Dear Neighbor,
Last night close to a hundred members of the Coalition for a New Village
Hospital along with other community members came out to the Community Board 2
Full Board Meeting to demand that a resolution to lock the land use at the site
of St. Vincent's be put on the agenda for the next meeting.
I am going to be honest, we weren't optimistic, but we were determined,
committed and we are on the right side.
In the sweltering heat of Elizabeth Irwin High School's auditorium, person after
person got up to repeat the message; we need a hospital back at the site of St.
Vincent's, we don't need another needs assessment, we need to lock the use of
the land so it can only be a hospital.
The Board listened, and I am delighted to report, no actually I am ecstatic to
report, that thanks to the courageous efforts of several Community Board Members
and the continued hard work of so many of you who have been fighting since the
hospital closed on April 30th... we didn't get it on the agenda... WE PASSED THE
RESOLUTION!
That's right, the Board passed a resolution that put a land lock on the property
to stop any changes to the zoning, certificate of occupancy or other part of the
land use that would eliminate the hospital use. It also called on the
Bankruptcy Court to be advised of this and to petition the Court to set up a
Community Council with the help of New York City Corporation Counsel to let the
Court know we want a hospital on the site of St. Vincent's and to be engaged in
the Bankruptcy Court's procedures.
I will send around a copy of the resolution as soon as it is available, but in
the meantime I wanted to share this news with you as soon as possible.
This is especially meaningful given the recent statement by Speaker Christine
Quinn in Chelsea Now that she "will continue our push for a full service
hospital here". The Community Board and the City Council will play the key role
in determining the future of St. Vincent's when it comes to the heavy real
estate interests surrounding the area. Now, with a commitment from both it is
substantially more hopeful that we can in fact ensure the site is only used for
a hospital.
Next, we have to make it happen now, with the infrastructure that already
exists. This is up to us and our statewide officials to put pressure on
Commissioner Daines to obey the law. New York Public Health Law requires that
the Department of Health affirmatively make a finding that there is no need
for a hospital before it takes away the services of a hospital. In the near
future we will be sending around a letter to Commissioner Daines and we hope you
will get your electeds, tenant associations, block associations and other
community groups to sign off.
I am very happy to share this victory with you and want to personally thank you
all.
In solidarity,
Yetta
Dear Readers: Yetta sent out this email blast and I posted it here on New York Focus. I want to commend Yetta Kurland for her on going activism that comes truly from the heart along with other dynamic New Yorkers fighting to get a hospital in what was St. Vincent's. She and other true hearts fought to keep St. Vincent's open.
Thanks to Yetta for her constant hard work and for sending out these emails keeping us all updated. I do not attend community board meetings because I found them less than satisfactory to be polite. We did not vote for these community board representatives and I have always said this is the least democratic part of city government that is until Mike Bloomberg and Christine Quinn collaborated to deny the people of New York a referendum.
I do not understand how our hospitals are closing yet banks need to be rescued?
Here is a YouTube interview with Jim Fouratt and I agree with him on everything but Christine Quinn ever finding her way back to putting the people before developers and king Mike Bloomberg's agenda.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxiULqxusM
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Bloomberg's Deputy Anti-Gay & a disaster? by Suzannah B. Troy
I telephoned City Hall, actually the mayor's office, 8 am yesterday to speak to the new "deputy" in town, Deputy Stephen Goldsmith. I met him the day before at The Crain's breakfast for him and a few hundred business people and two activists, me and a friend.
Watch the YouTube I am posting and hear how he responds to my questions. He shook my hand and it was a hand shake I can only describe as a small dead fish; completely limp and disingenuous. He said, "thank you" to me twice actually. Each time I felt he was saying, "F-you, you are now dismissed." Don't actually ask me questions about politics, infrastructure and the harsh reality the people of New York actually need people in office that will be their advocate and work and fight for them.
The woman that answered the phone for the mayor's office transferred me over to Goldsmith's office. You see, he did not give me his card. He did hand out his business card but not to me. What ever I looked like or perhaps my questions some how registered as not a person to hand your business card to.
So much for Crain's and their networking. What was clear from the Crain's breakfast is besides my questions before the event started and the questions of only two news reporters who happened to be -- you guessed it -- two white males -- Stephen Goldsmith could not handle the heat or should I say pressure of their questions. He won't be here long. He won't make it as long as Dollarbill Dan Doctoroff who left king Mike's public empire to re-join his private empire.
Dan considered himself the man in charge of infrastructure until the steam pipe explosion that looked like a terror attack by Grand Central. You see, I would call and email him about the way too rapid development and NY's old infrastructure. I made it clear I felt Bloomberg and he were endangering us and were leaving a hell of a mess for when they actually left office.
Dollar bill Dan quietly and quickly left office. Bye, bye.
Stephen Goldsmith thinks he can take on Albany. Good luck Stephen. You would have better luck taking on the Mafia perhaps converting them to vegetarianism.
Good old Stephen thinks he can come in here and at the Crain's hosted breakfast talk about closing firehouses. Bloomberg and his socialite mega millionaire city planner called Amanda the peoples' Burden aided their developers pal in a reckless tsunami of shady development helping to create mass displacement, perhaps a record number of people displaced and a record number of infrastructure related problems from water main breaks, sewage, Con Ed problems as well as expansion so over the top Con Ed set a record hiring outside contractors, to the worst street conditions seen in years with DOT repaving streets not once but twice or even more than twice.
Why do the streets look like bombs went off on them. If the FDNY is not answering fire calls they are responding to infrastructure problems including man hole cover exploding with dramatic fires that so far have not caused any deaths...so far. We have had heart breaking deaths including children to fires and what does Deputy Goldsmith do at his first Crain's hosted breakfast?
This highly inarticulate man in a very expensive suit with an impressive gold tie tells us he will be closing fire houses.
