why does anybody live in NYC?

larrycohen · June-28th-2006, 09:10 AM

I have some relatives that live in a house in Queens. Yesterday, someone knocked on their door, said that there was a wet piece of paper on the sidewalk in front of their house (outside, on the sidewalk), and handed them a ticket for $100.

If that's not enough for you: In NYC you have to put different kinds of garbage (regular garbage, paper, plastic recycle, etc.) in different color bags. At some point in the past these same people got a $25 ticket for putting garbage in the wrong color bag.

Is it possible for the NYC government to do anything without writing a ticket? What happened to government OF the people, FOR the people and BY the people. In NYC it's government AGAINST the people.

Why would anybody in their right minds want to buy a house in NYC? Thank God I moved out. Not far out, just 2 miles over the border, but far enough to avoid this idiocy.

rollhead · June-28th-2006, 09:17 AM

I hear its the only place in the world where you can find good bagels, and only locals know the secret location.

mke · June-28th-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

If that's not enough for you: In NYC you have to put different kinds of garbage (regular garbage, paper, plastic recycle, etc.) in different color bags.

No need to go to NYC for that, we do that in small Belgian villages, too.

larrycohen · June-28th-2006, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mke

No need to go to NYC for that, we do that in small Belgian villages, too.

Yeah, but does it cost you $25 if you use the wrong bag?

Enforcer · June-28th-2006, 09:29 AM

I got nothing but love for NYC.

Brian Olewnick · June-28th-2006, 09:33 AM

You obviously fail to understand the danger posed by wet pieces of paper on the sidewalk, especially to children (ages 18 and under).

Gary Sisco · June-28th-2006, 09:46 AM

Yes, especially for the children. ;-)

They have good bagels in Montreal, too.

There are rather a few other features of life in NYC apart from recycling and tickets, though, Larry, come on.

Great music, great food, beautiful women and lots of 'em ...

larrycohen · June-28th-2006, 09:53 AM

It's not the recycling - everybody's got recycling. It's that some poor old lady used the wrong color bag one day, and had to pay $25 for it. If a paper or some leaves that have no connection with you are blown in front of your house by a random breeze, that can cost you $100. You're being punished for something you didn't do and had no control over. Heaven forbid a piece of paper blows by while your on vacation. It's that the government rules and regulations are completely devoid of compassion and common sense. It's that the city is attacking it's citizens instead of doing anything to help.

Doc Martin · June-28th-2006, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

I have some relatives that live in a house in Queens. Yesterday, someone knocked on their door, said that there was a wet piece of paper on the sidewalk in front of their house (outside, on the sidewalk), and handed them a ticket for $100.

If that's not enough for you: In NYC you have to put different kinds of garbage (regular garbage, paper, plastic recycle, etc.) in different color bags. At some point in the past these same people got a $25 ticket for putting garbage in the wrong color bag.

Is it possible for the NYC government to do anything without writing a ticket? What happened to government OF the people, FOR the people and BY the people. In NYC it's government AGAINST the people.

Why would anybody in their right minds want to buy a house in NYC? Thank God I moved out. Not far out, just 2 miles over the border, but far enough to avoid this idiocy.

Don't like NYC? Good stay out, no really.

I own a townhouse on West 10th Street, but then again, I do not claim to be in my right mind.

Tom Storer · June-28th-2006, 09:54 AM

Cue Buck Owens:

It ain't nothin' but a concrete jungle, with people packed like sardines
Where everybody's tryin' to live beyond their means
Where all the natives hurry and scurry to and fro
And like a fleas on a puppy dog, they got no place to go.

I wouldn't live in New York City if they gave me the whole dang town
Talk about a bummer, it's the biggest one around
Sodom and Gommorah was tame to what I found
I wouldn't live in New York City if they gave me the whole dang town.

Well, I ain't seen the sunshine since the day that I arrived
'Cause brother I've been busy a-tryin' to survive
Nobody knows you've been here till you're six feet underground
Than you become a statistic if they remember to write you down.

I wouldn't live in New York City if they gave me the whole dang town
Talk about a bummer it's the biggest one around
Sodom and Gommorah was tame to what I found
I wouldn't live in New York City if they gave me the whole dang town...

Brian Olewnick · June-28th-2006, 09:55 AM

I don't know what you're complaining about. There's plenty of unemployment, right? Simply hire someone to stand in front of your house when you're not there (or when you're sleeping or otherwise not outside yourself) to capture any stray pieces of paper and deposit them into the properly tinted plastic bag.

Sheesh.

Monte Smith · June-28th-2006, 09:56 AM

Not everybody can choose where they live.

C.H.U.D.!

rollhead · June-28th-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

Don't like NYC? Good stay out, no really.

I own a townhouse on West 10th Street, but then again, I do not claim to be in my right mind.

You must know the secret location -- bastard.

Dr Dave · June-28th-2006, 10:01 AM

Gee, you're right. All those years I was living in Hell on East 13th Street, when I could walk to Bradley's or the Vanguard, I coulda been living in HEMPSTEAD! What the hell was wrong with me?

steve(thelil) · June-28th-2006, 10:03 AM

Because much of NYC doesn't conform to your generalization/observation, and is the most exciting and wonderful city on earth, as far as I know.

