How to cut your cable bill in half

August 5, 2011   Updated February 21, 2012

By Steven Greer, MD

If you are reading this, then you are probably a Downtown New Yorker who has high-speed Internet likely provided by Verizon Fios or Time Warner Cable Road Runner. You probably signed up for a $99 per month TV/Internet package that since ballooned up to $150 or $200 per month with HBO or a pay-per-view added in. Those nice offers on TV for free-for-life DVR don’t apply to you. You are just a lowly trapped customer to be disrespected and taken for granted.

There is a way out of that marriage. If you call your cable company, and wait through the phone tree process, and deal with the morons on the other line, you might be able to get them to “do you a favor” and give you free DVR for a month, maybe, but how can you cut your cable bill in half?

Step 1 is to realize that you must call their bluff and actually cancel your service and have them take out the boxes. This will take a few hours of your time and possibly time off work to wait for the cable guy. Given Verizon’s nonexistent service, they might be a no-show, but do not give up.

Step 2 is to sign up with the competition. Be sure to have Verizon email you the terms in writing, which they can do despite them saying otherwise. If you do not get it in writing, or make sure that they document the terms in their caller log, both Time Warner and Verizon will almost certainly renege on the deal months later and claim ignorance “We see no notes in the call record to that effect…”

If you preferred the fast Verizon Fios (which uploads at 25 megabytes per second, as compared to less than 1 Mb/s with Road Runner), and had to switch to Time Warner in Step 1, then call back Verizon as soon as your service is officially cut off. Verizon will then, finally, give you the new customer $99-TriplePlay-free-DVR deal. For $125, you can get the faster upload and a landline phone.

We tested Time Warner Road Runner with the special “wide band”, but it only offered 5 Mb/s upload speed and costs an extra $100. If you do not need to upload large files, you might be able to live with Road Runner.

If you have trouble reaching properly trained staff, we have access to the special “Bat Phone” lines at Verizon and Time Warner cable. Email us and we can send those to you.

Tess Huxley’s PEPs pass out fliers addressing dog excrement

February 16, 2012

In response to the growing problem of bad dog owners allowing their pets to defecate on the esplanade and sidewalks of BPC, then not pick up the mess, Tess Huxley’s PEPs have begun to pass out fliers. This excrement problem was discussed last year at the BPCA “town hall” meeting.

It is unclear why the problem has arisen, although Tess Huxley, and her boss Gayle Horwitz, seem to have swung the enforcement pendulum in the extreme opposite after the Adam Pratt beating scandal. Recall, the PEPs were harassing dog owners who were simply walking their dogs. Now, the PEP seem to be not enforcing rules against bad dog owners who fail to pick up after their pets. This is a new problem not seen to this extent prior to 2011, according to all residents who email BP.TV with comments.

Fliers passed out recently by the PEP of BPC

Another agenda driven attack on BP.TV by the Broadsheet

February 15, 2012

A local throw-away is claiming that the majority of residents love the fruit shack vendor on South End Avenue and Albany Street. Their article provides no supporting data whatsoever. Their assertion conflicts with BP.TV’s survey and anecdotal incoming email. According to our survey, 70% of the residents of BPC want the fruit shack evicted completely. In the comments section at the bottom of this story, numerous people have written strongly worded letters opposing this vendor.

This is not the first time that the Broadsheet has posted an article with an agenda of contradicting an original BatteryPark.TV story. The Broadsheet also supports Gayle Horwitz and the BPCA, seems to support an artificial turf being placed on the West Thames field, etc.

However, commentary by residents at meetings and surveys indicate that the people often oppose the views of the Broadsheet. In general, the interests of the advertising-driven business model of the Broadsheet seem to create conflicts with the interests of the residents of Battery Park City. This is just one reason that BP.TV has been so well received since we launched in 2009. One person posting a comment wrote, “I find out more, and get more results, from BP.TV than anywhere else. You are looking out for the community.”

The shanty shack in full sprawl

Fruit boxes illegally stored on LeFrak property

Skateboarders vandalize esplanade art

February 14, 2012  by Steven Greer

BatteryPark.TV has been the only local news source to accurately report on the violent threat from the growing numbers of teenage skateboard gangs. Because they are underage, many people tend to dismiss them. However, numerous cases of assault have been perpetrated, including a male PEP officer being struck in the headwith a skateboard, and a local hotdog vendor attacked (see video below).

Thr art display damagaed by skateboarders

Now, local witnesses are identifying skateboarders as the criminals who ruined the new table map directory of art and sculptures, which is based at the southernmost portion of the esplanade overlooking the Statue of Liberty. A letter to the “BroadsheetDAILY” from Bob Rosen explains, “The unknown vandal who destroyed the art table on December 2nd was actually a group of skateboarders who, just after jumping atop the display and smashing the Plexiglas, sped past me and headed north towards the steps near the North Cove to continue their destruction. A jogger who saw them and reported it within minutes to a police captain (who was nearby conducting a training exercise) and described the vandals but it was already too late. A few weeks later the same display at Rockefeller Park had a part ripped off but thankfully it was replaced…..If removing the other display and other art works is all we can do to stop the skateboarders from damaging public property, then what are we saying about ourselves? The PEP officers do little to discourage anti-social behavior. Living here has always been special and if not, then we are the losers.”

