"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
It's coming
How long before New York City starts to resemble a set from Blade Runner? (Or, for that matter, Escape From New York?)
My first visit to NYC was in the 70's as a student during what is considered the nadir of modern NYC (so far). It was...um...exciting.
You had to play dodge 'em with garbage and discarded newspapers blowing down the streets - or be covered with it. Dirt and grit were constantly in my eyes. I once had a prostitute follow me for a whole block (NYC blocks are long!) in the middle of the afternoon in Mid-Town screaming at me, loudly speculating about my parentage, mental abilities & sexual preferences because I declined her proffered services. It did elicit amused sympathy from passers by, though. Ahh, to be the public entertainment of the moment...
I was poor, young, strong and obviously a student type so I really wasn't worth the trouble of mugging, so I never had that problem, but weirdos and pan handlers galore wanted to make my acquaintance constantly.
Bill de Blasio has picked the former New York police commissioner who cleaned up the city in the 1990s to lead the department once again. William Bratton, 66, rose to national fame under Mayor Rudy Giuliani for his 'zero tolerance' approach to policing and his 'broken windows' strategy of targeting small infractions as a way to combat more serious crimes and lower murder rates.
Am I the only one who remembers a lot of lefties howling during the 1990s about how arresting people for committing crimes in broad daylight like turnstile jumping, vandalism, and prostitution was the descending dark night of fascism with a capital F and Giuliani and Bratton were goose stepping nazis?
I prefer the Escape From New York scenario.
ReplyDeleteOnly, no one can leave before the walls are built.
Well, just like those movies but with no guns.
ReplyDeleteWhat? You say the criminals will have them? Nonsense, whats the point of having laws if criminals won't follow them?
“we should never blame a victim, or try to explain away any wrongdoing.”
ReplyDeleteBut, I'm a liberal, so you know I actually mean "you", when I say "we".
Next stop, downtown Detroit.
ReplyDeleteNow that's scary!
ReplyDeleteMy first visit to NYC was in the 70's as a student during what is considered the nadir of modern NYC (so far). It was...um...exciting.
ReplyDeleteYou had to play dodge 'em with garbage and discarded newspapers blowing down the streets - or be covered with it. Dirt and grit were constantly in my eyes. I once had a prostitute follow me for a whole block (NYC blocks are long!) in the middle of the afternoon in Mid-Town screaming at me, loudly speculating about my parentage, mental abilities & sexual preferences because I declined her proffered services. It did elicit amused sympathy from passers by, though. Ahh, to be the public entertainment of the moment...
I was poor, young, strong and obviously a student type so I really wasn't worth the trouble of mugging, so I never had that problem, but weirdos and pan handlers galore wanted to make my acquaintance constantly.
The night life, too, was *ahem* interesting.
Could the days of my youth be returning?
A very hard lesson is about to be taught to New York voters. Or not, if they can't learn it.
ReplyDeleteBill de Blasio has picked the former New York police commissioner who cleaned up the city in the 1990s to lead the department once again. William Bratton, 66, rose to national fame under Mayor Rudy Giuliani for his 'zero tolerance' approach to policing and his 'broken windows' strategy of targeting small infractions as a way to combat more serious crimes and lower murder rates.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who remembers a lot of lefties howling during the 1990s about how arresting people for committing crimes in broad daylight like turnstile jumping, vandalism, and prostitution was the descending dark night of fascism with a capital F and Giuliani and Bratton were goose stepping nazis?
Well, that was when the city had a Republican mayor.
ReplyDelete