Long Island City finally sunny Thursday afternoon linkage

It would be an absolute disgrace if the senior center in the neighborhood has to be closed for Herr Bloomberg’s budget. What makes it even sadder is that most I suspect most people in the neighborhood care more about the fate of dog runs and pending liquor licenses than the area’s elderly.

2, that’s what you get when you have a billionaire Republican mayor.

And an almost economic Great Depression!

#6 keep your hand out of my wallet. So quick to tax, why not reduce fraud and waste before reaching into people pockets to fund boondoggle? We should be reducing the size of government – not looking for ways to expand it. The reason there is no money in the city is the outragous cost of healthcare followed by the enormous cost of the infrstructure of the city. Dept. of this dept of that… If you want more taxes start practicing what you preach and send in your donation.

Its actually in my regular vocabulary. Its a pretty common word and it is used quite frequently in everyday conversation.

Here’s a fun fact: The term arose in the 1930′s when as part of the New Deal $3 million was spent on recreational activities for the jobless. One example of which was a craft class where the production of “boon doggles” (gadgets made with cloth or leather) was taught.

If there was ever a term that sums up government spending this is it.

Essentially, based on the comments or lack thereof above, it seems that no one especially gives a damn whether the senior center in the neighborhood closes. This self-centered attitude is exactly what I hate so much about the New LIC. I enjoy many of the changes — the park, the life in underused properties, the new businesses. What I sorely miss is our lost community, when we all looked out for one another. Today, unless an issue involves something these entitled babies value, they couldn’t give a flying F for anyone else. What a disgrace.

I think the point is that the newer wave of people seem not to care so much about the community spaces, and more about their condos and dogs. I have to agree with #11 and say there is definitely an attitude of apathy from the ‘newcomers’.

And don’t act like there isn’t a new LIC and an old one. If you read last week’s times article about LIC, it was very clear that we’re being gentrified. Which means new yuppies. Sorry but that’s what you are, and just because you work hard doesn’t mean you’re not entitled. In fact, your statement was quite entitled. You expect to have your bars and restaurants but don’t care if the neighborhood’s elderly lose their dedicated services. Whether you work hard or not is irrelevant.

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I’m not trying to stir up trouble, as I said I am happy with many of the changes in LIC. I am genuinely upset that there hasn’t been an outpouring of support on behalf of preserving the senior center, like there is for dog runs, concrete museum walls, and mediocre restaurants looking for liquor licenses. The senior center has long been an extremely valuable resource for LIC’s seniors, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet while the condos bloom. I find it painfully ironic that as the neighborhood gets richer, keeping the center alive seems to be slipping away.

How else can you explain the “apathy” (as 13 calls it) than to point to the influence of the newer members of the neighborhood, who generally don’t seem to extend themselves out to those who don’t share their narrow sociodemographic profiles? Why aren’t they doing anything to show their support to the seniors?

And, 16, my family has been in LIC since before the turn of the 20th century. Anyway, my attitudes have nothing to do with tenure and more to do with affinity for those looking for more than a scoop of gelato in their neighborhood.

I have been in LIC for over 20 years and the new residents are no more apathetic than the old ones. In fact, many of the “old timers’ have a fortress attitude so they only care about their own piece of property. Gentrification will bring more educated and more considerate neighbors. If we are lucky, it will wear off on the old-timers.