By Eric Schoen
What is going on with the weather we have been experiencing recently? Have you ever seen so many baseball games called on account of inclement weather? The double header featuring 7 inning games? Whose brilliant idea was that?
A separate admission double header featuring a 7 inning game. You don’t get your money’s worth. This phenomenon was introduced in the middle of the Covid pandemic. Now that it’s over, let’s bring back 9 inning games, including double headers. By the way the single admission double header is a treat to the fans. After what they want through over the last 15 months they certainly deserve it.
It’s good to see so many people back in the stands. People want to get out of the house after being cooped up for so long. But this weather we have been having. What’s up?
Did you see the picture of the crazy lady practically swimming through the water to get her subway train. Down the steps, into the murky waters up to her chest, trying to get to a subway that clearly because of the water in the station wasn’t getting there. What possesses someone to do what that lady did? Was she trying to prove to her boss that she did everything in her power to get to work?
On the one hand as a boss you like someone dedicated to wade their way through waters to be on time for their job. On the other hand you must question her sanity. Not only was she not going to get her train but that disgusting, dirty water she trod through? I would worry more about picking up a virus from that muddy water than getting Covid 19.
An article in a New York newspaper said that New York City subways are not prepared for global warming. People are so funny when they discuss global warming. You have three 90 degree plus days and global warming is upon us. Never mind the next day is in the 60’s and 70’s. Come to think of it have you seen Al Gore lately?
Hurricane season was something experienced in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas but not in our areas. Tornados? That’s something Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz experienced. Thunder and lightening seems more plentiful, and you better have an umbrella and a light jacket in the the car to protect yourself.
I’ll leave the determination as to what is or isn’t global warming to someone with a little more atmospheric knowledge than I have. Prepare for everything as you never know these days what to expect. On to some other topics of the day!
The Surfside Florida Collapse
How many buildings throughout Westchester are over 40 years old. We hear the phrase ‘pre-war’ buildings. That phrase usually refers to buildings built between 1900 and 1939. Those buildings are over 80 years old. Do we have laws that mandate periodic structural assessments of those buildings?
Are these assessments, if they are done handled by government agencies or coordinated privately by local building owners? Are they reviewed by coop or condo boards, and is it mandated that the information contained in the reports be provided to the owners?
Everyone who was an owner of a unit in the Surfside, Florida collapse was well aware that there were problems with the buildings. They heard of $100,000 assessments to address the problems that existed, and coughing up that kind of money just wasn’t possible for many owners. A large residential building was being built next to the collapsed building, and its’ owners offered something like $400,000 to the owners of the fallen building if they wouldn’t challenge the new construction. When a building needs $12 million in repairs, $400,000 is simply a drop in the bucket.
The point of this story is to remind those of you who live in pre-war buildings and buildings newer than that to have periodic inspections of your buildings and their structural integrity. What is to say that something like occurred in Surfside, Florida could not occur around here. Granted we don’t have as many high rises on top of the ocean like Florida has (everyone wants that ocean view and smell of fresh ocean air) but when you see these new buildings both residential and commercial going up in record time, you wonder how long these buildings are going to last.
There are 2 types of people on coop and condo boards. Those that are retired and are around a lot. They keep their eyes on the property and bring to the attention of those in charge issues of concern. Then there are the young whippersnappers who have never managed anything before and want to show off their potential. I think a lot of people are going to have second thoughts after Florida about sitting on the Board of any organization that manages property people have to live or work in.
Briefs: The Board that governs the New York State Thruway Authority is talking about rebuilding many of the plazas where people dine, stretch their legs and take a leak. Many in the LGBT community are questioning the addition of Chick-fil-A to the plazas as the company has donated to anti-LBGT causes. I’m no fan of Chick-fil-A to begin with, but anyone who knows the chain knows they are closed on Sundays. Isn’t that a pretty busy travel day for a roadside restaurant to be closed?
Controversy in New Rochelle regarding building a drive thru Starbucks close to a residential housing complex. Car emissions. Having been through enough Starbucks drive thru locations in my lifetime, I never saw emissions from cars as being a problem. Would the residents rather have an empty eyesore?
A friend wanted to go to Niagara Falls. I said now is not the time to go because the border to Canada is closed. If you have been to Niagara Falls you know the better view is on the Canadian side. So when is Canada going to open the border to American citizen tourists? This is one of the most bizarre things to occur during the pandemic. It’s got to be having a real financial impact on both sides of the border!
Maybe someone in Washington read last week’s article. The security fencing has been removed around the Capital in Washington, D.C. Maybe soon Americans will get to visit their legislators in the offices.
Glad to see so many young people getting their COVID-19 vaccines at the CVS over the weekend. With the Delta Variant out there New York City announced at press time that COVID cases are going up in areas where people are not vaccinated. Everyone who has not been vaccinated has his or her own reason. And I must admit with news like a small number ofpeople who got the J & J vaccine getting Guillain Barre’ syndrome people are as worried as they have ever been. But despite this, it still is important to get vaccinated for you, your loved ones and society.
One in three nursing home staffers not vaccinated. In Pennsylvania inmates are getting vaccinated but prison guards are not. Scary stuff!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
