Open Thread Wednesday

Did anybody else see the 2 NYT articles this week – a thoughtful one today – that documented that almost exactly half of all bus rides in NY are by individuals who think that "pay what you wish" has gone into effect, because they opt to ride for free, i.e., to steal bus rides regularly. (The articles say that "police presence" has made an impact on turnstile jumping. My unscientific eyes say otherwise, but all agree that the 1-2 punch of no revenue from congestion pricing and literally millions of $2.90 thefts have NYC mass transit either on the ropes or on the mat.)

I know that it's said that older adults are sometimes unduly "grumpy," but I suspect that what matters here is the reality that there are lots of YOUNG families who constantly weigh life in NYC vs. life in a suburb. The perception that we're (in some ways) back – or even heading back – to the bad old 1980's where you weren't nuts to be worried about your unaccompanied 10-16 year old kids will surely cause a few thousand young families to opt for the suburban lifestyle. Heaven knows, NYC's finances/taxes have long been in need of an overhaul, but if you subtract lots of income and dramatically soften the co-op/condo market (for better or [mostly] worse, NYC runs on real estate), you're quickly going to face choices between 5-day library openings and clean streets and all the rest.

There will be no GOOD choices, obviously, and this will certainly keep the cycle of Exodus-budget cuts-exodus-etc. going and heading toward disaster.

Got a kick out of seeing Mike from Tango at the lunch counter.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/the-dish-how-the-montague-diner-is-bringing-a-fresh-take-on-a-classic-experience/

Fiscati's open in August? A snowstorm in the desert?

I do like the Montague Diner a lot. And amazing to see the interior shots of Happy Days and what it is now. Wish they would add a couple more choices to the menu, starting with a Rueben.

Not only that. They opened on the date specified in their sign! Further proof that we are all now living in an alternate dimension.

I'm well aware of the lofty, idealistic goal of the ill-conceived plan. However, it was unlikely to achieve any meaningful results, it would only amount to an unfair tax on residents of Manhattan, commuters that need to drive to work (Often, the working poor) and others that cannot use or rely on public transportation. Hochul is more than smart enough to see that and thus, she put the kibosh on the deal (I'm so glad I voted for her).

"Commuters in LI, Queens, and NJ should be taking public transportation".
That statement is the epitome of ignorant hubris. Who are you to judge peoples transportation needs? You are probably one of the 80% of people who cannot think outside of their own box or bubble. Unaware that others have lifestyles and situations that are different from yours.

Fact is practically no one drives into Manhattan as simple matter of convenience. Traffic and parking already make it a nightmare, so most people only drive there if necessary.
Congestion Fleecing would only make it worse on those folks. I'd bet it wouldn't even reduce congestion by 10%

Great video. But I noticed the new owners said that Happy Days Diner was there for 40 years. A quick check, and it was 22 years.

1940 tax photo of 45-47 Hicks Street. Now the Tutt restaurant, the deli was once upon a time owned by Harry Chapin's family:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a22462db53e0a088fa31512ae599c82e34ecaab2d8b873667c3514794cce23fc.png

Not really, London never established a baseline for an accurate statistical analysis. But the consensus is only about a 10% reduction in traffic. Other cities sow similar results. So 10% is not worth punishing the poorest drivers, as those are the only ones that will not be able to pay the burden of an extra toll. It is unfair and it raises the question as to what is the real motivation, to reduce traffic or impose another backhanded tax? Well, it's obviously the latter…

What makes you think that public transportation is simply that convenient in the regions you mentioned?

John, aka Homer Fink, posted this wonderful list in 2009. I miss John to this day. A great guy.

'We found the list of things that you “associate yourself with” if you’re from Brooklyn Heights from the BH Facebook group quite interesting. Items include “if you know Cobble Hill Cinema will let you in as a child even if you’re 40″, “If you’ve played suicide or handball in Love Lane” and “Nelson the Bum”. Full list after the jump.'

