Local Politics · New York, NY
Diamant Hysenaj, the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in New York's 14th Congressional District, is challenging incumbent Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the Nov. 3 general election after advancing by default when the Republican and Conservative Party primaries were canceled. NY-14 encompasses parts of the East Bronx neighborhoods including City Island, Country Club, Morris Park, Parkchester, Pelham Bay, Throggs Neck, and Van Nest, along with several Queens neighborhoods, totaling more than 700,000 city residents. Hysenaj's stated platform includes lowering housing costs and taxes, boosting neighborhood safety, reforming legal immigration, increasing non-government-funded health care options, and eliminating all taxes for senior citizens. He criticized Ocasio-Cortez as absent from the district and said he favors expanding ferry service to Orchard Beach instead of City Island. AOC did not return a request for comment.
Community News · New York, NY
Community Board 3 sent a Tompkins Square Park recreation redesign back to committee following a contentious Oct. 29 meeting. A developer is in contract to purchase the former St. Brigid School for $35 million, while separate plans call for two 17-story buildings totaling 184 apartments on Third Avenue. The Village View parking lot sale advanced amid shareholder financial questions, and topping-out was reported at Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue. Several East Village businesses changed status during the week: Crif Dogs reopened on St. Mark's Place, while 345 Cantina on Sixth Street and Hunan Slurp Shop on First Avenue closed.
Community brief · New York, NY
A documentary about the closing of Two Boots Pizza on Avenue A will screen again Monday evening at a bookstore at 197 Third St., between Avenue A and Avenue B, in Manhattan's East Village. The film, directed by Tabitha Haugen and Billy Waldman, started as a joke after word spread that the pizzeria would close. Haugen worked at Two Boots for two years; the pair shot the documentary over three weeks with customer-contributed music and posters. Two…
