Where There’s Smoke, There’s Staten Island

For unknown reasons, Staten Island has the highest rate for smoking in New York City. In fact, 27% of those in the borough are smokers compared to an average of 17% in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. Among pregnant women, Staten Island moms-to-be smoke at an alarming 19% rate while in the Bronx the number is 5%, Manhattan and Queens are both at 5.1% and Brooklyn is 5.9%. The plus-puffing figures are puzzling. Residents of Staten Island will soon be barraged with a new wave of NYC-sponsored ads urging them to give up smoking. Hopefully they’ll be able to see through their own smoke to read them.

Bowery Becoming “Boutiquey”

Down in the Lower East Side, just off East First Street, in a filthy back alley called “Extra Place,” another neighborhood makeover of the Bowery from bum days and CBGB nights will soon take place. Developers plan to reclaim this seedy place. Where the punk rock Ramones once posed, half a dozen high-end retailers will soon ply their trade. Add them to the other new fancy shoppes, high-rise co-ops, banks and yuppies that now frequent this once infamous part of town. It’s getting so that a young drinker who can’t hold his liquor won’t be able to find a free spot to puke or piss anymore! Maybe pay toilets are next.

“Rescue Ink” Writes Happy Ending

Clara the bulldog was dog-napped last week in midtown. Clara’s owner, Jessica Kurland, is friends with Beth Ostrosky, beau of the King of All Media, Howard Stern. Through their broadcast efforts and a New York Post article, Rescue Ink (tattooed toughs with big hearts) a Long Island nonprofit group, learned of the crime and decided to help. These animal-like, animal lovers hit the pavement hard, knocking on doors and quizzing the locals. Several days later, two anonymous good Samaritans(?) called to say they had spotted Clara and took her in. Clara was reunited with Jessica soon afterwards. Rescue Ink deserves a reality TV show at the very least for their good deed.

(IMAGE NOTE: Given a choice between a bulldog, half a dozen burly, tattooed guys or a drop-dead gorgeous blond model, the photo choice for this story was a no-brainer!)

NYPD Cadet To “Cop” Special Badge

St. John’s University student Ryan Baer will proudly enter the next Police Academy class in July. Awaiting him at graduation? A badge bearing the number his great-great-grandfather wore nearly 100 years ago. Patrolman Bryan L. O’Donnell died while in the line of duty while trying to arrest three punks. Best wishes and prayers to Ryan during his training and throughout his career with the finest police force in the world!

Yankees & Mets Want To Buy Their Old Homes

In 2009, both local ball clubs will play in new stadiums. New York City is the current owner of Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium, both slated for demolition after the 2008 season. The Houses that Ruth and Kranepool built will be no more. Gone, but not forgotten … and maybe not totally gone either. Negotiations are taking place to let the Yankees and Mets buy their old ballparks. Their similar plan is to dismantle and peddle stadium memorabilia to fans and baseball collectors worldwide. Revenue from the sales of seats, lockers, bricks and even dirt are expected to bring in tens of millions of dollars for each team. Now, if these stadium deals go through (and they will), wouldn’t it be nice if the teams donated their collectible revenues to building and improving baseball fields around New York City? It’s fans, past and present, that contributed to the success of these teams. It’s the teams that should give more to our city's baseball youth and develop their fans of tomorrow. Each team is now looking to go out with cash in their pockets. Donating this cash to our kids let’s them go out as winners.

Sierra Club Set To Sue

The well known environmental group, Sierra Club, is ready to make waves to maintain the waves along five piers at the planned Brooklyn Bridge Park. The points of controversy include wave-calming systems and floating walkways. They’re convinced that these additions to the 85 acre park will be harmful to local marine life. The New York State subsidiary managing the project insists that these additions are necessary to lure new boaters and establish a fancy marina. One would think that fish and other marine life could be safely diverted away from this development area. Perhaps the Sierra Club might find a solution that benefits both fish and New Yorkers instead of damning the entire idea.

Subway Superhero Saves Sot

Veeramuthu Kalimuthu is a mechanic at Columbia University. On March 14th, he was a subway superhero. On that day, during evening rush hour, he heard people screaming and saw them running around at the 116th Street station in Morningside Heights. An intoxicated man (as later reported by a NYCTA official) had fallen onto the subway tracks, directly across the platform from Kalimuthu. Without regard for his own safety, “Kali” hopped onto the train bed, jumped across 3 sets of tracks and 3 third rails (the rails with 600 volts of lethal electricity) and then heaved the heavier victim onto the platform. Once completing his mission of mercy, he hopped back across the 3 sets of tracks and headed home to his family as if nothing extraordinary happened. Kali's quote? “People should help people. If all of us get along well in this world then we’ll get a better world to live.” That’s easy for a subway superhero to say. New York is an amazing city with some amazing residents, isn't it?