The Manhattan Borough President's office could definitely say whether this is a private street, probably the same person from this story: https://tribecacitizen.wpengine.com/2017/01/17/nosy-neighbor-whats-this-thing-embedded-in-the-sidewalk/ Some of the 5 Franklin Place deeds etc. call it a private street, but unlike other private streets, the Plow NYC website shows that DSNY is responsible for snow removal. — James on Seen & Heard: New Pasta Bar

Franklin Place public/private status would be a great story to investigate. — Jim M on Seen & Heard: New Pasta Bar

As far as I know, Franklin Place is not a private alley. It is a NYC public street. I was told this years ago when I called DOT to complain about the lack of enforcement of parking violations. Cars have been parking/blocking for the last 20 years that I've been living next to it. My building has no ownership or rights to this alley. There's obviously an understanding with the police who never issue tickets here. I thought 5 Franklin Place would shake things up but no such luck. — Sara Gilbert on Seen & Heard: New Pasta Bar

Little by little we are losing the sun! — Janet on Seen & Heard: Upstaging 1 World Trade Center

Wait till the "pretty lights" are proven to be the root cause of increased traffic accidents - hopefully no one dies. — Bill on In the News: Bridges to Be Ruined by Tacky Lights

there is an image that depicts the final building from a simliar angle here http://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/101-Murray-Street.jpg — lowphat on Seen & Heard: Upstaging 1 World Trade Center

Good work. Sorry I wasn't there to witness it... Also, along with a 5 cents fee, how about a law that says someone will get 2 cents back if they return a bag- like with bottle deposits. That would encourage people not to just throw them away, where they end up in landfill, or worse, get loose and blow around the streets leading to the whole tree bag problem. — Robert Ripps on Adventures in Bag Snagging

Colored lights on bridges and tunnels but Landmarks won't let a residential building move an HVAC unit on its roof because, God forbid, a sliver of it might be visible from three blocks away which, as we all know, utterly destroys the pristine historical character of the neighborhood?!?! Puh-leeze. — Paul on In the News: Bridges to Be Ruined by Tacky Lights

The one in front, with the orange at the top. The other one is 3 World Trade Center. — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: Upstaging 1 World Trade Center

Which one is 111 Murray? The one in front of the "Freedom Tower" or the to the left? — en_b on Seen & Heard: Upstaging 1 World Trade Center

Tacky indeed. Don't we have actual aesthetic concerns that require addressing in the city? Let's start with banning outdoor oversized signage and billboards, as in Sao Paolo. — Marcus on In the News: Bridges to Be Ruined by Tacky Lights

I have spoken with the Kommandant at the 1st Precinct since CB1 is historically barking worthless. He has agreed to transform and/or reinstate the former Mounted Unit (Horseys) with a K-9er unit to aggressively (with intense vigor) enforce the NYC pooper scooper laws, which will also proactively require include DNA anal swabs and IRIS scanning for both owner and their 4-legged poopers. Non compliance will be met with severe police persuasion! So yeah, we're now going to know who let the dogs out....to poo! — Jim Smithers on In the News: History of a W. Broadway Building

As one of Erik's junior partners in bag-snagging, I hope everyone who loved his account of our exploits will instruct their NY State Assemblymembers to resist and defeat the Albany power grab to overturn the local law passed last year by the City Council and signed by the Mayor, mandating the nickel fee for grocery bags. Contact info (and district maps) here: http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Deborah-J-Glick/map/. http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Yuh-Line-Niou/. Take it from me, the city's law will be a zillion times more effective than bag-snagging in keeping our street trees healthy and safe. — Komanoff on Adventures in Bag Snagging

While inconsiderate and unsanitary, I don't think the precinct or local officials are going to pay any attention despite the fact that neighborhood is definitely more messy. Self enforcement works best...if you see an offender, remind them of the law and if you have one handy offer them a poop bag - don't underestimate the power of "poop shaming" — Remington on In the News: History of a W. Broadway Building

Colored lights?. NY will look like Hong Kong or Miami or Las Vegas. The Emoire State Building is one thing. It stands apart in a glittering sea of white lights. But can you imagine the assault on the senses with colored lights competing with one another? There is no accounting for taste. Please pass a law and protect us from our politicians. — Janet on In the News: Bridges to Be Ruined by Tacky Lights

Read it again. — Erik Torkells on Adventures in Bag Snagging

Somehow I'm missing how you got the device out of the tree. — Bruce on Adventures in Bag Snagging

Maybe talk to the precinct and/or our local officials and ask for a crackdown, complete with ticketing? I don't know which disgusts me more - the sense of entitlement or the poo. — A. on In the News: History of a W. Broadway Building

If it's this sign, it's not new: https://tribecacitizen.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/109-WBroadway.jpg — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: The Final Pieces of 56 Leonard

I know we disagree on this, but I love the colored lights! I can't wait! :-) That said, I do believe the Brooklyn Bridge should be excluded and it is, along with the Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro Bridges. — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on In the News: Bridges to Be Ruined by Tacky Lights

It is even worse in Battery Park. Try walking across Warren Street, between West street and the river. There are just countless landmines of filth everywhere on any given day added to the dog urine staining the buildings. The Reade street stretch between Greenwich and W. Broadway seems especially egregious because it is not well lit and is a side street with much less foot traffic. Ultimately, this is a cost imposition on dog owners who are considerate and non-dog owners. One would think that collective action and a re-direction of costs to the dog owners, such as requiring all dog owners to be required to periodically scrub and clean up any messes left by any and all dog owners would be an excellent deterrent to those who behave badly and truly reflect the cost of dog ownership. Surprised this has not yet happened. — Kacee on In the News: History of a W. Broadway Building

on the tacky light bridge plan: what is the research for impact on migrating birds --- aside from being ugly in a las vegas way, birds will die by the thousands and humans will loose sleep from the searing brightness!!! — jk on In the News: Bridges to Be Ruined by Tacky Lights

Erik, thank you!! — Erica on Adventures in Bag Snagging

Agreed! I walk that block every day. There is one guy I always see go there with his big, old dog. I always loiter around there with my dog and he eventually is shamed into picking up the poop. But it's like his dogs' personal toilet! Gross! Hey, mister -- next time I see you I'll take your picture and give it to Erik to post on this site. — Meg on In the News: History of a W. Broadway Building

Is the sign new? (If not, it doesn't necessarily mean anything—those signs often stay up while the new tenant preps the space.) — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: The Final Pieces of 56 Leonard