This only benefits Venado. The community will suffer. — Native on Tower address will be 308 Greenwich

No one that lives at 310 Greenwich or right where tower will be built is looking forward to this environmental hazardous mess. We have health issues from 911. This can not be safe for tenants — Native on Tower address will be 308 Greenwich

Do we know when ThisBowl is opening? — sammyg on Blank Street Coffee coming to West and Vesey

A wonderful restaurant! I was there in 2024 with my friend Rui Neves, during a two-day stopover in NYC on our way to the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville. We didn't have any recommendations, but as we were passing by it seemed like a nice place and we went in. We will definitely return. 10/10 — José Pinto on Spotlight: 25 years of Pepolino

More cycling for deliveries and transportation is necessary for our future, w better deliveristas working conditions (and more stringent enforcement for safe streets and sidewalks) called for. Locating the hub at the entrance to City Hall is absolutely the wrong site. Installed there, it adds dangerous congestion to the frequently crowded gathering place for 1st Amendment expression to City Hall and active Broadway sidewalk. It is a short-sighted, disappointing, unfortunate anti-pedestrian rapid action, despite strong community opposition articulated by Friends of City Hall Park. Meanwhile, weeks after expensive construction, it remains unoccupied, while blocking pedestrian flow and sky views from the sidewalk and 24/7 offensive, wasteful “decorative” lighting! The nearby Police Plaza is a more appropriate hub site for several reasons, where it should be relocated to ASAP. — Skip Blumberg on In the News: Deliverista hub and speed contracting

So sad to hear! L&O was the best ... so professional, so kind, so talented. Will miss them a lot. — Sam D. on L&O Frame will close in July

No one is speaking about the impacts and dangerous conditions for people living in 310 Greenwich street . The businesses also will be impacted. They never cared about anything but money. They lie about affordable housing, ask anyone who Iives here. — Native on Plans for new tower at Independence Plaza have begun

Thank you Thank you Darla — Native on Plans for new tower at Independence Plaza have begun

The construction of this new tower will be destructive to the entire neighborhood in so many ways. It will certainly not be affordable housing. It will be an eye sore and yes a big middle finger to those already living nearby. It will change the balance of the block. And even if one finds the three towers “ugly” they are in balance there on the west side of Greenwich St. I urge anyone who lives in this neighborhood to oppose its construction. — Darla on Plans for new tower at Independence Plaza have begun

Larry & Gabbie are the best. Sad to see them go but happy for them in retirement — Johnny Mac on L&O Frame will close in July

Many of the answers are in this article: https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026/05/21/nyc-after-school-provider-contract-shakeup-sparks-parent-protest/ Based on this, it sounds like re-bidding the contracts allowed the city to expand the COMPASS program by 10,000 seats and update providers' pay rates, which had become outdated. DYCD also wanted to diversify the pool of providers. In the past, a provider couldn't even apply without a signed agreement with the principal. This year, principals were asked to rank multiple providers, giving DYCD more flexibility to weigh competitive scoring and capacity alongside school preferences. As for your the last question, I'm not sure it's the elephant in the room. Any organization applying for more contracts would be "competing" with the other organizations, if only one contract per site is awarded. It would be silly to say that only Manhattan Youth can bid for a specific site -- although I 100% agree that there should be much more transparency in the process. Clearly DYCD didn't think through the ramifications, especially as it relates to sports leagues. — ReaderOnDuane on Manhattan Youth loses contracts at 12 middle school afterschool programs

I have no personal experience with any of these programs, but this post and the comments do not address some fundamental questions — maybe because the process lacked transparency, I don’t know. What’s the history? How were prior contracts awarded and how often? Is it unusual to award 6-year contracts? Was the bidding process different this year than it has been in the past? In awarding contracts, what criteria were used — cost, quality reviews, what? Were these contracts part of an announced cost-cutting program? And — the elephant in the room — was the Imogen Roche Foundation competing against MY (and maybe undercutting their pricing), despite Mr. Roche’s prior affiliation with MY? Hmmmm. — SW on Manhattan Youth loses contracts at 12 middle school afterschool programs

Amen to that! I've been a customer of Larry (L&O) since 2019, when my upstairs neighbor, an art dealer with a great eye, sent me to him to frame a found object I had stumbled upon, connected to jazz legend John Coltrane. Larry rendered it beautifully ... perfectly ... bringing out the meaning within. Since then, another 8 or 9 pieces. The modest wait to collect the finished work, typically a week or two, was always filled with pleasant anticipation. And such a pleasure to be in Larry's presence and feel his intelligence and good will. I'm grateful to him (and to my neighbor!) that I got to know and employ him. So skilled, so lovely. — Komanoff on L&O Frame will close in July

