End of a Radio Era

Never thought this would happen. The wildly popular "Mike and the Mad Dog" afternoon sports radio show on WFAN is no more. They fired "Mad Dog" Chris Russo yesterday since he wouldn't commit to a long contract. Now it will only be Mike Francesca doing the show. This split had been rumored for a while and now it's official.

These guys have been doing that show since 1989. In NYC, it is the sports radio talk show, hugely influential, incredibly respected. It is (or was) a sports institution in this town, right after George Steinbrenner and the Harlem Globetrotters, and it's sad that it's no more.

Good luck to Chris Russo. NYC radio will never be quite the same.

Gotta Love New Yorkers

This is a nice little story from today's Daily News:

Good Samaritan who found $100 bill comes forward, thanked by owner

According to this article, if you lose your wallet in NYC, there's an 82% chance you'll get it back. Can you believe that? I really do think New Yorkers have some of the biggest hearts.

War Over Willets Point Part II

My previous entry about Willets Point has generated a little controversy but I choose to look at it as triggering a discussion. You can never stop learning things. Please check the Comments sections.

War Over Willets Point

Every year or two an epic battle between developers and citizens erupts in New York City. There was the battle over the West Side Stadium in 2005 (which was killed) and then there was fight over the Atlantic Yards development project in Brooklyn (which wasn't killed) in 2006-2007. Now, in 2008, Willets Point in Queens is the new front is this perennial struggle.

Here's the deal: Mayor Bloomberg's administration and his developer friends want to rezone the area and use eminent domain laws to evict over 200 small businesses and tear up the whole neighborhood. Why? They want (allegedly) to build a hotel, a convention center, and lots of retail space. This gang considers Willet's Point "doomed" and they want to gussy it up and pimp it out. They believe tourists and convetioneers and fancy stores are gonna schlep all the way out to Corona, Queens (right near where Shea Stadium was and is) for this stuff. This is an area btw that is grossly underserved by public transportation (basically there's just the 7 train) and already is choking with traffic. If this plan goes through, not only will all these small businesses be wrecked so that big businesses move in, but already nightmarish traffic will be made worse. That's assuming that the crowds come, which I found doubtful. Can anyone say ... debacle?

This ain't happening without a fight. The City Council has to approve this and right now more than 32 members say they're opposed. The neighborhood is outraged by this plan and rightly so. The focus should be, as always, on building more affordable housing in this city. We need that more than anything else!

Why do some people think hotels and stadiums and convention centers are the answer to improve blighted cities or neighborhoods? Oh I know, "they create jobs" but most jobs in this country are created by small businesses. So I have an idea: make it easier for more small businesses to open in Willets Point (more jobs!) and build more affordable housing (more jobs and housing!). As always, it seems that some people don't want to do the right thing until they exhaust all of the alternatives.

If you want to know more check out today's Times' article about this: A Confrontation Over the Future of Willets Point. Also, there's a great blog called Queens Crap which is easily the best informational resource (better than the Times) about this and all things Queens.

Imagine ... No possibility of sitting down ...

Seatless Subway Cars

I know I'm a little late addressing this topic but I just wanted to chip in my two cents about the MTA proposal for seatless subway cars: I don't think it's a good idea. Admirable and understandable, but not a good a one.

These cars will have flip seats that, during rush hours, will be flipped up and locked. No seats for anyone, everyone will stand. That includes old people, sick people, pregnant women, and little children. Obviously the idea is that these cars will be roomier and able to carry more people thus reducing passenger congestion. And it won't cost the MTA or taxpayers any money.

But will it really? No.

It means that more people than ever will be riding the subways. More space, more passengers, more madness.

In addition, New Yorkers will be p'od that they all have to stand and bump into each other. Ever been on a crowded subways? Not fun. What makes standing on the subway bearable is the hope -- the precious, godforsaken hope -- that just maybe, just maybe!, we'll get lucky and snag a seat. But if the cars are seatless and that hope is dead, then riding on a crowded car will be sheer agony.

And what about those old people, sick people, pregnant women, and little children? They work and go to school during rush hours too. Should they be punished? Mr NYC says no.

So thumbs down on seatless subway cars. Good idea in theory, awful in practice. Of course, if I'm wrong, it won't be the first time.

N.Y.C. Subway Report: That Seat Is Taken — Forever

Gotta Love New Yorkers

So during my aforementioned visit to Central Park today, we walked past a lady walking her bicycle down a path and overheard her say the following: "... so I told him: 'I don't want a boyfriend, there's no pressure, let's just be f@#k buddies' ..."

Don't you appreciate such enlightenment? What a nice lady!

P.S. This is my second Gotta Love New Yorkers. I think I'll make it a regular segment from now on.

Newbie NYC

Just stumbled upon another really great NYC blog: Newbie NYC. Check it out, it puts Mr NYC to shame!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat ... in Central Park

Today my lady friend and I went to see if we could take the balloon ride currently being offered in Central Park. Sadly it was closed. The reason: too much wind (although it seemed very un-windy to us). Anyhoo, we did not let that deter us, and we did something just as enjoyable and much more old-fashioned: we took a row boat out on the lake.

The typically cynical New Yorker probably thinks of this as a tourist trap but au contraire: New Yorkers have been tooling about this lake ever since Frederick Law Olmstead's day. Sure there are tourists but lots of the people are recognizably native. All races, ages, classes, and creeds row these boats. It's not snobby or touristy. It's one of the few democratic pastimes left in NYC

As you row about the lake, you see how beautifully maintained Central Park is: there are weeping willows and gorgeous flower beds on the shore, and patches where overhanging tree branches provide shade. At certain points you row through beds of algae which might sound gross but is actually quite lovely. And beyond the lake and green of the park, you see the majestic buildings of Manhattan peaking out hither and thither: the San Remo, the Dakota, the Time Warner Center, the Plaza, the Citicorp and AT&T Buildings.

It's important, obviously, to look where you're going since your two biggest dangers are grounding the boat (if you're too close to land) or bumping into another boat. You always need to look around and mind your neighbors, but if you do and make it habitual, you can enjoy the lake just fine.

If you've never done this but have secretly always wanted to, my advice is do it! Do it now! Take someone you like (or love) and it'll be a memorable time. All the info you need is right here. You go the Boathouse, put down a $20 deposit that you get back, and pay $12 for an hour. If you row for over an hour, then it's $3 for every fifteen minutes. It's actually a pretty good deal and, for my money and time, was worth every penny and second of it.

They Really Do Check Bags in the Subway

I guess it had to happen eventually -- today, on my way home from work, a terse officer from New York's Finest asked me to show her the contents of my briefcase.

After descending into the station, the lady officer said "Open your bag for me, sir", and I placed it down on the little table. Instead of walking over two feet to where I was standing, she insisted I walk closer to her and open up. She examined all the naughty, dangerous things encased within -- a folder, date book, IPod, umbrella -- and sent me on my way.

I like to think I'm a solid, honest citizen and have nothing (well, almost nothing) to hide but, dammit, it's totally fascist that we're forced to open our bags to the cops. It DOES NOT make ANYONE safer! What terrorists or criminals does this thwart? The illusion of safety ...