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New York City is mandating that all of its elementary schools change how they teach reading. Some may not make the change willingly.
Over the last two decades, thousands of New York City children have struggled to pick up reading skills. Now, schools will be forced to change how they teach reading.
I started composting a couple of years ago using two bins in my yard. Ever since then, I’ve dutifully collected fruit and veggie scraps, egg shells, and coffee grounds, alternating these “greens” with layers of “browns” — dead leaves from the oak trees in our yard. This spring I will harvest my first batch of compost and I don’t know if it’s possible to be more excited about moist mulch. That’s why Clio Chang’s Curbed story caught my eye. I’ve always wondered what happens in the industrial composting process and Chang’s piece does a terrific job going behind the scenes of a compost collection service that begins under the cover of darkness in Queens, New York.
This is the sorting phase of the process, and no fewer than six Waste Management employees have been assembled to take me around. First, we watch as the trucks line up to be weighed, since customers pay by weight to dump. “Is it priced by pound?” I ask. “Tons,” everyone responds in unison, and we all laugh at my inability to grasp orders of magnitude. One-third of the residential trash — some 4,000 tons daily — that New Yorkers throw away is food or yard waste that could be diverted from methane-emitting landfills. The heap of food scraps we are looking at, which has cartoon-like steam rising off the top, is massive, but only constitutes a tiny fraction of what it could be. There are pigeons resting and scavenging on its peak. Darryll Persad, the site manager, tells me that they have an air-filtration system and a deodorizer that puts out a scent to help control the odor. There are multiple scents to choose from, but Persad says, with a decisiveness that I can only dream of, that he “just orders cinnamon.” (Since all I smell is trash, I’ll just have to take his word for it.)
Guest post by Niloufer Siddiqui and Erum Haider
In 2021, in the midst of national political turmoil resulting from increasingly polarized politics, by-elections in the Pakistani mega-city of Karachi were being tightly contested over a seemingly mundane issue: access to water.
That water should become an election issue was perhaps not surprising. Karachi “faces an absolute scarcity of water,” with experts estimating that demand for water exceeds supply by twice as much. Most of Karachi’s residential areas are connected through pipes managed by the state-run Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB); however, given vastly inadequate supply, some of these physical connections only provide water once or twice a month. Problems are compounded in Karachi’s many low-income, informal settlements, which have little established infrastructure for water supply. Households in these neighborhoods often rely on low-quality water sold at exorbitant rates by private water vendors.
Water in Karachi involves a large number of actors with complex, often bewildering links to one another. In addition to the state-run KWSB, public benefit corporations direct water at certain neighborhoods at the expense of others. Sometimes the paramilitary Rangers step in by operating tankers. Licensed private water companies also provide water at a cost. All of these providers operate legally, but there is also a shadowy water mafia in Karachi that illegally siphons off water from the main supply and uses it to fill its own fleet of tankers and operate its own hydrants. The mafia sells this water to rich and poor consumers alike—anyone willing, or desperate enough, to pay for it.
In interviews conducted in July 2021, we were told that control over water from the city’s depleting freshwater sources has become one of the most lucrative arenas in a mega-city already saturated with criminality and political violence. The people we spoke with reaffirmed what others have found: that the water mafia operates often with explicit links to and assistance from political figures and representatives of the state. And because ethnicity remains central to how political and social life in Karachi is organized, many Karachi citizens believe that ethnic links are critical to how water is directed and prioritized.
That access to a commodity as vital as water should be determined by political ties and who can pay is not unique to Karachi. Where state capacity is weak, the provision of goods and services is often taken over by non-state actors, including criminal and illegal organizations. Scholars, journalists, and activists have chronicled this phenomenon in contexts ranging from Medellin to Baghdad to New York City. These often illicit actors step in to provide security in the presence of a weak state, but also provide citizens with essential public goods—at a price.
In December 2021 and January 2022, together with the Pakistan Institute of Public Opinion (an affiliate of Gallup International in Pakistan), we surveyed 2,000 people in Karachi to understand how voters in this ethnically-polarized city evaluate political candidates based on the candidates’ ethnicity and their claimed links to water resources.
We found that, while a majority of respondents preferred candidates who share their ethnicity, ties to the water mafia seem to do little to increase the appeal of even a co-ethnic candidate. Indeed, co-ethnic candidates with mafia linkages are seen as significantly less credible and helpful than those with state water linkages. Most people preferred candidates who share their ethnicity, especially when they have links to state water resources.
