MTA Getting Ready To Ride Us Again

It's a given that transit operating costs have gone up since the last rate increase. What isn’t a given though at the MTA is whether or not all unnecessary costs and wasteful spending have been eliminated. Even with an increased number of riders, the MTA continues to lose money. A 12-person commission appointed by Governor Paterson is studying whether to raise transit fares, impose congestion pricing (though the idea was rejected before) and even raise taxes. No real mention though of increasing the MTA’s efficiency or trimming the budget, FIRST! Their report is due out in December. Who’d bet against a new transit rate hike in 2009 or 2010 at the latest? Get ready to personally get the MTA back on track again with your financial support. It's obvious that those we pay, can’t do their jobs … except with more money from us.

Energy Consumption Tax Too Taxing

Mayor Bloomberg thinks the best way to reduce energy consumption is to raise taxes. It’s sad for us how most politicians believe that "higher taxes solve problems." He doesn’t see any short-term fixes for the high price of oil. The fix he does see though is a breathtaking rise in energy taxes to discourage our energy usage. It’s true that much higher prices at the pump will force some motorists to curtail unnecessary driving. However a higher price for gas will also punish those who must drive for employment. It will unfairly raise costs for those who don’t even own cars (Sounds like "Taxation without transportation!). These poor souls will pay more for many retail goods and services that use or depend on vehicle deliveries. What’s needed now are innovative ideas … not old ones like higher gas taxes, tolls or mass transit fares. Improving and expanding mass transit services to accommodate more riders, reducing the size of city-owned vehicles to burn less gas (Let the politicians and police squeeze into Austin Coopers like we're being forced to!), maybe even issuing tax breaks to vehicle owners who drive more efficient cars; these are just a few examples. Give residents of New York City better transportation options instead of sticking the City's hand deeper into our pocket.

Local Fitness Centers Unfit

Male and female workout enthusiasts are complaining about more and more lewd and rude club members throughout facilities in New York City. This offensive behavior is taking place both in the gym area and locker rooms. Bad conduct nowadays goes beyond guys posing in mirrors and kissing their biceps. Excessive nudity in locker rooms, inappropriate stares, open-leg vogue-ing by men and women not to mention pickup attempts and sexual comments is out of control. What’s that famous saying? No pain-in-the-asses, no gain. That doesn’t sound quite right. You'd better build up your muscles quickly so you can better deal with these ill-mannered people … or get the hell out of these places faster!

Herpes Hits NYC Hard

26% of New York City adults now carry the virus that causes genital herpes. That’s 7% higher than the national average! "Sex in the City" is obviously more than just a television show to New York’s party people. The number of people with herpes simplex virus 2 is frightening because there’s no cure. What’s more, those afflicted are more easily infected with the HIV virus. HIV causes AIDS. Statistically, those with herpes are at two to three times greater risk of getting AIDS. Almost 50% of African-Americans and 35% of Hispanics have herpes. These numbers could (Should?) scare some to celibacy. I wonder what happened to the good old days when a boy could meet an old-fashioned girl, here. You know the type. A girl who only had V.D.!

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.

Central Park Eagles Safe Thanks To Stool Pigeon

After more than 30 years, two bronze eagles stolen from a Central Park war memorial were seized by the Feds. Back in the 1970’s, a drug dealer used the “birdie banks” to conceal cash and drugs. Deciding that he would like the statues more at home, rather than at his place of business, he absconded with them. In the 1990’s, with a desire to redecorate his place no doubt, he sold them to an addict, later identified as jewelry dealer Brad Lempert, for only $200. The birds were confiscated at Lempert's office but he was not charged. Though replaced by replicas in 2003, these eagles will soon be remounted. Ornithology lovers take heart; but not the birds!

The Writing Is On The Wall

Archaeologists have found “graffiti” in ancient Rome and in other cultures around the world. Perhaps cave drawings done by our ancient ancestors, was nothing more than graffiti in it’s day. Throughout history, graffiti has been “expression” to some; an attack on society and personal property to others. 2007 in New York City saw just 773 arrests for graffiti, yet only 31 of 392 convicted wall painters spent time in jail. Usually, graffiti is considered a misdemeanor but taggers who do extensive damage (Or paint poorly?) may be charged with felony criminal mischief. Law enforcement and the courts will probably choose not to look at graffiti as a serious crime; the mayor’s “quality of life” campaign, be damned. If true, they’ll be expressing the wrong message to thousands of city taggers. They’ll soon believe that every can of spray paint is the tool to make their mark on society; every brick wall a canvas to get their message seen. Then things will get real colorful around here!