I have been back in New York now for a few days and I am feeling better. Doing my best to follow my own advice...keep things in perspective, live in the moment - and maintain a "half-full" orientation (instead of "half-empty").
Of course, the Mets continue to take my mind off problems and issues that I have little control over. (Rule-of-thumb: if you can't fix it then don't worry about it.) My team has rebounded from their most recent losing streak by winning three games in a row. Despite injuries to Jason Bay, Ruben Tejada and now Josh Tole - and the season-ending injury suffered by Mike Pelfrey - the Mets (with their lineup of mostly unknowns) continue to surprise and entertain. Last evening they fell behind the Phillies' ace pitcher Roy Halladay. Over and done right? No - these are the new, gritty, plucky Mets...and they came back to tie the game and eventually win on a ninth inning pinch-hit home run by rookie Jordany Valdespin. (Who?) Once-upon-a-time the Mets won a World Championship with a bunch of journeyman and/or mediocre players (Al Weis, Rod Gaspar, Ron Swoboda, Ed Charles, Wayne Garrett) making important contributions. Weis - pictured above - hit an anemic .215 for the season - yet had several important hits in the pennant race and World Series, including not one but TWO home runs against the arch-rival Chicago Cubs - and a strategic home run in the Series against the Baltimore Orioles. ) So - we've been down this road before. OK - the 1969 team had a super pitching staff you say (Seaver, Koosman, Gentry and company). Well...the 2012 Mets have Santana. And John Niese can't be another Koosman? Dillon Gee? Don't forget the amazing veteran knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey. Ya never know- you've got to believe!My good mood and positive disposition is only slightly affected by problems I encountered on the way into Manhattan this morning. The bus was late - what time was it due? The information posted near the pole at the bus stop was missing. I walked to the next stop - that information had somehow found its way to the bottom of the pole. I am below average height for a male "boomer" - but the only way I could read the information was to lay flat on the hard ground, perpendicular to the street.
At the Staten Island Ferry terminal there was a screaming homeless woman blocking pedestrian traffic, refusing to move out of the way. Not listening to the police. Another homeless person urinating in the men's room - on the floor. The subway was another matter. Two homeless people sleeping in different ends of the car - looked like they had been there for hours. Bits of food - sure to attract vermin - were scattered all over the floor. A very foul odor permeating the subway car. (All of this becoming more and more common.) Several people came through the subway car to panhandle. (Happens on a daily basis.) Isn't this against the law? At the Houston Street station some kid opened the emergency door - siren blasting - and allowed three friends into the subway for free. And - I wouldn't suggest going near the public restrooms in Battery Park. (The one by-the-way that the tourists use. The people we encourage to come here and spend their money.) Word-to-the-wise....enough said.
So - what is the city - the Mayor - doing about these kinds of problems? I feel for the poor people - what is the city doing to help them? And - what about quality-of-life for the rest of us?
Several friends of mine have commented that many parts of the city appear dirtier...more garbage and papers on the streets. (Except for the new Disneyland AKA Midtown. It's spotless there.) Rushing to an appointment - running late and taking the subway? Good luck. (Regardless of any stats trotted out by the MTA, delays are increasing.) The weekend? Forget about it!
Traffic? The same problem spots exist that delayed drivers in the sixties - and the seventies, eighties, nineties through the present. Major metropolitan modernization and expansion of public transportation options (not just a few high-profile projects in Manhattan) - not happening any time soon (if at all).
Schools...how many thousands of drop-outs are there each year? (Or is it each month?)
This is not to suggest the city is falling apart. But the problems that do exist - why can't they be addressed and fixed? What's Mayor Bloomberg doing about all of this? Ohh...it's a money thing. Budget stuff. I got it...a matter of priorities. Making choices. And that must be why the people who protect us or educate us aren't paid in any way appropriate to the level of their personal contributions (and degree of risk). Okay. Accept all of this....and let's not even get into wasteful government spending. Or top-heavy - and overpaid - management. Palatial corporate digs. Costly meetings and conferences. Or - endless downtime on the computer doing...who knows what?
Positive thoughts...my mantra...what's the flip side of not worrying when its not in your control? Worry only about what you can change.. well, I've got an answer.
The Staten Island Ferry carries more than 20,000,000 tourists to Staten Island every year. Every day, more than seventy thousand tourists go on to board the ferry.
The ferry has been free since 1997 as a service to the public. A must-see New York attraction. Why not charge non-NYC residents a nominal fee - 50 Cents? A dollar? These people are spending huge amounts of money to visit New York City. Trust me...even with a small fee, tourists will still come to New York. Still take the ferry to-and-from Staten Island Still want to experience the magnificent views of Manhattan, the Statue Of Liberty, Ellis Island...and Those-In-Charge at the MTA can certainly figure out a way to keep the cost free to New Yorkers.
Who knows what miracles could be accomplished with all the money derived from the ferry? Pay policeman and fireman a living wage...commensurate to their level of risk...pay educators what they deserve...hire more policeman...make real improvements on any number of quality-of-life issues...
The Mets are winning against-all-odds. Even Al Weis once hit a crucial home run in a World Series. Mayor Bloomberg - I read that you want to encourage the building of taller and more modern buildings in the Grand Central area to help the economy (and your legacy). What about a small charge for the Staten island ferry? Might do a world of good...think about it.
Let's be positive.
See you all soon, till then,
Stevenn
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