Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn: December 2008

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 31, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

links to no words

December 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tonight: A Jazzy New Year's Eve at Bussaco

I know what Park Slope jazz musician Joshua Shneider is doing tonight:

Come spend New Year's Eve with me and my Quartet featuring Monte Croft, keyboards and vocals; Gregory Ryan, bass and Eric Halvorson on drums, at Bussaco in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Bussaco is a fabulous new restaurant with incredible food and drink which was just opened by my old friend Scott Carney and his wife Melanie Kozol. It is a beautiful, spacious room with a full bar and a warm comfortable vibe. Scott is a sommelier who has been in the business for many years and has now created a first class restaurant in the Slope. Check them out at www.bussacobklyn.com.

As for my fine band, we will be playing some of the greatest hits from the last 100 years, as well as whatever we feel when the spirit visits us.

Please join us for the night or, if you're already booked, just stop by and have a drink first. We'd love to see you.
New Year's Eve at:

Bussaco
833 Union St
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Reservations Recommended 718.857.8828
www.bussacobklyn.com

December 31, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy New Year's From Zuzu's Petals

I just got this note from Fonda at Zuzu's Petals:

We are going to need all our best everything in the coming year.

For The Zuzus that means the freshest, most long lasting well priced flowers, plants, gifts and the best energy we can generate.

To all zuzushoppers and their families we wish good health, and all the usual joy, love and peace the average person might desire.

December 31, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Greetings from Scott at Rocky Sullivan's in Red Hook

Here are the latest greetings from Scott Turner of Rocky Sullivan's in Red Hook!!

Greetings Pub Quiz Midnight Revelers...

One of the wonderful and maddening things in this world are the parallel happenings that re-define irony. Sometimes, we giggle. Others, we turn away in horror. Occasionally, it's both.

Diane, the dogs and I were returning from Pittsburgh on Sunday evening. One signpost that we're closing in on New York City is when 1010 WINS starts coming in on the radio. There's not a lot of radio between Pittsburgh and New York -- well, there is, but there's, you know, not. This includes driving through Pennsylvania's capital region, Harrisburg.

Between Brooklyn and the Steel City sits my favorite radio station that I've never actually listend to: WMLK, the short-wave station transmitting from the Assemblies of Yahweh. Right off Interstate 78 in Bethel, PA. No AM or FM for WMLK. You can only get it on short-wave frequency -- 9265 kHz. According to WMLK's website, the station targets Europe and the Middle East.

Testing one...two...three. WMLK founder Elder Meyer in the early days...or the early End of Days, perhaps.

I have no idea whether I'd like what WMLK bounces off the clouds. Prolly not, but since I don't have a short-wave transmitter, who knows? According to WMLK's website, "The steel posts that were used for the antenna construction fulfilled a prophecy found in Jeremiah 31:21. "Set yourself up waymarks, make yourself guideposts [sign‑posts]; set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these your cities." This would give some indication of the Assembly of Yahweh's stance on things.

Transmitting the word of some version of some god not enough for you? WMLK sells its spare parts, too! If you need various components from a RCA BTA 50G and a RCA BTA 50F ("priced to sell. You can make your needs known via e-mail") or the empty cabinets from the BTA 50F ("we were intending on using these cabinets for a 100KW Short-wave unit. We have since purchased a BBC 250 KW unit and installed this instead"), your prayers have been answered -- undoubtedly by folks who like answering prayers.

Look at the bright side -- you can't get O'Reilly, Hannity or Limbaugh on WMLK.

We were hoping to find news on the Israeli decimation of Gaza. News, analysis, discussion. Nothing. We did find religious proselytizing, Ravens and Eagles and Jets games, mainstream country stations and oldies which, imposingly, now include songs from when I was in high-school.

1010 WINS finally broke through the I-78 corridor static with an advertisement urging us to donate our car to the L'Chaim Society. "L'Chaim means life!" the narrator cheerfully intoned.

That was followed by the latest from Gaza -- a second day of Israeli military bombardment, hundreds of Palestinians dead, two confirmed Israeli deaths from Hamas missles.

"L'chaim means life!"

History tells us many things. One is that bullies have a hard time maintaining the moral high ground.

This has been a year to remember. Sadly, it's so memorable because of all the terrible things we'd like to forget -- the economy, the continued foreign-policy wastelands of Iraq and Afghanistan, people close to us we've lost (hope you've escaped your demons, John Costelloe), the human inability to solve disagreements without weaponry, the seduction of easy solutions for tough problems, the vacuum of leadership, the dearth of people getting involved, and cutting-edge technology cutting us off from one another with increasing frequency.

