Big utility company is hard on small business owner

Check out my article in the Brooklyn Paper this week about a small furniture store owner who can’t get Con Ed to remove outrageous charges on his bill. He believes someone was siphoning his electricity but Con Ed has made it extremely difficult to prove it and the Public Service Commission isn’t helping.

Private Fences on Public Roads

Greenpoint residents aren’t allowed access to the East River waterfront on many public roads because the old factories that used to line the river blocked them off with big fences and gates. Councilman David Yassky, who represents District 33, is working to get the gates and fences removed. He has already been able to remove the one at Kent Street and West Street, but there are still gates at Noble Street and Java Street. Residents of the up and coming neighborhood don’t like the restricted access, especially because it is illegal.

“It’s not fair,” said Vino Rodriguez, a longtime Greenpoint resident.

Check out the coverage in the Brooklyn Paper and the photos I took of the fences.

Park Slope in Flux

Check out the article I wrote for the Brooklyn Paper about 7th Avenue in Brooklyn and how it’s going through a transition period. I’m sure there are a lot of other neighborhoods dealing with these same issues right now, but I think its particularly interesting in Park Slope because the people of the neighborhood continue to cling to a very particular concept of the area.

More Rain, Less Murder?

According to an article in today’s New York Times, their research shows that in the summer, when there is more rain there are less homicides. I think it is an interesting idea, but, as they say in the article, the nature of most homicides in the United States makes this conclusion only valid for New York City and not for the nation as a whole. They also make the point that the rain-homicide correlation only applies to the summer months, bad weather is not a deterrent in the fall or winter.

Parks are Good for the Economy

There is a great article on the Gotham Gazette this week about how much parks do for the economy in cities like NYC.

Coming from Nebraska to New York City, I have learned how vital green space can be when surrounded by tall gray buildings. I never knew how important grass and trees could be until I left a place where I was surrounded by them and moved to a place where they were few and far between.

The article also discusses a report done by Appleseed for the Central Park Conservancy. The report discusses the effect that Central Park has on the businesses and the real estate around it. As well as the positive effect on the community.

Nothing in the article seems surprising to me. I think its just nice to be reminded how vital parks are to cities. In more ways than just a break in the grayness of skyscrapers.

Central Park

A New Archbishop for New York

Timothy M. Dolan, 59, was installed as the 13th Roman Catholic bishop and the 10th archbishop of New York on Wednesday afternoon, seven weeks after Pope Benedict XVI selected him to succeed Cardinal Edward M. Egan, 77. 

The installation ceremony began at 1:30 P.M with a long procession including the Knights of Columbus in colored robes and priests from the diocese clad in white, ending with bishops in tall miters.  Archbishop Dolan, who served as the archbishop in Milwaukee since 2002,  brought up the rear, waving to the crowds lining Fifth Avenue. 

After a three hour ceremony, which has been in place since the third century, Dolan emerged from St. Patrick’s Cathedral as the official archbishop of New York. 

Those waiting outside the Cathedral were upbeat about the new archbishop.

“Dolan seems energetic, and change is good. I just want to be a part of the excitement,” said Janette Iannucci,59, a retired math teacher. 

Many, like Janette’s husband Paul, were just happy to be involved in the occasion.“We just wanted to watch and to be a part of this moment in time,” said Paul Iannucci, 60.

Others were excited about the friendly nature of Archbishop Dolan. “I see him as a humble, receptive, holy man,” said Charity Ubawike. “I think he will be a good shepherd for New York.”

“I’m glad that he has a sense of humor. God bless him,” said Kathleen O’Connor, 63. She acknowledged that Cardinal Egan didn’t always have fans but wanted to wish him the best. “Cardinal Egan did a good job, too. I’m sure that he did things people didn’t like but somebody has to do the dirty work. I wish him good luck and good health.”

Police presence around the church was noticeable. “We are prepared to handle threats and protests but we don’t think there will be any problems,” said Police Detective Tom Verni. No protests or problems were encountered during the procession or service. 

Detective Verni said about 3,000 people were expected; however the number of spectators watching the opening procession was much smaller than the anticipated number. 

A number of New York dignitaries were present at the ceremony, including Governor David Paterson, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Comptroller William C. Thompson, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and former mayor Edward Koch.

Archbishop Dolan is the first to succeed a living predecessor since the mid-19th century. Cardinal Egan is the first archbishop of New York to retire since the requirement of retirement on a bishop’s 75th birthday was introduced. Egan was recently hospitalized with stomach pains and he is scheduled to have a pacemaker implanted later this year.

On the Street

People in New York City were asked how they felt about the economic stimulus bill that is going through Congress right now and has the support of President Obama.

Here’s what they said:

ANSWERS

A Celebration in Chinatown

The normally busy streets of Chinatown were extra packed on Sunday. Crowds stood four rows deep along Mott Street to watch the 10^th Annual Chinese Lunar New Year Parade. Bright colored confetti floated through the sky and littered the sunlit streets. The temperature in the low 40’s made it a perfect day for the festivities.