Interestingly enough Crain's video taped the entire embarrassing disaster for Goldsmith and his new boss king Mike Bloomberg but Crain's did not release any of the let us say awkward or controversial moments and they were many. Crain's released just a small piece on video on their website. Mike has been very lucky with the press that way.
Listening to Goldsmith speak, I never heard some one talk so much to give so many 'non-answers'.
Why would Bloomberg hire a Republican this late in the game unless he wants to cater not to the people of NYC but to the conservatives he hopes to woe when he pursues his one big unrealized dream....running for President of the United States? That is why it is believed Bloomberg took his charitable giving national instead of local. It is why I believe he burdens the tax payers to the tune of 2 million dollars post-his third term hiring so many campaign staff with 6 figure salaries. Why hire them after the election unless he feels he wants them close at hand to pursue his last chance at perhaps one of his biggest dreams unrealized. Bloomberg doesn't fully grasp that he displaced so many people and angered even more denying us a referendum that he paid a record amount of money to barely win the most humiliating and expensive win in NYC history. He won't win a presidency or any political office again. He is very smart and accomplished but he lost sight of the fact he serves the people. He now hired Goldsmith who is not a people person and clearly doesn't represent New Yorkers. Goldsmith looks at this city as some corporate business model.
Denial is the new crack cocaine for politicos from Albany to City Hall.
The one issue Goldsmith was clear on is the devastating budget crisis coming our way here in NYC next year. As usual it was as if no one heard what he had to say and city council will continue to vote themselves raises and give slush money to charities where their life partner (what is Christine Quinn's significant other's name) sits on a board, ditto for their wives, brothers, sisters, husbands, etc.
Albany and City Hall politicians are 2nd to last to deal with the harsh reality of what are terrible economic crisis is coming our way because they contributed to it hugely and Albany still has not dealt effectively with the budget crisis. The last people to deal with and won't be able to escape it like the politicians here in NYC are the people.
Under Bloomberg the city saw a new wave of "sexual McCarthyism" with two women owned Adult Toy Stores Babeland raided and after the raid Babeland is now no longer allowed to rent adult films, some that were instructional but all that a guy like Goldsmith would call porno. Rumor on the street is the NYPD were picking their super elite hottie cops to entrap gay men in adult book stores.
Goldsmith hemmed and hawed at the Crain's breakfast but after a very long non-answer he sure sounded like he said he is anti-gay marriage which I interpret as he does not believe in equal rights. In America we have straight people that are marriage gluttons having been married 2, 3, 4, 5 times but people like Goldsmith would deny gay people the right to even one marriage?
Why would Mike Bloomberg bring in a conservative Republican who wants to privatize everything unless he has his eye on the White House? Either way Goldsmith will not be here long. He said in his non-speak. Hey guys why are you asking me such tough questions.
Goldsmith is out of touch with New Yorkers and a fish out of water in NYC.
I left him a voice mail on Deputy Goldsmith's answering machine at City Hall. I want a STRAIGHT forward answer, no hemming and hawing, do you believe in gay marriage and equal rights? I left my telephone number.
I have not heard back from him.
Watch the YouTube I am posting and hear how he responds to my questions. He shook my hand and it was a hand shake I can only describe as a small dead fish; completely limp and disingenuous. He said, "thank you" to me twice actually. Each time I felt he was saying, "F-you, you are now dismissed." Don't actually ask me questions about politics, infrastructure and the harsh reality the people of New York actually need people in office that will be their advocate and work and fight for them.
The woman that answered the phone for the mayor's office transferred me over to Goldsmith's office. You see, he did not give me his card. He did hand out his business card but not to me. What ever I looked like or perhaps my questions some how registered as not a person to hand your business card to.
So much for Crain's and their networking. What was clear from the Crain's breakfast is besides my questions before the event started and the questions of only two news reporters who happened to be -- you guessed it -- two white males -- Stephen Goldsmith could not handle the heat or should I say pressure of their questions. He won't be here long. He won't make it as long as Dollarbill Dan Doctoroff who left king Mike's public empire to re-join his private empire.
Dan considered himself the man in charge of infrastructure until the steam pipe explosion that looked like a terror attack by Grand Central. You see, I would call and email him about the way too rapid development and NY's old infrastructure. I made it clear I felt Bloomberg and he were endangering us and were leaving a hell of a mess for when they actually left office.
Dollar bill Dan quietly and quickly left office. Bye, bye.
Stephen Goldsmith thinks he can take on Albany. Good luck Stephen. You would have better luck taking on the Mafia perhaps converting them to vegetarianism.
Good old Stephen thinks he can come in here and at the Crain's hosted breakfast talk about closing firehouses. Bloomberg and his socialite mega millionaire city planner called Amanda the peoples' Burden aided their developers pal in a reckless tsunami of shady development helping to create mass displacement, perhaps a record number of people displaced and a record number of infrastructure related problems from water main breaks, sewage, Con Ed problems as well as expansion so over the top Con Ed set a record hiring outside contractors, to the worst street conditions seen in years with DOT repaving streets not once but twice or even more than twice.
Why do the streets look like bombs went off on them. If the FDNY is not answering fire calls they are responding to infrastructure problems including man hole cover exploding with dramatic fires that so far have not caused any deaths...so far. We have had heart breaking deaths including children to fires and what does Deputy Goldsmith do at his first Crain's hosted breakfast?
This highly inarticulate man in a very expensive suit with an impressive gold tie tells us he will be closing fire houses.
Interestingly enough Crain's video taped the entire embarrassing disaster for Goldsmith and his new boss king Mike Bloomberg but Crain's did not release any of the let us say awkward or controversial moments and they were many. Crain's released just a small piece on video on their website. Mike has been very lucky with the press that way.
