Are cutbacks making for a more dangerous City?

Manhattan was certainly not the safest place to be this weekend.


In two separate, unrelated incidents, random citizens were put in harm’s way by things that the City could have done more to prevent.

On Saturday night, a resting crane slammed into the side of a building downtown on Maiden Lane. While there were no reports of injury, part of the building’s façade fell 23 stories to the ground and at least 5 buildings were evacuated. It has come to light that the operator did not properly secure the machine before leaving for the day, causing it to tilt. The operator of the crane has had his license suspended.

Early Sunday morning, an altercation on the downtown 2 train near 14th Street resulted in the murder of two men, with a third still in the hospital. The men were stabbed multiple times with a knife as the train entered the station. The assailants escaped at Christopher Street and have yet to be apprehended.

Both incidents come at a time of increasing uneasiness in the City. Two major crane collapses in as many years have resulted in several deaths, with a court decision last week to indict crane company owners on fraud and negligence. In the subway, decreased numbers of station attendants due to budget cuts foreshadows a time of increased commuter violence.

The question remains: is the City investing enough in its citizen’s well-being and protection, or is an unstable economy forcing cuts in all the wrong places?

Playground equipment stirs debate

Parents, residents and community organizers are concerned about play ground equipment at a particular Brooklyn housing project. The equipment, in addition to the typical monkey bars, swings and slides, has a section resembling a prison cell with the word “jail” over it. The company that manufactured the equipment has stated that this is the only occurrence of its type, and that this is the first time complaints have been logged since the equipment was built in March 2004. It is likely that the surge in complaints is a result of pictures posted on the website, Black and Brown News.


The New York City Housing Authority has already painted over the signage, and is assuring residents that this is a singular occurrence. Public relations staff for the company that built the set, Landscape Structures, is denying jail themed products. Several other companies that specialize in play ground equipment are echoing this, saying that having specific prison text is unheard of.

While it is possible to pass blame on who produced the equipment, what is undeniable is the tact lacking in the act itself. To place prison themed equipment in a housing project, areas known to have disproportionate levels of incarcerated individuals, certainly sends the wrong message to children. It is interesting, though, to consider that it has taken 6 years for any complaints to arise.

Perhaps the level of apathy, apparent on both sides of the issue, is best summed up by 5 year old Destiny Garcia. She liked the prison sign because it reminded her of her father, currently serving time on gun possession charges.

Violence erupts after critical vote

Violence has erupted after a critical parliamentary vote in a country very close to home. Several legislators have received death threats, verbal abuse via telephone, as well as damage to personal and professional property. One even had propane lines in their home cut by vandals. The website of a popular politician who opposes the result of the vote makes allusion to killing particular legislators, and one influential blogger has called for the assassination of the country’s president.


Any ideas which country this might be? Haiti? Venezuela? Honduras?

Think again. It’s right here in the United States.

Several members of Congress have received death threats to their Capitol Hill and District offices, spurring investigation by both Capitol Hill police and the FBI. In total, more than 10 members of Congress will get beefed up security in the coming days. Democratic offices in Kansas and New York have been vandalized as well. In addition, the brother of a Virginia congressman had the lines to his propane tanks cut when vandals mistook the house to be that of the actual congressman. Sarah Palin’s popular Facebook page shows 17 congressional districts in cross-hairs, with further allusions that we should “take them out”. Popular conservative blogger Solly Forell even tweeted for the assassination of President Obama following the health care vote.

I want to hear reader’s views on this before I put out my own. How are these actions and those of the new tea party movement in general, influencing politics in this country? Regardless of one’s stance on the health care debate, is violence in the bastion of democracy acceptable behavior?

Tanning tax, or saving the future?

Details within the recent Health Care Bill are coming to light, including the 10 per cent tax on tanning services nationwide. This tanning tax acts as a replacement to the original tax in the bill on Botox services, and seeks to generate necessary revenue. Tanning salon owners are crying foul, saying that the tax threatens both their employees and customer base.


