Off to a late start today. Doing all those “mom things” I love to do…hence, no OTBKB til now. Sorry.
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No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Rabbi Andy Bachman: We Can Do Better at John Jay
Rabbi Andy Bachman and other members of Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, were at the public hearing last night on the proposed opening of Millennium School at John Jay High School. Unfortunately he had to leave before the public comments period. Here is an excerpt from what he was going to say last night, which is on his blog today.
Speaking as one observer of events, it appears to me that the students, faculty and families of those schools currently housed at John Jay High School have not been accorded the equality of treatment and fairness in funding that ought to be the right of every student in our public school system. As unfathomable as it may seem, in our own neighborhood in Park Slope, we are likely witnessing, in our time, the historically anachronistic occurrence of a “separate and unequal” educational system which has deprived the John Jay campus of the funding and support it rightfully deserves. If this is shown to be true, this is a grave injustice that we must not tolerate in our midst.
Continue reading Rabbi Andy Bachman: We Can Do Better at John Jay
OTBKB Music: Laura Cantrell Tonight; Martha Wainwright Photos
Since the roads have been plowed and the subway and buses are running, Laura Cantrell (with guitar wiz Mark Spencer) will be playing at the 11th Street Bar in the East Village tonight.
Laura was born and raised in Nashville, but came to New York City for college and never left. She’s not only a singer and songwriter but a musicologist as well, serving as the proprietress as The Radio Thrift Shop on WFMU. Rolling Stone has called Laura “A modern woman with an old-timey heart, with a voice pitched somewhere between the bluesy realism of Lucinda Williams and the vintage femininity of Kitty Wells.” The details of this show can be found at Now I’ve Heard Everything by clicking here.
If you were not among the capacity crowd who saw Martha Wainwright at The Rockwood Music Hall this past Monday, there are some pictures from that show awaiting you here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
–Eliot Wagner
A Moment of Reckoning for Park Slope & John Jay
Last night at the public hearing about the DOE’s proposal to locate Millennium 2 in the John Jay Complex on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope, students, administrators, and teachers presented strong and passionate arguments about the Department of Education’s mishandling of the situation. In my opinion it is clear that the DOE must listen closely to charges of racism, segregation and inequality (financial and otherwise) regarding the three schools that are already inside that building.
The overheated meeting last night, which took place in the overheated auditorium, exposed many serious issues that must be addressed by the DOE—and the Park Slope community. I think there is a radical disconnect between the community and the schools in the JJ complex, which serve, primarily, minority students. Few families from affluent and white Park Slope have opted to enroll in any of those school let alone tour through them to see what they’re about.
As expressed last night, the students at those schools feel like barely tolerated guests in the community, at best, and criminals at worst. Many students in their remarks pointed to the metal detectors and police presence at the school and outside of it.
According to many who spoke last night, the lack of diversity, the lack of funding, and the sense of separation from the community have created a segregated institution within a community that views itself as enlightened and progressive. The students who spoke truly understand this disconnect and they expressed how it’s left them feeling “other” and marginalized. Clearly, Park Slope locals have serious misunderstandings about what really goes on in the school building and they rarely venture inside to find out.
And then comes the proposal to locate Millennium as the 4th school inside those walls. With the schools’ history of DOE neglect no wonder it caused such a negative reaction (and explains the loud and sometimes disruptive environment last night). According to accounts, Millennium 2 was originally presented to the staff and students as a proposal by the DOE but soon it was clear that it was a fait accompli.
What was even more galling to the staff and students and many in the crowd last night was the huge amount of money that will be poured into this new school effort, funding that has been repeatedly denied the schools in that building.
Millennium 2 is part of the DOE’s coveted New Schools Initiative (it will be the 8th in that program) and money is no object for that program, which also brings in corporate funding for those “special” schools.
It seems that the sky’s the limit for Millennium 2 while the DOE claims poverty when it comes to improving the quality of life in the John Jay complex (improving ancient bathrooms, plumbing, bell systems, classrooms, windows, walls, etc.).
Even if the opening of Millennium 2 is ultimately a win-by-association for the other schools it is painfully obvious to the teachers and students that improvements to the building and the school would NEVER have happened unless a “Park Slope approved school” was going in there.
