Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Mike's Pique
In yesterday's NY Times, the indefatigable Diane Cardwell took a long hard look at Mayor Mike's suddenly in evidence temper. The money quote: "Mr. Bloomberg is often a man of quaint politeness in public. But in recent days, as he has endured setbacks on projects crucial to his legacy, another Michael Bloomberg has spilled into view: short-tempered, scolding, even petulant."
What we're finally seeing here, is the real Mike Bloomberg, a short tempered egotist, finally emerging from the news cocoon that has blanketed the first six and a half years of his pedestrian term. If there was ever someone who appeared good, rather than was good, it is the diminutive mayor. Certainly it hasn't been City Hall that has put out, "The Spin Stops Here" door mat.
Bloomberg's arrogance has met the immovable force-political realities that he has been ill-equipped to deal with; from both a personality as well as a skill set perspective. As the Times puts it: "The mayor has watched the collapse of his congestion pricing proposal and the blocking of his plan to link teacher tenure to student test scores. He is hoping a revived deal to develop the far West Side of Manhattan, another crucial part of his vision for transforming the city, can become a reality."
And that doesn't get into his original Olympic Stadium fiasco, and the utter failure of Ground Zero redevelopment and the Moynihan Station. The record of his is littered with hype outpacing accomplishment-and that doesn't even get into the squandering of the first few years of mayoral control with a progressive education pedagogy that had to be scrapped and replaced from scratch.
As the Times underscores the real mayoral personality-we really like the fact that he's using the royal "We" nowadays-is emerging as the political policy road becomes more cluttered with his failures: "But several current and former officials say the public is just now getting a sustained look at the impatience and occasional anger that Mr. Bloomberg, a self-made billionaire unused to answering to any authority higher than his own, feels toward those who would stand in his way or challenge his motives. “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it,” Mr. Vallone said of Mr. Bloomberg’s mood."
As we've said on any number of occasions, Bloomberg's problems have always stemmed from the fact that he just doesn't get politics, and holds it in contempt as well. Royal "We" indeed: "In some respects, associates say, Mr. Bloomberg’s anger stems from incredulity that systems do not function as they should, and from never fully adjusting to the last-minute, secret deal-making culture of politics, which he believes is a bad way to conduct business."
Notice the phrase, "as it should." In Bloomberg's world view, "as it should," means a system where he himself wields total control without the encumbrances of political forces, or "special interests" that might thwart his own unique vision of the public good. And just where does he get this vision or expertise from? Perhaps it's from the innovation of a financial gadget that made him into, not only into a billionaire many times over, but a political genius at the same time; the classic legend in his own mind.
So what's happening here is about time-the beginning of an honest appraisal of the Bloomberg legacy, or lack thereof. Kudos to Cardwell for once again setting the pace on this long overdue evaluation. We can only hope that the rest of the press follows suit.
What we're finally seeing here, is the real Mike Bloomberg, a short tempered egotist, finally emerging from the news cocoon that has blanketed the first six and a half years of his pedestrian term. If there was ever someone who appeared good, rather than was good, it is the diminutive mayor. Certainly it hasn't been City Hall that has put out, "The Spin Stops Here" door mat.
Bloomberg's arrogance has met the immovable force-political realities that he has been ill-equipped to deal with; from both a personality as well as a skill set perspective. As the Times puts it: "The mayor has watched the collapse of his congestion pricing proposal and the blocking of his plan to link teacher tenure to student test scores. He is hoping a revived deal to develop the far West Side of Manhattan, another crucial part of his vision for transforming the city, can become a reality."
And that doesn't get into his original Olympic Stadium fiasco, and the utter failure of Ground Zero redevelopment and the Moynihan Station. The record of his is littered with hype outpacing accomplishment-and that doesn't even get into the squandering of the first few years of mayoral control with a progressive education pedagogy that had to be scrapped and replaced from scratch.
As the Times underscores the real mayoral personality-we really like the fact that he's using the royal "We" nowadays-is emerging as the political policy road becomes more cluttered with his failures: "But several current and former officials say the public is just now getting a sustained look at the impatience and occasional anger that Mr. Bloomberg, a self-made billionaire unused to answering to any authority higher than his own, feels toward those who would stand in his way or challenge his motives. “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it,” Mr. Vallone said of Mr. Bloomberg’s mood."
As we've said on any number of occasions, Bloomberg's problems have always stemmed from the fact that he just doesn't get politics, and holds it in contempt as well. Royal "We" indeed: "In some respects, associates say, Mr. Bloomberg’s anger stems from incredulity that systems do not function as they should, and from never fully adjusting to the last-minute, secret deal-making culture of politics, which he believes is a bad way to conduct business."
Notice the phrase, "as it should." In Bloomberg's world view, "as it should," means a system where he himself wields total control without the encumbrances of political forces, or "special interests" that might thwart his own unique vision of the public good. And just where does he get this vision or expertise from? Perhaps it's from the innovation of a financial gadget that made him into, not only into a billionaire many times over, but a political genius at the same time; the classic legend in his own mind.
So what's happening here is about time-the beginning of an honest appraisal of the Bloomberg legacy, or lack thereof. Kudos to Cardwell for once again setting the pace on this long overdue evaluation. We can only hope that the rest of the press follows suit.
Co-oping Food Policy
In this week's Gotham Gazette there's an article about the prospects that food co-ops can address the public health issue of access to healthy foods: "As the city confronts the health effects of the "grocery gap," many see food cooperatives as way to improve access to fresh food and think government should do more to encourage the businesses. "Like supermarkets, Green Carts, farmers' markets and bodegas, food co-ops can be a great way to get affordable, nutritious food into neighborhoods where fresh produce can be hard to find," says Ben Thomases, the city's Food Policy Coordinator. Holtz thinks the city could help co-ops succeed in underserved neighborhoods. "If the city had a low interest loan program, that would help clear the biggest hurdle," he says."
"Kumbaya mi'lord, kumbaya." What a bunch of romantic nonsense-and the "let one thousand flowers bloom" approach is only going to distract the city from the real essence of effective public policy: insuring that neighborhoods have good food and good jobs, in other words, supermarkets. Wasting time and energy on the evanescent phenomenon of food co-ops will simply divert us from what should be the city's the main goal; and giving financial support, except in the most rare of circumstances, would be a waste.
Our friend, Ben the Food Czar feels a bit differently on all of this: "Indeed, the supermarket report suggests providing financing for private supermarkets and grocery stores in high-need communities as one of its solutions. "Any financial incentives the supermarket commission recommends to encourage supermarkets to locate in underserved communities should be made to food co-ops as well," Thomases said in an e-mail."
We disagree. If a community is so motivated that it wants to create a food co-op then we should say, "Go in good health." But to pledge public monies when it hasn't even been determined what kind of financial incentives for supermarkets make sense, is not a sound suggestion in our view.
And the co-ops, just like the fruitty peddlers, do compete with the stores. But where the stores thrive, the co-ops often don't: "To the adherents, co-ops offer many advantages -- and face challenges -- the more conventional supermarkets do not. The East Village's Fourth Street Food Co-op was started in 1995, replacing another that started in '73. As its neighborhood has thrived, the co-op has fought to survive in the face of intense competition from two nearby Whole Foods, a Trader Joe's and health food stores."
We did, however, get a kick out of the fact that the East Village co-op has its own ethics committee. If a neighborhood has enough folks who believe that a food co-op should have an ethics committee, then there's a good chance that such an enterprise can survive without any public money.
As the Gazette highlights: "Our ethics committee goes through products we currently and potentially will carry in order to ensure the company is a small business with sustainable practices and pays workers a fair wage," says Cassandra Flechsig, a membership coordinator. "None of our products are tested on animals and we purchase organic, local, and fair trade, whenever possible." She also notes, as do other co-op members, that the issue is about more than shopping - it is also about forming community. "It's easy to get lost in a city as big as New York City," Flechsig said. "The co-op provides a nurturing environment that welcomes new members and makes them feel they belong to something bigger than themselves."
"We are the World," indeed. Let's not get diverted by all of this romantic commune ambiance and keep focused on more substantive, real world concerns.
"Kumbaya mi'lord, kumbaya." What a bunch of romantic nonsense-and the "let one thousand flowers bloom" approach is only going to distract the city from the real essence of effective public policy: insuring that neighborhoods have good food and good jobs, in other words, supermarkets. Wasting time and energy on the evanescent phenomenon of food co-ops will simply divert us from what should be the city's the main goal; and giving financial support, except in the most rare of circumstances, would be a waste.
Our friend, Ben the Food Czar feels a bit differently on all of this: "Indeed, the supermarket report suggests providing financing for private supermarkets and grocery stores in high-need communities as one of its solutions. "Any financial incentives the supermarket commission recommends to encourage supermarkets to locate in underserved communities should be made to food co-ops as well," Thomases said in an e-mail."
We disagree. If a community is so motivated that it wants to create a food co-op then we should say, "Go in good health." But to pledge public monies when it hasn't even been determined what kind of financial incentives for supermarkets make sense, is not a sound suggestion in our view.
And the co-ops, just like the fruitty peddlers, do compete with the stores. But where the stores thrive, the co-ops often don't: "To the adherents, co-ops offer many advantages -- and face challenges -- the more conventional supermarkets do not. The East Village's Fourth Street Food Co-op was started in 1995, replacing another that started in '73. As its neighborhood has thrived, the co-op has fought to survive in the face of intense competition from two nearby Whole Foods, a Trader Joe's and health food stores."
We did, however, get a kick out of the fact that the East Village co-op has its own ethics committee. If a neighborhood has enough folks who believe that a food co-op should have an ethics committee, then there's a good chance that such an enterprise can survive without any public money.
As the Gazette highlights: "Our ethics committee goes through products we currently and potentially will carry in order to ensure the company is a small business with sustainable practices and pays workers a fair wage," says Cassandra Flechsig, a membership coordinator. "None of our products are tested on animals and we purchase organic, local, and fair trade, whenever possible." She also notes, as do other co-op members, that the issue is about more than shopping - it is also about forming community. "It's easy to get lost in a city as big as New York City," Flechsig said. "The co-op provides a nurturing environment that welcomes new members and makes them feel they belong to something bigger than themselves."