How to handle harassing town car solicitations on Vesey Street

February 10, 2012

By Steven Greer

On any given busy work day, anyone wearing business casual or a suit, trying to cross Vesey Street from the WFC to the Goldman Sachs alley, will be harassed by numerous town car drivers wanting your business. They are becoming more aggressive. Some drivers pull up and block the crosswalk by the traffic light.

All of those black town cars parked on the north and south side of Vesey are independent and not sanction by Goldman Sachs, American Express, Merrill Lynch, etc. The official Goldman Sachs town cars are on West Street side of their building. Goldman Sachs security actually tries to scare away the Vesey street cars using various tactics. American Express (AmEx) has no car line at all, and the portion of the street in front of their entrance is actually a bus stop. AmEx security told us that they greatly dislike these cars.

After BatteryPark.TV spoke with the security staff of Goldman, AmEx, and then the First Precinct, we believe that measures will be taken to reduce the town car harassment. Meanwhile, you can help by calling and reporting any egregious drivers to the TLC (718) 267-4555 (This number is more direct than 311). Also, you can call the First Precinct (212) 334-0640 and speak to Community Affairs. Leave a message if the line does not pick up.

You will make a difference. Goldman Sachs, Merrill, and AmEx have limited power to deal with this problem. It is really up to the police and TLC, and those agencies need to hear from you.

Town cars occupying the yellow taxi section of Vesey Street by Goldman Sachs

Gypsy cabs illegally soliciting fares in front of Goldman Sachs on Vesey Street

Port Authority Called ‘Dysfunctional’ as Trade Center Costs Rise

By CHARLES V. BAGLI The New York Times

Published: February 7, 2012

The estimated cost of rebuilding the World Trade Center has grown to at least $14.8 billion, up from $11 billion in 2008, according to an audit commissioned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The audit, which also examined the authority’s debt, called the agency “dysfunctional” and recommended changes in its management structure.

Full article found here.

Outrage over high salaries of 9/11 Memorial staff amidst budget overruns

January 30, 2012

Construction of the September 11th Memorial has screeched to a halt as the numerous different state, federal, and city bureaucracies fight over the tab of the cost overruns. After rushing out a partially constructed memorial to avoid embarrassment on the tenth anniversary, not much progress has been made since.

Amidst this, we get a better sense today of the bloated number of bureaucrats on the September 11th Memorial staff leading the construction while they also reap huge financial rewards personally. The WSJ is reporting that top executives of the September 11 memorial have been receiving nearly $500,000 salaries. Relatives of those killed on 9/11 are outraged.

According to the WSJ, “Joan Gerner received $296,565 upon leaving her position as executive vice president of design and construction in May 2010, bringing her total compensation that year to $439,463, recently released tax records show. She was the group’s highest-compensated employee that year….. In 2010, seven other executives with the organization received compensation in excess of $200,000, records show, and four received compensation packages of more than $300,000, including the president, Joseph Daniels, who earned $378,288 in salary and other benefits…. Retired FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Riches, whose son, Jimmy, also a firefighter, died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, called the foundation executives’ salaries, and specifically Ms. Gerner’s severance payment, “totally obscene” and an “insult” to victims and their families. “They shouldn’t be having contracts like they’re professional athletes—it’s totally disgusting,” Mr. Riches said. “It’s a shame, and they have no shame.”"

According to the WSJ, Mayor Bloomberg has been supportive of the high pay and large staff. “But Mr. Bloomberg has long defended the executive compensation at the memorial and other such organizations. Julie Wood, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bloomberg, said the mayor believes the “professionals at the 9/11 memorial are paid only a fraction of what they’re worth, but at a level similar to people at comparable nonprofits.”"

From Wall Street Journal

BatteryPark.TV helps prompt City Council investigation of restaurant letter grading system

(In full screen 1080i HD)

January 13, 2012

Did BatteryPark.TV’s reporting from January 7 (And the much larger New York Post) cause this January 11 email from the City Council? Several restaurant owners seem to think so and forwarded us this email. If you feel you are being “shaked down” by inspectors, email us and we will send cameras over within minutes.

__________________________________________________________________

City Council Launches Restaurant Inspection Survey 

January 11, 2012

From Speaker Christine C. Quinn

Council seeks feedback from restaurant owners on City’s food safety inspection process and new letter grading system.

