Sunday, December 28, 2008

Can't Anyone Here Play This Game Anymore?


Erie Canal Became NY's First Economic Engine

Governor De Witt Clinton in spite of a lack of public support, funding, untrained engineers, and unforgiving terrain had the vision and leadership skills to build the Erie Canal in the early 1800's. The canal which opened New York’s manufacturing goods to the Midwest markets was responsible for the state overtaking Boston and Philadelphia to become the commerce and jobs capitol of America - increasing the state’s population five fold, in the decade after it was open.

As the City's modern economic engines of Wall Street and Construction fail, have some of New York's office holders destroyed the only possibility for creating thousand of jobs with a backup Safety-Net Economic Engine?

London who won the 2012 Olympics over New York is already spending over $140 million a month on construction. Over $13 billion will be spent on thousands of London workers before the games begin *** In addition to great sports facilities the people of London will have 3000 units of new affordable housing after the athletes are finished with the Olympic Village.
















In the next few years when thousands of New Yorkers lives are destroyed by the coming depression, will those responsible for killing thousands of jobs receive any of the blame?

No. We know that the Dolans who spent millions in consultants and TV commercials to destroy the Westside Stadium they considered to be competition for their Madison Square Garden, will be protected from paying any price by their money and arrogance. Other developers who used puppet politicians purchased with campaign contributions to publicly oppose the Olympics, while developer bosses secretly jockeyed for tax breaks on development deals involving the Garden, Post Office and the federal dollars allocated to build the Moynihan Train Station project, will never be exposed by the news industry they own.



Losers Many New Yorkers will never get the jobs and job training skills that would have helped them have better lives. 3000 New Yorkers will not be living in affordable housing units that the Olympics are building for the people of London. Thousands of convention visitors will not be coming to the city as the stadium would have allowed the larger conventions to hold their events here. The recession has killed all efforts to expand the Javits Convention Center. Fees on everyone and taxes on hotel visitors and homeowners will be increased by a city leadership that views it's own reelection as more important than working towards the economic health of the city and it's residents. Nothing will be built for years on the West Side Yards site because of Manhattan's real estate downturn.


Winners Generation It's All About Me The "I Got You the $400 Property Tax Rebate and Kept Your Under Used Senior Center Open" Reelected Councilmember who thinks member items allocations are economic engine enough.


Senate Campaign Times: As a Candidate, Kennedy Is Forceful but Elusive *** Post: KIDS & HUBBY ARE ALL ABOARD ON RUN FOR SENATE - AND OBAMA'S 'ENCOURAGING' *** Q&A WITH KENNEDY *** Daily News Kennedy: I wouldn't be beholden to anybody *** Moynihan's daughter makes the case for Caroline *** Say goodnight, Caroline, Campaign Bungles - Goodwin *** Kennedy Won't Run Unless Appointed *** Analysis: Kennedy's Shine Obscures Other Hopefuls

Legal Meltdown Bronx DA has rejected a request that he look into allegations by the board's former personnel director, that a drug peddler was on the payroll *** Brooklyn Hasids, furious that city created bike lanes, have defiantly put up their own traffic sign *** Top city crane inspector had once worked for company implicated in two fatal collapses


Economic Meltdown BLOOMBERG EYEING BUYOUT PLAN TO SHED CITY WORKERS *** Downturn Ends Building Boom in New York *** City's pension funds have lost close to 30 percent in the Wall Street crisis *** MIKE $TRIKES HIKES: NIXES MANAGERIAL RAISES FOR 1ST TIME *** Construction Projects Coming To A Halt *** NY Residents: Good Riddance to '08 Bank Statements *** Deep discounts fail to bring in buyers *** Fashion Week threatened by economy *** The Sagamore resort on Lake George will close from Jan 4. through March because of the weak economy *** Owners of small businesses say that the holidays have brought scant respite *** Fort Greene Shopkeepers in a new business improvement district clash over fees for street cleaning, security and other services that some say are not worth paying *** Our Failure to Invest in US - Times, Herbert


Wall Street Meltdown The hunt for funds allegedly cheated out of investors by Madoff, has turned to offshore tax havens *** Judge Rules Madoff Must Disclose Assets

Washington Stars of Hollywood, high-tech open wallets for Obama inauguration party *** Sen. Reid Hits the Ground Running in Uphill Re-Election Bid *** No Blagojevich subpoenas for Barack Obama's advisers*** Dems Stand to Lose Clinton's Fundraising Chops *** GOP chairman angered over Obama parody

World Israel Launches Massive Airstrikes Against Hamas In Gaza *** Words of John Pryor, trauma surgeon killed in Iraq

Politics Politics No Longer Local. Social Networking Makes It Viral

City Hall Human Rights Project says the Council's Term Limits Vote Violated Human Rights

Albany Chief Judge Is Retiring, Leaving Trail of Successes for Women on the Bench


What stories will dominate the financial world in 2008? Our Wall Street guru makes his predictions -- New York Magazine


Year End Best and Top Best Political Scoops of '08 *** Politicians We'll Miss in 2009 *** Biggest Media Gaffes of 2008 *** Timeless and Time-Tested Warren Buffett Watch Predictions *** 2008 In Review: Hillary Clinton's Political Journey *** Top 2008 News Stories that Don't Begin With 'O' *** ABC: Obama's Election Voted Top News Story of 2008 *** Gotham Gazette: Top New York Stories of 2008 *** Top Story From The Associated Press*** WNBC Year in Review: News *** The Daily Beast's columnists pick their favorites from what they read this year