The parade of Santas

December 11, 2011

Local resident Fran Miller sent these to us

(Click images to enlarge)

By Fran Miller

Storm over New York Harbor June 17 2011

June 17, 2011

Figure al Fresco

May 11, 2011

The Figure al Fresco program convenes on Wednesday afternoons, starting at 2:30 PM,  on the esplanade by the South Cove. An art instructor helps guide residents as the sketch a standing model. For more information, call (212) 267-9700 or visit http://www.bpcparks.org/bpcp/home/

A chat with Russell Simmons at OccupyWallStreet: by Steven Greer, MD

October 16, 2011

BatteryPark.TV had a chance to speak with Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons at the OccupyWallStreet protests today. He has been down there quite often. After a lengthy interview with Fox Business and Geraldo Rivera, he surprisingly was quite accessible as he walked around the crowd.

Russell Simmons with Fox Business and Geraldo Rivera

We asked, “(We) have not been able to hear your message as you were speaking (to Fox). Have you been trying to focus this group on more tangible goals?”

Mr. Simmons replied, “We have a focused message. It’s to get rid of Wall Street and lobbyists from Washington.” He went on to elaborate that point for approximately a minute. Unfortunately, we did not have our camera with us.

Overall, the crowd is more organized now than last week. The group “Anonymous” and others are clearly providing the agenda and support. For example, when the city announced that they group would be removed for cleaning, some organization provided push brushes for a photo-op of the protestors cleaning the area.

Also, more focused goals of the protests are appearing on professionally made signs, such as this one that says “End the Fed”.

The Zuccotti Park dos not feel like a chaotic unsafe area. Protestors are quite peaceful, when we were there at least. There was no evidence of marijuana smoke, drugs, or “open sex”.

So far, the protestors and the NYPD are doing a good job. The dangerous riots seen in Italy and the rest of Europe are not brewing in Zuccotti park, yet.

An effort calledConcreteIdeas trying to focus the OccupyWallStreet efforts

Monarch butterflies in Wagner Park

The people have spoken: No organized sports on the grass field

Update September 28, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The Parks Conservancy is now aerating the field and placing barrier fences to rest trampled areas of the lawn.

Update: September 16, 2011

Since our notes from September 14, a coach for the Downtown Soccer League, John Chow, said that the BPCA has been in talks with them and that they, “Will not be using the field after this week.”. The Principal from PS 276 was very responsive, and she informed her staff and after school programs partners about the tenuous status of the field. Also, the Parks Conservancy aerated the field on the 15th.

If you see organized soccer being played on the field, particularly by adults as we saw last year, the local PEPs should be called at once, (212) 417-3100, or email us info@batterypark.tv

Update September 14, 2011

By Steven Greer

Shortly after opening, the grass field is being allowed by the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy to be used in ways that the local residents do not want to see it used (see survey results below). Namely, the Downtown Soccer League organization is bringing groups of 30 or more children to play organized soccer and baseball. The parks staff is also failing to close the field as needed to allow for grass renewal.

As a result, portions of the grass field have already been trampled to death (see photos at bottom). The most recent community board meeting addressed these issues, but no conclusions or final rules were made. Moreover, at the meeting, The BPCA announced that they are still refusing to assign Battery Park PEP to patrol the area.

July 1, 2011

BatteryPark.TV recently conducted a survey of local residents asking thier opinion on how the newly sodded grass field in the West Thames Park should be used when it re-opens soon. Recall, the first attempt last year resulted in a mud field as soccer teams trampled the turf.

The survey will be discussed at an upcoming CB1 meeting. The results of the survey are as follows:

Question #1: Should organized soccer with 7 or more people be allowed on the new grass field of West Thames Park?

Yes: 22%
No : 78%

Question #2: Should organized baseball of more than 3 people be allowed on the grass field?

Yes: 39%
No: 61%

Question #3: Should the Parks Conservancy close the grass field as needed in order to protect the grass, in the same manner they do the other surrounding lawns?

Yes: 78%
No: 22%

Comments: How would you like to see the new grass field optimally used?

