The Manhattan Times

The first issue of the Manhattan Times, February 24, 2000.

It started as a simple inquiry between two of the paper’s founders, Roberto Ramirez and David Keisman. Keisman, who had been publishing community papers, asked Ramirez if he thought their friend Luis Miranda would be interested in opening a community paper in Washington Heights. Ramirez, always the effective broker, set the table. Miranda and Keisman arranged to have a cup of coffee at Somos El Futuro in Puerto Rico in 1999 to catch up on the world of politics and other pleasantries. As Miranda describes the meeting: “Believe it or not it all began with one of those conversations that most often don’t lead to anything.” But this poolside conversation did lead to something. With a shared vision of community, neighborhood, advocacy, and friendship they brought the Manhattan Times to life.

Few people have viewed Northern Manhattan from as many different angles as Guillermo Linares. After emigrating from the Dominican Republic in 1966, he drove a taxi. He raised his family here and began his civic engagement as a teacher and then a member of the local school board. He served as a City Council member in the 1990s, the first Dominican-born elected to office in the United States. Later Mayor Bloomberg tapped Linares to serve as commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, a post he held for five years. In November, voters elected him to serve as Assembly member, returning him to the role of public servant for a community he unabashedly adores. Linares responded to email questions from the Manhattan Times to share his perspective on how far Northern Manhattan has come and where he sees it going across several key topics.

Michael Fosina, left, and New York Yankee Mariano Rivera in 2004 at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new emergency room at what is now called Allen Hospital. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson

During the 1980s five hospitals closed in Northern Manhattan due to fiscal distress, leading the federal government to declare the area medically underserved. What was then known as Presbyterian Hospital was tapped to oversee a new hospital to serve the local population. Allen Pavilion in northernmost Inwood opened in 1988. It has grown over the years, reacting to the needs of the community and tethered to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital on W. 168^th Street. This has put it in the unique position of being able to form close relationships with other community providers and capitalize on the latest medical breakthroughs that come to one of the country’s leading academic hospitals. In 2009 the name changed to Allen Hospital.

Questions and answers have been condensed and edited based on an interview between NewYork-Presbyterian/Allen Hospital Vice President and Executive Director Michael J. Fosina and Mike Fitelson on Fri., Oct. 15, 2010.

Dr. Herbert Pardes is president and chief executive officer of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System. Nationally recognized for his broad expertise in education, research, clinical care and health policy, he is an ardent advocate of academic medical centers, humanistic care and the power of technology and innovation to transform 21st-century medicine. He is a regular commentator in the national news media and other public forums. Prior to joining the Hospital in 1999, he was Vice President for Health Sciences at Columbia University and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also served as Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and U.S. Assistant Surgeon General during the Carter and Reagan administrations, and was President of the American Psychiatric Association. In his time at NewYork-Presbyterian, the Hospital has emerged as one of the nation’s preeminent medical centers, leading the way with innovations that are transforming patient care in New York and around the world.

Dr. Lee Goldman, Columbia University’s executive vice president for health and biomedical sciences and dean of the faculties of health sciences and medicine.     PHOTO: Mike Fitelson

Dr. Lee Goldman is Columbia University's executive vice president for health and biomedical sciences and dean of the faculties of health sciences and medicine. Among his responsibilities is overseeing the campus’ biomedical research budget, which has grown from $324 million ten years ago to $638 million in the last fiscal year. In looking to the future, Dr. Goldman sees a very clear role for the university to play in the community as a partner, economic engine, and ambassador.

Isabella Geriatric Center President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Kator, left, holds a bag of produce from the Your Upper Manhattan program, which distributes fresh fruits and vegetables on Wednesdays. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson

Isabella Geriatric Center has been an anchor in Washington Heights since 1889, which helps explain its deep commitment to every aspect of the community, not just its mission of providing senior services. Isabella has a day care center, an after-school teen program, and a recreation hall that hosts hundreds of community events a year. It also long ago moved away from serving primarily as a nursing home. Isabella is at the forefront of developing new programs and philosophies to help seniors lead more independent, active lives.

One of the projects that the city’s Parks Department expects to be completed in the next 10 years is the reopening of the High Bridge, seen here during a private tour in 2006. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson

Contributed by Jennifer M. Hoppa, Administrator Northern Manhattan Parks

Despite the current economy, we are experiencing a boom period for parks in Northern Manhattan, a very special time in which the community’s green spaces and recreational facilities are being improved to extend their lives for decades to come. With 2010 coming to a close, I am pleased to provide an update on several of these park projects.