In New York City, this equates to approximately $2 extra per tanning session. Many customers are complaining that this extra fee will put a strain on their pocketbooks. In my view, going to a tanning salon and spending $20 for 10 minutes of treatment is a luxury. If people were so concerned about their pocketbooks, they would likely spend the $20 on something more important. Tanning is certainly not an essential service, and a luxury tax on the product is not going to break the bank.

There is also positive impact that this tax will bring about in time. The United States spends $1.8 billion a year on skin cancer treatments. According to CNN Money, 2.3 million teenagers currently use tanning salon beds. A tax on what many consider a leading contributor to the issue can certainly curb future increases in the spread of disease.

NYU's expansion: community involvement or takeover?

New York University unveiled its latest plans at expansion over the next 20 years. These plans call for over 6 million square feet of new space for the University, with half of that space in and around the Washington Square Park area. The remainder of the space, another 3 million square feet, would be primarily on Governor’s Island and in downtown Brooklyn. Overall, the plan equates to building in the next 20 years the same amount that NYU has built in the past 43 years.


For anyone who has lived or worked in New York City, this plans surely gives pause. The University is certainly not known for considering the future of the City in its planning, opting instead for a scorched earth approach. There are myriad examples of historic and preserved buildings being demolished, residents being uprooted and the general aesthetic integrity of the landscape being destroyed at the hands of NYU’s expansion. In fact, NYU is now the number one land owner in the City. The 20 year plan will only solidify the University’s dominance over strategic urbanization.

In publicizing the 20 year plan, NYU hopes to quell its negative reputation. Granted, this is a first step in increasing community involvement and dialogue. But, is it going to be enough? At face value, the plan seems to say to the community, “take it or leave it”. Sure, it gives way to green space and pedestrian malls, but also incorporates mega-dorms that would blot the skyline in the Village. I fail to see where the community’s voice was taken into consideration.

Fetishism in America: the story of Donna Simpson

In a world fueled by a more interconnected media, where one can become a superstar overnight just by sitting in their bedroom, we must remember how much influence the individual truly does have. Over the past several years, people have grown in notoriety for doing things which nobody would have cared about 20 years ago. This constant fetishism attributed to the Internet runs the gamut from celebrity gossip mongers, to sports fanatics, to cat lovers, to the more unconventional.


Take the recent story of Donna Simpson. The New Jersey mother is currently 600 pounds, and holds the world record for being the largest woman to give birth. Now she says that this is not enough, and she wants to break the 1,000 pound mark to become the world’s heaviest woman. She has the same caloric intake of Michael Phelps during Olympic training, as well as a website where people can pay to watch her eat. She also cannot move more than 20 feet without having to rest, and has to use a scooter for mobility outside the home.

Is it irresponsible of Ms. Simpson to be taking on such a high-profile mission? Is she sending the wrong signal to women and children that this behavior is acceptable? Not only does she have the power to influence those in her immediate circle, but in our Internet dominated society also has the power to influence choices for millions. With heart disease now the number one killer of American women, is she aiding in this downward spiral?

Second class citizenship

Think of your home state. Ponder all of the rights and privileges you have as a citizen of that state, and how those rights translate on a federal level. Now imagine that tomorrow the U.S. Government invalidated and annulled those rights by revoking birth certificates from your particular state. You would no longer be able to work, drive or receive federal funding without overcoming major bureaucratic hurdles. My guess is that most people would be quite perturbed by the move. In our scenario, however, there is a caveat: you can apply for a new birth certificate that the Government will consider valid. This, though, will not necessarily remedy the negative public perception such a move towards second class citizenship would create.


While shocking in its implications, such a situation is taking place as we speak. As of 1 July, all Puerto Ricans born outside the contiguous United States will have their birth certificates annulled and be required to apply for new ones. This is in response to what the Government claims is ‘certificate trafficking’ and falsification of documents by members of the Puerto Rican community. Essentially, certificates are being falsified in order to provide citizenship for many coming over from the Caribbean. To quell this rising trend, the Government will no longer accept the old records.

