It's unfortunately become a political issue. Because of the disgusting historical practices that included lengthy prison sentences for weed, many of which disproportionately affected minority communities, speaking out against weed at all is now seen as a third-rail issue in this city. Weed smokers as a whole are treated like a marginalized group, and this has paralyzed the NYC admin to pass even common sense regulations to ensure public safety. — James S on Nosy Neighbor: Is a cannabis dispensary coming to Harrison?

Was part of the mandate to come up with the ugliest looking solution possible? Did someone say "let's bring the charm of the New Jersey Turnpike to Manhattan's West Side?" — James S on Army Corps has plans to build a wall down the westside

This has opened into a broader conversation/observation/concern than a location than in Harrison specifically. — Marie on Nosy Neighbor: Is a cannabis dispensary coming to Harrison?

Well said. I have a sister raising a family in CO and it’s safe, regulated, and legal. Not like what you described happening here. — Marie on Nosy Neighbor: Is a cannabis dispensary coming to Harrison?

And by London I mean sea barriers... which actually is used in many cities around the world. — Richard on Army Corps has plans to build a wall down the westside

Horrendous... seriously what else are they going to throw at us... i mean why cant we do something like London? instead we do this ghetto solution... — Richard on Army Corps has plans to build a wall down the westside

It seems like the prior proposal - the New York Harbor Storm-Surge Barrier, which consisted of one barrier located across the mouth of Lower New York Bay between Sandy Hook and Rockaway and a second on the upper East River was shelved. This is part of the new proposal which is a series of sea gates — movable walls to be closed only for major storms — that would block waterways around Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and New Jersey, along with 31 miles of land-based levees, elevated shorelines and sea walls. I would much prefer one sea barrier to many and see walls. — FiDiGuy on Army Corps has plans to build a wall down the westside

I know the city tried birth control at least 5 years ago. I wonder why it didn’t work. — FiDiGuy on In the News: Savannah Guthrie lists her apartment

I'm not at all surprised that several of my "smart", "sober", "concerned" neighbors suddenly shake their figurative fist at the sky and start railing about how the "pot shop will ruin the neighborhood" without bothering to read the article to learn that there is NO PLAN FOR SUCH A PLACE ON HARRISON STREET. — David G. Imber on Nosy Neighbor: Is a cannabis dispensary coming to Harrison?

Here's the mystery for me: I thought as a society we are aiming to discourage smoking, because of its disastrous effects on health, not to mention pollution. So why is this same society now normalizing and encouraging other types of smoking? Seems to me we should be discouraging all forms of smoking. See: Marijuana and Lung Health: https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/health-effects/marijuana-and-lung-health — Marcus on Nosy Neighbor: Is a cannabis dispensary coming to Harrison?

It's unbelievable to me how badly states like NY and CA have screwed up the legalization of cannabis when places like CO demonstrated exactly how to do it without creating public nuisances on every street or making it so expensive that a new black market develops. These "smoke shops" with glowing marijuana leaves and flashing neon lights, many of which are open 24/7, need some serious regulation. I think people have somehow gone nuts and forgotten that cannabis is still a drug that has health risks and can lead to impairment. We regulate the hell out of cigarettes and tobacco, especially in regards to flashy advertising that may appeal to teens, so weed should be AT A MINIMUM held to that standard. And the quality and contents of the products sold in these stores is not properly tested and is all over the place, so there is a serious public health risk on top of quality of life concerns. These places selling drugs should look and behave much more like pharmacies, as they do in CO, and not like the seedy sex shops that used to infest Times Square. I cannot believe with the amount of nonsensical regulations in this city over everything down to plastic straws that nothing is in place to monitor these smoke shops. — James S on Nosy Neighbor: Is a cannabis dispensary coming to Harrison?