These results surprised us. It is often assumed that politicians use connections to the water mafia to direct water to their political constituencies as a vote-getting strategy. What we found, however, is that voters appear skeptical that politicians’ connections to the water mafia will directly benefit them, and so those connections do little to boost votes.
For politicians, manipulating the source of water is a profitable business opportunity. “Water provision ‘is more lucrative than drugs’” and, as one former National Assembly member told us, selling public water to tankers is “the easiest racket in town.” Rather than benefitting voters, water access is used by politicians to “fill their [own] swimming pools, water their lush lawns, bestow on friends, or indulge in their own tanker business on the side.” It is also used to curry favor with groups other than voters. Where water mafia connections do result in patronage, it appears to be primarily targeted towards political workers linked to the party apparatus rather than ordinary citizens.
There are many examples around the world where criminal gangs have been able to garner local support by stepping in where the state fails, providing health, education, and myriad other services. Think Hezbollah in Lebanon, gangs in Rio de Janeiro, and militant actors in Iraq. In Karachi, the water tanker mafia is perceived as contributing to, and emblematic of, overall state corruption. When respondents in our survey were asked who they believed was responsible for the water mafia in Karachi, about 53 percent blamed the provincial government and nearly 10 percent blamed the KWSB. In this context, then, it is likely that a politician with ties to water tanker networks would not be seen as an attractive candidate to alleviate the respondents’ water problems but rather seen as responsible for Karachi’s water crisis itself.
The case of the Karachi water mafia is emblematic of an increasingly common paradox in cities where weak governance and criminality plague the provision of basic services. On the one hand, rich and poor citizens alike are frustrated with illegal water provision, which many see as linked to corrupt practices within the state apparatus. On the other hand, illegal water services fill a gap created by inadequate state provision. Many individuals, particularly the poor in underserved neighborhoods, depend on these services. But just because they rely on illicit actors doesn’t imply that they are happy about it.
Niloufer Siddiqui is an Assistant Professor at the University at Albany-State University of New York. Erum Haider is an Assistant Professor at the College of Wooster.
This post is the first in a series on illicit economies, organized crime, and extra-legal actors and came out of an IGCC-sponsored conference hosted in October 2022 by the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy.
The authors acknowledge funding from the International Growth Centre in support of this project.
Dennis Ferrara is a native of Brooklyn who was working for the New York City Department of Transportation as a supervisor electrician when his voice was recorded. His unmistakable New York accent can still be heard at 15 pedestrian signals at crosswalks throughout the city. — Read the rest
Anna Karp is CEO and co-founder of Bolster, a New York City-based firm offering in-house design, architecture, and build services. As a licensed General Contractor, she oversees the design and construction of all projects, and has completed 100+ renovations throughout New York City and in Mexico, where she’s originally from.
Anna is a trailblazer carving her own path in the traditionally male-dominated general contracting and home renovation sector. Under her leadership, Bolster has been called a “significant innovation for the renovation industry,” and uses proprietary technology and a data-driven approach to deliver beautiful, risk-free gut renovations. The team has renovated more than 50,000 square feet in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, while navigating compliance, landmarks, and the DOB to ensure projects are delivered to in-house quality standards. Bolster’s umbrella of services includes Design-Build, Build-Only, and the efficiency-conscious Agile x Bolster offering.
To ensure control quality, Anna has created a vertically integrated team of project managers, builders, carpenters, painters, and executives. As both a minority and female CEO, she has always prioritized creating a diverse and inclusive culture at Bolster, providing opportunities for females and minorities who are often overlooked in the construction industry.
Anna is also an active member in female-forward organizations, including Chief. She has served as a guest speaker and panelist at industry events and webinars where she advocates for women and gender balance in the construction industry. Additionally, Anna co-founded Chefs on a Plane, an invite-only network of New York’s Top Chefs & Mixologists who travel to Puebla for a seasonal, behind-the-scenes experience of Mexico’s culinary culture. She is also one of the hosts of “Hidden Gems”, a show for Architectural Digest.
Today, Anna Karp is joining us for Friday Five and sharing five things people should know before beginning a renovation.
Interior design awareness and the ‘renovation bug’ have had a boost during recent years and post-pandemic. Certain generations are spending more and more time ogling beautiful interiors and dreaming of ways to make their homes nicer, better, bigger, and more attractive for resale.
Renovators can be divided into two categories: those who buy to renovate, and those who already live in a property to be renovated. The latter have an advantage because they can comfortably plan their renovation and take months doing so, while the former are always against the clock. Renovating is a big commitment. If you are a homeowner who is buying with the intention to renovate, and you have the option to choose a property in mint condition and the inclination to do so, listen to your gut!
