NFA, or Not For Amateurs

Of course I am biased as an alum myself, but NFA is truly Not For Amateurs.

Theoretical Tennis Courts

In the three years since I have lived in Colonial Terraces, I have never seen anyone on these courts, let alone playing tennis.  That is because they are Theoretical Tennis Courts, where imaginary players constantly play forth 24/7.  The mystery pipe in the foreground (at the edge of South Street near the intersection with Lilly) alerts the casual viewer to the fact that Theoretical Business is Going On.

The Charm of Casual Decay

Where to begin.  Maximum Fitness is at the minimum spot, Advance Auto Parts is sadly in pieces, like a broken windshield wiper (which is what I usually buy at that store), then up top there’s “BIG.  LOTS.” (punctuation mine) and a Family for lease by owner, etc.  Also the famous (to me) Mid-Valley Mall Water Tower, which I have admired since todlerhood.  Water towers I interpret as a sign of a repository of a great many tears.

Value City Memories

Now it’s BIG LOTS, The Closeout Store.  But you can see where it used to be Jamesway in the recent past.  And I can remember back to when it was Value City.  I was in Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School, and it was the 1980s, and the kids in school would make fun of you if you bought your clothes at Value City.  I think I bought a pair of Candies sneakers there, and a pair of pink and white vertical stripe jeans.  Saul Williams, my classmate and friend, made some remark about buying everything at Value City but I forget how this story goes.

Mid-Valley Water Tower

Icon of sadness, steadfast and resolute, silent and motionless save for the wake of tears.  For some reason I always think of Sigmar Polke, but his were watchtowers, not watertowers.

Burger King’s Backyard

It’s the American way of life.  Other countries have cuisines, and we have fast food.  Here is the one on North Plank Road, right next to…

MOM’S Home Style Cooking

Alas, this Mom’s was short-lived as a restaurant, but is fulfilling a very long life as a shrine.  Nobody goes in or out, but there are some curtains in the windows and it almost feels like home.

Prior to Mom’s, for many years it was a Perkin’s, including during the late 1980s when I frequented it with friends.  They did pretty well then, although that was before the crushing competition of the Alexis Diner (previously the Lexus Diner, and prior to that Mr. B’s–with a different layout.)

Cuckoo Mom’s Kitchen’s Closed

I can relate to this kind of cuckoo Mom that says, “Kitchen’s closed, go somewhere else to eat, cause I’m not cooking.  I’m not even dressing properly, or putting the electricity on.”

This is what you get for reading Good Housekeeping as a child and thinking your mother should go on strike.  I guess she did.

Mom’s Grave

Between Burger King and Mom’s.  I guess she didn’t make it too far.  RIP, Mom.

Mom was an Activist

She must have been crushed when John Hall lost, bless her soul.  She is in a better place.  Out of the Kitchen.

Actually I think she was dead before John Hall ran, perhaps Mr. Hall paid his respects at the grave.

Another Mystery Grave

Children, I alert your attention to a second mysterious configuration of boulders in the lot between Burger King and Mom’s.  Can you comprehend the massive amounts of energy it must have taken to arrange these stones like this?  Did the ancients employ slave labor to transport these massive stones to this location?  And what does their arrangement portend, especially in the context of the parking lot stripes on the Burger King asphalt?

Iron Smile

Protruding from the mystery grave is what must unmistakably be a smile shaped from a bent iron rod.  Or perhaps it is a memorial of a giant eyelash, or a cat’s claw.

Mystery of Mysteries

Behold, the mysteries deepen as a random spigot is coming out of a rusted steel drum itself buried in the ground.  Is this grave site actually the water source for Burger King?  Or perhaps some other liquid, such as oil, mercury, whiskey, or whatever else one would have on tap?

Monument to the Fallen Community Activists

We all know people who fit into this category.  You can probably think of half a dozen off the top of your head.  These are the folks who stepped forward to make a difference in the community, in whatever way they thought they were going to do that, but who then switched gears and withdrew from their efforts for undisclosed reasons.

Why they withdrew

Oh, there’s plenty of reasons, futility, frustration, exaggeration, irritation, dietary restrictions, the occult.

Or perhaps they just decided that it wasn’t worth the trouble any more.

We don’t know for sure, because they are gone and can’t tell us, but this monument gives us a way to remember them.

It’s a living monument

Sure, it’s concrete and dead as a doorknob on the bottom, but tactfully selected greenery and earthwork surrounds and embraces this somber monument to labors lost, much as our community webs together to ease the pain and loss of the disappeared.

