October 10, 2016 Weather: Sunny, with a high of 62 degrees.
Notices:
Free concerts and many more local events are on our calendar.
Cat reported missing near Riverside Park.
News:
Clothing designer Brigitte Vosse is fighting in an appeals court to overturn a ruling that forbid her from using an illuminated peace sign in a window at the Ansonia on 73rd Street. The city had fined her $800. “Her lawyer Timothy Collins, from the Manhattan-based firm Collins, Dobkin & Miller, tried to convince the court panel that the ‘First Amendment doesn’t stop at the second or third floor of an urban high-rise.’ During a nearly 30-minute hearing, a three-judge panel sharply questioned that premise, asking how much the Constitution protects not only a person’s right to wave a banner but also to have it seen.”
The Eucharist was stolen from Holy Trinity Church. “The tabernacle door was reportedly vandalized and forced open and the Eucharist was removed what is believed to be sometime early Monday morning, Sept. 19, according to Msgr. Thomas Sandi, the pastor.”
Rabbi Stephen Roberts is running as an independent against State Senator Brad Hoylman. “Roberts also said, if elected, he would advocate for creating more middle-income housing, and for legalizing marijuana — then using the taxes from pot sales to pay for healthcare for currently uninsured New Yorkers.”
A new website tracks every MTA bus in the city, to gauge speed, ridership and how often they bunch up.
I looked at Rabbi Roberts’ website. He’s pushing an old time UWS lefty agenda. I don’t see how he’s any different or much of an improvement from Hoylman.
His campaign website is a rehash of conventional leftist ideas. Absolutely nothing new there.
Despite the disastrous record of government intervention into the housing market, he wants to create yet another state-run housing program.
The section on public safety seems to imply that police officers, not criminals, are the main threat: https://www.robertsfornyssenate.com/safety.
He also wants to end charter schools, which consistently outperform regular public schools (making the teachers unions look bad).
“Free” college tuition at taxpayer expense. The list goes on and on.
Re: “Cat reported missing near Riverside Park.”
Probably out looking for that missing parrot:
?
that Comment is pretty cold
It’s not the first time ScooterStan’s displayed such callousness either. One can only wonder whether he’d be so flippant were he to have a beloved pet go missing.
Callous??
You mean, like when you thought the most awful part of the Orlando shooting at that nightclub was that this would hinder gun owners rights??
Like that? But then again you are the only Trumpista on the UWS so what did I expect.
That’s a completely tendentious, misleading characterization of the comments of mine in-question.
For those who may be interested to see what I actually wrote, in context:
(Look for all of the comments of mine that appear on each page and the context; the comments that I was replying-to.)
https://www.westsiderag.com/2016/06/13/photo-of-the-day-strong-and-proud-on-amsterdam-avenue#comment-327429
https://www.westsiderag.com/2016/06/14/upper-west-siders-send-hopes-and-prayers-into-the-sky-for-orlando-victims#comment-327596
Gorgeous photo!! Never saw the UWS in turquoise tones.
Concerning the woman fighting to be allowed to display a neon peace sign in her window on First Amendment grounds: Of the people defending and supporting this, I wonder how many would do so if, instead of a peace sign, the object-in-question were one that they found objectionable. Imagine, for example, a Donald J. Trump for President sign. Or a sign displaying a message of opposition to abortion or one or more aspects of the “LGBTQ” agenda or some other sacred cow. What about a Nativity scene or even a simple crucifix?
Or a swastika. I love the peace sign and would like to see it stay but this is a very good point. If it were a swastika, I might want to argue that such prominent placement makes this more than an act of free speech. It’s a semi-permanent addition to the public space (highly prominent and visible although it’s on private property) that can be regulated, like a statue or a mural. But I’m not sure that’s valid either.
you know, I’d live to see more Nativity scenes and crucifixes displayed. That would be really beautiful.
OMG! Aren’t there other things to be concerned about other than a peace sign at a window, that doesn’t do anything but bring joy to people who look up and see it !We’ve gotten out of control here! I grew up on the UWS and this is… PATHETIC!
Glad to see the NYC picture. Is the artist’s work on display anywhere?
This is America. Can we take a vote on the Peace sign?
This is America. We do not get to vote on peace or war.
and this is the first time i will express a political view. MY VOTE IS FOR PEACE.
Regardless of the message or character that they convey, illuminated signs are, by their very nature, inherently bright, loud and distracting. As such, neon and illuminated signage has no place on residential property that is clearly, widely and unavoidably visible to the public– at least not in densely populated areas, such as the one-in-question here.
Imagine if even as few as, say, 10% of all of the windows in a building such as the Ansonia had one form of another of such lighted objects in them. Imagine the light pollution and defacement of the visual environment that would be created.
From all of the information that I have read on this case, I can only conclude that the ruling against the display of the sign constituted an entirely reasonable and just application of a completely valid and necessary law.
Excuse me Independent but the peace sign is on the top floor and you have to look way up to see it! It’s HARDLY… ” inherently bright, loud and distracting” Give me a break! Besides your theory doesn’t hold water. There are dozens and dozens of illuminated neon signs on store fronts. In fact I have a Dry Cleaners sign on a side street across from my building that illuminates my apt. at night when they’re closed. Why are they and others allowed to have signs up! Don’t be ridiculous!!!
there go the menorahs
Okay but Hannukah is only eight days out of the year. Plus, are most electric menorahs as bright as this symbol appears to be?
(Incidentally, one cannot fulfill the actual mitzvah of kindling Chanukah lights with electric bulbs. Only with actual flames, whether candles or oil).
UWS_lifer
no religious expression is to be allowed in the USA?
oh, boy
so we’re ok with menorahs, Nativity scenes and crucifixes, and peace signs then.
Nope…keep of your religious zealotry to yourselves….thank you.