Open Thread Wednesday

We need more people like him! Thanks for sharing – that is a nice piece.

This is really just another foreseeable failure of public housing. The Farragut Houses are a nexus of poverty and by definition always will be. If every kid in the complex goes on to become a doctor or lawyer, they’ll just move out and be replaced by a new generation of poverty. Segregating them is part and parcel of the design of the system. Until they are torn down and replaced with a new system, they will always be stuck with bad schools.

Truth.

Thank you, Karl. CEC member Robert Underwood has some interesting thoughts on the subject of the rezoning and larger issues at play: http://tumblr.robunderwood.com/post/129720902780/thoughts-on-the-ps-8-and-ps-307-d13rezoning

Re: p.s. 8/307 …this entire mess is exactly why a huge slice of what is left of the middle to lower upper income sector has moved their children over the last 40 years into private education. Besides the social radicals, career builders and simply incompetents running the school systems there’s the parents who have never really forced fundamental change. Every time we get close to real reform some child of the 1930’s/40’s radicalism/John Dewey ism starts to charge some form of bias and when that doesn’t work they always have the R charge to throw.

This goes on in every school district in every major city in the nation and often down to small hamlets!

Bettom line, the ONLY way you’re going to see good education in safe environments is when people have the courage to face down the en- trenched bureaucracy and people Bells Dodd warned of and secure proper education standards for all children in the city. But that fight is going to be won in a district to district battle with the old corrupt order now in place…..So, do any of you have the courage to force change?
I doubt it….

I just read an intelligent appraisal of bicycle commuters in Paris which reflects observations of an increasingly “wild west” usage of the streets of NYC by cyclists who have joined the already “wild west” usage of the streets by motor vehicles. It’s dangerous out there. One point that I take from the article in Liberation is a call for obligatory training for cyclists. As someone who holds a joint citizenship with Holland where citizens are genetically part-bicycle, it’s clear that a true “share the road” philosophy takes generations. In the meanwhile, I recommend all manner of pinned-on flashing lights, reflective striping and crash helmets for NYC’s hordes of intrepid cyclists who truly put their lives in the balance on those two-wheelers. Of course, even though motorists have licenses, that doesn’t seem to mean much. The vibe on the roads is one of suicide drivers who vie with suicidal cyclists and vice versa. Our situation reminds me of the “live free or die” mantra of the state of New Hampshire.

Here’s the link to the French article (en français): http://www.liberation.fr/economie/2015/09/24/les-cyclistes-urbains-sont-ils-des-dangers-publics_138958

A worker coming out of the building today told me the opening was next week.

Wow, who knew? That’s a great tip – one that will surely reduce the noise from the likes of certain “contributors” here if used effectively. Thanks!

Seems like he did offer positive solutions to the problem he feels exists. As for “name calling” well, what if his descriptions fit the people involved in doing the damage? The schools have declined greatly under the present leadership. So a lot of what he said is true at least in my experience.

you seem passionate about it…AGAIN, why don’t YOU have the courage to start the change?

Anyone notice a crazy old white man around Court and Livingston? He’s been yelling at people including moms pushing strollers. Is he a known character? Dangerous?

I have, for reference, attended over the last 40 years, over 100+ public hearings and civic gatherings on key, critical issues in the Heights. I and associates have distributed tens of thousands of white papers and issue focused publications. The Susan posts aside, my interest is dir- ectly the well being of our children. As such, I’m interested in the mechanism of what is going wrong. Not just the symptomology. And what we can do to formulate a real cure.

The 101 Clark st building has an extensive security camera system, put in after a really terrible homicide a few years ago. The management is not the most easy to deal with in my experience but I’m sure this guy is in their system AND if he went down Henry or Cadman north towards say, Cranberry, OTHER cameras in the complex captured his image.

But first report the crime at the 84 Precinct and get a report number, what’s called a “61” number. I would then talk to detectives. Then contact the 101 management àsk for the video records, make it clear this is a reported crime. See what their response is. Then I would call the 84 pct community affairs (718) 875 6850 ask for their help.

I would also call the BH Press 718 422 7424 and CNG press 718 260 4505 and report all this.

If you DO get a good image make up 1000 flyers with his picture and flood the area with flyers. Seriously consider a reward. Trust me, someone knows this guy.

Dear Susan,
Your defense of your client is heartfelt and not completely off base. He is active and not just a complainer. However, he and several others tend to belittle and look down upon those with whom they disagree. A great advance on this blog would be the use of real names – obviously I’m Tony – last name to come if others follow suit. As for the rest, I’m in complete agreement with ColumbiaHeightster below.

The restaurant on Henry Street that used to house Siggy’s took the paper off their windows, and it’s a Ramen Noodle place. Because the two other Japanese restaurants on Clark Street don’t serve the Japanese food market sufficiently?