So replacing an ineffective security force with an even less effective security force is the answer? Why is there not more of an NYPD presence in the neighborhood aside from in front of or inside of Brookfield Place and Goldman Sachs. — TribecaMom on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

The recent outpouring of affection for the PEP officers is a remarkable turn of events. Not so long ago, they were vilified as churlish do-nothings who occasionally arose from their golf cart slumbers to rough up the locals. Now, as their contract expires, they are characterized as a snug security blanket that protected our community from all manner of harm. Right on cue, the public servants who feed off the PEP officer union's campaign donations have dutifully risen to their defense and denounced the private security force as an unwanted occupation force. The private security officers may be nothing other than a visible deterrent, but at least they are visible. Seeing a PEP officer actually doing anything is as rare as spotting a whale in the Hudson. — Jon on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

Hi Erik - any news on when the Best Market will be opening? Many thanks, love, love your newsletter!. — kim on Seen & Heard: The Copper Topper

Totally, and yet I bought a Canada Goose coat this year because I was sick of being cold (and I spend a lot of time walking outside), and it's amazing. That said, I cut off all mentions of the brand. — Erik Torkells on Welcome to TweeBeCa

This raises so many questions. Why did it take a month for this to be reported? Why did it take 20 minutes for police and ambulance to arrive to help? Why did they by-pass our brand new pediatric ER at NYU Downtown Hospital? If this happened as reported, the incompetence level of all involved is almost impossible to comprehend. — TribecaMom on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

I agree with the Canada Goose comment! — TribecaMom on Welcome to TweeBeCa

yes, Josh you are right. They can be paid by private corporations while wearing state issued uniforms, and basically pretending to be state supported law enforcement. Its a great deal for corporations. If these cops should engage in any misdeeds while on private assignment, the NYPD will happily indemnify them. Socialize the risk, privatize the gain. Sorry--I know this is off topic..but — cami on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

Gothamist has a write-up today, based on A Walk in the Park's post from yesterday: —http://gothamist.com/2016/01/08/bpc_teen_beating_security.php —http://awalkintheparknyc.blogspot.com/2016/01/teens-viciously-attacked-in-battery.html — Erik Torkells on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

"At least 4-5 uniformed NYPD stand in front of Goldman entrances all day long." i believe the law perfmits goldman to hire nypd cops in uniform on their off hours. " Why are BPC residents footing the bill for everything related to the ballfields?" the ballfields were built as a tradeoff for the residential towers being allowed to excede zoning and add extra floors. as part of that deal, they are responsible for these expenses. — josh on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

Driving past on West Side Highway last night we noticed the red portion going on and off. — TribecaMom on 1 World Trade Center Has a Patriotic New Trick

Are we going to find out the CEO of Allied Barton is a donor to Cuomo? 1. the ballfields are clearly going to require a bit more active patrolling. Kids from all over use this as a hang out spot. If Cuomo's lackey's lived in the neighborhood, they would know this. 2. Why would anyone hire a "security" service that can only "call" for help. That is pointless and a waste of money. They give the appearance of providing security, but in reality are legally not allowed to do anything. 3. Why are BPC residents footing the bill for everything related to the ballfields? This is a community resource used equally by residents in Tribeca, FiDi and beyond. BPC residents have already paid for the fields and maintenance through high common charges. Why must they pay for private or PEP services protect everyone? 4. At least 4-5 uniformed NYPD stand in front of Goldman entrances all day long. That is north of half a million (maybe more) annually in tax payer funded policing for a private business. It seems reasonable that they might also help to watch the fields. — cami on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

One advantage of being Jewish, I guess, to sidestep the annual Xmas-tree anxiety! — Jane on Seen & Heard: Carini Lang Has Changed Its Name

re: Teens beaten and robbed. Doesn't add up. Why wasn't this story picked up by other news outlets? A woman is slashed in the face in Chelsea and its all over the news; a BPC teen is beaten unconscious by a gang and the story doesn't make it out of BPC/Tribeca? What else was going on? Why are the parents keeping it a secret? If there really are gangs of teens from "another neighborhood" attacking our children, don't we want to inform everyone? Isn't it selfish to bury the story and remain anonymous when others could be at risk? Where is the outrage? And WHY is everyone so concerned about the security? Why isn't anyone talking about a child who was beaten unconscious and may have permanent damage to his brain that could last a lifetime?Does anyone actually believe that the PEP would have been more effective in stopping this crime? I have teens who have been the victims of (non-violent) crimes in this neighborhood and the PEP were 100% ineffective- went straight to the NYPD. Also, why didn't the girls involved IMMEDIATELY call 911? There is WAY more to this story than has been reported. — NoDramaMama on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

Walkers, Varick south of N. Moore Street. — Robert Ripps on Where in Tribeca…?

