Broadcasters Prevail

In a major win for broadcasters the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Aereo, a streaming service that provides access to programs at about the same time as they are broadcast, violates the Copyright Act of 1976.  The decision is a huge blow for Aereo, which may go out of business.  

Aereo offers subscribers broadcast television programming over the Internet for a monthly fee of $8 to $12 a month.  Its system is made up of servers and thousands of dime-sized antennas stored in a central warehouse.  Aereo's technology makes a copy of a program into a subscriber's file, then makes it possible for only that subscriber to view the program on their computer, tablet or smartphone, seconds after the broadcast begins airing.  

Aereo neither owns the copyright to the program, nor a license to rebroadcast the program.  But it argued that it is not transmitting the program, rather the subscriber is transmitting the program.  The Court's opinion, written by Justice Stephen G. Breyer, said, "We do not see how the fact that Aereo transmits via personal copies of programs could make a difference.  The Act applies to transmissions by means of any device or process."  Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito were in the minority.

Aereo launched in 2012 in its first market, New York.  Broadcasters, acting on behalf of their local New York City television stations, filed suit two weeks after the service was announced.  A federal judge ruled in Aereo's favor four months later.  Then in early 2013, a federal appeals court upheld the lower court's ruling.  Subsequently, the broadcasters petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case. In oral arguments last April the Deputy Solicitor General argued against Aereo on behalf of the government. 

Broadcast networks retransmit their programs over stations throughout the country.  They derive part of their revenue from commercials.  But cable companies pay broadcasters about $3 billion for the right to carry broadcast programming over their systems.  Aereo argued that it is not like a cable company because it is renting out antennas and cloud storage to subscribers.  Had Aereo's argument been upheld it could have undermined the current broadcast economic model.  Then the broadcasters would likely have turned to Congress for help.

Both Aereo's CEO Chet Kanjojia and investor Barry Diller, a prominent media figure, have said in the past that the service would be shut down if they lost in the Supreme Court.  A CBS Spokesperson reacted to the ruling with a statement, saying, “We are pleased with today’s decision, which is great news for content creators and their audiences.”  Nonetheless, the Court's deliberations underscore the continuing challenges broadcasters face with advances in technology and changes in viewing habits.  

Cleo and Cassie's Christmas Story

This is Cleo, an eight-year-old maltese that has been a key member of our family since 2005.  She is generally quiet, shy and docile.  She derives great pleasure from eating, she is a bit overweight, and having her backside scratched.  

Cleo is a warrior.  This past September doctors discovered a "stage three" mast cell tumor on her back, near her tail.  The news shook our household, and an operation was quickly scheduled.  Two doctors worked for three hours to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue.  Cleo has been on chemotherapy since, and all of her subsequent check ups have shown no recurrence of the cancer.

So mild mannered Cleo was excited when we decided to take her to Colorado for her annual Christmas vacation.  The second she sees her white travel case her heartbeat quickens as she crawls into it with great enthusiasm.  

The airport routine was the same as it has been for eight years.  Just before we board the plane, I take Cleo into the men's room and drop a wee-wee pad on the floor of a stall.  Cleo gets out of her case and relieves herself.  She then hops back into the bag.

On the airplane, Cleo rests on the floor in her case for the five-hour flight.  She doesn't make a sound.  Occasionally, she repositions herself in the bag, allowing her head to pop out of the opening.  When we arrive in Denver, I carry her to the nearest men's room, place a pad on the floor of a stall, and watch her relieve herself.  She then jumps back into the case.  

We always stay at the same hotel in Ft. Collins.  Cleo knows it so well that she frequently leads our family through the automatic doors, up the hall and onto the elevator.  Many of the staff members have come to know Cleo and welcome her with scratches on her back.  Cleo feels at home.  Neither snow nor cold bothers her, although she does not like walking on the salt.  

Because her white hair blends in with the snow, we wrap her in a dark coat so we don't lose sight of her.  It also keeps her warm.  But she often sits inside my brother's house, and tends to hang out near the Christmas tree.  When the family gathers to open gifts, Cleo watches with great interest.  