"We are the World," indeed. Let's not get diverted by all of this romantic commune ambiance and keep focused on more substantive, real world concerns.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
City Food Policy Must Move Quickly
In today's NY Daily News, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs outlines the city's efforts to address the public health crisis highlighted by the rising obesity and diabetes epidemics: "In spite of our success, we're still facing a public health crisis - but it stems more from poor nutrition than hunger. For example, obesity and diabetes are on the rise - particularly in low-income communities where access to fresh, healthy foods is limited. These diseases take a serious toll on individuals and families, as well as on our public health system, which is why Mayor Bloomberg has launched a coordinated campaign to improve access to fresh foods and to help New Yorkers understand the strong link between nutrition and overall health."
This is all much to the point, and we applaud the Bloombergistas recognition of the problem. And their focus on supermarkets is to be applauded considering the fact that so many markets have closed, as a recent City Planning report has underscored.
For instance, just yesterday we attended a rally in the North Bronx where local residents of Pelham Gardens rallied to keep their Met Food supermarket open. As NY1 reports: "A Bronx community is urging a landlord not to push out their supermarket to make way for a drug store chain. Council Member James Vacca says city records show Met Food in Pelham Gardens is in the process of being sold to Walgreens, who can pay higher rent. If the deal goes through, local residents say their area will be underserved by grocery stores."
And Councilman Vacca's right on point about the need for a city policy: "We want to keep people out of their cars, we want to give them access to fresh fruit and vegetables,” said Vacca. “This is citywide policy yet we have no policy to incentivize little supermarkets staying open. They can't compete against the big chain drug stores."
So Deputy Gibbs has a big job ahead. As she says: "We are looking at a variety of strategies to tackle the challenge, including using city-owned land for the development of new food markets and examining zoning in certain areas to ensure that we are not precluding the location of new food stores. In addition, the city's food coordinator will play a leadership role on the newly formed Supermarket Commission, a public/private partnership that will provide recommendations about how the city can get new supermarkets into neighborhoods."
And not a moment too soon, since the Bruckner Key Food is being pushed out and another Key Food in Bay Ridge will close in June. In addition, if NYU doesn't bargain in good faith, a Met Food on Second Avenue could soon become history.
So the city, as Gibbs tells us, feels that public health is a major priority: "Access to healthy foods is critical to the future health of all New Yorkers, and the Bloomberg administration will continue to play a leading role in advancing innovative new strategies that will make all five boroughs healthier places to live and raise families." If so, then it can't sit by while landlords evict supermarket tenants, and communities are stripped of vital food access.
We'll give the North Bronx's Met Food the final word here: “Sure, pain for ourselves as well,” said Met Food director of operations Fred Galella. “We've got a lot of senior citizens here and they've got some valid points, you know, they don't drive. There are drug stores everywhere.” And, if nothing is done, soon there will be more.
This is all much to the point, and we applaud the Bloombergistas recognition of the problem. And their focus on supermarkets is to be applauded considering the fact that so many markets have closed, as a recent City Planning report has underscored.
For instance, just yesterday we attended a rally in the North Bronx where local residents of Pelham Gardens rallied to keep their Met Food supermarket open. As NY1 reports: "A Bronx community is urging a landlord not to push out their supermarket to make way for a drug store chain. Council Member James Vacca says city records show Met Food in Pelham Gardens is in the process of being sold to Walgreens, who can pay higher rent. If the deal goes through, local residents say their area will be underserved by grocery stores."
And Councilman Vacca's right on point about the need for a city policy: "We want to keep people out of their cars, we want to give them access to fresh fruit and vegetables,” said Vacca. “This is citywide policy yet we have no policy to incentivize little supermarkets staying open. They can't compete against the big chain drug stores."
So Deputy Gibbs has a big job ahead. As she says: "We are looking at a variety of strategies to tackle the challenge, including using city-owned land for the development of new food markets and examining zoning in certain areas to ensure that we are not precluding the location of new food stores. In addition, the city's food coordinator will play a leadership role on the newly formed Supermarket Commission, a public/private partnership that will provide recommendations about how the city can get new supermarkets into neighborhoods."
And not a moment too soon, since the Bruckner Key Food is being pushed out and another Key Food in Bay Ridge will close in June. In addition, if NYU doesn't bargain in good faith, a Met Food on Second Avenue could soon become history.
So the city, as Gibbs tells us, feels that public health is a major priority: "Access to healthy foods is critical to the future health of all New Yorkers, and the Bloomberg administration will continue to play a leading role in advancing innovative new strategies that will make all five boroughs healthier places to live and raise families." If so, then it can't sit by while landlords evict supermarket tenants, and communities are stripped of vital food access.
We'll give the North Bronx's Met Food the final word here: “Sure, pain for ourselves as well,” said Met Food director of operations Fred Galella. “We've got a lot of senior citizens here and they've got some valid points, you know, they don't drive. There are drug stores everywhere.” And, if nothing is done, soon there will be more.
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Cost of Living
In this morning's NY Post, there is more evidence of the theme we have been commenting on for the past few weeks: the higher costs of living as reflected in the rising price of groceries in NYC; "Given that food prices increased 0.9 percent in April alone, there is no question that higher wheat, rice, and soybean prices are partly to blame."
However, the fact that the Post focuses its attention on a rather affluent Manhattan family, skews the analysis: "Still, while the family of four may be feeling the pinch, it is going to have to grow into a punch before they start changing their behavior. "The increases are definitely noticeable, but I can't say it's changing a lot of decisions," said Foodim, who manages veryshortlist.com, an e-mail tip sheet for interesting reading and events. "The stuff that is going up is related to our family and not really anything we can change. We have to buy food for the kids."
Transpose this report to an elderly couple in Brooklyn, or to a family trying to make do on food stamps in order to eat, Once this is done, then the nature of the food prices/grocery store closings crisis becomes clearer. It is also why we will be gathering on the steps of City Hall next week to galvanize the public sector to act to mitigate this situation for all New Yorkers.
However, the fact that the Post focuses its attention on a rather affluent Manhattan family, skews the analysis: "Still, while the family of four may be feeling the pinch, it is going to have to grow into a punch before they start changing their behavior. "The increases are definitely noticeable, but I can't say it's changing a lot of decisions," said Foodim, who manages veryshortlist.com, an e-mail tip sheet for interesting reading and events. "The stuff that is going up is related to our family and not really anything we can change. We have to buy food for the kids."
Transpose this report to an elderly couple in Brooklyn, or to a family trying to make do on food stamps in order to eat, Once this is done, then the nature of the food prices/grocery store closings crisis becomes clearer. It is also why we will be gathering on the steps of City Hall next week to galvanize the public sector to act to mitigate this situation for all New Yorkers.
Another Supermarket Closing
Councilman James Vacca is holding a rally in front of another Bronx supermarket that is threatened with closing. Once again, it underscores just what kind of a crisis exists in the city's neighborhoods. Here's the councilman's press release:
Vacca, Local Residents, UFCW Union to Rally in Support of Local Supermarket
Pelham Gardens/Allerton community hopes to buck nationwide trend
Council Member James Vacca, dozens of local residents, and representatives of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union will host a rally outside of the Met Food Supermarket at 2504 Eastchester Road on Monday, May 19, to send a signal to landlord Murray Appelbaum that the Pelham Gardens/Allerton community, especially its large senior population, needs this supermarket to remain open.
Despite the supermarket owner’s commitment to stay, Mr. Appelbaum, of Appelbaum Realty, has negotiated a deal with Walgreens to take over the site, city records show. If the Met Food closes, Pelham Gardens/Allerton will become one of the most under-served areas of the Bronx in terms of supermarket access ― the latest victim in a nationwide trend that has starved hundreds of communities of quality shopping options and creating significant burdens for senior citizens, many of whom depend on their grocer being within walking distance.
“We need another chain drugstore in this neighborhood like we need a hole in the head,” said Vacca. “Today, we are urging Mr. Appelbaum to consider not just his bottom line but also the needs of a community that has helped support him over the course of many years. On behalf of our seniors, our families, and all those who would rather shop in their own neighborhood than drive to a Costco or a BJ’s, we’re sending a message about how important this supermarket has become to the fabric of this community.”
Who: Council Member Vacca, over 50 local residents, members of UFCW
What: Rally to send a message that the Met Food Supermarket must stay open
When: Monday, May 19, at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Met Food Supermarket, 2504 Eastchester Road (corner of Mace Avenue), Bronx
Contact: Bret Nolan Collazzi (718) 931-1721 / (646) 261-4471
Vacca, Local Residents, UFCW Union to Rally in Support of Local Supermarket
Pelham Gardens/Allerton community hopes to buck nationwide trend
Council Member James Vacca, dozens of local residents, and representatives of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union will host a rally outside of the Met Food Supermarket at 2504 Eastchester Road on Monday, May 19, to send a signal to landlord Murray Appelbaum that the Pelham Gardens/Allerton community, especially its large senior population, needs this supermarket to remain open.
Despite the supermarket owner’s commitment to stay, Mr. Appelbaum, of Appelbaum Realty, has negotiated a deal with Walgreens to take over the site, city records show. If the Met Food closes, Pelham Gardens/Allerton will become one of the most under-served areas of the Bronx in terms of supermarket access ― the latest victim in a nationwide trend that has starved hundreds of communities of quality shopping options and creating significant burdens for senior citizens, many of whom depend on their grocer being within walking distance.
“We need another chain drugstore in this neighborhood like we need a hole in the head,” said Vacca. “Today, we are urging Mr. Appelbaum to consider not just his bottom line but also the needs of a community that has helped support him over the course of many years. On behalf of our seniors, our families, and all those who would rather shop in their own neighborhood than drive to a Costco or a BJ’s, we’re sending a message about how important this supermarket has become to the fabric of this community.”
Who: Council Member Vacca, over 50 local residents, members of UFCW
What: Rally to send a message that the Met Food Supermarket must stay open
When: Monday, May 19, at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Met Food Supermarket, 2504 Eastchester Road (corner of Mace Avenue), Bronx
Contact: Bret Nolan Collazzi (718) 931-1721 / (646) 261-4471
Bloomberg's Watergate
Last Friday the Water Board raised the city's water rates by over 14%-and water rates have increased by a whopping 77% since 2001. As the NY Times blog reports; "According to official projections, the average single-family homeowner will pay $800 for water in the fiscal year that starts July 1, up from $700 this fiscal year." But it's not just about the water-the larger issue is how New Yorkers under the tax and spendthrift mayor have been beleaguered by higher taxes and fees.
Still, the water torture bears examination since the DEP is historically one of the most inept city agencies we have, and there is a compelling need to put the entire operation under some form of trusteeship (something the mayor won't do since there are no crane killings to embarrass him, like there are with the DOB). At least Bill Thompson weighed in: "The proposed 14.5 percent rate increase, on the back of an 11.5 percent increase last year, will have a very real, deleterious effect on those that can least afford it."