That so many of you come out to the Rocky Sullivan's Pub Quiz week after week pushes that last item to the curb. A little bit, at least. It's a chance to rub shoulders with other folks, be part something fun, thoughtful, challenging and inebriating. For one night a week, we can lock arms with the world and at the same time reject the notion of a culture where everyone's no closer than arms-length. The arms being our computers, PDAs, cell-phones, TMs, IMs, WWWs, PlayStations, Wiis, movies-on-demand, Netflixes and anything else that replaces hand-shakes and hugs with ones and zeroes.

There are still a lot of options for being with each other in the flesh. It's an honorific that you choose Rocky's and the Quiz come Thursday night. Thanks also to everyone who's spread the word about Rocky Sullivan's Pub Quiz -- the grapevine, the bloggers, the word-of-mouth, the forwarding of these e-mails.

...and yes, this is another irony -- thanking you for being human by sending a group e-mail.

Life ain't perfect. But it sure is lively.

December 31, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jan 7-11: Puppets for Grown-Ups

Ring in the New Year with a quirky display of new works-in-progress and stop motion puppet animations from The Lab at St. Ann's Warehouse.

December 31, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tonight: The New Year's Eve Fun Run

I wish I could be there. Ring in the New Year in a healthy and fun way!
Thinking about wearing a costume. Runners, walkers and all paces welcome!

2008-2009 NEW YEAR'S EVE FUN RUN
presented by
Brooklyn Road Runners Club and Slope Sports

5k/3.1 MILE FUN RUN
Prospect Park, Brooklyn

DATE/TIME
Monday, December 31, 2008 -- 11:15pm start

NEW START/FINISH LINE
Start/Finish line is at the 9th Street, inside the Park

ENTRY FEE
$20 before December 31, 2008 ($15 for Brooklyn Road Runners Club members)
$25 on Race Day ($20 for BRRC Members)
No refunds and/or exchanges. Race will occur rain, snow or shine.

NEW COURSE
5K (3.1 mile) course. Start at 9th Street, down around the Lake, turn Left on Center Drive. At the end of Center Drive, turn right back onto West Drive to the Finish line at 9th Street. Runners, please make note of your times at the end of the race. There will be an unofficial timing and this is an un-scored Fun Run.

AWARDS

A free pair of running shoes (value up to $100) from Slope Sports for Top Male & Top Female finisher!
Running gloves for the first 250 participants
Hot chocolate provided for participants

RACE REGISTRATION
(1) Print and mail a race application. DOWNLOAD HERE >> CLICK HERE
OR
(2) Online registration at Active.com >> REGISTER ONLINE

REGISTRATION / RACE NUMBER PICK-UP
Slope Sports
70 Seventh Avenue, between Lincoln & Berkeley
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-230-4686

Mon. Dec. 29th, 11a-7p
Tue. Dec. 30th, 11a-7p
Race Day, Wed., Dec 31st, 11-5p
Onsite race registration: 10:30-11:00p

December 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Coney's Last Stand: Save the Amusement Zoning

On Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 12 Noon in Coney Island express how you feel about what's going on in Coney Island. Join others on West Tenth Street at the memorial shrine on Boardwalk Gates of Coney Island’s closed and dismantled Astroland Park…Bring photos, drawings, letters, poems, flowers to add to the shrine.

Residents and tourists who come to Coney Island on New Year’s Day will be shocked to find historic bars and storefronts closed and colorful signage obliterated by Thor Equities “Space for Lease” banners. A few days before Christmas, Thor CEO Joe Sitt’s agents began evicting longtime tenants by cutting off locks, asking for triple the rent, or refusing to discuss 2009 leases. On Christmas Eve, huge custom-sized "Space For Lease" banners were put up on Ruby's Bar & Grill, Nathan’s Boardwalk store, Cha Cha’s, and others businesses on Thor owned property in Coney Island. On September 7, Astroland closed forever after 46 years as Coney Island’s largest amusement park when Thor refused to grant a lease for the 2009 season.

"Especially in this economy, the city should not allow Thor Equities to displace an entire community of successful, thriving businesses who are contributing tourism dollars and tax revenue to the city,” says Dianna Carlin, owner of the Lola Staar Souvenir shop who found out on Christmas Eve that Thor Equities was evicting her from her shop on the Boardwalk. "This is the type of economic climate where Coney Island, the People’s Playground, would thrive because it provides accessible recreation for all during tough economic times and instead they are allowing it to be senselessly destroyed."

