When I was a mere lad of 29 and a recent law school graduate full of adventurous spirits, I was a lecturer in law in Africa for two academic years; the first in Nigeria, the second in Zambia. There were others like me at the time (1966 to 1968). Our help was welcomed to fill lectureships left vacant or newly created as British colonial rule was transferred to exuberant but unready leaders, experienced in political struggle but untrained in government administration.
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On December 7, at 11:02 p.m., my mom, Dr. Roselind Shirley Schwartz passed. She was 103 years, 7 months and 14 days old. She spent 15 of those years as a Villager, living on West 11th Street, working at her second career as a travel agent, arriving at age 70 and leaving at 85, still going strong.
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In a November 23, 2025 City & State NY article, Celia Bernhardt wrote that Assemblymember Deborah Glick (District 66, who is not running again) is backing local District Leader Jeannine Kiely to fill her seat saying that Kiely has “not just the intelligence but the experience and commitment and the knowledge of the neighborhood” needed to take over the job. District Leader Arthur Schwartz also supports Kiely, “She’s wonderful–a community-oriented, activist-to-her-bones person.”
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We are witness to a government that is continually less reflective of its constituents and more partial of its donors. We often say we are at a crossroads in politics, but it seems more like a slide. Each election feels special, because they represent moments to reflect on the worsening material conditions and political sway of everyday people.
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The Landmarks Committee members of the Manhattan Community Board Two (CB2) were presented with two difficult submissions for our historic districts at their December meeting.
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There have been some pretty shocking developments since our political recap. First, Erik Bottcher, who has been City Council member for the Village west of Sixth Avenue since 2021 has decided to run for what seems to be the uncontested state Senate seat which Brad Hoylman-Sigal will leave when he becomes Manhattan borough president on January 1. If the schedule holds, the Democratic County Committee members in that district will nominate a candidate on January 11, and there will be a special election in early February.
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After months of review, the outgoing Adams administration has announced plans to build a residential complex called “Hudson Mosaic” on Clarkson Street—demolishing and replacing the landmarked Tony Dapolito Center. Preservationists are livid. But a new political reality promises more.
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It was a bit like American Idol, but hamish (Yiddish for homey) and very East Village—a rousing chorus of tribute to community, diversity, and “for-the-people” politics. It was new District 2 City Council Member Harvey Epstein’s community swearing-in ceremony, in a packed auditorium at the 14th Street Y on December 6.
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