The parade featured floats built by local groups and businesses, confetti, martial arts students, and traditional music. But most came to see the colorful cloth dragons dance down the street. The dragons symbolize goodness, fertility, vigilance and poise. The dances performed at the New Year symbolize the bringing of good luck and success in the coming year.

Spectators from all over Manhattan and all over the country pushed through the police barricades and lined the streets to see the bright red and gold floats and dragons as they rolled down the street. Children perched on the shoulders of their elders and everyone fought to catch glimpses of the famous dragons. Many different circumstances brought the wide range of viewers to the neighborhood. Many were at the parade for the first time.

“We originally came down for Dim Sum to celebrate my wife’s birthday,” said Peter Zwiebach. “We stayed for the parade because we had never been before and thought the kids would really enjoy it.”

Some see watching the parade as a right of passage upon moving to New York City.

“We just moved here so this is our first time seeing the parade,” said Shalini Jain. “We really enjoyed it but I was surprised by how short the actual parade was.”

Steve Vaccaro brought his kids to the parade because he likes the family atmosphere of the parade.

“We come every year,” said Vaccaro. “I think it’s a much better way to celebrate the start of the New Year than New Year’s Eve, which is all about sex and drinking.”

For some it was a way to get in touch with the community.

 “I came out because I needed to take a break from homework,” said Mona Mehra, an NYU student who lives in the area. “It seemed like a good way to see the community that I live in.”

The parade also brought tourists from all over the country to the neighborhood for the day. Some tourists, like Bill Racer, said it reminded them of their own communities.

“It reminds me of parades we have at home for Shrimpfest. It’s a community thing,” said Racer. He and his wife were in New York visiting for the week from Florida. 

Lessons On Love

Here’s a story about a Rabbi from Nebraska who changed the life of a member of the Ku Klux Klan in the New York Times.

Vegetarians on Thanksgiving

When most Americans think about Thanksgiving, one of the first images that comes to mind is a large roasted turkey, the main staple of Thanksgiving dinner. However, because vegetarianism and veganism has gained popularity, many people are rethinking the way they do thanksgiving dinner.
Traditionally, turkey has been the main dish of Thanksgiving dinner along with stuffing, sweet potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce, seasonal vegetables, and pumpkin pie. For a vegan, many of these foods either contain meat or are made with animal products such as milk or cheese, putting them off limits.
Kenny Torrella, a junior at Middle Tennessee State University, has been vegan for two years. He is the only vegan in his family and made much of his own food for thanksgiving.
“It can be a little uncomfortable since most of my family doesn’t understand my eating habits. They are stubborn and closed off, but I just try to show how easy being vegan can be,” Torrella said.
One stereotype Torrella deals with around thanksgiving is the assumption that vegan food will not taste good. “People think my food will taste gross but I make tasty foods for my non-vegan friends and family like the chocolate dessert I made for thanksgiving this year,” Torrella said. The dessert was a big hit with his family, he said.
Greg Englar also has to deal with different eating habits at Thanksgiving. The NYU Junior is a vegetarian along with his immediate family. Thanksgiving, however, is a holiday he often spends with extended family.
“Even though most of our extended family knows that we are vegetarian, we still have to call ahead to make sure they know to leave some of the stuffing out of the turkey and other small things like that,” Englar said.
Just in case there isn’t enough food available without meat, Englar and his family bring vegetarian dishes with them to share. “This year we brought a Lasagna with us. Pasta is usually a good replacement for something like Turkey,” Englar said.
For Englar, the most important part of Thanksgiving doesn’t have to do with the meal. “I take the holiday for what it is, getting together with family and being grateful for what we have,” Englar said.
Liz Morissey, a junior at NYU, said she doesn’t find Thanksgiving a very exciting holiday, at least from the food aspect. She celebrates the holiday with her mom’s family, most of whom aren’t vegetarian. “My grandma always conveniently ‘forgets’ that my mom and I are vegetarian. She always tries to serve us turkey anyway,” said Morissey.
Morissey and her mother bring a vegetarian dish to eat while everyone else eats turkey. “It feels like a normal meal for me while everyone else is eating an extravagant meal,” Morissey said.
Angelica Kitchen, a vegan restaurant in the East Village, also has a different focus for Thanksgiving. The restaurant serves a $50 prix fix meal on Thanksgiving that is completely vegan and made from scratch. It has become quite popular, and people have traveled all the way from Florida to eat at the restaurant on the holiday.
Co-Executive Chef Amy Chaplin said the focus when building the menu for Thanksgiving is on creating the most delicious meal possible from vegetables in season. “We don’t think about how to replace the turkey. We ask, ‘What is the most delicious meal you would want to eat as a vegan this time of year?’ And that’s what we try to create,” Chaplin said.
Chaplin and the other chefs at Angelica Kitchen try to incorporate traditional Thanksgiving ingredients like squash and sweet potatoes into the meal, but they always try new and different recipes too. One Thanksgiving staple that is always present in their holiday prix fix is pumpkin pie.
The real focus for Angelica Kitchen is not on what food is served but how it is served. “We want to honor the growth and harvest of our food,” Chaplin said, “especially our plant-based food.”