And it's not only homeowners being squeezed We talked to a couple of supermarket operators who detailed just how much they're being charged for water and that fee, when added to the 32 separate permits required, and the multiple agencies that oversee their business, adds considerably to the cost of doing business in New York-another factor in the disappearance of local supermarkets.
Speaker Quinn also criticized the rate hike in the City Hall Insider: "Ms. Quinn called the spike "excessively high, especially as New Yorkers are dealing with rising costs for every other basic necessity" and called on the city Department of Environmental Protection to "start looking for other ways to maintain services without passing the extra costs onto consumers." The problem, however, is calling on the DEP to clean up its own act, something that the agency's incapable of doing.
The NY Daily News almost puts its finger on the problem: "The steep hike was attributed to sharply rising costs for everything from chemicals for water and sewage treatment to the cost of capital improvements largely caused by federal mandates. Add to that the unpaid bills by so-called water deadbeats." All of these rationales, without a full evaluation of the agency's abilities, simply miss the boat.
And what is missing in all of this is the impact that this rate hike, along with all the other tax and fee increases (and grocery price hikes also), has on the elderly on fixed incomes The NY Post captures this: " One elderly resident in Jamaica, Queens, said higher water bills, coming on top of higher electric rates, are going make her life even tougher fiscally. "The electric, the gas and now the water," said the 76-year-old, who would reveal only her first name, Joanna. "I live by myself and I'm scared and I have no money to go anywhere. I still watch TV and the lights are never on and I don't eat too much. It's not only hard for me. It's hard for everyone."
Well said. It's about time that the Bloomberg mystique gets the appropriate reappraisal.
Still, the water torture bears examination since the DEP is historically one of the most inept city agencies we have, and there is a compelling need to put the entire operation under some form of trusteeship (something the mayor won't do since there are no crane killings to embarrass him, like there are with the DOB). At least Bill Thompson weighed in: "The proposed 14.5 percent rate increase, on the back of an 11.5 percent increase last year, will have a very real, deleterious effect on those that can least afford it."
And it's not only homeowners being squeezed We talked to a couple of supermarket operators who detailed just how much they're being charged for water and that fee, when added to the 32 separate permits required, and the multiple agencies that oversee their business, adds considerably to the cost of doing business in New York-another factor in the disappearance of local supermarkets.
Speaker Quinn also criticized the rate hike in the City Hall Insider: "Ms. Quinn called the spike "excessively high, especially as New Yorkers are dealing with rising costs for every other basic necessity" and called on the city Department of Environmental Protection to "start looking for other ways to maintain services without passing the extra costs onto consumers." The problem, however, is calling on the DEP to clean up its own act, something that the agency's incapable of doing.
The NY Daily News almost puts its finger on the problem: "The steep hike was attributed to sharply rising costs for everything from chemicals for water and sewage treatment to the cost of capital improvements largely caused by federal mandates. Add to that the unpaid bills by so-called water deadbeats." All of these rationales, without a full evaluation of the agency's abilities, simply miss the boat.
And what is missing in all of this is the impact that this rate hike, along with all the other tax and fee increases (and grocery price hikes also), has on the elderly on fixed incomes The NY Post captures this: " One elderly resident in Jamaica, Queens, said higher water bills, coming on top of higher electric rates, are going make her life even tougher fiscally. "The electric, the gas and now the water," said the 76-year-old, who would reveal only her first name, Joanna. "I live by myself and I'm scared and I have no money to go anywhere. I still watch TV and the lights are never on and I don't eat too much. It's not only hard for me. It's hard for everyone."
Well said. It's about time that the Bloomberg mystique gets the appropriate reappraisal.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Food Costs Rise: Seniors Hurt
The NY Daily News is reporting today on how rising food prices are really hurting Brooklyn seniors: "For many Brooklyn seniors, 2008 has so far been anything but a golden year. The cost of food, along with just about everything else - except the seniors' fixed incomes - has gone up." As we have been saying, these rises, when coupled with disappearing supermarkets, has created a real crisis in the city.
For the poor, as well as the elderly, the lack of mobility really makes the neighborhood supermarket a necessity-otherwise they're left with the higher-priced local grocery stores and bodegas. Listening to the senior is truly heartbreaking: "Mary Hood, 89, is angry. The former dancer is now in a wheelchair, but that's not what has her upset. "I used to be proud to say I was an American. Now I'm ashamed of what the government has done. We voted them in. Why can't we vote them out?" she asked, adding that she liked none of the candidates currently seeking the presidency."
Clearly, this is going to be a hot political issue, in this election cycle, as well as in next year's mayoral race. And the disappearance of our local markets will be seen as apiece with the high cost of bread and other staples.
For the poor, as well as the elderly, the lack of mobility really makes the neighborhood supermarket a necessity-otherwise they're left with the higher-priced local grocery stores and bodegas. Listening to the senior is truly heartbreaking: "Mary Hood, 89, is angry. The former dancer is now in a wheelchair, but that's not what has her upset. "I used to be proud to say I was an American. Now I'm ashamed of what the government has done. We voted them in. Why can't we vote them out?" she asked, adding that she liked none of the candidates currently seeking the presidency."
Clearly, this is going to be a hot political issue, in this election cycle, as well as in next year's mayoral race. And the disappearance of our local markets will be seen as apiece with the high cost of bread and other staples.
Too Much of a Good Thing?
Now we've always liked the iconoclastic views of the New York Sun; but its inexplicable lionization of Mike Bloomberg really baffles us-and the call for him to run for governor is appalling, considering his over-hyped record as mayor. Here's the Sun's take: "The answer to how serious he is about the vision he has put up for New York will come with his decision on whether to run for governor."
Ah, the Bloomberg vision. Just what could that be? Is it the rather dismal school performance after the mayoral control of the schools was gifted to him by Shelly Silver? Or perhaps it is the wonderful construction rising on the ground zero pile? The $180 million he spent to convince New Yorkers that he was Mr. Wonderful? The Jets Stadium? The termination and malling of the Bronx Terminal Market as a gift to Deputy Dan's good friend Steve Ross? The congestion tax fiasco perhaps-on top of the tax and spend policies that Bloomberg launched in 2002 (hail the water rate hikes today as well)? Or maybe our favorite, fruit peddlers and menu labeling for the city's health morons?
Mike Bloomberg's run for governor would do only one thing for the mayor's legacy-camouflage it through the further spending on the burnishing of his image and the bamboozling of the citizenry. In this context, the Sun's epistle is totally comical: "But protecting the mayor’s legacy in City Hall is one thing. Protecting his successor is another, and the best way to do that is for the mayor to campaign and win the governorship so that he can follow through on what he’s started. It would put him in a strong position in respect of mayoral control of the schools, of reform at the rolling disgrace known as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, of the West side, of the charter school movement, and of the budget issues."
The one positive thing that the mayor can do for all of us, is to leave the stage as quietly and as gracefully as possible. And quite frankly, sycophancy is not what we expect from the normally perspicacious folks over at the Sun.
Ah, the Bloomberg vision. Just what could that be? Is it the rather dismal school performance after the mayoral control of the schools was gifted to him by Shelly Silver? Or perhaps it is the wonderful construction rising on the ground zero pile? The $180 million he spent to convince New Yorkers that he was Mr. Wonderful? The Jets Stadium? The termination and malling of the Bronx Terminal Market as a gift to Deputy Dan's good friend Steve Ross? The congestion tax fiasco perhaps-on top of the tax and spend policies that Bloomberg launched in 2002 (hail the water rate hikes today as well)? Or maybe our favorite, fruit peddlers and menu labeling for the city's health morons?
Mike Bloomberg's run for governor would do only one thing for the mayor's legacy-camouflage it through the further spending on the burnishing of his image and the bamboozling of the citizenry. In this context, the Sun's epistle is totally comical: "But protecting the mayor’s legacy in City Hall is one thing. Protecting his successor is another, and the best way to do that is for the mayor to campaign and win the governorship so that he can follow through on what he’s started. It would put him in a strong position in respect of mayoral control of the schools, of reform at the rolling disgrace known as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, of the West side, of the charter school movement, and of the budget issues."
The one positive thing that the mayor can do for all of us, is to leave the stage as quietly and as gracefully as possible. And quite frankly, sycophancy is not what we expect from the normally perspicacious folks over at the Sun.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
KARA Mia Mine
We've been having some ongoing discussions with the good folks at KARA-the Kingsbridge Armory Development Alliance. KARA represents a coalition of groups in the Northwest Bronx that is looking to insure that the development of the armory is beneficial to the local community: "KARA seeks living wages and union protections for local residents in the construction and permanent jobs, community space, an affordable recreation center, and environmental protections through the negotiation of a Community Benefits Agreement, a Labor Peace Agreement and a Project Labor Agreement with the developer of the Armory." This, as we have said before, will pose a real challenge.
Our interest here is that the project does not include any big box retail uses that would not only threaten local store owners, but would also place a heavy traffic burden on the Kingsbridge community. The eventual outcome of all this is uncertain. As the NY Times has pointed out: "Despite the high poverty rate in Kingsbridge Heights, Related and the city said a shopping development could work at the armory because Bronx residents had limited shopping options.The retailers have not yet been chosen. Negotiations are continuing, which call for Related to buy the building, retain the exterior and rebuild the interior. The plan requires approval by the City Council, which officials said probably would not be granted until next year."
The armory presents a considerable development challenge: "For years, the Kingsbridge Armory, a blocklong red brick castle with soaring turrets that dominates the West Bronx’s low-rise streetscape, has been a neighborhood embarrassment. The nine-story Romanesque building on Kingsbridge Road at Jerome Avenue has been mostly vacant for more than a decade, a blemish on the working-class Kingsbridge Heights area not because of its appearance, but because it was not being used."
KARA wants to negotiate a CBA with the city's designated developer of the armory-the Related Company. This will be no simple task since Related has never been a community friendly company, leaving the warm and fuzzy stuff to others. Already, the city seems to be trying to create one of its Potemkin Village-style "Advisory Committee" rope-a-dope strategies that co opt KARA into a kind of paralysis.
Related, whose vision for the site contrasts sharply with that of the community, needs to be confronted; and the elected officials need to stand four square behind the community if any meaningful CBA is to be crafted, Otherwise we're going to see a repeat of the Gateway Mall, Yankee Stadium and Columbia University debacles: faux CBAs that reflect the will of electeds, and generate money that is channeled away from any community benefit and toward less savory destinations.
