You miserable vomitous mass. Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but you’re abusing the privilege. I can’t believe you came to this page, you web surfing, right-clicking great pillock of a poster! I wave my private parts at your aunties. Go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly person. I blow my nose at you. Repeatedly.

On the subject of freedom of speech, what’s the difference between saying someone is:

• Entering a battle of wits half-prepared, or
• Calling them Stupid?

The opening barrage, care of Monty Python and InsultFinder.com, is of course, a silly attention grabber. But it raises a point. Most of us would agree that it’s irresponsible to yell Fire! in a crowded theatre just because you feel like it. It’s the kind of thing someone might do to get attention. And there are laws against that kind of thing.

When social Websites put limits on the tone of public discussions, is that an infringement of Freedom of Speech? Or is keeping the discussion focused on the topic and not the tone keeping the discussion on track? Are those who use insults attempting to distract from the real issue as a tactic to discredit the other side? Or are they responding in kind to perceived insults previously received? Continue reading →

Urban planning can be alot like fashion: what was once old is now new, again.

Transit Villages are designed to build shops, housing, and offices together in areas that are well served by public transportation, much like older downtown districts. An alternative planning approach which avoids urban sprawl, transit villages uses past experiences building towns and cities before automobiles created the suburbs we know today.

The updated transit village version, moderate- to higher-density development is directed to areas within an easy walk of public transportation with special attention is given to the needs of pedestrians.

The main benefits of transit villages stem from more efficient land use and more compact building. Building up uses far less land than building out and allows for growth without using open space. Building more compactly means there are more destinations at each transit stop within easy walking distance. As a result transit can run more frequently and thus be more convenient for more people.

This LoHud story talks about using the transit village concept to incorporate some of the ideas mentioned in the Riverspace Downtown project, especially as it pertains to increased density and a friendly pedestian enironment.

Sources: Sierra Club, NJDOT, Federal Highway Administration (Bay Area Fruitvale Transit Village Project

Nyack Mayor John Shields is asking Orangetown, South Nyack and Upper Nyack to contribute funds to a community gangs-prevention program for The Nyacks at The Nyack Center. The funding will double the number of participants who can join the program. The program is in response to the April 16 mini-riot in South Nyack. Shields said the village would only contribute if the other communities agreed to chip in, too.

The Rockland County Youth Bureau has contributed $46,000 to fund 20 participants in the Youth Outreach gang-prevention program.

Source: Journal News, April 17

If you have been out of the loop on the plans, cost and possibilites of the Riverspace Downtown project, the Journal News offers a concise summary of what has been proposed.

How much is 4 acres worth in downtown Nyack? Should Nyack demand fair market price for its market share? No question here, responsible leadership needs to be clearer when identifying its goals and objectives. Continue reading →

The Riverspace Board presented a bold vision for a revitalized downtown Nyack Thursday night, presenting a $100 million plan for a “public spirited…community fueled” retail, commercial and residential development to replace the current arts center. The new plan includes two parking garages, a public piazza, a new arts center and new a restored street grid. Continue reading →

Riverspace is having a meeting on June 5 to present its plans for rebuilding the downtown. There has been some discussion about the Riverspace project on that Nyacksocialscene email group, some thoughtful some not, and I put out this piece to identify issues that I think need to be discussed in connection with this project.

I invite your comment, and I hope people attend this meeting at the Riverspace theater, which is at 7:00 PM.
Continue reading →

The former editorial board editor of the Journal News says a school funding crisis is right around the corner. School taxes should be based on income, not just property value, says Blauvelt’s Arthur Gunther.

Source: Journal News, June 2

Fans of reality TV, high stakes dramas and social documentaries are in for a big treat. And if you live in Nyack, you won’t have to leave the zip code to see the free performance.

Riverspace presents their plans for a reborn downtown Nyack on June 5th. This follows up meetings in February, April and May to discuss redevelopment of the property which includes the arts center, the adjacent strip mall, Veteran’s Park and the M&T Bank. Riverspace board members Josh Goldberg and Debbie Reich have proposed a mixed-use development with a new arts center as the anchor. They hope to replace the current unsustainable patchwork of donors and volunteers with a new business model that produces commercial and residential rental income that will help fund Riverspace.

Continue reading →

Police say they have arrested the Spring Valley ring leader behind last month’s mini-riot in South Nyack.

Orangetown police Detective Lieutenant James Brown says Malcolm Pitt, an 18 year old from Spring Valley, is believed to be the ringleader of the Spring Valley gang that came to Nyack on April 16.  Jesse Jones and Malcolm Dupree, both 19 and from Spring Valley, were also arrested in connection with the incident.

All three were charged with first-degree attempted gang assault and two counts of second-degree assault. A fourth teen has been accused of wielding an axe during the incident. Nineteen year old Karl Dubuisson of Nyack was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony offense.

Source :Journal News, May 15