Medium Happiness

I was just reading an article in the New York Times about San Francisco’s great accomplishment of officially recycling 70% of their waste. Who the fuck knows what New York’s number is? I would guess 10%. Anyhow, I think it’s pretty cool how dedicated to being clean and environmentally responsible San Francisco is.

Then we have our city, where we can’t even do one simple thing (see the congestion pricing fiasco) to improve air quality or reduce the amount of trash on the curbs in black plastic bags. Look, I know New York is a much different breed than SF. I love New York, I don’t hate it, but I get the vibe from most people in this city that they think things are just fine. That may be so, but they could be great if everyone was willing to clean up their act, even a little bit, and place some reasonable demands on the politicians deciding what we spend our money on.

Hardly anyone rides their bikes to work in this city (this is relatively speaking) because it’s dangerous and most offices (mine included) do very little to accommodate cyclists. As in, bike locking areas or showers. First thing, we NEED real bike lanes all over the city. They are cheap and awesome.

Also, how come where I live, in East Harlem, everyone is permitted to let their dog crap freely without cleaning up after it? There is not one sign within a three block radius of my apartment building that informs residents that it’s a crime to not clean up after your pooch.

But the best one—sorry East Harlem—is when someone,  literally standing next to a trash can, opts to throw their refuse on the ground rather than in the receptacle that’s an arm’s length away.  Believe it or not, I see that one every day.

Sorry to rail, I should just move to Portland, I suppose.