Tix With Pix

Bronx Councilman Jimmy Vacca proposed a law that traffic agents should have photographic evidence to support each ticket they write. He believes this will reduce questionable tickets and limit motorist challenges in the court system. Parking meter tickets won’t require a “Kodak moment.” Wouldn’t it be nice to have a photo or video of a politician each time he or she made a bad judgment call or did something illegal that negatively impacted New Yorkers?

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IMPORTANT NOTE: This piece was written today about an older New York City news headline. NYCo site delays prevented its publication before now. In an effort to entertain and educate this blog’s devoted viewers, 100’s of older headlines will be posted in chronological order until this blog is discussing current events again. Though some stories may no longer be as relevant as they once were, they remain interesting news items worthy of mention and viewer comments.

[This is a copyrighted editorial, originally published on http://www.NEWYORKCITYonline.com/NYC-Online/blog.php. We invite you to post your comments and reply to others. This piece may be duplicated or printed with permission.]

Homeless Water Jugs Can Drain You

The sidewalk salesmen for the United Homeless Organization (referring to themselves as “outreach workers”) were working without a city license and apparently pocketing the money for themselves. The semi-sophisticated sales pitches could net these beggars an estimated $80 in four or five hours. The UHO charity, based in a Bronx apartment reported $97,890 in contributions. A close examination of their paperwork shows some questionable accounting. “Corporate” begging in New York City should be banned.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog is a quick comment on an older New York City news headline. Unforeseen NYCo site development delays prevented its publication before now. For readership continuity, 100’s of older headlines are to be posted in chronological order until this blog is current. Though some of the stories may no longer be as relevant as they once were, they remain interesting news items worthy of this site’s mention and viewer comments.

[This is a copyrighted editorial, originally published on http://www.NEWYORKCITYonline.com/NYC-Online/blog.php. We invite you to post your comments and reply to others! This piece may be duplicated or printed with permission.]

City Pricking Those Who Have Pricked

The city’s Health Department says testing is up 20% in the Bronx as part of the borough’s The Bronx Knows program. The goal is to reach 250,000 adults who never had a HIV test. HIV-related deaths in the city continued their decline to 1,115 in 2006 but there’s the need for continued vigilance. An estimated 4,800 new New Yorkers become infected each year.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog is a quick comment on an older New York City news headline. Unforeseen NYCo site development delays prevented its publication before now. For readership continuity, 100’s of older headlines are to be posted in chronological order until this blog is current. Though some of the stories may no longer be as relevant as they once were, they remain interesting news items worthy of this site’s mention and viewer comments.

[This is a copyrighted editorial, originally published on http://www.NEWYORKCITYonline.com/NYC-Online/blog.php. We invite you to post your comments and reply to others! This piece may be duplicated or printed with permission.]

The Birth Of The Bronx

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson had a baby boy. They named him Bronx Mowgli Wentz. David and Victoria Beckham have a son named Brooklyn. Hopefully no Hollywood couple will name their boy, Queens.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog is a quick comment on an older New York City news headline. Unforeseen NYCo site development delays prevented it’s publication before now. For readership continuity, 100’s of older headlines are to be posted in chronological order until this blog is current. Though some of the stories may no longer be as relevant as they once were, they remain interesting news items worthy of this site’s mention and viewer comments.

[This is a copyrighted editorial, originally published on http://www.NEWYORKCITYonline.com/NYC-Online/blog.php. We invite you to post your comments and reply to others! This piece may be duplicated or printed with permission.]

City Catholic School Crisis

Enrollment at New York City Catholic schools continues to decline. The Archdiocese of New York, which operates schools in The Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan and northern suburbs dropped to 88,273 students. Diocese of Brooklyn elementary schools in Brooklyn and Queens dropped to 36,000 students. High school figures for them were not made available. Over 1,300 Catholic schools have closed nationwide since 1990. The main reason appears to be the higher cost of a religious education as compared to education in the public school system. Charter schools have also become a reasonable alternative for many Catholic families. Unless things change, Catholic schools won't have a prayer.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog is a quick comment on an older New York City news headline. Unforeseen NYCo website development delays prevented it’s publication before now. For readership continuity, 100’s of older headlines are to be posted in chronological order until this blog is current. Though some of the stories may no longer be as relevant as they once were, they remain interesting news items worthy of this site’s mention and viewer comments.

[This is a copyrighted editorial, originally published on http://www.NEWYORKCITYonline.com/NYC-Online/blog.php. We invite you to post your comments and reply to others! This piece may be duplicated or printed with permission.]