Cleo is a wonderful traveler, which is more than can be said for her younger sister Cassie.  Cassie is an eighteen-month-old pomeranian.  She is endlessly curious, totally self-assured, and a whirling dervish of energy, therefore, not able to travel on an airplane.   At first, the two dogs were like fire and water: two totally opposite temperaments.  It appeared that they would never get along with each other.  But, over time, they have become very close.

Cassie stayed with a friend while we were away.  But when we returned to our New York City home, she was excited to see us.  But she was even more excited to be with her sister, Cleo, and, no doubt, the two spent time exchanging stories of their Christmas adventures!  

Thank You Mike Bloomberg

There is no better place in the world to celebrate the holiday season than New York City.  The stores along Madison and Fifth Avenues are stuffed with shoppers, perhaps lured in by the beautifully decorated windows or early sales.  From Brooklyn to Queens, or from Staten Island to The Bronx, New York City is a colorful, diverse, vibrant and energetic metropolis.

But New Yorkers face an uncertain future.  With the New Year comes a new mayor, the first new mayor in more than a decade.  And this new mayor, Bill de Blasio, has many promises to keep and many supporters to take care of.  New York City is a huge, complex, and impatient metropolis filled with larger than life personalities, big egos, powerful interest groups with competing agendas, and the pulsating beat of an unrelenting 27/7 news cycle.  

After a dozen years in office, polls show that New Yorkers are tired of their current mayor, Michael Bloomberg.  A majority of those who voted in this year's mayoral election want a more progressive agenda, and someone who will focus on closing the huge income disparity between the city's rich and poor.  They want universal pre-K and expanded after school programs, and an end to abusive police tactics.  And many want the freedom to drink big sugary sodas and smoke--initiatives that have earned Bloomberg the nickname Nanny Mike.  

But the fact is that New York has been an extremely well-run city for more than a decade due to Bloomberg's considerable management skills.  And, while there is room for criticism, Bloomberg has done an enormous amount of good for the city while taking home only $1 in salary each year. 

For instance, according to current projections, New York City will have a $2.4 billion budget surplus for fiscal 2014, and a $1.9 billion budget surplus for fiscal 2015.  However, these projections will be affected by upcoming labor negotiations. 

The city population has increased by 300,000 since 2001, and New York now has 3 million immigrants living in its boroughs.  More than 54 million tourists came to the city in 2013, that's up 54% since 2001.  And it is no wonder, as the city's crime rate is down 35% in that same period, while murders have declined significantly as well.  New York is a safe place to visit and live.

Since Bloomberg first took office there has been a 23% decline in infant mortality, and the average life expectancy of a New Yorker is up 3 years, to 80.9.  That may be partially due to the mayor's crackdown on smoking in restaurants and other public areas.  For instance, there has been a 50% decline in teen smoking since 2002, and today only 14% of the city population smokes. 

New York is now a healthier city.  Bloomberg has put in 450 miles of bike lanes, and he has partnered with CitiBank to make bikes easily available throughout the city.  In fact, there will be about 5.5 million CitiBike trips in 2013.  The mayor has also expanded city parkland by 2% since he took office, and 800,000 have been planted in the past five years.  

The mayor won control of the city's public schools early in his mayoralty.  While there are still complex issues with the city's education system, including the expansion of charter schools, New York's four-year graduation rate is nearly 65%, up from about 50% in 2001.  Meanwhile, the city's welfare roles have been reduced by nearly a quarter since Bloomberg first took office.  

The mayor has encouraged investment, corporate development and new businesses.  Being a successful entrepreneur himself, he has created an atmosphere that has attracted many start-ups and new enterprises.  New York is a great place for the next generation.  

New York is a far better place today than it was when Michael Bloomberg first took office.  Some of the changes he has made have drawn, well, the Bronx cheer from many citizens.  Earlier this week, I asked the mayor what he thought of the criticism he has received.  He was accepting, "Change is hard, and people don't like it." 

Come January 1, New Yorkers will face a big change when the 6'5" de Blasio takes over from the 5'7" Bloomberg.  De Blasio will move quickly to raise taxes on the rich to pay for his education initiatives.  Unions will demand a quick resolution from him on pending contract and pension issues that will be costly.  His new police commissioner will take over and bring new community based tactics to keep the streets safe.  And these new challenges are just the tip of the iceberg.