Understanding the psychological impact of this is critical. Puerto Ricans are already treated as second class citizens due to the colonial nature of the territory. This power struggle, which goes on despite calls for its end by the United Nations and prevailing international standards, is only being exacerbated. Some states, like New Hampshire, are already requiring separate application procedures in institutions like the Department of Motor Vehicles. Expect these practices to increase over time.

It is vital that the United States figure out exactly where Puerto Rico stands. There is no place for second class citizenship in a modern society, especially when that society claims to be the bastion of democracy.

What about Wall Street?

With an unemployment rate nearing 10 per cent, and positive public sentiment waning, the job market in the United States is reaching a point where something critical is necessary. The question is what form this particular ‘something’ must take. Should it be concrete in that it provides funding to spur growth? Or, alternatively, will more psychological assistance be what is needed to get the market back off the ground? Are citizens and businesses just looking for that little spark of hope that will change everything? Or is this being far too altruistic given the real world situation our economy now faces?


Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a bill which aims to help small businesses create and fill jobs. The bill exempts small business owners from having to pay the Social Security payroll tax per new employee. It also gives a $1000 tax credit to those small businesses who keep new employees for over one year. In the proverbial Main Street versus Wall Street argument, this bill certainly keeps Main Street afloat.

Is it, though, just lip service to a more critical problem with the economy? The psychological impact of the bill is undeniable, as it gives business owners a reason to attract help, and job seekers a reason to get back out there. It is far from perfect however. While it does address issues in Main Street America, it overlooks the larger pools of businesses and job seekers in metropolitan areas. The jury is still out on whether or not this is a good first step.

Health by the letter

Come July, New York City restaurants will begin adding lettered placards to their front windows. These placards would correspond to the restaurant’s performance on health, hygiene and safety inspections, with a grade of ‘A’ as passing, ‘B’ as passing but less than sanitary, and ‘C’ as a fail. This system is similar to that used in other cities. A Los Angeles Department of Health report found that the system, used extensively in that area, was favored by 91 per cent of people. It also found a 13 per cent decline in food borne illnesses since the implementation of the system.


New York restaurant owners, however, are not so enthusiastic. Many claim that this discriminates against or unfairly hinders business. In reality, however, this new system is no different than one already in place. The New York Department of Health website has statistics and rankings for all New York City restaurants based on the most recent set of inspections. Do most people know this? Probably not.

How are we to interpret this latest caveat on the health and wellness of the City? For a staunch liberal, it might be seen as an intrusion on the rights of business owners. My interpretation, however, is that the new system is simply making sure patrons are properly informed. One cannot proclaim “let the buyer beware” and not ensure they understand the full implications of their actions. Not only does the new restaurant grading system protect patrons, but also minimizes the risk of lawsuit against restaurateurs themselves. It works to tell owners where they must improve, and to tell patrons to enter at their own risk.

More junk mail?

Yesterday, I received my census questionnaire in the mail.


Except I didn’t realize it was my census questionnaire and nearly threw it out. The envelope looked almost identical to credit card offers, or any other junk mail I would get in a given day. I consider myself savvy enough to understand the need for the census and implications of not filling it out. What I do not understand is why the Census Bureau did not do a better job at packaging their product. If someone who was looking out for the form nearly threw it away, what will be its fate with the apathetic?

While the Bureau has certainly gotten the word out about the census, the importance of the process is still not clearly spelled out. The influence on public institutions, including schools, is unmistakable. On the political side, New York alone could lose 2 congressional seats as a result of people not filling out surveys. This is of course well known by those who are fortunate enough to understand the implications of the census. For the rest of the population, the census must seem like just another questionnaire. Is it too late to remedy the situation without having to send an army of census workers to interrupt dinner? How can we make sure that the census does not go in the same place as junk mail…the bin?

