Yearly Archives: 2010

Civics and Urban Life

Even Snow Plows Get the Blues…

Paul LaRosa at Here is New York reports:

Well, the snow plows have finally surfaced from their 48-hour slumber here in Park Slope. I actually spotted one this morning on the corner of 11th Street and Prospect Park West. It was big, orange and impressive looking what with its giant plow and chained tires. Only one problem — it was stuck in the snow!

The driver looked exasperated as the trucks’ back wheels hit and stuck in a snow bank. He was getting all kinds of helpful advice from a nearby senior citizen. I’m going to try to make it to work now so I can’t stand by to see what happens but I guess I’ll know by tonight if it ever made it down my street…

go to his blog to see pictures of a snow plow.

Civics and Urban Life

Patience Says the Mayor

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Some random quotes from today’s news conference:

“Biggest problem right now is stuck ambulances and buses. That’s the real reason for the slowness to plow streets.”

“Biggest effort to clear snow that I’ve ever seen.”

“Another 24 hours (and maybe more) before we get to everyone.”

“If your street was plowed the response was adequate. If your street wasn’t plowed it was inadequate.”

“Don’t think we should sit around and say the end of the world is here.”

“Don’t use 911 for non-emergencies.”

The mayor also called for blood donations b/c the blood supply is getting low:  nybloodcenter.org

Civics and Urban Life

Why Was This Blizzard Different From Other Blizzards?

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The Blizzard of 2010 shut down three airports and the airports are still having problems.

It hobbled the NYC subway system and commuter railroads.

Many streets have not yet been plowed. Thousands of emergency vehicles, trucks, and cars were abandoned on streets and roadways.

What was it about this blizzard? Was it the quality of the snow, the wind, the timing of the blizzard?

In years past I remember blizzard clean ups being much faster. Major streets in  Brooklyn are a mess and many locals have never seen it this bad two days after a snowfall.

In a press conference, the mayor is saying that digging out ambulances, firetrucks and cars is the first priority Until that is done, plowing cannot proceed.

It’s scary to think about health emergencies in a situation like this.

Blame the city? Blame the storm?

Civics and Urban Life

Has Your Street Been Plowed?

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It’s Tuesday morning and much of Park Slope has not been plowed yet. There’s obviously a fundamental problem and loads of frustration about the lack of snow removal.

At 11:15AM the mayor scheduled a press conference…It’s 11:31 am and he has yet to speak. Register your complaints at 311 (even though someone called and was told that they aren’t taking any more snow removal calls).

What is going on? Does this have to do with budget cuts? Mismanagement? What’s the issue? Is it the nature of this storm in particular? All the trucks, cars, and buses abandoned in the streets? What’s up?

Civics and Urban Life

Councilmember Levin Outraged Over City’s Poor Response to Storm

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In an email sent this afternoon from Councilmember Steve Levin’s office, Levin expressed his  disappointment and outrage over the city’s poor response to Sunday’s snowstorm.

“I am outraged at the lack of response in the neighborhoods which I represent-Brooklyn Heights , Park Slope, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg. It is unacceptable that, a full day after the storm, major avenues throughout my district have yet to see a snow plow.  I commend all the DSNY, FDNY, and NYPD workers giving their all out in the snow today, and we are all grateful for their work, but they have not been given enough resources.  Clearly, City Hall and the leadership at the Sanitation Department were entirely unprepared for a storm of this magnitude, and we are all paying the price for that now,” said Councilmember Levin.

“Nobody expects that every side street will be plowed within a day-we are all realistic.  However, from Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint to 4th Avenue in Park Slope, major arteries are impassable.  This is not only an inconvenience for residents, but it is downright dangerous if emergency vehicles cannot even get down a major avenue.  Simply put, this isn’t the worst storm we’ve ever had, but it seems to be the worst response to any major storm in recent memory,” Councilmember Levin continued.

Councilmember Levin represents Park Slope, Gowanus, Brooklyn Heights , Boerum Hill, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, Williamsburg , and Greenpoint, all of which have yet to have their major streets plowed.

Civics and Urban Life

Park Slope Snow Day: What’s Open?

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There are very few cars on Seventh Avenue and, of course, no buses. Locals are walking in the middle of the street to get to open stores for supplies. Met Food, Key Food and the Apple Market on Garfield are open. Pino’s is open as is Good Footing (boots anyone?).

Dog walkers are out as are kids with sleds on their way to the parks. The side streets are harder to maneuver though individual homeowners are beginning to shovel their sidewalks.

If you know of businesses that are open please let me know.

arts and culture

OTBKB Music: Music for Last Minute New Years Eve Planners

If you are still looking for something musical to do on New Years Eve, here are some shows with no cover or not all that expensive tickets (and one not so cheap show).  Those shows which are not charging covers and which are only selling tickets at the door are where you should head if you are making up your mind Friday night.  Click here to see the listings at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

arts and culture

“Today We Woke Up To A Revolution of Snow”

Here’s an excerpt from the poem Snow Day by Billy Collins:

Today we woke up to a revolution of snow,
its white flag waving over everything,
the landscape vanished,
not a single mouse to punctuate the blankness,
and beyond these windows

the government buildings smothered,
schools and libraries buried, the post office lost
under the noiseless drift,
the paths of trains softly blocked,
the world fallen under this falling.

