Sushi
Most patrons expect to pay a reasonably high bill when ordering sushi. It’s pricey. But one New York City politician appears to be quite slimy over a sushi scandal. New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo filed a lawsuit against state senate majority leader Pedro Espada Jr. The suit claims that the senator misappropriated funds intended for the Soundview Health Clinic, a community development clinic.
Among the things Espada is accused of spending his money on are 650 meals for Espada himself and his supporters, averaging $120 per meal, and over 200 meals valued at $200,000 from New York sushi restaurants, where Espada often ordered take out food.
Other misuses of funds, according to Cuomo’s suit, are trips to Las Vegas, Puerto Rico and rent on a residence used to establish residency in his district.
This is not the first time that Espada’s professional ethics have been called in to question. In June of last year, Espada was seared for failing to file 7 years of campaign reports, failing to be transparent regarding the spending of campaign funds. He also is rumored to live in Westchester, despite his claims that he resides in the Bronx. Interesting to note, the take out sushi was delivered to Westchester, not the Bronx.
Something smells fishy!
Technorati Tags: New York City news, New York City politician sushi, New York City politics, New York City scandal
New York City Horse-Drawn Carriage
New York City recently passed a controversial bill to raise the fares for horse-drawn carriage rides. Passed amidst heated arguments from both sides, the rate hike is the first the city has seen in 20 years and will also serve to improve conditions for the horses.
The rate was increased from $34 for the first half hour to $50 for the first 20 minutes. The bill also creates a provision for horse health. They must be boarded in stalls big enough to turn around and lie down in as well as vacation time. In addition, there is an age restriction on horses eligible to pull carriages; between 5 and 26 years of age.
In a time when the unemployment rate is sky high and tourism is down, many disagreed with the changes. Dissenters wondered how the bill would be enforced. The American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the main sponsor of the bill, insisted that the community would help enforcement.
It is a “fair balance between having regulations that protect the horses that are part of this industry, but keeps an industry that supports 300 families,” said Christine Quinn, ASPCA spokesperson. Opposition was so fierce, Quinn was heckled and called a “liar” as she made her case for the bill.
At last count, there are 293 licensed drivers and 68 licensed carriages in New York City. Animal rights activists have longed called for a complete ban on carriages, and the passing of the bill is their lone victory in a long campaign for change.
Technorati Tags: New York City, New York City horse drawn carriages, New York City news, NY
New York Doorman
New York doormen see it all. They serve clientel from the posh to the poor, signing for deliveries and food, assembling furntiure and listening to late-night drunken ramblings. And now, they want fair pay for their troubles.
“On their way home, especially at night, they tell me everything,” said Hector Matias, a doorman in a luxury apartment building near the Hudson River. The 30,000 doormen and concierges (and handymen) have threatened to strike beginning Wednesday. This has tenants in a tizzy over the inconvenience of signing for their own deliveries and trash which may pile up and attract the infamous New York roach.
“What do we do with the trash?” asked Stefanie Howarth, a Greenwich Village apartment dweller. “Do we bring it outside? I don’t know.”
The doormen’s union, Local 32BJ, the Service Employees Interntaional Union represents employees at over 3200 apartment buildings. While employers want lower pay for new hires and fewer sick days, the union feels the $40,000 average salary for these individuals needs to remain at this rate.
“We dont want to strike, but we may have to,” said Upper East Side doorman Seamus McCormick. “We’re just trying to make a decent living.”
Technorati Tags: New York business New York unions, New York City, New York doormen, New York news
New York Rubber Room
In the state of New York, rubber rooms are used throughout many of the boroughs. The occupants are diverse, yet depressed in nature. They are not, however, admittees of mental hospitals. They are New York City teachers. A long-standing practice, “rubber rooms” are used for teachers on suspension. These teachers occupy the rooms and are ordered to do anything they want, as long as they are not teaching.
Among the rubber room practices are sleeping, yoga, running small businesses via laptop and playing Scrabble. And these former teachers are on full salary as they while away the hours.
The practice has come to light in New York and a movement is now underway to put it to an end. Unions and education department leaders squabble over the fault. Union leaders claim the city has not provided enough resources to bring a speedy trial to teachers accused of misconduct, and education department leaders accuse the unions of creating so many obstacles that it becomes nearly impossible to fire bad teachers.
Local media outlets have descended upon the problem, finally bringing it to light and igniting action to put a stop to it.
“Fixing this broken process gets us back to what we want to be doing,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “…giving our kids the education they need and deserve.”
A new system has been implemented and will be put in to practice in September. Under the new structure, any teacher accused of a criminal act will be suspended and sent hoadmitteesme without pay.
Technorati Tags: New York business, New York government, New York news, New York rubber rooms
Fashion26 Hotel Bar
The ever-fashionable New York City has received an upgrade to its accomodations offerings. Windham, known for luxurious resort hotels in Las Vegas and other urban and tourist-centric areas, recently opened its Fashion26 hotel in the chic Chelsea district.
The hotel features 22 stories of glass and steel, and the tower is replete with an “art program” which will feature a rotation of sure-to-be-fashion-iconic exhibits. The program will feature photorgraphy from teh neighboring Fashion INstitute of Technology’s students.
Glen Coben, designer, fashioned the lobby’s receiption desk after the type of cutting-room table one would see in a fashion design house.
It goes without saying that the staff uniforms have to be up to stylistic snuff as well. Drab colors and bulky cuts were poo-pooed in favor of merino wool knits from leading designers and Kangol knit hats for the doormen.
“Fashion 26 – A Wyndham Hotel makes an exciting statement about architectural imagination, refined service and unique amenities in one of the city’s most vital and vibrant neighborhoods,” said Wyndham Hotels and Resorts President Jeff Wagoner.
The chic perks don’t stop in the lobby. The hotel has designed amenities to please the most exacting fashionista’s pallete, including cupcakes from an upscale neighborhood bakery, free wi-fi, luxurious Frette linens and terrycloth towels.
Rooms start at a fashionably-reasonable $299.
Technorati Tags: New York business, New York City, New York City news, New York fashion, Windham Hotel New York City
Welcome to the Buzz About Network.
Our Buzzers are hard at work around the clock, bringing you the latest buzz on every topic imaginable.
Visit the Buzz About Directory to see what we mean…
And stay tuned as our Buzzers get ready to post up the latest buzz on New York!
