WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN: RATS, STOLEN BIKES, UGLY SCAFFOLDING, SEINFELD UNBURDENS HIMSELF

A rainbow seen from 107th street looking East. Photo by Josiah Gluck.

In no particular order, here is a rundown of news relevant to the Upper West Side that we read in other outlets over the past couple of weeks. When it comes to keeping you informed, we leave no stone unturned.

When will the ugly scaffolding be taken down from 102nd street and West End Avenue? “It’s not uncommon for the pesky wood and metal sheds to languish for years, experts say. Financial woes are often to blame and matters are further complicated when a building — such as the one Reeves lives in — is landmarked.” (Daily News)

Cooper’s Law, the bill sponsored by Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal that would suspend the license of a cab driver who is found at fault in a crash that hurts someone, pased the City Council. Other Vision Zero laws also passed. (NY Times)

A Central Park carriage horse broke loose, ran through the park, and slammed into a taxicab on Monday. (Daily News)

A swarm of bees was removed from a tree at 72nd street near Amsterdam Avenue. (NBC)

An Upper West Side mandolin orchestra is still kicking. You should hear them play “When I’m Sixty-Four.” (NY Times)

Disturbing news: “The Medical Examiner’s Office has lost the body of an Upper West Side woman — and is now digging up dozens of corpses at a Bronx potter’s field to find her, The Post has learned. Rebecca Alper, 71, killed herself in her West 72nd Street home last September.” (NY Post)

Scammers have been duping tourists into renting stolen bikes in Central Park. (NY Post)

Education leaders on the UWS are telling parents to have their kids boycott certain tests. “From June 2 to 11, local elementary and middle school students will be taking un-scored ‘field tests’ in English Language Arts and math to provide the testing company Pearson with feedback on its exams. But members of Community Education Council 3 said the tests take away from learning and that Pearson should fund its own research outside the classroom.” (DNAinfo)

A city effort to target rats has zeroed in on 107th street and other spots. (ABC)

The new Central Park phone app is okay; the best part is hearing celebrities talk about the park. (NY Times)

Councilman Mark Levine and another council member were fined over campaign donations they took from animal rights group NYCLASS. (NY Post)

Justin Bieber has been skateboarding shirtless in Central Park. Wasn’t that cool like in the 80’s? (Daily Mail)

A bicyclist sustained minor injuries last month after being hit by a police cruiser in Central Park. “The cyclist was in the park near 81st Street and Fifth Avenue when he was hit by the cruiser, the NYPD says. The circumstances of the crash weren’t clear.” (NBC)

UWS hostels have experienced several thefts this year. (NY Press)

The pizza delivery boy rapist got 13 years in prison. (NY Post)

More concerns are being raised about New York’s 911 system. Let’s hope they figure this out soon. (WNYC)

Upper West Sider Jerry Seinfeld doesn’t consider celebrity a burden. “The burden of celebrity? You got the wrong guy. Anybody that so-called bothers you you’re making them happy. What the hell else am I here to do? If I could make someone feel better?” By the way, what cafe does Seinfeld like to hang out in (promise not to stalk him, just very curious…) (Esquire)

There’s a new website called “Now it’s a fucking froyo place,” about New York storefronts that are now froyo places. It’s pretty self-explanatory. (Now it’s a…)

And here’s a picture of Art Garfunkel and Cat Stevens strolling through Central Park. Feels like summer again, summer of ’69. (hat-tip to Reddit).

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