The Latest

The Gateway (Inglorious Basterds Edition)

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Marty Golden's Pulp Fiction: "I'm not sayin' he was right, but you're sayin' a foot massage don't mean nothing, and I'm sayin' it does. I've given a million ladies a million foot massages and they all meant somethin'. We act like they don't, but they do. That's what's so fuckin' cool about 'em. This sensual thing's goin' on that nobody's talkin about, but you know it and she knows it," 

NYC Population: My Explanation Fails

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When I heard that New York City’s population did not rise as much as expected, my initial reaction is there must have been a large reduction in average household size. With the city becoming relatively more affluent, one might assume that fewer people were crammed into each housing unit. Or perhaps some of the roommates were not admitted to. With the large baby boom echo cohort moving out of childhood, however, I thought the share of housing units occupied by empty nesters might have risen.

But a quick look at average household size shows an increase from 2000 to 2010, reversing decades of decline. Which makes sense given that every generation is becoming worse off than the last, because of the last. Whereas the 1960s generation moved to apartments in Manhattan, my first NYC apartment in Kingsbridge, the Bronx was shared with three other people, one to a room. Now young people live four to a room. Nevermind.

Free The Subway and Rail Systems From the Politicians

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In my post on a way out for the MTA, I proposed making the subway and commuter rail systems semi- self funded. They would be required to cover their costs on an “auto-equivalent” basis, with riders paying for the ongoing purchase, maintenance and operation of railcars and the collection of fares through fares – but not for tracks or stations. Motor vehicle drivers, after for comparison, pay to purchase, maintain and operate their own motor vehicles, but they drive on streets funded by general taxes (as well as highways and bridges funded by gas taxes and tolls). A simple requirement for specific costs to be covered could cure some of the dysfunctional politics that is destroying the transit system.

Free The Buses from the MTA

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In my first post on a way out for the MTA, I proposed breaking up the MTA transit monopoly and settling the payroll tax controversy by turning the bus systems, and the payroll tax/taxi surcharge revenues, over to New York City and the counties. New York City and the counties would also shift their existing MTA contributions, excluding those for rail station maintenance, to their bus systems. The MTA would no longer operate buses. If the suburban counties didn’t want to keep the surcharge, fine. If they didn’t want to have buses, fine. These new transit systems would not inherit the rules of the old ones. Just the vehicles and depots. One might think, given this proposal, that I have joined the many MTA bashers. Having worked at NYC Transit twice in two different eras, I in fact know more about MTA dysfunction than most of those complaining, but I also know the agency works better than most in the public sector. My actual reasoning is as follows.

THIS YEAR’S JUDGESHIP RACES IN BROOKLYN HAVE RILED UP A FEW PEOPLE.

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Nearly every year, judicial positions open up in Brooklyn, that require elections. All bona-fide political parties can nominate candidates. What used to happen in the past (1980’s & 1990’s especially), was that the two major contemporary political parties (Republicans and Democrats), generally made deals whereby there were trade-offs: with democrats dominating the process. This has lessened over time, but this year there is apparently some deal-making going on behind the scenes.

JUMPING ON THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS (AND OTHER NEWSPAPERS TOO).

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As I implied in my last “Vines” column: relative to the five boroughs of New York City, Brooklyn is usually where the political action's at. And sure enough, when the Daily News came with their expose on the many NYC council members (almost 20 -the last time I looked) whose ethics can be put to challenge, Brooklyn had more than just a few of their electeds represented on the “Council of Shame” list. This story broke last Sunday (3-20-2011); and that was fine; but I still have a big problem with the Daily News.

Strongly for a Parker Inquiry, Tentatively Against a Parker Expulsion

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SENATOR RUBEN DIAZ, SR: I’d like to know if my colleagues in the New York State Senate – especially those who consider themselves purists – plan to do to something to Senator Kevin Parker now that he has been convicted of two misdemeanors. Will Senators Schneiderman, Breslin, Savino, Liz Kruger, and others rally for justice twice as loud as they did when Hiram Monserrate was found guilty of one misdemeanor?

A Way Out for the MTA

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I swore off suggesting solutions to New York’s state and local public policy problems some time ago, on the grounds that there is not chance that any of those suggestions would be implemented. Let’s face it, most of those in charge don’t actually think there is a problem, because things are working out very nicely for themselves and those who help keep them in office, and the damage to others is irrelevant as long as it can be deferred or blamed on someone else. And when things get really bad they can always do what con artists always do – take their pensions and skip town.

But what the hell. The financial situation of the MTA is something I happen to know a great deal about, and I don’t want to remain silent in the face of the propaganda and rationalizations that everyone in New York politics is determined to make. They should not be allowed to pretend it isn’t happening. And they shouldn’t be allowed to pretend, even now, that nothing could be done about it. So here it goes.

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