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.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, March 5, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
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?
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?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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?
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?
Monday, March 1, 2010
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?
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?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