Over and over teachers and administrators made the following point: the schools in the JJ complex were set up to fail while Millennium 2 is being set up for success. And what’s the success formula: funding for the physical plant, funding for teachers, electives, guidance, after school activities and everything else that makes a good school good.
I agree with many who spoke that the JJ building is an embarrassment and the fact that it exists within this supposedly enlightened neighborhood is even more of an embarrassment. Many in this neighborhood would never allow their children to attend a school with non-working bathrooms, no electrical outlets and general derelict condition. Why is that good enough for the children in our district who go there???
Last night was truly a moment of reckoning that was a long time coming. Issues that have been kept under cover for a long time came flowing out. Racism. Segregation. Class issues. Money for some, financial neglect for others. Better schools for the rich, inferior schools for the poor. Misunderstanding between community and school populations.
Albeit, the talk was mostly from the side of the schools in the John Jay Complex, who don’t want Millennium to be located in the building. Their counter-proposal is to invest in the schools that are already in there.
Representatives from the Secondary School of Research presented a list of demands they want addressed immediately, including the removal of the metal detectors which create a humiliating experience for the students and staff. A name change: Park Slope Collegiate instead of the John Jay Complex. And, of course, a long list of improvements to the building plus the restoration of the new school funding that those schools NEVER got.
A representative from Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office said that Markowitz will advocate for that list of demands (minus not putting Millennium 2 in the building).
Later Brad Lander spoke honestly to the crowd about their charges of racism and inequality. He has his own list of what needs to be done there including the elimination of the metal detectors, a new name for the complex, and renovation of the physical plant. He also proposed a community/school council for understanding and connection between school and Park Slope.
Representative Jim Brennan also spoke to the crowd with these strong words: “This proposal is an egregious insult to the existing schools. Don’t blame the demonstrators.. Take Millennium and take it off the table right now…Strengthen and build what’s here before you. Before you do anything new, you must help those who are here.”
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
The Last Line: pynchon
“Now everybody.”
From Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon,
Tonight at 6PM: Public Hearing on Millenium 2 at John Jay
The Department of Education will hold public meetings tonight and tomorrow at 6 p.m, at the John Jay Campus, 237 7th Avenue, between 4th and 5th Streets, on the DOE’s proposal to locate a new selective high school in the building, which is already home to the Secondary Schools for Law, Journalism and Research
Tonight’s hearing ostensibly focuses on the DOE proposal for the new school, while tomorrow’s topic will be the proposed elimination of the middle-school grades within the Schools for Journalism and Law, though there will likely be plenty of overlap.
To learn more about the proposed changes, you can find links to the “Educational Impact Statements,” or EISes, here: http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/leadership/PEP/publicnotice/2010-2011/Jan2011Proposals. If you’re unable to attend the hearings, you can submit testimony via email at HS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov, or by voice mail at (212) 374-0208.
City Hall Hearings and Snow is on the Way
With another snowstorm on the way, New York City officials are hopefully being smart about preparations for this one which comes on the slushy heels of the last botched snow recovery when days after Christmas snow crippled the outer boroughs and parts of Manhattan.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning from Tuesday evening through Wednesday at 6PM. The heaviest snow is supposed to begin after midnight tonight.
The National Weather Service is saying that New York City and Northeast New Jersey could get 8 to 14 inches of snow.
Yesterday’s hearings at the City Council revealed what too many citizens already ascertained: things were seriously mismanaged if they were managed at all during the Blizzard of 2010.
The mayor was missing in action.
His deputy wasn’t in town and he made a bunch of mistakes.
Our own city councilman, Brad Lander, was on vacation and there was definitely the feeling in Park Slope that we could call 311 and be told that there were just too many calls or we could, well, just sit in the snow and suffer. Councilman Steve Levin was around and he issued complaints about the city’s slow response early and loud.
Politicians have every right to go on vacation but they must leave their offices in good hands in the event of an emergency. That’s just plain common sense.
The sanitation department was not plowing in the outer boroughs and the outer boroughs really felt like outer I don’t know where. Streets in Manhattan looked pretty darn tidy compared to what was going on out here in Park Slope.