Monument to Hysterical Speakers

A little further South on River Road, stands this Monument to Hysterical Speakers.  Something Important drove these speakers to take a stand and speak with passion at a public meeting or event, although in time whatever drove the hysteria abated and the speaker melded back into the masses.

This one monument consolidates all those hysterical moments into one physical entity.

Appropriately tagged

The tagger has further embellished the Monument with a hysterical filigree of his or her own.

Lego person iconography

Note that the Hysterical Monument is fashioned into four distinct pieces; the lower part representing the body, the second lowest part representing the head (where the graffiti tag symbolizes speech), the parts above that representing the top of the head/hair/hat.

Shot

Alas, it looks like this monument has taken a bullet, as is often the fate of hysterical speakers.

A soothing end

Although it seems moot to shoot a hunk of concrete as it is already dead, or rather, never lived, at least this monument has a pleasant resting place in perpetuity overlooking the waterfront.

The mural that could not be

Originally there were four murals down by the waterfront, but the third panel was scrapped because it had too much damage.  The fourth panel still stands, although it is blistering off as well.

Speechless, signless, totality

It reminds me of Hiroshi Sugimoto’s movie theater photographs for which he exposes the photograph for the entire duration of a movie, creating an image of ethereal, clear white on the screen, framed by the architecture of the movie theater.

Surprise Natural Mural behind Torches

Along the wall behind the Torches’ parking lot is a minimalist abstract mural, the work of seeping acid and rainwater residue.  Hover before the mural when you get a moment and admire the forms that come to life, bodies and figures lurking in the merging colors and stones.

RIP to the Dead Italian

Further South on the waterfront, next to Billy Joe’s Barbecue, is this building–the number on the building’s front is 12–and this stunning memorial gives us a chance to pay our respects to the dead Italian flag, the living green final stripe never getting a chance as the natural dirty brown cement of the building crushed the incipient colors into smoke.

Another Fine Day in Parking Lot Land

Driving South through the Ferry Parking lot and on to Gully’s, we approach our next curious sculptural artifacts.

Frozen Hug Buddies

What are these unbearably bright yellow structures, lining both sides of the road, defining the space with cheerful exclamation?

Also from the generic lego family,

These are frozen hug buddies, their arms permanently outstretched for a hug.  Although they can never actually bend their arms, and thus hug like a human, the spirit is willing (while the flesh is immobile.)

They’ve seen tough times too

They’ve seen a few scrapes and rusty tears stain their feet.

Occasionally they travel in pairs

On the ground and in the forest, it’s impossible to miss them with their brilliant coloring.

These two lost their arms

But they’re still a couple.

Serious Business

At the corner of South Johnston and Washington Streets is a graveyard entrance.  When I pass a graveyard, I do not always think of the usual association of death or mortality.  Mostly I immediately think of grave and the meaning of that word in the sense of very serious.  I find this more helpful and less morbid.  When I see an especially large graveyard, I think that something must be very, very serious.

Monument to What the City of Newburgh is Trying to Become

This was an old diner at the corner of South Robinson Avenue and South William Street.  I remember being in there when it was open, in the late 80s or early 90s.  After being shut for years, now something–maybe–vaguely–is happening.

Suspended Animation

Some work was done, the top was even opened, but then everything stopped and it’s anyone’s guess as to when work will begin again.  In the meantime, the inside is exposed, which probably isn’t the best thing for this building, whatever it is trying to be.

Newburgh’s Temple to the Black Market

This is where you go when you want to order something that is not on the menu.

The meaning of the arcs

Don’t be so quick to assume those arcs are unhappy faces.  They are simultaneously and more dominantly rainbows.

The blue tongue

Here to help you on your journey is a gigantic blue disabled tongue.  Step on this island of refuge to speed your way on your journey to the inevitable rebuff by the impenetrable Temple.

The number is 97…

…but 98 will never be served.

Generic forbidding random industrial depression

With a side of pine trees, please.

DO NOT ENTER

Yes, it would be painful to try to foist one’s self into a brick and mortar column.

Up front, a dazzling necklace

Of weeds and broken glass, one of many boulevards of broken dreams.

Speechless

When I see a sign without words, I think perhaps the issuers are speechless, incapable of articulating what is beyond words.  In this case, though, the Temple to the Black Market advertises itself with the speechless icon of a gigantic pill.

In the distance, on the hill in the background, is our next site.

The Road to Tears

The approach, looking up Ellis Avenue near the corner with Little Britain Road.

The End of the Dead End

All the way up Ellis Avenue, the road is blocked by a locked gate.

The Specific Location of Where the City of Newburgh’s Tears are Concentrated

Careful.  Restricted Area.  Do not tread lightly.  Do not tread at all.