Following in our footsteps

Aligning with most common perceptions, reports have surfaced that indicate China has purposely devalued its currency in efforts to boost its economy. The country has done this by using loopholes in the international banking regulatory system to its advantage. The most critical of these loopholes involves the fact that China is not under the direct purview of the International Monetary Fund, as the country does not contribute to the organization. For all intents and purposes, the IMF serves as a global watchdog to prevent manipulation of financial rules. Since China does not report to them directly, it can essentially do as it wishes.


In discussing this issue with friends and colleagues, I was surprised that most gave the same response: isn’t this what the U.S. has been doing for centuries? In a word, yes. Up until the post World War II institution of the IMF and World Bank, most countries did all they could to remain economically superior. This global trend of undervaluing currency at that time was a major contributor to the Great Depression. Since 1945, however, this practice has been frowned upon.

Should we fault China for doing what immerging economies have done in the past? While we in the U.S. might look down on a devalued currency, we are also doing little to stop it. The United States is a major trading partner with China, turning a blind eye to devaluation over the past several decades. While its actions may be suspect, is China simply taking a page from the playbook of powers coming before it?

Safety upgrade or natural selection?

An Upper East Side woman died tragically yesterday after jumping onto subway tracks in an attempt to retrieve a dropped bag. Much of the startled crowd urged her to lay flat on the tracks as the train approached, but she insisted on trying to climb back out. Although the conductor of the train engaged his emergency brake, there was not enough time to prevent the collision. The woman became wedged between the side of the train and the track itself.


Although any New Yorker who uses the subway has seen advertisements urging riders to notify an MTA employee when items fall on the tracks, is the message missing its mark? In a time where the entire City is encouraging healthy living, are we forgetting basic safety precautions? Or, alternatively, is this incident an outlier as accidents go? A Columbia University study revealed that between 1990 and 2003, 315 people had died accidently in the subway system. While 46 per cent of these deaths were associated with inebriation, there were still 54 per cent of people perfectly sober. Discounting heart attacks and other natural causes, it is interesting to ponder how many people just did not get out of the way in time.

Should the MTA, or City administration, consider installation of safety devices on subway tracks? Walking along some of the narrower platforms in the City is certainly a harrowing task for the bravest person, especially during rush hour. Having safety doors, like those in the London Metro, would eliminate both fear and unnecessary death. While I am a full proponent of natural selection, I’m not sure Darwin envisioned this at the front end of a subway train.

Is an impartial jury an impossibility?

A Riverhead, New York court is struggling to select a jury of impartial, unbiased members in the case of Marcelo Lucero. The 37 year old Ecuadorian was stabbed to death in the Long Island town of Patchogue in late 2008. The case has been classified as a hate crime against illegal day workers in the area. Prospective jurors have been hard to come by given sentiment in the region about illegal immigration, as well as people’s proximity to information on the case. In the small village, it is difficult to find a juror who does not already have an opinion on the matter.


This lends itself to a much larger, national question regarding jury selection and impartiality. In this day and age of instant information overload, how feasible is it to select a jury of one’s peers who can be fair in their verdict? Opinion pieces (the present one included) seek to sway the minds of readers. At the least, they certainly color how one dissects an issue.

Is it going to be necessary to have jurors come from areas disinterested in local topics? Will this Riverhead trial have jurors from Omaha or San Diego to create an impartial atmosphere? Will that measure even be enough to keep personal opinions out of the court room?

Public school publicity

Charter schooling has grown to become one of the most popular methods of education in recent years. Schools are popping up all over the country, with their well staffed halls, top notch programs and private funding. This has come at the detriment of the more traditional public school. As I noted last week, public schools are embroiled in battles to increase productivity by any means possible, resulting in harsh and possibly rash decisions by those in charge. Now, charter schools are forcing their public counterparts to vie for filling seats.


