There was a “supermoon” visible this weekend, and Upper West Sider Douglas Kiddie got a nice shot of it (this photo is from Saturday, and the supermoon officially rose on Sunday).
The news certainly hasn’t slowed down for the summertime. Here’s some of what made headlines recently in other outlets.
Landmark West is suing to stop the city from remaking the playground at PS 66 on West 89th street. Parents say the playground is dangerous and areas of it should be flattened. (NY Post)
Anthony Weiner arrived late and didn’t seem to spark much enthusiasm when he spoke in front of the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District. (Politicker)
The Bloomberg fining regime is penalizing small businesses, levying $8,000 fines for stores that carry the wrong sign. “‘I’ve seen nonsensical violations imposed on retail shops during the past six months that I’ve never seen before,’ said Robert Bookman, a lawyer for many small businesses and a former top official at Consumer Affairs.” (Daily News)
The family of 4-year-old Ariel Russo, killed in an SUV crash this month, is suing the city for $40 million, in part because of a four-minute delay in getting an ambulance to the scene. “‘It took too long for them to get there,’ devastated mom Sofia Russo told The News, referring to a four-minute delay in getting an ambulance to the scene. ‘No other child should die because it takes too long. The ambulance system has to be fixed for the children of New York.'” (Daily News)
PS 87 on 77th street is cutting most of its dual-language classes because of budget cuts. “Only about five students at the school are required to have special classes for English-language learners, which makes the dual-language program “an enrichment program” to the DOE, Altschul said — a curriculum perk the city is not legally obligated to fund.” (DNAinfo)
There was some hot bidding action at a state auction for two Manhattan buildings, including one on West 119th street. (Malcolm Carter)
Comptroller John Liu rejected the proposed $90 million contract between the city and the Central Park Conservancy, arguing that the conservancy shouldn’t keep half the revenue from concessions and events. It should have to give more of that revenue to the city, to be spent on parks with less money, he said. (Daily News)
Continuum Partners, which owns St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital on 114th street and Roosevelt on 58th, is in the process of merging with Mt. Sinai, a move that critics say will mean fewer services for patients. It’s got people in Harlem particularly concerned, now that a St. Luke’s pediatric in-patient unit is closed. (DNAinfo)
The PTA’s of PS 75 and MS 250, which are in the same building, have vastly different budgets, with MS 250 relying more on federal money to supplement educational expenses. “The tale of two schools at 735 West End Avenue is also being played out in buildings elsewhere in the city where multiple institutions co-locate. Schools with powerhouse PTAs that can finance perks for their students occupy the same buildings as neighbors that rely almost entirely on federal support to fund expenses beyond core operating costs. In many other cases, privately and publicly subsidized schools are located within just a few blocks of one another.” (NY World)
A building on West End Avenue near 96th street just changed hands: “David Bistricer’s Clipper Equity and the family-owned Rieder Holdings are switching tactics at a nearly 200-unit Upper West Side rental building which they were in the midst of converting to condominiums. The partnership sold 752 West End Avenue for $120 million, according to records filed yesterday.” (The Real Deal)
The story of PS 75 and MS 250 is another bit of evidence that “separate” is not equal. Public school buildings and public school finances should be for public schools. They should not be used for quasi private schools called “charters” or anything else. I am tired of “public education” being separate and unequal aren’t you?
Yes, I am very tired of our public school system being “divided”, whether it’s the smart kids vs. the challenged or the whites vs. the minority kids. Both my kids went to Delta and there was a tremendous division between their program and the rest of the “programs” at MS 54. Why can’t Delta be housed with The Computer School or Anderson?