Backing Off The 911 Backup Center

More than ten years ago, plans were made to create a New York City emergency communications backup center in the event of a serious disaster. Construction was proposed in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx. This hub would complement current 911 services in Brooklyn's Metrotech Center. Today, NYC residents are still waiting for this vital 37-story center to be constructed, though some in the building area would like to see it scaled down to its original 17-story design. With a current $957 million price tag, 40% over the last estimate, it’s likely we’ll all be waiting a bit longer. It’s more than seven years since September 11th. The question is how much longer can New Yorkers afford to wait?

[This is a copyrighted editorial, originally published on http://www.NEWYORKCITYonline.com/NYC-Online/blog.php. We invite you to post your comments! Note: This piece may be duplicated or printed with permission.]

High Fives For High Bridge

Mayor Bloomberg announced that High Bridge Park in Washington Heights is now "safe." He also declared that the 1800’s pedestrian bridge that connects Manhattan and The Bronx will be getting a $60 million rehab. This project will be part of many other improvements throughout the park. Much more needs to be done in this long neglected area. Nevertheless, local residents and all New Yorkers should celebrate the fact that something is finally being done. In our "city of bridges," this is a truly beautiful and historic span worth every penny spent towards its preservation.

The Bronx Is Gay Family Friendly

A new study has found that Manhattan's gay couples are more likely to hit city nightclubs, while gay pairs in The Bronx are more likely to be at home with their kids. The Bronx has an estimated 11% of New York City’s gay couples and 32% of homes where children are being raised by homosexual or lesbian couples. In fact, nearly half of all gay households in the Bronx are raising kids. That's close to NYC’s overall rate of 55% of households with kids. Statistics show that minority same-sex partners are more likely than gay white couples to have children. Maybe the Bronx rates so high because most gay men in Manhattan are more concerned about careers, working out and clubs than diapers and families. Perhaps another reason is that the four “outer” boroughs are a better place to raise kids than Manhattan.

Welcome Housewarmings Eight Months Away

Our neighbors are moving down their respective blocks. Both the Yankees and Mets move into new homes in 2009. The Yankees will welcome fans to their baseball home opener in the Bronx at the new Yankee Stadium on April 16th. The Mets start their season at Citi Field in Queens on April 14th. Let’s hope their new digs are as great a place to visit and cheer as the old!

Hunts Point-ing Away

The privately owned Hunts Point produce market may move out of New York. The city’s refusal to give $150 million towards a new $750 million “green” facility in The Bronx has the owners of this wholesale fruit and vegetable co-op ready to box up and go. The owners claim it would only cost $500 million to build elsewhere. They’re scouting other locations now. They’ve been in their present location since 1967 but will soon outgrow it. People must really be eating their fruits and veggies! The produce market is part of the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center which includes separate fish and meat markets. It’s the largest food wholesale market in the world today ($2 billion in annual revenue) servicing the tri-state area. If the market departs, it will drive up the cost of food at many smaller grocers and restaurants. They'd be forced to travel further to obtain the food they get from The Bronx. Additionally, many people will lose their jobs and the city will lose badly needed tax revenue. New York City officials will likely come up with the money needed. It’s hoped that they’ll do it sooner, rather than later though. It'll help prevent us from getting indigestion at the thought of less food at higher prices!

Grass To Grow In Concrete Plant Park

Later this year, a 2.7 acre plot of land in the Bronx will be transformed from a deserted concrete plant to beautiful parkland along the Western shore of the Bronx River. The land has been abandoned since 1987. This is great news for the residents of the area and worth the $10 million to make it happen. Now, the city also has 7,600 acres of contaminated land scattered throughout the five boroughs. Mayor Bloomberg has asked Albany for financial aid to clean it up. No surprise, it’s been slow in coming. To speed things along, the mayor wants developers to be responsible for cleanup on sites and most significantly, released from any liability. Say what? Problems may arise down the road. Albany should think twice before granting carte-blanche approval to cart toxic waste. NYC acreage should not be reclaimed without responsibility.

White's Green To Make Gardens Greener

Shelby White, a Brooklyn girl, still proud of her roots recently donated $25 million dollars to two fortunate organizations that benefit all New Yorkers. It’s the largest private donation in the history of New York for the greening of the city! $10 million will fund projects in Prospect Park and $15 million will be put to good use at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Many are familiar with the story, “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.” Well, I guess angels grow up there too. Thanks, Shelby for your generosity.

Firehouse Names Too Hot For FDNY Brass

Poor behavior and recent booze and broad scandals of some New York City firefighters is forcing officials in the Fire Department to try to clean up it’s public image. One way to do this, they believe, is to eliminate politically incorrect nicknames for firehouses. After a three year battle with a firehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, the FDNY has prevailed. That means the “Happy Hookers” firehouse in Red Hook is no more. Gone too is the moniker “Southern Comfort” in Staten Island, “Animal House” in the Bronx and “Fosters” in Brooklyn. Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta believes this is the right approach. Perhaps more severe punishment should be meted out to specific individuals who bring shame to the Fire Department rather than cutting out part of the spirit and camaraderie which all fire personnel and many neighborhood residents enjoy.