It’s not that we didn’t enjoy a couple of quiet snow days. But many of us feared what would happen if there was a health or fire emergency or some other kind of personal or civic disaster.
This is a big wake up call for emergency relief efforts in New York City and hopefully things will get worked out before another disaster comes our way.
Hog Mountain To Close
This one hurts as I’ve so enjoyed my conversations with Jess Draper, the owner of Hog Mountain, the menswear shop on Fifth Avenue. Open just one year, this was the first foray into retail for Draper, an actor who was born in Alabama. He wanted to create a southern style general store for men with rugged classic clothing, accessories, tools, shoe polish, shaving accessories, cologne and more. He even had an old fashioned refrigerator filled with beer (for those who were curious enough to open it).
Draper wears the same pair of leather work boots he’s worn since he was 14 and strongly believes that shoes and clothing should be built to last.
Speaking to him during the holiday season I know he was frustrated that shoppers were turning to the web for the merchandise he was carrying. They’d come into the shop to try things on and then jot down size and number and buy it online.
The plan is to close on January 19th and he’s having a huge closeout sale in the meantime. Sadly, it’s that time of year again (during an economic downturn), when stores start to close. Hope we don’t lose too many this year.
Sad to see you go, Hog Mountain. Good luck to you, man.
Saturday: Roy Nathanson Plays Sotto Voce at Zora Space
I haven’t written about Zora Art Space, the new performance space on 4th Avenue in in quite some time.
But now I have a great reason. Sax player Roy Nathanson’s band will play Sotto Voce in New York for the first time in a while at Zora Art Space (315 4th ave bet. 2nd and 3rd Streets in Park Slope. Brooklyn at 8PM and 10PM.
The music: it’s free jazz, it’s spoken word, it’s emotional, it’s bluesy, it’s a powerful, it’s poetry…
Check out the line up:
Roy Nathanson – words, vocals and sax
Curtis Fowlkes – trombone, vocals
Tim Kiah – bass. vocals
Sam Bardfeld – violin, vocals
Here’s what the New York Times’ had to say about the CD: “Sotto Voce, the new recording by the saxophonist Roy Nathanson, makes full use of his unusual skills as a conceptualist and raconteur. All of the members of his band double on vocals, occasionally suggesting a literate and subversive barbershop quartet.”
And here’s what the Times’ had to say about Signal to Noise, another recording by Nathanson: “His best pop/jazz/monologue album to date. Sotto Voce showcases the best of Nathanson’s considerable talent – as an arranger, a lyricist, a narrator, and, in no small part, a great saxophonist.”
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
The Last Line: Donoghue
“I look back one more time. It’s like a crater, a hole where something happened. Then we go out the door.”
From Room by Emma Donoghue
Rabbi Bachman: Let’s Save Ourselves from Ourselves
Read Rabbi Andy Bachman’s thoughtful ruminations on issues related to and including the assassination attempt on Representative Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday. Here’s an excerpt:
When news came in today (as I was finishing Shabbat lunch with my daughters) that US Representative Gabrielle Giffords had been shot at constituent event, practicing democracy; when it was revealed that Federal Judge John Roll was murdered; and that several others were either dead or in critical condition, it becoming abundantly clear for our generation that we were now officially living in our own harrowing time of dissension, division, danger and violence. The Civil War; Vietnam; and now our time, threatening to divide the country, destabilize its government, place in the cross-hairs of a semi-automatic weapon (wait to will uncover the trail leading the sale and trade of that weapon) a sitting member of Congress whose office has already been vandalized for her pro-health care reform vote, who was the object of violent threats digitally preserved in some lunatic’s Twitter account, and the Judge who fell beside her, singled out with death threats himself for his support of immigrants rights–we knew it would come to this. As much as it pains us to admit it, we knew it would happen.
We Americans live remarkably unrestrained lives. We live in the immediacy of our own narrative bubbles. The unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the God of Individuality we worship to such an alarmingly perverse degree that we have lost the ability to collectively recognize the danger and the evil of the unleashed anger among us.