This bus has been redacted to protect the innocent

Where’s it going?  Nobody knows.  Is it for sale?  Price two rings?

Yes it is.

If you’re looking for a redacted bus, it’s available at Dennis’s on 17K (next to Christmas in America.)

Rear View Bus, Perfect Water Tower

It’s a 4.0 water tower, looking at you, kid.

Miracles of Engineering

Elegant, the tears colored and further salted with rust, somehow floating in the air on spindly legs, it is no mystery that Bernd and Hilla Becher made water towers their lifelong obsession.

Gratuitous Water Tower Picture

Gratuitous Water Tower Picture 2

Gratuitous Water Tower Picture 3

It’s behind this building here

That you can find the water tower, although you can see it from further away than this, towering over the landscape.

This Sign Here Took a Bunch of Bullets

And the rusty tears of pain that go with them.

The Water Tower and the Central Hudson Graveyard

It was meant to be.

Central Hudson’s Mystery Pipes Graves

They are happy enough to be semi-buried together in this lot.  For them, it is like an amusement park.

Play Peek-a-Boo

Through the veil of barbed wire… as nature intended.

RIP, Central Hudson Grave

This Not For Amateurs Tour is over.

On Wednesday, May 3, the Orange County Legislature voted against a bond proposal that would have funded plans for the demolition of the Orange County Government Center and construction of a new building.  The vote was 11-10 against.  At the beginning of the meeting public comments were made regarding the government center.  I had hoped to read the following letter but was unable to do so due to health reasons.

Re: Public comment on Agenda Item No. 1, Bonding for a new Government Center

Dear Legislators and County Executive Diana,

I offer an aesthetic argument for why we should value the existing Orange County Government Center, and not toss it out the window of our county government’s speeding sport utility vehicle like an empty, crushed and crinkled beer can, left to rust in the gutter stream at the side of the road.

The Government Center, in its complexity, surprises and novel use of space, provides an amusement park for the imagination.  I first was arrested by it as a Newburgh Free Academy high school student, when I participated in Mock Trial Team competitions in the Paul Rudolph-designed courtrooms here in Goshen.

As a college student at Yale I spent a lot of time in its Art and Architecture Building, which was also designed by Paul Rudolph and shares many of the same architectural features and approaches.  Both buildings share culverts and dead-ends that mockingly defy any usefulness, giving the soul entertainment and a breath of poetic rest.

This Government Center is a true, transparent sculpture of the reality of what it takes to survive in life.  The process is convoluted, intimidating, unpredictable and at times impossible to navigate.  The death by a thousand tiny steps that anyone who has had experience with government has suffered through, is here boldly and refreshingly embodied in steel and concrete form.

Simplifying the architecture would do nothing to simplify these realities.  Simplifying the architecture would be an adoption of McGovernment—fast food architecture, with its disposable citizenry, cardboard containers and other unwanted garbage tossed out the windows.

Instead, let us treasure what we have—a difficult, bizarre feast of architecture that sometimes laughs at us, but also gives us something to laugh about.  Let us give the people and children of Orange County something to debate, despise, appreciate, and most of all, think about.  Let us treat the Government Center with respect and appreciation, and give it the proper renovation it deserves.

Sincerely yours,
A. Jane Johnston

Just a reminder that this Thursday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m. is the Orange County Legislature’s monthly meeting, at which the legislators will vote on a resolution to issue $14.6M in bonds to pay for planning and development of a new government center building.  This is your chance to chime in about what should be done about the building, either a restoration/renovation or demolition/new construction, or some other alternative.

Additional information can be found on the Save the Orange County Government Center Site.  For specific information on the proposed bonds, the draft resolutions can be downloaded from the county site here.  The meeting’s agenda can be downloaded here.

The meeting will be held in the Emergency Services Auditorium, the Emergency Services Center, 22 Wells Farm Road, Goshen.  Advance signup is required to give public comments, fifteen minutes or more before the meeting.  Comments are limited to three minutes.

Arbor Day Tree Plantings included 6 trees in the 200 block of Broadway and one on Richman Avenue. Pictured l-r, John Ledwith, Claudia Perretti, Richard Harper, Phil Prinzivalli, with local arborists Anthony Cantela (foreground) and Mark Conklin (on the truck). City of Newburgh DPW workers Reed Sheehan and John Colurciello assisted the Shade Tree Commission with their work.

Today is Arbor Day in the City of Newburgh, people.  So don’t forget to admire some fronds and boughs as you go about your day.  From Ms. Kuzmik, City Press Officer:

At the April 23, 2012 City Council meeting, Mayor Judy Kennedy proclaimed April 27, 2012 as Arbor Day in the City of Newburgh. This is a requirement for the City’s annual Tree City designation, which it has earned for many years.