Why are Mayor Bloomberg, City Councilman Domenic Recchia and Lynn Kelly, President of the Coney Island Development Corporation, allowing Joe Sitt to get away with murdering Coney Island? This is your opportunity to say Thor No More!... Mayor Mike, Give Us Back our Playground!...Hey Domenic, Don’t let Pal Joey Kill Coney!....CIDC, Go Back to the Drawing Board!

“It is tragic that the City's flawed redevelopment plan allowed predatory developer Thor Equities to take over and darken Coney Island,” says historian Charles Denson, a Coney Island native who began documenting his world-famous neighborhood when he was 12 and Steeplechase Park was set to be demolished. “The only way Coney Island will be saved for future generations is if the Bloomberg administration modifies its unrealistic rezoning plan and preserves the existing amusement zoning in its entirety. It is hard to believe that a shopping mall developer from Bensonhurst has brought the Bloomberg administration to its knees.”

The City's rezoning plan is a capitulation to Thor Equities and almost completely abolishes the amusement district for the sake of high rise condos disguised as hotels and generic retail. Coney Island is currently zoned for 61 acres of amusements; the city's new proposal reduces the amount of amusements to 9 acres. This reduction of the Amusement District will destroy Coney Island's legacy as "the People's Playground" and defeat the goal of creating a world class amusement and tourist destination.

“Change is inevitable in Coney Island but it MUST be change we can believe in,” says Dick Zigun, the founder and director of Coney Island USA . Known as the unofficial “Mayor of Coney Island” and the spokesman for the amusement district, Zigun was on the board of directors of the Coney Island Development Corporation until he resigned in protest in June 2008. “The CIDC compromised its plan for the amusement park last May to the extent that I had to resign to live with myself,” says Zigun. “Now its becoming clear that they city doesn’t have any interim plan and as a result, five hundred working people have lost their jobs in the amusement industry. The Municipal Arts Society of Manhattan has come forth with a plan for a world class tourist attraction in Coney Island for the 21st century. It is faster, better and cheaper. The CIDC must go back to the drawing board!”

For additional information on Coney Island redevelopment & how to help visit:
--Save Coney Island @ http://www.fightforyourrighttoconey.com/Home.html
--Save Coney Island @ http://www.myspace.com/saveconeyisland
--Municipal Art Society’s www.imagineconey.com

December 31, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tom Martinez, Witness: For Esme with Love...

A 3-year-old went for a joy ride at Hershey Park (PA). Surprisingly balmy weather made for
a surreal, spring-like day in the middle of winter.

photo by Tom Martinez

December 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fireworks Tonight!

Tonight: The 27th annual New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular at Grand Army Plaza . The free celebration, sponsored by BP Markowitz and held in partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance, starts around 11 p.m. with music from Blacksmith Organization. Hot refreshments will be provided by Starbucks.

Best locations for viewing the midnight fireworks include anywhere in Grand Army Plaza , inside the Park on the West Drive , and along Prospect Park West between Grand Army Plaza and 9th Street.

December 31, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oral Arguments in Term Limits Lawsuit Begin on Monday, January 5th; Media Availability Following Court Appearance

Oral arguments on the merits of the Term Limits lawsuit will begin this Monday, January 5th, at 4:30pm.

This diverse coalition of local elected officials, candidates, good-government groups, and voters filed the lawsuit in November to challenge the term limits extension that was passed by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg this fall. The plaintiffs seek to invalidate the law, and further seek the court's declaration that a fundamental change in the City's term-limits law, such as the extension enacted by the Council and the Mayor, requires a public referendum. The case has been assigned to Judge Sifton in the Eastern District. The judge has set an aggressive schedule for moving the case forward, and has also rejected the City's request to transfer the Term Limits case to the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, after finding that combining the cases in the Southern District would not save any resources or serve the interests of justice, as the City had claimed.

December 31, 2008 in Election | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Oh-So-Prolific-One: Leon Freilich/Verse Responder

SOME THINGS NEVER

I took a pioneering trip

To Mercury on a rocket ship;

The sights were new but not the pattern--

My luggage spent the week on Saturn.

BOTTLE BATTLE

In the world's poorer countries

It's water you need to fear

While in the prosperous sections

It's best to avoid the air.

December 31, 2008 in VERSE RESPONDER: LEON FREILICH | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gowanus Lounge: Top 10 Brooklyn Stories of 2008

Real Estate slump, the meltdown of the Atlantic Yards, Coney Island and more: go to Gowanus Lounge to see his picks for the Top 10 stories of 2008.

December 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 30, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, December 28, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 28, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Current Weather in Tracy, California

Brought to you by Yahoo Weather.

December 28, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Why Do You Think Brooklyn Is So Badass?