Meanwhile, Michael Bloomberg leaves behind a stronger city and a powerful legacy.   

Halloween on East 91st

The New York City air has turned crisp, chilled by autumn's embrace.  Fallen leaves coat sidewalks and planters along the city streets and avenues.  An occasional wind gust stirs them into action, briefly making them reddish and brownish blurs in search of a new temporary home.  While people shuffle through unswept piles of leaves, the children frolic in them.

But on the city's Upper East Side, at the intersection of Park Avenue and East 91st Street, something very unusual has caught everyone's attention.  Giant spiders are affixed to the side of an apartment building -- perhaps waiting to pounce on some innocent victim. Since the arachnids suddenly appeared overnight a few days ago, those who walk by do so with extreme caution! 

The spiders were the first sign that Halloween is upon us.

Perhaps no city block takes Halloween more seriously than East 91st Street. On that magical day people from all over the region descend on this two-block stretch lined by beautiful limestone townhouses and apartment buildings.  The famous Brick Church is located across Park Avenue from the spider building. 

Typically beginning in the late afternoon, thousands of costumed kids crowd the sidewalks in search of candy treats.  They come from the Bronx, Harlem and Queens.  A few come from New Jersey and even Long Island.  Some arrive by subway, and others are bused to the neighborhood.  

Kids are dressed as superheroes and villains.  There are several Buzz Lightyears and numerous Disney characters.  Some trick-or-treaters wear sophisticated and intricate costumes, while others might wear a colorful tee-shirt or goofy hat. And, just when you think you've seen everything, a group of parents will wander by in full costume.  This can very very weird!

The neighborhood has seen some very famous trick-or-treaters in past years.  They include Alec Baldwin and his then preteen daughter, Ireland.  Woody Allen, who once lived in the hood, and family once joined in the fun, although he never looks like he is having fun.  Former New York Met Al Leiter brought his kids by one year.  Other trick-or-treaters include some of the most powerful young bankers and lawyers in the nation.  

As the evening wears on, more and more houses display "Out of Candy" signs.  Some residents run to the corner to buy more sweets, bringing their total expense for candy to well over $1,000!  

As evening turns into night, the flurry of actively subsides.  A quiet calm settles onto the neighborhood.  The temperature cools and the leaves, now mixed with candy wrappers, are still.  Soon the spiders, skeletons, vampires, ghosts and goblins will all go into hibernation for the next eleven months.  And thousands of kids will have a lifelong memory.

The Power of Faith

St. Thomas More Catholic Church, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, serves some of New York's most prominent families.  But these well-connected and widely traveled parishioners were moved to tears at Sunday's 12:30pm mass.  

Father Linus Nangwele, who is a visiting priest while studying at the United Nations, celebrated the mass.  The gospel reading was about the power of faith.  Following that reading, Father Nangwele asked everyone what time is was.  When he received a response, he then asked for everyone to indulge him for ten minutes. 

He began his sermon with the story of Margaret.  Forty years ago she lived in a small rural village in Ghana with her four-year-old son.  She worked on a farm outside of town, but always left her son behind so he could play with friends.  One day, while playing with his friends, the boy suddenly collapsed to the ground.  He had stopped breathing, and his stomach had become bloated.  The villagers, who were called to the scene, pronounced the boy dead.

Now there were no mortuaries or funeral homes in rural Ghana, so the dead were buried within 24 hours.  But Margaret was off working on a farm, so someone was dispatched to get her.  When Margaret arrived and saw her son's body she broke down.  The villagers informed her that they would bury her boy the next day.  But Margaret refused to go along with tradition.  She had to know what happened to her son.

Margaret created a sling out of the fabric she was wearing, wrapped it around her son and slung his body over her back.  Carrying her son and a rosary, Margaret walked 25 miles to the nearest hospital.  When she arrived late at night she explained to the nurse what had happened.  The nurse looked at the boy and then told Margaret she would have to leave and go bury her son.

