Small Parks & Playgrounds
Nothing could be easier than adding to the city's pleasure through a proliferation of small vest-pocket parks and play areas for mothers and toddlers. The City might think in terms of taking just one lot per block in the city's poorest districts and spending $100,000.00 to clear and clean it, plant one or two trees, some plant-beds and benches, good lighting for safety, and fences and gates to keep the kids in.
The problem is money. The city loses a tax lot and has to spend a bundle in addition. But arguable a trade-off can be made is the residents of the block would agree to have their assessed value increased by 10% and do so on the grounds that their property-values would be increasing. Such parks also present an opportunity to hit the 1% for sponsorship with naming rights.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
The NYPD
We understand that the police are caught between or among opposing pressures and are therefore sensitive to adopting simplistic positions on issues like minority frisks, ticketing quotas, courtesy, wearing their hats, and getting cops out of radio cars. But being sensitive does not mean we bow out. It means we think before we take a position.
Take quotas, for example. We are in favor of having them, as long as the added pressure of a quota does not result in abuse. We see nothing wrong with telling a beat-cop to write ten tickets every day. We think that results in more orderly streets and more disciplined drivers.
This for starters. We will periodically add to this column by addressing other issues relating the the NYPD.
We understand that the police are caught between or among opposing pressures and are therefore sensitive to adopting simplistic positions on issues like minority frisks, ticketing quotas, courtesy, wearing their hats, and getting cops out of radio cars. But being sensitive does not mean we bow out. It means we think before we take a position.
Take quotas, for example. We are in favor of having them, as long as the added pressure of a quota does not result in abuse. We see nothing wrong with telling a beat-cop to write ten tickets every day. We think that results in more orderly streets and more disciplined drivers.
This for starters. We will periodically add to this column by addressing other issues relating the the NYPD.
Bicycles and the City
The promise of bicycles in New York City may be measured by the number of women who use them. At the moment, there are two male riders for every female, which leads us to the conclusion that safety improvements have to be made. This is not a gender issue but is rather an issue of safety. Rather than claim that women are more cautious than men we prefer to say that there exists a direct correlation between the percentage of women using any city's bicycle lanes and the safety that's provided.
For us, a major issue has to do with the policing of traffic. We strongly favor treating bicyclists lie motorists and ticketing them for running red lights or cycling on sidewalks. Not policing them leads to a rise of opposition to bicycling, and since we favor bicycling, we also favor more policing.
We strongly favor more bike racks near subway stops and endorse arrangements such as the one at Driggs and N. 7th in Brooklyn near the Bedford L Stop. These parking racks do no harm to merchants and thus breed no opposition. We are strongly in favor.
At the moment we have an open mind in respect to the City's new program for bicycle rentals. In principle, the idea is good, but at least from the last time we saw Paris, the program was not much of a success. Time will tell whether it's a good idea for New York City
The promise of bicycles in New York City may be measured by the number of women who use them. At the moment, there are two male riders for every female, which leads us to the conclusion that safety improvements have to be made. This is not a gender issue but is rather an issue of safety. Rather than claim that women are more cautious than men we prefer to say that there exists a direct correlation between the percentage of women using any city's bicycle lanes and the safety that's provided.
For us, a major issue has to do with the policing of traffic. We strongly favor treating bicyclists lie motorists and ticketing them for running red lights or cycling on sidewalks. Not policing them leads to a rise of opposition to bicycling, and since we favor bicycling, we also favor more policing.
We strongly favor more bike racks near subway stops and endorse arrangements such as the one at Driggs and N. 7th in Brooklyn near the Bedford L Stop. These parking racks do no harm to merchants and thus breed no opposition. We are strongly in favor.
At the moment we have an open mind in respect to the City's new program for bicycle rentals. In principle, the idea is good, but at least from the last time we saw Paris, the program was not much of a success. Time will tell whether it's a good idea for New York City
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Mission Statement
DEF is a small foundation designed to provide matching grants for documentary film-makers interested in depicting, analyzing, and criticizing economic, social, and political problems in New York City.
On a matching basis, DEF also makes contributions to New York city politicians who publicly align themselves with our positions on these issues. Even more worthy of our support are members of City Council or the New York state assembly who write, submit, and pass (!) bills incorporating our positions.
The positions we promote most strongly are improved oversight of police operations, increased and improved support for bicycling in the city, better alignment of traffic signals, added vest-pocket parks & Playgrounds, and morehousing affordable to working people.
The positions we promote most strongly are improved oversight of police operations, increased and improved support for bicycling in the city, better alignment of traffic signals, added vest-pocket parks & Playgrounds, and morehousing affordable to working people.
Donations
DEF welcomes to DEF and will be grateful in print. More significantly, DEF will match contributions to politicians we endorse, starting at $100.00 and going as high as $1,000.00, funds permitting. All donations, to us and to endorsed politicians, will be acknowledged on this web-site. No overhead will be changed, so a $100.00 contribution to your favorite politician, made through us, will result in an additional $200.00 in his or her campaign chest. That's a good deal by any standard.
Contact Us
We can be reached at docedfound@gmail.com/.
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