I just got this email from the folks over at (www.fuckedinparkslope.com), who want to spread the word about their latest project. And as you'll see, you can help. Send in your reasons for loving Brooklyn...

Inspired by NY mag's recent "Why we love NY feature" we here at FIPS (www.fuckedinparkslope.com) have decided to quickly pull together a "why we love Brooklyn" feature. As 2008 comes to a close, we hope to feature 209 reasons we think Brooklyn is so badass in a feature to be pub'd on January 1, 2009.

So, why do you love Brooklyn? It could be something very specific (i.e. because of Frannie's on Flatbush) or something more general (i.e. more hipsters per square capita than any other place on earth). Feel free to include links, where appropriate, and even a line or two of explaining your choice (only if you'd like to). If its specific to 2008, all the better. And of course, we will attribute your item (and include a link back to your blog or website!), so please do let me know if you'd prefer to be anon.

Feel free to send in as many or as few reasons as you'd like (and also feel free to forward this on to any friends, other bloggers, or anyone else you think might like to contribute). We'd love to feature as many other Brooklyn bloggers, twitterers and Brooklynites as possible, so please repost on your blogs and get back to us with any submissions.

We're getting a late start after the holiday weekend, so apologies for the rush request!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Happy Holidays!

December 28, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (1)

Big Sky Brooklyn

Big Sky Brooklyn features impressions from big sky Brooklyn, where old & new, concrete & ethereal, desolate & sublime collide/harmonize. It's a lovely website.

December 28, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday, December 27, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 27, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday, December 26, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 26, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Everything There is to Say About Sex, Drugs, Smoking & Booze in 1:45 Seconds

I just got this from Beth Harpaz, author of 13 is the New 18:

OK, I guess some moms and teenagers around the neighborhood are getting a laugh out of this. WHich I think is a good thing. Basically I tried to sum up everything mothers want to tell their teenagers about sex, drugs, booze, smoking and school in one minute and 45 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR7NduwSTiY

There's a second video that isn't quite as funny but similar theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFvSIQZYAMA

December 26, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Oh-So-Prolific-One: Leon Freilich/Verse Responder

ONCE MORE AROUND THE BLOCK

I didn’t get my fantasy gift
Nor anything that hot
My car and I were hoping for
A permanent parking spot

December 26, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fun Hanukah Decorations at Marlene's House

From friend and neighbor Marlene, of Marlene's Lost and Found. She creates handcrafted jewelry, objects, and art created from lost images and found objects: She writes: "Hanukkah is almost over. And the display kinda looks "grander" in person (or at least in the close-ups). But I thought I'd send 'em to you anyway. Happy Holidays!!! Happy New Year!!"

December 26, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Good News About Evicted Park Slope Couple

I just got this email with good news about the Park Slope couple evicted from their St. John's Place apartment.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah,

I have some wonderful news to report today. Our collective efforts have apparently made a big difference. The Slope couple Frances and Frank are finally getting the help they need, and much thanks goes to all the neighbors who made it possible.

As soon as Frances and Frank are set up in their new home, I will post again with more information. In the meantime, they are most grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help.

Thank you,
Jennifer Epelbaum

December 26, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 25, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Photography by Rodolph Vernaz-Colas: Snow

Photograph by Rodolph Vernaz-Colas

December 25, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy Christmas from California

That's where we are. Three hours behind the times in Brooklyn. Have a great day!

December 25, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 24, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 24, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 23, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy Christmas Eve

It's Tuesday night and we're packing up to go to California to visit Hepcat's relatives. We will take an early flight on Wednesday morning. I will be packing up this computer in a few minutes.

Hepcat says that No Words Daily Pix will be up on Wednesday. And I'll post the weather. But that's it. Right now, I need to get ready to go. You will hear from me on Christmas. From California.

Merry Christmas to all. And Happy Hannukah, too.

December 23, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

What You Can Do To Help Evicted Park Slope Couple

I received an email this morning from Jenifer Epelbaum, who has been advocating on behalf of a Park Slope couple recently evicted from their apartment.

Dear Neighbors,

I am writing because you are one of the kind neighbors who has written to me in the past when I posted concerns about an old couple on my block who were being evicted.

I have tried very hard to help these neighbors, with much help provided by quite a few of you (thank you).

Today I sent a detailed letter to an organization which earlier this year was appointed "guardian for property" for my former neighbor Frances. The organization is a wonderful one, but I have seen the casework on this one case, and I am quite certain JASA would not be happy with what I have seen. I prefer not to share all the sordid details in an email, in part out of respect for all the other, truly wonderful work done for others by this same agency.