As part of the City Council’s oversight of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and in response to mounting concerns raised by city restaurateurs regarding the restaurant inspection process, yesterday I, along with Health Committee Chair Maria del Carmen Arroyo announced the launch of a comprehensive restaurant inspection survey. City restaurant owners and operators are urged to participate in this Council effort to gather information on food safety inspections, with particular emphasis on the recently implemented letter grading system and its impact on city restaurants. The survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/restaurantinspection and accessible through the Council’s website at www.council.nyc.gov. The questionnaire will also be available in six different languages. The survey results will provide a foundation for an oversight hearing in late February, where the Council intends to further explore the inspection process and possible areas for reform. 

I am troubled by the wave of complaints the Council has received from restaurants – even the ones that get A’s – about the fairness and inconsistency of the food safety inspection process. Any initiative – especially 18 months after establishment – calls for scrutiny. With this survey, we hope to learn more about what is and isn’t working, including whether the grading system has been implemented fairly. The participation of restaurateurs in this analysis is critical, and we look forward to hearing their input.

Divided into two sections, the first part of the survey seeks background information about the food establishment and solicits views on DOHMH’s inspection process and the letter grading system. The second section requests recent historical data about experiences with inspections and adjudication in administrative tribunals. Specifically, this section seeks details about violations issued during each inspection from 2008 to the present, along with costs accrued in connection with the payment of fines, consultants and improvements. Survey participants are encouraged to answer as many questions as possible.

In July 2010, DOHMH began requiring food service establishments to post letter grades corresponding with scores reflecting sanitary inspections during which restaurants receive points for violations. An inspection score of 0-13 violation points is an A, 14-27 violation points is a B, and 28 or more violation points is a C. Grade cards are meant to be clearly visible to the public.

Update on efforts to rid BPC of illegally parked tour buses

September 29, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The building manager of the 2 River Terrace called BatteryPark.TV about our tour bus stories. He said that the problem of illegally parked buses on North End Avenue has significantly declined since the stories. Their staff members are calling the Battery Park Enforcement Patrol and receiving assistance now.

In addition, we witnessed an NYPD full officer (as opposed to a traffic officer with no authority to ticket moving violations) issue a ticket to a bus on Murray Street. The bus was initially asked to leave North End Avenue and then promptly illegally parked 50 yards away on Murray Street.

The officer told us that they are now patrolling the area dealing with the tour buses. He explained that the designated areas for the buses are across West Street outside of Battery Park City.

Bus ticketed by NYPD on Murray Street

Update on efforts to rid BPC of illegally parked tour buses

October 7, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The doorman of a North End Avenue apartment building told us today that he saw a PEP officer evict an illegally parked tour bus this week, and they did so without being called by the building. Last week, we reported similar progress. If this progress is sustainable, it is a direct result of our reporting and the cooperation of CB1 BPC Chairwoman Linda Belfer who requested the PEP to take action.

At the recent 9/11 memorial tour hosted by Sheldon Silver, we spoke with one of his staffers who said that they have been trying to resolve these illegally parked tour buses for “A long time”. Sometimes, local issues are most effectively dealt with by the citizens. In this case, the BPCA, led by Gayle Horwitz, had made it known that they were not going to instruct the PEP to intervene with the buses, but the BPC residents via CB1 and BatteryPark.TV got some results.

If your building has a tour bus problem, please refer to this story for tips on handling the matter. If the drivers are belligerent, call the PEP at (212) 417-3114 and let us know what happens.

A shanty shack grows on South End Ave

Update: February 15, 2012

A local throw-away is claiming that the majority of residents love the fruit shack vendor on South End Avenue and Albany Street. Their article provides no supporting data whatsoever. Their assertion conflicts with BP.TV’s survey and anecdotal incoming email. According to our survey, 70% of the residents of BPC want the fruit shack evicted completely. In the comments section at the bottom of this story, numerous people have written strongly worded letters opposing this vendor.

This is not the first time that the Broadsheet has posted an article with an agenda of contradicting an original BatteryPark.TV story. The Broadsheet also supports Gayle Horwitz and the BPCA, seems to support an artificial turf being placed on the West Thames field, etc.

However, commentary by residents at meetings and surveys indicate that the people oppose the views of the Broadsheet. In general, the interests of the advertising-driven business model of the Broadsheet seem to create conflicts with the interests of the residents of Battery Park City. This is just one reason that BP.TV has been so well received since we launched in 2009. One person posting a comment wrote, “I find out more, and get more results, from BP.TV than anywhere else. You are looking out for the community.”

_____________________________________________________________________________

Update: February 3, 2012

By Steven Greer, MD

BatteryPark.TV delivers results once again. The despised shanty shack that had sprung up is now transformed back into a small fruit stand. It is still illegal and stealing business from the tax-paying Hudson Produce and Gristedes, and the red gas canisters are still there, but at least the eyesore is partially gone.

The First Precinct was the cause for the results. In contrast, the property manager of the nearby ex-Gate House porch, LeFrak, did not adequately act on the matter. This is the same property manager that allows the unsanitary dog urine to accumulate on the sidewalk in front of the Chase bank on South End Ave and fails to properly spray down the sidewalk.