Listening to Goldsmith speak, I never heard some one talk so much to give so many 'non-answers'.
Why would Bloomberg hire a Republican this late in the game unless he wants to cater not to the people of NYC but to the conservatives he hopes to woe when he pursues his one big unrealized dream....running for President of the United States? That is why it is believed Bloomberg took his charitable giving national instead of local. It is why I believe he burdens the tax payers to the tune of 2 million dollars post-his third term hiring so many campaign staff with 6 figure salaries. Why hire them after the election unless he feels he wants them close at hand to pursue his last chance at perhaps one of his biggest dreams unrealized. Bloomberg doesn't fully grasp that he displaced so many people and angered even more denying us a referendum that he paid a record amount of money to barely win the most humiliating and expensive win in NYC history. He won't win a presidency or any political office again. He is very smart and accomplished but he lost sight of the fact he serves the people. He now hired Goldsmith who is not a people person and clearly doesn't represent New Yorkers. Goldsmith looks at this city as some corporate business model.
Denial is the new crack cocaine for politicos from Albany to City Hall.
The one issue Goldsmith was clear on is the devastating budget crisis coming our way here in NYC next year. As usual it was as if no one heard what he had to say and city council will continue to vote themselves raises and give slush money to charities where their life partner (what is Christine Quinn's significant other's name) sits on a board, ditto for their wives, brothers, sisters, husbands, etc.
Albany and City Hall politicians are 2nd to last to deal with the harsh reality of what are terrible economic crisis is coming our way because they contributed to it hugely and Albany still has not dealt effectively with the budget crisis. The last people to deal with and won't be able to escape it like the politicians here in NYC are the people.
Under Bloomberg the city saw a new wave of "sexual McCarthyism" with two women owned Adult Toy Stores Babeland raided and after the raid Babeland is now no longer allowed to rent adult films, some that were instructional but all that a guy like Goldsmith would call porno. Rumor on the street is the NYPD were picking their super elite hottie cops to entrap gay men in adult book stores.
Goldsmith hemmed and hawed at the Crain's breakfast but after a very long non-answer he sure sounded like he said he is anti-gay marriage which I interpret as he does not believe in equal rights. In America we have straight people that are marriage gluttons having been married 2, 3, 4, 5 times but people like Goldsmith would deny gay people the right to even one marriage?
Why would Mike Bloomberg bring in a conservative Republican who wants to privatize everything unless he has his eye on the White House? Either way Goldsmith will not be here long. He said in his non-speak. Hey guys why are you asking me such tough questions.
Goldsmith is out of touch with New Yorkers and a fish out of water in NYC.
I left him a voice mail on Deputy Goldsmith's answering machine at City Hall. I want a STRAIGHT forward answer, no hemming and hawing, do you believe in gay marriage and equal rights? I left my telephone number.
I have not heard back from him.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Queens Forgotten Borough by Marc Zazeela
Most people consider Manhattan the jewel of NYC. While this may be true, there are 4 outer boroughs that deserve some attention too. Most people think of The Bronx Zoo, Coney Island, and the Staten Island Ferry. Queens is often overlooked. It can be an inexpensive, tourist free, summer time destination. No hotel reservations (sleep in your own bed), no airport hassles (limousine service courtesy of the TA), no car rentals, no travel agents. Fact is, there are lots of fun and interesting things in Queens. And, unlike Manhattan, there is no master development plan underway to destroy the neighborhoods and transform the borough into one giant "plan-o-grammed" pedestrian mall. Queens is still a borough of neighborhoods, each with it's own character, flair, ethnicity, and style.
Here are only a few of the unknown treasures: there is the Art Museum at PS 1, in Long Island City. An internationally renowned art museum of contemporary works. You can hop over to Flushing Meadows Park and watch the Dragon Boat Festival on August 7 & 8. After the races, you can quench your thirst at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria. And, to put a relaxing finish on your outing, you can head over to Forest Park, in Forest Hills, where you'll find a golf course, band shell, carousel, hiking and biking trails, horseback riding, and a host of other activities. And, of course, you don't want to miss the Ice King of Corona! Check the website athttp://queens.about.com/ for more and more cool things to do.
I have lived in New York for my entire life and in Queens for the past 25 years. I am always amazed at the variety of interesting things to do and I find myself discovering something almost every day. Most of Queens is accessible via public transportation so even the most ardent Manhattanite would find it difficult to make excuses for not visiting. Where else can you take a trip to exotic lands for a mere $2.25 in subway fare? Who would have thought that you can find all of this, for so little, right in the heart of New York City?
Marc Zazeela
Queens, New York resident for the past 25 years. I enjoy all things NYC. I love having out of town guests so I can show off our wonderful city. I love playing "tour guide" because it gets me to places in our great town that I've never been(when was the last time you visited the Empire State Building observatory...it's pretty cool!). Having traveled the United States extensively, for business and for pleasure, I can state with much confidence that there is no place I would rather live. I'm a big city boy. Sure we have our issues, but does Paradise really exist? There is no other place in our country that can offer the diversity of people, attractions, culture, cuisine, architecture, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture. I am aware of the problems we have and I don't make light of any of them. However, my personality is such that I look for the silver lining in every dark cloud (you'd be surprised at how easy it is to find). I've learned that negative attitudes are too easy and generally cause stress, depression, and real physical problems. I'm a happy guy!
Queens, New York resident for the past 25 years. I enjoy all things NYC. I love having out of town guests so I can show off our wonderful city. I love playing "tour guide" because it gets me to places in our great town that I've never been(when was the last time you visited the Empire State Building observatory...it's pretty cool!). Having traveled the United States extensively, for business and for pleasure, I can state with much confidence that there is no place I would rather live. I'm a big city boy. Sure we have our issues, but does Paradise really exist? There is no other place in our country that can offer the diversity of people, attractions, culture, cuisine, architecture, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture. I am aware of the problems we have and I don't make light of any of them. However, my personality is such that I look for the silver lining in every dark cloud (you'd be surprised at how easy it is to find). I've learned that negative attitudes are too easy and generally cause stress, depression, and real physical problems. I'm a happy guy!
