NYU Local » City Gimmicks

NYTimes Building Climber Sentenced to…Community Service

Kate Ray — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:03:35 +0000

Alain Robert, who scaled the New York Times Building with two other men in June, pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and was sentenced this morning to three days of community service, the Times reported. Because the French stuntman climbed the building to raise awareness about global warming, he was barred from completing the community service with an environmental organization. Though Robert was only charged with disorderly conduct, his co-climbers both face more serious charges with the possibility of jail time. Too bad, since we think that climbing up the 52 floors of the Times building for an environmental cause is way cooler than, say, hanging upside down for 60 hours to get people to look at you.

Photo: Flickr courtesy Awe_some_man

At This Rate, Bikes Will Be The New Limousines

Dene Chen — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:13:41 +0000

This is the city that charges for simple pleasures. Last week, we have tapped water selling for $1.50; this week the city has announced that it will be expanding bike valet services throughout Manhattan. However, this idea is actually a pretty good one, since the city wishes to encourage people to bike more, but people are wary of parking their bikes on the streets.

From the New York Times:

“People worry about locking up the bike,” said Hillary Nanney, 24, who was one of dozens of bikers who used the free bike valet service at International Pickle Day. “This is a great service.”

(There’s an International Pickle Day?)

NYC Tries to Help You Quit Smoking By Lighting Your Cigarette

Kate Ray — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:18:44 +0000

Having trouble quitting smoking? NYC wants to help – by giving you free matchbooks. As part of the city’s anti-smoking campaign, the Health Department has come up with a line of disgusting-looking matchbooks that they’re giving out for free at cigarette retailers in the South Bronx, Harlem, and northern and central Brooklyn. The matchbooks are all printed with the words “Cigarettes are Eating You Alive,” and show pictures of gum disease, tumors, and infected lungs, so that you might think twice before you light that match. Or you might just feel more guilty as you go ahead and do it anyway. We don’t know if this idea will actually work, but the matchbooks will be a great gift for your smoking friends whom you want to stress out even more.

Photo: Flickr courtesy of Porcelaingirl° {enthusiastic foolish}