Tag: New York City
The Daniel Penny Incident: A Tragic Consequence of NYC’s Failure to Address Mental Health Issues and Enforce Existing Laws

The Daniel Penny Incident: A Tragic Consequence of NYC’s Failure to Address Mental Health Issues and Enforce Existing Laws

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A tragic incident occurred at the Broadway-Lafayette station in Manhattan, where 30-year-old Jordan Neely died after being put into a chokehold by 24-year-old rider Daniel Penny. Neely, a homeless man with a history of violent and erratic behavior due to untreated mental illness, had been threatening passengers aboard the train. The case has sparked a heated debate on whether Penny’s actions were justifiable self-defense or a vigilante act.

While many quickly judge Penny, examining the underlying systemic issues that led to this tragic event is crucial. New York City has long failed to enforce existing laws and provide adequate assistance to its mentally unstable citizens. This failure, coupled with the city’s inability to address the mental health crisis, has created a volatile environment that led to Neely’s untimely death.

As a former Marine, Penny has been trained to handle high-pressure situations and protect himself and others. While some argue that his military training could hurt his self-defense claim, it is essential to consider the context in which he was forced to act. Neely’s aggressive behavior and threats to passengers left them fearing for their safety. Faced with a dangerous situation, Penny intervened, likely believing that he was acting in the best interests of everyone on the train.

The case highlights the urgent need for New York City to address its mental health crisis and provide proper support to individuals suffering from mental illnesses. Neely’s documented history of mental instability should have prompted intervention from the city and mental health professionals. Instead, he was left to struggle on the streets, culminating in this tragic event.

The debate surrounding Penny’s actions should not overshadow the broader issue of mental health support in New York City. This tragic accident should catalyze change, prompting a renewed commitment to addressing the mental health crisis in the city’s streets and subways. Elected officials must take proactive steps to address this crisis, ensuring that those with mental illness receive the help they desperately need.

Furthermore, this incident underlines the need for improved enforcement of existing laws, particularly those aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of the city’s most vulnerable residents. By enforcing these laws and providing adequate mental health support, New York City can prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

In conclusion, while Daniel Penny’s actions have been the subject of intense scrutiny and debate, it is essential to recognize the broader systemic failures that contributed to this tragic incident. New York City’s failure to enforce existing laws and provide adequate support to its mentally unstable citizens has created a dangerous environment for all its residents. Rather than focusing solely on Penny’s actions, we must address these underlying issues and create a safer and more supportive city for all.

Old prediction: The end is near!

Old prediction: The end is near!

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We have all heard the cries of doom.

The oceans are going to rise and destroy mankind! The animals that we are used to in our local environment are all going to die. The tornados will cause mass destruction. Hurricanes will destroy our coastlines.

These have been going on for a LONG TIME now.

One of the biggest fear mongers was Jim Hansen. In 1988, he was looking out on Broadway in New York City and observing the Hudson River. Here is his prediction as remembered by the reporter beside him:

I went over to the window with him and looked out on Broadway in New York City and said, “If what you’re saying about the greenhouse effect is true, is anything going to look different down there in 20 years?” He looked for a while and was quiet and didn’t say anything for a couple seconds. Then he said, “Well, there will be more traffic.” I, of course, didn’t think he heard the question right. Then he explained, “The West Side Highway [which runs along the Hudson River] will be under water. And there will be tape across the windows across the street because of high winds. And the same birds won’t be there. The trees in the median strip will change.” Then he said, “There will be more police cars.” Why? “Well, you know what happens to crime when the heat goes up.”

I took a look at some pictures on Google since I don’t live in NYC. I found some that are approximately the same view as Mr. Hansen. I couldn’t find any comparisons of birds in the area, so I need one of my birding friends to tell me if the birds are significantly different.

Also, I couldn’t tell if the trees were different without before and after images. I could tell that some of those trees look like they are over 50 years old. I don’t see many that are younger than 20, so my guess is that he has that wrong. My gut is that the trees that he was looking at 26 years ago are basically the same trees there now. I would also bet that some of the trees are exactly the same – just 26 years older.