One thing we did suggest to the KARA folks, is that they insist that the EIS for the development be done by an environmental consultant that is not chosen by Related. A more objective evaluation is needed, particularly in the post-congestion pricing climate. Now's the time to worry about the Bronx asthma rates, and Related crocodile tears over this in support of the mayor's congestion tax need to be exposed for the hypocrisy that it was.
The Northwest Bronx needs an honest review, and not a stacked deck orchestrated by Related's master of misdirection, the honorable Jesse James Masyr. It is approaching the time where we will be seeing both Related and Vornado put in the dock and judged wanting. KARA could be just the group that can do this, and we will help them in any way we can.
Our interest here is that the project does not include any big box retail uses that would not only threaten local store owners, but would also place a heavy traffic burden on the Kingsbridge community. The eventual outcome of all this is uncertain. As the NY Times has pointed out: "Despite the high poverty rate in Kingsbridge Heights, Related and the city said a shopping development could work at the armory because Bronx residents had limited shopping options.The retailers have not yet been chosen. Negotiations are continuing, which call for Related to buy the building, retain the exterior and rebuild the interior. The plan requires approval by the City Council, which officials said probably would not be granted until next year."
The armory presents a considerable development challenge: "For years, the Kingsbridge Armory, a blocklong red brick castle with soaring turrets that dominates the West Bronx’s low-rise streetscape, has been a neighborhood embarrassment. The nine-story Romanesque building on Kingsbridge Road at Jerome Avenue has been mostly vacant for more than a decade, a blemish on the working-class Kingsbridge Heights area not because of its appearance, but because it was not being used."
KARA wants to negotiate a CBA with the city's designated developer of the armory-the Related Company. This will be no simple task since Related has never been a community friendly company, leaving the warm and fuzzy stuff to others. Already, the city seems to be trying to create one of its Potemkin Village-style "Advisory Committee" rope-a-dope strategies that co opt KARA into a kind of paralysis.
Related, whose vision for the site contrasts sharply with that of the community, needs to be confronted; and the elected officials need to stand four square behind the community if any meaningful CBA is to be crafted, Otherwise we're going to see a repeat of the Gateway Mall, Yankee Stadium and Columbia University debacles: faux CBAs that reflect the will of electeds, and generate money that is channeled away from any community benefit and toward less savory destinations.
One thing we did suggest to the KARA folks, is that they insist that the EIS for the development be done by an environmental consultant that is not chosen by Related. A more objective evaluation is needed, particularly in the post-congestion pricing climate. Now's the time to worry about the Bronx asthma rates, and Related crocodile tears over this in support of the mayor's congestion tax need to be exposed for the hypocrisy that it was.
The Northwest Bronx needs an honest review, and not a stacked deck orchestrated by Related's master of misdirection, the honorable Jesse James Masyr. It is approaching the time where we will be seeing both Related and Vornado put in the dock and judged wanting. KARA could be just the group that can do this, and we will help them in any way we can.
Lucha Supermercado in Soundview
As El Diario is reporting this morning, a battle royal is shaping up in the Bronx over Vornado'e attempt to evict the local Key Food supermarket, and the fight is over the threat to the health of the community: "Una nueva lucha empieza en el sur de El Bronx y esta vez tiene que ver con salvar un supermercado.Los vecinos del barrio de Soundview planean protestar la semana que viene frente a uno de los principales supermercados del barrio, el Key Food de Bruckner Boulevard, para evitar así su cierre.Líderes de la comunidad, concejales y varios vecinos han calificado el potencial cierre del supermercado como injusto, ya que la zona casi no tiene tiendas donde se pueda comprar fruta y vegetales y sus residentes padecen varias enfermedades relacionadas con una dieta pobre."
The Soundview town hall meeting was a raging success, with News Four's Lynda Baquero covering the story brilliantly on the 6 o'clock news last night-with a nice interview with CB #9 chairman Enrique Vega. Vornado hasn't seen nothing yet and we'd suggest that its stockholders, scheduled to meet in Saddlebrook, NJ, today at 12:30 at the Marriot, sell short because this company is going to be getting a serious black eye for being an enemy of the people.
And Vornado's "No Comment" lockjaw will soon have to stop. Here's El Diario's take: "El posible cierre se debe a que el dueño del centro comercial de Bruckner Boulevard, Vornado Realty and Trust, planea cobrar al supermercado 50 dólares por pie cuadrado en alquiler. Key Food —que se encuentra dentro del centro comercial— no puede pagar ese precio, dijo ayer la concejal de la zona Annabel Palma (D-El Bronx)."
The councilwoman was brilliant last night, and as she said on the news: "The closing of the Key Food will be seen as a direct attack on the Soundview community, I will do everything in my power to prevent this shameful act from taking place." Next week the community will rally in front of the store, and there will be a city hall press conference on the 28th of the month. Vornado better batten down, the ride's gonna be a bitch.
The Soundview town hall meeting was a raging success, with News Four's Lynda Baquero covering the story brilliantly on the 6 o'clock news last night-with a nice interview with CB #9 chairman Enrique Vega. Vornado hasn't seen nothing yet and we'd suggest that its stockholders, scheduled to meet in Saddlebrook, NJ, today at 12:30 at the Marriot, sell short because this company is going to be getting a serious black eye for being an enemy of the people.
And Vornado's "No Comment" lockjaw will soon have to stop. Here's El Diario's take: "El posible cierre se debe a que el dueño del centro comercial de Bruckner Boulevard, Vornado Realty and Trust, planea cobrar al supermercado 50 dólares por pie cuadrado en alquiler. Key Food —que se encuentra dentro del centro comercial— no puede pagar ese precio, dijo ayer la concejal de la zona Annabel Palma (D-El Bronx)."
The councilwoman was brilliant last night, and as she said on the news: "The closing of the Key Food will be seen as a direct attack on the Soundview community, I will do everything in my power to prevent this shameful act from taking place." Next week the community will rally in front of the store, and there will be a city hall press conference on the 28th of the month. Vornado better batten down, the ride's gonna be a bitch.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Town Hall Meeting in Soundview
This evening there will be a town hall meeting in the Soundview section of the Bronx to inform the community about the growing campaign against the eviction of the neighborhood's one large supermarket. This meeting is the first step in actions being taken against Vornado Realty and Trust, the landlord of the shopping center where the Key Food supermarket operates.
More aggressive actions will follow if Vornado fails to hear the community's call for it to cease and desist-and a rally and protest in front of the store is planned for next week. Here's the NY Daily News' take on this evening's event: "With urban supermarkets becoming an endangered species, Bronx residents will meet Wednesday night to try and save one of this dying breed.
A recent report from the Department of City Planning highlighted the importance of local grocery stores to public health while showing a recent wave of closures has left large swaths of the city - including much of the Bronx - underserved. Nearly the entire South Bronx was found to have a "high need" for more supermarkets."
Given this high need, the actions of Vornado are a slap in the face to the residents of the Soundview neighborhood: "In a borough where few people own cars and public transit coverage is less than ideal, closing a major grocery store could mean a difficult trek to the next-nearest supermarket, or force the least mobile to rely on higher-priced local grocery stores. "A lot of the people who patronize Key Food walk there," said Francisco Gonzalez, district manager for Community Board 9. "The only other supermarket in the area is across the highway and not as accessible to this neighborhood - especially for senior citizens."
And, as the DCP report on supermarkets points out, the neighborhood supermarket is a key for public health: "The report linked local markets and access to fresh produce to public health, showing that underserved areas of the Bronx have high rates of diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes. The area around Key Food at Bruckner Plaza is one of the few places in the Bronx deemed to have adequate supermarket access, according to the report. Residents gathering at tonight's meeting convened by the Neighborhood Retail Alliance and City Councilwoman Annabel Palma (D-Soundview) will discuss ways to try and keep it that way."
Here's the full press release for this evening's meeting:
Press Advisory
Town Hall Meeting in Soundview to Save Our Supermarket
Where: IS 131 885 Bolton Avenue
When:Wednesday, May 14th
Time: 6-8 PM
A community town hall meeting, organized by Councilwoman Anabel Palma and Community Board #9, will be held today to inform the community about the potential eviction of the Key Food Supermarket in the Bruckner Boulevard shopping center in Soundview. The reason for the possible eviction is because the landlord, Vornado Realty and Trust, is seeking to charge the store $50 per square foot in rent. This kind of rent would make it impossible for Key Food, or any supermarket in this income community, to be able to offer the neighborhood good healthy food at affordable prices.
The purpose of the town hall meeting is to alert and activate the Soundview community in order to get Vornado to support the extension of the supermarket’s lease at a price that is realistic for the neighborhood. The plan is to hold a rally in front of the store a week later on the 22nd of May.
The organized outrage of the Soundview community is important so we can empower the elected officials to put the kind of pressure on the real estate company that will make a difference. Vornado has received millions of dollars of public benefits from the city and needs to behave like a good corporate citizen.
In addition, we will be calling on the mayor to use his good offices to intervene on the community’s behalf. Soundview has been identified as a community where diet-related diseases are epidemic, and where access to fresh fruit and vegetables is way below the city wide average-exacerbating the health problems in the community.
Because of these health issues, the Department of Health has targeted this neighborhood for the introduction of produce vendors. The Key Food sells over two million dollars worth of produce every year, vegetables and fruit that are essential for the health of Soundview. Clearly, the store’s demise is not good for the health of the community, and that’s why the City Council Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera, and Councilman Jimmy Vacca, will be joining with the community tonight..
We will be calling on Mayor Bloomberg to act on behalf of all of the residents of Soundview in the name of public health. As the mayor has said on countless occasions, no economic concern is as important as the health of New Yorkers.
More aggressive actions will follow if Vornado fails to hear the community's call for it to cease and desist-and a rally and protest in front of the store is planned for next week. Here's the NY Daily News' take on this evening's event: "With urban supermarkets becoming an endangered species, Bronx residents will meet Wednesday night to try and save one of this dying breed.
A recent report from the Department of City Planning highlighted the importance of local grocery stores to public health while showing a recent wave of closures has left large swaths of the city - including much of the Bronx - underserved. Nearly the entire South Bronx was found to have a "high need" for more supermarkets."
