Phillip Kalantzis-Cope

Good morning, East Village.

Add Douglas Howard to the list of people who are unhappy with the permitting system at East River Park. According to The Post, the East Village resident is suing the city for revoking his permit to teach tennis due to what he says is racial discrimination. Mr. Howard, who is white, was arrested after clashing with a park employee who, the lawsuit claims, gave preference to a non-licensed Hispanic tennis instructor.

According to a Citi Habitats report released on The Real Deal, January rents were up 5% from last year. In the East Village, the average studio went for $1,881 and 1-bedrooms went for $2,616.

The Post and the Daily News report that Louise Meanwell, who is accused of extorting money from Brian Cashman, the General Manager of the New York Yankees, was told in court yesterday that she will also face charges of harassing an ex-boyfriend, Thomas Walsh, who lived in the East Village. The charges, from 2010, had been suspended but are now being revived.

DNA Info notes that at a Community Board 3 meeting tomorrow, the Department of Transportation will address unsafe conditions on Delancey Street. The department is expect to announce “easy-to-implement changes like longer walk signals and larger pedestrian medians, rather than a major capital project like a pedestrian overpass.”

Bowery Boogie spotted a notice indicating that The Moldy Fig, a Lower East Side club that was one of the better places to see live jazz in the neighborhood, has been evicted by its landlord.

And Eater reports that Open House has reopened after a brush with the Department of Health.