Hey guys……my mom is on Long Island. If the family needs anything……please reach out to me. It’s my honor to help. — Francesco Regini on Luis Fernandez has self-deported to Ecuador

I think what could be helpful here is to try to avoid pitting parties against one another with assumptions. Taking the facts alone, we know this: DYCD made this decision five months after the deadline for families to choose their middle school program for this coming Fall '26. (i.e in 3 months) Many of those families chose middle schools for their children based on the strength of the after-school programs. The way our public school system is set up, after-school providers run all of the city-wide school sports leagues. They also provide tutoring help, dance, and arts programming. These city-wide programs require much time and inter-district coordination to set up. The relationships between these providers and the children in their schools are as important as any staffed school teacher. It is for all of these reasons, and others, that if DYCD wanted to diversify the providers running these programs, I think they would find more support if they provided appropriate notice (at least before middle school admissions tours the previous year) and a detailed plan for how they were going to make the transitions in the schools. It is important to note that the clearance and permit process for garnering after-school staff is lengthy. I was sorry to see judgments here about the providers that were awarded the contracts, as they could be excellent providers and we should show support and curiosity to learn more about them. This is what always happens as a result of an opaque, rushed process. It hurts everyone. — Tricia Joyce on Manhattan Youth loses contracts at 12 middle school afterschool programs

I've known and been a customer of Larry & Co. for forty years and not having him -- so helpful, so affable -- around the corner to do framing and make mats and cut glass is a huge loss to me and I am sure to many others. But cheers to him and Gabby in their retirement, they deserve every possible bit of good luck. They were an important part of our neighborhood, once upon a time chiefly known for its artists, for so very long -- — John Willenbecher on L&O Frame will close in July

Sounds just like the kind of person we want to be in politics whatever the ticket. Great resume — Chris Whibley on The Candidates 2026: Furhan Ahmad for Assembly District 66

Heartbroken. Larry is such a caring, kind, reliable human being. I He framed everything for me. I will miss him a lot and wish him the very best in his next chapter. — Chanler Annie on L&O Frame will close in July

Terrible news!!!!!! Larry’s work was outstanding :( — MFS on L&O Frame will close in July

Why? A better future demands more reliance on cycling for deliveries & transportation, altho w better working conditions for deliveristas and more stringent enforcement for safe cycling needed m. Why there is the question… Locating the hub at the entrance to City Hall is absolutely the wrong site. There it adds dangerous congestion to the frequently crowded gathering place for 1st Amendment expression and active Broadway sidewalk. It is a short-sighted, disappointing, unfortunate anti-pedestrian action that was built despite community opposition articulated by Friends of City Hall Park. Meanwhile… righto… it has remained unoccupied for weeks already, blocking pedestrian flow and sky views from the sidewalk wnd with offensive, wasteful 24/7 “decorative” lighting. — Skip Blumberg on Luis Fernandez has self-deported to Ecuador

Yet they find millions to build a DJ school in the Bronx. Has anyone thought of collaboration? — Sandra on Manhattan Youth loses contracts at 12 middle school afterschool programs

Just found this post and I’m gutted. I used to visit the Flatiron BlueSmoke whenever I was in the city on business. Wonderful good, great ambiance and welcoming staff. Heartbroken. — Paul Wenlock on Blue Smoke will close in December

My kids actually LOVE these. Each day we walk by, we count the “garden gnomes” and see if any moved during the night since they are “sneaky and only move at night” :) — Mo on Nosy Neighbor: Who has added these sculptures to Tribeca Park?

The illegal West African pocketbook vendors seriously harm the quality of life for residents living near Canal. My left leaning neighbors uniformly complain about them but don't want to do anything that might "cause harm" and make them appear unkind. They block the sidewalks most of the day forcing residents to dangerously walk in the street. They leave half eaten plastic clamshells of food all over the place which attract hordes of rats. Their supply vehicles use up the neighborhood on street parking which is already very limited. Worst of all, they use the street as a toilet because they don't want to leave their stuff unattended while they sought a bathroom. In the summer the smell is so bad I avoid going in and out of my building. When I ask the 1st Precinct cops why they don't do something they all say the same thing, "Our bosses told us not to touch them." The obvious reason for that is because in the eyes of liberals being black and illegal makes you above the law. Liberals know this is true but can't bring themselves to say it out of fear of being called "racist." — lowrider on In the News: Chambers among the 100 best restaurants

I never knew Luis, but based on all I have read, it is hard to believe that anyone could think that our country is safer or better because he has left. I think of how hard this must be for his wife and children, and the amount of taxpayer money that was used on his case, and wonder the scale of stories like this one. I would also guess that the Square Diner will have a hard time replacing him. Just a tragedy all around. — Elizabeth on Luis Fernandez has self-deported to Ecuador