When Adam Moss stepped down as editor of New York magazine last month, it marked the end of an era. Since taking the helm of the august title in 2004, Moss had helped set the industry standard for magazine journalism, documenting the life of the city in all its highbrow, lowbrow, brilliant, and despicable glory. Of course, as dedicated media-watchers know, much of the New York‘s DNA was apparent three decades ago, when Moss emerged from Manhattan’s media landscape as the 30-year-old wunderkind behind the much-loved, short-lived 7 Days magazine. Published by then-Voice owner Leonard Stern for two years bridging the ’80s and ’90s, 7 Days was a glorious failure, bleeding money, but minting the reputations for a generation of fledgling journalists. Flipping through the 7 Days archives today is an exercise in delightful discovery. There’s Jeffrey Toobin writing about the … [Read more...] about 7 Days: The City Below
Basement leaking where wall meets floor
What stinks for Syracuse families: Sewage floods 4,000 basements a year
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – There’s a city where raw sewage spills into private homes and businesses, on average, 12 times a day. In 2018, city workers were dispatched to deal with 4,389 sewage backups in basements.That city is not in a developing country. It’s Syracuse.Each year, Syracuse logs more than 4,000 sewage backups, according to a review by syracuse.com of city records for the past five years.Every incident is “horrifying’’ to residents. Yet no Syracuse mayor has mounted a sewer improvement campaign to tackle the problem. The cash-strapped city has been slow even to study the issue.More than three years after sewer backups inundated the Eastwood neighborhood in 2015, city engineers haven’t finished a study of how the problem might be prevented from happening again.Syracuse is not alone. The crisis is shared by cities across the United States, experts say.Sewage backups are common, especially in Eastern U.S. cities with aging infrastructure, said … [Read more...] about What stinks for Syracuse families: Sewage floods 4,000 basements a year
How to stay warm, still cut heating costs in your home this winter
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Despite weeks of rain but only a smattering of snow across most areas of the state, the “heating season” is well under way. And whether you are keeping your home warm with gas, electricity, oil, propane or wood, the bills are already on the way.How to spend less without your family budget experiencing “the big chill” is the question.A quick review of utility and government websites reveals that the one strategy guaranteed to save you the most money will involve a bit of personal determination: Adjust the thermostat, wear socks and shoes in the house and rediscover sweaters.Dominion Energy Ohio advises that a consumer who sets the home thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees at night or when not home for several hours can save “10 to 15 percent of annual heating costs.”Columbia Gas of Ohio advises that customers can cut gas consumption by 8 to 10 percent simply by lowering the thermostat to 55 degrees when not at … [Read more...] about How to stay warm, still cut heating costs in your home this winter
How to decode real estate jargon
A For Sale sign is posted outside a home at 10 Morris Street Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015, in Schenectady, N.Y. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) A For Sale sign is posted outside a home at 10 Morris Street Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015, in Schenectady, N.Y. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN Buy photo Victoria Romeo is the head of Romeo Team Realty. Victoria Romeo is the head of Romeo Team Realty. Photo: KristiBphotos Susan Sommers is the president of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors. Susan Sommers is the president of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors. Anthony Gucciardo is the head of Gucciardo Real Estate Group. Anthony Gucciardo is the head of Gucciardo Real Estate Group. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', … [Read more...] about How to decode real estate jargon
Wild Monday Recap (Hail Damage North
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - And Lungs One of many benefits living in Minnesota: clean air. There are few polluting, heavy industries upwind. But a recent story at Star Tribune caught my eye. There have been 9 air pollution alerts this summer in Minnesota; 7 just in August. That'snthe most since the current warning system began in 2010. Air pollution still claims an average of 2,000 lives in Minnesota, annually. In this case the culprit was wildfires in the western USA and Canada, sending thick plumes of smoke into the state. Fine particulants, 2.5 microns or smaller, can penetrate the lungs, increasing the risk of asthma, stroke and heart disease. Air quality should, in theory, improve in the coming months as western fires begin to subside. We'll all be breathing easier this week as cooler Canadian air dips south. 70s will feel like sweet relief into Friday, with a shot at 80F next weekend - with a mostly dry, sunny sky. The severe storm threat shifts south & east today as the … [Read more...] about Wild Monday Recap (Hail Damage North