· Picnics, lounging, sleeping, resting, etc.
· like the great lawn in Central Park
· small family groups having picnics and playing games with their children…and no danger to passersby and people sitting at the tables on the southern edge from flying projectiles!!!
· As a tennis court or something that better fits the demographic of the area. Basketball is fine for men between 15 and 25: and we have so many courts, but it’s so obviously not the correct choice for BPC. CB1′s Battery Park City Committee was wrong on this choice for our community.
· picnics, sunbathing, decorative area
· Informally by local residents but without organized sports activity which will tend to destroy the grass
· while I would like the grass to look beautiful, I object to the conservancy’s attempt to take away traditional usage of the grass in order to create much finer manicured gardens. While we all want something beautiful to look at – - we all need somewhere to play with our children and our pets. It seems difficult for the conservancy to compromise their lovely plans in order to take into consideration the resident’s feelings that they need lawns downtown similar to Central Park where we can lounge, etc.
· Picnics, just sitting
· passive, low intensity recreation eg Frisbee, informal ball toss, etc
· For parents to spend time with their children teaching them to play ball or young kids playing together. I don’t have children and I play soccer but the grass cannot survive the traffic and the neighborhood would suffer. I would love to use the space but I can play soccer on either of the piers to the north. Everyone who walks from the trains walks by the field and if it were a mud hole like before that makes it unpleasant.
· They should invest in putting an artificial grass field instead of natural grass, like the one at Pier 25.
· Picnic type and enjoyment of the grass and park area for BPC residents.
· As a place for non-organized activities
· Full blown Recreational field. Astroturf and a track around it that could host events.

Photo prior to the field opening in 2011

Photo on September 14 of significant damage to field

Another “Authority” bungles a construction project in Battery Park City

September 24, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The much anticipated opening of the new artificial turf ball fields north of Goldman Sachs on Murray Street finally happened, more than two weeks behind schedule. Heavy rain was cited by the BPCA as the reason, even though “Hurricane” Irene was only a tropical storm when it hit Manhattan leaving only sprinkles.

The Downtown Soccer League (DSL) will be the first group to use the new field. On September 15, the delay was announced in a blast email by DSL President Bill Bialosky, “concerns over the quality of the installation and the weather sensitive process involved in adhering the turf to the foam underlayment triggered the BPCA decision given today’s rain…it is the BPCA’s desire to provide a lasting, state of the art turf field for the community that led to delaying our activities at the ball field until next week.” A parent of a DSL child told BatteryPark.TV that the scheduled games for the league will be pushed into December now.

Upon closer inspection of the fields, The installation clearly seems “out of spec”. Obvious open seams and creases protrude in the field creating tripping hazards and sources for the field to be torn up over time.

The fields are owned and operated by The Battery Park City Authority and the project was overseen by the CEO of the BPCA, Gayle Horwitz. The BPCA refused to reply to our emails and calls. It is unknown how much was paid to the construction company, how the contract was won, etc.

Other recent construction projects in or adjacent to Battery Park City that were bungled with major cost overruns include the Port Authority’s 9/11 Memorial that triggered near-100% increases in bridge and tunnel tolls, the West Thames Park and the re-sodding of the grass field, and the dog park by North Cove Marina.

(Click images to enlarge)

Diagonal folds and creases from improper installation

Wide creases between rolls of turf

BPCA CEO Gayle Horwitz

Survey: Your opinion of the 9/11 memorial ceremonies

September 11, 2011

Please take our survey on the 9/11 memorial ceremonies. We will post the results on Monday.

September 12, 2011

The results of our survey were:

76% of the responders were from Battery Park

100% liked the design of the 9/11 Memorial. 34% strongly approved.

76% thought that the tight security measures were appropriate

74% agreed with Mayor Bloomberg in not allowing various religious leaders to make speeches

However, 76% disagreed with the Mayor’s decision to not allow living firefighters and policemen to make official speeches.

Pictures of the Week

September 11, 2011

(click to enlarge image)

Photos by Steven Greer

NYPD 9/11 bagpipe parade 2007

Over 118,000 views and counting

(This is the file with the 100,00 views originally posted on YouTube at another location of ours)

NYPD 9/11 bagpipe parade 2009

The annual NYPD commemorative bagpipe parade honoring the police killed in the September 11th, 2001 attacks.

Bureaucrats shamed into a grass field deal

Update: August 15, 2011

The fence was removed and the field is now opened for public use.

August 12, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

Well, after having our friends at Pix11 TV news and The NY Post begin stories on the West Thames grass field disgrace, the DOT announced today that the field would open on Monday, August 15th. Recall, it was delayed two weeks due to an absurd “crab grass” excuse. Prior to that, the field was out of use for almost two years due to bickering between the DOT and the BPCA.

In their brief release, Adam Levine of the DOT wrote, “The New York State Department of Transportation and the Battery Park City Authority are pleased to announce that the West Thames Park lawn is scheduled to open Monday, August 15, 2011.  The park will be maintained by Battery Park City Authority through the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy.”

