Monday, March 3, 2025
Sunny. High 37 degrees.
Welcome to the first week of March. Temperatures will jump to the lower 50s starting on Tuesday, and there is rain expected for much of Wednesday.
Notices
Our calendar has lots of local events. Click on the link or the lady in the upper righthand corner to check.
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Sunday is Daylight Saving Time, when clocks will spring forward an hour at 2 a.m.
Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal is hosting the “Donald V. Democracy Town Hall” on Thursday, March 6 at B’nai Jeshurun at 257 West 88th Street. The town hall will discuss “what’s at stake” with this current administration, and will also include the Brennan Center, NYCLU, and others.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo officially entered the New York City mayor’s race this weekend. You can read more — HERE.
Upper West Side News
By Gus Saltonstall
An Upper West Side schoolteacher was caught with more than 1,000 photos and videos of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Ross Lanvin, a middle school teacher at Lafayette Academy, a public school on West 93rd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, was arrested in February on two counts of possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Lanvin has worked within the Department of Education since 2006, and a spokesperson from the DOE told the New York Post that the charges were “extremely concerning” and that the teacher had been “reassigned away from students pending the outcome of the arrest,” the Post reported.
The spokesperson added that the DOE would “pursue termination” if Lanvin is convicted.
Lanvin was released after paying a $75,000 bond, and court records show his next scheduled appearance is in March. He had worked at the Upper West Side public school since at least the summer of 2020.
You can read more — HERE.
ABC7 Eyewitness News broadcast for the final time last month at its longtime Upper West Side home.
The news show has aired out of 7 Lincoln Square on Columbus Avenue between West 66th and 67th streets since 1979.
The studio was a bit of an Upper West Side tourist spot as people on the sidewalk could watch the broadcast live through the ground floor windows of the building.
“I will miss the intimate feel of our aging building. I will miss the street-side studio where we drew energy from our wonderful neighbors walking by,” Lee Goldberg, ABC’s lead meteorologist who has worked on the show for more than three decades, said during the final broadcast. “I will miss the Upper West Side–home of the NYC Marathon Finish, the best Halloweens, the start of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Lincoln Center, and the best backyard in TV–Central Park.”
Disney, which owns ABC7, is moving the network to a new office and studio at 7 Hudson Square near Tribeca. The site of the Upper West Side building, now owned by Extell, will become a luxury residential development.
You can watch the final broadcast and the farewell to the Upper West Side — HERE.
National Grammar Day is on Tuesday, March 4, and a documentary about the Upper West Side’s grammar guru will premiere the same night.
The new documentary, “Rebel with a Clause,” is about Ellen Jovin, whom West Side Rag first started reporting on in 2018.
Jovin, who is a longtime Upper West Sider, totes a table around the neighborhood and city while offering free tips on syntax, structure, and any other grammar issues you might have. Jovin made Upper West Side news last year when she was kicked out of the 72nd Street subway station for setting up her table.
Most recently, Jovin took her grammar table around the country, where she successfully set up her stand in all 50 states. Filmmaker and husband Brandt Johnson followed along on the journey and the documentary about Jovin premieres Tuesday at the SVA Theatre on West 23rd Street.
You can find out more and watch the trailer — HERE.
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Congratulations to Ellen Jovin
“Ex-press-o” and “nuke-you-ler”!
As a grammar nerd I am thrilled about your much needed work. I would also consider pronunciation if possible. That issue drives me nuts especially when I hear chefs say “mars-capone” instead of “mas-carpone.!!”
And “mischeevious” for “mischievous”
Ba-sal-mic, too!
“ Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal is hosting the “Donald V. Democracy Town Hall”
Seriously? Wasn’t Donald democratically elected?
Instead of focusing on the issues that are ruining our city, our elected again focus on how bad Donald is. That’s the reason he won but they don’t get it and don’t care.
A follow up to my reply of seven hours ago is in order. It also is imperative to vehemently push back against Donald J. Trump’s project and agenda.
