First the bad news: a host of issues, stemming from a lack of money by the city, city agencies, as well as ordinary folks. The one bit of recent news that doesn't focus on economics deals with a battle between Community Board One and the Department of Transportation over the opening of City Hall Park's most highly trafficked pedestrian lane to cyclists.
Another issue facing the community is the shortage of space in schools to meet the rapidly growing population of Lower Manhattan, which has doubled since the year 2000. The Community Board arranges deals with site developers to use one or two floors of a building for education purposes,according to Michael Levine, the Board's director of land use and planning. The future of two more schools remains unknown until next year.
Separately, construction of the Freedom Tower, with an estimated the cost of $3 billion lags at the former World Trade Center site. Declining funds caused the MTA to scale back the scope of the Fulton Street project, which has an estimated cost af $750 million. Rising MTA expenses may lead to service cuts or layoffs. Approximately 110 or more layoffs already came to the City Hall area on Sept. 30, when the New York Sun shut down due to a lack of financial backing.
Unemployment forces some ordinary people out into the streets where, day after day, they set up their wares on Fulton Street. Despite receiving a police summons, they keep coming back because this is their only income in this economically depressing time.
But enough about economic depression! Here's the good news:
Throughout the month, several free, live concerts will be held at the J & R music store, located on Park Row across from City Hall Park. Performing artists include: Little Anthony and the Imperials on Oct. 14, Ollabelle on Oct. 15, and Tommy James on Nov. 11. J & R also features free technology seminars every day at noon at 1 Park Row, 4th floor.
Other free events in the neighborhood include both films and reading for children at the New York Public Library. Click here to see this branch's entire schedule of educational events. Not quite as free, but still educational, is a $90 course for adults on tree care offered weekly by City Hall Park in October. Another weekly occurrence is the free Monday concert series hosted by St. Paul's Chapel. The church also offers daily prayers for peace at 12:30 pm.
As additional hip and educational events come to my attention, I'll be sure to let you know!
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10 comments:
i'm so bummed about the LACK of construction on the Freedom Tower. I also heard that the last company who was suppose to have a lease in the building just pulled out. Too bad it won't be ready for the 10th anniversary...
I did not know that police were cracking down on Fulton Street vendors... Haha I don't know what kind of job they're doing though, because there were plenty of people out this weekend when I was trying to my street vendor assignment.
Have some of the building projects stopped because of the economy? I'm guessing so. Hopefully things will be finished though because no one likes construction!
WHAT is tree care???? i'm not sure if i would dish out $90 to learn it, but i guess we gotta nurture every rare tree that we come across in this concrete jungle. i love that i can go for months here without ever stepping on grass.
I am a little scared that they would open the pedetrian lane to cyclists. I saw someone get hit by a bike anf that was just on a normal crosswalk. If you put the two on the same lane, I can just see a lot of accidents in the futire of this street.
yeah i agree with jaywalker...is it worth $90 to learn about tree care? it better be pretty fascinating stuff...
Seriously - when ARE they going to build the Freedom Tower?! I hope the recent problems with the economy don't set it back even further... which of course they probably will.
A lot of the stuff going on in the City Hall area is kind of upsetting. I had no idea there were free concerts in the area though. I'll check those out.
Hopefully, I'll still be alive by the time they finish the Freedom Tower!
FREE technology seminars? Sign me up... that sounds pretty groovy to me!
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