AM New York, the free "newspaper" that is handed out all over NYC, had two interesting articles today. The first, on Page 4, was about Tony Avella, the "dark horse" democratic candidate for mayor; the second, in the entertainment section was a feature on a new Bowling Alley---entertainment center---a very large one at that, that is opening in Williamsburg, Broooklyn (where else?).
In the article about Avella, the Mayoral candidate called the current Mayor: "one of the biggest threats to democracy that this city, and perhaps this country, has ever faced". By that he meant the amount of money the Mayor is capable of spending, not just on his own campaign, but on the campaigns of New York State Senators or Assemblypersons who support his views in return for his support. The Sponsor of the Bill that the State Senate passed yesterday, re-affirming Mayoral control of schools, had his campaign financed largely by contributions from Bloomberg. Avella made this statement at a fund raiser for him in the East Village. I know this, because I attended it. As I left, I said hello to the candidate. I mentioned the overdevelopment that, in spite of the financial slow down, is still rampant in the city, and particularly that is happening in my neighborhood on the Upper West Side. To my surprise, rather than just agreeing with me, Avella went into thr subject further, telling me that Bloomberg wants to eliminate the small amount of power to put some reasonable limits on these developments that the Community Boards still maintain. He also told me that one of the reasons Bloomberg wants to cut the funds to the Public Advocate's Office is to have greater control over land use. He might have elaborated further, but others were waiting to say hello, however in the short time I spoke with him, I was impressed by his ability to discuss this issue in detail. I left the benefit and walked out into the night air, hoping that Avella could get his message out in the next six weeks, the six weeks that will lead up to the Democratic Primary in which he faces William Thompson (September 15).
The other article was a puff piece for the Brooklyn Bowl, a new Bowling Alley---entertainment center, opening in Williamsburg. The paper's columnist hailed it as a "massive, green-friendly gem of an entertainment experience." and then followed with an interview with a bartender, whose lead statement was: "It is not just a bowling alley. It's a playground for adults." And that was what got me. Williamsburg is already filled with these so called "playgrounds"; do we need another one? And is that what adults need at this given moment in the history of the USA? A "playground"? It is just about a month until we celebrate the anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, and the beginning of the "bail out crisis", a crisis that has had so many ramifications on the population of this country, including, believe it or not, people living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In addition, the city is facing the issue of a Mayor trying to extend his term and aggressively trying to take as much control of the city as he can. Is it the time for a "playground for adults"?
So here we are, faced with the incredible contradictions that exist in NYC. Look, I will be the first to say it: Sometimes a conversation with an interesting stranger in a bar or coffee shop, a conversation that does not include politics, or just briefly touches upon it, can be a wonderful, life affirming experience. That is also part of the greatness of New York. And yet I long for some urgency, some sense that life isn't just a series of moments that entertain. What's next?