By West Side Rag
West Side Rag has been telling the stories of the Upper West Side for more than 15 years, thanks to a dedicated team of reporters, editors, artists, and people working behind the scenes. In a typical year, more than 30 writers and artists contribute stories to the Rag and help shape the neighborhood conversation. That’s not to mention the many people who have helped us grow over the past, Bobby Tannenhauser, Ann Cooper, the original “West Sider,” and countless others. And we can’t forget our army of tipsters who send us potential stories to cover.
Below, meet some of the people who bring the Rag to life each and every day.
Meet some of the newsroom
Carol Tannenhauser
Editor-at-Large
Carol has been writing for as long as she could. She wishes this ridiculously flattering picture included her late-husband Bobby (1945-2025), co-owner and driving force behind the Rag from 2021-2025. Together, they tended and grew it. Before that, Carol worked for Random House, then freelanced, writing books, essays, profiles of homeless men, a fairy tale, and newspaper and magazine articles, before pitching an article to West Side Rag in November, 2015. It was accepted and posted with her byline within days, and she was hooked.
Gus Saltonstall
Managing Editor
Gus is the Managing Editor at West Side Rag. He is a born-and-raised Upper West Sider and is on the record saying he’ll never leave the neighborhood. He oversees the day-to-day editorial coverage of the publication, along with the morning newsletter. Gus is a firm believer in no story being too small, and the more hyper-local to the neighborhood, the better. His goal remains keeping Upper West Siders as up-to-date as possible on the events and happenings transpiring outside their doors. Gus previously worked at the local news website, Patch, where he covered multiple New York City neighborhoods, including, you guessed it, the Upper West Side.
Laura Muha
Editor
Laura joined as an editor in 2025. Previously, she spent 20 years writing for newspapers and magazines, and another two decades-plus at Columbia Journalism School, where she was the associate academic dean and taught reporting and writing. You can often find her roaming the UWS with camera in hand, looking for just the right shot to lead the Monday Bulletin.
John Daniszewski
Editor
John is a veteran American journalist, international news executive, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) board member. He spent decades reporting from global conflict zones, serving as a top editor for The Associated Press and as international correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, and is a former board member and co-chair of the Pulitzer Prizes. He currently is president of the Overseas Press Club Foundation and has lived part-time on the Upper West Side since 2012.
Yvonne Vávra
Contributing Essayist
Yvonne has been writing for the West Side Rag since 2019, penning local news stories and beloved essays that capture the spirit of the UWS. Vávra is a magazine writer and author of the German book 111 Gründe New York zu lieben (111 Reasons to Love New York). Born a Berliner but an aspiring Upper West Sider since the 1990s (thanks, Nora Ephron), she came to New York in 2010 and seven years later made her Upper West Side dreams come true. She’s been obsessively walking the neighborhood ever since.
Good local journalism takes a committed team and the support of neighbors like you. Support strong local news for the Upper West Side by making a donation here.
Scott Etkin
Contributing Reporter
Scott made the transition from being a tipster to writing for the Rag in 2021. He helped compile the weekly Openings & Closings column for four years, and now contributes articles about various urban topics of interest, including transportation, sanitation, and scaffolding. Scott works for a software consulting firm and is a lifelong Upper West Sider (technically he grew up in Morningside Heights, but that’s close enough). He lives in the West 70s with his wife and their dog, Barry.
Lisa Kava
Contributing Reporter
Lisa has been writing for the West Side Rag since 2017 and has been an Upper West Sider for much longer. She has co-authored our weekly Openings & Closings, a reader favorite, since 2022. She and her husband raised their two children here, along with their goldendoodles. Her son and daughter say she asks them too many questions, so she is happy to ask questions in story interviews. A fitness enthusiast, nature lover, and dog lover, Lisa can be found most days walking in Central Park.
Robert Beck
Contributing Artist and Essayist
Robert Beck is a representational painter with a cultural focus on our here-and-now and extensive bodies of work addressing Bucks County (PA), New York City, and Maine. He calls himself a professional describer. Beck is known for painting from life in active situations, documenting people and their occupations in Europe, Africa, and across America, which has led to three solo museum shows. Along with his regular Rag column, West Side Canvas, he has written for ICON Magazine (20 years), Art New England, Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors, and other periodicals, taking people to the place and experience behind his images. His career has included instructing, lecturing, hosting a radio show, and curating art exhibitions.
Tracy Zwick
Contributing Reporter
Tracy is an Upper West Side–based writer covering art, culture, sports and city life. She has contributed to the Rag since 2024, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, Cultured, Art in America and other publications.
Daniel Katzive
Contributing Reporter
Dan has been writing for the Rag since 2022. He came to journalism after a 25-year career as a research analyst in currency markets. In December 2023 he earned a master’s degree in journalism at City University’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Dan likes to write about how the city and the region work, focusing on infrastructure, transportation, and New York’s maritime industry. In addition to WSR, Dan’s work has appeared in Gannett’s LoHud papers, W42ST, and the gCaptain maritime news service. His blog documents commercial shipping on the Hudson River as it passes Manhattan. Dan has lived on the Upper West Side for most of the past 35 years.
The Business Side
Behind the scenes, our business team works to ensure West Side Rag can continue delivering independent local journalism for years to come. From building relationships with neighborhood businesses to growing our readership and securing financial support, they’re focused on keeping the Rag sustainable and finding new ways to reach more Upper West Siders.
Emily Tannenhauser
General Manager
Emily took over her father Bob’s role in 2025 and oversees day-to-day operations, advertising, and relationships with local businesses and community organizations. She is committed to keeping our neighbors informed and supporting the people and organizations that make the Upper West Side special.
Sam Gross
Revenue & Reader Development
Sam joined the Rag this summer to help expand readership and fundraising efforts to support our coverage. Sam has worked in local news and development for a decade, as board chair of nonprofit newsroom Shasta Scout, board member of the West Side YMCA, and coach to dozens of local news organizations. He lives on the UWS with his wife, 9-month-old son, and mischievous mini-dachshund, Rumples.
Sharon Schanzer
Webmaster
Sharon built and manages the Rag’s website, keeping its digital home running smoothly. A longtime Upper West Sider, she’s a business consultant, web designer, photographer, and founder of RLDGROUP and What’s Your Boulder?, an implementation studio. With 35+ years of experience in technology, design, marketing, and business operations, she loves making complicated things work better. When she’s not solving digital problems, she’s often traveling, exploring the neighborhood, or taking photographs.
Heroes <3
“ ridiculously flattering picture”- 😂. You look good, Carol! Thank you for introducing the rest of the team.
As a new resident who is obsessed by news, thank you to all for this very informative publication
What about the contributions of Stephen Harmon and Ron Garber? Their pictures and stories are a valuable part of the West Side Rag reader experience! Thanks much to the entire staff and contributors.
Thanks for giving these folks the recognition they deserve. I can’t tell you how many times your reporting has tipped off other local news organizations to stories New Yorkers should hear about (and I’ve been diligent about crediting you, because). Bravo, all of you!
This neighborhood will mobilize 400 people to complain about a bike lane but needs to be begged to donate $10 to the outlet that told us about the barn owls and the Chip City raid. We don’t deserve you, Emily. But we have you, and the Rag is the only thing standing between us and a Nextdoor-only existence.
Marry this woman to a donation button. Everyone chip in!
Bravo to everyone!
Robert Beck is a treasure. His work is gorgeous and evocative, moody, and sentimental, and all is a grand way. He needs a local show again. I would love to see that.