Monte Smith · June-28th-2006, 10:05 AM

DADDY DON'T LIVE IN THAT NEW YORK CITY NO MORE

Daddy don't live in that New York City
No more
He don't celebrate Sunday on a Saturday night
No more
Daddy don't need no lock and key
For the piece he stowed
Out on Avenue D
Daddy don't live in that New York City
No more
Daddy don't drive in that Eldorado
No more
He don't travel on down to the neighborhood
Liquor store
Lucy still loves her coke and rum
But she sits alone
'Cause her daddy can't come
Daddy don't drive in that Eldorado
No more

Driving like a fool out to Hackensack
Drinking his dinner from a paper sack
He says I gotta see a joker
And I'll be right back

Daddy don't live in that New York City
No more
He can't get tight every night
Pass out on the barroom floor
Daddy can't get no fine cigar
But we know you're smoking
Wherever you are
Daddy don't live in that New York City
No more

June-28th-2006, 10:45 AM

Dern, that song brings tears to my eyes, so poignant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

I have some relatives that live in a house in Queens. Yesterday, someone knocked on their door, said that there was a wet piece of paper on the sidewalk in front of their house (outside, on the sidewalk), and handed them a ticket for $100.

If that's not enough for you: In NYC you have to put different kinds of garbage (regular garbage, paper, plastic recycle, etc.) in different color bags. At some point in the past these same people got a $25 ticket for putting garbage in the wrong color bag.

Is it possible for the NYC government to do anything without writing a ticket? What happened to government OF the people, FOR the people and BY the people. In NYC it's government AGAINST the people.

Why would anybody in their right minds want to buy a house in NYC? Thank God I moved out. Not far out, just 2 miles over the border, but far enough to avoid this idiocy.

Sounds like NYC's been taken over by a furin gubmint.

jazzy mary · June-28th-2006, 10:56 AM

Doc, you own a townhouse on 10th. St.!!!?? Man, that is primo real estate. It must be worth a fortune now.

I have a house in Park Slope and I love it--the kids really love it. It's a great place to raise kids.

I love NYC--jazz, ballet, the Philharmonic, great restaurants, all kinds of other music, theatre---everything!

Doc Martin · June-28th-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

Doc, you own a townhouse on 10th. St.!!!?? Man, that is primo real estate. It must be worth a fortune now.

Well, I'll really own it in four years. It really has appreciated since 1980, not that I plan to sell it any time soon.

jazzy mary · June-28th-2006, 11:07 AM

yeah, I'll bet!! I'll own my house in 30 years! LOL! It's appreciated also, although I'm sure nothing like yours has.

clinthopson · June-28th-2006, 11:08 AM

Minor quibbles, the Apple is what it is, the most vibrant city in the world.

But, I wouldn't want to live there.

But I sure love to hang.

June-28th-2006, 11:29 AM

I appreciate my house.

Jimmy Cantiello · June-28th-2006, 12:00 PM

I enjoy the best of both worlds. I live close enough to NYC to visit anytime I want but far enough away to feel like I live in the country.......

Al in NYC · June-28th-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

It's not the recycling - everybody's got recycling. It's that some poor old lady used the wrong color bag one day, and had to pay $25 for it. If a paper or some leaves that have no connection with you are blown in front of your house by a random breeze, that can cost you $100. You're being punished for something you didn't do and had no control over. Heaven forbid a piece of paper blows by while your on vacation. It's that the government rules and regulations are completely devoid of compassion and common sense. It's that the city is attacking it's citizens instead of doing anything to help.

It's not government capriciousness (our recycling program works extremely well, and is a model for other big cities in the country) but capriciousness in enforcement and those who manage the enforcers. It really varies quite a bit neighborhood to neighborhood, and depends a lot on whether you have touchy/nutty neighbors who report you a lot for petty BS. I also think that someone may be missing the quintessential NYC solution... as my ancient Italian-American neighbor used to say when we were having some trouble with the garbagemen "hey, just slip 'em a sawbuck every now and again." We did, and then everything got picked up.

Oh, and all the reasons that Mary cited.

Tom Storer · June-28th-2006, 12:13 PM

Actually, New York is OK--but it's not Paris.

Jon Abbey · June-28th-2006, 12:15 PM

thankfully.

Al in NYC · June-28th-2006, 12:32 PM

Different strokes for different folks and all that, but I must say that I do a fair amount of business out on Long Island and it is as close to my vision of hell (American suburban version) as I ever hope to get. Mile after endless mile of strip malls, chain restaurants, diners, big box stores, empty sidewalks, parking lots, and traffic, traffic, traffic. Whenever I'm out there I always think to myself "Why would anyone want to live here?"

Valerie · June-28th-2006, 12:34 PM

i lived in nyc in the sixties in part so on any given night i could decide at the last minute if i wanted to go see/hear Monk, Mingus, Coltrane, Roach, Blakey, Timmons, L. Morgan, etc., etc.

jazzy mary · June-28th-2006, 01:23 PM

Jesus Val!! What a life! I'd like to think that I could go any minute and go hear Ron Horton or Eric Reed or Dwayne Burno or Myron Walden or Robert Glasper or Frank Kimbrough or...but truth to tell, I don't get to hear these cats half as much as I'd like. Or, I can't find the time and wherewithal to hit their gigs. For ex., last Saturday, I think it was, Robert Glasper's trio was the opening act for Savion Glover at the Prospect Park bandshell--a free outdoor concert in a great setting, just a few blocks from my home. Now, what the heck was I doing Saturday night??? It may have been raining...

sonic1 · June-28th-2006, 01:27 PM

New York is no place for wussies.

You have to be tough. My current situation does not allow me to live there, but not because of choice. I would move there in a heartbeat, even though my standard of living would greatly suffer.

You get the best of everything in NYC, and the cost is exposure to the worst. Only for risk-takers and otherwise strong and brave folk.

Oh, and not really a place for a social conservative since the reality of diversity would drive them insane.