One-day Stuy Town Round-up

What exactly goes on in a typical day, specifically, Nov. 17, in Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village?

First, it's a gorgeous day. Sunny and bright, fresh off a night of heavy rain -- of course, this means that Stuy Town is absolutely covered in leaves (as pictured above). Now, some may think that this beautifully blustery day is pleasant, while others probably can't think straight, after listening to the leaf blowers' present hum all morning long. As posted by LuxLiving a little over a week ago, the leaf blowers are not favorites among the community. To be fair to ST though, I witnessed a handful of employees that were using an "elusive object called [a] 'rake'," that LuxLiving mentions in the post.

In other news, Christmas-time is here! And ST workers were spotted putting holiday lights on the first couple, lucky trees surrounding the Oval (as pictured below). In case you have never walked through ST/PCV during the holidays, the decorations are simple and elegant, perfectly reflecting the family-friendly community. Also, there is a rumor going around that Rose Associates is planning on planting a huge tree in the middle of the Oval, to be used as the official Christmas tree each year -- how adorable!?
Finally, there is an interview with Rose Associates in tomorrow's edition of the Town & Village. In the interview, they talk about the company's plans to crackdown on many of the typical annoyances in ST, such as loud neighbors. In fact, Rose Associates plans to create a 'Top Ten' list for the loudest apartments in the complex and keep tabs on residents that receive frequent noise complaints. Repeat offenders may even be considered for a termination of their lease. Yikes! They mean business!

"And then there's Gaga..."

I remember the days when I used to think Lady Gaga was nothing more than a series of intriguing costumes, crafty lyrics and twisted hand gestures. I was so naïve.
Much like other unbelievable artists before her time, the persona of Lady Gaga is crafted and controlled, with the purpose of challenging society’s collective thought. This process is not new.
The avant-garde movement urged artists to break away from the status quo in Europe as early as the 1900s. In New York, the same movement helped construct the classic downtown rebellions of the 1960s and the 1970s.
Located on the third floor of Bobst Library at New York University, the Fales Library & Special Collections chronicles the history of the city’s radical and defiant inhabitants that created their own life style by being avant-garde. By appointment, the collection is open to research by all NYU students, faculty and staff, as well as scholars of other institutions. It boasts over 200,000 volumes of rare books in English and American literature, particularly after the mid 18th century until the present. The Downtown Collection in particular documents the artists, musicians and movements from 1975 to the early 1990s that contributed to the development of the punk character.
“We have the best collection of punk rock anywhere,” said Director of the Fales Library, Marvin Taylor. “And we should.”
The collection is home to many treasures, such as Patti Smith’s personal journal, a copy of the first issue of “PUNK Magazine” and rare footage of a hilarious interview between John Sex, a performance artist, and a clueless television reporter. Sex uses the interview as a sort of performance piece, sitting with a coy smile and outrageous, one-foot-high, bleach-blonde hair.
During the interview, Sex creates a colorful and absolutely fabricated story about the origin of his last name. He insistently claims it is a derivative of the Irish surname, Sexton. The poor reporter tries to laugh, but doesn’t quite get that the joke is on him.
This particular interview evokes images of Lady Gaga and her own outrageous hair pieces. When she stands on the red-carpet next to correspondents and other celebrities, she looks outlandish and out of place. Much like Sex’s interview years before, Gaga is poking fun at the seriousness of these events and testing their limits.
It’s as if she is asking, “Could I cover my face and body in raw meat and sit amidst glamorous designer suits and dresses?” According to the 2010 Video Music Awards – where she showed up in a meat-dress with a matching meat-purse – yes, Lady Gaga can.
But even the meat-dress was more than a test of cultural acceptance. It was a protest of the social norms.
Fales also displays this sort of protest in its latest exhibit, "A Sanctuary for the Arts," which runs until Jan. 7, 2011. This exhibit is dedicated to the artists that performed at Judson Memorial Church from 1954 to 1977. The artists used their bodies to demonstrate the possibility of new types of movements and sounds that could represent their fast-changing society.
One of the pieces in the exhibit is a video recording of “Meat Joy,” a live performance that was conceptualized by Carolle Schneemann. In the video, the performers moved and twisted their bodies while rubbing themselves and each other with dead fish and chicken. Although the effect is shocking, the performers were ultimately questioning the concept of traditional dance rules and the perception of the male and female form.
The link between Lady Gaga and other artists is important because it shows that there is an artistic process behind her actions. Since the beginning of the avant-garde movement, artists like herself have developed their characters and shaped culture.
This narrative, from the French symbolists, to the members of the Judson Memorial Church, to punks, to now, is what the Fales collection illustrates. It provides context and historical background for the new and upcoming artists and their own innovative techniques. Lady Gaga is currently shaping and refining her techniques, with her red-carpet masterpieces and bizarrely disturbing music videos.
“She wrenches the camera and turns it back on herself,” Taylor said of Lady Gaga’s unique contribution to the art world. There are all different types of artists out there, not many that are particularly impressive or comparable to the artists that are responsible for the majority of the Fales collection, Taylor explains. “And then there’s Gaga.”