Armory Plans Have Some Neighborhood Residents Up In Arms

After 12 years of searching for a beneficial use for an old National Guard facility, a solution may be right around the corner. Once, the largest military drill hall in the world, vacant since, the Kingsbridge Armory may soon become home to a major department store and dozens of smaller shops. Happily, the Bronx building’s exterior with it’s distinctive towers, turrets, crenellated parapets and huge arches will remain intact with only minor alterations. As is usual when major change in a neighborhood is proposed, some will rise to oppose it. In this instance, it seems that potential benefits outweigh the complaints. Jobs and money will be brought to the surrounding areas. Of great significance too, a magnificent structure erected between 1914-1918 with 575,000 square feet can be reclaimed along with the neighborhood around it. To the developers, respond to the fears and concerns of local residents. To those in the area, be open to new possibilities. Build it and they will come.

Concrete Curse Reversed, Guaranteeing The Red Sox Will Be Worse

Several weeks ago, a destructive construction worker surreptitiously buried a David Ortiz, Red Sox baseball jersey two feet below a freshly poured foundation in the new Yankee Stadium. Well, we New Yorkers (and fortunately, the new Steinbrenner high command too) have a thing about "dumping garbage" on what will soon become hallowed Bronx ground. The stained shirt was quickly dug up and removed. Recognizing it’s collectible value though, Yankee ownership acted magnanimously. The jinxed jersey was auctioned on eBay with the total proceeds ($175,100) donated to The Jimmy Fund; a Boston based charity for children stricken with cancer. Rest assured Yank's fans that that kind of act buys mucho good baseball karma for sure. Now, as in the early 1900’s, the Yankees (then the Highlanders) have spotted the Red Sox a few World Series Championships. Big deal! History is known to repeat itself. Check back here in 92 years to see how many more World Series the Yankees have won as compared to their beantown buds. Even if the attempted “curse in concrete” had gone undetected, a buried Sox jersey wouldn’t have any detrimental effect on a “player in pinstripes.” It could only have been a precursor of things to come … for your team Sox fans. We're gonna bury you for another century!

The Mark Of Champions

Massive blocks of limestone and granite bearing the carved inscription “Yankee Stadium” were set atop a very special building in the Bronx last week. It’s fitting that this type of material was used. Legends are by cliché written in stone, aren’t they? Once again, both the name of baseball’s greatest team and the nation’s first stadium crown New York’s future premiere sports destination, scheduled to open in 2009. Unlike other sports facilities throughout the world, the naming rights to this world famous location in the Bronx were not for sale to a corporate advertiser. It wouldn’t be fitting. By changing the name alone, it would no longer have been a place where true legends should battle or for future championship moments to occur.

Bronx Students Take Unauthorized Field Trip From Principal

A walkout by nearly 200 of the city’s brightest pupils at the Bronx High School of Science occurred because principal Valerie Reidy, is "excessively" strict and harmfully “micromanaging” the school. This, according to students who attend there. They say top teachers are fleeing and being replaced by "sub-standard" ones. Punishment for “cutting classes” is also being more strictly enforced by Reidy with more severe consequences meted out than before. Principal Reidy believes the students are misinformed about the facts but didn’t clarify those facts for reporters.

Students should be fully aware of their responsibilities to the school, their families and to themselves. Cutting class and walkouts should have consequences. As for the latter though, it should be recognized that these children protested because they want to ensure themselves of the best education possible, being taught by the best educators. Indisputable facts are what’s needed here to understand and resolve this class crisis.Their approach may be inappropriate but their message should be heard and thoroughly investigated. After all, providing New York City kids with the best education should be everyone’s goal. There are administrators and high officials aplenty in the Board of Education. It might be best for one of them to check things out NOW and take whatever corrective action may be required. Students rebelling to learn and graduate should have allies in each of us. Let us remind ourselves of that while teaching them that lesson.

Feng Shui Gives Yankees Win Over Mets

Feng shui (pronounced FENG SHUWAY) is the ancient Chinese practice of placing and arranging things in space to achieve the most agreeable harmony with the surrounding environment. Chi (pronounced CHEE) is the life force or spiritual energy within all things. What’s all that have to do with baseball, you ask?

Judith Wendell, a noted feng shui and chi expert declared the new Yankee Stadium superior to that of the Mets’ Citi Field. A variety of tests and “energy vibrations” she felt at each construction site convinced her of that. In other words, better feng shui in the Bronx will give the Yankees better chi than their cross-town rivals. Or, put yet another way … more chi, more wins. Great news for Bombers’ fans!

Both fields are scheduled to open for the start of the 2009 baseball season. Perhaps a new chant will rise up from the crowd to the facade in the Bronx on opening day … “We got chi! We got chi!”