This beautiful real grass field cost the tax payers more than $200,000, for the grass alone, yet was held hostage as part of this bureaucratic dispute. To express your outrage over having to view an unsightly chain link fence in your neighborhood for many months, and having your children deprived of an entire summer of recreation, contact:

BPCA CEO Gayle Horwitz at (212) 417-2000 gayle.horwitz@batteryparkcity.org

Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, Tess Huxley  thuxley@bpcparks.org

DOT’s Region 11 Director Phillip Eng at (718) 482-4526 peng@dot.state.ny.us

West Thames Park grass field not opened, committee decides usage rules

Update: August 2, 2011

In what exemplifies the disconnect between the bureaucrats governing lower Manhattan and the what best serves the citizens, the still-squabbling DOT and BPCA delayed the opening of the coveted grass field for a full week to allow for small areas to regrow after crabgrass was removed. The new opening date is set for August 8th.

August 1, 2011

Despite signs promising an August 1 opening of the West Thames Park grass field, the BPCA, managed by Gayle Horwitz and Tess Huxley, failed to take down the chain link fence. No explanation was given or any new dates set for the opening.

On the same day, the Battery Park City division of Community Board 1 convened the “West Thames Park Task Force”, led by Jeff Galloway and Anthony Notaro, to decide what activities to recommend to the BPC CB1 meeting in September. The Task Force decided:

• No more than 50% of the field should be used by any organized team
• No cleated shows allowed
• Activities should be as safe as possible

These guidelines are somewhat consistent with the opinions of the local residents expressed in our online survey.

Shark!

There are sharks in Battery Park City, literally not metaphorically. An angler on the esplanade caught this small sand shark on Sunday, November 22. The fisherman spoke only Chinese and we were unable to get his name or any information.

Email us if you have photos of your own that you would like for us to post.

The fisherman

Bombshell: Parks Conservancy still not agreeing to assume control of the West Thames grass field

July 5, 2011

The Battery Park Community Board met tonight to discuss how the newly-sodded grass field in West Thames “Tire Swing” Park should be used. BatteryPark.TV presented results of the survey that indicated the overwhelming majority of residents do not want organized soccer to be allowed on the field.

At the end of discussion, there seemed to be agreement on the following:

· The working committee previously formed would be revived to make specific rules for the grass field
· Young children doing pretty much any activity are not a problem to the grass
· Mature adults in organized groups playing soccer with cleats, like the ones that formed unapproved groups last Fall and destroyed the field, will likely not be allowed
· The field needs to be protected by the Parks Enforcement Patrol and be mowed/fertilized/rested by the Parks Conservancy

It was when the last bullet point topic was discussed that the meeting yielded a bombshell. To the astonishment of CB1 member Anthony Notaro and others, Anne Fenton and Tess Huxley of the BPCA and Parks Conservancy respectively, announced that Parks Conservancy has indeed NOT yet agreed to assume control and responsibility for the field.

Mr. Notaro said, “We all assumed that when the DOT agreed to re-sod the field, that it was because the DOT and Parks had formed an agreement and (settled the disputes that caused the grass field to be neglected forming a mud pasture)”.

Ms. Fenton replied, “We are still in negotiations”.

When pressed further for the nature of the unsettled items, an estimated date that the Parks would make a decision, or which entity would be caring for the grass once the July 22 “ready date” for the field to be opened comes around, the BPCA would not give any details. The stonewalling was consistent with the BPCA’s refusal to answer dozens of requests from BatteryPark.TV.

Mr. Notaro asked the representative of the DOT whether they would open up the grass field on July 22nd if Tess Huxley and the Parks Conservancy had still not agreed to take care of the lawn, risking a repeat of the destruction of 2010, and he replied that the grass field would not be opened to the public. Therefore, at the moment, the residents of Battery Park, who pay the highest taxes in the city, will be unable to enjoy a major portion of the park real estate in their neighborhood thanks to two feuding bureaucracies. This is in addition to the eight weeks of prime summer time use already lost due to the re-sodding that was caused by bureaucratic neglect.

Scammers at the Farmers’ Market?

Update: June 30, 2011 A more genuine farmer’s market already

The farmer’s market at the WFC seems more authentic already, since our first story. Gone are the corn and watermelon in June that were  clearly imported from thousands of miles away rather than from an “organic local farm”.  All that we saw today was genuine locally grown vegetables.

