The Union Square Partnership is saying thank you — with a video — to honor its members who have adapted to serve the community during the coronavirus crisis.
The video highlights area restaurants, business and institutions that have stepped up to do more than ever before for the Union Square-14th St. community and the city as a whole.
Featured are local business leaders like Danny Meyer of Union Square Hospitality Group, Gadi Peleg of Breads Bakery and Tokumbo Shobowale, the chief operating officer of The New School.
There’s also Luca Di Pietro of Tarallucci e Vino, who spearheaded the nonprofit Feed our Frontline NYC, to help serve frontline and healthcare workers across the city. So far, under the effort, 116,739 meals have been delivered from more than 100 restaurants across the city.
Damon Williams and David Stallings from the 14th Street Y discuss how their team pivoted to an online platform to provide workout classes seven days a week.
Union Square Greenmarket farmers are also featured, including Madura Farms, which sells fresh produce and has introduced pre-filled salad, spinach and arugula bags to ensure safety guidelines are followed.
Sarah Stern from the Vineyard Theatre highlights how the theater transitioned its Washington Irving Campus student ensemble group to meeting twice a week online, where they create and perform their own theatrical works.
Jennifer Falk, executive director of Union Square Partnership, praised the tremendous efforts of the business improvement district’s members during the pandemic.
“We are in awe of everyone’s contributions,” she said, “whether it was to provide food to frontline healthcare workers, fundraise to support staff and other worthy causes, shifting to online takeout and delivery, or providing entertainment and education and so much more. We know the past three months have not been easy and we wanted to create this small token of our appreciation to highlight how amazing the Union Square-14th St. community has been throughout this crisis.”
“Union Square Together” was presented at the Union Square Partnership’s recent annual meeting as part of the Norman Buchbinder Community Service Award presentation. The late Buchbinder, of Buchbinder & Warren realtors, was one of the BID’s founding members.
Can the BID do something about the Tech Hub construction on 14th Street blocking the lane and the sidewalk repeatedly for hours? And when it rains you have to wade into the other lane!