____________________________________________________________________

Update: February 2, 2012

A viewer informed us that the First Precinct stopped by the shanty shack and gave them a warning that the fruit stand can be no larger than eight feet. They will return later. Stay tuned.

___________________________________________________________________

Update: January 31, 2012

One day after our report on the 27th, the boxes disappeared. The First Precinct replied to BatteryPark.TV that they were investigating and we spoke with the building owner of the old Gate House, upon which the illegal storage is taking place.

Now, four days later, the shanty shack has returned and the boxes are once again sprawled over the old Gate House porch. Neither the Gateway Plaza building property manager nor any official from the BPCA has responded to out requests for comment.

January 27, 201

Uptown BPC has the Shake Shack. Downtown BPC’ers have the Shanty Shack. BatteryPark.TV has received several emails complaining about the growing unsightly sloppy tent at the intersection of South End Avenue and Albany. A fruit vendor is expanding onto the empty porch of the closed down Gate House. He is now storing numerous boxes of fruit on the ground, and has an ugly makeshift tarpaulin over his stand. The merchants even have a 24-hour source of electricity from a gasoline generator with fuel canisters sitting on the sidewalk. The Gateway Plaza real estate group is the nearest property owner, and is allowing the storage of the boxes on their porch.

Also, across the street is a permanent, never moving, “Mobile” pastry and coffee cart. It is a favorite spot for tour buses and trucks that park illegally for hours on Albany using the food cart as their excuse for stopping. Brookfield Properties is the nearest property owner.

The nearby Hudson Produce, a legal establishment that loses money to both sidewalk vendors, was enthusiastic when BatteryPark.TV informed them that many in the community want the fruit shack to leave.

Where is the City Department of Health when they are needed? Do they only harass restaurants and collect fees? We asked Gayle Horwitz, CEO of the BPCA, whether they or some other agency is in charge of regulating this site, and she did not reply. We are awaiting replies from the property owners, City Hall, and the First Precinct.

What do you think? Should these unauthorized food vendors be shut down and evicted or do you value their services? Please post comments in the section below. They will be helpful to the community board and others.

Take our survey here.

Update: January 28, 2012

The First precinct community affairs replied to our story and they told us that they would investigate. We noticed that already the vendor has removed the numerous boxes, and the Gate House porch is empty. However, the ugly tarpaulin remains, as does the fuel canisters. The BPCA has still not replied to our questions.

(Click images to enlarge to full screen)

The permanent "mobile" pastry and coffee cart on Albany Street and South End Avenue

George’s diner closed after owner films health inspector during inspection

(In full screen 1080i HD)

Update: January 9, 2012

George’s diner was re-inspected today by the city health inspector. Two inspectors were sent,  and the restaurant was allowed to re-open. George’s will be open for normal business tomorrow. A letter grade will be assigned after a follow up inspection is made.

Owner Bill Koulmentas said, “It is not common for a restaurant to be re-opened this fast…(we received), a lot of positive verbal feedback (on the BatteryPark.TV story) from throughout Battery Park City. Thank you very much for all that you have done.”

January 7, 2012  By Steven Greer, MD

George’s diner on Greenwich Street and Rector Street, south of the World Trader Center, was shut down by the New York City Health Department on Friday, January 6th. The original restaurant had to be demolished after the WTC disaster of September 11th, 2001, and was reopened in a newly constructed building in 2005.

We interviewed the owner, Bill Koulmentas, to learn why the restaurant was shut down. We could not contact the health department.

According to Mr. Koulmentas, and iPhone video supporting his story, a female health inspector stopped by approximately two weeks ago and found some violations. He felt that the inspector was aggressive and had an agenda to find violations no matter what. On Friday, January 6th, a male inspector arrived unannounced at 9:30 AM and inspected until 2:30 PM.

During the inspection on the 6th, Mr. Koulmentas felt that the inspector was “rigging” the inspection, claiming cockroaches were found that did not exist, that the refrigerator did not work when it did, etc. He pulled out his iPhone and began to videotape the inspector. At this point, the inspector began to become irritated. Mr. Koulmentas believes that the closure of his restaurant was due to his filming the health inspector and disputing his findings.

The health inspector closed the restaurant on the spot, at 2:30 PM, January 6th. It is unknown what will happen next and when the restaurant might be allowed to reopen.

The new letter grading system instituted by Mayor Bloomberg has been very controversial. Newspaper reports have insinuated that the process is rife with corruption, and was adopted simply as a way to increase revenues for the city in the form of fines. Many restaurant owners feel that the grades assigned are completely arbitrary, and Mr. Koulmentas’ filmed experience certainly adds credence to those theories.