It’s an enormous undertaking, no matter how good your team is. It takes time, financial investment, and can be an emotional rollercoaster. On the other hand, if you absolutely want your vision to come true, then a renovation is in place. Brace yourself: it will be fun, however, remember that it’s a marathon – not a sprint, and start training your design and decision-making muscles!
If you’re anything like me, you probably like having your personal affairs organized and in tip-top shape – and a renovation is no different. Use the same diligence in choosing your design and build a team as you would select your personal accountant. You’ll want to check references and look for specificity in both project management and the quality of results. Having great design and a great architectural team should be a baseline – not the goal. Your mission is to fully understand that your team will be capable and available to solve any curveballs along the way.
During the pandemic, I chose to uphold Bolster’s Fixed Price guarantee for our pandemic-era projects. This was a very tough financial decision, however, we stood by our values in a time of major uncertainty. When vetting a design-build firm, you are not only vetting for technical knowledge, aesthetics, or what your neighbors’ or other reference’s achieved – you are testing to understand if the team leading your project is also logical and whether they understand the full meaning of accountability.
If you chose a design team and things are not going the way you planned, don’t despair. The good news is that you’re still dating. While swiping left may result in some sunk cost for your family, it’s essential to understand that you’re still in the pen to paper phase. No matter how much has been invested in the design and architectural phase, homeowners are not really in hook, line, and sinker until a permit is pulled and the general contractor ‘breaks ground.’
Once this has happened, you are married to your team, and the best way forward is always, undoubtedly ‘forward.’ So, if your gut says ‘no,’ it’s okay to pivot and find a new design team. Bottom line: it’s your home. Even if you feel out of depth in technical construction and design matters, you are still the client and the arrangement needs to feel right every step of the way. Granted, mistakes happen and challenging situations will arise, but always stay alert to see how matters are resolved. If you’re a priority, then chances are you’re in good hands.
My team is often asked if things like adding a bathroom, having an open floor plan, having an island, or removing a tub – just to name a few – are good for resale value. While these are all fair questions when undertaking a renovation, I always urge homeowners to design for themselves and plan for their own lifestyle. Once the property is sold, chances are the new homeowners will want their own style and will plan for their own needs – they may be empty nesters or they may have eight children. It’s impossible to plan for the unknown. However, if an aspect of your renovation is consuming you, the best point-of-contact for this question would be a local broker.
Great design can be achieved with very little or with a lot of aplomb. I urge homeowners to ask their design team to give them their wildest ideas. This can range from understanding what the most expensive free-standing claw foot tub is on the market to providing an outlandish design for the layout of the home. While you may not end up choosing the wildest options, the creative juices of the team will start flowing, and chances are you may learn something new.
That being said, great design can also be affordable and should be practical. So while you may be dying to have your marble’s veins meet each other at a junction in your waterfall island, you may not want to buy an entire lot – just a couple of slabs that contrast or match each other. While the tub of your dreams may be amazing, you don’t want to have to reinforce your floors because it’s terribly heavy. Finally, my favorite. While the tile industry has changed and evolved a lot in recent years, be sure that the tiles you choose are proven to be fit for purpose, and make sure you understand the alternatives. Great looks can be achieved with large format slabs, while some trendy cement tiles with geometric designs stain easily and are hard to maintain.
Astoria All-Electric House \ The primary goal of Bolster’s Astoria homeowners was to transform this 36th Street home from a multi-family dwelling to a single family home and fully replace gas with electrical. In doing so, they needed to remove the kitchen from the second floor of the original home which involved extensive layout changes. The homeowners wanted to create a more spacious and comfortable home that included an updated mudroom and terrace. Bolster also added new flooring, doors, windows, and millwork throughout, as well as new appliances.
Park Slope Brownstone Restoration \ The homeowners wanted to retain many of the home’s original details from 1903, including pier mirrors and stained glass windows, while making modern updates during the gut renovation of their 3,600 sq. ft., six bed, three-and-a-half bath landmarked brownstone. The young family prioritized layout changes to better suit their lifestyle; significant and necessary infrastructure updates (including electrical and plumbing); and other upgrades such as new floors and windows, a modern kitchen and dining room, and fresh paint throughout the home.
Tribeca Townhouse \ The homeowners of this Harrison Street townhouse wanted to update their space to better suit the needs of their young family. The primary objectives were to update the layout of the home – specifically, the bathrooms, kitchen, and bedroom – while respecting the historical language of this unique townhouse.