I made numerous efforts to bring better treatment for my neighbor Frances Mulligan (who is slightly mentally impaired). I wrote quite a few emails directly to the caseworkers on her case, and I even sent a letter to the judge. Those efforts seem not to have helped at all. The situation is very, very bad for Frances and I have now shifted my attention to higher officers at JASA (the organization providing the guardianship for property). In my letter today (sent to the President, the CEO and the Director of Services) I told in detail some of the most appalling treatment I have witnessed towards Frances and her partner.

At this time, I believe it would be extremely helpful if JASA heard from a few more concerned neighbors of Frances. You do not (and should not) accuse them of anything. I witnessed events I could write about (and did), and I think that is enough of that.

What would be wonderful would be just a quick email expressing concern for Frances Mulligan. Tell them you are her neighbor in Brooklyn and you care about what happens to her, or any other polite comment you care to make on the subject. I think if even a quarter of those who wrote to me privately at different times, now sent an email (even a one line email), it could make a BIG difference for Frances. If you do send an email, please put FRANCES MULLIGAN in your subject line.

The person you should email is the CEO, Aileen Gitelson, AGitelson(at)jasa(dot)org

Feel free to call me if you would like an update on what is going on with Frances and her partner Frank Monaco.

Thank you very much for your concern for these Park Slope neighbors.
Jennifer Epelbaum
jen_epel(at)yahoo(dot)com

December 23, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leon Freilich, Verse Responder: NY Times Falls For Phony Anti-Caroline Letter

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/opinion/l23editorsnote.html

MERRY DIRTY TRICKS

So the mayor of Paris didn't
Reject Caroline's candidacy
And the Times was fooled by a prankster
Who's scornful of Clan Kennedy.

But at the season of forgiveness
When we look for the best in folks
It might just be fitting to laugh this
Off with Ho-ho-hoax!

December 23, 2008 in VERSE RESPONDER: LEON FREILICH | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pictures of the Other Breukelen

Here are some photographs of the city of Breukelen, Netherlands photographed by Roy Fidler, `who kindly sent them my way. He grew up in Brooklyn and now lives in Northern California.

He wrote: "In the original Dutch...City hall...The Breukelen Bridge...Brooklyn boy by the Breukelen Bridge..."

According to Wikipedia: Breukelen is a municipality and town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. It is situated to the north west of Utrecht, along the river Vecht and close to the Loosdrechtse Plassen, an area of lakes and great natural beauty. It is in an area called the "Vechtstreek". During the 17th century a number of Amsterdam merchant families built opulent mansions along the river near Breukelen.

There is a large Van der Valk (Hotel Breukelen) hotel, the façade of which is in the Chinese style. Universiteit Nyenrode is located in Breukelen.

The borough of Brooklyn in New York City is named after Breukelen (see History of Brooklyn).

December 23, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (1)

Jazzy New Year's Eve at Bussaco

I got this email from Park Slope jazz musician Joshua Shneider about what he's doing on New Year's Eve:

Come spend New Year's Eve with me and my Quartet featuring Monte Croft, keyboards and vocals; Gregory Ryan, bass and Eric Halvorson on drums, at Bussaco in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Bussaco is a fabulous new restaurant with incredible food and drink which was just opened by my old friend Scott Carney and his wife Melanie Kozol. It is a beautiful, spacious room with a full bar and a warm comfortable vibe. Scott is a sommelier who has been in the business for many years and has now created a first class restaurant in the Slope. Check them out at www.bussacobklyn.com.

As for my fine band, we will be playing some of the greatest hits from the last 100 years, as well as whatever we feel when the spirit visits us.

Please join us for the night or, if you're already booked, just stop by and have a drink first. We'd love to see you.

New Year's Eve at:

Bussaco
833 Union St
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Reservations Recommended 718.857.8828
www.bussacobklyn.com

December 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Freezing Temperatures Today: How to Help Homeless

Today's press release from Councilmember Bill de Blasio tells how New Yorkers can help street homeless during this winter's coldest days. Temperatures are in the teens and twenties – with wind chills that will make the temperature feel to be in the single digits at times. According to the Department for Homeless Services (DHS), street homeless individuals are at a higher risk for death due to the cold during the harsh winter months.