(click images to expand)

June 10, 2011

How to Make Sure You’re Supporting Local Farmers Be educated, be vigilant, know what’s in season!
By Colleen Vanderlinden of Planetgreen.com

Apparently, the popularity of farmers’ markets is just too much temptation for some unscrupulous vendors.

NBC Los Angeles’ news team decided to do some checking around at local farmer’s markets, and paid visits to the farms where the vendors claimed they grew the food they were selling. In some cases, they found fields full of weeds or dry, empty fields. The vendors were selling vegetables and fruit they had bought wholesale, and were selling it at premium prices at local farmer’s markets, claiming it was locally grown and organic.

As to the “organic” claim, NBCLA also sent several items purchased from vendors who claimed not to use pesticides to labs for testing, and the results came back positive for pesticides. One of the “farmers” claimed that the pesticides found on their produce was the result of overspray from nearby farms, but the levels found on the tested produce were too high for it have been mere “drift.”

This particular story was reported in California, but there’s no doubt that it’s happening all over the country. Near my home, for example, there is a “farmer’s market” in a church parking lot every weekend during the summer. How they managed to have perfect-looking “locally grown” watermelons in early May in Detroit is beyond me. Needless to say, I don’t shop there.

How To Make Sure You’re Supporting Local Farmers Rather than Slimy Opportunists

· Research, research, research. Try to get to know a few vendors really well. Ask where their farm is located, how long they’ve been farming, how they handle pest and disease issues. See if they’re listed on sites like LocalHarvest — not all farmers are, but it doesn’t hurt to check. Ask them the specific variety of whatever produce they’re selling. If they really grew it, they should be able to tell you that those are ‘Emerite’ filet beans, not just “green beans.”
· Look over the display. Really look. This is a great tip from Homegrown Evolution. Are all of the tomatoes the exact same shape and size? Do the apples have that waxy supermarket look? Are the cucumbers all perfectly uniform? Are they selling “local” watermelon in Detroit during the first week of May? If so, they probably went to the warehouse club and bought produce to sell at a premium at the farmer’s market. Steer clear.
· Know what’s in season! If you see watermelon in April or peppers in December in Minnesota or Michigan, chances are good that they have not been grown locally. While some farmers have large heated greenhouses to grow produce year-round, not all do, and it pays to ask questions if the vendor is displaying a lot of out-of-season produce.

As with many things when you’re trying to live a more sustainable life, we need to be vigilant and educated. Don’t trust that just because the sign says “farmers’ market,” you’re supporting nothing but local farmers. While the majority of vendors are legitimate, it’s unfortunately up to us to make sure that we’re buying from them, and not some crook who’s trying to take advantage of the situation.

Former CEO of BPCA, James Cavanaugh, to run the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation

Corrections: May 28, 2011

Mr. Cavanaugh has posted a comment, below, correcting a couple of items that he feels we got wrong in the story.

May 27, 2011

BatteryPark.TV has learned that former CEO of Battery Park City Authority, James Cavanaugh, who left amidst scandals, is returning to Battery Park City, to be the Chairman of The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation (NYHSF). The NYHF is affiliated with the Manhattan Sailing Club that manages the North Cove Marina and sailing classes. The NYHSF is a non-profit with the mission of teaching sailing to underprivileged children, and now also assists with collegiate sailing. Both entities are currently managed by Michael Fortenbaugh.

BatteryPark.TV interviewed Mr. Fortenbaugh. Mr. Cavanaugh resigned from the BPCA late last year and briefly joined a consulting firm. His Chairman role with NYHSF will be a volunteer, unpaid, position. There are three board members.

Mr. Fortenbaugh reached out to Mr. Cavanaugh to ask for his help with the NYHSF. He said, “I am just a sailor really…(Cavanaugh) has actually managed things and run things…Not many people remember, back in 2004, the marina was still struggling after 9/11. In 2005, when we were vying for the contract to manage the North Cove Marina, I reached out to Dennis Conner, the most famous sailor in America…The marina has been a big success in recent years”.

In fact, last year, the marina was so full of mega-yachts, that BatteryPark.TV posted this story “Is this Newport?”

Mr. Fortenbaugh has been the common thread to all of the organizations related to The North Cove. In 1987, he started the sailing club on the east side at the Seaport. He moved it to the North Cove in 1994. Dennis Conner became involved around 2005.

Mr. Fortenbaugh later started the NYHSF as a non-profit, which has raised money from a variety events. The annual Hedge Fund Regatta has more than 40 participants, raising more than $40,000. The foundation creates sailing classes (Operation Optimist) for underprivileged kids, and is now working with local colleges for sailing teams.