Punks, Pets and Primary Lenders - Oh my!

Aside from the occasional attempted robbery or bedbug scare, the problems and complaints in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village can be broken down into three categories: the foreclosure, dogs and college students. Below are updates of the redundant, but nevertheless important, issues.

First and foremost, the primary lenders (finally) took control of the property last week, which had many residents wondering (and hoping) that the same old problems would finally be resolved. The story was reported by major news publications such as the New York Times and Bloomberg.

You can also find summaries of the situation in local blogs, such as the StuyTownReporter and LuxLiving.

Everything seems to finally be coming together, especially now that Rose Associates have accepted the task of being the new property manager for the complex. Who knows if they will do a good job - one thing that seems reassuring is their ideological Twitter feed, which posts an inspirational quote each day. Thanks RA!

The local newspaper, the Town & Village, has been following the situation extensively. Of course, the newspaper doesn't have a website for you to view the articles and instead asks you to 'get with the times' and follow their Twitter instead - c'mon, everyone else is doing it.

For those who are concerned about students in Stuy Town, be afraid. NYU Local, a blog for New York University students, is encouraging more students to move in!

And finally, a follow-up on those audacious puppies. Yes, we know, they looked really cute in all their little costumes this year at the Halloween Dog Costume Parade (check out pictures in tomorrow's issue of the T&V), but this is just ridiculous!

Can ANYONE tell me how to vote?

“This might be the stupidest question you’ve heard all day,” I said. “But how exactly do you register to vote?”

As soon as I spoke these words, I could feel my cheeks getting warmer and my wool scarf shrinking tighter around my throat. I wondered if I should just hang myself with my scarf, out of pure shame.

“You see, I’m from Texas and I know I was registered there once but I live here now so can I register?” I was rambling.

“Have I seen you on television?” Said Frank, a smiling worker at the 283 Avenue C polling station in Manhattan.

Frank could not answer my question.

I was then directed to another worker named Yolanda. I repeated my dilemma, explaining that I wasn’t sure if I qualified to be a New York State voter, since my permanent residence is still Justin, Texas.

Yolanda did not know.

The question of the voting eligibility of students, especially those who move out of their home state and change their addresses yearly, has tortured me for years. I am simultaneously ashamed for not knowing and baffled because nobody I ask seems to know either. Surely, I am not the only student with this problem.

Yolanda told me to follow her to the back of the room, where the actual voting took place. Here I met Marjorie and again repeated my question.

Marjorie directed me to the New York State Voter Registration Form. It was only one page long and conveniently pre-folded into a mail-able format. The print was bold and clear – it seemed easy enough to me.