re: the BPC incident with the teens. Not sure the logic behind paying millions of dollars to hire guys that can't do anything more than what a normal pedestrian can do. Actually, they're WORSE than a pedestrian since they're specifically ordered NOT to intervene. Horrible decision made by greedy Mehiel. — lowphat on In the News: Teens Attacked by the Battery Park City Ball Fields

I went there a couple of times for Christmas gifts and they barely had anything on the shelves -- to the extent that I asked if they were closing. The clerk assured me that they had just had a lot of sales and weren't replenishing fast enough. — Ellen on Boomerang Toys Is Closing Its Battery Park City Store

Wow, my husband and I also had a terrible experience with this Christmas tree vendor. We have lived in Tribeca for over fifteen years and we have always bought our tree on that corner. As someone else on this email chain has said, the trees were always expensive but were very good quality. Additionally, I always thought the people who worked there were very nice. But this year when my husband and I inquired about the price of a certain tree, the salesmen refused to answer the question about the price and instead went into a song and dance about where the tree had come from. This happened three or four times before my husband politely asked the salesman to stop all the other nonsense and just answer the question about the price, to which the salesmen responded, “Oh, you’re price conscious, are you?” At that point I said to the salesman, “You’re not the same vendor who was here last year, are you?” And then, as Barbara mentioned, the salesmen told me his company had recently won the contract for that corner back from the previous company. Frankly, I don’t believe him. 1) I’ve been buying trees on that corner for 15 years and the salespeople have never been that rude nor the trees that expensive and 2) I’ve seen “Soho Trees” selling on the corner of Canal and 6th Ave. for as long as I can remember. Anyway, we decided to buy our tree elsewhere this year and found a lovely salesman on the corner of West Broadway and Leonard, a French Canadian with dreads and a lovely personality. We ended up with an 8-footer for $200 bucks. It was in beautiful condition, did not lose any needles and was still very much alive when I took it down yesterday afternoon. From now on, we’ll get our trees from him and I would highly suggest everyone else in the neighborhood to do the same. — Brigette Roth Smith on Seen & Heard: Carini Lang Has Changed Its Name

My wife and I discovered "A Saffron Thread" several months ago and it is now our favorite take-out restaurant for Indian cuisine. Their garlic naan is the best we have found compared to several others in the area. The woman that is always behind the counter is extremely friendly and always includes a sample of other items that we have never tried. Prices are reasonable....just wish they offered the "Prix Fix" special that Benares & Baluchi's offered, which included an entree/appetizer/naan for under $20. — Howard on An Explanation from Baluchi’s

The reason your trees lost all of their needles this year is because it was 70+ degrees in December. The trees sat on the sidewalk without water and baked in the heat, which has a very high correlation to needle loss. I wont comment on the prices you paid, but my $30 8 footer from Whole Foods is still as fresh as the day I picked it up... — Mr. Burns on Seen & Heard: Carini Lang Has Changed Its Name

I second Whole Foods - for the last couple of years they have done a one day half price deal on their 7-8ft trees when they first arrive after Thanksgiving, so you can pick one up for $35. Ours lasted really well this year. — Henry Baker on Seen & Heard: Carini Lang Has Changed Its Name

@andy I too had the (dis)pleasure of sitting at a table with son-in-law Mark at a charity event and he is quite the d-bag! He woke up on 3rd base and thinks he hit a triple.....a real putz! — Marc on In the News: Chelsea Clinton to Host SoulCycle Fundraiser

Will, I'm one of the people behind the place and my partner and Music director Vito Dieterle takes jazz every bit as seriously as you and musicians with the well earned respect of their peers populate our calendar. Until our full website is up and running (it's coming) check our FB page https://www.facebook.com/The-Django-1710550192506528/. for updates on performances. While the reverent nature of your appreciation is understood, our belief in no cover, no minimum support of the form often means a little room noise. And to be honest we like our jazz as heard on some favorite live vinyl: with the rich layered sound of the occasional fork or glass, laugh or love - like a great solo in the bigger song we see the music as one (beloved) element of a night well lived. We hope to see you there for a drink and listening pleasure. Joseph The Django — Joseph on First Impressions: The Django

I tried to go there on Sunday - it was already closed. It was a terrible location but how sad! I went there often. — BPCMom on Boomerang Toys Is Closing Its Battery Park City Store

So sorry to hear this but not surprised. — TribecaMom on Boomerang Toys Is Closing Its Battery Park City Store

I happened to be in Chelsea today, so I stopped by Cesar's. It was actually a bit more expensive than Leather Spa! I took it as a sign to look for a new wallet (in part because he was kind of aghast at the condition of the parts I wasn't even there to talk to him about). — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: A Bizarre Rat-Gathering Story