Looking east down 26th Street through the Chelsea-Elliot Houses that the city would like to tear down and have rebuilt by private real estate developer Related because, the city says, the repair costs of $1.5 billion equal the cost of rebuilding new. ( Photo: Tdorante10/Wikimedia Commons) Public Engagement Amid Leadership Absences in Chelsea Hearings for Public Housing This week was a beast—an all-out push to deliver insights, feedback, and comments on the proposed demolition and land disposition... Voices 02 May 2025 | 02:00
The building One57, at 157 W. 57th St., sits on what is known as Billionaires’ Row in midtown Manhattan. The writer calls it a $2.3 billion “ghost building” since the vast majority of owners, who fork over $6,200 per square foot for one of the 92 units inside, rarely use their apartment. ( Photo: Kidfly 182/Wikimedia Commons) As Billionaires Grow Wealthier, Where Does That Leave the Rest of Us? Every spring, Forbes takes great pleasure in a bit of billionaire porn, revealing the state of affairs for the rich of this... News 13 Apr 2025 | 02:46
Local Democratic political leaders from Manhattan joined campaign workers in the northern suburbs before election day, campaigning for incumbent Pat Ryan in a race against Republican challenger Allison Esposito. ( Photo: Layla Law-Gisiko) Musings on the Campaign Trail Part 2: Local Leaders Head to Kingston Kingston was the first capital of New York State. Located in Ulster County, it is now a sleepy town with a penchant for gentrification.... Voices 04 Nov 2024 | 03:30
Early voting starts Oct. 26. A Chelsea district leader gives a first hand account of campaigning in some of the crucial Congressional races in the northern suburbs. ( Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Musings on the Campaign Trail Part 1: Local Leaders Head North Campaigning is a wild beast, morphing from dim-lit rooms packed with strategists spinning their secret visions, to glitzy... Voices 24 Oct 2024 | 10:29
The Hotel Pennsylvania at its opening in 1919 was an archictectural standout. Now all that is left standing are some steel struts and rubble from the demolished gem. The owner, Vornado Realty Trust, cancelled plans for a redevelopment so the sprawling eyesore is likely to be in place for years. Photo: Layla Law-Gisiko. Ode to the Hotel Pennsylvania The Hotel Pennsylvania is no longer. What is left is a pile of rubble, ruins, untidy, heaped like a carcass, a battlefield.... News 08 Oct 2023 | 12:52
Community activist Layla Law-Gisiko ran and lost in a crowded Dem primary field trying to succeed Dick Gottfried in the New York State Assembly. But she’s had a dramatic impact on the negotiations over Madison Square Garden as a long-time CB5 member and now is the new president of the City Club. Photo: Laylaforny Civic Leader Who Shook Up Madison Square Garden: Part II This is the second in a two part series. For Part I, click here. Layla Law-Gisiko has served on community board 5 for 18 years... News 06 Sep 2023 | 01:17
CB 5 board member Layla Law-Gisiko has embraced her role as a civic activist in her adopted city. Photo: Courtesy Layla Law-Gisiko Parisian and Longtime CB5 Member Reflects on Activism that Shook Up MSG This is the first in a two part series. For Part II, click here. Born in Paris, French television sent her to New York as... News 06 Sep 2023 | 01:15
Clash of the titans: CB5 wants Madison Sqaure Garden to move to make way for a new rail hub. Construction giant ASTM says its plan would demolish the HULU Theater to build a new grand entrance to Penn Station, but still leave MSG atop the nation’s busiest rail hub. Photo: Keith J. Kelly Fireworks Over Penn Sta.? CB5 to hear from ASTM at public forum at MOMA on 4/24 It could be a clash of the titans. In the most wide ranging discussion yet on the future of Penn Station, Community Board... News 24 Apr 2023 | 09:32
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams at announcement for New New York panel’s action plan. Photo: Don Pollard / Office of Governor Kathy Hochul ( Don Pollard) Penn Station and the New New York Governor Kathy Hochul was told by a key legislator that she must come up with a new plan for rebuilding Penn Station and... News 15 Dec 2022 | 03:33
Rendering of a redesigned Penn Station. Photo: Office of Governor Kathy Hochul Stopping Penn Redevelopment Opponents of Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to redevelop the Penn Station neighborhood sued the state alleging that the plan... News 27 Oct 2022 | 05:59
Layla Law-Gisiko, chair of CB5’s land use, housing and zoning committee committee. Photo: Katrina Hajagos Starting Over on Penn Station Dissatisfied with current plans for redeveloping the Penn Station neighborhood, the local community board voted Thursday... News 15 Oct 2022 | 06:07
NYS Assembly District 73 candidate Russell Squire (left), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (second from left), Governor Kathy Hochul (center), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (second from right) and District 76 Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (right) on the campaign trail on the morning of the primary at East 86th Street and Second Avenue. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Seawright’s campaign Where Were the Voters? New York’s first of two summer primary elections drew to a close on Tuesday night, after a long — but extremely low-turnout... News 30 Jun 2022 | 05:46
