Preservation Mayoral Forums

In a few short months, New Yorkers will decide whether to grant Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg a third term or give another candidate a chance to prove his mettle.

The Mayor declined a recent invitation from our coalition to discuss his position on historic preservation and neighborhood planning issues. Where do the other 2009 Mayoral Candidates stand? Ask them…over coffee and danish!

A third term? Or a new leaf? This fall, you decide.

2009 Mayoral Breakfasts
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 (RSVP by July 27)
City Council Member TONY AVELLA*

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 (RSVP by August 10)
City Comptroller WILLIAM C. THOMPSON, JR.*

Breakfast forums will be held from 8:00 to 9:30 AM at O’Neal’s Restaurant
49 West 64th Street (between Broadway and Central Park West)
Admission to each breakfast is only $5. Sign up today!

Reservations required:

PHONE: 212-496-8110
EMAIL: landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org
WEB: http://hdc.org/mayoralbreakfasts.htm

Co-sponsored by
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Historic Districts Council,
LANDMARK WEST!, Municipal Art Society, and The New York Landmarks Conservancy

Come hear what the candidates have to say about preservation in YOUR community before the September primary!

2009 PRESERVATION PLATFORM

Preservation is Sustainability • Preservation is Neighborhoods • Preservation is an Economic Catalyst • Preservation is Historic Religious Properties • Preservation is an Effective Landmarks Commission

Click here to read the full Preservation Platform, adopted by over 100 civic organizations in all five boroughs 
(list in formation).

To read more about the candidates’ stances on preservation and development issues in New York City, please click the following links:

* Historic Districts Council -- Mayoral Candidates at Annual Preservation Conference, March 7, 2009
* Historic Districts Council -- Audio of Candidate Conference Appearance
* Our Town NY -- “The Mayor’s Race: Focus on Housing & Development (scroll to bottom)
* Atlantic Yards Report

Merci, Citoyens!

After the tremendous success of Tuesday's Francophile fundraiser for the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation (CECPP), we might be tempted to change at least one of the “C’s” in our long, mission-descriptive name to “Champagne” and one of the “P’s” to “Piaf!”

Thanks to all you friends and fellow citizens who joined in the fun, helping to raise close to $4,000, a king’s ransom considering that CECPP’s landmarks reform efforts—and results—are fueled almost entirely by volunteer zeal (with the worthy exception of our part-time campaign manager, Mark Caserta). Generous contributions covered all of Tuesday night’s food, drink, prizes (see below for a list of the lucky winners) and even the Piaf-style chanteuse(watch the video, above, for a sample of her performance). This means that the funds YOU raised will go directly towards our ongoing initiatives and continued success.

And let’s give a virtual round of applause for the terrific volunteers who help with every aspect of CECPP’s work, from research to errand-running to bar tending! If you’d like to find out about volunteering for CECPP, please email citizens@savelpc.org.

Finally, a very special thank you goes to the evening’s host, Olga Statz, a leader of Save St. Vincent de Paul Church. Don’t miss Olga’s moving online article about this deeply historical and culturally important site on West 23rd Street, a building that has been denied a public hearing by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) chair and staff, without input from the other 10 commissioners.

As long as crucial flaws in the policy and procedures of the LPC continue to lead to the destruction of special places like St. Vincent de Paul—and too many other places in all five boroughs—the landmarks emergency is still on. And CECPP will keep fighting. Thanks again for your support.

Marchons!

Photos of the evening's festivities are available here.

If you weren’t able to join us last night, you can still contribute to the cause by mailing a check made payable to “CECPP” to:

Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation
c/o Neighborhood Preservation Center
232 E. 11th Street
New York, NY 10003

And the prize winners are…

Dinner for Two at Le Perigord – Françoise Bollack

Three Private French Lessons by an experienced language teacher from France – Brenda Butzel

“Paris in New York” with Tour Leader Justin Ferate – Susan Nial

“Eiffel Tower” Designer Plate & Mug w/Printed Paper Napkins Suite – Carol Clark

Designer Museum-Quality Necklace and Earrings Suite, "Sumerian Gold" – Sue Mellins

Designer Museum-Quality Earrings, "Mysteries of Ancient China" – Rena Schilsky

The makings of the night's signature cocktail, St. Germain & Champagne – Rowena Rossini-Gold

Felicitations!