I love the Liz Smith quote on Suzannah's blog. I was in a pretty serious car accident 2 weeks ago and, after looking at my car, I realize how lucky I am to have been able to walk away in one piece. Thankfully, my hair did not ignite! I feel as if I've been given a second chance and I do not intend to waste it!
From Suzannah,
Thanks Mark for your interest in my blog and sharing your love of New York City and in particular Queens. Sorry to hear about the car accident. Heal well. Liz Smith quoted my favorite Zen saying, which is, "Live each moment as if your hair is on fire!". Translation: give each moment all your passion.
Deputy Goldsmith is Jane Jacobs? by Suzannah B. Troy
Jane Jacobs was turning in her grave when Christine Quinn got a similar introduction at the Jane Jacobs street signing.
In NYC is you are rich enough or well connected enough you can get awards at the United Nations to just about anywhere and be introduced as Jane Jacobs even though people like Christine Quinn took kick backs from developers and aided Mike Bloomberg in making the Village look like a bad xerox of mid-town turning in to a bad xerox of Dubai.
How a Republican that wants to close our fire houses to save money as his boss continues to push a reckless tsunami of development on old New York's dilapidated infrastructure and also is anti-gay marriage could be compared to Jane Jacobs is beyond me.
Below my YouTube of Christine Quinn, Mike Bloomberg's mini me being introduced just like our new anti-gay marriage, close our firehouses Deputy mayor Stephen Goldsmith.
If you want to see how inarticulate Goldsmith is, how uncomfortable he is with the questions from only two reporters and being introduced in the same sentence as Jane Jacobs here is the link to the video.
http://media.crainsnewyork.com/title,c6ff1c8e Oops, Crain's left out every controversial piece of footage from yesterday's breakfast so expect a very short clip.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Horses the heat wave - Activists speak out! posted by Suzannah B. Troy
HEAT WAVE CONTINUES IN NEW YORK CITY
as exploited Carriage Horses suffer |
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JOIN US FOR A DEMO: NYC has been experiencing a brutal heat wave for several weeks. This may well turn out to the hottest July on record. According to the law, carriage horses are not supposed to be worked when the temperature is 90 degrees or above. There is no consideration for humidity. But this is not always the case as drivers ignore the temperature and take their horses out - or the ASPCA, the only agency designated to monitor and take the temperature, is not there to do so.We have proof that drivers have violated the law multiple times with impunity and abandon. But who will do anything about it? Where is the accountability? Please speak out for the horses. Come to a demo to let NYC know that we are not going to take it anymore. We want change.- When: Thursday, July 22nd - 1:00 to 2:00 PM
- Where: Central Park South and Fifth Avenue (north side)
- Sponsors: Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages and Friends of Animals
JOIN US ON FACE BOOK & SIGN ONLINE PETITION
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- Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
- Horses Without Carriages International
- Online petition - please sign if you have not already done so.
Mike Bloomberg's New Deputy by Suzannah B. Troy
I went up to the new deputy in town, deputy mayor Stephen Goldsmith before the breakfast hosted by Crain's began and interviewed him. I ask him if perhaps Bloomberg hired him, a Republican, late in the game because Bloomberg wants to run for President. You can hear it and watch on my YouTube channel.
Eric Engquist, the reporter hosting this event for Crain's, is a smart man, good reporter but he sounded like little lord Fauntleory when he said firehouses too close to each other are redundant and Goldsmith agreed. Goldsmith wants to close them.
How can you push development and close firehouses? Besides fires where people have died every so recently how about the constant infrastructure breaks including man holes covers exploding and gas leaks and the FDNY answer those calls as well which are so many since Bloomberg pushed a reckless tsunami of development.
Based on Goldsmith's non-answers he is anti-gay marriage and he was so wishy washy and like his hand shake limp and unwelcoming -- he is in big trouble and I don't see him lasting as long as Dan Doctoroff who I would write and call about infrastructure concerns and he said no worries until the steam pipe explosion that looked like a terror attack by Grand Central.
This guy could not handle a few tough questions at a breakfast by 2 news reporters in front of a mostly white audience of business people...he won't last as long as dollar Bill Dan Doctoroff.
He did mention something about a 3.75 billion dollar deficit -- I think he did and of course he happened to mention closing fire houses and getting rid of emergency boxes.
Eric Engquist, the reporter hosting this event for Crain's, is a smart man, good reporter but he sounded like little lord Fauntleory when he said firehouses too close to each other are redundant and Goldsmith agreed. Goldsmith wants to close them.
How can you push development and close firehouses? Besides fires where people have died every so recently how about the constant infrastructure breaks including man holes covers exploding and gas leaks and the FDNY answer those calls as well which are so many since Bloomberg pushed a reckless tsunami of development.
Based on Goldsmith's non-answers he is anti-gay marriage and he was so wishy washy and like his hand shake limp and unwelcoming -- he is in big trouble and I don't see him lasting as long as Dan Doctoroff who I would write and call about infrastructure concerns and he said no worries until the steam pipe explosion that looked like a terror attack by Grand Central.
This guy could not handle a few tough questions at a breakfast by 2 news reporters in front of a mostly white audience of business people...he won't last as long as dollar Bill Dan Doctoroff.
He did mention something about a 3.75 billion dollar deficit -- I think he did and of course he happened to mention closing fire houses and getting rid of emergency boxes.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Artist Protest Mike Bloomberg Union Square by Suzannah B. Troy
Mike Bloomberg is a big patron of the arts so why the protest on this rainy day here in NYC?