Given this high need, the actions of Vornado are a slap in the face to the residents of the Soundview neighborhood: "In a borough where few people own cars and public transit coverage is less than ideal, closing a major grocery store could mean a difficult trek to the next-nearest supermarket, or force the least mobile to rely on higher-priced local grocery stores. "A lot of the people who patronize Key Food walk there," said Francisco Gonzalez, district manager for Community Board 9. "The only other supermarket in the area is across the highway and not as accessible to this neighborhood - especially for senior citizens."
And, as the DCP report on supermarkets points out, the neighborhood supermarket is a key for public health: "The report linked local markets and access to fresh produce to public health, showing that underserved areas of the Bronx have high rates of diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes. The area around Key Food at Bruckner Plaza is one of the few places in the Bronx deemed to have adequate supermarket access, according to the report. Residents gathering at tonight's meeting convened by the Neighborhood Retail Alliance and City Councilwoman Annabel Palma (D-Soundview) will discuss ways to try and keep it that way."
Here's the full press release for this evening's meeting:
Press Advisory
Town Hall Meeting in Soundview to Save Our Supermarket
Where: IS 131 885 Bolton Avenue
When:Wednesday, May 14th
Time: 6-8 PM
A community town hall meeting, organized by Councilwoman Anabel Palma and Community Board #9, will be held today to inform the community about the potential eviction of the Key Food Supermarket in the Bruckner Boulevard shopping center in Soundview. The reason for the possible eviction is because the landlord, Vornado Realty and Trust, is seeking to charge the store $50 per square foot in rent. This kind of rent would make it impossible for Key Food, or any supermarket in this income community, to be able to offer the neighborhood good healthy food at affordable prices.
The purpose of the town hall meeting is to alert and activate the Soundview community in order to get Vornado to support the extension of the supermarket’s lease at a price that is realistic for the neighborhood. The plan is to hold a rally in front of the store a week later on the 22nd of May.
The organized outrage of the Soundview community is important so we can empower the elected officials to put the kind of pressure on the real estate company that will make a difference. Vornado has received millions of dollars of public benefits from the city and needs to behave like a good corporate citizen.
In addition, we will be calling on the mayor to use his good offices to intervene on the community’s behalf. Soundview has been identified as a community where diet-related diseases are epidemic, and where access to fresh fruit and vegetables is way below the city wide average-exacerbating the health problems in the community.
Because of these health issues, the Department of Health has targeted this neighborhood for the introduction of produce vendors. The Key Food sells over two million dollars worth of produce every year, vegetables and fruit that are essential for the health of Soundview. Clearly, the store’s demise is not good for the health of the community, and that’s why the City Council Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera, and Councilman Jimmy Vacca, will be joining with the community tonight..
We will be calling on Mayor Bloomberg to act on behalf of all of the residents of Soundview in the name of public health. As the mayor has said on countless occasions, no economic concern is as important as the health of New Yorkers.
Richard Lipsky: Real Estate Scion
We really got a big kick out of the Observer's ranking of Richard Lipsky as one of the 100 most influential people in NYC real estate. Here's the blurb:
80
Richard Lipsky
Lobbyist, Richard Lipsky Associates
To many large developers, particularly those who build big-box retail, Mr. Lipsky is a pain in the ass. He organizes public opposition and pitches to the media a constant David vs. Goliath story line, usually with small retailers, threatened by the Vornados and the Related Companies of the world, playing the David role.
In over twenty five years of lobbying work on behalf of small businesses, communities and labor, we have stooped over twenty separate big box and shopping center developments-the only consistent force operating successfully in this capacity; which makes the ranking of Norman Oder ahead of us as something of a mystery. What has Norman actually stopped in his vendetta against Atlantic Yards, and has he ever done anything else to create a body of work?
In any event, thanks to the Observer for putting us-along with our limited real estate portfolio-in with the Rosses, the Trumps, and the Roths of the world. For at least one day we get to feel somewhat like a mogul
80
Richard Lipsky
Lobbyist, Richard Lipsky Associates
To many large developers, particularly those who build big-box retail, Mr. Lipsky is a pain in the ass. He organizes public opposition and pitches to the media a constant David vs. Goliath story line, usually with small retailers, threatened by the Vornados and the Related Companies of the world, playing the David role.
In over twenty five years of lobbying work on behalf of small businesses, communities and labor, we have stooped over twenty separate big box and shopping center developments-the only consistent force operating successfully in this capacity; which makes the ranking of Norman Oder ahead of us as something of a mystery. What has Norman actually stopped in his vendetta against Atlantic Yards, and has he ever done anything else to create a body of work?
In any event, thanks to the Observer for putting us-along with our limited real estate portfolio-in with the Rosses, the Trumps, and the Roths of the world. For at least one day we get to feel somewhat like a mogul
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
More Vanishing Supermarkets
In today's Queens section of the NY Daily News, the paper focuses in on the plight of the disappearing supermarket in that borough: "All over the city, especially in poorer neighborhoods such as southern Queens, smaller supermarkets are disappearing, forcing people to trek to larger stores or buy their groceries at local bodegas or even drug stores...A new City Planning Department report - "Going to Market: New York City's Neighborhood Grocery Store and Supermarket Shortage" - documents a dearth of local supermarkets in all five boroughs. Parts of southeast Queens and Far Rockaway have been hit the hardest."
The News quotes Councilman Leroy Comrie about how the supermarket deficit affects his mostly low and moderate income community: "It's all too familiar for City Councilman Leroy Comrie Jr., who has watched four supermarkets close in his southeast Queens district in recent years. Not everyone can drive to the large discount stores just over the border in Nassau County, the councilman said. "People would still prefer to shop locally and save gas and time if they could find products and quality they like," Comrie said. "And not everyone has the shelf space to store bulk items."
While the supermarkets keep on closing, the city is slowly looking to respond to the problem-convening a supermarket task force in order to devise a set of policy recommendations. In our view, something more immediate and proactive needs to be done here. As we told the News: "If supermarkets are the linchpin of healthy food access as the Department of Health and the Department of Planning has said, then they have to aggressively work at subsidies or tax abatements or zoning changes," said Richard Lipsky, a spokesman for the Neighborhood Retail Alliance."
And, given the drastic nature of the decline, the city should be identifying spots where markets can be located in the neighborhoods that are most impacted. And if that means utilizing the right of eminent domain to clear space, then so be it. If ED can be used to aggrandize the wealthy, then it can also to used to insure that poor neighborhoods have access to health foods.
The Daily News also prints this useful supermarket fact sheet:
SUPERMARKET FACTS
Three million New Yorkers live in neighborhoods without grocery stores.
Those areas in Queens include Corona, Jamaica and Far Rockaway.
Consumption of fruits and vegetables is lowest in parts of southeast Queens, where rates of obesity and diabetes are high.
None of the community board areas in Queens meets the city Planning Department standard, which is 30,000 square feet of supermarket space per 10,000 people.
The News quotes Councilman Leroy Comrie about how the supermarket deficit affects his mostly low and moderate income community: "It's all too familiar for City Councilman Leroy Comrie Jr., who has watched four supermarkets close in his southeast Queens district in recent years. Not everyone can drive to the large discount stores just over the border in Nassau County, the councilman said. "People would still prefer to shop locally and save gas and time if they could find products and quality they like," Comrie said. "And not everyone has the shelf space to store bulk items."
While the supermarkets keep on closing, the city is slowly looking to respond to the problem-convening a supermarket task force in order to devise a set of policy recommendations. In our view, something more immediate and proactive needs to be done here. As we told the News: "If supermarkets are the linchpin of healthy food access as the Department of Health and the Department of Planning has said, then they have to aggressively work at subsidies or tax abatements or zoning changes," said Richard Lipsky, a spokesman for the Neighborhood Retail Alliance."
And, given the drastic nature of the decline, the city should be identifying spots where markets can be located in the neighborhoods that are most impacted. And if that means utilizing the right of eminent domain to clear space, then so be it. If ED can be used to aggrandize the wealthy, then it can also to used to insure that poor neighborhoods have access to health foods.
The Daily News also prints this useful supermarket fact sheet:
SUPERMARKET FACTS
Three million New Yorkers live in neighborhoods without grocery stores.
Those areas in Queens include Corona, Jamaica and Far Rockaway.
Consumption of fruits and vegetables is lowest in parts of southeast Queens, where rates of obesity and diabetes are high.
None of the community board areas in Queens meets the city Planning Department standard, which is 30,000 square feet of supermarket space per 10,000 people.
Mayor Culpa?
As Liz reported yesterday, Mayor Mike's looking to clean up some of the discretionary funding that emanates from his side of City Hall. Here's the exact quote that Liz provides from Hizzoner:
"I can’t tell you that I ever read the list of the smaller member items and from what I can see there was some abuses that - or, I think in all fairness, probably not abuses. They were just practices that evolved over the years and in retrospect they should have been caught and changed.
"I’ve asked Deputy Mayor Skyler to take a careful look at all of the practices that the administration has because remember we have to, in the end, cut checks and vet things and I want to make sure that we are doing exactly what is right in terms of disclosure and complying with the law."
All well and good, as far as it goes-but it definitely doesn't go that far because all of this kind of spending is really quite minimal. The real pot of gold lies elsewhere-in contracts that are let and capital projects that are sited and built-or not in some cases.
What we want to see, and what the press should be demanding to see (along with all of the faux good government groups), is the laundry list of promises that the mayor's folks made in order to cultivate support for his congestion tax. Here's the real pay-to-play-all in the service of the very best kind of special interest, the mayor's self-interest cloaked in the name of the public good.
What all of the bleating over the city council's nickel and diming of the tax payers comes to, is a myopic understanding of how government works on all levels. Every decision-and non-decision-that is made is done so in the advancement of an interest; and all of these interests, no matter how lofty the stated goals are, also advance some rather less lofty goals at the very same time. The fact that the mayor is wealthy beyond most of our understanding doesn't change the equation, except for the fact that his decisions aren't being made on behalf of some greedy relation.
But that's not the only kind of selfish policy making; and the logrolling and pork barrel politics still remains as a central feature of the decision making process. Which doesn't mean, however, that the mayor is totally above aggrandizing his friends and "class" mates-in a process that we've labeled patricianage.
It's just that his great wealth has seemingly anesthetized great swaths of the media to some of his untoward actions. Hopefully, this will all soon change as Bloomberg prepares to grace us with his departure.
"I can’t tell you that I ever read the list of the smaller member items and from what I can see there was some abuses that - or, I think in all fairness, probably not abuses. They were just practices that evolved over the years and in retrospect they should have been caught and changed.
