ABOUT
This segment is a commentary about what I see in the city I live in -New York- but applies to you and your city too.  The topics reflect what we all see and experience living and/or working in Manhattan and Your Town USA- but more specifically how and what our daily routines effect the environment.  This is not a critique.  These posts have the perspective of someone who loves urban living.  I am proud to be a city dweller, and while I adore all of the aspects of living in a city, the intensity of living in a crowded busy metropolis like New York can be painfully polarizing when people are careless about their environment.  I see some things happening (or not) that really piss me off, so this is my outlet to make comments.  Every now and again, I will bitch about people littering and smoking in cramped crowded areas -and bigger issues too- but I will also give credit where credit is due and applaud folks who are trying to make a difference and aren’t shy about being green. I hope this post finds you well.

In advance, I heart New York.  In New York, people are so unimpressed with some of the small cultural wonders of their surroundings:

•    The Post, The Times and The Wall Street Journal all talking about daily haps with a different spin on the subject and folks will read all three of them each morning to get the truth!
•    The sea of Yellow Cabs on every street- ALL the time.
•    Central Park Summerstage!
•    Fashion Week!!  (Do you hear the angels singing???)

These things are normal to people who live here.  No one thinks of it as being extraordinary.  Maybe that’s why people tend to overlook the cool things that are being done to address the environment about town.  A lot of people tend to think that the environment is a trendy issue or that they can’t afford to live green.  I say that’s a lot of hooey!  In the long run, living green will cost the same as everything we do/use now.  It’s a matter of changing the perspective.
Take Mayor Bloomberg, for instance. I appreciate the effort he makes to make the city tolerable. In refurbishing some of the city streets, he spend the time to conceptualize/execute some things that not only fix broken roads, but also to beautify the city.  The Flatiron district (iconic New York business district) just got a new little pedestrian park right smack in the middle of what used to be a 6 lane commuter hell. Complete with lunch tables & chairs, bright blue umbrellas, and even a light tan aggregate that looks like sand framed by bright green bike lanes, the little oasis lets you pause (if you have time) and really relish in the view of the iconic building and people-watch. After all, it’s there to look at, not just zip past it and barely notice it. Check it out.  I grabbed the shot above with my iPhone on my way to work before it was done.  It will be nice to not have to drudge through the messy puddles and construction this fall.

And how about that windmill program Bloomberg wants to implement in NY? I am from the Bay Area and windmills line the highways.  Looks cool right?  It will be hot to see lines of these aerodynamic beauties sitting on top of buildings throughout the city and it’s renewing energy to boot!  Not a bad trademark for the city. I heart Bloomberg.

FWO- ForWomenOnline.com!