News

The Tearing Down Of America, How It Is Done.

Published

2 years ago

September 23, 2021

American cities are being torn down by the inside. Though we have political opinions and have been given a two party system, it seems the Democrats don’t believe in fairness or do they? What about Republicans? Do we really have a two-party system or are we being manipulated? Don’t believe me, I have become privilege to a letter by Mayor Mario M. Kranjac from Englewood Cliffs, NJ. to his constituents and what this letter states is frightening.

Right now in Englewood Cliffs there is an issue of corruption and the issue of affordable housing. Former council members Deborah Tsabari and Ed Aversa had conflicts of interest in the litigation that was brought to court. Fair Share Housing Center and Normandy Real Estate Partners, the developer are looking to build on the former Unilever campus at 800 Sylvan Ave. Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac alleges in a certification that Tsabari lives in or owns property within 200 feet of the site and that Aversa owns and operates a business within the overlay zone established in the borough’s affordable housing plan. A deal was reached in April 2019 calling for 400 units to be built at 800 Sylvan Ave.: 94 town houses and 306 apartments. Of those, 80 apartments would have been affordable. Instead, the matter went to trial, a new settlement was reached in 2020 that allowed for 450 housing units to be built on the former Unilever campus, with 90 affordable units. Last April, Farrington, the judge, stripped the Planning Board of its control over the development at 800 Sylvan Ave.

Five borough officials have resigned or retired since April 8, including Tsabari; the affordable housing attorney Kranjac appointed, Michael Jedziniak; and Chief Financial Officer Chris Battaglia.Tsabari attributed her decision to leave to personal attacks and bullying by the mayor.

Now as you can see Mayor Mario M. Kranjac sent a letter to his constituents.

An Important Message from Mayor Mario M. Kranjac

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you and your families are well.

I write to update you on several recent disappointing developments. Ironically, even though the Republican Party has technical control of the Borough Council, the local Democrats have still convinced Tim Koutroubas and Mark Park to forget why they were elected and who elected them. Their actions on Council have not been in the best interests of the residents of our Town. Their treatment of employees and professionals has been reprehensible and loaded with petty personal conflicts; rather than doing what is best for the Town.

On September 13, Koutroubas, Park, DiGregorio, and Luciano convened an illegal meeting in the parking lot under Borough Hall and terminated for no reason the Borough Administrator, who was doing a fantastic job for you. The next day they did not show up for our very important regularly scheduled September 14 Mayor and Council Meeting. Earlier, at the August 11, 2021 Mayor and Council meeting, Koutroubas, Luciano, and DiGregorio left their microphones on while speaking privately to plan a walk-out. The three of them did leave in the middle of the meeting and tried to stop essential borough business and government function; however, I continued on with Borough business regardless of the walk-out. In August, Koutroubas also resigned from his assignments as Recreation Committee Chairperson and Council Liaison to the Board of Education. His abrupt resignation jeopardized our children’s recreation programs. Borough employees (one of whom he terminated) had to pick up his responsibilities.

Koutroubas’, Luciano’s, and DiGregorio’s repeated refusal to pass the Borough’s budget (at least three attempts since May) has placed many borough services at risk including our leaf collection program. Koutroubas is now aligning himself with Luciano and DiGregorio, who have promoted a “woke” defund the police, pro-high density housing agenda.

By now you must realize that Eye on the Cliffs is not an official Borough newsletter. It is a political hit piece written and published by Carin Geiger and is the local Democrat party’s/machine’s last hope for (i) controlling Englewood Cliffs (as they did for the 42 years before me), (ii) re-allocating your home values to their favorite affordable housing developer, and (iii) returning the Borough to a borough rooted in favors and graft, rather than the rule of law.

You must also wonder why our highly political newsletter-writing neighbors don’t like me and try daily to discredit my efforts to continue restoring law, order, and your property values:

Is it because I ended their corruption in 2017 and 2018 (they controlled in 2019 and 2020), with 2021 being another fallow year for the local Democrat money-making machine?Is it because I am undoing the corruption of 2019 and 2020, when the Democrat controlled Council paid over $4 million in legal fees for the affordable housing settlement; instead of putting residents first?Is it because I led the Borough into filing a $100 million claim against our former attorneys (Wunsch, Surenian, Chiesa, and Marinello) and 800 Sylvan’s high density developer in an effort to correct the wrongs that they did to our residents?Is it because I led the Borough into hiring a professional police chief and restoring the good name of the ECPD?Is it because I led the Borough to fund police in the face of DiGregorio’s, Luciano’s, Tsabari’s and Geiger’s DE-FUND police efforts?Is it because I have restored the rule of law in Englewood Cliffs after 42 years of one party and one family control? Is it because I had Borough Hall running well and free of any political interference?