If you are a restaurant owner and have experienced similar problems with the health department, BatteryPark.TV wants to know about it. Shoot us an email at info@batterypark.tv

Why is Pier A delayed? Follow the money

January 5, 2012  By Steven Greer, MD

We had an interesting conversation with The New York Times reporter, Patrick McGeehan, who has covered Pier A and the Maritime Building for years. Unbeknownst to many, the BPCA is seeking a bizarre new source of additional funding for the stalled Pier A project.

A controversial federal plan allows foreigners with wealth to invest in developmental projects in exchange for green cards. According to the WSJ, “The so-called EB-5 visa is awarded to foreigners who invest $500,000 to $1 million in U.S. businesses; $500,000 is required if the investment is made in a high-unemployment or rural area. The investors must document that their investment created at least 10 jobs before they are granted green cards, which allow permanent residence in the U.S.”

The Maritime Building in the Battery Park and the Pier A, now under the BPCA jurisdiction, are both part of this new green-card-for-investing EB-5 visa program. Documents related to the proposed funding of the Roosevelt Island college campus also revealed other programs trying to capture funding, such as Pier A, according to testimony by Senator Schumer (courtesy of Mr. McGeehan of the NYT). The BPCA applied for the program in 2011. It is unknown whether any of these funding developments have led to the construction delays.

These latest financial developments are just part of a long convoluted and embarrassing history of this stalled project and eyesore to our community. In 2007, the BPCA assumed control after deputy Mayor Doctoroff brokered a deal to rid the city of the headache. A cap of $30 Million dollars was established for renovation, mostly funded by the city EDC.

It is unknown whether this $30 Million figure thrown about so often in reports is really in the bank accounts of the BPCA available for spending, whether it was delivered and squandered, or any of the details of how this amount was or was not spent. BPCA Chairman Bill Thompson and CEO Gayle Horwitz did not reply to our questions.

A source close to the BPCA told BatteryPark.TV, ” BPCA has gotten some of the money. What happened was that EDC authorized the $30 million, then reimburses BPCA on a periodic basis as the work is done. So BPCA has gotten some of the money, though I could not tell you how much. Nor do I know if EDC has officially raised the threshold to $36 million.”

Prior to the BPCA assuming control, decades of unsuccessful plans had come and gone. A Staten Island development firm called Wings Point had been in charge and failed miserably. Of note, the managing partner of Wings Point also created the BillyBey ferry company when it bought the New York Waterway routes.

Pier A

Rite Aid long lines caused by managerial incompetence

December 31, 2011

BatteryPark.TV has received complaints about the WFC Rite Aid having long checkout lines. The problem arises despite plenty of employees being elsewhere in the back of the store.

We encountered this today, and spoke with the manager. She immediately reassigned an employee to the registers. The manager said that anytime more than three people form in a line, that other employees are supposed to be called up front. If you encounter this problem, simply remind the checkout employee to call up support staff.

To provide more direct feedback to Rite Aid, the district manager is Michael Diallio and can be reached at (212) 529-2181

(Click images to expand)

Note the empty unstaffed checkout lines on the right

Pop culture people who need to go away in 2012

December 31, 2011

If you have found yourself yelling at the TV due to the bad content, or avoiding the movie theaters, you are not alone. It’s not you. The content providers are flailing, desperately and pumping out the worst shows ever.

As fewer people watch free broadcast TV, and even fewer people under the age of 35 pay $150 per month for cable TV, the TV executives have been scrambling to stop the ratings declines. Situation comedies rule the waves, as do multiple versions of the same show, such as the CSI related series. TV news has been the worst hit, and what passes for news now would make Edward R. Murrow gasp if he were alive.

In Hollywood, it is no better. The bad economy, combined with more convenient home theaters and iPads, have caused the box office revenue to decline 11% since 2009. As a result, just as we saw in the music industry, the films are playing it safe, going after the sequel, remake, and family markets.

As a result of these factors, some really annoying people keep showing up on our screens, despite the public not liking them. The following is meant to be constructive for the TV or Hollywood executive. We made a list of the most egregious pop culture faces who need to retire in 2012.

Film Actors

Shia LaBeouf is the product of Steven Spielberg’s hubris. The master of formulaic blockbusters, Spielberg thinks that Shia is someone who females or wimpy males can view and identify with, as he struggles through action packed situations. That might work for films where the special effect robots and Megan Fox are the main attractions, but it does not work in real films. The remakes of “Wall Street” and “Indiana Jones” that starred Mr. LaBeouf were, quite literally, examples of some of the worst casting in the history of modern Hollywood filmmaking. Shia single handedly ruined those films.

January Jones, for those of you who do not know, is the pretty blond who gained fame in the AMC show “Mad Men”. In that limited role, she is sufferable. But placed in larger roles, her lack of acting skills is astonishing. Moreover, she is almost anorexic and simply not appealing as the eye candy that the casting directors seem to think. Her role in “X-men: First Class” was painful to watch. She needs to stick to just the Mad Men series and eat some Big Macs.