New York City public schools have begun small marketing campaigns to entice parents to enroll their children. These campaigns are individually supported by concerned parents and administrators at at-risk schools, especially those where a charter school has moved into the neighborhood. Charter schools are eligible and do receive public funding, but are also able to privately market themselves for donations. This week’s Oscar Awards, for example, featured a commercial advertisement for a Harlem charter school. With the notion that charter schools offer a better education, whether correct or not, public schools are literally fighting for their lives. Fewer students equal increased possibility of closure, regardless of performance.

Instructors and parents having to concern themselves with publicity can only have adverse consequences on the education of students. Unfortunately, without this publicity the students will not have schools to attend.

Silverstein's ivory tower

New York City’s construction unions are taking to the streets today, in an effort to drum up support for accelerated building at the site of the former World Trade Center. The site, long plagued by infighting and bureaucracy, is again at a standstill. The two opponents, Larry A. Silverstein and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, disagree over funding. The Port Authority is currently financing costs associated with World Trade Center 1 (the Freedom Tower), as well as public works surrounding the area including transport hubs. Silverstein, who owns the lease on the former Twin Towers, is entitled to build 3 other properties on the site.


This, however, is where it gets tricky. The economic downturn has adversely impacted the amount of prospective renters for Silverstein’s 3 new buildings. This echoes the continuing decline in business rentals in Downtown Manhattan since September 11th. As a result, Silverstein wants the Port Authority to finance his projects, as well as their own. While both agree that building more than two new structures at the present time is financially unsound, there is still contention about Silverstein’s single tower on the site.

While imprudent in the extreme to be undergoing such a major construction effort in the name of patriotism, especially in such uncertain economic times, who should finance Silverstein’s tower? Why funnel money into a project that, much like the Empire State Building, will sit half empty for the foreseeable future? Perhaps Silverstein should pay for half of the Freedom Tower and just call it a day.

You want the calories? Pay for them!

A day ahead of a state symposium on the issue, Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a statement regarding the proposed tax on sugary drinks. He said that “…the soda tax is a fix that just makes sense. It would save lives. It would cut rising health care costs. And it would keep thousands of teachers and nurses where they belong: in the classrooms and clinics.”


The tax hopes to curb the rising obesity rates in the City, and stand as a health example to cities around the country. It would also help to fill the coffers of a city reeling from economic downturn. In it, sugary drinks including soda would have a one cent per ounce tax added to them. The choice of buying the product is, as always, the consumers to make.

While public support for the initiative has been lacking, Bloomberg seems to think that the tide of opinion is turning. After all that he and the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have done over the past several years, why should we question their intent? New York City is quickly becoming a bastion of healthy living. From placarded calorie counts, to clean air initiatives, to sensationalistic public service announcements, we are becoming healthier. A soda tax would do well to keep this momentum going, while benefiting a city that could use the help.

Don't fear...Ed Koch is here!

Ed Koch summed it up best when he said of Albany lawmakers that “…the good ones are [not] good enough…and the bad ones are evil”.


Koch, a former New York City mayor, is bringing together a coalition of groups in an effort to remove the bad apples from Albany. The group will meet next week, and sets to take their aim not only at the mismanagement of government, but also incumbents up for election. These incumbents, who Koch describes as being impediments to change, are traditionally overlooked during campaign season. The simple fact is that incumbent candidates, on the whole, are quite difficult to unseat. This Herculean task has taken many by surprise, not least of which the incumbents themselves.

Although the tide is certainly turning towards a more productive, efficient Albany, would Koch’s efforts be better spent elsewhere? Instead of trying to unseat politicians, perhaps grooming better candidates is the answer. In truth, the Albany spectacle is simply a microcosm of the problems inherent in most legislatures including the Congress of the United States. This would support the notion that the system itself is flawed, perpetuating the types of leaders who are more self-serving than self-sacrificing.

With the continual circus mentality in the state capital, and public trust in elected officials in Albany low, now is the best time to try to make positive change. While substantial, the task is fit for a man of Koch’s stature and demeanor. Incumbents, especially the corrupt ones, should not rest comfortably in their posts.

