R.I.P. Sarah Jane Smith
Lis Sladen, of Doctor Who fame, has died at age 63. Even K9 can’t help us with this one.
4/7/2011
So I get a(nother) circular in the mail promoting NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg as a fantastic guy who’s doing well by the city. It’s actually a 4-page 8×11″ behemoth, addressed to me only, probably because I refuse to register with any political party. It prevents me from voting at the primaries, but my principles on this one can’t be compromised.
Anyway, I never voted for the guy. I actually wanted to have a big NO on the ballot before his illegal third term. Why is he spending all this money to convince me he’s doing “a heckuva job”? Two words – December snowstorm. Two more words – Cathie Black. Hell, what about a third term that voters turned down before and turned down again in November with a resounding NO to three terms? He’s trying to salvage what good ratings he can get before he leaves so he can leave a good legacy. Look, if we didn’t like you before, chances are we ain’t gonna like you after a picture of you with school kids. Paid for by your own money, as if we had forgotten you’re already a billionaire.
And here’s the kicker – there’s no return address for this booklet. There’s no phone number. I can’t easily return this with a note telling him where he can put this. And I doubt that calling his office or leaving an e-mail on his official website is going to get me anywhere. I soooooo can’t wait until this guy is gone.
3/31/2011
Let’s get this straight…
Books and other inanimate objects of the sort don’t “live” somewhere. And they don’t “like to be” anywhere. You want to put them in a certain place.
It’s all right; own up to the decision.
3/6/2011
Bike and people woes
Apologies for the possibly scattered post, I’m mad enough at the situation that I can’t think straight.
So 34th St isn’t going to be partially closed down to traffic (yeah, it’s a NY Post article, but the facts are there.) The decision is appreciated by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and by Macy’s, who didn’t want to have trouble bringing its precious balloons to 5th Ave on Thanksgiving.
Anthony Weiner, NY Democratic representative and mayoral hopeful, wants todemolish all the bike lanes installed in the last few years, and Mayor Bloomberg agreed!
God forbid we have fewer accidents for those people who want to ride bikes and walk to places. No, we need our treasured cars around, with the inevitable speeding, exhaust, blaring horns and traffic jams.
I have mild asthma. When I lived on the Upper East Side, the densest neighborhood with thousands of cars going up and down 1st and 2nd Aves, there were days I couldn’t go out because I knew that the amount of exhaust would send me to my inhaler. I dreaded having to go through Times Square because I couldn’t make it from one side to the other in less than 15 minutes. Now it’s usually the quickest part of my journey. I still hate going to Herald Square because what they have closed off to traffic is inadequate and difficult to navigate.
Anthony Weiner has most enthusiastically lost my vote for him. I’d rather not vote for anyone than vote for someone who obviously doesn’t care that many of us would go out more (and shop more and take advantage of parks more, etc) if it weren’t so difficult to get around.
Macy’s and Scott Stringer have also lost my support. There have been some really respectful people involved in these issues, and now I see their true colors. If you guys are really for the little person, then concentrate on public transportation and bike and pedestrian friendly places so that the little guy can get to work and kids can play outside.
Wait, can more bike lanes and people friendly places help stop childhood obesity? There’s no way to prove that, but it seems like a good idea to try. There would be fewer car accidents, fewer emergency asthma cases, less need to try to corral people onto ever diminishing sidewalk space in busy sections of the city and thereby freeing police officers to do more important work.
No, those rich enough to afford cars or who are clueless as to how NYC is prized for its 24/7 public transportation are the ones who win, and I can’t walk home now that I don’t live close to Central Park and relative car-free zones.
Here’s a controversial idea – go the way of the “hated” French. Charge $8/gallon for gas and subsidize free (or super low-cost) public transportation. It would probably 6-12 months of real heartache for everyone, since you need to get the frickin’ subway system up to speed (literally and figuratively,) but since no one thinks of long term projects, only their next election, this would never happen.
Thanks to DOT commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, for actually having the vision of making this city truly competitive through a comprehensive traffic plan.
2/25/2011
Rejoice!
Yes, the federal government might shut down if Congress can’t get a working budget soon. It’s a real downer.
But those same members of Congress will still get paid! Hooray!