"I’ve asked Deputy Mayor Skyler to take a careful look at all of the practices that the administration has because remember we have to, in the end, cut checks and vet things and I want to make sure that we are doing exactly what is right in terms of disclosure and complying with the law."
All well and good, as far as it goes-but it definitely doesn't go that far because all of this kind of spending is really quite minimal. The real pot of gold lies elsewhere-in contracts that are let and capital projects that are sited and built-or not in some cases.
What we want to see, and what the press should be demanding to see (along with all of the faux good government groups), is the laundry list of promises that the mayor's folks made in order to cultivate support for his congestion tax. Here's the real pay-to-play-all in the service of the very best kind of special interest, the mayor's self-interest cloaked in the name of the public good.
What all of the bleating over the city council's nickel and diming of the tax payers comes to, is a myopic understanding of how government works on all levels. Every decision-and non-decision-that is made is done so in the advancement of an interest; and all of these interests, no matter how lofty the stated goals are, also advance some rather less lofty goals at the very same time. The fact that the mayor is wealthy beyond most of our understanding doesn't change the equation, except for the fact that his decisions aren't being made on behalf of some greedy relation.
But that's not the only kind of selfish policy making; and the logrolling and pork barrel politics still remains as a central feature of the decision making process. Which doesn't mean, however, that the mayor is totally above aggrandizing his friends and "class" mates-in a process that we've labeled patricianage.
It's just that his great wealth has seemingly anesthetized great swaths of the media to some of his untoward actions. Hopefully, this will all soon change as Bloomberg prepares to grace us with his departure.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Times Cleans up the Slush
In a continuation of its excellent reporting on the City Council's purported slush scandal, the NY Times on Sunday uses the incisive work of Diane Cardwell to make some significant points about how all of this fits into the question of NYC governance: "But veterans of New York City politics say that many of the practices now being revealed are far from novel or rare. Indeed, they say, they are woven into the very fabric of city government, tough threads spun from the mayor’s near lock on power, which leaves lawmakers with few ways to wield influence, affect life in their communities or make a name for themselves."
Exactly so. The problem here devolves from the mayoral-centric concentration of power-a concentration that attenuates the necessary checks and balances needed in a democratic system: "The change, in a mayor-centric system, did not give the Council a lot of new power. But it gave members the ability to dole out the discretionary funds that the mayor, seeking to smooth the passage of his spending plan, granted them. Those funds represent just a tiny portion of the budget — less than six-tenths of a percent in the fiscal year ending in June. But they are critically important to the members as a way to curry favor with supporters and constituents."
And what the current controversy does, is to deflect attention away from the mayoral exercise of power, and in Bloomberg's case, its misuse-for the remaining 99% of the funds that the city disperse every year. And, as Cardwell points out, the council practice was an attempt to reserve to itself at least some modicum of power: "Before its expansion and its assumption of power over the city budget, the City Council had long been considered the weak arm of city government, relegated to the role of puppet as the powerful Board of Estimate pulled the strings. But after charter reform, former city officials say, the Council, full of a sense of new found authority and a desire to be an equal partner with the mayor, tried to create flexibility in the budget by putting aside money for the speaker to control."
No, it's not the greatest way to do it, but the answer here doesn't lie with the elimination of member items, but with the appropriate expansion of legislative budgetary functions. In this way, all of the sleight-of-hand can be dispensed with: "Some former officials said putting aside money was meant to help correct mistakes, like forgetting to finance an important program, without having to formally seek approval for additional spending from the mayor. Council leaders once tried to create a general reserve fund for such contingencies, but the concept never took hold, so council officials set out to devise their own response to the problem. "
Now that Bloomberg's looking to do some charter reform in the fall, it would behoove him to include the appropriate expansion of the city council's role in the budgetary process in the reform package. In this way, all of the hand wringing and false outrage can be put aside.
Exactly so. The problem here devolves from the mayoral-centric concentration of power-a concentration that attenuates the necessary checks and balances needed in a democratic system: "The change, in a mayor-centric system, did not give the Council a lot of new power. But it gave members the ability to dole out the discretionary funds that the mayor, seeking to smooth the passage of his spending plan, granted them. Those funds represent just a tiny portion of the budget — less than six-tenths of a percent in the fiscal year ending in June. But they are critically important to the members as a way to curry favor with supporters and constituents."
And what the current controversy does, is to deflect attention away from the mayoral exercise of power, and in Bloomberg's case, its misuse-for the remaining 99% of the funds that the city disperse every year. And, as Cardwell points out, the council practice was an attempt to reserve to itself at least some modicum of power: "Before its expansion and its assumption of power over the city budget, the City Council had long been considered the weak arm of city government, relegated to the role of puppet as the powerful Board of Estimate pulled the strings. But after charter reform, former city officials say, the Council, full of a sense of new found authority and a desire to be an equal partner with the mayor, tried to create flexibility in the budget by putting aside money for the speaker to control."
No, it's not the greatest way to do it, but the answer here doesn't lie with the elimination of member items, but with the appropriate expansion of legislative budgetary functions. In this way, all of the sleight-of-hand can be dispensed with: "Some former officials said putting aside money was meant to help correct mistakes, like forgetting to finance an important program, without having to formally seek approval for additional spending from the mayor. Council leaders once tried to create a general reserve fund for such contingencies, but the concept never took hold, so council officials set out to devise their own response to the problem. "
Now that Bloomberg's looking to do some charter reform in the fall, it would behoove him to include the appropriate expansion of the city council's role in the budgetary process in the reform package. In this way, all of the hand wringing and false outrage can be put aside.
NYU and Vornado: Imperfect Together
We need to add NYU to our pantheon of heroes when it comes to an insensitivity to the health of New Yorkers-and this is the university where Marion Nestle hectors the world about the need for healthier food and better nutrition. NYU is looking to evict the last remaining affordable supermarket in its East Village neighborhood.
If you don't believe us, just check out her what to eat blog. Here's what Nestle says about supermarkets and healthy eating: "Obesity is more common in low-income areas. Why? It may seem intuitively obvious that lack of adequate income, transportation, cooking facilities, supermarkets, and opportunities for physical activity would make it difficult for people to eat healthfully and be active, but intuition is one thing and evidence is another. My NYU colleagues Jennifer Black and James Macinko now provide the evidence in a most useful review paper. Want to improve the “built environment”? This is a great starting place."
And here's what the two professors tell us about the importance of neighborhood supermarkets: "Access to stores that sell healthy food, especially large supermarkets, may also contribute to between neighborhood dietary differences. Four cross-sectional studies have demonstrated a positive association between access to food stores and improved dietary choices.18,73–75In Detroit, Michigan, women who primarily purchased food at supermarkets, consumed more fruits and vegetables than those who relied on independent grocery stores.73 Whereas, participants in the US Food Stamp Program who lived over five miles away from their principalfood store, consumed significantly less fruit than those living within one mile of stores." NYU's own tell the story. Why does the university ignore the research of its own?
So, once again, a university harbors all sorts of progressive sentiments while at the same time, as a corporate business, it acts in ways that threatens the public good. Shame on NYU! As the Villager has pointed out, the neighborhood's not reacting well to this insensitivity to its needs: "For more than a decade, East and West Villagers have seen New York University snatch up land and existing buildings for new dorms and facilities. But, when the school tried to jack up a beloved supermarket’s rent in a building it owns on Second Ave., residents rebelled."
And as one neighborhood resident tells the paper: "“If Met Food is pushed out of here, I’m going to have to get on two buses to go to the stores on 14th St.,” said Gertrude Freeman, 84, who lives at the Evelyn and Louis Green Residence, a senior home on E. Fifth St. “And as you can see,” she added, “I’m in a walker.”
The entire community's up in arms, much like Soundview is over the possible loss of its Key Food: "Residents’ displeasure was evident during a raucous public meeting late last month, when a roomful of 60 East Villagers aimed barbed comments at Hurley and Parker over the school’s reported offer of a two- or three-year lease at triple the rent. Though neither side will disclose the current rent, Rel Lavizzo, a broker for Tungsten Property, said the going monthly rate in the area is $100 per square foot. Met Food occupies 3,700 square feet."
So now we have too large real estate entities, Vornado and NYU, spitting in the face of the public interest, unconcerned about the health of New Yorkers; yet at the same time both of these behemoths are constantly lapping up public benefits. Oh, and one other thing about NYU. The building that it owns where the supermarket's located, it was donated to the university and cost the good folks at Washington Square not one farthing. Nice, no?
If you don't believe us, just check out her what to eat blog. Here's what Nestle says about supermarkets and healthy eating: "Obesity is more common in low-income areas. Why? It may seem intuitively obvious that lack of adequate income, transportation, cooking facilities, supermarkets, and opportunities for physical activity would make it difficult for people to eat healthfully and be active, but intuition is one thing and evidence is another. My NYU colleagues Jennifer Black and James Macinko now provide the evidence in a most useful review paper. Want to improve the “built environment”? This is a great starting place."
And here's what the two professors tell us about the importance of neighborhood supermarkets: "Access to stores that sell healthy food, especially large supermarkets, may also contribute to between neighborhood dietary differences. Four cross-sectional studies have demonstrated a positive association between access to food stores and improved dietary choices.18,73–75In Detroit, Michigan, women who primarily purchased food at supermarkets, consumed more fruits and vegetables than those who relied on independent grocery stores.73 Whereas, participants in the US Food Stamp Program who lived over five miles away from their principalfood store, consumed significantly less fruit than those living within one mile of stores." NYU's own tell the story. Why does the university ignore the research of its own?
So, once again, a university harbors all sorts of progressive sentiments while at the same time, as a corporate business, it acts in ways that threatens the public good. Shame on NYU! As the Villager has pointed out, the neighborhood's not reacting well to this insensitivity to its needs: "For more than a decade, East and West Villagers have seen New York University snatch up land and existing buildings for new dorms and facilities. But, when the school tried to jack up a beloved supermarket’s rent in a building it owns on Second Ave., residents rebelled."
And as one neighborhood resident tells the paper: "“If Met Food is pushed out of here, I’m going to have to get on two buses to go to the stores on 14th St.,” said Gertrude Freeman, 84, who lives at the Evelyn and Louis Green Residence, a senior home on E. Fifth St. “And as you can see,” she added, “I’m in a walker.”