I guess YOU don’t get it. First of all, the Donald just stole more than $800-million the government owes the City from a contract signed last year for reimbursements for the federal problem of migrants. That is a federal issue, not a State one. We don’t border Mexico in case you don’t have a map handy. Second of all, how are those egg prices? How will your bills be with 25% tariffs on imported goods from China, Mexico and Canada? Also, read any banned books lately? By the way, got a womb to worry about, because I like to control my own, thank you. Also, how are your Russian language skills? You know, we used to be a democracy that supported our allies and didn’t think of invading foreign nations just to rape their natural resources. I hope you’re not draft age, because in order to fulfill his fantasies of Czar-dom, he intends to try to steal Greenland, Canada, and God knows where else. Oh, yeah, Ukraine. Also, ever go to a National Park, because it would be good if the bears don’t eat you and the place doesn’t deteriorate before your eyes, because the staff was slashed. That means wildfires, floods, theft, etc. Got any government employees you would like to fire — you can join Trump in that, since they are firing people without cause who perform critical services at the parks, the VA, the SSA, and are you planning to use RFK as your health care professional, because he has no science or medical training or degrees. Prepared for another pandemic? These issues and more should be on the agenda. Try to catch up with what’s going on in the real news. Trust me, you won’t like it when your bank defrauds you, the stock market crashes, and there are no medical cures, because research has also been defunded. Better hope the FBI isn’t directed to spend all its time going after Donny’s perceived enemies and actually solves some real crime.
“Wasn’t Donald democratically elected?”
No, I don’t think so. But you’re not permitted to learn why, at least around here.
That doesn’t mean he can’t be undemocratic himself. And a criminal — he’s “investing” $350 billion of US tax money in crypto! It’s insane, a very clear propping up of the crypto market that will benefit all those weirdo people and insiders.
Clearly we are not all on the same page here, but I think it’s clear we are entering a new era (whether you are happy or not). So – yeah, there will be lots of meetings, gripe sessions, protests, etc in this politically active/opinionated neighborhood.
That said why is the only place to find out about this Donald v Democracy meeting on Twitter/X of all places? I don’t even see it on Linda Rosenthal’s website. Will there be a livestream available? Does anyone know?
Of course you are right. Donald J. Trump’s election and reelection are sure indications that our government has failed us.
Not sure what your comment means. Donald Trump was convicted of many felonies, whether he paid off his friends for immunity, or other nefarious benefits to himself. He has threatened our Democracy. So Linda Rosenthal is serving the community by offering some insights for us, of whom many are absolutely terrified, of losing our future!
I didn’t see Elon Musk on the ballot.
I don’t recall her hosting a “Biden vs. Democracy” town hall when Biden ignored both the law and the Supreme Court and continued to illegally forgive student loans (presumably as a way to buy votes).
Why does forgiving student loans ruffle your feathers so badly?
this is a very shallow comment from Evelyn. Biden never ignored the Supreme Court. Some of his student loan forgiveness projects went through and some got turned back. MAGAs don’t seem to care about facts.
But what is most rankling above is the claim that Biden allowing forgiveness on student loans is “buying votes.” Any public policy effort that aims to assist poor, working class, or middle class people results in accusations of corruption hurled by the MAGAs against progressives. (isn’t “buying votes” a central tactic of corruption?) But you never hear them complain about the many rancid giveaways to the rich and ultra-rich. Haven’t we had enough? defund the Billionaire Boys Club!
Buying votes? Elon Musk was actually running a lottery in PA, giving away a million each day to newly register people intending to vote for Trump. Give me a break.
We have a society which gives more and more to the ultra-rich, at the political, economic, and social cost to the majority of people. We should spend more time figuring out how to loosen the grip of the billionaire class on our society. Share the wealth!
Your comment is patently false, Bruce. Biden did explicitly ignore the SC ruling that the Executive Branch did not have the legal ability to unilaterally forgive student loans.
You’re wrong, Albert. The Supreme Court ruled that Biden could not cancel student loans using the HEROES Act. Biden did not ignore that but rather relied on a entirely different law to cancel SOME student debt. His actions were not in violation of a Supreme Court ruling, though a future, new ruling might cancel those actions.
https://www.wakeuptopolitics.com/p/no-biden-didnt-defy-the-supreme-court
Oy Oy Oy! Many may not have liked Biden’s policies, but no one was scared to death about losing our future.
