Julie Menin, the incumbent in City Council District 5, has emerged as the reigning Queen of Fundraisers on the Upper East Side with over $533,607 raised for her primary race so far. She is not accepting public matching funds. The competitive District 4 race has six candidates with nearly $1.5 million in their respective war chests. ( Photo: Julie Menin campaign) Two East Side Dem Council Races Have Total of Over $2 Million in Campaign War Chests There is some big money being spent in the District 4 and District 5 Democratic primary council races on the Upper East Side,... Voices 13 May 2025 | 03:20
The Wegmans supermarket chain, which opened its first NYC store on Astor Place (above) in 2023, will be getting some new sister operations: the Next Door sushi restaurant and an UWS location later this year. ( Photo: courtesy of Wegmans) Wegmans Gets an UWS Sibling; Menin Gets a UES Competitor A complete unknown Hard to imagine that there would be any real surprises coming out of the local City Council District 4... Voices 27 Apr 2025 | 07:34
Businesses and City Council Members alike railed against the rollout of the new dining shed program under the city’s DOT, arguing that it is far too onerous for applicants and has atrophied outdoor dining. ( Photo: NYC DOT ) City Council Holds Hearing on ‘Disastrous’ Dining Shed Rollout The City Council convened an impassioned hearing on the state of NYC’s revamped dining shed program on April 22, which attracted... News 26 Apr 2025 | 07:13
Kids at the Corona Park Aquatic Center will be among the beneficiaries of new swim program funds unveiled by Mayor Eric Adams last month, but a plan to get free swimming lessons for all 70,000 second graders in the city that was co-sponsored by Council Member Julie Menin. ( Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office) Is This Enough of a Splash? On March 25, the Adams administration announced a $5.5 million investment to go towards expanding free swim lessons, with... News 25 Apr 2025 | 06:10
“Participatory budgeting” voting will take place on the Upper East Side from March 29 to April 6, according to City Council Member Julie Menin (above). Local residents can rank which of 12 community-minded projects deserves some of a $1 million funding pot. ( Photo: Courtesy Julie Menin) $1 Million Up for Grabs as UES ‘Participatory Budgeting’ Voting Gets Underway As “participatory budgeting” voting gets underway (March 29 to April 6), Upper East Siders living in City Council Member... News 31 Mar 2025 | 01:56
A dog patiently waiting for the bus in the East 80s. Dog droppings are swamping the area, some angry locals say, due to negligence by their owners. ( Photo: Jack Ahern ) Do People Pick Up After Their Dogs on the UES? Many Say “Not Really” Do people pick up after their beloved dogs on the Upper East Side? The answer appears to be an unpleasant and lingering “occasionally.”... News 22 Mar 2025 | 05:59
Two riders approach the intersection of Seventh Avenue and 38th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The wider, protected bike lanes are meant to make riding safer for the growing number of e-bikers. But some worry the faster, wider lanes will increase the danger to pedestrians since many bikers ignore all traffic laws. ( Photo: Garrett Owen) New Bike Lanes Debut in Village and Midtown; Riders Pleased but Many Ignore Rules of Road Up and down the avenues of Manhattan, brand-new wider bike lanes have been put in place by the Department of Transportation... News 10 Mar 2025 | 01:35
Council member Christopher Marte, front row center, leads supporters in a chant against artificial turf in New York City parks. Marte has introduced a bill that seeks to end the further usage of synthetic turf, referred to as the “Touch Grass” bill. ( Photo: Garrett Owen) ‘Artificial Turf Has Got to Go’ from City Parks, Say Marte and Supporters of New Rules Standing on the steps of City Hall on Feb. 27, District 1 Council member Christopher Marte, flanked by other Council members,... News 28 Feb 2025 | 04:45
Delivery drivers cruise up Third Avenue, moving quickly through the intersections as the “green wave” gives them green lights, some for up to 36 city blocks from East 60th Street to East 96th Street. ( Photo: Garrett Owen) New ‘Green Wave’ on Third Ave: As Cars Slow, Bikes Fly; Julie Menin Blasts Lack of Notice From East 60th Street all the way up to 96th Street, there is a long green line. It stretches for two miles, covering more... News 15 Feb 2025 | 04:32
The FDNY Emerald Society Pipe and Drums near Ground Zero on 9-11, 2023 near House 10 on Liberty St, the closest to the Twin Towers on 9/11 which lost two members of ladder 10 and 3 from engine 10 and saw the firehouse itself destroyed. It was rebuilt thanks to a $1.45 million grant from FEMA to following year. Photo: FDNY Why We Must Never Forget and Make 9-11 a National Holiday September 11th, 2001 left an indelible mark on our nation’s history. On that day, we took a solemn pledge to those who lost... Voices 15 Sep 2023 | 03:47
The Carl Schurz Park courts, which will receive nearly $3 million in renovations as part of the latest city budget agreement. ( Photo by Jack Ahern ) Julie Menin & Keith Powers Outline $35 Million Budget Infusion Into UES In partnership with Mayor Eric Adams and City Council speaker Adrienne Adams, District 5 Council Member Julie Menin and District... News 07 Jul 2023 | 02:28
City Council Member Julie Menin was the key sponsor of a bill that will force hospitals to reveal the prices they charge for various procedures, by establishing the nation’s first Office of Health Care Accountability. It passed by a 50-0 margin, and now goes to the desk of Mayor Eric Adams, who is a supporter. Photo: Office of Julie Menin City Council Passes Bill Creating Nation’s First Office Of Healthcare Accountability Different private hospitals in New York City have truly astounding fluctuations in pricing for the exact same procedures,... News 10 Jun 2023 | 03:34
Mayor Eric Adams takes a sledgehammer to an abandoned dining shed. He is promoting legislation that will make the sheds widely available on a seasonal basis for people who like outdoor dining–while still trying to placate other community members who find them to be a source of blight. Photo: Mayor’s Office. ( Photo via Mayor’s Office ) Dining Sheds May Become A Summer Staple. Is This Right...Or A Blight? In a concession to the restaurant industry, a bill introduced in City Council seeks to formalize the introduction of dining... News 25 May 2023 | 09:36
Councilmember Julie Menin has announced the results for District 5’s participatory budgeting process and roller hockey fans in particular are cheering. Photo: District 5 Roller Hockey Rink, Holmes Towers and Schools Win Big in Menin’s UES District The big money winners in the participatory budget vote in Council member Julie Menin’s UES district 5 included the $500,000... News 27 Apr 2023 | 12:36
Honey Locust Park at the foot of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, is being restored and a grand reopening ceremony is planned for April 13th. Photo: NYC Parks Dept. Construction Staging Area Returns to Vest Pocket Park at Foot of 59th St. Ed Koch Bridge Ed Koch must be kvelling. Honey Locust Park, located next to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge on 59th between 1st and 2nd Avenues... Home 27 Mar 2023 | 04:42
Opposition Growing Against NYPD’s Criminalization Push for Bike-Traffic Infractions