Looking Ahead

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis Former Guardian Life Annex finally landmarked The building known as the Guardian Life Annex, a sleek glass structure among 19th Century row houses on East 17th Street, east of Park Avenue South, has been the subject of controversy ever since its inception in 1959. While nestled against a 20-story skyscraper, described by the AIA Guide to NYC as a "mansarded…Renaissance Revival marvel," which was until 1999 Guardian Life Insurance Company's Tower Building, anchoring Union Square’s northeast corner, the stark contrast of the glass-walled Annex to the area of low-facade buildings was successfully blunted by its four-story height and a tree line, melding with the red brick Anglo-Italianate residences across the street. The 1911 corner Tower Building, designed by D’Oench and Yost, was designated a NYC landmark in 1975, and now its offspring has finally acquired the same mark of distinction. In its November 18 2008 meeting, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission has admitted the Annex to the ranks of New York's landmarks. The Annex, built to help the company consolidate its expanding offices, was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, (somewhat reflecting their Pepsi-Cola Building, 1960, Park & 59th Street), specifically by SOM’s partners, Robert F. Cutler, Roy O. Allen and Roger Radford. Whether SOM's star was Gordon Bunshaft of Lever House fame had anything to do with the Annex is moot; critic Paul Goldberger called its style Miesian (after Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, designer of the Seagram Building, 1958, across from Lever House). At the time neighborhood criticism of the anachronistic structure abounded; now time and local modern high-rises constructions have modified our attitudes, as evidenced in the documents presented at the hearing before the Landmarks Preservation Commission of April 10, 2007, held to consider an individual designation for the former Guardian Annex. Note that Guardian Life itself, expanding further, has since moved downtown to Hanover Place, and the Tower has morphed into a stylish W New York Union Square Hotel, while the Annex, after a short term as a dot.com known as March First, is now the headquarters of Zurich American Reinsurance. Talking about a landmarks designation elicits strong feelings among New Yorkers. Some of us consider landmarking, with its restrictions on changes, an encroachment on personal property rights. It is not an absolute standard, even the strictest constitutionalist will accept the designation of the Roman Forum as a landmark and reject turning New York into a sunless canyon of skyscrapers; it is the drawing of the line that presents the problem. Surprisingly, at the April 2007 public designation hearing the prevailing testimonials were in favor of landmarking the Annex building. Presumably the low zoning for the area, and the 17th Street /Irving Place Historic District designation had something to do with it; even the representative of the management of the property, Related Companies, had no objections. Strong support for the designation came from Union Square Community Coalition, with Jack Taylor relating how the organization has sought protection for the Guardian Life Annex since 1997, with the aid preservationist groups, public officials and many residents. Nordal McWethy, President of Gramercy Neighborhood Associates, and local architect Frank Nicoletti identified it as one of the finest examples of urban infill structure. In a similar vein, Maggie Hartnick of DOCOMOMO US (an international preservationist organization founded in the Netherlands in 1988) commented on its elegance. It was noted that the building represented really advanced concepts of the era. There were work-saving innovations for the then new computer era, anticipating needs of flexibility – liftable floor panels for easy electric installations, large open areas with movable partitions, with privacy provided by high acoustic ceilings with fluorescent lighting, novelties that today we take for granted. Given this quality of support, one expected that the designation would proceed without fail. Actually it took 20 months. The designation document reflects the thorough research and analysis by Matthew Postal of the Commission. The Guardian Life Annex building cornerstone ceremony for the Annex building, on July 20, 1960, with Mayor Robert F. Wagner as the guest speaker, The thought was offered that Guardian Life, founded by liberal German refugees, represented the spirit of Union Square. Yet within the next decades the mutual life insurer (i.e. there are no stockholders drawing dividends; insurance gains are distributed to policyholders), having entered the group insurance and employee benefit coverage fields for small and midsize companies, experienced a tenfold increase in staff and had built satellite home offices in Bethlehem, PA, Appleton WI and Spokane WA. By 1992 the assets had grown to $8B and the New York staff to 1,255, and expansion was in the winds. Space in White Plains and New Rochelle was offered and rejected, and in 1999 Guardian Life returned to the Wall Street area where it was founded in 1860, at 7 Hanover Square (by Norman Jaffe, 1983). Today the mutual company’s assets under management have grown to the over $30B range, and it has announced an unprecedented (for this economic climate) 2009 dividend increase to its policyholders. col 1/15/09 inged@ix.netcom.com Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:42AM From: To: Town and Village Show Details Cc: wally dobelis Bcc: Sent by: inged@ix.netcom.com Error Warning Info Detail Select Clear Close New Reply Reply To All Forward Mark As More Show New Reply Reply To All Forward Show Show Console Day-At-A-Glance Help