By Margaret refused to leave.  She made such a scene that it attracted a doctor's attention.  She explained to the doctor that she couldn't believe what had happened to her boy and demanded that he perform an autopsy to determine the cause.   The doctor agreed to do so.  As he worked for several hours on the boy, Margaret sat outside the door saying her rosary.

When the doctor emerged from the operating room he told Margaret that her son was alive.  But, he cautioned, it would take a long time for the boy to fully recover.  So Margaret stayed with her son for two years as he slowly recovered.  When the boy was discharged from the hospital, Margaret took her son back to their village.  Only many villagers refused to believe that the boy was alive.  Instead, they thought he was a ghost.  

The St. Thomas More parishioners hung on every word as the priest continued his story, explaining that the boy ended up going to school, then on to college, then he entered the seminary, and was ordained a priest in 2000.  Father Nangwele then paused briefly, and said; "So today that boy stands before you."  

A collective gasp rolled across the pews, then murmurs as people spoke to their neighbor of their surprise.  Then the parishioners gave Father Linus a warm round of applause, something that rarely happens during this portion of a mass.  But Father Nangwele had more for the gathering.  

"What do the letters in the word faith stand for", he asked.  He answered himself: "Forward An Issue To Heaven."  He said his mother, who never gave up on her boy, had strong faith.  Father Nangwele then asked what the letters in the word "push" mean.  He responded, "Pray Until Something Happens."  Of course, his mother never stopped praying.  As he finished his sermon, the priest paused again, and said, "My name is Linus, L I N U S."  He then smiled, nodded and returned to the altar to continue the mass

Father Linus has occasionally told this story in his sermons to explain his calling to priesthood.  He came to the United States in 2005, and has lived in Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale while pursuing advanced degrees in theology and conflict analysis and resolution.  His English is fluent, although he has an accent, and his smile in infectious.  

After the mass was over, a huge line of parishioners waited to shake Father Linus's hand and thank him for his incredibly moving personal story.  In ten short minutes he had given them a powerful reason to have faith.

Weiner's Chutzpah

“It’s in our rearview mirror, but it’s not far,” former New York Representative Anthony Weiner said in a hastily called news conference Tuesday, where he confirmed that he continued to send sexual images of himself to female fans for more than a year after he resigned from Congress.   He admitted he did not stop until last summer. 

Weiner has every right to run for mayor of New York City.  But, given these latest embarrassing revelations, why does he want to expose (pardon the pun) himself and his family to such painful humiliation?  Does he really think he is worthy of leading America's greatest city?

On Tuesday, The Dirty, a website that is a self-described purveyor of gossip, reported it had spoken with a 22 year-old woman, whom it did not name, who described her sexual communications with Weiner.  She said they discussed explicit sexual acts and that he sent her a picture of his penis.  Later, Weiner requested that she delete their chats, admitting that, “I’m deeply flawed.” 

In a statement released before his news conference Tuesday, Weiner said, “While some things that have been posted today are true and some are not, there is no question that what I did was wrong.”  He would not specify what things were not true at his news conference.  “I said that other texts and photos were likely to come out and today they have,” Mr. Weiner told reporters. “I want to again say that I am very sorry to anyone who was on the receiving end of these messages and the disruption this has caused.” 

Weiner's admission runs counter to a narrative that such unseemly incidents were well behind him.  In fact, they continued until just a few months before he announced his mayoral candidacy.  In that announcement, Weiner asked New Yorkers for a "second chance to work for you."  

At Weiner's Tuesday news conference, his wife, Huma Abedin, a long-time aide to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, joined him.  Ms. Abedin put on a brave face as she watched Weiner speak.  She then read a statement to reporters, “Anthony’s made some horrible mistakes, both before he resigned from Congress and after.” She added, “We discussed all of this before Anthony decided he would run for mayor, so really what I want to say is, I love him, I have forgiven him, I believe in him.” 

Despite her reassurances, and her admission that their marriage had its ups and downs, the question is will New York City voters believe in Weiner.  He lied when news of the sexting scandal first broke two years ago.  He attacked reporters at the time for raising the issue.  He then misled New Yorkers by giving the impression that the incidents had ceased when he resigned from Congress.  They hadn't. 

