Comments on: Today’s Headlines http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Doc Barnett http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/comment-page-1/#comment-54261 Doc Barnett Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:32:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/#comment-54261 I can not believe the lazy nihilism of the Post editorial board (really, I can't believe more than one person worked on that argument), trying to discount police abuse of one cyclist by way of the mortal threats they all face. The possibility of being run over isn't bad enough in itself, now it acts as a justification for assault. (The assumption is that Critical Mass augments the risk, but no evidence is provided—has anyone died, and if so, is the rate higher than normal?) This grim thinking would by extension apply to everyone on the streets, and in cultures lacking middle class pedestrians it often does. Streets are dangerous, but why talk about reducing their manmade danger (that would be hating cars!) when we can blame the silly lambs for going to their slaughter? The Post is correct that there is an "anarchist" mentality at work, but they've got the assignment of it backward. I can not believe the lazy nihilism of the Post editorial board (really, I can’t believe more than one person worked on that argument), trying to discount police abuse of one cyclist by way of the mortal threats they all face. The possibility of being run over isn’t bad enough in itself, now it acts as a justification for assault. (The assumption is that Critical Mass augments the risk, but no evidence is provided—has anyone died, and if so, is the rate higher than normal?) This grim thinking would by extension apply to everyone on the streets, and in cultures lacking middle class pedestrians it often does. Streets are dangerous, but why talk about reducing their manmade danger (that would be hating cars!) when we can blame the silly lambs for going to their slaughter? The Post is correct that there is an “anarchist” mentality at work, but they’ve got the assignment of it backward.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/comment-page-1/#comment-54258 Mark Walker Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:21:08 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/#comment-54258 The cop-on-biker violence story was the lead item on last night's CW11 10 o'clock news. Apparently the mainstream media is interested in this story. The cop-on-biker violence story was the lead item on last night’s CW11 10 o’clock news. Apparently the mainstream media is interested in this story.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/comment-page-1/#comment-54251 Larry Littlefield Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:58:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/#comment-54251 "Bloomberg acknowledged the need for reforms in his 2007 State of the City speech, where he chided Albany for "giving away the store" and "saddling our children with costly pension giveaways." Then in early 2008, he went along with a plan to have city teachers retire at 55 instead of 62, and claimed that the cost, in pension contributions and retiree health care, would be ZERO. Since the TWU strike did not succeed in having retirement at 50 instead of 55, that is the biggest pension change since 2000. Expect the teacher pension enhancement to be paid for by new hires being paid $15,000 or something, and certification requirements waived, along with bigger class sizes, higher taxes, an end to extra-curricular activities, etc. “Bloomberg acknowledged the need for reforms in his 2007 State of the City speech, where he chided Albany for “giving away the store” and “saddling our children with costly pension giveaways.”

Then in early 2008, he went along with a plan to have city teachers retire at 55 instead of 62, and claimed that the cost, in pension contributions and retiree health care, would be ZERO.

Since the TWU strike did not succeed in having retirement at 50 instead of 55, that is the biggest pension change since 2000.

Expect the teacher pension enhancement to be paid for by new hires being paid $15,000 or something, and certification requirements waived, along with bigger class sizes, higher taxes, an end to extra-curricular activities, etc.

]]> By: vnm http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/comment-page-1/#comment-54249 vnm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:50:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/#comment-54249 So, I guess <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/07292008/postopinion/editorials/critical_menace_122125.htm" rel="nofollow">the Post</a> doesn't like Critical Mass too much. So, I guess the Post doesn’t like Critical Mass too much.

]]> By: fpteditors http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/comment-page-1/#comment-54247 fpteditors Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:42:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/29/todays-headlines-453/#comment-54247 Baseball hurt by congestion! oh my! Congestion hurts most businesses and all citizens and benefits a one group, the carbon-auto industry. This dis-economic system is supported by a restraint-of-trade tariff on a public investment--public transit fares. Baseball hurt by congestion! oh my! Congestion hurts most businesses and all citizens and benefits a one group, the carbon-auto industry. This dis-economic system is supported by a restraint-of-trade tariff on a public investment–public transit fares.

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