The entire community's up in arms, much like Soundview is over the possible loss of its Key Food: "Residents’ displeasure was evident during a raucous public meeting late last month, when a roomful of 60 East Villagers aimed barbed comments at Hurley and Parker over the school’s reported offer of a two- or three-year lease at triple the rent. Though neither side will disclose the current rent, Rel Lavizzo, a broker for Tungsten Property, said the going monthly rate in the area is $100 per square foot. Met Food occupies 3,700 square feet."
So now we have too large real estate entities, Vornado and NYU, spitting in the face of the public interest, unconcerned about the health of New Yorkers; yet at the same time both of these behemoths are constantly lapping up public benefits. Oh, and one other thing about NYU. The building that it owns where the supermarket's located, it was donated to the university and cost the good folks at Washington Square not one farthing. Nice, no?
Friday, May 09, 2008
Water on the Brain
The Gotham Gazette has a very interesting post on the water rate hike tempest. It seems that Mayor Mike, as usual, is mischaracterizing the hike criticism, and by doing so is once again camouflaging his sheer inability to come to grips with the bureaucratic inefficiencies that are endemic to his government. Here's a money quote: "Although construction costs and needs have risen significantly, detractors say that the water system is insular and not subject to appropriate oversight. Noting that the system was not subject to recent budget cuts, a report by the Citizen’s Housing and Planning Council pointed out that, “The efficiencies and innovation that can actually come from budget cutting exercises are largely absent from this process.”
And as we've noted, the DEP has never been given the proper oversight, even after the scandals of over billing all throughout the nineties. As the folks at Water Watch point out: "The DEP’s spending is spiraling out of control. As long as they think that they can continue to raise rates without any oversight, they have no incentive to start limiting their costs."
And when the mayor claims that the cost inherent in the entire water infrastructure system are reasonable he's probably forgetting the escalating fees up at the filtration plant in the Bronx: "Referring to comments by the mayor that the Department of Environmental Protection spends its money efficiently, Gregory Lobo Jost opined in the West Bronx Blog that, “The mayor probably wasn’t thinking about the filtration plant where costs have skyrocketed when he made his ‘reasonably efficiently’ comment.”
What the mayor elides in all of this is, of course, the way in which a fee hike is nothing but a tax hike, and tax hikes are Bloomberg's life blood; part of the philosophical substructure of his governing practice. The fact that the hikes hit lower income New Yorkers hardest makes little dent on the haughty mayor: "Housing advocates also point out that the system of funding water needs through usage rates paid by homeowners is unfair, and that the burden falls disproportionately on low income neighborhoods. “Households in low-income parts of the city not only pay more to support the water system, but pay a much higher percent of their income to do so,” a report by the University Neighborhood Housing Program points out."
Which is why we applaud those electeds who are fighting the DEP disgrace; and why we have nothing but disdain for the hypocrite who criticizes election-based critiques after spending $180 million to flim flam gullible New Yorkers in his successful mayoral runs. As Tony Avella pointed out: "This has to stop," City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) told members of the Water Board at a hearing in Corona. "It is absolutely unfair for the city to impose yet another huge rate increase on the backs of hard-working, middle-class, moderate- and low-income families," Avella said."
Councilman Gennaro hits the Bloomberg nail on the head: "But Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) estimated the board would need just a 6% hike if the city gave all water and sewer bill funds to the Water Board, instead of funneling some of the cash to other agencies.
"All we really need is somebody, this [Water Board] body, to tell the Bloomberg administration, 'Get your hand out of the water and sewer till,'" Gennaro said as he pounded his fist on a podium. Repeatedly calling Mayor Bloomberg a "king" who is "beyond shame," Gennaro challenged the board to stop raising rates on "people who can least afford to pay." "There's nothing more I can do to tell the king to stop this from happening," Gennaro said. "That doesn't mean you can't call it what it is. It's robbery."
The clock's ticking on this poseur; and his carbon foot print expanding jet fleet is waiting to take him away from the government he had no clue about when he came, and from which he leaves with little acquired knowledge and appreciation of. His arrogance and class-based decision making will not be missed.
And as we've noted, the DEP has never been given the proper oversight, even after the scandals of over billing all throughout the nineties. As the folks at Water Watch point out: "The DEP’s spending is spiraling out of control. As long as they think that they can continue to raise rates without any oversight, they have no incentive to start limiting their costs."
And when the mayor claims that the cost inherent in the entire water infrastructure system are reasonable he's probably forgetting the escalating fees up at the filtration plant in the Bronx: "Referring to comments by the mayor that the Department of Environmental Protection spends its money efficiently, Gregory Lobo Jost opined in the West Bronx Blog that, “The mayor probably wasn’t thinking about the filtration plant where costs have skyrocketed when he made his ‘reasonably efficiently’ comment.”
What the mayor elides in all of this is, of course, the way in which a fee hike is nothing but a tax hike, and tax hikes are Bloomberg's life blood; part of the philosophical substructure of his governing practice. The fact that the hikes hit lower income New Yorkers hardest makes little dent on the haughty mayor: "Housing advocates also point out that the system of funding water needs through usage rates paid by homeowners is unfair, and that the burden falls disproportionately on low income neighborhoods. “Households in low-income parts of the city not only pay more to support the water system, but pay a much higher percent of their income to do so,” a report by the University Neighborhood Housing Program points out."
Which is why we applaud those electeds who are fighting the DEP disgrace; and why we have nothing but disdain for the hypocrite who criticizes election-based critiques after spending $180 million to flim flam gullible New Yorkers in his successful mayoral runs. As Tony Avella pointed out: "This has to stop," City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) told members of the Water Board at a hearing in Corona. "It is absolutely unfair for the city to impose yet another huge rate increase on the backs of hard-working, middle-class, moderate- and low-income families," Avella said."
Councilman Gennaro hits the Bloomberg nail on the head: "But Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) estimated the board would need just a 6% hike if the city gave all water and sewer bill funds to the Water Board, instead of funneling some of the cash to other agencies.
"All we really need is somebody, this [Water Board] body, to tell the Bloomberg administration, 'Get your hand out of the water and sewer till,'" Gennaro said as he pounded his fist on a podium. Repeatedly calling Mayor Bloomberg a "king" who is "beyond shame," Gennaro challenged the board to stop raising rates on "people who can least afford to pay." "There's nothing more I can do to tell the king to stop this from happening," Gennaro said. "That doesn't mean you can't call it what it is. It's robbery."
The clock's ticking on this poseur; and his carbon foot print expanding jet fleet is waiting to take him away from the government he had no clue about when he came, and from which he leaves with little acquired knowledge and appreciation of. His arrogance and class-based decision making will not be missed.
West Side Collapse: Vornado on Deck?
All of this morning's papers are covering the collapse of the Tishman-Speyer deal to develop the West Side rail yards. Here's Charles Bagli's take over at the NY Times: "Six weeks after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority selected Tishman Speyer Properties to build a vast complex of office towers, apartment buildings and parks over the railyards on the West Side of Manhattan, the deal has fallen apart."
The deal's demise, attributable to economic and zoning factors, could pave the way for one of our favorite real estate companies to re-enter the picture; the team of Durst and Vornado was widely perceived to be the second place bidder when Tishman Speyer won six weeks ago: “It would be a real tragedy for the city if the project did not proceed now,” said Douglas Durst, who had bid for the property in partnership with Steven Roth, chairman of Vornado Realty Trust. “The M.T.A. must find a way to keep the momentum going.”
And I'll bet that Doug E. Fresh has just the right folks to get this all jump started. If he does, however, we'd suggest that he find himself a new partner, because after we finish the Tar Babying of Steve Roth there will be little chance for the developer to be part of any deal where zoning will play an important role.
That is, unless the Distrusters at Vornado quickly begin to see the light about the eviction of the Key Food at Bruckner Plaza. You simply can't go around this city pretending to be a good corporate citizen-expecting public benefits as well-if you think so little of the health of low income New Yorkers. Your move Vornado!
Update
Eliot Brown at the Observer weighs in on the possible Durst/Vornado replacement: "Unclear is what the next step is from here. The M.T.A. could conceivably go back to the other bidders—a team of the Durst Organization and Vornado Realty Trust had a bid within about $40 million of Tishman’s—though presumably the bids would be lowered should Tishman’s $1 billion bid be out of the picture."
The deal's demise, attributable to economic and zoning factors, could pave the way for one of our favorite real estate companies to re-enter the picture; the team of Durst and Vornado was widely perceived to be the second place bidder when Tishman Speyer won six weeks ago: “It would be a real tragedy for the city if the project did not proceed now,” said Douglas Durst, who had bid for the property in partnership with Steven Roth, chairman of Vornado Realty Trust. “The M.T.A. must find a way to keep the momentum going.”
And I'll bet that Doug E. Fresh has just the right folks to get this all jump started. If he does, however, we'd suggest that he find himself a new partner, because after we finish the Tar Babying of Steve Roth there will be little chance for the developer to be part of any deal where zoning will play an important role.
That is, unless the Distrusters at Vornado quickly begin to see the light about the eviction of the Key Food at Bruckner Plaza. You simply can't go around this city pretending to be a good corporate citizen-expecting public benefits as well-if you think so little of the health of low income New Yorkers. Your move Vornado!
Update
Eliot Brown at the Observer weighs in on the possible Durst/Vornado replacement: "Unclear is what the next step is from here. The M.T.A. could conceivably go back to the other bidders—a team of the Durst Organization and Vornado Realty Trust had a bid within about $40 million of Tishman’s—though presumably the bids would be lowered should Tishman’s $1 billion bid be out of the picture."
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Crain's Keys on Supermarket
In this weeks Crain's New York Business magazine there's a nice focus on the plight of the Key Food supermarket in Soundview: "A fight is brewing in the South Bronx over the future of the Soundview neighborhood's largest supermarket, Key Food. Situated on Bruckner Boulevard at White Plains Road, the 30,000-square-foot grocery store may be forced to close when its lease expires at the end of the year. Vornado Realty acquired the Bruckner Plaza shopping center, where Key Food is one of the anchors, for $165 million last year. Last month, the developer said it plans to quintuple rents to about $50 per square foot."
And the fight has only just begun-or as Jimmy Durante might have said; "They ain't seen nothing yet." Next week at IS 131 there will be a combined Town Hall and Community Board meeting to address the community concerns with the possible eviction of Key Food. As we say in our advisory:
"A community town hall meeting will be held next Wednesday to inform the community about the potential eviction of the Key Food Supermarket in the Bruckner Boulevard shopping center in Soundview. The reason for the possible eviction is because the landlord, Vornado Realty and Trust, is seeking to charge the store $50 per square foot in rent. This kind of rent would make it impossible for Key Food, or any supermarket in this income community, to be
able to offer the neighborhood good healthy food at affordable prices."