We spoke briefly about the voter turnout of today, Tuesday, Nov. 2. Yolanda told me they had been busy. This was not surprising, since many Americans are anxious to voice their opinions about the current administration. The results could take away the one-party power Democrats have had for two years.

I asked if I was the youngest person they had seen and they said they weren’t sure. At least while I was there, in the late afternoon, I was the only person younger than 30.

As I was leaving, I unfolded and briefly skimmed the form. At the very bottom, I read the affidavit.

I am a citizen of the United States. (Yes.)

I will have lived in the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election. (Yes.)

I meet all requirements to register to vote in New York State. (Maybe?)

If the above information is not true, I can be convicted and fined to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to four years. (Fantastic.)

Welcome Back, Rose Associates!

As of Oct. 22, CW Capital announced that Rose Associates would take over the property management of Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village. Rose Associates managed the property for over three years when it was owned by MetLife, so both officials and tenants feel hopeful that they will be able to maintain the complex successfully.
The property was previously being managed by Tishman-Speyer, even though they defaulted on the mortgage of ST/PCV in January. Now that the question of the physical upkeep of the buildings and grounds is answered, everyone can focus on the large question: what should be done with all these dogs?

Ps. Just kidding of course. The main issue will be the property's upcoming foreclosure sale (and by "upcoming" I mean "three-times-delayed"). Still, some residents would have you believe that the issue of dogs running around in the grass is still more important.

Angry Stuy Town Bloggers

In a loud, outspoken city like New York, where nobody is afraid to say (or post), what they really mean, it is no surprise to find plenty of opinionated blogs. For Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village, two voices are distinctly heard.
First, The Stuyvesant Town Report, follows the story of Stuy Town after Tishman-Speyer got a hold of it. The blog mostly focuses on the foreclosure and upcoming co-op/condo issues, but occasionally talks about other issues, such as dogs or NYU students.
Second is the LuxLiving Twitter. This used to be its own blog, but has recently downsized to a Twitter account, for reasons unknown. LuxLiving tweets about a variety of issues and keeps its followers in touch with all the latest articles about Stuy Town and PCV.
Although both sources can sometimes be too negative and dramatic, they are well-informed and surprisingly up-to-date on all the latest in their hyperlocal beat. Now, if only they would reveal their real names...

East Village Walkathon

About 400 teachers, students and their families gathered on Sunday, Oct. 17 for the First Annual Walkathon event, hosted by the Epiphany School Foundation.

Walkers began at 9:30 a.m. at the Epiphany School and marched alongside the East River, down to the Williamsburg Bridge and back.

The walkathon was created to celebrate 122 years of Catholic education as well as raise money for the school and renovation for its playground. The event raised over $36,000, which greatly surpassed their $25,000 goal.

Sidenote: Above are two pictures of the kids walking along the East River. One could be a great photo to represent the event, the other is just adorable.

TA and other Stuy Town Leaders gather in the Oval

Due to all the controversy surrounding Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village lately, the ST/PCA Tenant's Association certainly has a lot going on. Many residents are feeling uneasy and skeptical after the property owners, Tishman-Speyer, defaulted on its mortgage and renters found themselves at the mercy of the senior lender, CW Capital.

Saturday, Oct. 16 the leaders of the TA and Councilmember Dan Garodnick met with concerned residents to speak one-on-one about CWC's upcoming foreclosure sale and other issues.

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Garodnick and TA leaders answered questions about CWC, the property and what residents can expect after ST/PCV is sold. He answered each question as accurately as possible, while conceding that there is no guarantee either way for what will happen to the complex. Still, he stressed a positive outlook.

“We are making sure you are rewarded for long-term residency,” Garodnick said. “We want whatever works best for the tenants.”

TA leaders were also available to answer questions. Steven Newmark, a member of the TA for four years, wanted to help explain the details of the foreclosure and what it means specifically for residents, which can be difficult to understand.