Why are artists calling for king Mike to be dethroned?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE-sHb3IjR4
Listen and watch my interview with artist Tony Chisholm.
Besides violating artists 1st Amendment Right....?
Because he wants to prevent artists from being vendors in Union Square and just in general he wants to sweep vendors off the street to make more room for developers, corporate advertising on city streets in creative ways but most of all king Mike and his greedy pals want to sweep New Yorkers out of NYC and he can't give them a one way ticket the way he gave homeless people so he has the NYPD ticket New Yorkers up to their eyeballs.
The vendors both artists, Veterans that served our Country and anyone who wants to make an honest living need now more than ever because despite what they report on Bloomberg News unemployment is rising and of those employed here in NYC how many are actually earning a living wage?
Check out this New York 1 interview with artists and Adrian Benepe.
Why are artists calling for king Mike to be dethroned?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE-sHb3IjR4
Listen and watch my interview with artist Tony Chisholm.
Besides violating artists 1st Amendment Right....?
Because he wants to prevent artists from being vendors in Union Square and just in general he wants to sweep vendors off the street to make more room for developers, corporate advertising on city streets in creative ways but most of all king Mike and his greedy pals want to sweep New Yorkers out of NYC and he can't give them a one way ticket the way he gave homeless people so he has the NYPD ticket New Yorkers up to their eyeballs.
The vendors both artists, Veterans that served our Country and anyone who wants to make an honest living need now more than ever because despite what they report on Bloomberg News unemployment is rising and of those employed here in NYC how many are actually earning a living wage?
Check out this New York 1 interview with artists and Adrian Benepe.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Bloomberg's Times Square has to go Gerald to Suzannah B. Troy
Hi Suzannah,
I read your blog .... loved it! Could you please write something about how the Mayor has totally screwed up Times Square by turning the busy thoroughfare into a pedestrian mall for tourists. How does the street painted green give tourists the New York experience, and do the economic gains - if any - outweigh the losses caused by the inconvenience of re-routing traffic and transit to accommodate the busiest street in the world (Shibuya in Tokyo, notwithstanding) now turned into a mall?
The mayor has never produced any study that predicts gains in revenue for the city that would outweigh the costs associated with closing the street. And now that the plan has been in effect for some time now, I would expect to see some results in the form of a program evaluation.
The other problem I have with closure is that even revenue gains don't justify tampering with an institution like Times Square. If you're traveling in midtown, Broadway is now "wrong way" because you'll have to circumnavigate the entire area just to get across town.
Basically, we need to get him out of office. The man has no vision and no creativity. You create the mall to bring traffic to an area that is underutilized. Times Square does not need this type of enhancement. It will be many years or even decades before we can reclaim this street and reverse this massive urban planning blunder.
Feel free to use my comments if you like.
Thanks,
I read your blog .... loved it! Could you please write something about how the Mayor has totally screwed up Times Square by turning the busy thoroughfare into a pedestrian mall for tourists. How does the street painted green give tourists the New York experience, and do the economic gains - if any - outweigh the losses caused by the inconvenience of re-routing traffic and transit to accommodate the busiest street in the world (Shibuya in Tokyo, notwithstanding) now turned into a mall?
The mayor has never produced any study that predicts gains in revenue for the city that would outweigh the costs associated with closing the street. And now that the plan has been in effect for some time now, I would expect to see some results in the form of a program evaluation.
The other problem I have with closure is that even revenue gains don't justify tampering with an institution like Times Square. If you're traveling in midtown, Broadway is now "wrong way" because you'll have to circumnavigate the entire area just to get across town.
Basically, we need to get him out of office. The man has no vision and no creativity. You create the mall to bring traffic to an area that is underutilized. Times Square does not need this type of enhancement. It will be many years or even decades before we can reclaim this street and reverse this massive urban planning blunder.
Feel free to use my comments if you like.
Thanks,
Gerald
Dear Gerald,
You are an excellent writer and I agree with you about Mike Bloomberg. I was forefront of the YouTube resistance against Mike Bloomberg stealing a third term and I agree about his lack of vision.
Some where I have a picture of sun bathers sitting in the pollution and grime of Times Square but if you look at this photo on Broadway just below 23rd Street you can see Mike Bloomberg has made if possible for corporate America to buy advertising space and Bloomberg arranges for all kinds of stunts like the huge cones pictured in the photo including in our public parks as he does his best to limit and sweep vendors out.
I think of Mike Bloomberg as Chauncey Gardener in "Being There", very bland but above average intelligence and we are living in some comedy horror show. I agree Mike Bloomberg must go.
Thanks for your email and stay in touch!
I look forward to reading more of your writing.
best,
Suzannah
King Mike stop ticket madness? by Suzannah B. Troy
Dear Sweet Kyle of The New York Post wants Mike Bloomberg to do something about the excessive unjust ticketing....um Kyle -- It is Mike Bloomberg who is behind the ticketing!