Apathy towards New York City's students: the example of Rhode Island

It is no secret that America’s schools are lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of performance. This is causing many school districts to take drastic measures to remedy the situation. Last year schools in Compton, California were placed under the purview of the State. More recently, a Rhode Island high school summarily dismissed all of its teachers, administrators and staff. This, after the institution continued to produce failing performance scores. President Obama supports the decision.


While Compton and Central Falls might be outliers in the spectrum of assisting students academically, their examples can easily be applied closer to home. New York City schools, while improving over the last 3 years, are still not up to par with what we should expect for our children. A local government report from June 2009 cites that City graduation rates are now hovering at 60 per cent, meaning 40 per cent of students are still not getting a proper education. When taken by district, several graduation rates are below 40 per cent.

This ultimately becomes a question of placing blame. Is it the system that is faulty, or is it the educators themselves? What role do parents, demographics and attitude play in all this? I would be hesitant to even begin to answer these questions. One thing, however, is clear: something better needs to be done. The stagnation and apathy towards education as a whole is not only hindering this generation, but generations of Americans who are going to be operating in an increasingly globalized society.

Does Paterson know he is in the wrong?

Another day, another scandal. Governor Paterson can’t seem to get a break from the ever evolving allegations that are surfacing regarding his administration. An ethics panel is now claiming that Paterson received free tickets to a World Series game last fall, which is against rules prohibiting gifts to elected officials. The panel is also citing that the Governor lied when he told a court he would pay for part of the ticket costs.


When one looks at the present situation, it is interesting to see how counterintuitive Paterson’s actions in remedying his plight actually are. If he committed wrong doing, and then openly invited a panel to investigate him, he is either fully dense or does not understand the rules of the road. While one should assume a person in his position understands that he cannot accept gifts, is this truly the case? Did Paterson understand that what he was doing was wrong?

Paying to ride: should students have to front the cost of a MetroCard?

The perpetually cash-strapped MTA is making several proposals to fill their funding gap over the next few years. Along with giving the pink slip to thousands of employees, reducing line frequency and increasing fares, the organization is proposing making students pay for the price of a MetroCard. At present, students in the New York City school system do not have to shell out the money for transport.






While making everyone pay their fair share is the best way to help the MTA, recent statistics reveal that it is not only students who ride for free. MTA employees, including those who work in the corporate sector, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North all receive compensated transport. I suppose this is fine given that they need to go to and from work. Also included in this statistic are police officers and transit police who use the subway system for proper duties.





The problem lies in the fact that this is not where the free rides stop. Along with police and current MTA employees, retirees, spouses and dependents of the system all ride without paying. How many free fares are being given out you ask? Let’s look at this morning’s Metro newspaper stats: 15,000 retirees; at least 10,087 spouses of employees; and at least 4,000 dependants. If charged the actual price of a MetroCard, this would infuse over $31 million into the organization by itself.





The question remains: is it fair to charge students to ride when there are so many other ways to cut costs and increase revenue?

An ethics panel in Albany?

The governorship of New York has become synonymous with corruption and abuse of power over the past several years. In addition to other incidents, both Eliot Spitzer and now David Paterson have become embroiled in charges that they used their office to secure special treatment from State Police. In response, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Eric Adams are calling for the creation of a panel to ensure proper conduct by law enforcement officials. According to New York 1 news, this commission would ‘…investigate systemic misconduct, abuse of power and inappropriate political intervention with state law enforcement.’ While both Congressmen say that this act is not an attack on Paterson, it certainly comes at a bad time for the recently disgraced governor. Paterson has had to end his reelection campaign after details of misconduct surfaced last week.


While standards and ethics panels, especially those that investigate wrong doing by elected officials, are always welcome, the recent proposal leaves much to be desired. Details at the present stage are scarce, but there is certainly one major gorilla in the room: who is going to run this panel?