Saturday, September 10, 2022
City cuts down this tree — said to be rotting — in Tompkins Square Park
Officials now say water tested at the Riis Houses never had arsenic in it; lab says results were 'incorrect'
Officials made a stunning announcement yesterday about the week-long water crisis at the Jacob Riis Houses on Avenue D.An update from the Mayor’s Press Secretary @Fabien_Levy on the water situation at Jacob Riis Houses in Manhattan:https://t.co/j1foCteceU pic.twitter.com/xUs2uLTRV0
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) September 9, 2022
Today, Environmental Monitoring and Technologies — the original lab that provided the initial test results claiming there was arsenic in the water at Riis Houses issued a full retraction and released revised results, calling their initial results 'incorrect.' Worse yet, the company has now admitted to being the ones that introduced arsenic into the samples, leading to the false results.
The audience erupted, with tenants shouting that they don't know what to believe after being whipsawed back and forth over eight days, beginning on the Friday night of Labor Day weekend, that left them furious and exhausted."This one week has felt like an eternity," said Riis tenant Dianna Fernandez. "Water is essential. NYCHA needs to do better. Mayor Adams: Where are you?"Adams was in Washington, D.C. trying to woo the Democratic Committee to hold its convention in New York, but NYCHA Chairman Gregory Russ was present, facing the angry crowd and quickly becoming the target of much of the room’s explosive anger.
And as NBC New York reported: "City leaders plan to explore all legal avenues while guaranteeing the end to all work with Environmental Monitoring and Technologies."Angry residents of the Jacob Riis houses at a public meeting tonight demanding answers from officials about the complex’s water. @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/mBDygvJdFi
— Thalia Perez (@ThaliaPerezTV) September 10, 2022
NEW: I, along with many of my colleagues, want answers from @NYCMayor and @NYCHA Chair Russ. Residents at Riis Houses have been through a lot. They deserve answers, transparency, accountability and compensation. We look forward to the response. pic.twitter.com/sJ7Rb0CKPH
— Harvey Epstein (@HarveyforNY) September 9, 2022
Saturday's opening shot
Friday, September 9, 2022
When the Circus Amok came to town!
That 'Thing' you do
The NYC Anarchist Bookfair is tomorrow (Saturday) in La Plaza Cultural
Sept. 9: The latest headlines on the water crisis at the Jacob Riis Houses
... and here's a flashback to a piece via PIX 11 about the water at Riis Houses from Aug. 12 titled, "Cloudy tap water has East Village NYCHA residents worried."Out here at Riis Houses, w/ @CarlinaRivera & @HarveyforNY, helping w/ hot meal distribution for tenants who are enduring yet another day without useable water.
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) September 8, 2022
We need this crisis resolved once and for all. And we need accountability for what residents here have endured. pic.twitter.com/FsgxLs0Tzx
CB3 wants your input on 2023 budget priorities
The 10th Street Block Festival takes place tomorrow (Saturday!)
Reminders: It's weekend No. 2 of Keyapalooza
Otherwise, over the next three days, there'll be some giveaways, samples, and savings if you spend a certain amount of money. (Loyalty Club Card required!) The raffle drawing is today, so get your raffle ticket in TODAY.
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Thursday's parting shot
Assembled on the roof of the Battery Parking Garage south of the 9/11 Memorial, the twin beams reach up to four miles into the sky and are comprised of eighty-eight 7,000-watt xenon lightbulbs positioned into two 48-foot squares, echoing the shape and orientation of the Twin Towers. The installation can also be viewed from a 60-mile radius around lower Manhattan.
It's milling time
Here's a look at the proposed designs for the new East River Park amphitheater
An arch shape pays homage to both the original structure and classic bandshells while creating opportunities for physical access and sight lines to the waterfront.Other design points include:
• Clearly Address the Main Seating Area:The front arch is on the axis with the main seating area and is scaled to provide a sense of arrival as one enters from the Corlears Hook bridge.• Engage the Waterfront:Views to the waterfront are framed by an arch parallel to the esplanade. This arch is lower than the front, creating a more intimate experience near the water. An accessible path and stairs connect the stage to the esplanade and reinforce this design as a multi-purpose bandshell and waterfront pavilion.• Create a Sense of Lightness and Openness:An open-arch scheme allows for greater visibility and connectivity at the stage level. This approach also creates separation between the overlapping arches above, allowing light and air to enter while keeping the rain out.• Perform Acoustically:The structure is designed to direct sound toward the seating and landscape. This will improve the sound quality for small, un-amplified events while mitigating sound projections toward the upland neighborhood.