Category: Editorial
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Vornado Watch
Part 5: Vornado’s Quiet Grip on NYC Politics Unbeknownst to the average New Yorker, New York City’s land use politics are quietly steered by real estate interests working behind the scenes to ensure they have friendly advocates in every facet of our local government. Few companies exemplify this quiet grip better than Vornado Realty Trust. …
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Vornado Watch
Part 4: The Greenwashing of Vornado Realty Trust In April 2025, Vornado Realty Trust released its annual sustainability report, proudly promoting its “sustainability credentials,” “renewable energy use,” and “eco-friendly development.” But behind the polished language lies a familiar tactic: greenwashing, a practice in which companies exaggerate or misrepresent their environmental responsibility to generate good press…
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Tribeca Chronicles: Judy & David Gage, David Gage String Instruments
In our fourth installment celebrating Tribeca’s people, places and past, Judy and David Gage reflect on more than 40 years of community- and business-building in Tribeca. CFDC: When was the business started in Tribeca? DG: The business started in 1978, and we were incorporated in 1981. We were first at 113 Chambers Street, which Judy saw in…
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Vornado Watch
Part 3: The Eagle Rises Again In one dramatic gesture, the real estate giant has literally placed a symbol of Old New York on a pedestal, hoping to cloak its modern mega-projects in the glory of a bygone era. Vornado Realty Trust recently reinstalled a 1,700-pound original 1910 Penn Station eagle in a new Penn District…
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Vornado Watch
Part 2: Vornado’s Deep Ties with Trump The founder and CEO of Vornado Realty Trust, Steven Roth, isn’t just one of New York’s most powerful real estate moguls—he’s also one of President Trump’s enduring allies. For over four decades, Roth has maintained personal, political, and business ties with Donald Trump, resulting in a relationship that…
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Vornado Watch
Part 1: Who is Vornado Realty Trust? Understanding who Vornado is—and how it operates—is the first step toward a more transparent and community-driven development process in New York City. In the Vornado Watch series, we will explore Vornado’s role in specific projects and unpack its political ties. “We expect rents to rise aggressively, one might even say…
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Tribeca Chronicles: Madeline Lanciani, Duane Park Patisserie
In our third of a series celebrating Tribeca’s people, places and past, Duane Park Patisserie founder Madeline Lanciani reflects on 33 years as a business owner and community member in Tribeca. Interview and photograph by Linda Buongermino, CFDC Marketing & Communications Committee Volunteer CFDC: Madeline, how was the business started here? ML: In 1992, some intrepid people…
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Tribeca Chronicles: Chris Panayiotou, Gee Whiz Diner
In our first of a series celebrating Tribeca’s people, places and past, Gee Whiz Diner owner Chris Panayiotou reflects on his youth, his father’s passing, neighborhood diversity, the toll of corporate development, and his own place in a community that he considers family. Interview and photograph by Linda Buongermino, CFDC Marketing & Communications Committee Volunteer…