New York Post and Latitude News Pieces on Washington Street
The campaign to protect 105-107 and 109 Washington Street received some important press attention in the last few weeks in the New York Post and in Latitude News. The article by Kate Briquelet in the Post (“Activists fight city to save last two buildings in ‘Little Syria’”) stresses the urgency of the preservation situation and demonstrates that city news organizations are taking notice of the crisis. In Latitude News, an innovative global news source founded by Maria Balinska, Nicholas Nehamas explores how the situation in Manhattan compares to the recent destruction of Phoenician ruins in Beirut, Lebanon. This is an interesting point: while we wouldn’t argue that there is something specific among Lebanese that cuts against historical preservation, there is a strong need for Lebanese and Arab-Americans to tell their immigration story to the public in a uniquely American context. The buildings on Washington Street, in a such a crucial location for New York and Arab-American history, are invaluable as cultural touchstones that can correct faulty assumptions and allow people to visualize the vibrant and successful neighborhood of Little Syria.
Latest News
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Daily News Story on National September 11 Museum and “Little Syria”
May 18, 2013
Today the New York Daily News posted this informative piece by Carol Kuruvilla about our efforts to preserve the neighborhood and to encourage the National September 11 Museum to include some recognition. We want to emphasize that we only went public with our frustrations after several years of local historians asking the Museum to incorporate [...]
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Community Board One Resolution on “Little Syria” Historical Signage
May 16, 2013
On May 1, 2013, the Financial District Committee of Community Board One unanimously advanced the below resolution advocating signage for “Little Syria.” While not all members necessarily voted or were present, the committee includes Edward Sheffe, CHAIR; Susan Cole, CO-CHAIR; Deron Charkoudian; Linda Gerstman; Mariama James; Michael Ketring; Joel Kopel; Elizabeth Lamere; Megan McHugh; Patricia [...]
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Wall Street Journal Piece on Little Syria (Jennifer Weiss)
March 26, 2013
This morning the Wall Street Journal has a wonderful print and video piece about our campaign to protect the remaining complex of three historic buildings on Washington Street in Little Syria. This is indeed an urgent situation, and we would ask that people contact the Landmarks Preservation Commission (Chairman Robert Tierney) and Mayor Bloomberg, asking [...]
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Salaam Club in New York Hosts Holiday Hafleh To Benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
December 14, 2012
On Saturday, December 8, our friends at the Salaam Club of New York City hosted a holiday hafleh (the Arabic equivalent of “party”) to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the internationally-known pediatric treatment and research facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Some people may not realize that the hospital was founded by popular Lebanese-American entertainer Danny [...]
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Walking Tour of Washington Street on November 10 (With Joe Svehlak and Esther Regelson)
November 6, 2012
During Hurricane Sandy, lower Washington Street was flooded to near waist-high levels. Power is still trickling back, and the basements of most buildings were flooded, leaving some damage. However, a few of the neighborhood’s great advocates — local historian Joe Svehlak and community activist Esther Regelson — are still going forward with a walking tour [...]
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