Prayers for Gabrielle Giffords
I love this quote from Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot by an assassin on Saturday in Tucson. It was in a New York Times article about Congregation Chaverim, a small reform Jewish congregation she belongs to in Tuscon.
“If you want something done, your best bet is to ask a Jewish woman to do it,” she said in a 2006 interview. Jewish women, she continued, “have an ability to cut through all the reasons why something should, shouldn’t or can’t be done, and pull people together to be successful.”
Jan 15 & 16: Every Beatles Song on Ukulele
They’re doing it again just like last year: the every Beatles song played on Ukulele thingy. What is obviously becoming an annual event will be at the Brooklyn Bowl on January 15 and 16 when producer/musician Roger Greenawalt and a group of ukulele players will perform the Fab Four’s entire oeuvre on the ukulele.
The complete Beatles (which is, apparently, 185 songs).
On January 15 at 6PM the show starts with Nellie McKay (who I love) Leah Siegel, Lovely Liar and The Ramblers joining Greenawalt on stage for 90 songs. A different assortment of musicians will be on hand on the 16th.
Brooklyn Bowl is located at 61 Wythe Ave. between N. 11th and N. 12th streets in Williamsburg, (718) 963-3369], Jan. 15, 6 pm-midnight, and Jan. 16, 2-8 pm, $10. For all the essential details: beatlescompleteonukulele.com.
OTBKB Music: Martha Wainwright Live; The Damnwells on Video
Last I had heard, Martha Wainwright had moved to London. I’m not sure where she’s living these days, but tonight and the next three Mondays, she’ll be holding forth at very tiny Rockwood Music Hall at 9pm. You’ll find further details at Now I’ve Heard Everything by clicking here.
The Damnwells are a band which at one point was from Brooklyn. They aren’t based here anymore, but they have a new album, No One Listens to the Band Anymore, coming out in mid-March which was funded by their fans over the Internet. Werewolves, is the first official video from that album. You can see it by clicking here.
–Eliot Wagner
Brad Lander’s Blizzard Cleanup Report
Today’s the day!
The New York City Council will hold hearings to examine why the City’ s cleanup efforts were so very bad during the Blizzard of 2010 (and other storms) and figure out what needs to change to prevent these problems going forward.
Yesterday Brad Lander sent his constituents a District blizzard cleanup report, to analyze the response in the neighborhoods of the 39th District and to summarize major issues that arose so they can be further investigated and addressed in the Council hearings and beyond.
Click on this link to read the Blizzard Report. Click on read more to see an summary of what’s included in the report.
Jan 12: Astrophysicist at Secret Science Club
The Secret Science Club, where scientists are rock stars, zooms into the Bell House on Wednesday, January 12 at 7:30PM (when doors open). As the blurb says: “Strap on your rocket pack! The Secret Science Club is heading for the edge of time and space with astrophysicist Charles Li
This month, Dr. Charles Liu, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, will explain the intricacies of what happens when galaxies collide. Be there or be ignorant of such things…
Current Weather in Park Slope
Brought to you by the Feldman Family from their local weather tower.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB’s Weekend List: It’s Saturday
It’s Saturday and the Slope is a-hopping with activity. Lots of peeps on the street shopping and walking around. People are mulching trees, eating brunch, walking dogs, socializing.
First Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum is TONIGHT and there are movies to see (my sis saw True Grit yesterday and URGES me to see it. Pronto. Others swear by The Fighter. Still others (the Henry’s of the world) are WILD ABOUT Black Swan.
Click on read more for the essential details…
Today & Tmrw: Mulch Day All Over NYC
Today and tomorrow (January 8th and 9th) bring that Christmas tree of yours to a designated city park to be recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings across the city! A proper ending for a nice Christmas tree!
Join the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the New York City Department of Sanitation, and GreeNYC to recycle your Christmas trees into wood chips (info about sites at website). These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide. Or, take home your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree.
