Make New York Post a Preferred Source Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal is among a group of Manhattan lawmakers enraged over plans to close a beloved UES IMAX cinema. Matthew McDermott for NY Post Ever the pandering pol with his eye on the next higher office, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal demands that a “beloved” IMAX cineplex be saved.
He’s the latest local elected to come out against NYU Langone Health’s plan to acquire the massive Second Avenue site, which also holds a Fairway supermarket.
Onetime “Yes, in my back yard” crusader Hoylman-Sigal vowed to “not approve any prospective rezoning of the Kips Bay AMC 15 site without the inclusion of a cinema.”
The nabe’s future, he insists, “must include a movie theater and grocery store.”
But, apparently, no hospital. Or the new housing that YIMBYs supposedly support.
“Of all the public benefits you could demand and you picked … a movie theater ???” tweeted one wag.
Another mocked: “He rides bravely into history, not to defend the Little Bighorn, but to defend the last stand of the 7:20 PM screening.”
It’s a cynical power play: Hoylman is abusing his powers to shake down NYU Langone and the landlord and pander to NIMBY locals terrified of a little extra traffic from a world-class medical center.
Or put it another way: Brad’s happy to blow up hundreds of jobs and desperately needed apartments just to keep popcorn popping.
This is what happens when theater kids win public office.