Over the past decade, Parks & Recreation has been able to invest substantial city capital funds to help restore and reclaim the 600 acres of parkland in Northern Manhattan. In the next decade we plan to build on those improvements with more amenities, diversified recreational offerings, enhanced waterfront access and expanded partnerships with community and citywide organizations.

Reclaiming the waterfront area known as Swindler Cove has been one of the top priorities of New York Restoration Project. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson

For the last 15 years New York Restoration Project (NYRP) has sought to create a cleaner, greener New York City by expanding green spaces, lobbying for environmental issues, and creating educational programs. Northern Manhattan is where it launched – where its founder Bette Midler first recognized how many of the city’s green spaces had been abandoned – and it continues to be the nonprofit’s center of gravity. Two months into her new position as NYRP’s executive director, Amy Freitag details how her organization’s four-point strategic plan will unfold in Northern Manhattan.

The new Con Edison substation in the Sherman Creek
neighborhood of Inwood was built to deliver a new high voltage line to Northern Manhattan. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson

Perhaps driven by popular science fiction, the energy industry enchants the imagination with possibilities for the future. The availability of alternative energy sources continues to make gains, seemingly locked in a race with our ever increasing dependence on things that plug in and go beep. Con Edison is putting the finishing touches on a new substation in Inwood that should boost available power and help reduce the likelihood that Northern Manhattan suffers another localized blackout, as it did in 1999. The utility company has also devoted considerable resources to energy efficiency programs and campaigns to reduce its customers’ power consumption.

Lenny Lazzarino, left, and Jason Miller of Workspace in the unfinished ninth floor of 5030 Broadway, the Inwood Center. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson

Edison Properties purchased the 300,000-square-foot, mostly empty former Verizon building at 5030 Broadway in 2005. Soon after that it began filling up the lower floors with its Manhattan Mini Storage brand. In 2008 it opened Workspace, office spaces designed for small businesses. It was the company’s third venture into the concept and the first to be out of the comfort zone of downtown. Lenny Lazzarino, VP of RE Leasing, and Jason Miller, Associate of Real Estate Leasing, were the foot soldiers in opening Workspace and the market for professional office space in Northern Manhattan. They discuss how they envision, and are banking on, a growing population of small businesses in the next 10 years.

Over the last 10 years, property values at Castle Village – and in Northern Manhattan – have increased tremendously. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson

contributed by Simone Song Properties

It’s hard to believe that we are now celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Manhattan Times. The years have passed so quickly. On the other hand, a lot has happened in Northern Manhattan in the last ten years.

Few developments over the last decade have impacted our daily lives as much as our greater interconnectedness through digital technology. It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago there was no such thing as Gmail, YouTube, or Facebook, let alone smart phones.

While there is still a deep digital divide in Northern Manhattan that segregates those who do not have access to the Internet, and many locals have not joined the social media revolution for other reasons, a growing number have adopted many of these technological changes and used them to create virtual communities around various interests and for different purposes.

La primera edición del Manhattan Times, Febrero 24, 2000

Comenzó como una simple conversación entre dos de los fundadores del periódico, Roberto Ramirez y David Keisman. Keisman, que había trabajado en la publicación de periódicos comunitarios, le pregunto a Ramirez si pensaba que su amigo Luis Miranda estaría interesado en abrir un periódico para la comunidad de Washington Heigths. Ramirez, siempre el agente eficaz, puso sus cartas sobre la mesa. Miranda y Keisman decidieron tomar una taza de café en Somos el Futuro de Puerto Rico en 1999 para ponerse al día en el mundo de la política, y otros temas de interés. Miranda describe la reunión: "Aunque no lo creas todo comenzó con una de esas conversaciones que casi nunca conducen a nada." Pero esta conversación al lado de la piscina si condujo a algo.

Pocos han visto al Norte de Manhattan de tantos ángulos como Guillermo Linares. Después de emigrar de la República Dominicana en el 1966, crió a sus hijos y comenzó su actividad cívica como miembro de la junta escolar local. Sirvió como miembro del Concejo Municipal en los 1990, el primer dominicano electo a un escaño en los Estados Unidos. Luego el Alcalde Bloomberg lo nombró como su comisionado para asuntos del inmigrante, puesto que ocupó por cinco años. En noviembre, los votantes lo eligieron asambleísta, y así seguir su papel de servidor público por la comunidad que el adora sin reservas. Linares contestó a través de un correo electrónico a nuestras preguntas, compartiendo su perspectiva sobre el progreso del Norte de Manhattan y sobre el futuro en varios tópicos.

Allen Hospital

Preguntas y respuestas se han resumido y editado basados en una entrevista entre Michael J. Fosina, Vicepresidente y Director Ejecutivo del Hospital Allen, y Mike Fitelson el 15 de octubre del 2010.