The TA also wanted to reach out to residents that were perhaps not familiar with the association. By wearing bright yellow t-shirts, members of the TA got the attention of many curious residents and were even walking around the Stuy Town Oval, trying to meet as many residents as possible.

Although some residents asked for general explanations, others were concerned about specifics. One man asked if CWC had an obligation to auction off the property within a certain amount of time. Garodnick said that although he expects the sale will happen as quickly as possible, only CWC has the power to make those decisions.

Another concerned resident, Howard Freimark, asked TA President Alvin Doyle many questions that, according to him, he had wondered about for years. For example, he wondered if Stuy Town residents would be responsible for any legal fees that accumulate during the foreclosure and sale process. Doyle responded by saying he understood the concern, but again, there is no guarantee for what will happen.

Along with answering questions for tenants, the TA wanted to remind everyone of the upcoming tenants’ meeting on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. The event, which will take place at Mason Hall at Baruch College on East 23^rd Street, will feature a variety of speakers. Along with Garodnick, residents will hear from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Tom Duane, updates from the TA legal team and financial advisors and many, many more.

For more information about this meeting or to make reservations for the event (which is strongly recommended because the last tenants’ meeting was so packed, that about 200 residents were actually turned away), call the TA message center at 1-866-290-9036 or visit http://stpcvta.org/octobermeeting.

Followers = Expectations

Oh welcome, DTown Fall 2010 class -

The good news is that I actually have followers on this dang thing (and Twatter aaaand Fbook).
The bad news is I can't be lame anymore. #boof

The Big Question - Part I (of many)

In general, I find myself very liberal when it comes to civil rights. However, I am unsure of my position on the abortion issue. I hate to be judgmental and try to not have concrete opinions about experiences that I have not experienced, but a small part of me cannot help but disagree with abortion. This issue is an important factor in conservative and liberal debate, therefore I plan to research both arguments before making a decision.

In an article titled, "Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature," Maggie Kirkman, Heather Rowe, Annarella Hardiman, Shelley Mallett and Doreen Rosenthal research the "reasons women give for having an abortion," (Arch Womens Ment Health. Springer-Verlag. 28 May 2009/Published online: 11 June 2009). The research planned to specifically focus on the woman's reason for having an abortion and not the opinion of others.

The conclusion was broken down into three possible reasons for a woman getting an abortion - 'Woman-focused, 'Other-focused', and 'Material'. 'Woman-focused' referred to the woman's belief that she was too young or too unprepared to have a child at that time. 'Other-focused' mostly referred to the biological father, but some cases specified a mother's fear of neglecting an older child if a younger sibling was born or fear of neglecting the unborn child. Finally, 'Material' could refer to a "diagnosis of foetal abnormality" or lack of sufficient income - although the report pointed out that the latter might be better categorized as 'Other-focused' because it usually was due to the woman's inability to care for the unborn child.

In the last paragraph, the article states the investigators conclude that, "decisions to terminate a pregnancy were often influenced by the desire to be a good parent." This shows, "that women take seriously the responsibilities of motherhood in seeking abortion. Whether they conclude that they are not yet ready to be mothers, that they do not have adequate financial resources for a baby, or that they prefer not to give birth to a child who is not wholeheartedly desired by both parents, their own needs coincide with those of the potential child."

Kirkman, M., Rowe, H., Hardiman, A., Mallett, S., & Rosenthal, D.. (2009). Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 12(6), 365-78. Retrieved January 3, 2010, from ProQuest Medical Library. (Document ID: 1895924621).

Pro-life advocates would certainly disagree with the conclusion of this report and claim that abortion cannot be best for an unborn child, and options such as adoption are much more preferable. Still, I understand how a lack of good options or feelings of hopelessness would lead many women to choose abortion.