Parks will host 35 chipping sites and 35 additional drop-off locations: 70 sites in all! You must remove all lights and ornaments before bringing the tree to a MulchFest site. Biodegradable bags will be provided if you wish to take some free mulch home
Sunday: Harpist at PS 321 Neighborhood Classics Series
On Sunday, January 9th at 2PM, the Neighborhood Classics Series at PS 321 presents Bridget Kibbey, the award-winning harpist, who will perform an international program that includes Benjamin Briten’s “Suite for Harp,” Andre Caplet’s “A L’espanol,” Kati Agocs’s “Every Lover is a Warrior,” and an arrangement of Celtic reels.
Neighborhood Classics at PS 321 [180 Seventh Ave. between First and Second streets in Park Slope, (718) 499-2412], Jan. 9 at 2 pm. Tickets $15.
Neighborhood Classics is the series produced/curated by Simone Dinnerstein, who has brought interesting classical programming to Park Slope since 2009.
It’s a win-win for music lovers and parents, teachers and students at PS 321, who benefit from the proceeds of the concert series.
As Dinnerstein told the NY Post: “I wanted to start a concert series that would bring families together to listen to classical music, and doing this in my own neighborhood seemed like a good place to begin…We can all look just outside our front doors for opportunities like this.”
How does she do it? January 8th 16th is the release date of Dinnerstein’s new all-Bach CD: “Bach: A Strange Beauty.” It is her first album on Sony.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
The Last Line: Oates
“He took his sisters hand and kissed it and said good-by, making an ironic, affectionate bow over her with his head; it was the Jules she had always loved, and now she loved him for going away, saying good-by, leaving her forever.”
From Them by Joyce Carol Oates
Methodist Responds to Adderall Story
This morning I got this letter from Lyn Hill, Vice President for Communication and External Affairs at Methodist Hospital, about my story, Hyperactive Drug Ring at Methodist Hospital:
We don’t normally respond to articles printed in the New York Post but because several blogs have—without calling the public relations office at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) to verify their facts— reprinted or even embellished a recent story about the arrest of a young woman on drug charges, I am taking this opportunity to set the record straight.
New York Methodist Hospital did not serve as the “headquarters” of a prescription drug ring. None of the prescription drugs referred to in the story came from NYM’s pharmacy and the Post story states that the drugs were sold over the Internet.
The Hospital worked with the DEA prior to the arrest of the resident physician who wrote prescriptions for the drugs (which took place months ago), and he is no longer employed by the Hospital.
The young woman who was recently arrested had no connection with New York Methodist Hospital.
Lyn S. Hill
Vice President for Communication and External Affairs
New York Methodist Hospital
OTBKB Music: Phil Ochs Film, Dave Grohl and Norah Jones Video
There’s a new documentary about 60s singer-songwriter Phil Ochs. Titled There But for Fortune it has a limited run at through Tuesday, January 11th at The IFC Center at in Greenwich Village. Although Phil was a huge part of the music and politics of the 60s, he died in 1976 and his music has largely been forgotten. This movie tries to right that large historical oversight. If you are old enough to know Phil and his music, or if he was just before your time, you really should get to see this film.
If you can’t or won’t go out of the house, then take a look at this video in which Dave Grohl and Cobble Hill’s Norah Jones duet on Paul McCartney‘s Maybe I’m Amazed from the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors show last month. You’ll also see quick shots of both Sir Paul and President Obama in this clip. It is all waiting for you here over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
And don’t forget tonight’s Dar Williams show over at The Bell House. Louise has the details here.
–Eliot Wagner
OTBKB’s Weekend List: Friday – Sunday
Don’t despair, the weekend is here and here’s the list. Movies, theater, music, mulch, fun and frolic at the Brooklyn Museum. Oh and on Sunday Simone Dinnerstein presents her Neighborhood Classics series at PS 321 with Bridgit Kibbey on harp at 2PM. Click on read more for all the essential details…
Bklyn Bloggage: art & ideas
“Interpolating” group show at Muriel Guepin: Art in Brooklyn
Bushwick culture picks: Bushwick BK
On Foreskin Hill: Water Over Rocks
Ephinany: Old First Blog
Phil Ochs, There But for Fortune: Self-Absorbed Boomer
The children who forgot how to play: Crazy Stable
Play’s the thing: Investigating Choice Time
Ice in the hoof prints: Brooklynometry