Mission Accomplished?

May 27, 2011

The title, “Mission accomplished” is, of course, sarcasm. Although the newly sodded field looks great now, in eight weeks, will the ambiguous, overlapping authorities and pseudo-authorities that decide which sports can tread on the field have the spine to restrict organized soccer? Stay tuned. So far, no one from the DOT or BPCA are willing to own this responsibility.

To read the full history of how the new grass field became the mud field, then the new new grass field, click here.

The Parks Conservancy delays the new sod for the mud field

Update: May 17, 2011

It appears as if the Parks folks have struck an agreement with the DOT over the handling of the mud field. A press release today from the DOT read, “The lawn will be closed for re-sodding the turf area.  The closure is necessary in order to install new sod and allow it to properly “knit.”  After removing the old sod and installing the new sod, this growing period will last for approximately eight weeks. The lawn is expected to re-open approximately on Friday, July 22, 2011. No public access is allowed in order to protect the newly establishing lawn and to make sure the lawn stays healthy.  It is necessary to do this work now since spring planting is an optimal time to lay new sod. If you have further questions or require any additional information, please contact the Community Outreach Liaison, Julie Nadel, by telephone at 1-800-714-0454 or by e-mail at route9a@dot.state.ny.us.”

May 6, 2011

BatterPark.TV was the first to report on the bureaucratic feud between the DOT and BPCA Parks Conservancy that led to the neglect and destruction of the newly sodded field north of West Thames Park that cost several million to the tax payer (an estimated $100,000 for the grass sod alone). The DOT seems to have resolved the issues relating to the construction of the field, analogous to a “punch out list” a new homeowner goes through with a construction company (i.e. sprinklers, drainage in this case), yet the Parks Conservancy continues to dither. Meanwhile, the window of time for re-sodding is expiring fast (The end of May).

BatteryPark.TV has been trying to get answers from the BPCA for two weeks, but the BPCA has gone through extensive efforts to avoid our questions, including even instructing the Brookfield Properties security desk to not allow us up to the World Financial Center BPCA offices (a story in and of itself). However, the DOT has responded to our questions.

According to Adam Levine of the DOT, the sprinkler and drainage issues of the new field have been resolved. The DOT is ready to re-sod the field as soon as the BPCA Parks Conservancy, managed by Tess Huxley, meets with them and agrees to assume control of the field, as they currently do so well for all of the other grassy areas in BPC.

It is unclear why the Parks Conservancy is dragging their feet and failing to meet with the DOT. According to a local newsletter, at a recent Community Board meeting, Battery Park City CB Chair, Linda Belfer, said, “Originally when they agreed to do the park, there were agreements in place as to the maintenance and now they’re being ignored and they’re renegotiating who will maintain the parks, the HRPT or the Conservancy. The two agencies together have not come to an agreement.” She added that Joe Brown, project manager for the DOT, “said last night that they’re ready to put in the sod. Meanwhile we’re losing more and more time, and use of the area.”

In the bigger picture, The Parks Conservancy has been the agency in charge of numerous scandals recently. The Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) are managed by The Parks Conservancy and Tess Huxley. The issue of the PEPs harassing dog owners walking their dogs, asking for ID for no reason, and the violent attack of a local resident who protested being asked for his ID, came to a boiling point after BatteryPark.TV reported the stories.

Also, this Spring, it became apparent that the large expensive Koi carp in the waterfall pond, also managed by the Parks Conservancy, were killed when the pond was neglected over the harsh winter. A simple hole in the ice to allow for oxygen would have saved the fish and allowed them to live through the record-breaking cold winter as they had done for 16 previous years.

There are numerous other complaints relating to mismanagement by the Parks Conservancy. BatteryPark.TV recently reported on a notorious  PEP Captain negotiating with NYPD tow trucks to avoid an expensive towing of a PEP’s personal car.

Although the BPCA seems to have addressed many of the PEP issues, and progress has been noted, the top management at the Parks Conservancy seem to be circling their wagons, dodging the press by almost literally hiding under their desks, avoiding Community Board meetings, and exhibiting no signs of reform.

If the topics were not so important to Battery Park residents, the Parks Conservancy drama would make for a good episode on NBC’s “Community” that spoofs local parks officials. However, this is not a joke.

Bad -apple bureaucrats are usually resistant to change and have to be replaced.

The 2011 Wall Street Heart Walk

May 17, 2011