MannHattan Review Threats to the Status Quo in NYC Volume IV, Issue II Letter from the Editor MannHattan Review Volume IV, Issue II Spring 2010 Dear Reader, Editors-in-Chief It is with great pride Justin Burris that we present to Nicholas Demas you the Second Is- Executive Board sue of the Fourth Daniel Burko Volume of the Man- Nicky Harnik nHattan Review! Alexander Speiser After months of preparation, we are We hope you enjoy our Senior Editor thrilled to publish an second and final issue David Yassky issue that we feel rep- of this year as much as we’ve enjoyed putting Layout Assistant resents a return to the Harris Teitelbaum traditional excellence it together. We look of the MannHattan forward to continu- Writers Review. ing the fantastic work Matt Citak we’ve done so far and Charlotte Christman-Cohen We have taken great continuing to work Harrison Finkelstein with the fantastic team Tyler Finkelstein care to provide articles Ashley Gerber suited for even the of the MannHattan Re- David Goodman most exotic tastes- we view! Keep an eye out Michael Herschorn cover everything from for us next year! Zoe Kestan Governor Paterson’s Alexandra Saali scandal to New York- Yours truly, Charles Scherr Joseph Siegal Fashion Week. The Olivia Silberman theme of this issue is Justin Burris Alice Taranto “Threats to the Status Nicholas Demas Daphne Taranto Quo in NYC.” This is Editors-in-Chief a tumultuous time for Faculty Advisor our city- everything P.S. In the past Mr. Somma months, we’ve taken from city politics to Special Thanks To: the financial crisis has steps to reorganize the Mr. Somma tremendous local im- publication and would Alexander Speiser plications. Because like to thank Dan- of this, we’ve decided iel Burko and Nicky Citations: to examine just what Harnik for their tre- Cover Image Courtesy of “The Day After Tomorrow” makes New York so mendous support. great and what some of these threats are. Page 1 MannHattan Review Index Contents Politics David Patterson’s Hapless Downfall Page 3 By David Yassky City Life Global Warming in NYC Page 5 By Michael Herschorn Increasing New York’s Park Space Page 7 By Olivia Silberman The MTA Budget Crisis Page 9 By Alexandra Saali St. Patrick’s Day Parade Page 11 By Tyler Finkelstein business New York’s Startup Community Page 12 By Justin Burris Atlantic Yards Page 13 By Ashley Gerber Culture NYC as a Concert Hub Page 15 By Charlotte Christman-Cohen The Best Burger in Manhattan Page 17 By Joe Siegal New York Fashion Week Page 19 By Alice Taranto, Daphne Taranto, Zoe Kestan Sports Giants Season Review Page 20 By Charles Scherr Knicks and Nets Season Review Page 21 By Matt Citak Mets and Yankees Season Preview Page 23 By David Goodman New York’s Olympians Page 25 By Harrison Finkelstein Page 2 All Eyes on the Governor: David Paterson’s Hapless Downfall his office, he asked all of Spitzer’s appointed By David Yassky cabinet members to give him letters of resigna- tion. This did not mean that they were forced to resign, but rather that Paterson had the ability Following Governor Elliot Spitzer’s to make changes within his cabinet if he de- resignation, New Yorkers didn’t know where to sired to. His bullish actions during his first day turn. The constant bombardment of bad news in office conveyed a “message of hope to New left the state despondent over its government, Yorkers,” as said by Assembly Speaker Sheldon only to be reinforced by other national political Silver. scandals and the escalating financial crisis. But, Unfortunately, the hope generated by as Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson pre- his political affairs was quickly pared to be sworn in as New York’s 55th Gov- masked by a different ernor, a glimmer of hope shined throughout type of affair. During the nation’s third most populous state. his second day in of- This optimism increased following Pat- fice, both Paterson terson’s inauguration speech, as great and his wife, Mi- change was promised for the state of chelle, admitted to New York. With only five years of real having extramarital political experience, Patterson would be- affairs starting in come both the fourth African-American 1999 and ending and the second blind person in the his- in 2001, during tory of the United States to be governor. a rocky period in What came out of New York’s darkest their marriage. The days was an implausible dignitary des- two were knowing- tined for greatness. ly cheating on each In fact, Governor Paterson’s first day other but kept the in office was promising, as it demonstrated affairs quiet until they his political capabilities. He signed five met with marriage pieces of important legislation dealing with the NYS Department of La- bor, senior employment