If you live in Brooklyn Heights, you must associate yourself with some of the following things:
1- If you lived here, live here, go to school here, work here,
or just know how awesome it is.
2- If you know where Joralemon street is,
3- If you know where Ho-Bags is,
4- If you know what the 2 step is (right near 142 Joralemon)
5- If you hang out on the promenade,
6- If you know that Court Street Stadium 12 is overpriced,
7- If you know Cobble Hill Cinema will let you in as a child,
even if your 40,
8- If you have no need to drive a car anywhere,
9- If you’ve ever read Motherless Brooklyn, and knew every street he mentioned.
10- If you’ve been to the floating pool,
11- If you either love/hate the old fashioned roads on certain blocks near the promenade.
12- If you go to Saint Anns, or Packer
13- If you know that St Anns and Packer hate each other,
14- If you know the St Anns Ice-cream man,
15- If you know that the Beastie Boys came from here,
(2 of them at least)
16- If you know the Packer store (also known as the underground deli) (ALSO known as Harrys), (ALSO ALSO known as the sunny deli)
17- If you constantly run into people you know,
18- If you’ve ever noticed groups of tourits traveling around in packs with a tour guide.
19- If you know that homeless guy with the beard that offers to clean up the leaves and snow for $10.
20- If you hate the astroturf at Cadman Plaza Park
21- If you can pronounce Montague, Joralemon, or Schermerhorn street
22- If you know that St. Charles burnt down
23- If one or more of your teachers lives near you
24- If you know about the Atlantic Antic
25- If you spend more time on your friends stoops then inside
26- If you’ve played suicide or handball in Love lane.
27- If you constantly take the A,C, R,M, 2,3,4,5, or F train
28- If you’ve ever noticed that the 50 (or 100?) year anniversary banner on St. Charles is nearly a decade old.
And they just took it down.
29- If you feel like you belong to this group
30- If you know where Squibb Hill is and hung out there on the grass with your friends all night long, watching traffic on the BQE for hours while drinking beer and arguing semantics.
31- If your grad party ended up under the Brooklyn Bridge.
32- If you know the secret spot under the Manhattan Bridge on the broken pier (where Charley made his film)
33- If you ever written in the sand under the Manhattan Bridge. That gross, gross sand.
34-Sydney Place hands down had the craziest residents in the neighborhood.
35-Garden Place was the best on Halloween. (Fried doughnuts, yummm)
36-Nelson the Bum
37-The old Hotel Bossert Bar.
38-The Dirty Deli
39-Queen Pizzaria when it was next to the XXX movie theater on Court Street.
40-The filming of Prizzi’s Honor
50-St. Ann’s theater on fire.
60-The Promenade Restaurant.
61-If you think fascatis is the best slice on earth.
62-Cammarerri Brothers Bakery as a character in Moonstruck.
63-Moonstruck a cinematic tour de force because it was filmed all over the Heights.
64-If you called Squibb Hill Suicide Hill too.
65-If you shoplifted from Silvers (or Joe Mels as some may call it)
66-If you ever hung out under the over.
had to add that one.
67-The most amazing ice cream place ever was Peters. Until it closed.
68-If you ever happened to walk all the way down Joralemon to that apartment complex thing, and done some stuff you probably shouldn’t have.
69-If you’ve ever walked over buildings via rooftops.

Article, "Sidewalk Cafes Are the Latest Target of New York’s Outdoor Dining Crackdown," in today's Times, starts with those on Montague Street. Article, behind Paywall, is here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/30/nyregion/ny-outdoor-dining-rules.html

I commented there:

Decades ago, the restaurant at the corner of Henry and Clark Streets here in Brooklyn Heights erected a permanent roofed/windowed extension on the Henry Street side. During the pandemic, they built a wooden pergola (no permits). Also, more outdoor seating outside this, on both sides, so that on Henry Street between the seats—which have heavy planters next to them—and the curb is a few feet of clearance.

I reported this to 311, which took no action.

There are numerous other eateries in this area with outside seating which narrows the sidewalk available to pedestrians.

As is Fascati's

My primo epicurean delight is standing outside the pizza counter at Fascati's and waiting for a newly cooked pie to exit the oven. Key is getting a slice immediately upon exiting the oven. Not one minute, not five minutes but immediately being prepared to consume the best freshly cook slice from heaven.

118,000 outer-borough residents rely on cars to commute to the Manhattan business district. Of those, 5,000 are “working poor”. The largest share of workers who commute to lower Manhattan are NYPD, which makes sense because they have placards to park wherever they want.