THE FIG FILE for 11.21.08

THE FIG FILE for 11.21.08: by Mike Figliola

The Fig File: Fact: New York is facing a fiscal crisis of a magnitude not seen since the city was brought to the brink of bankruptcy in 1975. Fact: According to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, NY Governor David Paterson and Mayor Mike Bloomberg - each of whom have been guests on the John Gambling Show in the recent weeks -  there is “going to have to be tough cuts made to balance the budget”. Fact: New York City issued 400 dollar rebates have been given out every year to homeowners since 2004. Fact: On the Official NYC website it says: As a result of the decline in the City's revenues, Finance will not be sending the $400 rebate this year.

Wait a second.

That’s it? Ok, that’s not it - there was plenty of financial info neatly packaged in a press release detailing the fiscal woes plaguing the city as well as  how the city is working aggressively to fix the problem and will have to make some more of those tough cuts to get ‘er done. What is lacking is the we’re sorry, the I wish we could send you the promised 400 dollar rebate you have come to expect and depend upon each year. Where is the heart? Aren’t we all going through the same pocket pinching, penny saving, borderline hand to mouth living right now? I have to admit, seeing all those billion dollar numbers stacked up against the City’s budget makes me sad for what the Bloomberg Administration will have to do to balance the budget andavoid a repeat of 1975 - but where is the comradery? Where is the let’s rally together New York and face this exigency like we faced September 11th, the 2004 Blackout, even a New York baseball team not making the playoffs for the first time in 10 years? I know New Yorkers are as good as leather in minus five degrees even with a good wind blowing off the East River in their face - what do we do? We pull our collars up, grit our teeth and walk through it. Now add on the financial reality that each of these New Yorkers are going home to. Add on top of that the M.T.A. cutting service on mass transit and rasing tolls and fares. Slap on numerous job cuts coming to city agencies and private businesses around the City and Tri-State. And let’s cherry top it off with no 400 tax rebate - with Christmas right around the corner. In a quick phone conversation with a fiery Tony Avella, who is one of five councilman filing suit against the Mayor to get the rebates sent out told me that “The Mayor thinks that he is free to do what he thinks is the right thing - he clearly could care less about the average person in this city.”  There isn’t mustard in your heart now is there Mayor? I know I feel sorry and I’m not even qualified to receive the rebate - I can’t afford a home. Y pluribus unum - let’s not forget that Mr. Mayor.    

Inside Studio Four: An Inside Look Into The John Gambling Show: Ahoy! It’s Pirates Mates!

What a week on the John Gambling Show - we  covered everything from budget fallouts to auto maker bailouts and Obama Cabinet members being nominated to Pirates...Pirates? Yeah it was that kind of week - what started out as a story that fascinated John became part of our daily conversation and ended up with me tracking down and booking Lt. Nathan Christensen of the Fifth Navy Fleet stationed at Bahair in the Middle East. It was wild to hear him speak about tracking down real live pirates - after the interview I asked him if Pirates Of The Caribbean could be considered a documentary. The Lieutenant didn’t laugh and replied “No sir”. Hey, I thought it was funny.

Odds and Ends: The of the Last Blue Collar Poets From Brooklyn.

There are very few poets who impress me - being a poet myself I barely take the time to read too many others for fear of contaminating my own style and work. But Long Island poet, playwright and journalist Patrick Fenton, who has become a friend and mentor over the last two years is one of those I listen to when he speaks, read his work when he writes it and absorb his oration on the breadth of blue collar life at a pub over a pint or four. Pat has written a collection of stories called ‘Stoop Dreamer and Other Brooklyn Stories’ which features Billy Coffee - the character incarnate of Fenton himself who chronicles his days as a young man in old Windsor Terrace Brooklyn. Patrick is also an aficionado of Beat Hero Jack Kerouac and even takes young writers on tours of old Kerouac haunts in Queens. Right now Pat has a play making it’s way around called Jack’s Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac - a dream like fantasy of Jack Kerouac’s last night on Earth. It’s a must see. I asked Pat how people could get in touch with him to find out more information about what he is up to. Here is what he said:

Mike, you can mention that I can be reached at Stoopdreamer@hotmail.com ( Or on many Friday afternoons at Gannons Station Cafe across the street from the Massapequa Park railroad station.) For more info on my CD Jack's Last Call go to www.jackslastcall.com