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis Update on computer scams - PayPal These are perilous days, you do not know whom to believe. That is not just in reference to the political elite, warriors for high positions, that goes also for communications, seemingly personal, from what appear to be friends, or business associates. A neighbor woman sent me a message from London, about a lost passport and stolen documents, needing some money to get back home fast. It seemed fishy, and I called her NY number, and there she was, in despair for hearing from several friends of this scam, and wondering what to do. We concluded that someone, an established crook, was robbing small sums on a compassionate story, professionally designed, with a credible return address. The conclusion was that my friend would go to work assembling the same mailing list, to send out humble apologies. There have been several subsequent instances where I have received interesting messages under the names of friends, with some words such as “you might like this offer,” followed by an address leading to an interesting technical or household product or a Canadian prescription medicine seller’s price list, all probably legitimate, although the drugs may be fake, placebos. There have been a number of such, including repeat acts, and I have become too embarrassed to call the friends and warn them, sine one turned out to be a retiree’s legitimate attempt to make some money, to boost the fixed amount pension which keeps losing value due to inflation. Real estate offers may be such. Politicians’ requests for money are legitimate, coming from “Moving On,” congress people, Obama and Michele (infrequent) The “Nigerian scam,” offers to share in the loot of government funds hidden by crooked politicians have virtually disappeared, even in the newer version, featuring disgraced Russian oligarchs. An interesting new e-mail message, labeled "(Norton AntiSpam) You sent a payment," from a palpably credible service@paypal.com announced that my payment of $1,455.95 to Terrence Nguyen was received, and would take a little time to appear on my Account Overview, with a link to the latter, which my ISP showed as unavailable. The next paragraph touted use of the bank account, as easy and secure, with two links, http://paypal history, and a similar PayPal Help Center, neither of which were accessible, per the ISP. Much alarmed, I rang my bank, connected to the account I use for PayPal – I use them for Amazon and eBay book and printer ink purchases- but there was no transaction. The bank assured I would not suffer damages, they were now on record, and offered a $30 Stop Payment, which I declined. Next task was calling PayPal, a very difficult number, if you want to reach a human voice. The number is 888-221-1161. The representative , Diego, walked me through the data and we discovered that the same message from service@paypal.com was sent to many accounts with the same old-timer e-mail suffix, to give the impression that a Nigerian -scam -like event has been discovered by PayPal security. He concluded that it was a sophisticated phishing attempt, sent to many old Earthlink clients still using an original Netcom e-mail address, and that my Norton security (bought via Earthlink) had stopped the scammer , by not letting me access any of the three links set out to lure the unwary user into revealing some account and even SS numbers. The credible service@paypal address would not accept replies, the scammer warned, and Diego had me forward the material to spoof@paypal.com. Another example of what can happen if you open unknown links from seemingly friendly or even protective sources. This may also be a warning to examine carefully the political messages, for example , Hello Wally link and a weird link purportedly sent by Rosie Mendez, our elected member of the 2nd Councilmanic District had a strange e-mail “from” address, and a tag attached by Norton that stopped me from opening it. Also, look out for the free ocean cruise offers and the free lotteries offering iPads and other free toys. Yep, many traps for the consumer in this recession, If you have found other dangerous varieties, please e-mail a letter to the Editor, for our joint benefit.

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis Political dogs & cats My regrets for being late in contributing to the T&V issue dealing with dogs and people, an important association in an urban area with limited park and street space. The sharing of territory between men and animals carries a substantial impact on our crowded quality of life I want to raise the discourse on a higher level, dealing with dogs on a national level, political subcategory. This one dog rose well above the common crowd, both figuratively and literally, riding, cross-country, on the top of a car. This trip may have had a worldwide impact, in the election of the next world leader, the President of the US. Actually, three other dogs have already had impact ton the elections of US Presidents. In 1944 FDR, during a wartime visit to the West, left his little Scottish terrier Fala in the Aleutians, and sent the US Air force to retrieve the animal companion. When berated by political opponents for misuse of US property, he said, more or less:” You can attack me, my wife and my family. but attacking my dog is beyond the pale," a speech that helped him materially in his last election, In 1952, Richard Nixon, reaching for acclaim, was accused of using a slush fund to win elections. In response, he gave the famous Checkers speech,” will give back the money you deem Vie accepted incorrectly, but there is one present I will never give back, a little cocker spaniel, a gift that I will never give back," a speech that helped the fierce warrior in acquiring a more humanitarian stature. On the other hand President LBJohnson lost some reputation, when photographed while lifting some beagles by their ears, although ex-President HSTruman told the world that "that is the way we have to lift hounds." All or nearly all American presidents have had household animals as pets, particularly dogs and their riding horse. Some strange choices: JQAdams had an American alligator, Andrew Jackson's parakeet was taught to swear (he also had fighting cocks), Martin little Scottish terrier van Buren had tiger cubs, and Abraham Lincoln had a whole barn full of pets, as did TRoosevelt and WWilson .JFK had a host of pets, including a parakeet, and RReagan returned the style back to riding horses, at his Rancho del Cielo. And many more presidents have relished their canine companion including Obama's Bo a Portuguese water dog. Cat lovers are scarcer, the feline projects a less heroic image, although pet people know that the humble pussy is much more self-reliant, entrepreneurial and inventive, natural function wise, than the brave doggie, who needs people to take it out for a walk twice a day. Cats are choosy in their love, while the doggie pledges allegiance much more easily, to whoever the caregiver. If you choose to draw political parallels, be free, but I ask you, semi-seriously, whether you would rather vote for a cat or dog, when choosing the holder of the appropriate office. Historically, among Presidents of the US William Clinton's Socks, black with white face and collar, is best remembered; GWBush's Ernie and India get little press. Ronald Reagan had two tortoiseshell strays, Cleo and Sara, Jimmy Carter's daughter had Misty Malarky, JFK's Caroline had a Tom, Cal Coolidge's Tiger accompanied him on state occasions, and then we can go back to TRoosevelt, R Hayes, and of course as always Abraham Lincoln Wally Dobelis thanks Internet sources...ed