Crossfire
The Proposed Campbell Sports Center
I could say a lot about the political red tape that may be emerging to impede the construction of the Campbell Center at the Baker Athletics Complex.
But I will say just two things:
1) The anti-athletic expansion people are banking on Columbia fans to be silent. Surprise them. Write, email, and call the local officials involved and POLITELY make your voice heard.
2) The political class in this country is running on empty. Incumbents for life like we see in New York City are already getting their wake up calls and they will continue. Stupidity like this is the last straw.
On the Brighter Side...
How great is this start by the Columbia baseball team? Usually, these games before the Ivy season begins are almost all losses. Not this time.
Coach Boretti is once again proving that teams that train and play at Baker can win.
posted by Jake @ 7:40:00 AM
17 comments
17 Comments:
Princeton just lost tonite in the last second to Kentucky. I think it bodes well that CU played the Tigers so well this year in their last meeting. CU had a six point lead with 7 minutes to go in that game. Kyle Smith did an excellent job of adjusting after Princeton blew CU off the floor the first time they met.
Princeton just lost tonite in the last second to Kentucky. I think it bodes well that CU played the Tigers so well this year in their last meeting. CU had a six point lead with 7 minutes to go in that game. Kyle Smith did an excellent job of adjusting after Princeton blew CU off the floor the first time they met.
Jake, it seems like extortion to me that somehow the politicans can force Columbia University to build an expensive new park for the local community in order to construct a new facility at Baker Field. I understand there is a recently enacted NYC law that requires anyone owning property on the water to give up a portion of his property in order to obtain a permit for any new construction. But how can such law possibly be constitutional? Has it been tested in court. Maybe I'm naive and things like this happen in real estate all the time, but doesn't the law amount to an unconstitutional taking of land from a property owner without compensation?
How much money does it cost Columbia University annually to operate the Allen Pavillion? Since the local politicians seem to want to extort Columbia, why not simply close the Allen Pavillion and let the locals get their medical service at Columbia P like everyone else in New York City. Use the savings towards the construction of a new student athletic fitness center near the Morningside Heights campus.
"The project is across the street from Rodriguez's district so he has asked for a seat at the table." And since the Nets are building in Brooklyn, which borders Manhattan, I want a seat at the table as well, the fact that they have their own council be damned. This is all grandstanding by local politicians that aspire to higher office at the expense of Columbia. This is such a major issue that Charlie Rangel needs to get involved from a federal level? These people are trying to gain exposure at Columbia's expense, literally and figuratively.
Blame the Allen Pavilion on Cole and Sovern, the two biggest disasters in the histroy of Columbia sports. If you want to help, show up sunday at 2 PM for the forum and anounce your support.
Coach Boretti is a great recruiter and a great coach. Our baseball team is loaded. For years we were baseball doormats. Now we are recognized as a league powerhouse, and his first year players are already contributing.
this real estate thing seems like a setback, but the Pols have to make a noise. I notice that our Northern expansion plans were not derailed, so don't see why this should be either.
As for baseball, I can't recall a better early nonconference start. I hope that CU treats Coach Boretti very very well. Apparently he is not only a good game coach, credit to his assistants here, but an excellent recruiter. Check out Central Florida's web site - our next victim, ahem, opponent in baseball. They call us "talented" and "tough."
I know this is a football site but Boretti has started seven different pitchers in seven games in Florida, and we're 5-2 with six strong starts. Baseball is loaded.
who are the important legislators we should be contacting? Emails and /or addresses?
Re: Feckless Politicians -
The big ones to target are:
Michael Bloomberg, Mayor
Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President
Christine Quinn, Speaker, City Council
Robert Jackson, City Council
Ydanis Rodriguez, City Council
Eric Schneiderman, State AG (formerly state sen for the area)
Adriano Espillat, State Senator
It probably couldn't hurt to contact Andrew Cuomo, whose chief of staff is a Columbia alum (Ben Lawsky). Same for Kristin Gillibrand, who also has a high-ranking Columbian on her staff (Peter Hatch).
Here is some background on Ydanis Rodriguez
District 10 - Council Member - Democrat
About Ydanis Rodriguez
Ydanis Rodriguez has a long track record of fighting and winning for the community he represents. For more than 20 years he has served his community with honesty, dignity, and integrity. As Council Member he continues to fight for much-needed services for Northern Manhattan, including immigration reform, higher quality education for all children, affordable housing and health care, and a more transparent and efficient government.
Ydanis was born in the Dominican Republic and came to Washington Heights when he was 18 years old. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at the City College of New York, paying his way working as a taxi-driver. He then went on to obtain his Master’s degree in Bilingual Education at City College.
In 1992, Ydanis successfully helped to found Gregorio Luperon High School, a school dedicated to the success of immigrant families, where he became a public high school teacher. Although Ydanis began his activism in the Dominican Republic fighting for a new school in his hometown, Licey Almedio, and continued during his tenure at City College, working to fight against tuition increases and budget cuts through student government, his 14 years of experience teaching refined and strengthened his passion for serving the community.
After winning this fight, Ydanis continued to work for change in Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill. Whether it was to improve translation and interpretation services in local hospitals, to shut down a proposed correction facility on 182nd street, or to keep open the 180th Street Post Office, Ydanis was actively involved. On behalf of the community, he worked with the Straphangers Campaign to oppose public transit fare increases, exposed abusive and corrupt landlords with tenant associations, and founded a program which provides access to academic and extra-curricular resources to first generation high school and pre-high school students and their families—a program acclaimed by today’s Governor Paterson.
How much power does the City Council actually have on this issue? Is this really about certain concessions, or can they derail the whole project? I thought the Campbell Center already passed through much more significant hurdles previously. Is this all bluster, or is it much more substantial? In the end, if Columbia has satisfied what is required of its application, and met the conditions of the current regulations, I thought these boards can merely delay and raise hell, but eventually they can't actually dismiss an entire project just because they WANT to. In fact, isn't there a deadline whereby an application has to be finalized, despite the opposition's grandstanding? Also, is seems like these opposing groups are hellbent on presenting CU as some demon which is terrorizing the neighborhood with plans for a nuclear power plant or worse. I can't think of a more conscientious and innocuous plan for this area, which will be an attractive asset to Inwood.
Can somebody circulate a complete list of all the pols and their email addresses?
Jake, just curious if fb commits are finished at 25? Seems fewer than usual. Nothing serious, I just sort of like the "strength in numbers" concepot and the hidden gems you sometimes find that way.
Spec article of note at http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2011/03/21/politicians-call-more-benefits-baker-field-vote
Re today's Spec: why is it that local pols want to make it so difficult for us? Don't they realize that without Columbia Inwood would suffer?
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