How many people in the small, now bankrupt border towns in Texas and New Mexico did you speak to about their fears for the future? The gang-ridden communities overrun by Tren de Aragua? The families of the 80,000 fentanyl victims each year?
“Our” future? Who appointed you Speaker – George Clooney?
I’m not scared to death about losing my future. You’re projecting your own internalized fears onto everyone else.
Wood is good; old-growth forests, no so much — so says THE KING.
“Trump orders swathes of US forests to be cut down for timber” (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/trump-national-forest-executive-order)
Hope you don’t miss them too much in our shining future.
Grim news for native-born White Christian heterosexual Republican males (and maybe a few others, too)! If you’re receiving Social Security benefits, enjoy them for another one to three months while they last; if you’re not, just give up that dream now. Many thanks to everyone’s favorite multi-gazillionaire, Edgelord Elon, and his cute li’l DOGE.
Linda “Do You Know Who You’re Talking To” Rosenthal – the defender of democracy.
You can’t make this stuff up.
Democracy spoke she just didn’t like what she heard
Not really. Russia spoke, friend. Trump has directed the military not to look into Russian tech interference and the FBI as well. Wait until your Moscow friends get through with your electricity, your water, your Internet and all of it. The gullibility is galling. Won’t you be surprised. The Russians and North Koreans and Chinese don’t care what political party you spew your allegiance to … SURPRISE!
“The site of the Upper West Side building, now owned by Extell, will become a luxury residential development.”
Oh, Joy! That’s just what we need while we’re walking over prostrate bodies in the streets, subway platforms, under bridges, abandoned store alcoves, etc.
I’m sure Ellen Jovin would appreciate an “m” on the end of “who” in this sentence: The new documentary, “Rebel with a Clause,” is about Ellen Jovin, who West Side Rag first started reporting on in 2018.
Howz about: “The new documentary, “Rebel With a Clause”, is about Ellen Jovin, on whom West Side Rag first started reporting in 2018.
ouch!
It’s not T vs Democracy that should be the message. It’s T vs the People. The stories of the crises being inflicted on individuals, including those that voted for him. The Fed employees who worked daily to ensure that people are fed, housed, have quality medical care, are protected through our Department of Defense, and all those other civilian services that we take for granted are now themselves at risk of losing their homes, will not be able to feed their own families and will not have adequate health care. Thousands (in just NYC) are losing their jobs and that will definitely trickle down to huge losses for all. Those individual stories are what need to told.
But Mama Bear, there are 3 players here: Trump, the People and Democracy!
You forgot Putin … and Musk … and the toadies at the GOP, which makes for a lot of players.
Four: Musk.
And ALL the interrelated stories should be told while that’s still possible.
It is a shame that the ABC studios have relocated but it was probably out of necessity given the advances in technology. I can’t help but wish another developer other than Extell bought the property. Sadly Extell has left the city with so many soul-less buildings as the “super tall “ rising on West 64th.
I’m no fan of Trump but Linda Rosenthal is the epitome of failed progressive politics and corruption (with her ginormous rent stabilized apartment she inherited from her parents).
The best response to Trump’s excess is to send a message at the midterm elections.
Having Rosenthal as our supposed protector against Trump will only make him stronger.
So sad ABC station left the UWS. It was great for business.
I will miss the studio, it was pretty fun to have at street level.
Hi WSR,
If there is any more info about the planned Extell “luxury residential development” on the ABC site, would appreciate.
Another high-rise impacting 66th Street and the M66……
Does Rosenthal have a stance on getting rid of the Barnard rioters?
https://www.city-journal.org/article/barnard-college-expel-anti-israel-students-protestors?utm_source=virtuous&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cjdaily&vcrmeid=oABD6wnS1kq6cm7JEPYZA&vcrmiid=vggP4PrVeU2LpeB35rM6kw
Just what we need — more luxury housing. What a crime!