Sweet Kyle - huge typo in the header -- It is MIKE BLOOMBERG that is fining us and why? Remember he gave homeless people a one way ticket? Ticketing New Yorkers up to their eye balls raises money for thieving politicians including the 2 million Mike needs to pay his campaign staff he hired on the tax payers back. Google my name and The Mercer Hotel to read on how the NYPD walks past illegal parked cars in front of the Mercer where it says loading and unloading - no parking and empty Mercedes sedans and SUVs sit there as the police go ticket Veteran vendors over 2 inches. Survive Viet Nam by 2 inches and be ticketed for 2 inches here in NYC. The rich are above the law and mostly their lives are ticket free zones, their dealings are in Cayman Islands, declare Florida, Virgin Islands, anywhere but NYC as their home despite having some of the largest homes here. Kyle, NYU has to continue mass displacement and unending need to expand, ditto for Columbia University who lied and said Manhattanville was blighted to abuse eminent domain and make an entire neighborhood move, Cooper Union is doing unkoshor real estate deals that even Rudy's city planner said "no". You can't bust through zoning, supersize and lease a building for 99 years. Bloomberg is never going to do anything Kyle because he and Amanda the peoples' Burden a mega millionaire socialite are responsible for what may be the largest displacement push-out in NYC's history. Kyle, did you see Mike stop and make an appearance at an eviction rally like the mass eviction at 47 East 3rd Street? No Kyle because he and his pals including the Presidents of Universities gobbling up NYC using their not for profit status like rich people use the Virgin Islands at their residence Kyle - it is a tax shelter, greed and they need as many New Yorkers gone and out of here for their real estate deals. The corrupt gov. that hires top white collar law firms like Goldman Sachs - yes your paper reported Christine Quinn approved the hiring of Sullivan & Cromwell as well as other top firms to represent her and her staff at the tax payers expense so the city needs to raise some money Kyle. Amanda Burden will be remembered as one of the worst city planners ever although her good friends in the press including The NY eminent domain Times laud her. The peoples' Burden needs to go back to being a socialite. Paris Hilton needs her we need her to leave and get someone to start undoing what damage has been done if possible.
Sweet Kyle - huge typo in the header -- It is MIKE BLOOMBERG that is fining us and why? Remember he gave homeless people a one way ticket? Ticketing New Yorkers up to their eye balls raises money for thieving politicians including the 2 million Mike needs to pay his campaign staff he hired on the tax payers back. Google my name and The Mercer Hotel to read on how the NYPD walks past illegal parked cars in front of the Mercer where it says loading and unloading - no parking and empty Mercedes sedans and SUVs sit there as the police go ticket Veteran vendors over 2 inches. Survive Viet Nam by 2 inches and be ticketed for 2 inches here in NYC. The rich are above the law and mostly their lives are ticket free zones, their dealings are in Cayman Islands, declare Florida, Virgin Islands, anywhere but NYC as their home despite having some of the largest homes here. Kyle, NYU has to continue mass displacement and unending need to expand, ditto for Columbia University who lied and said Manhattanville was blighted to abuse eminent domain and make an entire neighborhood move, Cooper Union is doing unkoshor real estate deals that even Rudy's city planner said "no". You can't bust through zoning, supersize and lease a building for 99 years. Bloomberg is never going to do anything Kyle because he and Amanda the peoples' Burden a mega millionaire socialite are responsible for what may be the largest displacement push-out in NYC's history. Kyle, did you see Mike stop and make an appearance at an eviction rally like the mass eviction at 47 East 3rd Street? No Kyle because he and his pals including the Presidents of Universities gobbling up NYC using their not for profit status like rich people use the Virgin Islands at their residence Kyle - it is a tax shelter, greed and they need as many New Yorkers gone and out of here for their real estate deals. The corrupt gov. that hires top white collar law firms like Goldman Sachs - yes your paper reported Christine Quinn approved the hiring of Sullivan & Cromwell as well as other top firms to represent her and her staff at the tax payers expense so the city needs to raise some money Kyle. Amanda Burden will be remembered as one of the worst city planners ever although her good friends in the press including The NY eminent domain Times laud her. The peoples' Burden needs to go back to being a socialite. Paris Hilton needs her we need her to leave and get someone to start undoing what damage has been done if possible.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Jessi Slaughter given PCP by her father? Kerligirl13 a study in teen Internet abuse
Why did other news websites miss this? Because the vast majority don't know what they're doing when it comes to the generation of news on the Internet. Keep reading for a look into how the Internet is really influenced.
From the looks of the videos below, Kerligirl13 has been on a video chat that is common for teens is the 21st Century. Specifically creative use of the latest Internet technology but for the development of hurtfully interactive exchanges. In this case, so damaging that Jessi Slaughter went and told her father, who then came into the room as she was making a video to tell the kids bothering her to stop.
Apparently, it all started with the video below that Jessi Slaughter made - which was done in response to comments she apparently got in a live video chat using Stickcam, an online live video chat system - and awful comments she got in response to them.
As a warning, the video contains language you and I would not expect to hear from a young girl (unless you're an educator), but here it is and in it a study in the root causes of the decline of civility in American society, where rudeness is in some parts of the country, all too common:
What shocks me is her statement that she would "pop a Glock in your mouth and make your brain a slushie" - which means she would use a gun against someone and to their brain - and forms her hand into a gun that she's "shooting."
I looked up the term Jessi Slaughter used - "pop a Glock in your mouth and make your brain a slushie" using Google and found 2,780 results using the exact same term that she used but only because Jessi's Internet blasts have been the talk of some web forums as of this writing. Where Jessi learned that saying is from hip hop pop culture, where "pop a glock" or "pop the glock" is said so often, there's even a song of the same name.
The artist Uffie's song "Pop The Glock" has these lines:
i got a loaded bodygaurd
dont make him pull out the glock and pop
And
pop the glock,pop the glock, pop the glock, pop the glock, pop the glock pop the glock pop the glock, the glock you pop
sound like twista, fast as hell
i rock this beat you know damn well
So when you consider how often the term's said and the popularity of such songs with young teens and in this case, even young girls, Jessi's comment becomes less surprising. But it's still very disturbing.
It explains the Internet culture we've allowed to form before us, and, I argue, oozes into American society beyond the web. It's gone unchecked under a wave of families without two parents or parents so busy they don't take time to manage their kids.
The fact that Jessi Slaughter's father breaks in during her second video below and issues a stern warning is evidence that there's something wrong:
After what's now called the "muh breakdown video" was posted, another YouTuber who was apparently part of the Internet interactions using Stickcam that led to the production of Jessi Slaughter's two videos above, made the video below. This video is a screenshot of a then-new Stickcam exchange between Jessi Slaughter and her Internet contacts. The view shared is that Jessi Slaughter is, as one viewer put it...