"While street homelessness is a problem many New Yorkers face all year long, it becomes especially dangerous during the coldest winter months. The combination of well below-freezing temperatures, icy winds, and wet, wintry weather spells disaster for those homeless individuals not utilizing the traditional shelter system. If you see or know of a street homeless person who is in need of shelter, there are a few steps you can take to help. First, call 311; their operators will contact DHS and send an outreach team to bring help to the client in need. DHS's outreach teams will get the client any needed medical care, and then take them to a shelter, drop-in center, safe haven, or a warming center or bus. If it appears that the person is in need of medical assistance of any kind, you should immediately call 911. Finally, if you're still uncertain of what to do, please call my district office for assistance, at 718-854-9791," said Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Chair of the General Welfare Committee.

December 22, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, December 21, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 21, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Smartmom Nails It: She's Jealous

Here's this week's Smartmom from the Brooklyn Paper.

Last week, Smartmom called Best and Oldest to see if she wanted to meet at Dashing Diva for a pedicure. Decadent and fun, the best and oldest friends like to do this sort of thing from time to time for the chance gossip and gab. Plus, they get their toenails cleaned and polished — a win-win for all involved.

Best and Oldest liked the idea, especially because her daughter Bee was set to hear whether she got into Brown University (early decision) that very afternoon. At exactly 5 pm, Brown was going to send out the acceptance letters by e-mail.

Best and Oldest wanted to be home when Bee checked the computer. But as Tom Petty wrote, “The waiting is the hardest part.”

Best and Oldest was such a jittery wreck that she figured it would be diverting to have her toes done.

So there were B&O and Smartmom, sitting on the high banquettes at Dashing Diva with their toes in steaming hot water and trying to talk about anything but Brown. Every time B&O’s cellphone rang (she still had the “Obama, Obama” ring tone on it), Smartmom jumped.

“No, it’s too early,” B&O explained. Bee and her best friends, three other high achieving girls, who had also applied to hard-to-get into colleges on early decision, were going from house to house checking their mailboxes. Schools like Amherst, Wesleyan and Carlton still send their letters the old fashioned way: by snail mail.

Finally, B&O did hear from Bee. None of the other girls had gotten their letters, so they were back at her house waiting for the verdict. Bee thanked her mom for the homemade brownies that were out on the kitchen table. (Nice touch, thought Smartmom. Brownies for Brown.)

B&O did a good job of pretending to pay attention to whatever Smartmom was talking about (she is her best and oldest friend, after all), but Smartmom could tell that she was extremely distracted.

Who wouldn’t be?

Brown is considered one of the best universities in the world. The odds of getting in are like, well, astronomical — roughly equivalent to the odds that Dumb Editor, himself a Brown graduate, will actually put his Russian Literature and Language degree towards any useful purpose someday. (Dumb Editor’s note: Since when is Brown one of the best universities in the world?)

Brown is where Bee wanted to spend the next four years of her life. Her heart is set on it. And Bee deserves to go to Brown as much as any other smart, highly motivated, hard-working high school senior. But it’s a longshot.

The pressure was on, and B&O was stressing — but she did seem to enjoy her pedicure even if her in-grown toenails hurt when the pedicurist cut her cuticles. For her part, Smartmom loved having her feet rubbed and the smell of the orange aromatherapy cream.

The situation brought up a host of issues for Smartmom. Secretly, she considered choosing bright green nail polish to symbolize the jealousy she was feeling toward B&O.

Smartmom’s son Teen Spirit has had, shall we say, a completely different relationship to academia than Bee. While there’s no denying that he’s a very smart guy, he’s never been quite as gaga about classes and studying. Music is his thing — it’s his passion and he’s applying to music schools now and planning to take a gap year before going to college.

Smartmom tried to imagine what it would be like to have a son or daughter waiting to hear from Brown. That would be a real mitzvah. Isn’t it every parent’s dream to have a high-achieving child who qualifies for the best colleges in the country?

Getting your kid into a top school is certainly one iteration of the American dream — and it means, on some level, that the parent has done his or her job, prepared your child for the dog-eat dog world out there and given him or her a great start in life.

Smartmom nearly choked on the metallic odor of the nail polish. She decided on a deep red to signify her mix of free-floating anxiety and excitement.

Sadly, Smartmom felt like her usual B-list self. She has multiple family members who went to Brown. In fact, her uncle was a football hero at Brown in the 1930s, and most of her first cousins and their kids went to the uber-university.

Talk about having a Brown complex. Smartmom was more of a state university kind of gal. She went to SUNY-Binghamton, which one of her friend’s calls the Schmatta League. These days, Smartmom satisfies herself with the fact that the school is really hard to get into nowadays (but it ain’t Ivy, the other part of her brain reminds her).

The Ivies. Now that’s cool. But it just wasn’t meant to be for Smartmom’s boho, intellectual, Tom Dylan Bob Waits wannabe son.