I need your help. I hope you will agree with me and please call Tim Koutroubas (917-586-6328), Mark Park (201-893-9903), David DiGregorio (551-655-8661), and Glen Luciano (201-906-1291), and tell them:

Stop interfering with the Borough’s finances and government function, your home values, and your wallets.Do not disclose confidential information to people that are not borough employees, as they just did with Carin Geiger for the September 13, 2021 illegal Mayor and Council Meeting, where she undisputedly helped write that meeting’s agenda.Insist that the litigation against the former attorneys and 800 Sylvan be continued with the firm I introduced to the Town to protect your interests.

Finally, if you contributed to Mark and Tim’s campaign, ask for your money back as I did.

With my best regards,

Mario

Now before we believe everything written here, there are two sides to this story. Tomorrow Tim Koutroubas side and from what I heard today, there is definitely another side.

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The Tearing Down Of America, How It Is Done Part 2

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The Clementine Co. d/b/a The Theater Center et al. v. Bill de Blasio

Suzanna Bowling

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

Columns

My View: “Because I Have A Story With Each And Every One Of You”…Richard Jay-Alexander

Published

5 days ago

May 25, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

If you never heard of a restaurant/bar called Milady’s on Prince Street, you’ll know it now! That’s where Richard Jay-Alexander chose to celebrate his 70th Birthday and it was truly a WOWZA evening…the setting, the food, the peonies, the curated music PLAYLIST (assembled by longtime friend and assistant, Nellie Beavers), the craft cocktails and even a film crew (led by longtime pal, Brian Morgan) in the back, taping BRAVO-style “confessionals” with each guest, about the BIRTHDAY BOY. The guests in attendance ranged in age and interests, like a perfect jambalaya of an accomplished life. Even friends from his High School, in Solvay, NY! The most impressive part of who Richard is was quickly revealed in his post “blowing out the candles of his cake” moment when he looked around the room (clearly moved) and explained that the reason we were all there was, “because I have a story with each and every one of you.” Needless to say, there was much talent present throughout the room and plenty of legendary New Yorkers, raising a glass to a pretty special guy. In reality, it is he that entered into our lives and our stories and happily so. This is how you do it!

RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER

Entertainment

Ken Fallin’s Broadway: The World Says Good-Bye To Tina Turner

Published

6 days ago

May 24, 2023

Ken Fallin

Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll has died, after a long illness at 83. Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017.

Her life story was told in the 1993 smash film What’s Love Got to Do with It and in the 2019 Broadway musical Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, starring Adrienne Warren in a career-making performance.

Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, TN, Turner became famous in the late 1960s as the singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Their major hits included: “River Deep – Mountain High” and “Proud Mary.”After leaving husband Ike Turner following years of physical and emotional abuse, she staged what remains one of the greatest comebacks in pop music history, scoring massive hits in the 1980s such as “What’s Love Got To Do With it”, “Private Dancer” and “The Best,” with an estimated 180 million albums sold worldwide, 12 Grammy Awards won and sold-out stadium tours around the world.

Turner scored another smash single in 1985 with “We Don’t Need Another Hero, from the Mel Gibson-George Miller threequel Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. She played the ruthless leader of Bartertown in the movie and delivered the memorable line, “Welcome to another edition of Thunderdome!”

She returned to the Top 20 later that year with “It’s Only Love,” a duet with Bryan Adams from his Reckless album, and also was part of the global smash “We Are the World.” That 1985 famine-relief single — written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced by Quincy Jones and credited to USA for Africa.

Turner also appeared at the intercontinental charity concert Live Aid that summer, performing a raucous, sexually charged duet with Mick Jagger in Philadelphia on a medley of his solo single “State of Shock” and the Rolling Stones’ “It’ Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It).”

Turner’s status as a musical pioneer extended to 1980s television when she became a staple of MTV.

A private funeral ceremony is expected for family and close friends and family.

Cabaret

My View: It’s Richard Jay-Alexander’s Birthday!

Published

6 days ago

May 24, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

If there’s anyone who deserves to be featured in TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES, on this particular day, May 24, it would be this guy, Richard Jay-Alexander. Born in 1953, today he turns 70 years old, here in New York City. He has walked these city streets more than most, as he pursued and has enjoyed a 49 year career, working on Broadway, in most theaters, clubs and majestic musical institutions, such as Carnegie Hall and The MET. He’s touched many, many lives and has a passion for this business that continues to burn and just this past Sunday, he helmed a thrilling evening, celebrating BroadwayWorld.com‘s 20th Anniversary, at midtown’s historic Sony Hall. On the eve of his birthday, he attended his favorite Tuesday night happening, Susie Mosher’s The LINEUP at Birdland Theatre, and treated the audience to a couple stories, observations on this important birthday and then, with Billy Stritch at the piano, John Miller on Bass and Clint De Canon on drums, performed a moving and heartfelt (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Richard clearly has a gift and a passion for the stage and for music and we are all the better for it, on the receiving end.

