Sutton Area Community, Inc.

Dear SAC Members,

We wanted to forward to you the below message from our colleagues at the Turtle Bay Association. The issue that they write about affects us all. As those who have read about what has been going on in the UWS recently (see: https://www.jewishpress.com/blogs/the-snag/homeless-hotels-creating-chaos-on-the-upper-west-side/2020/08/10/) can tell, it only takes one building with unruly homeless population to complete change the nature of a neighborhood. And unfortunately, the current mayoral administration is completely unsympathetic (if not worse) to the concerns of middle-class and elderly residents of our beloved area and indeed city at large.

August 7, 2020

The Turtle Bay Association is forwarding to our Turtle Bay neighbors the Vanderbilt Y's notice to its Members (below), in which it outlines their current situation regarding its economic position, and the impact of its closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, we felt we needed to bring to your attention their announcement that because of the circumstances, the Y has entered into a 6 month contract to establish a 220 bed, transitional housing homeless shelter on the 6th thru 10th floors of the Y building located at 224 East 47th Street.To the Association's knowledge there has been no community consultation regarding establishing the shelter at this location, and because of that, many questions and concerns have arisen as to the facility's operation and mission. Therefore, along those lines, the Turtle Bay Association is, with other community groups, working to establish on an emergency basis, a Community Advisory Board - to deal with the question of the impact of the shelter's location and operation in the Turtle Bay neighborhood. We understand that the establishment of a shelter facility in the neighborhood is of immense importance to both the residents and businesses of Turtle Bay; and not only will we work to keep you informed about the situation. We encourage you to send your comments to our email at office@turtlebay-nyc.org.Board of Directors, Turtle Bay Association

Sutton Place August 2020

SAC’s newest board member Kathy Matson

As a lifelong New Yorker and long-time resident of the Sutton Place area, Kathy Matson loves living and working in this extraordinary community. With over 25 years of experience in New York’s real estate industry and specific expertise as a real estate broker in the neighborhood, Kathy has built a stellar reputation as one of the city’s most highly regarded sales professionals.

A fine arts major and a lover of nature, Kathy is one of those rare New Yorkers who has achieved a fine work/life balance, developing her personal and professional interests while participating in a diversity of activities for which New York City is known. Her dedication to improving the quality of life in the city includes her participation in various cultural and professional organizations -- including her membership on the Board of Sutton Area Community, as well as her service on the Board and as Vice President of the Prescott Fund for Children and Youth providing educational grants for the benefit of New York's disadvantaged youth -- all of which further exemplify her ongoing commitment to the Sutton Place area, to New York City and to the future.

CDC Guideline for reopening the U.S. economy | Employment | Personal Protective Equipments

Cannon Point Preservation Corp Litigation - Lost on Appeal

It is with sadness, that I must report to you that CPPC, the leading force in opposition to the proposed destruction of our Clara Coffey Park, has reported that their legal appeal has been rejected. Upon advice of counsel, they will no longer be contesting the matter via the courts. Please see more below from CPPC head Jim Donovan.

Charles Giovanni Vanzan Coutinho, Ph.D.

President

Sutton Area Community (SAC)

In November 2017, we became aware of the city’s plans to extend the East Midtown Greenway south to 53rd Street and to build an access bridge to the Greenway in Clara Coffey Park at a cost of $100 Million to taxpayers. The Board analyzed this plan, developed deep seated concerns over its impact on our neighborhood and reached out to our Sutton Place neighbors. We formed Cannon Point Preservation Corp (CPPC) as a non-profit organization to represent the community’s collective opposition to this initiative. CPPC solicited help from all relevant elected officials to stop this project. Those solicitations received a lot of conversational support but little action. We spent months meeting with officials to negotiate alternative locations for the bridge. Once it became obvious that those meetings were not going to produce a positive outcome, CPPC initiated legal action against the city et al to stop the bridge. The CPPC lawsuit was heard in the NYS Supreme Court on July 30, 2019. In September 2019 we were advised that our petition for relief was denied. CPPC and its attorneys were greatly surprised and disappointed in the decision, so much so that our counsel agreed to pursue an appeal on a pro bono basis. That appeal was presented to the First Part of the NYS Supreme Court on March 18, 2020. We have now been advised by the court that our appeal has also been denied; primarily on technical legal matters, not on the substance of our arguments. Counsel advises us that there is little likelihood of success in proceeding further. So, it is with great chagrin that we announce we are abandoning further legal action. We have reached out to our Council Members to request that they move to withdraw the $100 Million in funding for this project in light of the current dramatic fiscal pressures facing the city. Perhaps we will have success in another way.

In these dark and troubled times, it is good to know that your friends and neighbors at Sutton Area Community (SAC) are here to help. We in return need your help in keeping this a well run organization. Accordingly, we ask that you renew your membership and if possible make a donation so that SAC can continue to help your friends and neighbors in the Sutton Place area. Sutton Area Community (SAC) is always thinking of new ways of helping to improve our neighborhood. Recently, via a handsome donation from a SAC member, we have been able to take on a volunteer who once a week cleans out the tree pits on the First Avenue. As these photographs clearly show, there is a lot to do. Just another example of how SAC is working for you. Please join us and help keep our streets clean. Remember our neighborhood is your neighborhood!n these dark and troubled times, it is good to know that your friends and neighbors at Sutton Area Community (SAC) are here to help. We in return need your help in keeping this a well run organization. Accordingly, we ask that you renew your membership and if possible make a donation so that SAC can continue to help your friends and neighbors in the Sutton Place area. Sutton Area Community (SAC) is always thinking of new ways of helping to improve our neighborhood. Recently, via a handsome donation from a SAC member, we have been able to take on a volunteer who once a week cleans out the tree pits on the First Avenue. As these photographs clearly show, there is a lot to do. Just another example of how SAC is working for you. Please join us and help keep our streets clean. Remember our neighborhood is your neighborhood!.

An ayurvedic holistic approach to COVID 19 prevention

Barbara A. Szolc, MD, Ayurvedic holistic medicine practitioner b-ayurveda.com

The situation surrounding COVID-19, which causes an acute respiratory disease, is developing quickly around the globe and across our nation. I would like to share with you few Ayurvedic tips that can help you manage this stressful time and when applied, can prevent spread of this infectious disease.

One of the most important first steps in balancing stress is to slow down. Choosing to prioritize things like adequate rest and other nourishing practices can help us stay centered. In truth, there are countless ways to nurture and care for ourselves. Those that impart a sense of grounding, relaxation, warmth, unctuousness, and stability will be best for balancing excess stress, but it is important that you follow your intuition; you know yourself best. When going through your day please follow daily routine. There are some very simple first steps to establishing a daily routine-things like waking, eating meals, going to bed at about the same times each day, and if possible, maintaining a consistent work or activity schedule. These steps alone can have a profound effect on the nervous system read more...

The proposed pedestrian bridge creates a divide in Sutton Place