In a while I will put on some boots
and step out like someone walking in water,
and the dog will porpoise through the drifts,
and I will shake a laden branch,
sending a cold shower down on us both…

You can read the rest here

Civics and Urban Life

Big Problems for Travelers

While we in Park Slope (who have nowhere to be) are enjoying a quiet snow day, those who are traveling to and from New York City are having big troubles. I for one am wondering what my friends, who are vacationing in Florida, are doing. Looks like they’re going to get a few extra vacation days…

The AP reports:

“Buses were stranded on snowed-in highways and passengers in New York City spent a cold night stuck in an unheated subway train.

“Officials urged anyone who did not have to drive to stay off roads in the region, where high winds pushed snow into deep drifts across streets, railroads and runways. More than two feet of snow had fallen in some areas by Monday morning.

“In Monmouth County, N.J., state troopers brought water and food to diabetics marooned on two passenger buses carrying about 50 people on the Garden State Parkway, where stranded cars cluttering ramps stymied snow plows and ambulances, state police spokesman Steve Jones told NBC’s “Today” show. One bus was freed by 7 a.m. and the other was expected to be out soon, he said.

“Most of the people are pretty calm, but they are getting antsy,” said New Jersey State Police Trooper Chris Menello, who along with his fellow troopers raided their personal stash of food to bring to the passengers.

“In New York City, hundreds of cold, hungry and tired passengers were stranded overnight at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports. Officials said they were being provided blankets and cots, but some would-be travelers were not allowed to retrieve their checked luggage, leaving them with no extra clothing or toiletries.”

Civics and Urban Life

Park Slope Snowed In

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The day after Christmas it was white. And now the city (and Park Slope) is snowed in! The airports are a mess and many subway lines are in disarray (check the NY Times Blizzard Transportation Guide for info). It  doesn’t look like there’s been any plowing as yet. In Park Slope anyway.

People are staying in. It’s cold and windy outside and the TV and radio stations are urging people to stay close to home. I was just outside and it was actually quite lovely on snow-packed Third Street. Yes, it’s cold but the snow is beautiful and if you’re dressed properly…

One neighbor ventured to take out the garbage. A boy in the building next door walked his dog (the dog seemed to be quite excited by snow).

Quiet day in the Slope. Snow covered, white. A good excuse to stay under the covers and relax.

arts and culture

The Last Line: joyce

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“A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.”

From The Dead by James Joyce


arts and culture

OTBKB Music: The Best Albums of 2010 – Part 2

Here are the second five albums in my Best of 2010 list.  It’s an interesting coincidence that I saw each of these bands live before I ever heard their records.

Madison Square Gardeners – Taste the Thunder: Perhaps one of the most fun bands to see live out there these days, The Madison Square Gardeners deliver an EP which shows what they do so well, and that is flat out rock.  From the ruefully cynical I Was Born With Nothing (And I’ve Still Got Half of It Left) to the joyously upbeat Young and In Love, The Gardeners give you more of what you listen to a rock band for.

Phosphorescent – Here’s to Taking It Easy: Phosphorescent was not on my radar screen until I saw them do a live show inside a record store, where they knocked me out.  This record is mostly mid-tempo rock with some inspired lead guitar, akin to early 70s Neil Young.  The songs have enough room and time here, including Mermaid Parade and the eight minute stand out, Los Angeles.

Eli “Paperboy” Reed – Come and Get It: This neo-soul album from Brooklyn-based (via the Boston-area) Eli “Paperboy” Reed is the real deal.  One of the best live acts I’ve ever seen, Eli leads his large (including horns) band through 12 songs including the title track and Name Calling.  Make no mistake, this is not a recreation of anything, it is a continuation of the lineage of 60s soul.

Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds: Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds is a nine-piece (including horns) rock/soul/funk band fronted by small framed and big voiced Arleigh Kincheloe who also writes their material.  They have been packing them into the Lower East Side’s Rockwood Music Hall for the the past two years and it’s nice to finally have a record which documents well what they do.  If you’ve already seen Sister Sparrow, you’ll want to get this record.  If not, once you listen to this record, you’ll want to see them live.  This CD is a party in a jewel box, with Freight Train the standout cut.

Watson Twins – Talking to You, Talking to Me: With keyboards once again added to their songs, The Watson Twins (sisters Chandra and Leigh Watson) shine on this record.  With influences ranging from from folk-rock, soul and Pink Floyd, one finds all sorts of interesting musical thoughts popping up in The Watson Twins’ music.  Here, from the short and punchy U N Me, to the extended Midnight, and on to the bass driven The Devil in You, the sisterly harmonies and strong song writing make this collection stand out.

–Eliot Wagner