Creating Modern New York City! -With Madelyn Wils

In this Episode: Kelly is joined by Civic Leader, Madelyn Wils! She was on the Tribeca Community Board, Head of the Hudson River Park Trust, and is now overseeing the 400 Million Dollar Overhaul of 5th ave.

From Kelly asking where Madelyn was from, they learn that they lived on the same block in washington Heights!

Madelyn tells Kelly about her time in Television: Working in advertisment sales to selling tv shows, to eventually running her own company and Producing her own shows. Madelyn also tells kelly about the discrimination that she faced and the sexism that was pervasive in the industry.

Kelly asks Madelyn about working with Charlie Rose and Larry King. Madelyn tells some funny stories about working behind the scenes on their shows.

Madelyn then tells us about how she got into becoming a civic leader. How she joined the community board, and how she was able to procure an empty lot owned by the city for the nearby school's playground.

Living in Tribeca in the late 90s and early 2000s, Kelly asks Madelyn about 911. Medelyn recounts her experience on that day, and tells us about how she was able to rally together her fellow community leaders to help everyone in need.

Madelyn tells us about her experience with standing up to Rudy Giuliani in the wake of the attacks and how she advocated for her community and brought them the help they deserved.

She then talks about how the next administration had been following her work and decided to hire her to work on developing the city. Madelyn talks about how she was able to set up the East River Ferry system, Rebuild Coney Island, start work on the east river park and settle a turf war at Essex Square.

Kelly then asks Madelyn about her new project. And Madelyn tells him about how she planned to retire after covid, but decided that she really loved working on the city. So when she got called to work on a project to rebuild 5th avenue; She couldn't say no.

Madelyn talks about the project and their plans for 5th avenue: Widening the sidewalks, adding more greenery and creating outdoor cafe space. She talks about wanting to create a beautiful scene that people want to spend time in.

But above all else; Madelyn Wils is a New Yorker.

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

For updates on the 5th ave project, Follow

@Fifthavenue

on instagram

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - New Yorkers: Episode 1
• (00:01:20) - In the Elevator With Madeline Wills
• (00:02:22) - Tamela Mann on Sexual Harassment
• (00:06:53) - In the Elevator With Hillary Clinton
• (00:07:15) - Jane Fonda on Working With Larry King and Charlie Rose
• (00:12:25) - Tribeca's metamorphosis
• (00:18:00) - "You're inspiring me to get out and do something!"
• (00:18:32) - Mandela on 9/11
• (00:24:53) - Tom Brokaw on 911
• (00:29:57) - Clinton on his time at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation
• (00:35:52) - Fifth Avenue in New York
• (00:45:27) - Pedestrian lanes on Fifth Avenue
• (00:51:20) - The Old Spaghetti Street
• (00:53:17) - In the Elevator With Mayor Bloomberg
• (00:54:16) - Madeline on Building New York City Dance Schools
• (00:55:51) - The New Yorkers Podcast: Madeline Wills