Ryan Reynolds began his career in comedic roles. He has a funny looking face with his eyes a bit too close together. He then developed an HGH-like physique, took off his shirt, and casting directors tried to transform into a leading man, to much failure. “Green Lantern” was a bomb. He needs to take 2012 off and try to come back as the principle in the remake of “Saved by the Bell”.

Katherine Heigl was clearly told that she was special by her mother, and seems to have made some good friends in Hollywood. Despite box office bombs one after the other, she keeps getting the leading roles in big budget movies. Maybe Hollywood is finally getting smart and targeting smaller niche markets and that is why they give her the roles? Who knows, but this is certainly an enigma.

Jack Black is clearly the experiment of some Hollywood executives who think that if they push him into the theaters often enough we will like him. It’s not working. “The Big Year” and “Gulliver’s Travels” were money-losers for Hollywood.

Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms, and other “Bro Film” genre actors who are oblivious to their nerdiness have worn out their welcome. The sequel to “Hangover” was hated by most fans who loved the original. That’s a really bad sign when fans turn on a cast so swiftly. Zach’s HBO show “Bored to Death” apparently bored everyone to death, and was cancelled. Zach needs to retire and possibly try some directing or producing, or anything behind the camera.

Broadcast Television

Ryan Seacrest is everyone’s favorite person to hate on TV. He sticks around thanks to the ratings of American Idol. Not well known, however, is that he is the evil mind behind those Kardashian talentless sisters, producing their reality TV schlock. The geniuses at NBC floated a trial balloon rumor of him becoming the new Today Show host, which was popped instantly. Ryan Seacrest needs to stay on American Idol and punish the viewers for being so stupid as to watch.

Ashton Kutcher took over for Charlie Sheen on CBS’s “Two and a Half Men”, and his lack of charisma is glaring. He could never do 7-gram rocks of crack like Charlie. Also, his stupid hair hats are annoying people. Ashton needs to go away for 2012 and reinvent himself, which will be to do for a former male model with no acting skills.

Seth Meyers somehow kissed Lorne Michaels’ butt enough to become “Lead Writer” for the rarely funny Saturday Night Live. His smarmy act is very uncreative, as are most of his jokes. Seth needs to go away in 2012 mainly because of his annoying “Really?” shtick that he started. Enough!

Conan O’Brien was a ratings disaster when he was handed the Tonight Show job, as the idiots at NBC demoted the #1 viewed Jay Leno. When NBC then, in turn, demoted Conan to 12:00, the arrogant Harvard grad refused, quit, Fox did not bite, and he ended up on basic cable floundering with less than a million viewers at times. Conan is too old and wrinkled now to be doing his Harvard-dorm-room-style pranks. It is so sad to watch that Conan needs to take himself out to the woodshed in 2012.

Television News

Nancy Synderman, MD has done more to mislead and endanger the American public than anyone else, given her large platform as medical news reporter on NBC Nightly News. She seems to have been demoted recently, with most stories being handled by Robert Bazell or more qualified breast cancer surgeons. Dr. Synderman needs to go away in 2012 and try being a real doctor again.

Christiane Amanpour is one of numerous broadcast TV news anchors who benefited from some executive somewhere thinking that her snooty British accent would fool dumb Americans. ABC’s “This Week” was one of the best Sunday morning shows when George Stephanopoulos hosted it. But ratings tanked after they made Ms. Amanpour the host, and Stephanopoulos is back. Ms. Amanpour needs to move to London and bother the Brits in 2012.

Katie Couric was another disaster as a TV news anchor. After being replaced as anchor of the CBS Evening News, and sparing the public for a while, she is planning to resurface in 2012. Ms. Couric needs to cancel those plans and stay in retirement.

Josh Elliott is ABC’s most recent brilliant idea as a TV news anchor. Within months, he has moved from ESPN, to reading the short news segments on ABC’s Good Morning America, to now being the full anchor on many occasions, leaping over the normal anchor Dan Harris. Likely, the ABC executives mistakenly think that the large ratings and revenue of ESPN had something to do with Mr. Elliott and that he can bring some charm to the shrinking ratings of GMA. Mr. Elliott needs to go back to the cheesy low brow too-costly ESPN in 2012.

Jeff Glor is an unknown Wall-Street-investment-banker-look-alike who recently was given some fill-in work as anchor on the CBS Evening News. He rapidly made this “Go away in 2012″ list of ours due to his bizarre speech. He seems to have his lower jaw wired shut. Make no mistake. This is not an impediment that he had to overcome. This is something that was deemed an asset by CBS and allowed him rise to the crème of the top at CBS. As TV news tanks, no gimmick seems out of line. CBS likely conducted small focus groups and saw that the audience zoomed in on Mr. Glor, like passerby’s rubbernecking a motor vehicle accident.

