July 14th, 2009
If you walked by 139 Norfolk this past weekend, you might have done a double-take. While it's true that weddings in New York City come in sorts of shapes and sizes, this one was a bit unusual. The guys behind the design firm "Grand Opening," have staged several different "businesses" in their storefront – including a drive-in movie theater and a ping pong parlor. This summer, it's a Vegas style wedding chapel, complete with a minister ordained by the Universal Life Church. The first happy couple were Sandra and Josh. You can see more photos on Grand Opening's web site, or check out our earlier story here.
July 14th, 2009
Recently we reported on the growing concerns on the Lower East Side about escalating violence among teens - and the absence of structured programs to keep them engaged in positive activities during the summer. The Chinatown YMCA has stepped up to help fill the void. Yesterday, representatives of the organization met with community organizers at the Two Bridges Community Center to launch summer programs. The Two Bridges Center, which faced closure recently due to city budget cuts, is being run on an interim basis by the YMCA. Some of the programs will take place there – others will be run out of the Houston Street Center. We'll have more details in the next few days.
July 14th, 2009
Last month we spoke with LES doctor Dave Ores about his inventive non-profit health care program for restaurant workers in New York City (see our story Dr. Dave's Cure For a Sick Healthcare System). Since that time he definitely hasn't shied away from the national debate about health care reform. If anything, Dr. Dave has become even more outspoken about the need for non-profit health care.
As reform proposals begin to emerge in Washington, D.C., the idea of private sector health care co-operatives seems to be gaining ground. The Senate Finance Committee may be looking at proposing "co-ops" as an alternative to a government plan. The New York Times recently profiled Group Health, one of the country’s few surviving health insurance cooperatives, in Seattle, WA, which acts a lot like the type of cooperative Dr. Dave's advocating. Some left-leaning political action organizations, such as MoveOn.org have argued that "weak half-measures
like the co-op are being offered to garner Republican support" and have started campaigns to oppose them. They contend these proposals undermine "a
robust public health insurance option". MoveOn seems to oppose the idea of any type of private plan. But what about a private non-profit plan? We asked Dr. Dave to comment on MoveOn's stance via e-mail and here is his reply:
I think they confuse health care for all Americans (national not-for-profit health care for everyone) with Health Insurance which is some access to some health services (maybe) for a subset of Americans.. ..the ones who will pay them trillions of dollars for a small percent of their health needs…It is really a choice between health care FOR profit vs. Health care for ALL Americans (not for profit). They are not the same animal. A for profit system vs. a not for profit system. The fact is a "for profit" mission statement is incompatible with health services and care for ALL Americans. The existing for profit system (so called private insurance) excludes at least four groups of Americans. The very poor. The very sick. The very old and Veterans. Those groups are EXCLUDED and dumped onto the Medicaid system (ie: the American taxpayers).
A not for profit system (like MEDEX) would cover every American cradle to grave with NO CONNECTION to their employment (or lack thereof). Just no one would make trillions in profits to keep for themselves like the last 50 years.
They can make profit in other industries. Making OBSCENE profits of off sick and dying Americans is inherently evil. Madoff times a million!
USA deserves and needs a single national not for profit Healthcare system like all the other countries on Earth.
July 14th, 2009
According to the Daily News, State Senator Daniel Squadron has been assured the Senate will take up his version of the mayoral control bill, possibly as early as tomorrow. Squadron is the Senate sponsor of the legislation already passed by the Assembly. Several other Senators will propose changes in the law, intended to curb the mayor's power over the city's schools.
Budget cuts jeopardize after school programs for thousands of NYC kindergartners.
Did the Bloomberg campaign use a private high school in Brooklyn as a backdrop for a publicity brochure titled, "Mike Bloomberg's Public School Progress Report?"
A Subway Sandwich shop appears to be the new retail tenant of the "Palazzo Grey" at 334 Grand Street.
The Times looks back on the life of table tennis champ Lou Pagliaro, and highlights his LES roots: "Table tennis was Pagliaro’s way of staying out of trouble on the rough
streets of the Lower East Side. At 8, he walked into the Boys’ Club of
New York on East 10th Street and picked up a paddle. Soon, he was
beating the older kids who had taught him how to play the game. In
1933, he won the city’s Metro Junior Championship."
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