New York Current is designed to serve New York citizens news from the source- up to date information and features about what is happening on the city’s waterways and how it affects residents. We cover all areas related to water- development, sports, culture and more- as well as dry land  issues, just to be comprehensive.

The New York Current Radio Broadcast

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT CAN BE BEAUTIFUL - HIGH RISES WITH BALCONIES; WALKWAYS. WE APPRECIATE IT, BUT SELDOM THINK ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS. BACK IN MARCH 2008, MAYOR BLOOMBERG CALLED IT THE “WORST CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK CITY IN RECENT HISTORY.” A FATAL CRANE COLLAPSE KILLED SIX
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND A WOMAN VISITING FROM FLORIDA, WHEN THE CRANE SNAPPED, BRINGING DOWN 11,000 POUNDS OF STEEL IN TURTLE BAY, MANHATTAN. ALMOST FIVE YEARS LATER, THE SITE IS ONCE AGAIN STIRRING WITH ACTIVITY, WHICH SOMETIMES REMINDS RESIDENTS OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY. JENG-TYNG HONG REPORTS.

Turtle Bay Crane Collapse Site Revisited

NEW YORK CITY'S EVER-EVOLVING MARITIME INDUSTRY SUPPORTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN FREIGHT, TOURISM AND ECOLOGY - JOBS THAT EACH NEW GENERATION HAS TO FILL. PATRICE HOWARD TELLS US THE STORY OF ONE NEW YORK PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR WORK ON THE WATER.

Preparing Students for Jobs at Sea

IN OCTOBER 2011, MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNED A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A GREENWAY ALONG THE EAST RIVER, CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN 38TH AND 60TH STREETS. THE PLAN INCLUDES A LAND SWAP WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DEAL, THE CITY WILL GIVE UP A PARK IN TURTLE BAY. IT MAY ALSO LOSE THE HOCKEY LEAGUE THAT’S BEEN PLAYING AT THAT PARK SINCE THE EARLY 1970S. SALIMA KOROMA REPORTS.

Residents on offense vs. East River Greenway

WHEN ACTIVISTS AND POLITICIANS TACKLE URBAN POLLUTION, THEY MARCH IN THE STREETS OR MANEUVER THROUGH THE HALLS OF POWER. BUT HOW DO ARTISTS NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION? COLM O’MOLLOY REPORTS FROM NEWTOWN CREEK, WHERE A GROUP FROM GREENPOINT IS BATTLING THE BILGE WITH ART.

Battling The Bilge at Newtown Creek

BROOKLYN’S GOWANUS CANAL IS LEGENDARY IN NEW YORK CITY; MAINLY FOR ITS POLLUTION. IN 2010 THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY DECLARED THE CANAL A SUPERFUND SITE, SCHEDULING A CLEANUP THAT WILL COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND TAKE YEARS, IF NOT DECADES. ADAM GOLUB INVESTIGATES WHETHER WHAT SOME CALL A DUBIOUS SUPERFUND DISTINCTION WILL FINALLY LEAD TO A POLLUTION-FREE GOWANUS.

Cleaning Up Gowanus Canal

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT GROWING FOOD IN WATER - “HYDROPONICS” - IT CONJURES UP IMAGES OF A SCIENCE LAB, OR SOME CALIFORNIA COMMUNE. BUT ITS HAPPENING IN THE BRONX. REPORTER STEPHON DINGLE TAKES US THERE.

Growing Food Leads To Growing Kids

FOR MORE THAN A HALF A CENTURY, FLOCKS OF TEENAGE BOYS HAVE GATHERED ON HOT SUMMER DAYS AT THE STEEP CLIFFS JUST BEYOND THE NORTHERN TIP OF MANHATTAN TO JUMP 90 FEET DOWN INTO THE COOL SWIRLING CURRENTS WHERE THE HARLEM RIVER MEETS THE HUDSON. TODAY,THEY STILL DO. THE NARROW WATERWAY IS CALLED SPUYTEN DUYVIL CREEK. LEGEND HAS IT THE FIRST MAN TO SWIM ACROSS THE CREEK - A DUTCHMAN - SAID HE WAS DOING SO -- SPUYTEN DUYVIL,“IN SPITE OF THE DEVIL.” VALERIE PLESCH INTRODUCES US TO A COUPLE OF YOUNG DAREDEVILS... WHO’VE SINCE GROWN UP.

Taking The Plunge At Spuyten Duyvil Creek

THE NORTHERN MANHATTAN WATERFRONT OFFERS BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE HUDSON RIVER AND THE NEW YORK SKYLINE. BUT SOME RESIDENTS SAY RESTAURANTS NEAR THE WATER’S EDGE ARE DRAWING TOO MUCH TRAFFIC - AND GROWING TOO LOUD. EMILY JONES REPORTS.