Weiner is a bright and energetic figure.  He is a passionate spokesman for the middle class, for gay rights and health care.  Recent polls have put him in the lead among the Democratic candidates for mayor, who will face off in a primary on September 5.  But Tuesday's revelations will hurt his candidacy.

For sure, Weiner does not suffer from a lack of chutzpah.  That is a characteristic that is normally appealing to New Yorkers.  But it is clear that Weiner is flawed.  He lacks good judgment and he has consistently failed to be fully truthful. 

In a campaign appearance following his Tuesday news conference, Weiner told his audience that he was the only candidate who could "shake things up."  He is right.  But to what end, Mr. Weiner?

A Toy Doll Story

So what were a large rabbit doll and some smaller stuffed animals doing sitting outside a New York day care center? Well, let me tell you the story.

There is, perhaps, no greater joy than being a parent. And most parents want so desperately to keep their children in the nest--even as time flies by too quickly. Inevitably, children become teenagers. For many parents that means changing roles from "best bud" to ATM machine.

During our daughter's early childhood we collected dozens of dolls. Some were gifts from friends, others we purchased. These dolls ranged from a large stuffed rabbit to a slew of "Beanie Babies." The Beanie Babies were always soft and colorful. They were relatively expensive but each brought great joy to our daughter.

Of course, a child's attention span is very short. And one day's favorite new doll would soon be shoved aside for the next fascinating or lovable little creature. Fame can be fleeting even for Beanie Babies! As the early years whisked by more and more dolls found themselves the victims of indifference. What could we do with the mounting body count? We certainly did not want to toss the dolls away because each one carried a special memory or meaning.

Consequently, most of the dolls were relegated to storage bins. For sure, this would mean a dark and desolate existence in the basement. A few lucky dolls were placed on a shelf overlooking the playroom. But no one really paid attention to them for years.

However, several dolls got some overdue attention ironically due to Hurricane Irene. Because Hurricane Irene threatened New York City with record rains and high winds it became necessary to batten down the hatches and remove all objects to higher ground. Thankfully the hurricane caused little damage. So after the storm passed it was time to put everything back.

But did we really want to keep all of the dolls? Certainly some other little child would love to have many of these precious stuffed animals? Regretfully, most places won't accept used toys. Given all the young children and parents who live in the neighborhood, it seemed to be a good idea to place them in an open bag outside our house. Maybe some of the dolls would be "adopted."

Later in the evening two young ladies from Denmark, perhaps college students, stopped by and found themselves fascinated with the dolls. They decided to do all they could to make sure the furry little creatures found a loving home. After discussing various options with them I remembered there is a child's day care center not too far away. They agreed to take all of the dolls, contained in two large bags, over to the center.

When the young ladies arrived at the day care center they decided to display the dolls on the window ledges, on an air conditioner, amidst security bars and the railings at the entrance of the facility. The wanted to make sure the stuffed treasures were fully appreciated! The dolls waited outside undisturbed all night. Passersby smiled at the site. Some took pictures. And when the children arrived the next morning, the dolls were there to greet them. What a joyous surprise!

The kids were so thrilled they decided to adopt the whole lot of them. And later that day someone put a sign on the railing of the day care center--which told of a happy ending.

Goodnight Irene

Hurricane Irene pummeled New York City Saturday night and Sunday with nearly twenty-four hours of torrential rains and high winds. The storm left behind severe local flooding, falling trees, and some power outages as surging seas overran beaches, sea walls and piers throughout the region. But the "city that never sleeps" dodged a bullet.

The heavy rain began in the Big Apple at about 8pm Saturday evening. Sheets of water pounded skyscrapers, townhouses and city streets. Rivers of water rushed down avenues to lower ground where it accumulated into ponds, puddles and many basements. The intense downpour obscured the "neon lights on Broadway;" its usually bustling sidewalks were virtually empty. Below the surface New York's famous subway system sat idle, having already been shut down midday Saturday.

Every local television news organization went into "wall-to-wall coverage" as did the cable news channels. Intrepid reporters chanced hurricane force winds, rain and high water to do "live shots" everywhere from Battery Park to the southern tip of New Jersey. Seeing a correspondent leaning into the wind and driving rain while reporting on the local effects of the hurricane has now become a cliché. Perhaps journalism schools should add a course, "Hurricane 101"! Many reporters filed live reports while driving through flooded streets in extra heavy "mobile units" laden with the latest in broadcast technology.

