For this edition of BCR's Park Bench Chat, Rebecca and I sat down to talk with good friends -- Maria and Barry Kessler -- and our neighbors strolling in Riverside Park's "You've Got Mail" garden -- about the state of our U.S. American democracy. We handed out bags of chips to anyone who could answer a trivia question about the US government. Our focus gravitated to a consideration of the three words that open the Preamble to the US Constitution -- "We the people ..." -- and who this group is now and in the past.

Alan Winson

barcrawlradio@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politics on the UWS is in a liminal place where a new reality is aborning. Of course, this nation exists in "between" places where possible versions of democracy are tried and then abandoned.

This week the social democratic version has gained a foothold in our Upper West Side neighborhood – and maybe American politics. Eli Northrup – Bronx Public Defender and justice policy wonk -- was elected the new State Assembly person for UWS’s District 69.

We spoke with Eli and his campaign manager – Courtney Curd -- on the Sunday before the Tuesday Primary in Riverside Park – opening our mics to citizens to talk to the politician. Then, we recorded at the Northrup After-Election Party at Amity Hall Bar in Morningside Heights.

Here are the sounds of an iteration of American politics – one that we at Bar Crawl Radio hope takes hold on our country’s disperse imaginations and future governance.

Alan Winson

barcrawlradio@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Columbia University’s “College Walk” -- on West 116th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue -- became part of the University’s campus in 1953 with the understanding that "College Walk" would remain available to pedestrians.

Massive iron gates, put up in 1967, were designed as an ornamental decoration which would not be used to restrict access. But the gated closed on Oct. 12, 2023, when the University restricted campus access to Columbia ID holders ahead of planned demonstrations over the war in Gaza. And have remained closed until now – May 2026.

We talked with leaders of Morningside Heights community who want Columbia's gates unlocked.

This four-part program includes:

1. Dave Robinson -- President of the Morningside Heights Community Coalition -- talks about the goals of the MHCC and why his neighbors want Columbia University Campus opened. 00:00:00
2. Skyler Gluck -- former senior reporter of the Columbia Spectator -- summarizes the history of the creation of "College Walk" and its closing three years ago and his reporting why it remains closed. Mohsen Mahdawi -- Palestinian activist and Columbia student targeted by Trump for deportation. 00:08:41
3. Skyler Gluck, Michael Thaddeus -- faculty in Columbia Mathematics Department -- and Cody Stuart Madsen -- VP of Operations for Book Culture -- describe the impact of the closing of the Columbia campus on the student body, faculty, business and those who live and work in Morningside Heights. 00:24:32
4. Toby Golick -- Professor Emeritus of the Cardozo Law School -- covers the legal case to open the campus. And Ian Boldiston -- the Communications Director for City Councilperson Shaun Abreu who represents Morningside Heights -- explains NY City's position on the closing of the Columbia campus. 00:50:42

Contact: Alan Winson -- barcrawlradio@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.