Archives for May 2012

The Considerate Cyclist: The current state of cycling in NYC

May 9, 2012 By AP Smith Leave a Comment

Photo by Allen Yin

The Accident Investigation Squad

Last month, Council Member Stephen Levin put forward legislation, paired with an open letter to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, that would require the NYPD to follow the state law requiring cops to investigate collisions involving bicycles that result in serious physical injury. Currently, the NYPD is only mandated to investigate collisions where the police believe “death is likely.” In addition, the Accident Investigation Squad (AIS) employs only 23 officers who are responsible for investigating fatal accidents citywide. Levin’s proposed legislation would increase that number to 380.

Tourist-burg-point-wick—Tourism and Williamsburg Converge

May 9, 2012 By Mary W. Yeung Leave a Comment

Even after The Deluge, they kept coming. Tourism in New York City has never been more robust after 9/11. Back in 2002, while some tourists canceled their visits, there were more than enough curiosity seekers to take their place. The truth is, when the world focuses their attention on a single epic event taking place in a famous city like New York, some of those people will want to make their next trip a pilgrimage.

Last year, fifty million tourists visited New York City, compared to 35 million in 2001. Economists will tell you that the weak dollar has made vacationing in America a relative bargain. But that doesn’t explain why tourism in the rest of the United States declined by 2% last year, while it was up 2.5% in New York City. Mayor Bloomberg, understandably, would like to take a lot of the credit, citing quality of life issues (the beautification of public spaces like the High Line, and park-like traffic islands throughout the City). The Mayor also credits his effective overseas marketing campaign, conducted by NYC & Company, the agency charged with promoting the City.

In 2006, he merged three separate marketing departments—NYC & Company, NYC Big Events, and NYC Marketing—to create one powerhouse promotional agency. (The Comptroller’s office is not so happy with NYC & Company right now, but that is a whole other story.) This March, NYC & Company announced that it had set a goal of steering over 55 million visitors to the Big Apple by 2015, with a laser-like on the 18- to 29-year-old youth market. Currently, the youth market makes up about 30% of the total, but most of that is domestic tourism, not foreign. The city plans to host many special events that would appeal to young people, and help them find affordable lodging and eateries.

Kyoung eun Kang’s “Steps” at HERE Arts Center

May 6, 2012 By WG News + Arts Leave a Comment

Review by Robert Egert
@psychomotikon

It’s probably accurate to say that what we call the self is undergoing profound changes as a result of technology and globalization. Social networks entangle and confuse our professional, personal and familial relations. Meanwhile, political and geographic boundaries begin to appear antiquated in the face of a rapidly expanding global network.

"Self-portrait, Mother" by Kyoung eun Kang

PHIL ON FIRE: What’s Up With Domino? / Problems at Northside Piers

May 3, 2012 By Phil DePaolo Leave a Comment

Bald Punk Northside-Williamsburg-Waterfront14.JPG

I have received countless emails and phone calls regarding the problems development partners CPCR and Isaac Katan are having at the former Domino refinery, which was rezoned for up to 2,200 units of housing. CPCR and Katan purchased the site in 2004 for 55 million dollars.

This is a very complex story that is impossible to explain in one article, but in a nutshell, the developers were given a huge density bonus on the premise that they were going to build 660 units of affordable housing, even though there is no legal obligation for them to do so. Now, it seems that the main developer, CPCR, has defaulted on its loans and is having financial problems, and that CPCR has agreed to give its lender, Pacific Coast Capital, an 84 percent stake in the property in exchange for forgiving its debt. Also, the current partner, Isaac Katan, is suing CPCR. Katan claims that CPCR has mismanaged the project for eight years. Katan wants to block the sale of the site to Pacific Coast Capital. His lawsuit alleges “breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligent performance,” according to the court filing.

Cinema of the Soul—Interview with Tod Wizon

May 2, 2012 By Sarah Schmerler Leave a Comment

Details of three paintings by tod wizon (l to r): Ferris Wheel (2006), Gape (2006), and Harbor Bells (2006). Photos courtesy of the artist

Tod Wizon doesn’t want a bio of the sort most artists want; that said, let’s give a quick rundown of his artworld accomplishments—all the better for you to grasp how little these sorts of things truly mean to him: Wizon is 59; he’s shown extensively with well-regarded galleries like Bruno Bischofberger (Zurich), Annina Nosei, Jack Tilton, and Phyllis Kind; and he’s been reviewed in Art in America, ArtForum, and ARTNews. But more importantly, after 30-plus years of being “in” or “out” of the spotlight, he’s thoroughly entrenched in his craft.

Translation: Tod Wizon Paints. Every Day. Every Single Day. Usually for eight hours. This means that he talks and walks and smokes and otherwise wrestles with the sorts of profundities all painters worth their salt have wrestled with on a daily basis, across Time. (Isn’t that what every painter’s bio should say?) Wizon feels that his efforts, when successful, afford him access to an incredibly rarified and ineffable place—a space where he feels free to lose his Self and, in the process, find Form. But my impression is just the opposite. He “loses” himself from Form’s confines and, in the process, exposes Self. Either way, it’s much the same thing: Wizon doesn’t want to talk, he wants to paint. And when he paints, it’s all good.