By mid afternoon Sunday the rain had pretty much ended in New York City, but winds at 45 to 50 miles per hour persisted as the backside of the hurricane passed through. City officials tried to close Central Park, but joggers, bikers and hikers ignored warning signs posted at each entrance. Debris filled the walkways, paths and roads, but it did nothing to discourage activities. Neither did Park Rangers who had little luck in diverting traffic out of the park.

The fact is that Hurricane Irene is responsible for at least 18 deaths and billions of dollars in damage throughout the East Coast. Even with all of the scientific tools available to weathermen, hurricanes are difficult to predict with precision. For instance, in 2004 it took just three hours for Hurricane Charley to strengthened from winds of 110 mph to winds of 145 mph. Had Irene had winds of 150 mph, New York City would have been devastated and perhaps hundreds of its citizens would have been killed. So Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Chris Christie did the right thing ordering evacuations from low-lying areas and shutting down mass transit. In short, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Nonetheless, some critics now say predictions were overblown, that the populace was unnecessarily threatened, that media and government officials hyped the storm. The Drudge Report carried a headline that read: "IRENE: A PERFECT STORM OF HYPE..." But many of the same people who now complain would have been the first to scream and howl if the storm had been a monster and the preparations weak. Somehow it seems that politics must enter into everything nowadays.

The full affects of Hurricane Irene have not been yet been felt in some low-lying areas prone to flooding in the Northeast, especially Vermont and Upstate New York. Nonetheless, Hurricane Irene is an important reminder just how powerful and unpredictable Mother Nature can be.

9/11 Healing

On this coming September 11, it will be ten years since the greatest terrorist attack on American soil. Among the 2,753 people killed in the attack on New York City's World Trade Center were 343 firefighters and 60 police officers from the NYPD and the Port Authority. Terrorists also flew a passenger jet into the Pentagon, and a jetliner flown by terrorists crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The total death toll that day would be 2977.

The Mental Health Association of New York City held an emotional and compelling event Wednesday evening honoring New York City's "first responders." In particular, Fire Chief Joseph Pfeiffer, who had been among the first to respond to the World Trade Center that morning.

Chief Pfeiffer immediately set up a command post in one of the towers and began organizing the response. As he feverishly worked he saw his brother, Lt. Kevin Pfeiffer, across the lobby gathering his unit together. They acknowledged each other and then his brother led his team up the stairs to help rescue victims. It was the last time Chief Pfeiffer saw his brother alive.

As it happens, Jules and Gideon Naudet, a French film crew, had been working on a documentary about fire fighters at a nearby station. Jules was filming firefighters as they responded to a gas leak near the towers when, at 8:46am, the first plane hit the North Tower. He was swept up by his fire crew and quickly found himself side by side with Chief Pfeiffer. Jules captured the chaotic and terrifying scenes as victims and first responders filled the lobby. Confusion and panic were heightened when the South Tower was hit.

More than 17,000 people occupied the towers at the time of the attack. The camera recorded the sounds of bodies crashing to the ground, as some victims decided to die quickly rather than burn to death.

Naudet's camera was fixated on Chief Pfeiffer's shocked face when a huge rumbling sound began. The 110 story Twin Towers were collapsing, the South Tower at 9:59am and then the North Tower at 10:28am. The film records Chief Pfeiffer and his team as they frantically dashed for cover down a subway entrance in the lobby. Chief Pfeiffer made sure Naudet was with him. More than one thousand feet of concrete and steel pancaked all around them, shaking the earth and filling the air with a thick acrid dust. Miraculously the group survived but it took some time before they were able to escape the maze of destruction.

At the MHANYC event, Chief Pfeiffer, the Naudet brothers, and New York Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano stood together on a stage about fifteen blocks from ground zero and recounted the tragedy of 9/11. While the victims, their families and the city have worked hard to recover and rebuild, awful memories still haunt many them.

