favorite restaurant

About 30 loyal customers of Baby Buddha rallied inside the Chinese restaurant, at the corner of Washington and Bethune Sts. in the Meatpacking District, on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 17, saying it can’t close because it’s one of the only affordable places left to eat in the neighborhood, which has been so heavily gentrified.

New Union Square playground getting rave reviews

The new, expanded Union Square Park playground opened earlier this month with little fanfare from the Department of Parks and the Union Square Partnership. But word got around quickly to children and parents, who flocked to the space at the north end of the park.

New lease on nightlife as Roxy readies—again

A group of nightlife operators have offered an ambitious plan to resurrect the former Roxy disco in West Chelsea as a multipurpose destination featuring a nightclub, restaurant, catering hall, café and retail shop.

Bike lane taking bite out of cab-friendly 9th Ave. eatery

The Dil-e Punjab Indian deli stands out among the trendy boutiques of Ninth Ave. because of its cafeteria-like appearance and simple food offerings. No white tableclothes here or fancy, polished floors. The customers are different, too.

Surveying Broadway’s postmodern pedestrian experience

Last spring, some West Side residents came out against the city’s plan to ban vehicular traffic on Broadway at Times and Herald Squares, fearing the diversion of southbound traffic onto Ninth Ave. would exacerbate congestion there.

Lobby bars on tap for Chelsea Hotel

The Chelsea Hotel, a den of intoxication of the highest order, plans to make it official by opening a pair of bars off the main lobby.