Mayor Judy Kennedy, Councilwoman Gay Lee, former Shade Tree Commission Chair John Ledwith, Councilman Curlie Dillard, Shade Tree Commission co-chairs Claudia Perretti and Phil Prinzivalli, Deputy Mayor Regina Angelo, Shade Tree Commissioner Richard Harper, and Councilman Cedric Brown at April 23 Council meeting.

Orange County Legislature
15 Matthews Street
Goshen, NY 10924

Re: Comment for Public Hearing on the Orange County Government Center

Dear Orange County Legislators and County Executive Diana,

I previously submitted a letter to the county executive explaining why I believe that a renovation of the Orange County Government Center is the best option.

I have changed my mind.

Who lives in Orange County?  Not a lot of people who give a damn about architecture and art, that’s for sure.  Here, the county executive has been dreaming of blowing the government center to bits for years now, and neither he nor any other legislator—with the exception of a few—has had the temerity to think, maybe we should consider the architectural merits of this building, and the fact that the World Monuments Fund deems it worth preserving.  No.  Forget all that, don’t even think about it, because this is what we want to do, and we know best.

It is this arrogant, ignorant, total, utter, reckless disregard and inability to appreciate something that is truly unique and unusual that informs my recommendation that you should, in fact, tear it down.

You do not deserve something so unique and special, because you lack the emotional capacity and maturity to appreciate things that are different and difficult.

I wish you all a diet of Wonder Bread, anti-abortion demonstrators, unnecessarily long government meetings that make you want to kill yourself, and bullies that cannot be stopped because that is what you are.  I wish you this forever.

Jane Johnston

The meeting will be held in Port Jervis at the Recreation Center, 134 Pike Street.  Additional details in the post below, or here.  The main sponsoring groups are Taxpayers of Orange County and Democratic Alliance.

UPDATE: Note that the address for the Recreation Center is 134 PIKE Street, Port Jervis.

The flier goes on to state the following:

Speakers will include a county legislator, architects, a budget analyst, and an historian and preservationist.
A question and answer period will follow the presentations.

Light refreshments will be provided by Change Orange.

This event is free and open to the public

Co-­sponsored by:
Taxpayers of Orange County and Democratic Alliance

Learn more at
www.taxpayersoforangecounty.org

The city council will discuss a proposed contract to give the Newburgh IDA funding on Thursday night.

There are two overlapping city meetings this Thursday evening, February 9th.  Beginning at 6 p.m. is the City Council Work Session; its agenda can be downloaded from the city’s site here, and the meeting will take place on the third floor of City Hall.  Meanwhile, the Newburgh Industrial Development Agency will have its Governance Committee meet at 6:45 p.m. followed by the monthly full board meeting at 7 p.m., agenda here; those meetings will be in the Law Library on the second floor of City Hall.

The next two regular council meetings have changed dates:

The Feb. 13 City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.
The Feb. 27 City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

City-IDA contract: waste of money?

Up for discussion at the City Council Work Session Thursday night, and potentially up for a vote on the council’s agenda for Tuesday’s Regular Council Meeting next week, is a proposed agreement between the City and the Newburgh Industrial Development Agency.  On the tentative agenda this is described in these two items under 3. Planning and Development/Community Development & Real Estate:

d. Discussion of City and IDA partnership
e. (Res. 19) Agreement with the IDA to receive 2012 CDBG funds in order to carry out special economic development projects.

According to the contact, which is attached to the agenda, the Newburgh IDA will receive no more than $30,000 in HUD CDBG funds in return for the services outlined in the contract.

Contract is sloppy

It is unclear what the origins of this contract were, but with errors such as the term “the Executive Director of the City” (What is That? OK, I’m guessing it’s city manager, but still…) repeatedly used (page 4 of contract, 24 of agenda) and typos, one wonders if this was diligently constructed.

“Scope of services” – isn’t this what the IDA should be doing anyway?

Looking at Attachment A, Scope of Services, I am astounded that the NIDA requires an additional $30,000 from the city’s precious CDBG funds just so they can do things like make a list of resources for small businesses, or meet with two businesses a month.  In fact, everything listed on this attachment would be a reasonable expectation for what the Executive Director of the NIDA and/or the Department of Planning and Development should be doing already.  AND, these people are already under contract with staff positions.  While I have made a Freedom of Information Law request for the contracts of NIDA Executive Director Teri Waivada, and do not yet know the details of her compensation, I do know that the planning and development staff are very generously compensated.

Turning down this bogus contract would free up the CDBG funds for more appropriate candidates, and in a city like ours, there are plenty who would put the funding to good use.