Talk about pushing Smartmom’s buttons. Or toenails. Yeah, sure, she wanted Bee to get into Brown. But she wasn’t without some residual jealousy that her kid just wasn’t going down that privileged road.

OK, OK. Smartmom wouldn’t be Smartmom if she didn’t have mixed feelings about the whole thing. What would there be to write about?

At 4:45, B&O ran off. “I’ll call you as soon as I know,” she said as she scurried down Seventh Avenue on the rainy night.

Smartmom felt her heart race. Even if she did feel slightly envious of B&O, she hoped with all her heart that Bee did indeed get in.

And guess what dear reader? She did.

Shoulda gone with the green nail polish!

December 21, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tom Martinez, Witness: Book Lover

A devoted patron of a well-covered book stand shops during one of the first major snows of the winter (Adam's St., Brooklyn, NY).

photo by Tom Martinez

December 21, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Photography by R0dolph Vernaz-Colas: We Are Our Thoughts

Photograph by Rodolph Vernaz-Colas

December 21, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 20, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday, December 19, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

December 19, 2008 in No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford | Permalink | Comments (0)

Council Passes Snow Day Alternate Side Parking Rules Suspension

Here's the press release with the Bill de Blasio spin:

Today, the City Council passed a bill which will suspend alternate side parking rules during snowstorms, when the Department of Sanitation (DOS) has to suspend its street sweeping activities. Councilmember Bill de Blasio released the following statement on the bill's passage:

"We all know how hard it is to find a parking spot in the City, and in inclement weather it can be nearly impossible. Once there is a lot of snow on the ground, we can't expect residents to be able to move their snowed-in cars to a new spot. Fining them for not doing so when alternate side parking rules are in effect is completely unfair. Suspending alternate-side parking rules when there is enough snow to require plowing of City streets is a common sense measure that will benefit thousands of New Yorkers this winter, and I am proud to have supported it today," said Councilmember Bill de Blasio.

December 19, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Oh-So-Prolific-One: Leon Freilich/Verse Responder

CHICAGO-UNBOUND

The embattled governor of Illinois

Is nothing worse than a naughty boy

Whose habit is outraging grown-ups

With statements he declines to own-ups.

When Blagojevich talks of contributions,

The thin-skinned rage of prosecutions

As if this noble public servant

Weren't merely being fervent

In placing sky-high values on

The trust that seats of power spawn.

To prove his honesty to the skeptic

And demonstrate he's antiseptic

Blagojevich intends to appoint

A man for the U.S.senate joint

Against whom no one certainly

Will cast the charge of bribery:

Himself. No money will change hands--

Gold Rod'll be serenaded by bands,

Becoming what tabs'll be calling "Blago,"

The little-boy senator from Chicago.

December 19, 2008 in VERSE RESPONDER: LEON FREILICH | Permalink | Comments (0)

Deep Throat Dies

Announced today in the NY Times:

W. Mark Felt, who was the No. 2 official at the F.B.I. when he helped bring down President Richard M. Nixon by resisting the Watergate cover-up and becoming Deep Throat, the most famous anonymous source in American history, died Thursday. He was 95 and lived in Santa Rosa, Calif.

W. Mark Felt, left, with reporters in Washington in 1980. Mr. Felt and Edward S. Miller, right, were fined $8,500 for approving illegal break-ins.

His death was confirmed by Rob Jones, his grandson.

In 2005, Mr. Felt revealed that he was the one who had secretly supplied Bob Woodwares of The Washington Post with crucial leads in the Watergate affair in the early 1970s. His decision to unmask himself, in an article in Vanity Fair, ended a guessing game that had gone on for more than 30 years.

December 19, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Evan Thies and David Yassky: Less Street Cleaning Would Save NYers Parking Time, Money & Stress

Today Evan Thies, who is running for David Yassky's City Council seat, has an op-ed in the Daily News written with David Yassky, who is running for NYC Comptroller, about opposite side of the street parking. Thies is currently the Sanitation and Environment Chair of Community Board 1 in Brooklyn.

They make an interesting point. The streets may not to need to be cleaned as often as they are.

According to Thies and Yassky, the Department of Sanitation could save New Yorkers time, money and stress by cleaning New York’s dirty streets—not its clean ones.

Reduce the number of times a week we'd have to move the car? Is that possible? It certainly would be an amazing quality of life improvement. Here's the editorial from the Daily News. See what you think:

The ritual is as much a part of being a New Yorker as loud noises and high prices. Once, twice, or four times a week, most of us with cars do the opposite side of the street parking dance; moving our car from one side of the street to the other to avoid the street cleaner and a big ticket. It’s annoying. But it’s necessary to keep the streets clean, right?