Almost instantly the Mental Health Association of New York City was called into action. In the immediate aftermath its mental health referral hotline, 1-800-Lifenet, played an important communications and referral role. And subsequently thousands of calls flooded the center as the recovery and healing process began. For some of those affected it will be a lifelong struggle.

Chief Pfeiffer now directs the FDNY's Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness, which he founded after 9/11. And today the Mental Health Association of New York City continues to fulfill a need in the ongoing healing process. Its work during the 9/11 disaster now serves as a national model and has been used in subsequent national tragedies, such as Hurricane Katrina.

As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, anxiety and stress will weigh heavily on many victims and their loved ones. The MHANYC stands ready to help. For those needing assistance, call 1-800-Lifenet, or go to: http://www.800lifenet.org/

The Streets of New York

There are few things more interesting and exhilarating than a walk through the neighborhoods of New York City.

At one moment you may find yourself in Little Italy and a few steps later you are in Chinatown. There are many such communities throughout the city teeming with activity and life, each possessing its own unique culture, stores, shops, restaurants and aromas. They exist in Manhattan, as well as in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island.

And while this time of year is particularly wonderful because of the beautiful trees and colorful flowers on display, nothing beats people watching. Granted, most often you only have time for a brief glimpse, but the diversity of people and the variety of styles can make any walk a fascinating experience. But, as an avid walker, I have a few observations.

It seems that the sidewalks are more crowded lately, bustling with businessmen, baby carriages, students and laborers. Maybe the recent increase in gasoline prices is beginning to hit close to home. And it appears there are more tourists out pounding the pavement and taking in the sites. I often see tourists huddled near a corner pouring over a city map. As I pass by, I frequently hear some discussion in a foreign language. It is most reassuring that most New Yorkers will stop and try to help if asked.

New York City is in the midst of a building boom. There is scaffolding, heavy equipment and big cranes on every other block. I have noticed that more people are looking up before they walk under one of these structures. My guess is the recent spate of accidents has increased general awareness of potential accidents.

Walking can be frustrating at times. People weave in and out of crowds, sometimes darting sharply to the side, or they suddenly stop dead in their tracks. Some are talking on a cell phone or thumbing the keyboard of a Blackberry, oblivious to life around them. Adding to the problem is the proliferation of bikes, scooters, prams and luggage carts. And there are the food and ice cream stands that pop up every day. Averting a collision can be a real problem, consequently you must always be on your toes.

Street lights are timed for vehicle traffic. It is very difficult to walk more than a couple blocks without being stopped by a red light. This is as true between avenues, a distance of two blocks, as it is between streets. As a result, people bunch up at intersections, with some folks edging into the street to get ahead of the crowd. Some courageous souls look for a break in the traffic and then sprint to the other side. A few just walk in front of oncoming traffic, as if they are protected by some invisible wall. It's a miracle more people aren't injured.

There seems to have been an increase in the dog population as well. Owners walk their dogs with great pride. Unfortunately, a few fail to clean up after their dogs. It seems that about once or twice a week I am cleaning up dog droppings out in front of my brownstone. I once caught someone seconds after the act. Without missing a beat I asked for his address and apartment number so my dog could return the favor. He walked off and I was left holding the "doggie bag." So periodically keep a keen eye focused on the pavement in order to avoid the occasional land mine.

Now I really feel sorry for smokers. Rain, snow or shine they clog the sidewalks outside office buildings puffing on their cigarettes. The problem is that clouds of smoke form around doorways, and smoke can be sucked into the lobby. I hate breathing second hand smoke because I lost a mother and several friends to lung cancer. On the other hand, I know the smokers are really addicted. But I wonder how much otherwise productive work time is interrupted by smoking breaks outdoors? How much time, on an annual basis, literally goes up in smoke?

I also feel sorry for the panhandlers I encounter from time to time. There is one, in particular, who periodically shows up on nearby Madison Avenue and somehow knows my first name. At first it was pretty unsettling to hear a homeless person shout my name out from across the street. But it turns out he has been so successful sponging money from many of my neighbors that we now joke he has a place in the Hamptons.

All and all, in spite of the minor inconveniences, the blaring fire sirens, the jackhammers and the detour signs, I can't think of a place I would rather live. New York is a vigorous and vibrant city that always has me walking tall.