Trish Regan, the former CNBC “business” anchor, demoted by CNBC, then let go, is reportedly going to be resurfacing on Bloomberg TV in 2012. Ms. Regan made this list because she epitomizes the maddening barrage of clueless business anchors chosen for their looks. Her shtick is wearing skin tight dresses that accentuate her legs and breast augmentations. Enough! Business people need competent business stories, produced by people with Wall Street experience (such, as Stephanie Ruhle on Bloomberg).

Jim Cramer on CNBC has been wrong on major stock calls so often (ala the infamous Bear Stearns calls that got him dragged before the viewers of the Daily Show for a berating), that people are numb to him. He likely has too many crony friends in TV now to be fired by the new owners of CNBC. Mr. Cramer needs to do the country a favor and retire himself in 2012.

Jon Stewart…Wait, this is a mistake. Jon Stewart is great. He is one of the few things to look forward to on TV for 2012.

“Music”

We placed music in quotes. There really is no true music industry any longer. We could have selected almost any pop music performer for this list, but settled on these celebrities who “need to go away in 2012″.

Taylor Swift is not as egregious as some, since she supposedly writes her own songs (with lots of production help), but this act has been bled dry. Enough is enough. Taylor Swift needs to retire and come back as an old lady when she is 24 years old.

Rihanna is attractive, but that synthesized monotonous electronic voice of hers has to go away for a while. Maybe she could try acting and be a robot in a new Transformers movie.

Kanye never had telent and never will. Take a nap in 2012 Kanye. Come on man. You know its the right thing to do.

All American Idol and X Factor contestants need to disappear from the media forever, not just for 2012.

If you find that the offering of content in 2012 is unacceptable, then express your views with your checkbook. Cancel your cable service.

Polluting ferry boats to get new, less polluting, less noisy, engines

November 2, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The much anticipated BPC CB1 meeting to discuss the ongoing problem of noise and air pollution from the New York Waterway ferry boats yielded significant results for the first time in recent memory. The CEO of the BillyBey Ferry Company (DBA New York Waterway), Paul Goodman, announced that they will be using federal grants and “Nearly $1 Million of BillyBey money” to finally replace the outdated heavily-polluting diesel engines on nine of the worst offending vessels that dock often at WFC Vesey Street slip. The slip is controlled by the Port Authority.

The expected completion date will be mid-year 2012. That coincides with new regulations for marine vessels under the Clean Air Act.

Mr. Goodman elaborated, “Those 18 engines for 9 boats have been ordered. The program is fully funded…and installed over the first half of 2012.” He explained that the current engines, which so infamously now belch pure black diesel particulate smoke (see here) as they dock at the WFC Vesey Street slip fall under “Tier 0″ of the EPA classification of engines, according to Mr. Goodman. The new diesel engines with particulate filters will be “Tier 2″. (Note, our Google search of the EPA’s Tier system for engines revealed a system that did not coincide with what the BillyBey Ferry Company listed).

Given that no exhaust emission testings have ever been performed and made public, CB1 member Anthony Notaro tried to clarify whether BPC residents can expect to see, hear, and breath less pollution with the new engines promised. Goodman said, “You will see a significant reduction in pollution”. A spokesman for the DOT elaborated, “You can expect an 85% reduction in pollution (with the new engines).

Skeptics of these new promises from BillyBey Ferry Company have ample justification. The same NYSERD grant that will finally be used to convert the engines has been funded and made available to the company since at least 2006, and the only accomplishments to date from the grant money has been to install some exhaust particulate filters on a few boats and “perform tests”. Only now, after BatteryPark.TV coverage and the involvement of the NRDC, New York Times, EPA, and elected officials, is BillyBey promising to replace the outdated engines.

The Port Authority spokeswoman at the meeting said, “We were aware that the (NYSERD-funded emissions program) was ongoing, but it didn’t move as quickly as we would have liked.”

After more than 20 minutes of the BillyBey CEO and his entourage of supporting government officials speaking (i.e. NYSERD, DOT, consultant to NYSERD, and EPA), vocal residents spoke up requesting that the WFC Vesey Street slip be moved entirely away from the neighborhood. CB1 member Tom Goodkind echoed those views saying, “We should consider removing these boats (from the WFC Vesey Street slip) until these engine retrofits occur.” and received applause.

Recall, the BillyBey Ferry Company is a New Jersey company that exists almost exclusively to haul New Jersey residents to their Manhattan jobs. There is a reason one of the boats is named “U.S. Senate Frank R. Lautenberg“. For decades, this New Jersey-benefiting operation has polluted the air and disturbed the peace in Battery Park City. This might be the beginning of the beginning of a solution to this New Jersey-rooted problem. When new Caterpillar diesel engines are mounted in the boats, we will take our victory lap.

