Thursday, March 6, 2014

Take The Roosevelt Island Columbia University Graduate Architecture School Survey - What's Your Favorite/Least Favorite Place, What's Working, What Can Be Improved And What Do You Think About Cornell

Marena Wisniewski is a student at Columbia's Graduate School Of Architecture. I met her earlier this week at Starbucks and had a brief conversation about Roosevelt Island. Ms Wisniewski reports:

We are currently in the middle of trying to gather responses to a quick poll about the island, similar to the questions I asked you at Starbucks. However, as fun as it would be to ride the tram all day asking people questions(which I did on Monday morning) it's not very effective.
Ms. Wisniewski adds:
We are first years in Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation in the Historic Preservation Program. As part of the curriculum, we are assigned an area in New York City to research and come up with some idea of what preservation means to that specific place.

For our group, we have decided to craft a preservation plan for the island, and believe that resident input is of critical importance. The responses will be used to help evaluate significance of the buildings on the island, and what perhaps should be pointed out as historically significant, or what kinds of transportation/infrastructure could be employed to make the lives of RI's citizens better. Citizen input is really going to influence how we will proceed with a plan, and what sort of things we will include in it.

We would really love to hear just exactly what islanders want for the future of their island.
Please click here to take the survey.


Previous Roosevelt Island academic studies were done by Hunter College, Cornell University and Columbia University.

Please Take the Survey.

38 comments :

CheshireKitty said...

LOL. Look, how does any of this relate to the discussion at hand: Charter schools. There was just this afternoon a lengthy, serious and well-researched segment on NYC regarding the wealthy interests who are pushing charters in NYC: http://www.wnyc.org/story/behind-pro-charter-school-group-fighting-de-blasio/ Why not read the article first before you decide Mayor de Blasio is such a "loon" for shutting them down.

Mark Lyon said...

Yeah! Damn those rich people for voluntarily spending their money to provide and advocate for better education for kids. We should take their money away from them in accordance with the wishes of those who really know how those funds are best spent. Oh, wait…

CheshireKitty said...

So you back the Waltons and their Foundation - some of the biggest corporate exploiters around? I guess if they're rich, they're OK, right?

OldRossie said...

What is that, a blog!?! No point in switching - we've got one of those here.

OldRossie said...

THIS is a fantastic article. This provides a lot of insight into a donor list for what is still a set of public schools, and demonstrates how resources have faith in their ability to succeed. BEST OF ALL, it points out that some of the "enemy" wall street types not only contribute to charters, they contributed to De Blasio's campaign! Seems they are simply sponsoring what they believe in (considering charters aren't the only issue). You read that part, right?
Does seem a wee bit one sided though. I can't help but enjoy the argument "if you have this money, why not pay your own rent." Ummm... that would be a public school.


Which brings to mind another point - don't you realize that is an option for people with money? If it was just about privatizing, providing for your own ilk, and using your own money to do it, there are private school options that are WAY better than any of these public schools (charter or otherwise)? Again, just like de blasio, you are ignoring who the students actually are. Note that these things are not for profit. Charters are not granted to for-profit companies.

CheshireKitty said...

Check this out too http://www.salon.com/2013/03/11/getting_rich_off_of_schoolchildren/

OldRossie said...

Another blog! where do you find this trash? Now you're saying tech companies are trying to take over education? there's not a single supporting fact in that entire write up (I'm not sure what else to call it..).

CheshireKitty said...

I bet you would think Daily Kos, Salon, and Huffpost are trash. Only Murdoch-controlled organs are "acceptable" to you, huh?

CheshireKitty said...

Wealthy donors often donate to both pol parties. That in itself is meaningless - they are hedging their bets, whichever side wins, they buy access.


Just read the articles I'm putting up. There is a lot of money to be made with investments in ed, which is why charters are so attractive to financiers. It isn't just altruism with the Wall St types. A positive side-effect is the destruction of the union. You need to look at these articles, not just get your information from msm, or the media outlets controlled by the giant conglomerates. Then decide if the charter movement is so "innocent" or "altruistic."

OldRossie said...

it starts with http://blog...

OldRossie said...

I don't know if that's right or wrong, so I'll concede: they may be donating on both sides. I should ask you to prove it. What you're sending are not articles, they're commentaries. Give me one item of fact that money is being made on charters that is not made on non-charters.

