Gowanus, the Superfund and the Evil of Today’s New York

Reading between the lines, I would say that Lost City is not a fan of the City’s position on the Gowanus Canal’s superfund status.

For those who might have missed the announcement, there are two meetings for property owners, business owners and other affected residents along the Gowanus. The meetings are on June 23 at 6 p.m. and June 24 at 6 p.m., and will be held at P.S. 32 at 317 Hoyt Street, near President.

Best Vodka Bars in New York

Buy a bottle of Vodka in Greenpoint and take your party home: Greenpoint has started to become a trendy scene. However if you just go into any alcohol store next to some place that sells great salami then they’re liable to sell you great vodka. For cheap!! I’m talking great bottles for $15.

If the store next door is selling salami, you’re in the wrong part of “Greenpoint”. But to the larger point, yes, plenty of good Polish vodkas in Greepoint. Luksusowa makes a great potato vodka.

Rescission

The insurance industry — you know, the one conservative lawmakers and the AMA are so desperate to protect at all costs — has this unpleasant habit called “rescission.” Customers have insurance, and they pay their premiums, but once they get sick and require expensive medical treatment, the companies drop the coverage.

[…]

One executive said rescission is about “stopping fraud and material misrepresentations that contribute to spiraling healthcare costs.” So, for example, when a woman in Texas was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, her insurer dropped her coverage because the company found an instance in which she visited a dermatologist for acne, and didn’t tell the insurance company about it. This, the insurer said, was an example of “fraud and material misrepresentation.”
“Late in the hearing, [Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.)], the committee chairman, put the executives on the spot. Stupak asked each of them whether he would at least commit his company to immediately stop rescissions except where they could show ‘intentional fraud.'”

The answer from all three executives: “No.”

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) added, “This is precisely why we need a public option.”

As Gruber said, U.S. health insurance executives are simply evil bastards.

Unfortunately, our very expensive, very inefficient and highly rationed model of healthcare doesn’t show any signs of going away.

Vendors Upset Over City Plan to Relocate McCarren Greenmarket

“It may be the end of this market.”

Sounds like hyperbole to me. I like the market where it is. I liked its old location. I’m sure I will like the new location. Particularly since there are tables and chairs nearby. And no mud puddles to negotiate.

I guess, in short, I like the Greenmarket.