Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Harvest in the Square 2008
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
The Union Square Partnership’s 13th annual event celebrating the Fall bounty took place on Thursday, September 18, with full cooperation of Ike and other powerful storms, who decided to stay away, leaving the tent city on Union Square and its elaborate walkways, domes and plazas alone. Its tent world was more complex this year, extending along the entire Union Square west half, since the customary North Plaza is under repair, but it succeeded, with collaboration of Parks Department, the Union Square Greenmarket, the 40 restaurant exhibitors and their partner wine purveyors, and the visitors.
The bounty of the season, much of it from the Greenmarket, and served by the best chefs of what is often called New York’s best-tasting neighborhood was enthusiastically received, as proven by our annual informal survey. No particular theme emerged, unless it was the joy and laughter that prevailed. Barbecue was the major product, and there was no enthusiastic speech-making, understandable in this critical economic environment. But we continue to be resilient, as we have been, throughout our history.
Surprisingly, the highest ratings in our survey were given to deserts, starting with Union Square Café’s Robiola Panna Cotta with fruit, Stand’s marshmallow shake and City Bakery’s apple lemon tart (they also had great assorted canapés), as well as Whole Foods’ harvest fruit tarts.
The offerings by our local hosts are reviewed by major specialties, in approximate survey rating order.
Starting with the reception, the wine portion was hosted by Robert Mondavi, with a large display at the entrance, Private Selection Fume Blancand Pinot Noir favored. Mionetto had a nice small-bubble Prosecco, and Black Duck’s lobster canapés and crabcakes, and Knickerbocker Bar and Grill’s t-bone steak bits and shrimp skewers had custimers following the servers around,
At the tables, both in the soup and vegetable departments, Rose Mexicana had fine guacamole en Molcajete, Pure Food and Wine offered pumpkin-seed tart with spring onion cashew cheese, Dos Caminos served mini-pumpkins with red chipotle creme pepitas. National Arts Club had chili and Tocqueville’s put forth a chilled borscht with smoked blue fin pate. Devi’s cabbage and white bean dumplings were tops, galaxy Global Eatery had chickpea pancakes, and in the pasta department the noodle salad from Republic triumphed.
Meat specialties had the most entries, and Angelo & Maxie’s Steakhouse triumphed again, with filet mignon sandwiches and sautéed onions, followed by Primehouse’s seared hang steak with blue cheese fondue. Barbecue lovers found Hill Country’s pork spare riblets, Blue Smoke’s baby back ribs, and those from Duke’s, as well as Wildwood BBQ’s and Beppe’s and Robert Mondavi’s pulled pork sliders. Havana Central had chicken and rice with red beans, Gramercy Tavern featured smoked kielbasa, Todd English’s Olives offered Long Island duck confit latkes, Café Spice grilled some Do-Rukha kebab, Tamarind served chicken Kolah Puri, City Bakery had bacon sandwiches.
In the seafood division, newcomer Bar Stuzzichini had winning polpo (octopus) and potato salad, newcomer Lunetta had fluke Crudo, BlueWater Grill served Farmers’ Market Martini “Caprese” skewers?????????????? City Crab & Seafood offered well-liked Maryland crab cakes with Greenmarket salad. There was ceviche from Café Society and Lucy, wild striped bass tartare from Fleur de Sel, Gamberi al Gorgonzola (shrimp) from Aleo, Kobe Tataki with warm Shimeyi mushrooms from SushiSamba, bacalaitos with orange Aioli??? from The Coffee Shop.
As fot beverages, the event was awash with Fiji water, from the middle of Pacific Ocean. Dallis Coffee offered light and dark roastsGuS Grown-Up Soda served new fruity flavors, and Heartland Brewery earned honors with its pumpkin ale and Oktoberfest lager..
In wineries, Long Island predominated, with Bedell Cellars and Corey Creek serving theit First Crush reds, whites and varietals, Wolffer Estate and Shinn Estate offering chardonnays, cabernet franc and merlot, competing with Dr. Constantin Frank’s dry rieslings, and a newcomer, Matchbox from Dunigan Hills, Chile, featuring Tinto Rey, a blend of varietals, mostly spicy tempranillo.
Veteran local distributors and retailers, Union Square Wines and Spirits, Southern Wines and Spirits of NY and New York Wines and Dines had selections from their spcious cellars, with Robert Mondavi earning kudos with its spectacular wine and food splashes.
In the crush, this observer had barely any time to touch base with old friends, Jane Crotty, once a participant in the most contested City Council election, with???then a Baruch College vice president and now a lobbyist for education (regards to Paul Crotty, now on federal bench), Commissioner Rob Walsh, ages ago the chief of the former 14th Street-Union Square BID/ LDC, now running theNYC Department of Small Business Services. Briefly saw Jennifer Falk, Executive Director of the BID’s successor Union Square Partnership, organizer of the annual Harvest event, held to raise funds for the beautification of Union Square Park, usuallyresulting in about in a $100,000 plus contribution. Since this involves the privatization of parks issues, specifically the proposed restaurant in the Pavillion building, there were also preservationist leafleters outside, gently protesting the event, with street performer Reverend Billy mock-auctioning the park. It is that kind of year.
The presenting sponsors of the harvest were the US Partnership,NYC Department of parks and Recreation, Con Edison, and Council of Environment of NYC, with local businesses contributiong in several sponsorship categories, including two universities, three hospitals, a dozen real estate companies, law firms restaurant corporations and individual restaurants. Chairs of the Harvest were Danny Meyers of Union Square Hospitality Group and Eric Peterson of Gotham City Reastaurant Group, both Honorary Co-Chairs and Founders, and Suvir Savan of Devi as the 2008 Restaurant Chair and Garry Tornberg of Southern Wines and Spirits as the 2008 Wine Chair.
The Union Square Partnership’s 13th annual event celebrating the Fall bounty took place on Thursday, September 18, with full cooperation of Ike and other powerful storms, who decided to stay away, leaving the tent city on Union Square and its elaborate walkways, domes and plazas alone. Its tent world was more complex this year, extending along the entire Union Square west half, since the customary North Plaza is under repair, but it succeeded, with collaboration of Parks Department, the Union Square Greenmarket, the 40 restaurant exhibitors and their partner wine purveyors, and the visitors.
The bounty of the season, much of it from the Greenmarket, and served by the best chefs of what is often called New York’s best-tasting neighborhood was enthusiastically received, as proven by our annual informal survey. No particular theme emerged, unless it was the joy and laughter that prevailed. Barbecue was the major product, and there was no enthusiastic speech-making, understandable in this critical economic environment. But we continue to be resilient, as we have been, throughout our history.
Surprisingly, the highest ratings in our survey were given to deserts, starting with Union Square Café’s Robiola Panna Cotta with fruit, Stand’s marshmallow shake and City Bakery’s apple lemon tart (they also had great assorted canapés), as well as Whole Foods’ harvest fruit tarts.
The offerings by our local hosts are reviewed by major specialties, in approximate survey rating order.
Starting with the reception, the wine portion was hosted by Robert Mondavi, with a large display at the entrance, Private Selection Fume Blancand Pinot Noir favored. Mionetto had a nice small-bubble Prosecco, and Black Duck’s lobster canapés and crabcakes, and Knickerbocker Bar and Grill’s t-bone steak bits and shrimp skewers had custimers following the servers around,
At the tables, both in the soup and vegetable departments, Rose Mexicana had fine guacamole en Molcajete, Pure Food and Wine offered pumpkin-seed tart with spring onion cashew cheese, Dos Caminos served mini-pumpkins with red chipotle creme pepitas. National Arts Club had chili and Tocqueville’s put forth a chilled borscht with smoked blue fin pate. Devi’s cabbage and white bean dumplings were tops, galaxy Global Eatery had chickpea pancakes, and in the pasta department the noodle salad from Republic triumphed.
Meat specialties had the most entries, and Angelo & Maxie’s Steakhouse triumphed again, with filet mignon sandwiches and sautéed onions, followed by Primehouse’s seared hang steak with blue cheese fondue. Barbecue lovers found Hill Country’s pork spare riblets, Blue Smoke’s baby back ribs, and those from Duke’s, as well as Wildwood BBQ’s and Beppe’s and Robert Mondavi’s pulled pork sliders. Havana Central had chicken and rice with red beans, Gramercy Tavern featured smoked kielbasa, Todd English’s Olives offered Long Island duck confit latkes, Café Spice grilled some Do-Rukha kebab, Tamarind served chicken Kolah Puri, City Bakery had bacon sandwiches.
In the seafood division, newcomer Bar Stuzzichini had winning polpo (octopus) and potato salad, newcomer Lunetta had fluke Crudo, BlueWater Grill served Farmers’ Market Martini “Caprese” skewers?????????????? City Crab & Seafood offered well-liked Maryland crab cakes with Greenmarket salad. There was ceviche from Café Society and Lucy, wild striped bass tartare from Fleur de Sel, Gamberi al Gorgonzola (shrimp) from Aleo, Kobe Tataki with warm Shimeyi mushrooms from SushiSamba, bacalaitos with orange Aioli??? from The Coffee Shop.
As fot beverages, the event was awash with Fiji water, from the middle of Pacific Ocean. Dallis Coffee offered light and dark roastsGuS Grown-Up Soda served new fruity flavors, and Heartland Brewery earned honors with its pumpkin ale and Oktoberfest lager..
In wineries, Long Island predominated, with Bedell Cellars and Corey Creek serving theit First Crush reds, whites and varietals, Wolffer Estate and Shinn Estate offering chardonnays, cabernet franc and merlot, competing with Dr. Constantin Frank’s dry rieslings, and a newcomer, Matchbox from Dunigan Hills, Chile, featuring Tinto Rey, a blend of varietals, mostly spicy tempranillo.
Veteran local distributors and retailers, Union Square Wines and Spirits, Southern Wines and Spirits of NY and New York Wines and Dines had selections from their spcious cellars, with Robert Mondavi earning kudos with its spectacular wine and food splashes.
In the crush, this observer had barely any time to touch base with old friends, Jane Crotty, once a participant in the most contested City Council election, with???then a Baruch College vice president and now a lobbyist for education (regards to Paul Crotty, now on federal bench), Commissioner Rob Walsh, ages ago the chief of the former 14th Street-Union Square BID/ LDC, now running theNYC Department of Small Business Services. Briefly saw Jennifer Falk, Executive Director of the BID’s successor Union Square Partnership, organizer of the annual Harvest event, held to raise funds for the beautification of Union Square Park, usuallyresulting in about in a $100,000 plus contribution. Since this involves the privatization of parks issues, specifically the proposed restaurant in the Pavillion building, there were also preservationist leafleters outside, gently protesting the event, with street performer Reverend Billy mock-auctioning the park. It is that kind of year.
The presenting sponsors of the harvest were the US Partnership,NYC Department of parks and Recreation, Con Edison, and Council of Environment of NYC, with local businesses contributiong in several sponsorship categories, including two universities, three hospitals, a dozen real estate companies, law firms restaurant corporations and individual restaurants. Chairs of the Harvest were Danny Meyers of Union Square Hospitality Group and Eric Peterson of Gotham City Reastaurant Group, both Honorary Co-Chairs and Founders, and Suvir Savan of Devi as the 2008 Restaurant Chair and Garry Tornberg of Southern Wines and Spirits as the 2008 Wine Chair.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
NYS getting more-energy-independent; more parking news
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
The effort to get the nation’s electric power from wind turbines (20% in ten years) has hit its first real technology hurdle – the organized Grid, a US/Canadian electric distribution network of 200,000 miles of power lines owned by 50 companies, a structure finely balanced to supply electricity to regions hit by brownouts, does not have the carrying capacity for the added power. The Grid did not work or was sabotaged by Enron when California, after implementing limited deregulation, was hit by shortages in 2000 and had to buy energy at huge premium prices.
In NYS alone we have 1,500 megawatts, with 8, 00 more planned, One megawatt is enough to operate a Wal-Mart store. Mayor Bloomberg has recommended wind turbines for the bridges over East and Hudson Rivers, as well as for the rooftops of buildings small and tall, a prospect that will not brighten the lives of preservationists and tourist industry officials. Some small turbines have already appeared, in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with delicate lacy canopies that serve as bird shields. Small home size installations are available for $10K, after discounts and subsidies.
Meanwhile, Maple Ridge Wind farm, near Lowville, operated by Horizon Wind Energy, installed at $320M cost, has shut down because it overloads the accessible transmission lines. In Texas T. Boone Pickens who developed wind farms in the Panhandle, obtained permission for a 250-mile underwater transmission line to Dallas, Not here though, landowners and power companies rebel. In the North East, 14 senators have signed a letter to the Energy Department, calling its actions too aggressive.
Protests are rising, even in the sparse North Country areas, such as Franklin County on the Canadian border, with poor farms of thousands of acres, already crisscrossed with power lines and dotted with towers, a distress area. In Messina the big employer GM is closing a plant in 2009, losing jobs in four figures. The protesters object to losing whatever views they have left, and being forced to live with huge turbines as neighbors, five large farms have already succumbed to wind turbine installation.
Some aggressiveness is traceable to the entrepreneurs. Attorney-General Andrew Cuomo is questioning Noble Environment Power of CT and First Wind of MA about obtaining town board approvals by offering jobs to the leaders, and opportunity to sell cement and supplies. The boards of Bellmont, Burke and Brandon come up in discussions. Brandon has already banned the wind towers, but nevertheless…Meanwhile a big operator, Iberdrola S. A. of Spain is looking to invest $2B in wind turbines in NYS. It has already reached a $4.6B deal with Energy East, the operator of Rochester Gas and Electric, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) as well as power companies in Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut, which has been finally approved by the NYS Public Service Commission, after months of protests and negotiations. The commissioners are imposing major conditions, to protect both competition and consumer interests, severe but not deal-breakers, which Iberdrola has not yet fully accepted. The conditions include a $275M reserve to offset potential rate increases, and selling the company’s fossil fuel production facilities, meanwhile keeping its NYS wind power turbines, as long as it commits up to $200M to wind power investment.
In addition to wind, NYS has resuscitated its oil and natural gas resources, generating some $507M worth of oil and natural gas in 2007, from 12,994 oil and gas wells, with new 386 permits issued for natural gas wells, 142 for oil wells, 31 for geothermal wells, 14 for brine and other. The depth of all the wells drilled in 2007 in New York equaled more than 1.4 million feet, or about 274 miles, roughly the distance from Albany to Buffalo.
New York's fossil fuel resources are concentrated on the southern tier, the Finger Lakes and the western regions, representing the northernmost part of the Trenton-Black River geological formation, which stretches underneath Appalachia, from Kentucky through Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania and into upstate New York and southwestern Ontario. This formation has been New York's primary gas production zone for more than a decade.
Metro-Parking. Last week’s article was shortened by seven lines describing the inconsistency of rules. For the complete argument, it will go into www.dobelisblog.blogspot.com file. Meanwhile the 311 agents, reacting on my and your complaints, have added some new signage in the 16-19th Street area. Good? Not really, they have increased rates. Some 3rd Avenue blocks now charge $2/one hour. $5/2 and $9/3 hour commercial rates, S2 minimum, instead of the old 25c/12 minimum meter rate we civilians paid. Formerly free commercial areas now also pay. Does the Mayor know that these increased costs of commercial rates and ticketing of delivery trucks eventually are passed on to the consumer? Or does he care?
The effort to get the nation’s electric power from wind turbines (20% in ten years) has hit its first real technology hurdle – the organized Grid, a US/Canadian electric distribution network of 200,000 miles of power lines owned by 50 companies, a structure finely balanced to supply electricity to regions hit by brownouts, does not have the carrying capacity for the added power. The Grid did not work or was sabotaged by Enron when California, after implementing limited deregulation, was hit by shortages in 2000 and had to buy energy at huge premium prices.
In NYS alone we have 1,500 megawatts, with 8, 00 more planned, One megawatt is enough to operate a Wal-Mart store. Mayor Bloomberg has recommended wind turbines for the bridges over East and Hudson Rivers, as well as for the rooftops of buildings small and tall, a prospect that will not brighten the lives of preservationists and tourist industry officials. Some small turbines have already appeared, in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with delicate lacy canopies that serve as bird shields. Small home size installations are available for $10K, after discounts and subsidies.
Meanwhile, Maple Ridge Wind farm, near Lowville, operated by Horizon Wind Energy, installed at $320M cost, has shut down because it overloads the accessible transmission lines. In Texas T. Boone Pickens who developed wind farms in the Panhandle, obtained permission for a 250-mile underwater transmission line to Dallas, Not here though, landowners and power companies rebel. In the North East, 14 senators have signed a letter to the Energy Department, calling its actions too aggressive.
Protests are rising, even in the sparse North Country areas, such as Franklin County on the Canadian border, with poor farms of thousands of acres, already crisscrossed with power lines and dotted with towers, a distress area. In Messina the big employer GM is closing a plant in 2009, losing jobs in four figures. The protesters object to losing whatever views they have left, and being forced to live with huge turbines as neighbors, five large farms have already succumbed to wind turbine installation.
Some aggressiveness is traceable to the entrepreneurs. Attorney-General Andrew Cuomo is questioning Noble Environment Power of CT and First Wind of MA about obtaining town board approvals by offering jobs to the leaders, and opportunity to sell cement and supplies. The boards of Bellmont, Burke and Brandon come up in discussions. Brandon has already banned the wind towers, but nevertheless…Meanwhile a big operator, Iberdrola S. A. of Spain is looking to invest $2B in wind turbines in NYS. It has already reached a $4.6B deal with Energy East, the operator of Rochester Gas and Electric, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) as well as power companies in Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut, which has been finally approved by the NYS Public Service Commission, after months of protests and negotiations. The commissioners are imposing major conditions, to protect both competition and consumer interests, severe but not deal-breakers, which Iberdrola has not yet fully accepted. The conditions include a $275M reserve to offset potential rate increases, and selling the company’s fossil fuel production facilities, meanwhile keeping its NYS wind power turbines, as long as it commits up to $200M to wind power investment.
In addition to wind, NYS has resuscitated its oil and natural gas resources, generating some $507M worth of oil and natural gas in 2007, from 12,994 oil and gas wells, with new 386 permits issued for natural gas wells, 142 for oil wells, 31 for geothermal wells, 14 for brine and other. The depth of all the wells drilled in 2007 in New York equaled more than 1.4 million feet, or about 274 miles, roughly the distance from Albany to Buffalo.
New York's fossil fuel resources are concentrated on the southern tier, the Finger Lakes and the western regions, representing the northernmost part of the Trenton-Black River geological formation, which stretches underneath Appalachia, from Kentucky through Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania and into upstate New York and southwestern Ontario. This formation has been New York's primary gas production zone for more than a decade.
Metro-Parking. Last week’s article was shortened by seven lines describing the inconsistency of rules. For the complete argument, it will go into www.dobelisblog.blogspot.com file. Meanwhile the 311 agents, reacting on my and your complaints, have added some new signage in the 16-19th Street area. Good? Not really, they have increased rates. Some 3rd Avenue blocks now charge $2/one hour. $5/2 and $9/3 hour commercial rates, S2 minimum, instead of the old 25c/12 minimum meter rate we civilians paid. Formerly free commercial areas now also pay. Does the Mayor know that these increased costs of commercial rates and ticketing of delivery trucks eventually are passed on to the consumer? Or does he care?
NYS getting more-energy-independent; more parking news
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
The effort to get the nation’s electric power from wind turbines (20% in ten years) has hit its first real technology hurdle – the organized Grid, a US/Canadian electric distribution network of 200,000 miles of power lines owned by 50 companies, a structure finely balanced to supply electricity to regions hit by brownouts, does not have the carrying capacity for the added power. The Grid did not work or was sabotaged by Enron when California, after implementing limited deregulation, was hit by shortages in 2000 and had to buy energy at huge premium prices.
In NYS alone we have 1,500 megawatts, with 8, 00 more planned, One megawatt is enough to operate a Wal-Mart store. Mayor Bloomberg has recommended wind turbines for the bridges over East and Hudson Rivers, as well as for the rooftops of buildings small and tall, a prospect that will not brighten the lives of preservationists and tourist industry officials. Some small turbines have already appeared, in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with delicate lacy canopies that serve as bird shields. Small home size installations are available for $10K, after discounts and subsidies.
Meanwhile, Maple Ridge Wind farm, near Lowville, operated by Horizon Wind Energy, installed at $320M cost, has shut down because it overloads the accessible transmission lines. In Texas T. Boone Pickens who developed wind farms in the Panhandle, obtained permission for a 250-mile underwater transmission line to Dallas, Not here though, landowners and power companies rebel. In the North East, 14 senators have signed a letter to the Energy Department, calling its actions too aggressive.
Protests are rising, even in the sparse North Country areas, such as Franklin County on the Canadian border, with poor farms of thousands of acres, already crisscrossed with power lines and dotted with towers, a distress area. In Messina the big employer GM is closing a plant in 2009, losing jobs in four figures. The protesters object to losing whatever views they have left, and being forced to live with huge turbines as neighbors, five large farms have already succumbed to wind turbine installation.
Some aggressiveness is traceable to the entrepreneurs. Attorney-General Andrew Cuomo is questioning Noble Environment Power of CT and First Wind of MA about obtaining town board approvals by offering jobs to the leaders, and opportunity to sell cement and supplies. The boards of Bellmont, Burke and Brandon come up in discussions. Brandon has already banned the wind towers, but nevertheless…Meanwhile a big operator, Iberdrola S. A. of Spain is looking to invest $2B in wind turbines in NYS. It has already reached a $4.6B deal with Energy East, the operator of Rochester Gas and Electric, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) as well as power companies in Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut, which has been finally approved by the NYS Public Service Commission, after months of protests and negotiations. The commissioners are imposing major conditions, to protect both competition and consumer interests, severe but not deal-breakers, which Iberdrola has not yet fully accepted. The conditions include a $275M reserve to offset potential rate increases, and selling the company’s fossil fuel production facilities, meanwhile keeping its NYS wind power turbines, as long as it commits up to $200M to wind power investment.
In addition to wind, NYS has resuscitated its oil and natural gas resources, generating some $507M worth of oil and natural gas in 2007, from 12,994 oil and gas wells, with new 386 permits issued for natural gas wells, 142 for oil wells, 31 for geothermal wells, 14 for brine and other. The depth of all the wells drilled in 2007 in New York equaled more than 1.4 million feet, or about 274 miles, roughly the distance from Albany to Buffalo.
New York's fossil fuel resources are concentrated on the southern tier, the Finger Lakes and the western regions, representing the northernmost part of the Trenton-Black River geological formation, which stretches underneath Appalachia, from Kentucky through Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania and into upstate New York and southwestern Ontario. This formation has been New York's primary gas production zone for more than a decade.
Metro-Parking. Last week’s article was shortened by seven lines describing the inconsistency of rules. Meanwhile we have succeeded in clarifying the rules: the 311 agents, reacting on my and your complaints, have added some new signage in the 16-19th Street area. Good? Not really, they have increased rates. Some 3rd Avenue blocks now charge $2/one hour. $5/2 and $9/3 hour commercial rates, S2 minimum, instead of the old 25c/12 minimum meter rate we civilians paid. Formerly free commercial areas now also pay. Does the Mayor know that these increased costs of commercial rates and ticketing of delivery trucks eventually are passed on to the consumer? Or does he care?
The effort to get the nation’s electric power from wind turbines (20% in ten years) has hit its first real technology hurdle – the organized Grid, a US/Canadian electric distribution network of 200,000 miles of power lines owned by 50 companies, a structure finely balanced to supply electricity to regions hit by brownouts, does not have the carrying capacity for the added power. The Grid did not work or was sabotaged by Enron when California, after implementing limited deregulation, was hit by shortages in 2000 and had to buy energy at huge premium prices.
In NYS alone we have 1,500 megawatts, with 8, 00 more planned, One megawatt is enough to operate a Wal-Mart store. Mayor Bloomberg has recommended wind turbines for the bridges over East and Hudson Rivers, as well as for the rooftops of buildings small and tall, a prospect that will not brighten the lives of preservationists and tourist industry officials. Some small turbines have already appeared, in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with delicate lacy canopies that serve as bird shields. Small home size installations are available for $10K, after discounts and subsidies.
Meanwhile, Maple Ridge Wind farm, near Lowville, operated by Horizon Wind Energy, installed at $320M cost, has shut down because it overloads the accessible transmission lines. In Texas T. Boone Pickens who developed wind farms in the Panhandle, obtained permission for a 250-mile underwater transmission line to Dallas, Not here though, landowners and power companies rebel. In the North East, 14 senators have signed a letter to the Energy Department, calling its actions too aggressive.
Protests are rising, even in the sparse North Country areas, such as Franklin County on the Canadian border, with poor farms of thousands of acres, already crisscrossed with power lines and dotted with towers, a distress area. In Messina the big employer GM is closing a plant in 2009, losing jobs in four figures. The protesters object to losing whatever views they have left, and being forced to live with huge turbines as neighbors, five large farms have already succumbed to wind turbine installation.
Some aggressiveness is traceable to the entrepreneurs. Attorney-General Andrew Cuomo is questioning Noble Environment Power of CT and First Wind of MA about obtaining town board approvals by offering jobs to the leaders, and opportunity to sell cement and supplies. The boards of Bellmont, Burke and Brandon come up in discussions. Brandon has already banned the wind towers, but nevertheless…Meanwhile a big operator, Iberdrola S. A. of Spain is looking to invest $2B in wind turbines in NYS. It has already reached a $4.6B deal with Energy East, the operator of Rochester Gas and Electric, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) as well as power companies in Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut, which has been finally approved by the NYS Public Service Commission, after months of protests and negotiations. The commissioners are imposing major conditions, to protect both competition and consumer interests, severe but not deal-breakers, which Iberdrola has not yet fully accepted. The conditions include a $275M reserve to offset potential rate increases, and selling the company’s fossil fuel production facilities, meanwhile keeping its NYS wind power turbines, as long as it commits up to $200M to wind power investment.
In addition to wind, NYS has resuscitated its oil and natural gas resources, generating some $507M worth of oil and natural gas in 2007, from 12,994 oil and gas wells, with new 386 permits issued for natural gas wells, 142 for oil wells, 31 for geothermal wells, 14 for brine and other. The depth of all the wells drilled in 2007 in New York equaled more than 1.4 million feet, or about 274 miles, roughly the distance from Albany to Buffalo.
New York's fossil fuel resources are concentrated on the southern tier, the Finger Lakes and the western regions, representing the northernmost part of the Trenton-Black River geological formation, which stretches underneath Appalachia, from Kentucky through Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania and into upstate New York and southwestern Ontario. This formation has been New York's primary gas production zone for more than a decade.
Metro-Parking. Last week’s article was shortened by seven lines describing the inconsistency of rules. Meanwhile we have succeeded in clarifying the rules: the 311 agents, reacting on my and your complaints, have added some new signage in the 16-19th Street area. Good? Not really, they have increased rates. Some 3rd Avenue blocks now charge $2/one hour. $5/2 and $9/3 hour commercial rates, S2 minimum, instead of the old 25c/12 minimum meter rate we civilians paid. Formerly free commercial areas now also pay. Does the Mayor know that these increased costs of commercial rates and ticketing of delivery trucks eventually are passed on to the consumer? Or does he care?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Muni-parking- a boon or nightmare for local drivers?
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Spring-driven mechanical parking meters in NYC date back to 1952. The meters were often treated as nuisances, and wrecked. Some 60-70,000 mechanical meters eventually came into use, powered by a weekly wind-up. In 1995 a battery-driven electronic meter, fitting right into the strong capsule, started replacing the windups that had served well for 50 plus years. By 2006 some 62,000 meters had been automated, with a repair rate down by 85%, Meanwhile the nickels and dimes had mounted to quarters, and by 2006 the meter income for NYC reached $120M a year.
But city expenses also grew, and in 1996 the Muni-Meter arrived. Long in use in London, Paris and other European cities, it featured an unobtrusive meter at each end of a designated curb-parking block, dispensing time-stamped receipts , to be placed on the dashboards s of cars parked on the street, highlighting the expiry time.
By now some 3,000 Muni-Meters have been installed in NYC, sneaking in and making some previously parking- free neighborhoods into cost centers for householders who previously only had to worry about alternate side parking moves twice a week, Occasionally standalone new Muni-Meters are used for replacement of individual old-style parking meters, but sometimes they seem to take over an entire side of the street. Our part of the world of East Midtown, from 14th Street to 34th Streets, is bound to get more and more of them. On the south side of East 17th Street east of 3rd Ave they were sneaked in on an early Sunday morning in August, the four individual meters at the avenue end of the block quietly removed and replaced by the new stuff which is barely noticeable, consisting of a boxy ATM-like receipt dispenser, and dark blue placards attached to parking sign posts, requesting that we “pay at the Mini-Meter,” pointed out with an arrow. The beginning and end of the metered parking areas is not indicated, and you are asked to call 311 in case of problems. At 311 the agent insisted that the limits and regulations are stated, but would not explain how, “it varies.” A mysterious “green post” was described as a delimiter, but could not be identified. One 311 agent stated that meters apply only between the blue signs, but that is not true, I have seen a parking ticket on a car outside. Another 311 press relations person suggested that “end of the block’ may be the limit, or the arrows on the alternate side parking signs might be used to identify the parameters. In other words, total confusion. Woe betide the visitor who would innocently park on the block, celebrating his good luck in finding a spot, only to be surprised by a parking ticket under the windshield wiper, fining him $65, . But the good city fathers have also eased the motorists’ fine-paying burden, providing for an internet /credit card payment methodology for parking violations.
Next: is nighttime parking free? Hmm, no answer. What are the hours for Free Sundays, a liberalization granted in 1995 but not announced on signs? 311 says from 12PM Saturday to 12PM Sunday, but hearsay indicates Monday till 8AM is also free, Who’s right? One begins to have dark suspicions that the rules are deliberately left vague to keep the opportunity open, if people do not protest. to spread the metering to entire streets and raise the Department Of Transportation income stream. Look at the rates. Our residential meter boxes show $2/hr, non -renewable, although this rule is not enforceable if quarters are used. On East 19th east of Broadway the rate is $3 first hour, $5 for two, $9 for three, a case of sheer robbery. See, the plot thickens, To ease the pain you can purchase a $20, $50 or $100 Muni-Card, or use a credit card, good luck! I did not succeed.Besides escalating rates and grabbing the one free benefit of curbside parking for the poor, the city also confiscates leftover time, If you leave early, no one can slide in to use your surplus .
This column lost it ending. For continuation, see 11/18/02 column.
Spring-driven mechanical parking meters in NYC date back to 1952. The meters were often treated as nuisances, and wrecked. Some 60-70,000 mechanical meters eventually came into use, powered by a weekly wind-up. In 1995 a battery-driven electronic meter, fitting right into the strong capsule, started replacing the windups that had served well for 50 plus years. By 2006 some 62,000 meters had been automated, with a repair rate down by 85%, Meanwhile the nickels and dimes had mounted to quarters, and by 2006 the meter income for NYC reached $120M a year.
But city expenses also grew, and in 1996 the Muni-Meter arrived. Long in use in London, Paris and other European cities, it featured an unobtrusive meter at each end of a designated curb-parking block, dispensing time-stamped receipts , to be placed on the dashboards s of cars parked on the street, highlighting the expiry time.
By now some 3,000 Muni-Meters have been installed in NYC, sneaking in and making some previously parking- free neighborhoods into cost centers for householders who previously only had to worry about alternate side parking moves twice a week, Occasionally standalone new Muni-Meters are used for replacement of individual old-style parking meters, but sometimes they seem to take over an entire side of the street. Our part of the world of East Midtown, from 14th Street to 34th Streets, is bound to get more and more of them. On the south side of East 17th Street east of 3rd Ave they were sneaked in on an early Sunday morning in August, the four individual meters at the avenue end of the block quietly removed and replaced by the new stuff which is barely noticeable, consisting of a boxy ATM-like receipt dispenser, and dark blue placards attached to parking sign posts, requesting that we “pay at the Mini-Meter,” pointed out with an arrow. The beginning and end of the metered parking areas is not indicated, and you are asked to call 311 in case of problems. At 311 the agent insisted that the limits and regulations are stated, but would not explain how, “it varies.” A mysterious “green post” was described as a delimiter, but could not be identified. One 311 agent stated that meters apply only between the blue signs, but that is not true, I have seen a parking ticket on a car outside. Another 311 press relations person suggested that “end of the block’ may be the limit, or the arrows on the alternate side parking signs might be used to identify the parameters. In other words, total confusion. Woe betide the visitor who would innocently park on the block, celebrating his good luck in finding a spot, only to be surprised by a parking ticket under the windshield wiper, fining him $65, . But the good city fathers have also eased the motorists’ fine-paying burden, providing for an internet /credit card payment methodology for parking violations.
Next: is nighttime parking free? Hmm, no answer. What are the hours for Free Sundays, a liberalization granted in 1995 but not announced on signs? 311 says from 12PM Saturday to 12PM Sunday, but hearsay indicates Monday till 8AM is also free, Who’s right? One begins to have dark suspicions that the rules are deliberately left vague to keep the opportunity open, if people do not protest. to spread the metering to entire streets and raise the Department Of Transportation income stream. Look at the rates. Our residential meter boxes show $2/hr, non -renewable, although this rule is not enforceable if quarters are used. On East 19th east of Broadway the rate is $3 first hour, $5 for two, $9 for three, a case of sheer robbery. See, the plot thickens, To ease the pain you can purchase a $20, $50 or $100 Muni-Card, or use a credit card, good luck! I did not succeed.Besides escalating rates and grabbing the one free benefit of curbside parking for the poor, the city also confiscates leftover time, If you leave early, no one can slide in to use your surplus .
This column lost it ending. For continuation, see 11/18/02 column.
Muni-parking- a boon or nightmare for local drivers?
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Spring-driven mechanical parking meters in NYC date back to 1952. The meters were often treated as nuisances, and wrecked. Some 60-70,000 mechanical meters eventually came into use, powered by a weekly wind-up. In 1995 a battery-driven electronic meter, fitting right into the strong capsule, started replacing the windups that had served well for 50 plus years. By 2006 some 62,000 meters had been automated, with a repair rate down by 85%, Meanwhile the nickels and dimes had mounted to quarters, and by 2006 the meter income for NYC reached $120M a year.
But city expenses also grew, and in 1996 the Muni-Meter arrived. Long in use in London, Paris and other European cities, it featured an unobtrusive meter at each end of a designated curb-parking block, dispensing time-stamped receipts , to be placed on the dashboards s of cars parked on the street, highlighting the expiry time.
By now some 3,000 Muni-Meters have been installed in NYC, sneaking in and making some previously parking- free neighborhoods into cost centers for householders who previously only had to worry about alternate side parking moves twice a week, Occasionally standalone new Muni-Meters are used for replacement of individual old-style parking meters, but sometimes they seem to take over an entire side of the street. Our part of the world of East Midtown, from 14th Street to 34th Streets, is bound to get more and more of them. On the south side of East 17th Street east of 3rd Ave they were sneaked in on an early Sunday morning in August, the four individual meters at the avenue end of the block quietly removed and replaced by the new stuff which is barely noticeable, consisting of a boxy ATM-like receipt dispenser, and dark blue placards attached to parking sign posts, requesting that we "pay at the Mini-Meter," pointed out with an arrow. The beginning and end of the metered parking areas is not indicated, and you are asked to call 311 in case of problems. At 311 the agent insisted that the limits and regulations are stated, but would not explain how, "it varies." A mysterious "green post" was described as a delimiter, but could not be identified. One 311 agent stated that meters apply only between the blue signs, but that is not true, I have seen a parking ticket on a car outside. Another 311 press relations person suggested that "end of the block’ may be the limit, or the arrows on the alternate side parking signs might be used to identify the parameters. In other words, total confusion. And the "No Standing Except For Commercial (Or Official) Use," with blue signage added – doe this mean you can park if you pay? Woe betide the visitor who would innocently park on the block, celebrating his good luck in finding a spot, only to be surprised by a parking ticket under the windshield wiper, fining him $65, . But the good city fathers have also eased the motorists’ fine-paying burden, providing for an internet /credit card payment methodology for parking violations.
Next: is nighttime parking free? Hmm, no answer. What are the hours for "Free Parking on Sundays," a liberalization granted in 1995 but not announced on signs? 311 says from 12PM Saturday to 12PM Sunday, but hearsay indicates Monday till 8AM is also free, Who’s right? One begins to have dark suspicions that the rules are deliberately left vague to keep the opportunity open, if people do not protest. to spread the metering to entire streets and really raise the Department Of Transportation income stream. Look at the rates. Our residential meter boxes show $2/hr, non -renewable, although this rule seems not enforceable if quarters are used. On East 19th east of Broadway the rate is $3 first hour, $5 for two, $9 for three, a case of sheer robbery. See, the plot thickens, To ease the pain you can purchase a $20, $50 or $100 Muni-Card, or use a credit card, good luck! I did not succeed.using it
Besides escalating rates and selectively grabbing the one free benefit of curbside parking for the poor, the city also confiscates leftover time, If you leave early, no one can slide in to use your surplus time. The city gets to use such time, twice. Some passionate reform fanatics may argue that anything is fair to rid Manhattan of cars ,but we are seeing a dictator’s method.
It is surprising that very little of Muni-Meter parking discussion finds its way in the press, or in Community Boards,. Checking with CB6 and CB5 offices, one gets the impression that the Mayor has spoken. Have our feisty populist CB members weakened? This confusion is sure to foster injustices, Let’s clarify, or protest. Blessings on you if you spread this article, to reach NYCDOT. Any responses from CB5 and CB6 or others in the know will be welcomed.
Spring-driven mechanical parking meters in NYC date back to 1952. The meters were often treated as nuisances, and wrecked. Some 60-70,000 mechanical meters eventually came into use, powered by a weekly wind-up. In 1995 a battery-driven electronic meter, fitting right into the strong capsule, started replacing the windups that had served well for 50 plus years. By 2006 some 62,000 meters had been automated, with a repair rate down by 85%, Meanwhile the nickels and dimes had mounted to quarters, and by 2006 the meter income for NYC reached $120M a year.
But city expenses also grew, and in 1996 the Muni-Meter arrived. Long in use in London, Paris and other European cities, it featured an unobtrusive meter at each end of a designated curb-parking block, dispensing time-stamped receipts , to be placed on the dashboards s of cars parked on the street, highlighting the expiry time.
By now some 3,000 Muni-Meters have been installed in NYC, sneaking in and making some previously parking- free neighborhoods into cost centers for householders who previously only had to worry about alternate side parking moves twice a week, Occasionally standalone new Muni-Meters are used for replacement of individual old-style parking meters, but sometimes they seem to take over an entire side of the street. Our part of the world of East Midtown, from 14th Street to 34th Streets, is bound to get more and more of them. On the south side of East 17th Street east of 3rd Ave they were sneaked in on an early Sunday morning in August, the four individual meters at the avenue end of the block quietly removed and replaced by the new stuff which is barely noticeable, consisting of a boxy ATM-like receipt dispenser, and dark blue placards attached to parking sign posts, requesting that we "pay at the Mini-Meter," pointed out with an arrow. The beginning and end of the metered parking areas is not indicated, and you are asked to call 311 in case of problems. At 311 the agent insisted that the limits and regulations are stated, but would not explain how, "it varies." A mysterious "green post" was described as a delimiter, but could not be identified. One 311 agent stated that meters apply only between the blue signs, but that is not true, I have seen a parking ticket on a car outside. Another 311 press relations person suggested that "end of the block’ may be the limit, or the arrows on the alternate side parking signs might be used to identify the parameters. In other words, total confusion. And the "No Standing Except For Commercial (Or Official) Use," with blue signage added – doe this mean you can park if you pay? Woe betide the visitor who would innocently park on the block, celebrating his good luck in finding a spot, only to be surprised by a parking ticket under the windshield wiper, fining him $65, . But the good city fathers have also eased the motorists’ fine-paying burden, providing for an internet /credit card payment methodology for parking violations.
Next: is nighttime parking free? Hmm, no answer. What are the hours for "Free Parking on Sundays," a liberalization granted in 1995 but not announced on signs? 311 says from 12PM Saturday to 12PM Sunday, but hearsay indicates Monday till 8AM is also free, Who’s right? One begins to have dark suspicions that the rules are deliberately left vague to keep the opportunity open, if people do not protest. to spread the metering to entire streets and really raise the Department Of Transportation income stream. Look at the rates. Our residential meter boxes show $2/hr, non -renewable, although this rule seems not enforceable if quarters are used. On East 19th east of Broadway the rate is $3 first hour, $5 for two, $9 for three, a case of sheer robbery. See, the plot thickens, To ease the pain you can purchase a $20, $50 or $100 Muni-Card, or use a credit card, good luck! I did not succeed.using it
Besides escalating rates and selectively grabbing the one free benefit of curbside parking for the poor, the city also confiscates leftover time, If you leave early, no one can slide in to use your surplus time. The city gets to use such time, twice. Some passionate reform fanatics may argue that anything is fair to rid Manhattan of cars ,but we are seeing a dictator’s method.
It is surprising that very little of Muni-Meter parking discussion finds its way in the press, or in Community Boards,. Checking with CB6 and CB5 offices, one gets the impression that the Mayor has spoken. Have our feisty populist CB members weakened? This confusion is sure to foster injustices, Let’s clarify, or protest. Blessings on you if you spread this article, to reach NYCDOT. Any responses from CB5 and CB6 or others in the know will be welcomed.