She's just trolling for attention. She invited folks to join the chat via Twitter, and just hours AFTER her breakdown video. Her parents really should get a clue OR get a visit from CPS.
"CPS" is Child Protective Services.
This is the video one hour after the "blast" video. It's graphic in speech:
It's obvious that Jessi Slaughter's actions - not just the YouTube videos, but the use of Twitter, and Stickcam - have gotten her far more than the common level of attention. Her "muh breakdown video" has been repeatedly copied on YouTube channel after YouTube channel (not mine).
It's hard to tell who started the post "jessi slaughter given pcp by her father" that led to the term dominating Google Trends results, but from my poking around, it appears the first forum post was at Jumptags.com, a very effective social bookmarking service.
Then the title, and Jessi Slaughter's explosive videos, including the one with her father, caused repeat after repeat of the "jumptag" and more blogs and videos with the same title. Soon, searches for the term gave demand for the content containing the title and the result was a top ranked search on Google Trends...
Where it still sits as the #1 Google Trend as of 10:50 PM, PDT.
Now, everyone knows who Jessi Slaughter is and what her dad looks like, as someone posted a video with his face on it - and that I will not post here - that has been repeated, even as it's removed.
I feel sorry for him and for his little girl. I know others will not, but I do. Internet technology consists of the most powerful set of communications tools yet developed in history. This is why I call it "social broadcasting" and not "social networking." Using them without knowledge of the consequences either emotionally, spiritually, or legally is unwise, yet done every day.
Now, Jessi Slaughter's become a limited purpose public figure. The best action to counter her status is to keep her offline for about a year (seriously) and let the chatter die down.
The videos were apparently made during the day; Jessi's parents should find something more constructive for their daughter to do during the Summer.
Hopefully enough people see this story and take steps to manage what their kids do online.
Stay tuned.
Street Conditions NYC hell by Suzannah B. Troy
Click on this link for Queens Crap one of New York City's best blogs on the hellish street conditions. In this case a street has been repaved twice and worse for all the work. 1010 Wins carried the report but Queens Crap takes it to another level with comments that tell you more information.
I got my hands on a press release from an engineering group -- American Engineering Alliance, about how to pave the city streets from 2007 and when I get a chance I will retype and post on my blog.
The East Village, Lower East Side looks like a bomb, bombs were dropped and that is true city wide with regard to street conditions and infrastructure related problems in my opinion.
Here are a few sentences...
"Why must New Yorkers put up with bad streets?
Driving through the streets of the City, one gets the impression that New York is one huge construction site. There is one type of construction activity on almost every other block. Contractors do not merely open up our roadways, and haphazardly put up barricades and divert traffic; they also use streets to store their construction equipment and materials.
Putting up with the inconvenience that construction activity creates would be tolerable if the public could be assured that the contractors or utility companies working in our streets aren not abusing the useable traveling space and will restore roadway to its original smooth condition. All continuos, inadequately controlled construction activity has resulted in a roadway system that is possibly the worst in the Country in terms of rideability. In fact, in some areas of the City, the roadways are worse than you would find than you would find in some poor, third world country."
(There is more but I will stop here. I am tired and hand typing, making phone calls, answering calls.)
Also note king Mike decided the commissioner of DOB should not be required to have an engineering degree or an architecture degree. Bloomberg is being sued on this and he won the first round but it is being appealed I believe. I guess the judge did not look over how many accidents, deaths and injuries happened under Bloomberg's tsunami of development.
I keep posting my own photos all around the Lower East Side of streets that looked like bombs went off.
Thanks Queens Crap.
Your blog Queens Crap is an Icon on my Iphone screen.
best,
Suzannah B. Troy
Apple Heaven no more Hell by Suzannah B. Troy
The New York Post has an article on one update with the Iphone 4 and I tell you another hot off the press or should I say Apple website!
Pull up to my bumper baby....Grace Jones song way back when....
Well Apple is giving out free Bumpers.
Apple also has a notice on their website new download able to give you more bars.
I posted this comment on the article.....
07/16/2010 4:07 PM
I wrote a blog piece Apple Hell but the reality is Apple is mind blowingly awesome out of this world flaws included. They have the best customer service on the planet. If you buy a computer they will educate you once a week for one hour every week for a year. If you walk in the store you may see them doing amazing programs with inner city kids and people older than me (I am 48) eagerly learning in the one on one sessions which are 99 dollars a year. The press may be trying to drive down Apple's stock but it won't work because Apple has too many happy customers. Yes it sucks when the calls drop and or I can't get data. I hate being forced to sign a contract with AT&T or any company for 2 years -- sounds illegal but Apple rocks the house. I have filmed a homeless musician that made 2 records in the 1960's and self destructed and put the film "Giuseppi Logan playing Begin the Beguine" on YouTube radically changing his life. I helped him reconnect with people around the world that had bought his records in the 60's and his youngest son a musical gifted artist like him who had not seen his father in 40 years all because I threw out my Dell. Bought a MacBook and took one on one classes for $99 a year. I filmed NYU and a little local rag the villager turning away senior citizens, the press including NY1 to Christine Quinn and her opposition in the candidates debate for city council and posted this injustice and undemocratic activity live from the street all on the 3Gs. Now that I am using Apple 4 with rubber I am glad to have the much improved camera despite the frustrations encountered with every version of Iphone so I would like to drop AT&T and try Verizon.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
George Steinbrenner passes away by Suzannah B. Troy
Rest in peace George Steinbrenner. I am a Yankees fan but old school. Thurmon Munson and Babe Ruth are my most favorite two but from the old school I have more favorites.
Here is a New York Daily News piece on Daryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden remembering George.