OldRossie said...

I just want to emphasize this one: The TEACHERS union created a charter SCHOOL and it FAILED. The TEACHERS union could NOT run a SCHOOL.

OldRossie said...

Since you rely so much on blogs and commentaries, go back to your first article and read the third comment from SA Dad from Harlem: http://www.wnyc.org/story/behind-pro-charter-school-group-fighting-de-blasio/

CheshireKitty said...

So what you are saying is that anything the TEACHERS union lays its hand to will FAIL? That's patently ridiculous. I'm a product of public schools - I graduated both HS and college and became a responsible, contributing member of society. Me and millions of others were educated just fine by unionized teachers at NYC public schools.

Anyway, in case I didn't list this before here's more on charters, for your perusal http://dianeravitch.net/2014/03/05/the-big-lie-about-mayor-bill-de-blasio-and-charters/

KTG said...

So most blogs whether they right or left wing leaning are not always reliable. Not necessarily because of the site author/owner's desire but because of limited resources for fact checking and preference for automated content services grabbing content to fill the blog. people on both side of lines have used these facts to publish loose opinion pieces and paint them in more academic format.


On topic of buying influence you are some what right. But you are quick to dismiss the fact that largest pool of donors nationally are public sector unions who largely donate democratically, this is because as you admitted are militantly pro-union. I on the other hand see a conflict of interest in this, I want all PAC red or blue taken out of the mix.


I leave you with a last point on this Sheldon Silver who is considered one of the most corrupt politicians in America not just NY is on UFT side on the charter issue. So I feel good about where I stand on the issue with Families & Students not UFT (which does not reflect all opinions in its membership).

KTG said...

A big question is why has he focused his attention on fighting with high performing charters that are not on board with UFT membership?

KTG said...

Again he also had runs in with Ms. Moskowitz in pre-mayoral life.

OldRossie said...

Here's an equally reliable source: http://erucult.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/superman-vs-spider-man-the-ultimate-showdown/

Mark Lyon said...

I don't tend to turn up my nose at people for doing good things - like spending their own money to improve education - simply because they happen to also employ over two million people.


I've worked for Wal-Mart and have family who still do; at no time was I exploited. I received the agreed wage for the work I performed. In fact, I've seen them offer great opportunities to my little sister - she started in an entry-level position and now works across several stores, providing vendor support and ensuring products are properly displayed.

OldRossie said...

Marist Poll:

39% — say de Blasio has done a “good” or “excellent” job

More voters — 57% — disapprove, rating his performance either “fair” or “poor.”

YetAnotherRIer said...

A little early to take a poll like that, no? These numbers don't mean anything at all at this point.

OldRossie said...

True, very early. I guess the only explanations could be his attack on charter schools, the horses in the park, his own cars speeding around the neighborhood, and response the to snow (which is the worst series of snow storms in a long time... so, ya know).

CheshireKitty said...

So let them organize a recall vote if he's so bad. I don't think he's done anything "impeachable" yet.


Meanwhile, please read and consider the following statement by City Council Member Dromm of Queens re Moskowitz:


Statement by Council Member
Daniel Dromm Chair of New York City Council

Education
Committee*



Capital
New York reports that Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz "is closing

all
22 of her schools for the day to attempt to rally support in Albany,

and
has asked teachers to provide instruction to students on buses up to

the
Capitol."



First
and foremost, I do not believe the inside of a bus is an appropriate

location
to provide educational instruction.



I
am also deeply concerned about the legality of a school leader closing

schools
for entirely political purposes. As chair of the New York City

Council
Education Committee, I intend to hold an oversight hearing to

investigate
whether any laws or Chancellor's regulations have been violated

by
Moskowitz unilaterally closing schools to effectively force children to

lobby
on her behalf.



This
is the second time that Moskowitz has closed her schools for what

seems
to have been political purposes. In October, Moskowitz closed her

Success
Academy charter schools to lead a political march across the

Brooklyn
Bridge to protest Bill de Blasio. This must stop. No educator

should
be allowed to use children as pawns for their political agenda.

Serious
questions arise about closing schools for political gain.



As
the recipient of public funding, I am also troubled by reports of the

Success
Academy paying administrators extraordinary salaries.