Harlem Passive House \ The homeowners wanted to update the layout of their brownstone, which was originally organized as an owner’s duplex on the bottom and two separate units on top, as well as incorporate Passive House elements. This unique Harlem brownstone, which is only 14-ft-wide, required a new steel staircase and a gut renovation of the entire home, including a ground-level rental unit with backyard access. The renovated home features an owner’s triplex from the parlor level up, with a garden apartment rental.
Photography by Duplex Imaging, courtesy of Bolster.
Is there a writing life than can safely dispense with categories like identity and commitment, which count so much in how we live now?
The post Tender Gossip: Darryl Pinckney’s “Come Back in September” appeared first on Public Books.
Well, it wasn't in the sewers but maybe that's where it had been living. A four-foot-long alligator was rescued from Brooklyn, New York's Prospect Park Lake over the weekend. Unfortunately, the reptile was in ill health, due in part to the bitter cold weather. — Read the rest
Anthony Cruz, a third-grader at P.S. 11 in the Bronx, used to hate going to school because he struggled with reading.
Gov. Kathy Hochul presented a state budget that included proposals that would increase the number of charter schools, along with the funding they received.
Concerns about fraud have prompted the New York City education department, led by chancellor David C. Banks, to stop doing business with 20 private education companies.
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Influenced by her French and Tunisian upbringing, travels and collaborations, Melanie Courbet founded Les Ateliers Courbet in 2013. The Founder of the gallery, located in the Chelsea neighborhood, chose to focus on a master-craftsman ethos and the sharing of art that embodies artisanal dexterity and cultural heritage. Les Ateliers Courbet comes with international recognition for its dedication to craftsmanship legacies and techniques that have stood the test of time. Today, the gallery represents a permanent roster of more than 30 ateliers whose works reside in the decorative arts and furniture. Melanie works with private collectors, interior designers, and public institutions to foster and share the work of these sometimes centuries-old manufacturers and international contemporary artisans.
Melanie Courbet
Before making the jump and owning her own gallery space, Melanie worked in Los Angeles advising young collectors, managing design projects, and organizing exhibitions in New York and Paris. She also incubated the Love & Art for Children Foundation and managed design studio Dror’s international communications and business development. All of the pieces were there, she just had to put them together.
Melanie has had the opportunity to collaborate with some established names and brands, among them are LVMH, Cappellini, Christie’s, and Pritzker Prize Architect, Thom Mayne. Institutions include the Muséedes Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Ministry Of Culture in France.
This week, Melanie Courbet joins us for Friday Five!
Courtesy Columbia Records
Sunday nights at home ordering in and playing records. This Miles Davis album has been my favorite since it was gifted to me 17 years ago by an old friend who is a music artist responsible for a great part of my music culture. My mother would play old records at home, too.
Photo: Shine on Sierra Leone
To different degrees since 2007, I have been involved with my friend’s organization Shine on Sierra Leone that’s located in the northeast village of Kono, Sierra Leone. The organization includes two schools, over 500 students, adult literacy, a health program, and long-standing micro-loan programs for women. We’ve been working with the local community and the teachers at our school to empower both children and parents to support their access to education, health, and small business opportunities.
I am particularly fond of a teenage student, Amadou. I’ve been personally supporting and following from his first years at Muddy Lotus, our elementary school, through to today as he enters college in Freetown. I would adamantly recommend the fulfilling experience of supporting one student’s education somewhere in the world, and being able to see how your minimal contribution impacts the life of another being.
Photo: Melanie Courbet
Fall and winter weekend visits to the Met. I often skip the temporary shows and stroll through the antiques and old masters’ galleries. A breath of inspiration and meditative space.
Photo courtesy Humanrace (Pharrell x Adidas)
My new Humanrace sneakers by Pharrell and Adidas. I’m slightly addicted to spending time shopping on the online auction platforms, with the latest being Pharrell’s Joopiter auction.
Photo: Melanie Courbet
I find flying and piloting helicopters to be another meditative space and breath of inspiration.
Vessels from the Karen Swami Collection, Les Ateliers Courbet
Nakagawa Mokkougei’s Indigo Table created in collaboration with Les Ateliers Courbet and Studio OeO for Editions Courbet
The Moon Sofa by Raphael Navot fuses sculpture and furniture, Les Ateliers Courbet
The Maison Intégre collaboration with French designer Duchaufour-Lawrance and the bronze artisans in Burkina Faso offers seven sculptural pieces inspired by vernacular architecture.
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Athenia Rodney at her new home in Snellville, Ga., with her husband Kendall and three children. They moved away from New York City last summer.
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