Friday, June 20, 2008

L'Essence de NYC

Today's New York Times has several stories that sum up why it's both wonderful and exasperating to live in this town.

The city's Rent Guidelines Board voted to hike rents on rent stabilized apartments last night: Board Backs Rise in Rent Up to 8.5%. The board has 9 members and the vote broke down 5-4.

I heard Mayor Bloomberg on his WOR show this morning claim that this decision was some kind of "compromise." This is an utter lie. The board is appointed by the Mayor and they all vote the way he wants. This vote was engineered to look like they cushioned a much nastier blow but they really didn't, the decision was predetermined.

Oh, and it looks like the Bush economy is coming home to roost in New York: Layoffs Show on New York Unemployment Rolls.

And can you believe that some members of the MTA board are actually kvetching that the public is mad that they get free EZPasses? Backing Off Free Passes at M.T.A. Paterson and Cuomo are trying to end this outrageous practice and they're getting bushback from people who can easily afford their own damn EZPasses! Dizgrazia!

So the middle class gets screwed while the rich get helped. What else is new, right?

Well in NYC, that's never the whole story. For example, in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, one of the poorest parts of the city, a beautiful new library opened that will certainly brighten up the neighborhood: After a $2 Million Rehab, a Brooklyn Library Reopens.

And here's a lovely story about a beautiful tree being spared the chainsaw in Cobble Hill: A Sapling Grows Into a Giant; The Streets Around It Change, Too. A tree grows -- and continues to grow -- in Brooklyn.

And talking about Brooklyn, tonight in the gorgeous Prospect Park you can go to a live performance of the Metropolitan Opera tonight for free: Arias in the Park, Met Stars Included.

So while life is New York is tough (and gets tougher) it's always good to remember that there's always things in this city to appreciate and enjoy no matter what. That's the spirit of this town, l'essence de NYC.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please keep it civil, intelligent, and expletive-free. Otherwise, opine away.