Happy Birthday, Young Man! Here’s to many more.

RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER

BILLY STRITCH & RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER

RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER & SUSIE MOSHER

RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER

SETH SIKES, NICOLAS KING, CARLOS CLEMENZ, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER, STEPHEN SOROKOFF, EDA SOROKOFF

DOUG MIDDLEBROOK, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER, EDA SOROKOFF

BILLY STRITCH, KATE SHINDLE, President Actors’ Equity Association, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER

SUSIE MOSHER & RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RJA

Cabaret

My View: A Glamorous Celebrity Filled Night With Lorna Dallas at The Laurie Beechman Theatre

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

It was a celebrity filled audience last night and the glamor of Manhattan Cabaret nightlife was in abundance for Lorna Dallas and her show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre titled “Glamorous Nights and Rainy Days

Ms. Dallas returned to New York City with a wonderful new show. This was Ms. Dallas’ first appearance in this town since she performed at the Bistro awards prior to the lockdown of 2020. The three years respite has done nothing to dim the luster of Ms Dallas’ exceptional instrument. She stayed in fine voice all evening long. But she is more than just an excellent vocalist. She is also a compelling actress. Her show, skillfully crafted by director Barry Kleinbort, and sensitively accompanied by one of this city’s best musical directors, Christopher Denny, was a joy from start to finish. The star studded audience at the Laurie Beechman theater responded heartily to every one of Lorna’s numbers. Evening high points ran the gamut, from standards like “I Have Dreamed,” to “When the Sun Comes Out;” from an hilarious “By Strauss” by the Gershwin’s to a dramatic “Silent Spring” by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. She also premiered a new song written especially for her by Ann Hampton Callaway and Amanda McBroom, “In My Dreams,” which wowed the savvy New York crowd. Hopefully, Lorna Dallas will return to these shores on a more regular basis. Three years is too long a wait for this powerful soprano’s next appearance..

LORNA DALLAS

CHRISTOPHER DENNY & LORNA DALLAS

LORNA DALLAS & DONNA McKECHNIE

LORNA DALLAS & MELISSA ERRICO

MARILYN MAYE & LORNA DALLAS

LORNA DALLAS & CHARLES BUSCH

PENNY FULLER & LORNA DALLAS

MELISSA ERRICO & EDA SOROKOFF

DAVID ZIPPEL, LORNA DALLAS, JAMIE deROY

LORNA DALLAS & REX REED

LORNA DALLAS & KT SULLIVAN

SUSIE MOSHER & LORNA DALLAS

DAVID SABELLA & LORNA DALLAS

CRAIG RUBANO & LORNA DALLAS

MARIEANN MERINGOLO & LORNA DALLAS

GEORGE DVORSKY, LORNA DALLAS, ROSIE BENTINCK

EDA SOROKOFF,MARILYN MAYE, CHARLES BUSCH

KT SULLIVAN & ELIZABETH SULLIVAN

KURT PETERSON, LORNA DALLAS

ANN TALMAN &LORNA DALLAS

LORNA DALLAS & SANDY MANLEY

JOYCE BREACH & REX REED

LORNA DALLAS & RICHARD HILLMAN

BARRY KLEINBORT, DIRECTOR

LORNA DALLAS

CHRISTOPHER DENNY & LORNA DALLAS

Cabaret

My View: David Yazbek and Norbert Leo Butz at 54 Below

Published

2 weeks ago

May 17, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award winning composer/writer/musician David Yazbek and his band were on the stage of 54 Below last night playing some of his new songs from an upcoming album. They also played some great music from the Yazbek songbook and from his Broadway musicals.

In addition to being an award winning composer and lyricist David Yazbek is a formidable pianist possessing a fearless technique generating an extraordinary combination of intoxicating melodious dissonance. . A highlight of the evening for me was when he displayed his unique harmonic and rhythmic pianistic concepts on the Great American Songbook Standard “Over The Rainbow”. Norbert Leo Butz also starred in the the 54 evening titled “David Yazbek and The Bludgeoneers” and he brought the house to it’s feet with the “Dirty Rotten Medley”

The Band: Javier Diaz (Percussion), Tony Orbach (Sax), Sam Sadigursky (Clarinet), Dean Sharenow (Drums), Chris Tordini (Bass), Paul Vercesi (Sax)