Volume 1, No. 78  June 13, 2014

Quote of the day:

* State-funded program teaches how to prepare for a disaster
* Letter to the editor: Authenticity in the South Street Seaport
* Battery Park City in bloom: Knock Out roses
* Shoreline experts lead architecture tours of Manhattan
* Calendar

 

Col. Trevor Jackson of the New York National Guard holding up a backpack filled with some of the supplies that would be needed in case of a natural, man-made or technological disaster. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

The thunderstorm that passed over Lower Manhattan this evening came with a flash flood warning along with bolts of lightning and claps of thunder that were shockingly bright and loud and shockingly close.

In the wake of hurricanes Irene and Sandy and tropical storm Lee, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a citizen preparedness training program, with the goal of providing New Yorkers with the information needed to cope with an emergency, whether natural, man-made or technological.

Since February, the New York National Guard has been holding two-hour training sessions across the state, abetted by experts from the New York State Division of Homeland Security, the Office of Emergency Management and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control. On May 19, the large community room at Southbridge Towers in the South Street Seaport was filled with people who wanted to hear what they had to say.

"It's not a question of if a disaster is going to happen, it's when it will happen," Capt. Glenford Rose, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Army and the National Guard, told the crowd. The risk in New York State is greater than elsewhere, he said.

He mentioned natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, and ice storms; man-made disasters such as terrorism and accidents; and technological catastrophes such as communications and transportation failures, power outages, water system breakdowns and nuclear power plant failures.

"If a disaster occurs, responders may not be available," he said. "The first responders may be you."

The readiness advice was wide ranging starting with creating a household emergency plan. Capt. Rose advised selecting two places to meet if a family gets separated - a place immediately outside the home and a place away from the neighborhood. He said it was necessary to develop a communications plan. "Ask an out-of-town relative or friend to be a contact," he said.

He also said that each family should have enough emergency supplies to last seven to 10 days. That would include a gallon of water per day, per person and pet food.

One of the inducements for attending the training session was undoubtedly that each family was given a backpack containing some of the supplies needed in case of an emergency. The backpacks held first aid kits, drinking water, a flashlight, batteries, goggles, emergency rations, a plastic drop cloth, work gloves, an emergency blanket and more.

Several more training sessions will take place between now and June 25. Two of them are on Staten Island. One, on June 19, is at Confucius Plaza in Chinese. 

For additional information about emergency preparedness training and the upcoming sessions, click here. For information about how to access the U.S. government's wireless emergency alert system, click here.

It's Sugar, one of the stores installed by The Howard Hughes Corp. in landmarked Schermerhorn Row on Fulton Street in the South Street Seaport. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

 

To the editor:

As a Seaport resident, business owner and New Yorker for 30 years, my family and I have so enjoyed Howard Hughes' ice skating, free movies and fun events to bring revitalization to this historic area.

 

It is such a wonderful spot in New York City and there is such huge potential.

 

But I would encourage Howard Hughes to focus on stores that fit the area such as Anthropologie, Fish's Eddy, Williams Sonoma, Sur la Table - stores with a focus on quality and craftsmanship - but that can still pay the high rents Howard Hughes would like.

 

By putting in cheap stores like The Limelight and It's Sugar and cheap clothing - HHC is not doing anything different than the last company with leases in the Seaport. HHC is creating a huge wedge between itself and the residents.

 

Moreover, HHC is not appealing to the young, hip audience it wants with DJs in a white, blow-up cube. Artisans and craftsmanship are what people want and crave. The most authentic and interesting stores in the Seaport are the Bowne printing shop and Bowne Stationers, which belong to the South Street Seaport Museum - the very place whose land holdings I hear HHC would like to have for itself.

 

Take a walk at Chelsea Market. This is what the Seaport should and could look like - and both the business owners and the landlord are winning.

 

The Seaport does need HHC's help - but it will be helping no one (and will continue to have a huge fight from the community) the more it focuses on a quick buck and glassy condos. If HHC keeps the authenticity, it will get far more revenue that is also sustainable.  And it would also be helping save an amazing part of New York City. 

 

The Howard Hughes Corporation could be a hero instead of a foe.

  

Christine Dimmick

 

From the editor:

Letters to the editor are welcome. Email editor@downtownpostnyc.com/ We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and length. 

 

Battery Park City in bloom

KNOCK OUT ROSES

'Blushing pink' Knock Out roses. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

 

Downtown on the water

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Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer

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