Wednesday Links

The NY observer completely missed the main achievement of O'Connell in its article - to keep the historical and architectural integrity of the Erie basin while giving it new life and a new role and making it a very desriable business location. Such chances are continualyl missed all over the city due tio blind economics. eg the Greenpoint Terminal market.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 8:27 AM

Oh, that student prank story makes me sad. Recently I have been thinking of going back into teaching. I taught for a while but went "corporate" and every once in a while I miss it and think the kids need me. But then I read stories like this and it makes me sad and makes me doubt that move. Yes it was just a prank--typical of teens to pull pranks--but that they didn't see the possible ramifications, that they were willing to physically hurt teachers that cared about them and that they cared about...that hurts my heart. Then there was that article about the school in Manhattan and the kids that wrote awful things about the teachers on facebook, or myspace or whatever. Teachers end up being such targets of children's pranks and of parents disdain. It's a disgrace. Sorry, just my personal rant.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 8:41 AM

I doubt the kids were trying to be malicious or do real harm. Giving laxatives sounds like stunt from plenty of comedy movies, jokes, etc. Yes, should be punished and learn that pranks can end up causing harm.
But quotes and talk about it sound overly melodramatic.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 8:57 AM

As a former jr. high teacher, I'm sure the kids just thought it was a funny prank. It wasn't. They should be punished and made to feel consequences, but putting them into the criminal justice system is overkill.

Still, if my students did that to me I would be so hurt. Even at its "funniest," the prank would result in severe cramps and diarrhea. That's a terrible thing to do to someone who has worked so hard for you.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 9:43 AM

John McGettrick is paranoid, divisive, do nothing gadfly. The Red Hook Civic Association is made up a bunch of cranky white homeowners that sit around and disparage public housing resident and opine about how Red Hook will one day morph into Brooklyn's Sausalito once the "houses" are razed. It has zero credibility or political clout. They couldn't even get a traffic light on Van Brunt Street without taking to the streets.

Under Mc’s watch, RHC is 0-3. They lost on Fairway, Ikea and Piers 7-12. With Walmart on the horizon, I sure he’ll blow that one too.

I do hope that Lou Sones would wrestle away control of the RHC from Mc as he is far more diplomatic and pragmatic. Until then, Red Hook is in a state of limbo.

Greg, whom I don't like but do respect, has accomplished a lot – there is no denying that. Greg is the largest property owner in Red Hook. Without him onboard, any rezoning or planning efforts in RH, are doomed to fail. John McGettick is too recalcitrant to realize that.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 9:56 AM

I'm glad to hear that the YWCA on Atlantic avenue is being renovated. That building has been an eyesore in the neighborhood for years.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 10:10 AM

A question remains about Ikea. How many of Red Hook's residents are employed there? From what I hear, from Red Hook residents themselves, the numbers are very low.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 10:25 AM

The school "prank" was conducted by seniors about to graduate. They were 17, not 11, and they know the consequences to their actions. As a pregnant schoolteacher who has a very good relationship with a lot of students, I can tell you that I'd press charges myself if something like this happened to me. It's assault, and anyone who thinks it's not is welcome to ask for the cake recipe. If there was enough in the cake for teachers to feel their lips go numb after one bite, that's enough to do real harm.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:02 PM

assault charges? Why not call Binder and BInder too while your at it.
Just what I mean about the melodrama.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:17 PM

Some little idiot in the article said:
"Nobody's died from a laxative"

Um, yeah actually, you can die. It causes extreme dehydration and in someone with a heart condition that could be fatal. Also it could cause a miscarriage in a pregnant woman as pointed out.

It's baffling that so many defend these kids because it was a joke or must have seemed funny to them.

Really?? Making somebody physically ill is funny?

Jon Stewart is funny. You know, humor that requires a brain. Not giving people diarrhea. Only total retards find that funny. Must be the kids or their parents here defending them. Can't imagine who else would bother!

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 7:46 PM

Thanks to the internet, for all eternity whenever they apply to college, apply to join clubs or sororities/frats in college, apply for jobs or hope to be promoted, and best of all every time they date somebody, for the rest of their entire lives anytime somebody googles any of these kids' names they will learn about this stupid prank.

Now when they say your high school record follows you forever it's actually the truth.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 7:57 PM