The community and its CB is already up in arms, especially after Vornado secretly met with City Planning to discuss its shopping center expansion plans after Key Food was sent packing. As we say in the Bronx, "That's not happening." Especially not since the expansion would require a full land use review and City Council approval.
Something's gonna have to give because no supermarket can afford to pay that much for rent in the South Bronx. As we told Crain's: “No supermarket can pay that kind of money, certainly not in that neighborhood,” says Richard Lipsky, head of the Neighborhood Retail Alliance, a group fighting to keep supermarkets in New York City's outer boroughs."
This situation presents a real challenge to area elected officials. The picture is painted well by the chair of the local board: “People rely on that store to be there,” says Enrique Vega, chairman of the Community Board. “We've heard they [Vornado] want to knock down the grocery store and put in another big-box store.” The shopping center currently houses a Staples and a Kmart. “The community doesn't want another big-box store; they want a supermarket,” Mr. Vega adds."
As we've been discussing, the situation can be seen as part of an overall city wide public health problem with disappearing supermarkets: "The next-closest supermarket is a Pathmark, which lies more than 10 blocks away, a distance that will prove difficult for seniors and young families to navigate with groceries. Just last week, the Department of City Planning released a report on the accessibility of supermarkets and fresh produce to city residents. The report ranked the South Bronx below the median in terms of grocery store accessibility."
Clearly, if Vornado doesn't budge, something will have to be done to impress upon the billion dollar baby that this stuff doesn't play here, especially not when the company's living large off of the public sector. The heat is gonna definitely rise in the Vornado kitchen in the next few weeks.
And the fight has only just begun-or as Jimmy Durante might have said; "They ain't seen nothing yet." Next week at IS 131 there will be a combined Town Hall and Community Board meeting to address the community concerns with the possible eviction of Key Food. As we say in our advisory:
"A community town hall meeting will be held next Wednesday to inform the community about the potential eviction of the Key Food Supermarket in the Bruckner Boulevard shopping center in Soundview. The reason for the possible eviction is because the landlord, Vornado Realty and Trust, is seeking to charge the store $50 per square foot in rent. This kind of rent would make it impossible for Key Food, or any supermarket in this income community, to be
able to offer the neighborhood good healthy food at affordable prices."
The community and its CB is already up in arms, especially after Vornado secretly met with City Planning to discuss its shopping center expansion plans after Key Food was sent packing. As we say in the Bronx, "That's not happening." Especially not since the expansion would require a full land use review and City Council approval.
Something's gonna have to give because no supermarket can afford to pay that much for rent in the South Bronx. As we told Crain's: “No supermarket can pay that kind of money, certainly not in that neighborhood,” says Richard Lipsky, head of the Neighborhood Retail Alliance, a group fighting to keep supermarkets in New York City's outer boroughs."
This situation presents a real challenge to area elected officials. The picture is painted well by the chair of the local board: “People rely on that store to be there,” says Enrique Vega, chairman of the Community Board. “We've heard they [Vornado] want to knock down the grocery store and put in another big-box store.” The shopping center currently houses a Staples and a Kmart. “The community doesn't want another big-box store; they want a supermarket,” Mr. Vega adds."
As we've been discussing, the situation can be seen as part of an overall city wide public health problem with disappearing supermarkets: "The next-closest supermarket is a Pathmark, which lies more than 10 blocks away, a distance that will prove difficult for seniors and young families to navigate with groceries. Just last week, the Department of City Planning released a report on the accessibility of supermarkets and fresh produce to city residents. The report ranked the South Bronx below the median in terms of grocery store accessibility."
Clearly, if Vornado doesn't budge, something will have to be done to impress upon the billion dollar baby that this stuff doesn't play here, especially not when the company's living large off of the public sector. The heat is gonna definitely rise in the Vornado kitchen in the next few weeks.
Behind the Political Times
In today's NY Times, the paper critiques in its editorial the new discretionary funds procedures proposed by Speaker Quinn: "Still, these are small fixes to a big problem. The best reform would be to simply get rid of these “member items” and other fiscal bonbons that city politicians like to parcel out in their neighborhoods. All city money should go through the regular budgeting process, with its checks and balances."
But why should it? Don't the current expenditures have to be vetted and processed through various mayoral agencies? And why doesn't the paper even mention the failure of mayoral due diligence? This kind of legislative animus is unbecoming to a paper that prides itself on its commitment to democratic practices-and never misses an opportunity to excoriate the executive on the national level (could this be simply partisan double standards?).
The fact is, that the NY Times has been slavishly fawning all over that mayor for the past six years; sitting quietly aside while the billionaire awards city property to his billionaire real estate friends without the benefit of public bidding; not to mention the millions of contracts that have been awarded without proper oversight.
And even where a bidding process has been in place-as with the Moynihan Station-isn't it fascinating, the Marxists would say, "No accident,"-how the winning bidders just happened to be Dan Doctoroff's favorite Bobsey Twins-Steve Ross of Related and Steve Roth of Vornado? This practice, one that we've labeled patricianage, has gone unexamined by the toadies over at the paper of wreckage.
So please spare us all of the reform messages here. and by the way, has anyone yet examined all of the Bloomberg philanthropy prior to his election and beyond? The Times should remain quite in all of this, After all, after making campaign finance reform its signature issue, the paper went ahead and endorse Mayor Mike after he spent over $160 million in making a mockery of the finance law that the Times pretended to see as sacrosanct.
But why should it? Don't the current expenditures have to be vetted and processed through various mayoral agencies? And why doesn't the paper even mention the failure of mayoral due diligence? This kind of legislative animus is unbecoming to a paper that prides itself on its commitment to democratic practices-and never misses an opportunity to excoriate the executive on the national level (could this be simply partisan double standards?).
The fact is, that the NY Times has been slavishly fawning all over that mayor for the past six years; sitting quietly aside while the billionaire awards city property to his billionaire real estate friends without the benefit of public bidding; not to mention the millions of contracts that have been awarded without proper oversight.
And even where a bidding process has been in place-as with the Moynihan Station-isn't it fascinating, the Marxists would say, "No accident,"-how the winning bidders just happened to be Dan Doctoroff's favorite Bobsey Twins-Steve Ross of Related and Steve Roth of Vornado? This practice, one that we've labeled patricianage, has gone unexamined by the toadies over at the paper of wreckage.
So please spare us all of the reform messages here. and by the way, has anyone yet examined all of the Bloomberg philanthropy prior to his election and beyond? The Times should remain quite in all of this, After all, after making campaign finance reform its signature issue, the paper went ahead and endorse Mayor Mike after he spent over $160 million in making a mockery of the finance law that the Times pretended to see as sacrosanct.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
High Caloric Confusion
In a post on line at Crain's, the magazine examines the early returns on the silly DOH menu labeling scheme. And, as we predicted, confusion reigns because of the menu offering ranges that the law can't easily accommodate: "At Chipotle, for example, a burrito is listed as having somewhere between 420 and 918 calories, while a salad weighs in at anywhere from 155 to 823 calories. “It's such a wide range,” says Kelli Garcia, a Chipotle customer. “It seems silly to put it there.” The restaurants say that because their meals are made to order and come in varying sizes, calorie counts can't be boiled down to a single number. Serious calorie-counters, like Ms. Garcia, say that they will have to continue to rely on nutrition-related Web sites to calculate the caloric content of restaurant meals."
We had pointed this all out from the very beginning. As we said in January: "First of all, the burrito posting will not, because of the myriad combinations of possible burrito selections, be on each item. Even the clueless fast food haters at DOH couldn't require fast food outlets to post calories on every conceivable menu items-the menu board would be out the door and down the block.Instead the chains of 15 outlets or more will be allowed to post a range for certain items like burritos. So Taco Bell or Chipotle will post the following: Burrito (400-1500 calories). A burrito consumer will simply have no idea what her burrito combo contains; which is precisely why the industry opposes the regulation."
And check out the calorie range for just a salad-an item that all of us intuitively believe should be healthier than a taco; except when you add all of the possible dressings and toppings, items that don't have to be listed separately. All of which leads to total confusion for even the most nutritionally savvy consumer.
And one customer that Crain's talked to really gets it: "“It's such a wide range,” says Kelli Garcia, a Chipotle customer. “It seems silly to put it there.” The restaurants say that because their meals are made to order and come in varying sizes, calorie counts can't be boiled down to a single number. Serious calorie-counters, like Ms. Garcia, say that they will have to continue to rely on nutrition-related Web sites to calculate the caloric content of restaurant meals."
Exactly so. The whole scheme reeks of a social science experiment gone amok-and let's make sure that the folks at Dewey, Cheetum and Howe don't do the review of all of this silliness. The experiment, aside from being silly, is also expensive-around $2,000 per fast food outlet. Which puts the overall compliance cost city wide at around $5 million!
So by all means let's put this scheme to a rigorous evaluation; but just not by the folks at
We had pointed this all out from the very beginning. As we said in January: "First of all, the burrito posting will not, because of the myriad combinations of possible burrito selections, be on each item. Even the clueless fast food haters at DOH couldn't require fast food outlets to post calories on every conceivable menu items-the menu board would be out the door and down the block.Instead the chains of 15 outlets or more will be allowed to post a range for certain items like burritos. So Taco Bell or Chipotle will post the following: Burrito (400-1500 calories). A burrito consumer will simply have no idea what her burrito combo contains; which is precisely why the industry opposes the regulation."
And check out the calorie range for just a salad-an item that all of us intuitively believe should be healthier than a taco; except when you add all of the possible dressings and toppings, items that don't have to be listed separately. All of which leads to total confusion for even the most nutritionally savvy consumer.
And one customer that Crain's talked to really gets it: "“It's such a wide range,” says Kelli Garcia, a Chipotle customer. “It seems silly to put it there.” The restaurants say that because their meals are made to order and come in varying sizes, calorie counts can't be boiled down to a single number. Serious calorie-counters, like Ms. Garcia, say that they will have to continue to rely on nutrition-related Web sites to calculate the caloric content of restaurant meals."
Exactly so. The whole scheme reeks of a social science experiment gone amok-and let's make sure that the folks at Dewey, Cheetum and Howe don't do the review of all of this silliness. The experiment, aside from being silly, is also expensive-around $2,000 per fast food outlet. Which puts the overall compliance cost city wide at around $5 million!
So by all means let's put this scheme to a rigorous evaluation; but just not by the folks at