I definitely see roads without water, and it doesn’t look like dikes have been built to keep them dry. So much for the oceans rising and covering the land.

They must have really fancy invisible tape these days because I don’t see any on the windows. A quick check of the weather in NYC leads me to believe that the wind isn’t much harder than 26 years ago.

That is the unfortunate thing about predictions. It is way too easy to find them again and compare them to the date of the prediction. Looks like this prediction is a bust. I wonder if Myth Busters should declare the predictions of 1988 by Jim Hansen BUSTED.

Here is the quote from the article that references this conversation approximately 26 years ago:  http://www.salon.com/2001/10/23/weather/

Here are the comparison images that I referenced. I found them by going to Google Maps and it found images at the approximate location that appears to be described in the quote. I do not own the copyright to these images, so if the copyright holder wants me to take them down, I will.

I guess Mr. Hansen is still saying the world is going to end. He says that he isn’t wrong, this time.

In case you don’t recognize the cartoon below, it is Chicken Little.

Conan O’Brien is boring

Conan O’Brien is boring

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On Monday, Conan O’Brien was given the keys to one of the best jobs in television.  The Tonight Show has been going strong since 1954 and is one of the longest running shows ever.  It was first hosted by Steve Allen, then Jack Parr (very shortly), followed by the masterful Johnny Carson, and finally Jay Leno.  The producers should have left the show with people that have a first name beginning with “J” since Conan simply doesn’t have what it takes.

It is interesting that Conan took the job over from Leno where he comes from taking the David Letterman vacated show.  Letterman was upset that he didn’t take over for Carson and left to form a show on a rival network.  Leno and Letterman have been battling for the entire time and Leno consistently won.  Now it appears that Letterman will easily have the upper hand since there is no way the very un-funny O’Brien can compete.

I feel sorry for Conan. He moved to Los Angeles from New York City. I sure hope that he is renting his home because I will be amazed if he will survive long on this show. He simply doesn’t have what it takes. He will do moderately well since actors and singers need to do the show to hawk their latest projects but they will quickly opt for doing Letterman first and then eventually get around to appearing with O’Brien.  The shows ratings are in for a huge fall!

The jury is still out if Leno’s new gig will be successful.  If it is a raving success then Conan is in for more of a challenge as the comparison will continue and they will split the audience. Why would a viewer spend an hour with Jay at 10, watch the news, and then be bored with the inferior Conan at 11:30?  If he fails, he may come crawling back to his old job and kick Conan out of his old chair.

Obama administration idiot is fired for flyover

Obama administration idiot is fired for flyover

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I am happy to see that the idiot that approved the photo opp flyover over New York City has been fired!  This is from the Wall Street Journal:

The White House said Friday that President Obama has accepted the resignation of Louis Caldera as Director of the White House Military Office, effective May 22. Mr. Caldera wrote in a letter that the controversy created by the flight of one of the presidential planes over lower Manhattan had made it impossible for him to effectively lead the office. The unannounced flight briefly panicked office workers near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks. The White House also released a photograph taken during the flyover.

The administration also released an image from the flyover. I still contend that this could have been easily recreated in Photoshop!

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Does the federal government own a Photoshop license?

Does the federal government own a Photoshop license?

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The news and blogs are all abuzz about the low flying jets over New York City. Evidently, these jets are a result of some desire to photograph Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty.

Air Force One

I don’t understand this! Surely there are a million pictures of Air Force One. There are probably a billion pictures of Lady Liberty. With a bit of talent using Photoshop these two icons could have been combined. This would have saved a reported $300,000 and not caused panic in the most populated city in the USA.

And there was a legitimate reason for that panic. It was less than 8 years ago that this city was bombed with planes by terrorists. Of course, that was under a different President so our Executive memory doesn’t go back that far.

Burning Towers
Image from Ron Pass

I really hope someone got fired over this. A major mistake like that in the private sector would have been a pink slip. It is amazing that this is the same bureaucracy that wants to run our health insurance! Is there anything that the government does that private industry cannot do better?

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