civic exercises

east side observer

BY ARLENE KAYATT

Biking the system — Money may not be an object for the owners of the Equinox sports club or to the New York Sports Club, both located in the East 90s, in their efforts to lure the workout crowd to their gyms and their products. And money may not be an object to their members. But the same cannot be said for those young millennials still going to school and/or working two or three jobs to get by. They have found a way to game the system, circumvent the cost, and get a free workout by cycling on the stationary Citibikes at the foot of James Cagney Place on East 91st Street off Second Avenue. Way to go.

Rogue route — Add out-of-control to descriptions bestowed on MTA bus drivers. Riding down Lexington Avenue on a busy weekday afternoon was slow-going. Traffic and pedestrians and the usual assortment of bicycles, shopping carts and strollers made it difficult for the bus to get over to the bus lane. As IT approached the 45th Street stop, a passenger hit the “Stop Request” device and headed for the exit door followed by several other passengers. Instead of announcing that the bus would not be stopping at 45th Street or the next stop (42nd-41st and Lex), the driver turned left on 42nd Street, going east, leaving riders to figure out the next stop on the runaway bus trip. No way to run a bus line.

Lobotomizing community boards — Get ready to vote for whether or not you want term limits for members of the city’s Community Boards. The November ballot has a proposal to amend the City Charter to impose term limits for community board members. Borough presidents appoint board members. In doing so, they look for individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests. A prerequisite for appointees is that the live or work or have a business in a community board’s catchment area. There are 12 community boards in Manhattan. There are currently no term limits. By imposing limits, boards will be deprived of institutional memory. Appointees are an invaluable resource. They know the process and the community should not be deprived of their input. Zoning, health and housing are among the issues that seriously effect the community. It’s the part of the process where the community has a true voice. The community board is tasked with giving guidance and input. Let each appointee’s performance and perseverance be the standard for appointment and reappointment. Arbitrary term limits can be chaotic. There must be standards and requirements to be met, in addition to ability to the ability to serve for all appointees. Amending the City Charter to impose term limits would not serve the community, its residents or the city.

New neighborhood, old too — Whenever passing the corner of 53rd and First Avenue, that red structure on the corner — Parnell’s Irish pub — always catches my eye and a little bit of my heart. Located in a 5-story apartment building, it’s been there since 1968 — its 50th year! Many years ago I was told — by a distant Parnell’s family member — that the pub was a family-owned restaurant located in an apartment building that they owned — and would never sell. Seems like that’s still the case, because alongside the pub on First Avenue is a luxury apartment building that went up in the last year or two. I’d venture to say that Parnell’s prime corner real estate had Realtor types lusting after a deal. But no. Parnell’s is staying in the restaurant business and renting apartments in their building. Always happy to report that kind of news.