NIDA Board’s double standards

On September 29, 2008, the Newburgh IDA board met with Ed Schorno, who came before the board to propose that his company, CIDC/CDIC, be retained for another year on a consulting basis to provide small business counseling and guidance.  The board scoffed at Mr. Schorno and CIDC/CDIC, and rejected his offer.  According to the minutes of that meeting, Joshua Smith suggested that resources were available through the Orange County Community College.  The minutes conclude on this point that “It would appear from the discussion that there is a consensus among the board members that t [sic] might make sense for those small projects to seek assistance elsewhere before they used the services of CIDC which bills the IDA at the rate of $200 an hour.”

Mr. Smith and others on the board and in the city were poisoned by CIDC’s president, William Loewenstein, and his original contract for the Newburgh City Courthouse.  Two years after the courthouse plans were botched by consensus, Mr. Schorno and CIDC/CDIC must suffer guilt by association — no matter how worthwhile and praiseworthy this entirely different person doing a completely different type of work was.

Meanwhile, Ms. Waivada was hired after retiring from the Westchester County IDA on the recommendation of the Newburgh IDA’s counsel, Tom Whyatt.  She was hired ONE YEAR AGO by our IDA as a certification consultant.  One year later, and the IDA is still not certified, but Ms. Waivada has been promoted to Executive Director of the agency.  In board meetings, nobody even bothers to hold Ms. Waivada’s feet to the fire on the certification issue.  Ms. Waivada can also barely manage to respond to FOIL requests properly.  Below is the screen shots of my recent correspondence with her:

Ms. Waivada’s track record on certification is 0 for 0, while enjoying a full year of contracted salary.  At this rate, why should we entrust $30,000 of precious CDBG funds to her oversight at all?  And how is it that the IDA board can be so dismissive of Mr. Schorno, while entertaining Ms. Waivada’s CDBG whims and excusing her glaring deficiencies without so much as a twitch of conscience?  Or are any of them also personal friends of Ms. Waivada?

Perhaps it is time for the New York State Authorities Budget Office to finally act on its persistent threats and put the Newburgh IDA out of business.  If the gentlemen would like to continue with their social club, they can do so without the city’s dime.

New York State School Board Association’s Director of Governmental Relations David Allan Little will address the Newburgh School Board, parents and community members Tuesday, January 31 at 7 p.m.

UPDATE 1/31/12: The School District has announced Mr. Little will not be speaking this evening, but will be rescheduled for a date to be determined.

Kerry Butrick has sent out a press release promoting a special guest speaker this Tuesday evening whom will address the school board, parents, and community members.   The talk will be in the Board of Education Auditorium at 124 Grand Street at 7 p.m.

Text of press release:

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District would like to extend a special invitation to parents and community members to attend the Tues., January 31, 2012, Board of Education meeting which will include a special presentation by New York State School Board Association’s Director of Governmental Relations David Allan Little. Little will discuss the impact of New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s budget with respect to state aid and the tax cap, as well as the fiscal crisis that is affecting districts across New York State.

Little, a graduate of Wittenberg University and the Capital University Law School, has directed NYSSBA’s Governmental Relations Department since November of 1999. He previously served as counsel in both the New York State Assembly and Senate. In addition, Little’s credentials include positions with Home Rule Counsel and Counsel to the Majority Leader for Local Government, as well as serving nine years on the Brittonkill Board of Education, the last seven as its president. He has also served on the Rensselaer County Legislature, the Capital District Regional Planning Commission and the Board of Directors of the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Board of Education Auditorium, 124 Grand Street, Newburgh, New York. Little’s presentation will be made available on the Newburgh Enlarged City School District website, www.newburghschools.org. For more information about upcoming Board of Education meetings, a detailed meeting schedule is available by visiting the “Board of Education” section of the website, and then “Meeting Agendas and Minutes”.

For additional information on what’s happening with the Board of Education and the Newburgh School District generally, you may want to check out newburghedinfo.com, a source of unofficial news and information about the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

Newburgh Industrial Development Agency Meeting January 17, 2012

Last night at the Newburgh Industrial Development Agency Meeting Chairman Joshua Smith made an announcement that resolved the longstanding absence of one of the board’s members.  Mr. Smith said that he had received an email from Spencer Gulliver that said he had to resign because he had moved out of state.  Mr. Smith also said that he and the NIDA CEO had informed the City Manager and Mayor Judy Kennedy prior to her inauguration (January 1st) that this was the case.

This will open up a position of board member for the NIDA.  The appointment is made by the Newburgh City Council, and there is no term limit.

Video clip of the announcement is below.