I did not agree with Steinbrenner going for big pay rolled stars and the new stadium for me was the wrong move. Now the Ghost of Babe Ruth is homeless but I did feel sad to hear the news.
After September 11 the Yankees were my post-traumatic stress relief. The Yankees was just medicine and I would tune in. My favorite announcer than was Jim Kay. Somehow watching them made me feel a better.
The new stadium was a breaking point for me. It represented Mike Bloomberg's hideous NY that was too expensive for most New Yorkers yet burdened the tax payers with big costs for a stadium most could not afford and that includes the hot dogs, popcorn, soda and beer.
I have extra special Yankee "stuff" I keep close at all times including a shirt with Thurmon Munson's number.
I have listened to handicap people first hand praise George for giving them special sitting and free--some youngsters.
Anyway -- rest in peace and condolences to the Steinbrenners and all loved one.
Here is a New York Daily News piece on Daryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden remembering George.
I did not agree with Steinbrenner going for big pay rolled stars and the new stadium for me was the wrong move. Now the Ghost of Babe Ruth is homeless but I did feel sad to hear the news.
After September 11 the Yankees were my post-traumatic stress relief. The Yankees was just medicine and I would tune in. My favorite announcer than was Jim Kay. Somehow watching them made me feel a better.
The new stadium was a breaking point for me. It represented Mike Bloomberg's hideous NY that was too expensive for most New Yorkers yet burdened the tax payers with big costs for a stadium most could not afford and that includes the hot dogs, popcorn, soda and beer.
I have extra special Yankee "stuff" I keep close at all times including a shirt with Thurmon Munson's number.
I have listened to handicap people first hand praise George for giving them special sitting and free--some youngsters.
Anyway -- rest in peace and condolences to the Steinbrenners and all loved one.
Bloomberg Presidential Pretender not a contender by Suzannah B. Troy
For those who want to learn the inside poop on Queens, NYC, Queens Crap is a must.
Posted this comment:
Impeach Mike Bloomberg. FYI: Hiring Bush's guy to be his deputy was yet another sign he still want to be President.
Hiring his campaign staff with 6 figures salaries to what the NYPost estimates is 2 million dollars he is sucking out of tax payers wallets - a big signal after his hugely embarrassing, humiliating win.
Denial is the new crack cocaine.
Watch my YouTube - -I include Amanda the peoples' Burden, Steve Rattner - Mike's Money manger who may be banned by the SEC for 3 YEARS!!!!
Mike doesn't care that he has been caught wiring money out of his personal checking account instead of the campaign account. Why would he care? He holds the purse strings to Cy Vance's office!
Read this about 1 degree as opposed to 6 degrees seperation -- Cy Vances owes money to this guy that worked on his campaign, this guy is married to Maura Keaney, Keaney was working Haggerty, Keaney written up with Christine Quinn for questionable behavior - as in ethic lapse and intimidation by Jim Dwyer - I included the link -- Bloomberg's campaign guy may or may not get in some hot water at the Blagojevich trial...
Mel Gibson admits hitting ex-girlfriend while she held baby
The New York Post article seems to imply that Mel Gibson's career is over and out.
If you have not heard the first rant here is the link on Radar Line and you click on the video posting. It is disgusting.
It does not have the violent threats about burning down the house but first raping her mouth or as he puts it making her blow him.
Read The New York Post article to learn about Jodi Foster's movie with him in post-production. There is no point in releasing this film but I am sure she will and it will fail at the box office. Lenoardo DeCaprio may back out of a project and the odds are high he will.
Here is my comment posted on The New York Post article:
Mel Gibson's "Jesus" film was as dishonest and manipulative as he is. It is estimated a quarter of a million Jews were crucified by the Romans and he not only refused to acknowledge that horror but he went with the hate propaganda that even Rome finally rejected of blaming the Jews. Why would you need to blame the Jews. You take our Bible and you want to convert us -- than blame is very effective and big business as well. Gibson prospered from the film as honestly as the Nazis. Gibson has to blame innocent people and always minorities and he can no longer suppress is "inner Nazi". Why is that. Some of his own violent impulses he projects on to African American men but the rant taped by his ex-girlfriend exposes very violent impulses. He has always charmed his way out of everything and used his good looks. Now his outsides match his insides. He betrayed his wife and children - do you think the first time -- and for a gold digger but she does not deserve the violence actions in word and misdeeds by this hate monger, anti-Semite, misogynist, racist, homophobe that projects his violence on to minorities.
If you have not heard the first rant here is the link on Radar Line and you click on the video posting. It is disgusting.
It does not have the violent threats about burning down the house but first raping her mouth or as he puts it making her blow him.
Read The New York Post article to learn about Jodi Foster's movie with him in post-production. There is no point in releasing this film but I am sure she will and it will fail at the box office. Lenoardo DeCaprio may back out of a project and the odds are high he will.
Here is my comment posted on The New York Post article:
Mel Gibson's "Jesus" film was as dishonest and manipulative as he is. It is estimated a quarter of a million Jews were crucified by the Romans and he not only refused to acknowledge that horror but he went with the hate propaganda that even Rome finally rejected of blaming the Jews. Why would you need to blame the Jews. You take our Bible and you want to convert us -- than blame is very effective and big business as well. Gibson prospered from the film as honestly as the Nazis. Gibson has to blame innocent people and always minorities and he can no longer suppress is "inner Nazi". Why is that. Some of his own violent impulses he projects on to African American men but the rant taped by his ex-girlfriend exposes very violent impulses. He has always charmed his way out of everything and used his good looks. Now his outsides match his insides. He betrayed his wife and children - do you think the first time -- and for a gold digger but she does not deserve the violence actions in word and misdeeds by this hate monger, anti-Semite, misogynist, racist, homophobe that projects his violence on to minorities.
