Bruce James was born in Boulder Colorado in the mid 1940’s. He received his Bachelor's and Master’s 7 Fine Arts (Painting) from the University of Colorado.

Bruce moved to Los Angeles in 1973 and pursued a career in art, worked as a bar manager and as an artist assistant.  He worked with artist lead to curate a large Native American Art collection which entailed a lot of travel to New York City where he met his wife. Bruce joined a partnership in a set building business serving the advertising industry and left the partnership and operated his own until 2002. In 1989, he purchased a co-op apartment on 108th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in which he currently lives.

With the neighborhood’s high crime rate, Bruce got involved in community organizing of as well as the President of his Block Association which led to training and becoming an organizer for the Industrial Areas Foundation. Working in the neighborhood brought him into contact with Peter Arndtsen and the BID. They shared a passion for street trees with Bruce earning a Citizen Pruner Certificate and later becoming an instructor of the program. Bruce continues to study Trees and the Urban Forest at the New York Botanical Gardens.

Bruce joined the Board of Directors of the BID many years ago.  He recently led the Succession Committee in the process of finding Daniel Bernstein our new Executive Director and preparing for the retirement of Peter Arndtsen (former BID Director)

Bruce is the Interim Chair of the BID Board and hopes to keep the good work for the neighborhood going with support from the BID’s past Chair, Robin Baez.

Rhea Vogel was born and raised right here in this neighborhood. She has been on the CABID board for many years and has served as treasurer for some time. Her family-owned Tic Toc Laundercenter at 932 Amsterdam Avenue for over 30 years. Though no longer owned by her it still is a laundromat! In 1970, Berek Nierenstein, Rhea’s father, purchased two apartment buildings, 938 and 940 Amsterdam Avenue. They have remained in the family for 54 years.

Rhea moved to the “burbs” shortly after her first son was born but she still identifies as “an Upper Westsider.” Her oldest son, now grown, lives right here in an apartment in one of their buildings. Rhea has been involved in several non-profit organizations over the years lending her assistance in various rolls, as President, CFO, and Treasurer. She is pleased to be able to participate with CABID and hopes to continue to be able to contribute her energy to keeping this part of the Big Apple the vibrant and welcoming community she knows and loves.