December 25, 2022
All in all, it was a pretty good year. The worst of the Covid-19 pandemic appeared to be behind us, although one never really knows with this thing and its seemingly endless variants. But the masks had largely disappeared and the scrounging for tests and vaccines was certainly over. The Midterm “Red Wave” sputtered and although the Congressional majority flipped in the House, it was by fewer seats than had been predicted and the Senate majority was unchanged.
Subway ridership was almost back to pre-pandemic levels but crime underground kept people on edge. Midtown still felt a little empty but it was better than last year. Theaters were back open again and long lines at the TKTS booth suggested that tourism was finally rebounding.
A couple of Red State Governors thought busing asylum seeking refugees to Sanctuary Cities such as ours would be an hilarious stunt. It rather backfired when these hapless men, women and children, fleeing violence and poverty, were welcomed to New York City at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Like millions of people who came here before them found out, this amazing City always offers hope to the hopeless and a chance for anyone looking for a better life in America. We’re not Texas or Florida. We don’t fear Mothers or their little children.
We rummaged through the archives and pulled out a dozen images from the past year, one for each month. We offer them along with a wish for better things for everyone in the coming New Year.
~January~
A shooting in Harlem last Friday left Police Officers Jason Rivera, a 22 year old rookie who grew up in Inwood, dead and his partner Wilbert Mora, 27, in critical condition. The shooter died today. Yesterday, Rivera’s remains were transported uptown from the M.E. Office to the Riverdale Funeral Home up here. Hundreds of Rivera’s police, fire and EMS colleagues lined both sides of Broadway in a silent tribute stretching from 218th Street nearly down to Isham. NYPD and news copters circled noisily overhead, in contrast to the uncanny midday quiet down below
~February~
“I’m sending happiness and prosperity to those celebrating Lunar New Year in New York City and around the world! May the Year of the Tiger teach us strength, resilience, inspiration, and togetherness. Let us feel that tiger energy in our city, come together, and show that New York City will always stand as a beacon of hope, freedom, and solidarity. Today we celebrate the new year as one people and one city. Gung hey fah choy!” ~Mayor Eric Adams
~March~
Hundreds of people gathered last night at the Crossroads to speak out against Asian Hate Crimes. Among those appearing at the event were Governor Kathy Hochul, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Author Min Jin Lee, RISE Founder Amanda Nguyen, and performers Perry Yung, Kate Rigg, Migiwa Miggy Miyajima and Friends. and Bohan Phoenix.
~April~
The past two years sometimes feel like they’ve lasted a decade and sometimes like just a few months have gone by. It was the Spring of 2020 when we first began hearing strange terms like ‘spike protein’ and ‘wet market,’ and then suddenly tens of thousands of our fellow New Yorkers died in just a few weeks. Our good friend David Ferrando was one of the New Yorkers we lost in those dark, early days and it’s still hard to believe he’s gone… and that two years have passed by since then.
~May~
“Today, our country marks an unthinkable milestone – one million lives lost due to COVID-19. These were mothers, fathers, children, siblings, friends and neighbors, and I don’t want any more New Yorkers to go through the pain of losing a loved one to this awful virus.” ~Governor Hochul
~June~
After a two year pandemic hiatus, the NYC Pride Parade came roaring back yesterday afternoon downtown. Tens of thousands of participants and onlookers, perhaps a million of them, traipsed down from Chelsea to the Village and then back up on foot, on floats and in vehicles. It was packed. Imagine the Village Halloween Parade and then double or triple it.
~July~
It’s not the heat, it’s the humanity, right? Nah. It definitely was the heat yesterday, and the humanity probably helped us cope with it somewhat. With temperatures in the 90s all week long, many New Yorkers may have been a little more envious than usual of the brave souls who doffed their clothes in public for Art.
~August~
Dominicans, Dominican-Americans, and Dominicans for the day filled 6th Avenue in Midtown yesterday afternoon. The annual Dominican Day Parade, lately suspended or held virtually like everything else due to pandemic limitations, was back in full effect on a beautiful Summer Sunday in Manhattan. This year’s march marked 40 years since the tradition began. There were floats blasting merengue, crowds dancing and waving flags, and elected officials helping to celebrate New York’s Dominican heritage. Did you know that the first non-Indigenous settler of Manhattan was a Dominican fellow? It’s true!
~September~
Once again this year the folks at NYC*LIVE!@Fashion Week put on a smashing show at The Mezzanine downtown. The chic venue was filled to capacity with creative designers from around the World, really attractive models, talented stylists and plain old lovers of the latest looks. Dr. Bob Lee from WBLS radio was onhand to MC Wednesday night’s show. The hard-working gentleman who pulls it all together, Wm. Michael Reid took a well deserved bow after the runway cooled down and accepted a gorgeous, hand painted leather jacket for his birthday.
~October~
Today through Monday, October 31, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), in collaboration with New York State Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos, New York City Councilmembers Carmen De La Rosa, Oswald Feliz, Shaun Abreu, and community groups will hold a series of Halloween festivities for families across the district.
~November~
Last weekend the DR Jazz Festival returned to Cabarete Beach in the Dominican Republic after a two year pandemic break. A big crowd of people, comprised of both locals and visitors, came out to hear some great music just steps from the water’s edge. The Gazette popped by on Friday, the first night of the Festival. A stage was set up under a big open-air canopy that also had plenty of room for a hundred or more VIP seats, all of which were filled. More music lovers sat or stood outside looking in, swaying and dancing in the Moonlight as the surf kept its eternal rhythm nearby.
~December~
As New York City enters the holiday season, COVID-19 and other seasonal illnesses are seeing unusually high concurrent spikes. To slow the transmission of these viruses, the New York City Health Commissioner issued a Health Advisory that urges New York City residents to use high-quality masks when indoors and in crowded outdoor settings. This is especially important for people who are – or are meeting – those who are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19, RSV, or the flu, such as those age 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised.