New Schools

March 22, 2011

CB1 Chairperson Julie Menin describes the new schools underway in the CB1 region of Downtown New York.

PEPs routinely illegally parking personal cars

Update March 10, 2011

BatteryPark.TV reported on the problem of PEP officers parking illegally in bus stops, etc, and avoiding city parking tickets by placing official-looking parks badges in their personal car windows. A local paper is now reporting that one of the officers involved has been fired.

Please continue to send us your gripes and investigative journalism photos. They make a difference.

March 9, 2011

BPC resident Adam Pratt sent us this video of what he alleges is the personal car of a Battery Park City Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) person. They use official looking ID papers in the dashboard to avoid ticketing from the NYPD. He and others have complained about this practice before.

Battery Park City park rangers assault BPC resident

January 29, 2011

At approximately 12:00 PM on January 29th, 20011, according to eyewitness Theresa Shabbos who lives one floor above 2 South End Avenue, local resident Adam Pratt was walking his small dog and arrived at the southeast corner of the buildings on 21 South End Avenue, just north of the South Cove Marina. Mr. Pratt was confronted by one of the Battery Park City security officers. The Parks Conservancy would not comment or provide names.

According to witness Shabbos, who happened to be looking out her window, The BPC security woman pushed Mr. Pratt in the face. He then tried to take a photograph of her and she chased him northward. Mr. Pratt evaded the security officer by dipping into the Regatta apartment building. Ms. Shabbos lost track of events from thereon, but other witnesses at the Vince Smith Hair Experience, one block north, say that Mr. Pratt frantically knocked on their storefront window and begged for them to call the New York Police Department.

Moments later, according to a third witness walking his dog on the corner of Rector Place and South End Avenue, who wished to remain anonymous, said that multiple green-uniform park security officers had now been recruited to the scene and struck Mr. Pratt in the arm with a baton while Mr. Pratt was walking westward on Rector Place west of South End Avenue, still holding his dog in his arms. This was confirmed by other witnesses. Mr. Pratt was then forced to ground and handcuffed. One witness said that, “They beat the crap out of him”.

At that point, multiple NYPD cruisers and NYFD EMS arrived on the scene (see video). Mr. Pratt was taken away in the ambulance and it is unclear whether the NYPD made an arrest. We will have more details on this story as the case plays out in court.

The aggressive behavior exhibited in this case by the BPC parks security is highly inconsistent with previous behavior. In the past, BatteryPark.TV and members of the Community Board have been unable to have the parks security issue tickets for rogue bicycle deliverymen speeding on sidewalks, ticket or remove homeless persons defecating in the parks, or ticket/arrest violent skateboard gangs.

The security detail for Battery Park City parks involved in this story are employed by the city but managed by the Parks Conservancy of the BPCA. They are not police officers but do have the authority to issue citations and use reasonable force.

It is unclear why this altercation developed, but it seems to have taken on a personal component. One witness did mention that Mr. Pratt has “taken a stand before” against the park security staff when they have tried to enforce dog leash regulations as he walked his dog.

The following cell phone video and two photos are courtesy of Vince Smith

Adam Pratt on the ground surrounded by park security

Update: January 31, 2011

Since our first report, we have an update on what transpired after Mr. Pratt was driven away in the NYFD EMS squad truck. The alleged assault victim, Adam Pratt, was taken to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric evaluation and treatment of contusions, head injury, and possible fracture of the ribs. It is unclear why the psych-eval was ordered, but he was found to be stable and released. Mr. Pratt told BatteryPark.TV that he is a cancer survivor who has been treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and that the alleged assault aggravated rib and respiratory problems.

Mr. Pratt also provided more detail on his account of what happened on the 29th. He said that he was standing at the corner of 21 South End Avenue, in front of the Japanese restaurant, speaking on the phone with his mother. His dog was on a leash on the ground. Because of past dealings with the PEP park security, he had a concern that an approaching PEP officer in a “golf cart” was going to harass him and he warned his mother before the PEP officer even approached him that he might have to call the police. The PEP cart pulled up abruptly and slid on the snow as it stopped near him.

According to Mr. Pratt, the PEP officer got out of the cart and demanded to see an ID. Mr. Pratt said that he replied, “I do not have an ID on me, but I am Adam Pratt and have lived here for twenty years.” At this point, he said that the PEP office struck him in the head with her radio and shoved him in the face.

Mr. Pratt told BatteryPark.TV, “My (friends in BPC) can vouch for me as a reputable local citizen protecting all of our investments and calling out the ineptness off the (park security) staff–I have 2 yrs of pics and videos of them slacking and sleeping in their cars in uniform, no light with golf kart at night on sidewalk, etc. This was a planned vendetta!!!”

Of note, after a Supreme Court ruling in 2004, it is now a possible criminal offense for anyone suspected of wrongdoing to refuse to identify themselves to police. However, carrying an ID is not required, and if someone is going to the gym or jogging, for examples, they cannot be arrested for not having an ID card.

Say goo’bye to my leetle friend

October 13, 2009

Wasting no time, the DOT began construction on the new “Tire Swing Park” preventing any further delays from opposition groups. The current estimated budget is approximately $9 Million for the project. Despite opposition from residents, the project is proceeding with “Plan A” which cuts down all of the trees and has the maximal loss of grass field space to make way for the “Pataki Promenade” granite walkway parallel to the West Side Highway Route 9A.

The project is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day, 2010. Near-term upside to the plan is that it will greatly expand the space allotted to the community gardens and level the grass playing field. The major downside to the plan, and reason for opposition from parents, is the loss of the large pear trees that provide great shade, and the down time from construction, of course.

Comparing an Islamic mosque by ground zero to a porn shop?

Update: August 15, 2010

ABC Nightly News used the same distorted logic as did the New York Times back in May and made the moral equivalence of pornography shops and strip clubs many blocks away from Ground Zero to a proposed Islamic mosque. Presumably, ABC did this to make the point that Ground Zero is not the “hallowed ground” that mosque protestors claim. Therefore, to oppose the proposed mosque based on the grounds that Ground Zero is special is hypocritical. Read below our original commentary on the flaws of that logic.

Op-Ed May 28, 2010

In what could be one of the poorest uses of logic in recent mainstream media history, the New York Times featured a column by Clyde Haberman supporting the construction of a five-story Islamic mosque near “Ground Zero” (The name for the former World Trade Center sites demolished after the Islamic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 that killed thousands). In his column, Mr. Haberman compares the insult of an Islamic site of possible future anti-American teaching to a strip club and off-track betting shop that are already nearby ground zero.

He wrote, “No one is known to have protested the fact that three blocks from ground zero, on Murray Street off West Broadway, there is a strip joint. It prefers to call itself a gentlemen’s club. A man stood on the street corner the other day handing out free passes to willing gentlemen.”

Huh? How does a passive purveyor of porn compare to militant murdering terrorists? Pornography and incubators of mass murder are not morally equivalent.

The organizers of this unfunded mosque idea have tried to soften it up by referring to it as a cultural center. Will the mosque really be this multi-religious “cultural center” that it claims to be? Will women be allowed inside without being covered up with various forms of head shrouds? Will the acts on 9/11 and radical Islam be condemned? Of course not.

Mr. Haberman does not seem to be willing to admit publicly that the terrorists who attacked us on September 11, 2001, were all brainwashed by Islamic radicals in extremist mosques. Perhaps he is pandering to the mayor who supports the mosque. The NY Times would benefit from an acquisition by Bloomberg News.

The authorities will undoubtedly keep close tabs on this “Ground Zero mosque” if it is ever built, but critics are justified in raising concern. In contrast, no adult porn shop or off-track betting site ever produced a jihad of America-hating murderers.

Tire Swing Park Ribbon Cutting

July 1, 2010

The new Tire Swing Park was officially opened today with a ribbon cutting ceremony. While the play area has been open since Memorial Day, the grass lawn was just opened up. Officials from the State DOT, BPCA and CB1 spoke, but no State or City elected officials presented.

CB1 explained by Tribeca Chair Peter Braus

October 14, 2009

New York City Council takes advice from Community Boards on matters such as liquor licenses and construction permits. Community Board 1 oversees lower Manhattan and is divided into subcommittees by region, such as Battery Park, Tribeca, Financial District, etc. Tribeca committee Chairman Peter Braus explains how the system works.

For more information http://mbpo.org/free_details.asp?id=64

Kill the Drill

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer discusses his “Kill the Drill” campaign to not allow near New York City’s source of water in Upstate NY a water-polluting method of drilling natural gas called hydro-fracture drilling.

Coalition to save Tire Swing Park

BPC Meeting to discuss Tire Swing Park

The office of the Manhattan Borough President

The office of the Manhattan Borough President link to our story on “Kill the Drill”

http://mbpo.org/blog_details.asp?id=322&page=1

Why is the city shutting down at 2:00 AM?

October 18^th, 2009

This weekend, on a survey of more than five hotel bars, regular bars, and restaurant bars in Bowery, SOHO and Tribeca, all of the establishments shut down no later than 2:00 AM despite having plenty of customers. What is the explanation for this seemingly voluntary forfeiting of lucrative revenue?

The answer lies in a citywide effort to limit hours of operation of liquor-licensed establishments using Community Boards as the tool. This article written in 2008 explains it well.

2 a.m. Closing Time Becoming Norm for Manhattan Bars

http://gothamist.com/2008/04/17/2_am_closing_ti.php

When Hog Pit co-owner Felisa Dell sent an email to Eater on April 7th confirming the closure of her Meatpacking District BBQ joint, she insinuated that “the mayor and the State Liquor Authority are now only issuing Liquor Licenses until 2 a.m. It’s very sneaky, but in 5 years the 4 a.m. liquor license will be a thing of the past, without any community input.” Today the NY Sun backs Dell up, reporting that many Manhattan bar owners are finding it “nearly impossible to open new nightlife establishments that are permitted to serve alcohol until 4 a.m.”

While the New York State Liquor Authority can’t arbitrarily impose a specific closing time before 4 a.m., Community Boards have been demanding bar owners agree to curfews before they recommend approval to the SLA. The Sun looked at the most recent records available from Community Board 3, which covers the East Village and the Lower East Side, and found that not a single liquor license recommendation was granted to a bar that would close after 3 a.m. on weekends and 2 a.m. on weekdays.

And in Tribeca, Community Board 1 killed Matthew Piacentini’s plans to open a lounge in a commercial building on Hudson Street by telling him he’d have to close at midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends. The early closing times are a big problem for bar owners; a recent survey found that 58% of their revenues are earned between those magical hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. These are also the hours when some of us lose 58% of our dignity, so maybe it’s all for the best?

The Great Thanksgiving Banquet by NYC Rescue Mission

October 15

James VarnHagen of the New York City Rescue Mission discusses their annual Great Thanksgiving banquet they host in their Tribeca homeless shelter. Prominent figures such as Police Chief Kelly turn out to help serve the needy. With the bad economy and city budget cuts, they need your donations.

(212) 226-6214  http://www.nycrescue.org

Seasonal flu vaccination program

October 21

Councilmember Alan Gerson is sponsoring regional seasonal flue shots to be administered. These are NOT the swine flue, or H1N1, shots.

To learn more, view the video and also call Alan Gerson’s office at (212) 788-7722

The growing homeless problem in BPC

October 15th

For the first time this decade, multiple homeless individuals are making the parks in Battery Park City their preferred location during the day. In particular, Wagner Park in front of the Jewish Heritage Museum is a popular spot.

James VarnHagen of the New York City Rescue Mission explains the reasons for this growing homeless problem. A key homeless shelter near BPC, the John Hughes shelter, did not receive a city grant and had to shut down causing many of the people that used to rely on it to spill into the park system. In addition, the budgetary problems of the city and increased unemployment have caused a 20% increase in homeless as the city shelters become overburdened.

To learn more and how to help, you may view the video now.

Meeting to go over Plan B options for Tire Swing Park