A Pane In The Glass

Many New Yorkers believe that an apartment overlooking Central Park is about as good as an apartment gets in New York City. How about one with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling views of that scenic park below? Well, there are four elderly tenants in rent-controlled apartments at Lincoln Square who prefer to pass on the possibility. They filed suit against their landlord, the Church of Latter-Day Saints, to prevent installation of those wonderful windows. They’d be irreparably harmed by construction, so they claim. The landlord argued new windows were necessary to transform the property into a “premium building.” The judge agreed with the tenants saying the work wasn’t “necessary.” As of now, only the four tenants who sued will have old windows after renovations are completed. According to the landlord’s spokesperson, the tenants refused $25,000 each, but supposedly agreed to have the work done for $100,000 apiece. The tenants deny they were offered that amount, though it seems one or two might be interested in a higher offer. For that kind of money, they might even agree to live in glass houses!

Pigeons' Cooing Fanatics

Some bird enthusiasts truly enjoy New York City’s infamous pigeon. Most city residents (and all statues) do not like the bird. They regard it as did Woody Allen when he referred to a pigeon as “a rat with wings.” Nevertheless, a small group of admirers recently gathered together on Pigeon Hill in Central Park to celebrate “National Pigeon Day.” The group praised the bird in song and word. They spoke of pigeons' honorable service during both World Wars as message carriers. When all was said and done though, no plans were mentioned to erect a statue in the pigeon’s honor. I wonder why?

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!

Waterfalls To Cascade In The East River

This coming summer, four manmade waterfalls ranging in height between 90 to 120 feet will teem into the waters under and near the Brooklyn Bridge. Designed by Olafur Eliasson, they’ll be built upon scaffolding and pumping 35,000 gallons of water a minute. This isn’t the first time that privately funded art in New York City will be used to inspire those who see it and enrich others who benefit from the extra tourist traffic. For example, the popular Central Park “Gates” exhibition created by the artist Christo in 2005 generated $254 million. If 7,500 gates with orange windblown banners can bring in that much cash, 4 magnificent waterfalls should have the money pouring in.

New York City Has Become A Winter Wonder-Where-Is-It-Land

Remember when November’s and December’s here were filled with snow that seemed to be on the ground until February? Remember when winter’s here were really cold? If you do, you must have a very long memory. Reminisce about those days and you show your age ... maybe you're displaying some “snow on the roof” too. New York City hasn’t had many cold, snowy winters for a long, long time. Those who joined the NYC Department of Sanitation thirty years ago to collect great overtime by plowing and shoveling our snowy streets never got rich off their paychecks.

Perhaps global warming is to blame. Perhaps not. Let scientists and meteorologists debate the issue. The temperature is expected to hit 50 degrees today in Central Park. That’s 50 degrees … not 5 degrees. I'm glad. I’m older now with some “snow on the roof.” I don’t miss the cold or snow like I would were I still a kid. My apologies to the polar bears in the local zoos and our sanitation workers but, “Hooray for global warming!”

Horse Carriage Riders May Soon Be Hailing Cabs

Councilman Tony Avella (D-Queens) introduced a proposal to end all horse carriage rides in New York City. He believes they’re inhumane and detrimental to traffic patterns in Midtown. The Horse and Carriage Association objected to Mr. Avella’s claims and goal. They actively support this 100-year old industry citing it’s importance to hundreds of working class families in the industry and the carriage’s great popularity among tourists. Their spokesperson Carolyn Daly maintains that horses are well cared for and that the industry does far more good than harm in the Big Apple.

Horse carriages are undoubtedly one of the lesser causes for city traffic jams. If Mr. Avella so strongly believes that horses are put at risk while in traffic, than he should extend his ban to police mounts too. That of course would be a foolish thing to do. However, Mr. Avella’s position does have some merit. Perhaps it’s time to consider restricting carriage rides to Central Park or to designated zones where horse and driver can better co-exist than they do now.