pro- grams, and the Health Research Sci- ence Board. In order to gain flex- ibility within Page 3 MannHattan Review Politics All Eyes on the Governor: David Paterson’s Hapless Downfall counselors during the early 2000’s. As rumors home to her wearing a Halloween costume that began to circulate during his years as Lt. Gover- he didn’t like. After requesting an order of pro- nor, he decided it was best to admit the affairs tection from the state, Booker complained that before the rumors caught up to him later in his state police were constantly contacting her and time as governor. The confessions quickly dis- advising her to drop any charges against John- tressed New Yorkers, as it was the second time son. The case was eventually dismissed because in a week that a New York State governor was Booker did not appear in court to testify against reportedly involved in a sex scandal. Paterson’s Johnson. On February 26th, 2010, the New path to greatness was immediately marred and York Times reported that it was Paterson who much of the faith that New Yorkers had in him ordered state police to convince Booker not to was quickly lost. To everyone’s dismay, it all testify in court. His crime, known as witness went downhill from there. tampering, has been treated harshly through- On October 28th, 2009, Paterson attend- out American history and even resulted in the ed the first game of the World Series at Yankee resignation of President Nixon in 1974 amidst Stadium with his son, a cabinet member and the Watergate Scandal. Paterson’s crime has other colleagues. Each ticket was worth $425, even taken on the name “Troopergate.” putting the group in some of the best seats The two recently discovered scandals in the house. Later in the year, he was asked involving Governor Paterson have completely under oath whether he paid for the tickets, and ruined his chance at achieving the greatness he responded that he had. But, after suspicions that his inauguration promised. Although he grew earlier this year, the State Commission has accomplished a lot since becoming gover- on Public Integrity reported that Paterson had nor, his successes have been buried under a actually received the tickets for free from the mound of political and personal scandals. After Yankees. Not only did Paterson lie under oath, the public found out in February about the he also illegally received a gift from a lobbyist scandals, Paterson dismissed any notion that he organization. After being accused of criminal would run for re-election in later this year. The activity, in order to appear innocent, Paterson National Organization for Women and many wrote a check dated around the time of the state legislators are even calling for Paterson’s Yankee game. He said that he intended to pay immediate resignation. Many of his aides, such for the tickets but never did. The state is con- as his top spokesman, Peter Kauffmann, have tinuing an investigation regarding these crimes already resigned due to Paterson’s corruption. and is deciding whether Paterson should face If his resignation occurs, there will have been criminal charges. two New York governors in a row to premature- Paterson recently evoked former Presi- ly leave their post. It is possible that by the time dent Richard Nixon’s style of running govern- this article is published, New York State may ment. On this past Halloween, one of Pater- have a new governor. son’s top aides, David W. Johnson, reportedly grabbed his live-in girlfriend, Sherunna Booker, by the neck and abused her after coming Page 4 Hot Times in New York City By Michael Herschorn Global warming is a highly controver- amounts of smog, resulting in respiratory is- sial and pressing issue in our world today. We sues for New Yorkers. In New York State, the residents of New York City tend not to think of forests, eco-systems, and the overall health of it as an immediate danger, but, in the next few people will be affected. It is believed that global decades, it could prove to be a deadly threat. warming will cause stream flows to lessen and Global warming is the gradual increase in the water temperature of the streams to in- overall temperature of the Earth caused by the crease. This increase is unfavorable to trout Greenhouse Effect, the trapping of the sun’s and other cold-water fish, a tribulation for our warmth by greenhouse gases in the lower at- state’s fishermen. The rising temperature is mosphere. Greenhouse gases, such as methane, favorable to the pathogens and parasites that carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, are emitted plague humans and wildlife alike. The thriving in a variety of ways, both naturally and synthet- of parasites and pathogens could culminate in ically.