My issue with this is that this country has a process for legal immigration that is being subverted unfairly here just because a group of people don't respect our laws and boundaries and want better for themselves. My father came to this country as an immigrant in the 1940s and had to wait five years to get approval to be here, and that was with a sponsor in this country. He and his family has to pass extensive background checks, demonstrate employable skills, and had to take a civil entrance exam to make they actually knew enough about this country and its culture to assimilate. And they were also fleeing some pretty terrible and oppressive conditions, as I'm sure you can imagine for certain groups in the 1940s in Europe. Now, I'm not bringing this up to say "just because it was hard for them, it should be hard for everyone." I bring it because we have a process in place today for getting into this country -- which includes background screening -- and that process is being ignored here. Legal immigrants, who this country needs, are the ones getting screwed because a group of illegal immigrants doesn't feel like they should have to wait or play by the same rules. That's incredibly unfair and a violation of our laws. I totally understand that these people may not be living in great conditions, but these are not all refugees or people escaping oppression. Some just want American economic opportunities. And some, sadly, are bad actors who shouldn't be here. But the larger point is that just because someone may not have a great life elsewhere in the world, that does not entitle them to free housing, food, and shelter at the expense of a citizen of another country. If they want to be here, there is an application system in place for that. I find it quite repulsive that they are jumping the line and immediately being rewarded for it, while others have done things the right way and have to sit waiting while bureaucracy takes it time. And all on the bill of the taxpayers, nonetheless. — James S on In the News: Holiday Inn in Fidi will be temporary home for migrants

As a fact.. from bloomberg news (not the NY post)... (and our Gov actually mentioned it on the budget proposal yesterday: NYC Faces $1 Billion Tab From Migrant Influx as Economy Strains Budget, Comptroller Says As a result the tax increase for companies will be extended (and lucky us they didnt raise our taxes... Im all for humanity but this is INSANE and unsustainable.. not to mention the attitude of some of them, that for example refused to move to brooklyn because its too far.. i mean RUFK? how nice it must be to arrive and be given everything including prime time location living, all paid by us, who already pay WAY over other states pay in taxes... ENOUGH — Richard on In the News: Holiday Inn in Fidi will be temporary home for migrants

All these rat control methods seem horribly cruel and barbaric. Are there no adequate no-kill methods to deal with the problem? Maybe it's more important to deal with the issue at source: food waste and garbage, etc. — Marcus on In the News: Savannah Guthrie lists her apartment

Anish Kapoor might regret this the rest of his life. Why? — R. on The Bean, revealed

Not to be cynical, what’s the catch? When is Howard Hughes coming in? — R. on Plans to restore the Brooklyn Banks skateboard park — and then some

Regarding the Canyon of Heroes, instead of erasing history, wouldn't it be better to add a plaque in the sidewalk that described their later despicable actions? That would honor their victims and fulfill what I guess is Mr Levine's intention. — N on Seen & Heard: Removing Nazi collaborators from Broadway

Unfortunately, the entities strained in this situation are the schools. Since January, Downtown schools have received an influx of migrant children and not provided with any additional resources including translation services, as these children do not speak English and have only the clothes on their backs. Chinatown schools have been affected and now BPC schools are next. Assuming this hotel area is zoned for PS150 and/or PS 276. I’m sure those principals are bracing for and already reaching out to their community resources/officials. — S on In the News: Holiday Inn in Fidi will be temporary home for migrants

another one opened on church bw reade and chambers(ease side of street) and its some sort of graffiti all over walls inside and sell snack from around the country and its a front for a weed shop...they hide it behind the curtains at the front desk!! i walked in maybe at 1145pm one night!! Seems legit to me!!! lol — ada on Nosy Neighbor: Is a cannabis dispensary coming to Harrison?

Regardless of your position on the illegal migrant crisis, this is a disgusting misuse of city taxpayer dollars. This is basically a scam by a bankrupt developer to dig himself out of his debt hole with taxpayer dollars through a city contract. How many American citizens / homeless city residents could be helped with that same $2.8 million per month in direct assistance from city agencies? — Zach on In the News: Holiday Inn in Fidi will be temporary home for migrants

Thank God our community has an opportunity to help those fleeing from violence and oppression. This is great news for downtown Manhattan! — Chris on In the News: Holiday Inn in Fidi will be temporary home for migrants

The squash — TT on The Bean, revealed

Fabulous. That is going to stink up Staple street permanently for children of Washington Market preschool and the neighborhood. The foot traffic of all the vapers and smokers are going to at least chase away the rats from sarabeths garbage? — Marie on Nosy Neighbor: Is a cannabis dispensary coming to Harrison?

NY Native, your point as to every city is noted. I would love to hear from the likes of Mike Bloomberg and Leon Black. Two billionaires with ample space for migrants in their Manhattan homes. Of course, we can expand the reach to others with means such as George Soros in his heavily secured compound. Or, perhaps, the social justice warrior with his highly bunkered home in NJ, Bruce Springsteen. — Bobbie on In the News: Holiday Inn in Fidi will be temporary home for migrants

Thank you Bobbie. Stretching every city they come to to the limit ! The impacts of this are endless. — NY Native on In the News: Holiday Inn in Fidi will be temporary home for migrants