The owners of M1-5 are good people and they would never ever condone this behavior. There are dirt bags everywhere you go...unfortunately. — Francesco on It Happened Here Again

You are spot on Mimi! — Elizabeth on The Barre Boom Continues

She has told me her name is Jane. I have given her money and food. she is very clean and I don't know how she does it. She has pride and her wits about her. I don't think there is a danger of a homeless camp popping up around your private garden. — dianne talan on Seen & Heard: YogaSpark Opening Date

Is the implication here that the attackers may have been off duty officers ("blue lives matter") and the uniformed officer was warning that more off duty officers might be joining? — J. Mason on It Happened Here Again

How is it that there no other local newspapers are covering this? Is everyone circling their wagons and keeping their heads down in preparation for Trump's rule? Wow, I would have expected major public attention from this. — Shelley on It Happened Here Again

You know, I've bought the homeless lady coffee, too. But the bigger question is, if you let one person build a small camp on a public sidewalk, where does it end? We need to do a better of job of helping the homeless find permanent living accommodations. It doesn't say much about our society that we let people live in the streets or on the sidewalks. Just because she doesn't want to leave doesn't mean she should stay. Living out in the elements isn't a long term solution, and it isn't healthy for her either. — Janet on Seen & Heard: YogaSpark Opening Date

The homeless woman's name is KeeKee and I've talked with her many times. She has been in the area for about 1.5 years now. She started out on the SE corner of Reade & West Broadway. She's told me she is from Chicago. I've offered to help her with resources I'm familiar with, to get her off the street but she always says she's fine. Based on what's she's told me, I think she's been homeless for a while. I never seen her panhandle. I've offered her food when I come from the grocery store which she sometimes accepts. And I've bought her a coffee now and then (2 sugars and milk...I asked). I know I'm not the only person who has tried to help her get off the street but she turns everyone down...always with a smile and a laugh. — S on Seen & Heard: YogaSpark Opening Date

111 Reade was served an emergency vacate order a year ago. It was rescinded after the landlord filed remediation plans. There is disagreement over whether or not construction at the old Mary Ann's space exacerbated the "structural instability." — J on Seen & Heard: YogaSpark Opening Date

Prison! What an absurd overreaction. — Erik Torkells on In the News: Christmas Tree Disposal

I world think it's more to deter perpetual "going out of business" sales. However, just for fun: 2015 New York Laws GBS - General Business Article 29-F - (General Business) GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALES 594 - Penalties. Universal Citation: NY Gen Bus L § 594 (2015) 594. Penalties. Any person violating any provision of this article shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars or imprisonment for one year or both, and each day upon which any sale is conducted in violation of this article shall be a separate violation. — James on In the News: Christmas Tree Disposal

Unless the fine is considerably more than the $50 license fee, I'm not sure anyone would bother. — Erik Torkells on In the News: Christmas Tree Disposal

Technically AA also needs a store closing sale permit from Dept. of Consumer Affairs to post those yellow signs. http://www1.nyc.gov/site/dca/businesses/license-checklist-special-sale.page "If you advertise that you are having a sale or offer to sell to the public merchandise in connection with a declared purpose (e.g., Fire, Smoke, or Water Damage; Going Out of Business; Liquidation; Loss of Lease; Renovation), you must have a Special Sale license. The sale must be conducted at the location that is being closed." — James on In the News: Christmas Tree Disposal

I didn't approve your previous comments because they didn't meet this site's standards (as was the case for your comments complaining about readers caring more about North End Grill than the kid who got stabbed in the leg). I'll allow this one so you can stop whining about censorship. But when you comment in the future, please resist the urge to spew bile. — Erik Torkells on In the News: More on the Recent Attack

What's with the pro-cop censorship? 'Can't deal with reality which is Firs Precinct cops are useless, lazy, stupid clockpunchers who don't do their jobs such as in this case? — New York Police Detachment on In the News: More on the Recent Attack

Another thank you for your articulate post. The plan is too theme park-y and over-designed, and probably very expensive to maintain, when something simpler and more connected to the river would be appropriate. +1 for the return of the River Project to the pier and a better sense of the river. — Hudson River on First Look: Pier 26

No clue about NY1, but the NYT barely covers local NYC news anymore. — Erik Torkells on In the News: More on the Recent Attack

The New York Times and NY1 are not covering the story of the Artist's Space attack. Why? — Heide Fasnacht on In the News: More on the Recent Attack

Anyone who has an intelligent and valid point of view should be able to debate it and not have to resort to bludgeoning those who have opposing points of view. I can't believe this is happening in New York. I hope the police identify and arrest these people. — Rohin on In the News: More on the Recent Attack

Thank you for so beautifully stating a vision for this park that centers on the ecology of the river. I remember the old estuarium and I hope that the River Project will be able to have a new home here. I agree, although this is a nice park, it does miss a great opportunity to be something more, something that embraces the life and mystery of the Hudson and the Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary. — Huck's mom on First Look: Pier 26

The NY Times (sadly) has a new weekly editorial column in The Opinion Pages which reports hate crime stories around the country since the election of Donald Trump. This story has not made it in as of yet. It all needs to be national and urgent news. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/20/opinion/an-anti-semitic-troll-storm-in-montana.html At the bottom it states: "This Week in Hate is collecting submissions of incidents that have already been reported to law enforcement or in other media outlets. Send submissions to weekinhate@nytimes.com. Thanks to those who have already submitted." — JillG on In the News: More on the Recent Attack

Here's another account of the attack: http://hyperallergic.com/346182/lgbtq-activists-attacked-by-trump-supporters-while-leaving-nyc-art-space/ — G. Lee on It Happened Here Again

I noticed she wasn't there, hoping that she had found somewhere warm to go, then saw the blue tarp through the park. She's been in the area for a year now. I hate to see her out there in the winter. I've asked homeless services to reach out a few times but I understand she refuses the help. She seems well enough that with a little help she wouldn't have to be homeless. — Anon on Seen & Heard: YogaSpark Opening Date

This is terrible and scary. — cami on It Happened Here Again

The homeless woman is now inside the plaza where they normally chain up the tables. — George on Seen & Heard: YogaSpark Opening Date

They likely vacated the spaces for the purposes of doing the structural work itself. It's hard to do that kind of noisy, dusty, and disruptive work in occupied apartments. — James on Seen & Heard: YogaSpark Opening Date