BK Southie » MTA Doomsday

Brooklyn Cyclones tickets: I’m giving away two pairs of tickets instead of the single pair that I promised last week. And the numbers that came up in the Random.org draw were “5″ and “4.” So congratulations to readers Bruce Handy and BrooklynQ. Each get two tickets to the Cyclones home opener this Saturday.

The NYC Transit service cuts go into effect two weeks from now – here’s a first look at the impact in Bay Ridge. (Bay Ridge Blog)
Impact of the BP oil spill on New York, Part 1. (Sheepshead Bites)
The Gerritsen Beach Volunteer Fire Department may be getting $50,000 in the form of an Assembly member item. (GerritsenBeach.net)
Sheepshead Bay Road CVS does NOT, I repeat NOT, have a drive-through. (Sheepshead Bites)
I got a little motion-sick just watching the YouTube video of the Luna Park Air Race. (Kinetic Carnival)
Confession: I really cannot f*cking stand publications like New York Magazine or Time Out New York. I feel like the people who write for them fancy themselves as being part of the Carrie Bradshaw social circuit, and therefore think it’s perfectly acceptable “journalism” (gollum, gollum) to write about themselves and their friends as trendsetters and social leaders, when the truth is 99% of the people in this city couldn’t give a flying rat’s ass about them as either. So it is with some sense of skepticism I read about today’s generation of “Global Russians.” (Sheepshead Bites)
Luna Park is holding a pageant this week to determine its representative in Saturday’s Mermaid Parade. “Please refrain from any talents or swimwear that is explicit and/or not appropriate for the viewership of all park guests.” Um, have they actually BEEN to a Mermaid Parade before (NSFW)? (Amusing The Zillion, Google)
Why does the Parks Department hate things that grow weeds? (GerritsenBeach.net)

Carl Kruger Poster Child May 2009: Carl Kruger, State Senator from the gerrymandered district that includes parts of Brighton Beach, Midwood, and Bergen Beach, and poster child for all that is good and wholesome in the New York State Legislature, releases a statement immediately following the passage of the MTA bailout:

Sen. Kruger and his colleagues, Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. and Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., were early and vocal opponents of the original MTA rescue plan introduced by Richard Ravitch that sought to impose tolls on the East and Harlem River crossings. Their opposition effectively scuttled the toll idea. Sen. Kruger also advocated from the beginning that the public authority should be mandated to undergo an independent forensic audit “rather than continuing to operate in a fiscally irresponsible manner and under the cloak of mystery.” (Carl Kruger / NYS Senate press release, emphasis mine)

December 2009: Carl Kruger – did I mention that he’s the Chairman of the Finance Committee? – regarding the revelation that an accounting error by the fiscally irresponsible and cloaked state government will provide the MTA with $200,000,000 less than promised – potentially triggering MTA Doomsday II as it is combined with a $143,000,000 slash in funding under the emergency budget passed last week:

“Our ability to budget is only as good as our ability to forecast. We were dependent upon data supplied by the Office of Management and Budget with the understanding that it was verified by the MTA’s own fiscal staff.” (NY Observer, via Second Avenue Sagas, empasis mine)

Translation: I am a Division I-A hypocrite whose primary political skill is the ability to project my flaws onto political opponents.

Around South Blogistan – Cyclones Giveaway Edition

Carl Kruger (D-Hypocrite) On Screwing Over NYC Transit Riders

Redistricting: “A baby alien popping out of a stomach,” and other mild reactions

On Redistricting: Time To Downsize The Capitol

Mashup: Our love of Bay Ridge, Downton Abbey, and nine-figure lottery payouts

BK Southie Eats: Nablus Sweets

Tomorrow: “Bay Ridge, Etc” Book Launch

BK Southie Eats: Return To Europa