West Indian Day Carnival; “Murder Day Parade”
The West Indian Day Carnival is held over the Labor Day weekend in September. It began in Harlem in the late 1940s, moved to Brooklyn in the 1950s, and now draws hundreds of thousands of people.…
Hawks (Hunter College teams)
Hunter College calls its athletic teams the "Hawks." No one knows why. 7 December 1955, New York Times, pg. 55:Hunter College's basketball team gained its second victory in two…
Dolphins (College of Staten Island teams)
The College of Staten Island calls its athletic teams the "Dolphins." No one knows why. 20 February 1979, New York Times, pg. C10:And, during the nine games that make up the City…
Education (Charter Schools; Vouchers)
Education is obviously very important, but the mayor and the city council play more important roles here. The borough president does appoint two members to each community education council. More…
Technology (Free wifi!)
[UPDATE: This was written when I was running for the office of Manhattan Borough President in 2005, and it was borrowed from a platform of Public Advocate candidate Andrew Rasiej. I have since…
Transportation (Second Avenue Subway; Lower Manhattan link to JFK)
The next most important issue, after the community boards and land use, on the Manhattan borough president's plate is transportation. Here's what the other candidates say:…
Land Use (“It is much easier to defeat something in New York City than to build something”—Donald T
Land Use is, by far, the most serious issue in this election. It's what the Manhattan borough president and the community boards must tackle, and the general philosophy of the borough…
What the community boards do (and do they really represent the community?)
There are 12 community boards in Manhattan, with about 50 members on each one. The Manhattan Borough President makes about 600 appointments. It's one of the BP's biggest responsibilities.…
What the Manhattan borough president does
The revision of the city charter in the late 1980s has made the once-powerful borough president's office rather toothless. We now have a very strong mayor and a strong city council, but…
“Manhattan—The Heart of the Big Apple”
On the website of the current Manhattan Borough President is a drawing of an apple. A heart is cut into the apple. "Manhattan--The Heart of the Big Apple" is just below the illustration.…
Why I am running
On June 1st, right at the deadline, I filed with the Campaign Finance Board to be a candidate for Manhattan Borough President. I had intended to run for Public Advocate. Nothing could be easier.…
Gothamland
"Gothamland" is "Gotham" + "Disneyland." Author Tom Wolfe, in an opinion in the June 12, 2005 New York Times about New York City's future, wrote that New York has…
Battle of the Bands (Savoy Ballroom)
The term "Battle of the Bands" existed before Harlem, but Harlem's Savoy Ballroom (596 Lenox Avenue/Malcolm X Boulevard) made it famous in the late 1930s. Chick Webb, Count Basie and…
Charter School
"Charter schools" were started in Minnesota in the early 1990s. They operate independently of the local school system, thus offering much-needed competition. (Oxford English…
“Take to the Water” (NY Waterway)
Ny Waterway operates a ferry service. Ferries used to be commonplace before our bridges, but now ferries are back, freeing Manhattan from having more cars. "Take to the water" is a slogan…
Taste of Times Square
The "Taste of Times Square" began in 1994 in, well, Times Square. It usually takes place on West 46th Street, between Broadway and Ninth Avenue (including Restaurant Row). The 2006…
Taxi (the word “taxicab” and the “yellow” color)
It has been said that Harry N. Allen coined the word "taxicab" in the fall of 1907, and that he also introduced the color "yellow" to his vehicles. I think that's wrong on…
Magnet School
The first "magnet school" was in Philadelphia in the 1960s, not New York. A "magnet" school specializes in something (science or performing arts or business, for example) to…
Big Lychee (summary)
Hong Kong and Shanghai are sometimes called the "Big Lychee." It was recently voted down as an official Hong Kong nickname, but it still might be used.…
Blue Zone
The "Blue Zone" is the area in lower Manhattan that has a blue line near the curb. Parking is not allowed Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The fine for parking here is $65, but don't…