This past week, NYC was filled with art shows. Restaurants were packed, people from around the globe were here, galleries had new installations, and art was being shown. I went to the Frieze and the Future Art Fair, which was enough. We have attended these shows for over a decade; Frieze launched in 2012. There was a lot to like. We saw artists’ work worldwide, and I was always left inspired. I began to tire of them around 2018. No matter where you see the show, be it in New York, Miami, London, or Paris, they all look the same. The cost of these shows for the galleries is enormous. From the ..read more

The DEA has announced that it will move forward to change cannabis from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Despite the sigh of relief from all of those in the cannabis industry, it will take a few months until this actually takes place. During this time, in classic government form, we will hear the public chime in and countless Republican Senators espousing old news about cannabis use that has proven to be false narratives. There are multiple ways that this could play out, but the worst is that pharmaceutical companies can now step in. Do I want my gummies made by a pharmaceutical comp ..read more

Mitch McConnell will be remembered as the person on the wrong side of history. His right-wing views are so embedded in who he is that he continues to hold back the country. All he had to do upon announcing his retirement, thank god, was not to support Trump, but instead, he put party over country again. He is now holding back cannabis banking, which means he is holding back federal legalization. What he is really doing is holding back time because, eventually, all of the desires of Republican Governors and Senators who believe they should not pass banking are on the wrong side of history. Thi ..read more

I find it absolutely insane that people are focused on book banning, aka mind exploration. It appears a lot of these book banners are also focused on giving guns to teachers, anti-abortion, which is more complicated than just that, no taxes, and seem to support a Presidential candidate who currently has four criminal indictments on his plate, has had multiple extramarital affairs, has been married and divorced three times, has had kids out of wedlock, is also fighting a civil case. It appears that anything he has ever touched has failed. But, hey, who’s counting? I can’t see any of this endin ..read more

I am a massive fan of the arts and believe we should all support artists. Art visually changes our perspective on the world, and there should be more of it. If you pay attention, art is all over our urban landscape, from statues to mosaics to parks and plazas, and even in the subways, train stations, and NYCHA (New York Public Housing) campuses. On May 22nd, from 630-8, Open House New York, with funding from Bloomberg Connects, is putting on an event to hear Sandra Bloodworth, Director of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts & Design, Larissa W. Trinder, Assistant Vice Presiden ..read more

My first angel investment was in 1999 in UPOC, where I served on the board. The concept was before its time, and there were people on the board who couldn’t see it and didn’t do their job. The founder wanted to bring in a CEO, and the person the “majority” of the board chose was a huge mistake; it was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. The person whom the founder and I wanted was nixed. I might be going out on a limb here, but I am pretty confident that the business would have had an entirely different outcome if they had chosen him. After this investment, I began to focus on angel i ..read more

We have watched the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for as long as I can remember. Over the years, women’s basketball has become more fun to watch. This year, the games were incredible. If you have not paid attention, Caitlin Clark, who played for Iowa, is not only one of the greatest female college athletes of all time but also the scoring leader for the entire NCAA. Title IX mandated gender equality in sports 40 years ago. We are seeing the impact rise to the top. This year, the Liberty games had the highest attendance in the league’s history. The playoffs were packed. We took our kids to Liberty games ..read more

Karen Blondel has lived in Red Hook for over four decades and is a true Jill of all trades. Looking to learn about climate justice, local organizing, structural engineering, or the best pilsner in Brooklyn (Strong Rope Brewery)? Karen’s your girl. You’ll likely find her hanging out in Coffey Park when she’s not helping navigate tenant questions or finding a marching band to play at the next Red Hook West get-together. I am thrilled that Karen sits on the Public Housing Community Fund board. She is a force of nature. I am honored to spend time with New Yorkers who care passionately about ..read more

Government money is tight, and it began to get worse when Reagan took office. As leaders in the world, we can still help others financially when they need it, but doing right by our own citizens should be a priority. The recreational cannabis roll-out in NY has been a bumpy ride, to say the least. Supposedly, the crackdown on illegal dispensaries is starting to take place, but as always, we will see what gets accomplished. I won’t rest until Empire Flower is closed for life. Each legal dispensary has worked incredibly hard to follow the rules set forth. I am sure none of us thought that our b ..read more

I have been involved with many non-profits led by people who want to make a difference. Sometimes, they replicate what others are doing in the same city; sometimes, they grow into something unique, and other times, they never get off the ground. Hospitality Pathways is unique because it was started by someone who wanted to give back after spending her entire career in hospitality and to share her knowledge with others with the hope that she could help others end up in a career that she loved: hospitality. We supported this last cohort through The Public Housing Community Fund, and I enjoyed s ..read more