And the full unedited video of all of the different boats polluting equally from EPA Tier-0 “worst  category” engines

Sidewalk scaffolding properly handled by Milford Management

December 27, 2011

By Liz Conner

BatteryPark.TV previously reported on the scourge of the proliferation of unsightly sidewalk scaffolding popping up everywhere, and how long they stay in place. The building owners seem to have financial incentives for keeping the rental scaffolding in place longer than necessary (tax write-offs perhaps?).

A notable exception to this New York real estate blight was the handing by Milford Management (management company for Milstein Properties) of its mandatory “Local Law 11″ five-year inspection at 200 Rector Place. The scaffolding on West Thames was erected and dismantled within approximately a month.

This is in stark contrast to the nearby on-again-off-again stalled project of bankrupt, then un-bankrupt, 225 Rector Place, now owned by Related Companies. The management claims that the reason for those scaffolding is that new windows are being installed.

Recall, the 225 rector Place building was an eyesore with scaffolding up for years during the bankruptcy stages of the project. The scaffolds were briefly removed, then reinstalled this year.

If you live in a residential building or have a ground floor business being harmed by these scaffolding scams, we encourage you to speak up. Also, feel free to send us a letter.

CB1 says “Close Indian Point”: Steven Greer, MD interviews Julie Menin

Update: June 28, 2011

The New York Times is reporting that Governor Cuomo plans to close Indian Point nuclear power plant. The two nuclear pants in jeopardy on the flooding Missouri river likely played a role in the timing.

March 22, 2011

The Community Board 1 held a full meeting on March 22nd. One matter was the passage of a resolution demanding the closure of the nearby Indian Point three-nuclear-reactor power plant 30 miles north on the Hudson River. BatteryPark.TV’s Steven Greer, MD interviewed CB1 Chairperson Julie Menin.

Pier A plans are “A slap in the face to Italian Americans”

Update: June 25, 2011 The oyster bar wins

It appears as if the BPCA is not backing down on it’s subversive plans to turn Pier A into a for-profit bar (see below). John Fratta, leading opponent to the bar plan and champion of the idea to make Pier A an Italian Heritage museum, was rebuffed by the BPCA. His group had requested via Freedom of Information Act the details of how it came to be that the Poulakakos family was awarded the plan to make the pier a restaurant and bar. He organized a small press conference event today at the pier in protest. Based on our sources within the CB1, there seems to be little resistance to the oyster bar plan.

March 29, 2011

John Fratta, CB1 Chairman of the Seaport/Civic Center Committee explain why the CB1 opposes the current BPCA plans to turn over the Pier A to a private restaurant group led by the Poulakakos family. He is leading a drive to convert the Pier A into an Italian American heritage museum to compliment nearby Jewish and Irish museums. Mr. Fratta calls the current plans, “A slap in the face to Italian Americans”.

Niether the BPCA nor the Poulakakos family accepted our offer to be interviewed.

(The video can be viewed in 1080i HD by clicking the YouTube settings)

The Irish Hunger Memorial Mr. Fratta mentioned

Too many Fuddy-duddies stifle entertainment Downtown

December 9, 2011

The Financial District, Tribeca, and Battery Park City have few places for the citizens to enjoy good music, drinks, and New York class society. The main problem is that the local press consists of Fuddy-duddy people who have zero interest in promoting this culture. As Mayor Bloomberg progressively required earlier and earlier closing times as a condition for liquor license renewals, this all went unreported for the most part.

An example of this pro-boring reporting was in a local throw-away today. The W New York Downtown and their Living Room bar attempted to throw a Rock and Roll style party with art. The paper focused on the noise and nuisance to the city, see below. The W Hotel is a few feet from the massive noise of the World Trade Center construction site and anyone living nearby should be quite accustomed to noise.

The Battery Park Broadsheet article read, “W New York — Downtown, the hotel located at the intersection of Washington and Albany Streets, made W history with its first-ever rock concert on Wednesday evening, but raised more than a few hackles among local residents kept awake by noise levels during sound testing on Tuesday and the concert on Wednesday. The event — which celebrated ROCKED, a photo exhibit of cutting-edge musical talent featured in W Hotel concerts — took place in a temporary, plastic tent behind the hotel without more than a few hours advance notification….Lucas Visser, a resident on West Street, said that the W hotel alerted his building manager at 4:30 p.m. on the day of the concert. “During the day on the 6th and 7th they were blasting music so loud that my windows were shaking badly. It was loud enough that talking on the phone was near impossible. The actual event began last night at 6:00 pm and lasted until midnight, and again the windows were shaking. My children were up later than usual, though amazingly they were able to get to sleep. My wife and I weren’t as fortunate,” wrote Mr. Visser in an e-mail…..Noise concerns were not as important as the lack of advance notification for Esther Regelson, a 26-year resident of Washington Street. “That space behind the W Hotel was supposed to be public space, and that space lay fallow until suddenly they have a party to pat themselves on the back. It seemed outrageous! They should be having a party for the neighborhood. It just smacks of being a bad neighbor,” she said.”

W Hotel Living Room