"Kitchen-Table Politics"

"Kitchen-Table Politics" is the title of Sarah Palin's second chapter in her autobiography, Going Rogue, and one of the many anecdotes she uses to explain her never-ending balance between public office and motherhood. Apparently, Palin used a beautiful kitchen-table as her desk when she was in office, and this versatile table is noted in the book as a metaphor for Palin, who seems to adjust as easily between both lifestyles as the kitchen-table.

I am currently at page 100 of Going Rogue, and must admit I still like Palin. I do not know how much of the book Palin truly wrote herself (she does have a journalism degree, so she must know how to write), but regardless I am enjoying the book. I admire Palin for her commitment to her children, alongside her many ambitions; I like that she puts this possibility into action, unlike some feminists who seem to believe that a powerful career must be placed ahead of traditional family values. Although there are plenty of feminists who are mothers, I do not notice many who have such a large family, such as Palin's.

Yet even Palin realizes the strain of living both lives. She writes, "I wish I would have listened to my mother when she warned me that as a working mom I would have to make tough choices. She never said that one couldn't 'have it all,' but it was becoming clear that maybe one couldn't have everything at once." Palin understands the struggles of women with big dreams and big hearts, and she isn't ashamed to admit being a mother became her priority, which some feminists criticize.

Still, I was disappointed to find the entire book is an extension of Palin's political campaign. No, I am not surprised - I suppose I was just hoping the woman who rallies behind the people and rejects the conventions of the "good ol' boys club" and politics in general, wouldn't publish such an obvious message. For example, Palin writes, "Looking back it seems significant that many of my clearest childhood memories involve politics and current events. I don't remember my ten-year-old friends being especially interested in who the president was, but to me it was a pretty big deal." There are also plenty of paragraphs detailing Palin's love of Alaska, the United States and being an average American with traditional Christian values. I am neither questioning these statements nor implying that Palin is not exactly as she is described - I just hate that some connections are clearly catered to a specific audience and made only to remind the reader that this woman is worthy of your political vote.

I have approximately 300 more pages to read, so maybe some opinions will change towards the end. Sidenote: My father suggested I read Hillary Clinton's autobiography, Living History, immediately after finishing Palin's book - this seems like a pretty good idea. I wonder how her view on family and politics will compare to Palin's?

Obama's New Year Resolutions

On the Council on Foreign Relations website, (www.cfr.org), consulting editor of the website Bernard Gwertzman interviews CFR Director of Studies James M. Lindsay about President Obama's first year in the White House. 

Lindsay stated that 2009 could be summarized as, "Great expectations running smack into daunting realities," with realities currently winning. He said these expectations were a result of Obama's "skills as a politician" and "the failures of the Bush administration". The American people had hope that the new president could solve many difficult and "perhaps intractable" problems. 

Gwertzman asked questions about policies in the Middle-East, including, "How important is Afghanistan to [Obama's] administration?" Lindsay responded that Afghanistan seems to be a top priority for Obama and the main challenge will be creating a stable Afghan government. The United States' strategy has also shifted from "defeating the Taliban to degrading their capabilities," which shows Obama's willingness to sacrifice some goals in order to withdraw troops somewhat soon. 

The interview also focused on escalating problems with Iran, as the country's nuclear capabilities continue to be a controversial issue. Lindsay explained Obama's dilemma with three rhetorical questions: 1. "Do you launch a military strike with all of the attendant risks and dangers to American forces in the region?" 2. "Do you give a green light to the Israelis to make an attack with all of the risks in that strategy?" 3. "Do you step back from your rhetoric and say, 'OK, now we're going to try and contain Iran,' with all the risk attendant to allowing Iran to go nuclear when you said you would not let that happen?"

Finally, the interview concluded with a question about U.S.-Chinese relations. Coordinating an effective economic plan may be the key to lowering the high unemployment rate in the U.S. Lindsay said, "The real pressure, going forward in the Obama administration, is to push the Chinese to change their policies." 

The interview presented a positive outlook on the Obama administration overall, yet clearly noted the many challenges to come in 2010. Happy New Year!