Not necessarily.

Last year, Community Board 6 became the first area of the City to beat back parking regulations that they believed to be overly onerous. They argued effectively that if the streets in their neighborhood were well above the cleanliness standard on a two-day-a-week cleaning schedule per side, then a once-a-week schedule should be enough to get the job done. The City agreed, and new parking signs went up all over Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Red Hook.

After that victory we took a look at North Brooklyn and found that the neighborhoods of Community Board 1 also met the City’s standard for CB6 of three straight years of 90% “acceptable clean streets”. Surely, we thought, the same rules would apply, and opposite side parking would be reduced. But now it turns out there is a different, harder-to-reach standard. The Department of Sanitation has divided community board districts into smaller individual sections, and is requiring that every single one stay above 90% for the parking to be changed community board-wide.

Last year, the City’s annual clean streets average was an immaculate 94.3%—the highest mark ever achieved, and a number which continues to be pushed higher. Clean streets are important, and all New Yorkers appreciate the tireless work of our Sanitation Department. But there still must be a mechanism in place for neighborhoods to limit the frequency of opposite side parking so that New Yorkers aren’t burdened needlessly, and money isn’t spent pointlessly.

We propose that, once a year, when the City reports the cleanliness ratings for each sanitation section, those sections which have reached a rating of 90% clean or above for three consecutive years should be brought up for review. Local community boards and City Council members could then make recommendations, and the Department of Sanitation could make changes based on their suggestions. This would free up resources for problem areas with low ratings and reduce the overall resources the City now uses.

If this system were in place this year, 184 of the 234 sanitation sections across the City would be up for review, and thousands of car owners could be saved the wasted time and gas they spend moving from one side of the street to the other. This would prevent needless pollution that triggers asthma attacks. It would also mitigate the traffic risks to pedestrians and bicyclists that double parking can create.

Perhaps most importantly, reducing the amount of street cleaning in low-need areas would save taxpayers money. At a time when all New Yorkers are tightening their belts to ride out the recession, and the Sanitation Department is already cutting back on essential services such as trash pick-up, a more efficient street cleaning program could net millions of dollars a year in critical savings to plug the deficit or pay for cleaning in the neighborhoods that really need it.

Of course, reducing opposite side parking is not a cure-all. A recent study by Transportation Alternatives showed that charging more for curbside parking helps businesses, and that residential parking permits can help reduce traffic. Reducing the amount of time when there is no parking for street cleaning from the typical 90 minutes to a more reasonable 30 minutes would also be a step forward. We should consider taking these steps as well toward making New York a more livable city for New Yorkers.

The Department of Sanitation should implement our proposal to save New Yorkers time, money and stress. Let’s clean New York’s dirty streets—not its clean ones.

December 19, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

What Issues Matter to You?

Brad Lander, who is running for Bill De Blasio's City Council seat, wants to give OTBKB readers a heads-up on his first piece of campaign mail, which they are mailing to likely voters in the district this week.

In fact, you may receive one.

Yes, it's true: it's election season again. This time on the local political scene. Once again you'll be getting loads of snail mail and email. Groan.

As you'll see, Lander's snail mail includes a tear-off survey and asks people to share their thoughts with Brad. But if you put that piece of mail in the junk mail recycling, you can also answer the survey online, too.

The goal, says Brad, is to hear what issues matter to people in the district (on how to respond to the current economic/fiscal crisis, but also on broader issues). Another goal is to dentify people who are interested in the campaign.

In addition to the mailing, they've got an online presence as well:

-- The survey is up at www.bradlander.com/survey

-- It's linked from Lander's facebook politician page as well, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brad-Lander/10356181156?ref=s

December 19, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pols Urge Little Room to Relocate!

Local politicians urge Little Room (Brooklyn Heights Montessori) Board of Trustees to consider hiring a consultant to help them find a way to relocate program.

The feeling seems to be that this well-regarded program for children with language processing issues is just too good to disappear. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, State Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman, State Senator-Elect Daniel Squadron and Council Members de Blasio and Yassky had this to say:

"While we are thankful that The Little Room has a home through the end
of 2010, we are concerned about the November 2009 deadline imposed by
the Board to shut the program down if a viable alternative location is
not found. This is not a sufficient amount of time to identify,
secure, and raise the necessary funds to renovate a new location,
especially since a full-time director is still needed. We are asking
the Board of Trustees to extend its self-imposed deadline to August of
2011 and to explore hiring a consultant to aid in rapid relocation of
the program.

December 19, 2008 in Postcard from the Slope | Permalink | Comments (0)