News post #15

Article:That Tap Water Is Legal but May Be Unhealthy

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/us/17water.html?hp

Summary: 35 years ago a law was passed to protect the purity of Americans' tap water. That Safe Drinking Water Act only covers 91 potentially-harmful chemicals in water while there are actually more than 60,000 chemicals. Government and independent scientists have found that some chemicals cause cancer and other life-threatening diseases yet they haven't added one chemical to those regulated by this federal law since 2000. As a result of the government not updating the Safe Drinking Water Act, more than 62 million Americans have come across dirty water according to an analysis done by The Times. One example of the government trying to cover up the dangers of our water occurred in Los Angeles when the city covered the surface of a reservoir with black plastic balls that covered the lake from the sun. This was done in order to prevent carcinogens from forming in the water and leading to cancer. The directors of this project came under attack by residents of L.A. The people of America, especially in the poorer parts, are becoming outraged that the government isn't protecting such a simple privilege: clean water.

Opinion: In my opinion, it is absolutely necessary for the government to step up and take care of this issue. With such serious diseases going around like the Swine Flu, the only thing we need is a problem with our water. They need to update the Safe Drinking Water Act and include all the harmful chemicals in it. Meanwhile, they should inform people around the country to be cautious about drinking tap water. The American government should make this issue their top priority before it gets too out of hand.

News post # 14

Article: Police Shoot and Kill Man Outside Hotel in Times Square

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/police-shoot-man-at-hotel-in-times-square/?hp

Picture: Gunshots shattered glass of a store called Broadway Baby in Times Square.

Summary: Early Thursday morning when the streets of Times Square were filled with shoppers, a plainclothes policeman shot down a 25 year old man. The cop had confronted the man who was demanding tourists to buy CDs from him. The man was armed with a loaded Mac-10 semiautomatic pistol and had shot first when he was asked about what he was doing. The unidentified man was giving shoppers CDs, writing their names on it, and demanding they pay the $10 fee. According to the policeman, the vendor got in people's faces and intimidated them to buy his CDs. When the police sergeant approached the man to see if he had a tax stamp that allowed him to sell CDs, the man started running in the other direction toward 46th street. The cop started chasing him and the man opened fire. Eventually, the cop fatally shot the man. Medical workers came and took the man to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, where he died.

Conclusion: In my opinion, it was very fortunate that the cop was in the right place at the right time. Who knows how many could have been killed if the cop hadn't approached the individual who was aggressively trying to sell CDs. This also goes to show that shootings don't always have to happen in the middle of the night in back alley. Someone with a gun can be anywhere, even in broad daylight in the middle of such as busy place like Times Square. You have to be aware of your surroundings and always make sure you stay away from suspicious-looking people. Everyone was so lucky that the policeman got there in time and prevented anyone else from getting hurt.

News post #13

Article:

City to Shut 4 Schools for Poor Performance; More Closings Expected

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/nyregion/03closings.html?hpw

Summary: On Wednesday, The New York City Department of Education (NYCDE) announced that they will be closing four NYC schools whose performance has been lackluster over the years. The soon-to-be closed schools include a large technical high school in Brooklyn, one school in the Bronx, and two schools in Manhattan. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has already shut down 91 schools since 2002 during his plan to overhaul the city's school system. The deputy schools chancellor for strategy, John White, believes that school's administration is doing their best, but that the school simply doesn't "have the capacity to prepare students for the future". These four schools have been receiving a majority of F's and D's since 2002. The schools have been trying to turn around their performance for the better recently by hiring a new principal and working with parents, teachers, and students. These school closings need to be approved by the Panel for Educational Policy before officially closing. Students that are enrolled in the closing schools have the option to remain there until the closing is approved or transfer.

Opinion: It is a pity that New York City schools are closing,but if they can't prepare their students to be successful in life then they should be closed. Instead of taking such drastic measures by closing them maybe the NYCDE can continue trying to improve the schools and finding the root of the problem why they aren't living up to their potential. Other city schools may now become overcrowded due to less schools in the area and learning there might suffer as well. Panelists on the Panel for Educational Policy need to look at all the problems the school closings could cause before making their final decision.