Of course the Lower East Side of New York City holds a significant place in the history of Jewish immigration. This bustling neighborhood was a melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions, with Yiddish serving as the prominent language. The… Read More »Revisiting “A Bintel Brief,” Immigrant Advice Column
Corruption is nothing new for NYC politics, and we’ve all lived through our fair share, but the story of Mayor Fernando Wood may be the most fantastical. Wood’s refusal to step down from office in 1857 led to one of… Read More »When NYC Mayor Fernando Wood Refused to Step Down: The 1857 Police Riot
Business on Hester Street had concluded for the day of September 29, 1892. Just a few hours earlier, the thoroughfare, named after Hester Leisler, was rife with fruit stands, crowded garment shops and peddlers displaying their wares. Approaching 7:00pm,… Read More »1892 Hester Street Homicide
Jim Power and the history of squatters rights on the Lower East Side.
Two years ago, I had the pleasure of guiding Meyer Lansky II, the grandson of notorious 20th century mobster Meyer Lansky, around his ancestral stomping ground on The Lower East Side. The tour was covered by The Wall Street Journal… Read More »Meyer Lansky’s New York: A Guide