To the editor,
It is hardly bad news that Brooklyn Bridge Park has nearly $100 million in contracts signed, construction has begun on Pier 1 and parts of Pier 6, and nine-and-a-half acres of new parkland will open by the end of this year (“Make ‘park’ a real park,” editorial, Jan. 24).
True, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation has said that it is postponing issuing “requests for proposals” for the remaining residential and hotel development pieces that will pay for the park’s maintenance and operations. This is a prudent response to current market conditions, not an abandonment of the park’s financial model.
In fact, the park’s largest single residential building, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, is already paying its share of park maintenance funds, and those funds will support the parks maintenance in its initial years.
Given that state funding for zoos and gardens across New York was just zeroed out in Gov. Paterson’s most recent budget, and funding for the city’s parks and cultural institutions is being cut across the board, no reasonable person can argue that securing a dedicated revenue stream to pay for this park’s maintenance and operations is a poor idea.
Brooklyn Bridge Park has always been visionary and, while it has certainly taken longer to begin and will cost more than we hoped, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy believes the community’s 22-year commitment to a self-sustaining park, with an independent funding stream, is very wise.
Once the real-estate market recovers, 76 acres of open space will be sustained by less than four acres of new construction for housing — a great deal for the people of the city of New York.
Marianna Koval,
Brooklyn Heights
The writer is executive director of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy.
Laud celebs!
To the editor,
What’s with the vitriol aimed at well-known artists? In recent months, you have gratuitously bashed Maggie Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, and Jonathan Safran Foer, while lesser known Brooklyn writers and actors are given unconditional praise and support. We little guys are surely grateful for the attention, but are we to expect a sharp stick in the eye if we get lucky and hit the big time? Why not treat everyone who works hard on a craft with equal respect?
David Shenk, Park Slope
Editor’s note: We have no idea what David Shenk, who was number 48 on this year’s “90 to watch in ’09” list, is referring to. We only once “bashed” the reclusive Jonathan Safran Foer for rarely discussing his art with his fans (though on Jan. 13, 2009, Jan. 5, 2008, Dec. 15, 2007, Sept. 22, 2007, Aug. 5, 2006, Dec. 16, 2006, and May 6, 2006 we referred to him as “the greatest writer of his generation”).c_
Smart? No!
To the editor,
I have to side with Smartmom’s kids, who are fed up with her writing about their lives (“Smartmom’s kids: Write is so wrong,” Jan. 24). It’s great to be able to raise our families in this neighborhood, but we need to keep our family lives private and not the center of someone else’s universe.
I have been a Park Slope parent for 13 years and have witnessed a change in the Slope that is a bit disconcerting for those of us who were here before the neighborhood turned into a haven for the entitled set.
The Slope has always been kid-friendly because of the incredible community spirit we share, but in the last several years, it has become infused with parents who push their parental role on everyone else without any sense that maybe we don’t need to have you make your being a parent or your child the center of our universe as well.
I have heard of bringing the baby to the bar and have seen many times, a parent allowing the 18-month-old toddler roam free in a busy restaurant.
How many times must we be vigilant of the oversized stroller coming down the sidewalk or blocking the door to a store? This method of parenting is a breeding ground for not just bad behavior but for raising entitled kids.
What has happened to respecting public spaces and those in them?
It is an obvious annoyance for those of us who have to witness the entitled parents continue their lack of limit-setting. Limit-setting is a good thing, and some parents in the Slope would be better off with a healthy dose now and again, for both themselves and their kids.
Mary Montero, Park Slope
Eyes & lies
To the editor,
I read Gersh Kuntzman’s column on how Miss New York should win the Miss America pageant (“Miss New York to roll over the competition!” online, Jan. 23) and felt that he has a bias towards the home team.
Miss New York did not deserve the title. Not that the girl who won it [Miss Indiana Katie Stam] does either.
But the one thing that struck me was Kuntzman’s crack about the “middle-aged hair styles” of most beauty queens.
Last I looked the hair style on Miss New York was about as Stepford as you could get!
That said, I would never kick her out of bed for eating crackers. But I think your star columnist definitely missed the mark on your praise of her.
Antonio Demarco,
Raleigh, N.C.
He’s in it, too!
To the editor,
Your story on the upcoming City Council race (“Two man race for Council,” Jan. 24) painted a woefully incomplete picture on what it means to be a frontrunner in a political race.
To date, I have the most endorsements from elected officals (and more on the way), a large and growing-by-the-day voter base, more solutions to the issues we face in our district, and solid relationships with many leaders in neighborhoods from Park Slope to Windsor Terrace to Cobble Hill. Momentum is with my campaign.
When it was clear that term-limits would be reversed, I stopped raising money because I would never have run against our current Councilman and my friend, Bill DeBlasio.
Others considered running no matter what.
Since Bill declared his candidacy for Public Advocate, I have been raising money and will reach the maximum spending amount under the Campaign Finance law.
Look back on past elections and compare the amount of money raised and the ultimate winner. At this time, eight years ago, another candidate for City Council had raised approximately the same amount of money that I have raised so far for my campaign. His name was Bill DeBlasio.
Bob Zuckerman, Park Slope
The writer is a candidate for City Council.
Nudie cutie
To the editor,
I just watched the podcast and read the article about Gersh Kuntzman’s turn as a nude model at a Bushwick art class (“The poser: Gersh Kuntzman is all nude!” online, Jan. 27). I thought it was fantastic and smart smart smart.
He is clearly on a roll and we love it.
His enthusiasm rocks.
Robert Elmes, DUMBO
The writer is director of the Galapagos Art Space