I
also intend to use my oversight powers to investigate Moskowitz's

extensive
marketing campaigns costing millions of dollars.



Field
trips can be an important part of the educational experience.

Dragging
children to Albany to further Moskowitz's political agenda serves

no
public or pedagogical purpose.

CheshireKitty said...

What about the horses in the park? You are actually for the carriage horses? Ugh.. Well, I guess it figures..

OldRossie said...

Dromm is a union leader. that's like taking Putin's advice on Ukraine. Try again.

KTG said...

Wait you not for supporting the carriage drivers who are union members (teamsters) instead you are taking the side of the real estate developers (who donated heavily to the mayor) so they can try to tear down the land marked stables to build upper class housing.

Glad to see you finally came to your sense, I am onboard although I just object to DeBlasio false pretenses. Like your blog recommends follow the money

KTG said...

Also Parent supported this move nd went along. They got 7000 people to Albany, while anti charter movement could only draw 1000 people to armory on Lexington (mostly union members)

OldRossie said...

Nicely put.

StuartChenkin said...

Update on the Wholesome Factory: I checked out the store the other day and observed that they had removed almost 50% of the meats and cheeses from the front display, and the dairy products were now in date. I can't report on the sandwiches (mold-wise) as I didn't have any. However, it is encouraging to see they read this blog! :)

RooseveltIslander said...

That's good news. Thanks for the update

Heather Wolfe Taylor said...

Oh that is good. I keep intending to go back in there and scope it out but so far I haven't done so. Glad to hear they're getting into shape!

OldRossie said...

De Blasio seems to be changing his tune on charter schools - now he's saying there will be MORE public space for charter schools to GROW. he's even quoted saying "They’re doing good work in many ways for kids", and "We should have said from the beginning it was our intention to keep them whole, to take care of those kids".


That's an interesting turn around, seems he's not so anti-charter after all. But I wonder if blind-follower CheshireKitty, who IS so anti-charter, will follow again, or make her own decision. Bets?

CheshireKitty said...

I don't see him as doing an about-face. Here's a story on his new "inclusiveness" stance: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9477587
Probably, he was misunderstood - he never said kids in charter programs shouldn't be educated.


And what is it to you if I'm pro- or against charters? I'm pro-teachers' union. If the charter schools are opposed to unions, then I'm anti-charter. To that extent, I'm anti-charter - as I'm sure BdB is.

OldRossie said...

Interesting change. Here are some of your earlier statements: "According to de Blasio, charter/public school cohabitation is “abhorrent.”", "People will vote with their dollars and the charters can build their own damn schools.", "I think the charter schools should be dismantled - now having heard a little bit about them. They sound ridiculous - most of the programs would be available in the regular school system, without the fuss of a "charter" or quasi-parochial school." " No charters!", "Charters must go". These statements go on and on...


So again - do you still think charter schools should be removed from the city? A yes or no will do.


By the way, I don't care. I was just bored and curious to see if I could rile you up again.

CheshireKitty said...

Let's not change the subject: The issue is really the teachers' union, and what having a non-unionized unit within a "union shop" says about the unionized teachers.


Of course, ideally, the charters should go, whether or not they are free of charge. The message charters convey is: Without the union, the school system would excel, right? Since I'm pro-union, I'm anti-charter.


As far as de Blasio is concerned, he may have bit off more than he could chew with his attempt to dismantle them (at least at this time).


Also, we see how a well-organized, full-funded movement like the charters can do: Pull thousands of kids out of their classrooms to attend a rally in Albany, for example, and fund the rally.


De Blasio needs a better political adviser, media consultant - he was savvy in the campaign, but has stumbled here and there since then.


If he dislikes charters, he could first find out if they are popular by and large (and it appears they are popular). If they are popular, there are still ways to fight against them, but it would need to be a process of persuasion which cannot be accomplished at the stroke of a pen. Evidently, no one clued him in on the power of patience.

Mark Lyon said...

Interesting that about half of the new pre-K seats are going to be at nonprofits, not schools staffed by unionized teachers.

CheshireKitty said...

The non-profits do not allow unionization? Are you certain of that?

OldRossie said...

Actually, I think charter teachers are allowed to unionize, and choose not to. See KIPP AMP.
The teachers union has attempted to run separate charter schools and failed.