In this fast-paced episode of our podcast series Wrecking Ball, host and creator Adrian Untermyer, Esq. discusses the present and future of historic preservation advocacy in New York with Andrew Berman, whose name is now shorthand for New York’s history-saving movement after leading the venerable Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (now “Village Preservation”) for a quarter-century — thereby earning his new nickname as “The ‘Cher’ of Preservation.” Berman describes his decades at the intersection of historic preservation, the law, and the great City and State of New York, beginning with his upbringing in the Bronx, continuing with his study of architectural history in school, and broadening into the world of politics and policy in his roles with New York City Councilman and State Senator Tom Duane. Untermyer and Berman also consider the ingredients of a successful preservation “stew” balancing economic growth and affordable housing with the elements of neighborhood character that make a place worth living. Also included in this installment are case studies of St. Vincent’s Hospital, the “Weathermen House,” and university expansions, together with a whopping two quotes in our beloved final segment, “Your Daily Ada Louise.” So get your OMNY card ready as we explore Greenwich Village’s vibrant preservation advocacy scene in 2025 and beyond!

Judicial Notice Editor in Chief Hon. Helen E. Freedman sits down with podcast host Dr. Eric van der Vort for a conversation on the subject of her Issue 18 article: Samuel Jones Tilden. The two discuss Tilden’s early years, his contributions to New York’s legal community (including breaking up Boss Tweed’s ring), and, of course, Tilden’s presidential bid in the 1876 election. The 1876 election was highly contested at the time — tune in to learn why!

The Empire State Plaza's white-and-gray silhouette dominates the skyline of New York's capital city. While the futuristic, stone-and-steel complex looks like it's been there forever, the Plaza has a twisted history covering politics, intrigue, and the Rockefeller Family's one-time dominance over civic and cultural life in New York State. In this episode, former Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge Margaret Cangilos-Ruiz (NDNY, Ret.) and architectural historian Carol H. Krinsky join host Adrian Untermyer to discuss the Empire State Plaza's origin story and legacy. Plus, urbanist Gina Pollara joins us for a special extended edition of "Your Daily Ada Louise." So climb aboard Princess Beatrix's ferry as we travel up the Hudson and learn how Governor Nelson Rockefeller's embarrassment led to demolition, rebirth, and the reshaping of modern Albany.

Inaugural Latino Judges Association Mendez v. Westminster Moot Court Project Discussion: The Gap In Bilingual Education, the Impact of Aspira v. BOE, and How the Landmark Mendez Case Inspired It All.

In a special co-production of the Historical Society of the New York Courts podcast and Amici, the podcast program of the NYS Unified Court System, an insightful panel discusses with Host John Caher the growth of the Latino Judges Association, a little known case that ended school desegregation in California and set the stage for future civil rights victories, an upcoming moot court competition, and explores the differences between bilingual education and English as a Second Language (ESL). Three sitting judges – Supreme Court Justices Patria Frias-Colón and Wilma Guzman and Court of Claims Judge Linda Mejias-Glover – and Daniel O. Sierra of the Historical Society offer insight and perspective.

In this episode of Chatting with the Authors of Judicial Notice, Professor Mary Noé tells host Eric van der Vort, Ph.D. all about a murder committed in full view of a theatre full of witnesses in the early 20th century. The case is full of twists and turns, including escapes, extraditions, and major challenges for the courts to iron out. You won't want to miss this dive into New York's true crime history!

Manhattan’s High Line is one of the world’s great parks, with a rich history at the crossroads of historic preservation, the law, and the great City and State of New York. In this episode of Wrecking Ball, host Adrian Untermyer welcomes Jonathan Broder, former General Counsel of the Consolidated Rail Corporation (or “Conrail”) to recount Broder’s key role in the formation of the High Line as we know it today. In doing so, Untermyer and Broder offer a crash course in the intertwined histories of American railroading, government regulation, and urban rebirth. So put on your walking shoes as we explore the High Line’s long and quirky origin story — complete with urban cowboys, “pro-garbage” community boards, boxcars full of turkeys, and everything in-between!

Two of the articles in Judicial Notice Issue 18, the Society’s periodical publication, feature stories from the life of Benjamin N. Cardozo, once Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Host Eric van der Vort, Ph.D. welcomed authors Prof. John Q. Barrett and Henry "Hank" M. Greenberg, Esq., to discuss their pieces. Together, they explore lesser-known stories of Cardozo's life, emphasizing his sense of humor and his writing style. Tune in to gain fresh insights into Cardozo's life and legacy!

Lower Manhattan's Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse and Foley Square are now preserved and continue to define the aesthetic of justice in New York and the nation. But when the complex was still new, a greedy Chief Circuit Judge named Martin T. Manton orchestrated his campaign of judicial bribery from within the Courthouse's awe-inspiring halls — until the building itself served as an “inanimate character witness” in Manton’s downfall. On the second episode of the Wrecking Ball series, host Adrian Untermyer explores Manton's "justice racket" with attorney Gary Stein, author of the new book Justice for Sale, as they consider the power — and limitations — of using grand public buildings to inspire civic virtue.