Times Square JumboTron Inanity Coming To 125th?
A Harlem Fur tipster passes on a faxed information sheet about a proposed digital community information center (basically a giant TV screen) for 125th St and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. Apparently, Community Board 10 is actually considering this thing.
Anyway, as if information on a 'digital community information center' arriving by fax doesn't raise a big enough red flag, the text basically comes wrapped in flashing red lights:
Harlem Community Information Center (HCIC) will be the first digital community information center on 125th Street and will provide the community with up to date information on everything that's going on in Harlem. From weather, news and health tips to fashion and historical tidbits, HCIC will provide Harlem with a high technology center of information. HCIC will provide a constant flow of programming focused on "Harlem-centric" information as well as opportunities for local and national businesses to promote their businesses and services to Harlem consumers... (Ed- There is more, but I got sick of typing it up.)
Okay, this basically sounds like a giant version of the digital ad stations above some urinals around town. Hooray, this will really class up the joint.
125th Street photo swiped from The Idealistic Philosopher on Flickr.
Comments
Do you really want 125th street to be another 42nd street? I'm all for sprucing up Harlem's main street but this is not the way to do it. Advertisers interested in Harlem sell thug-wear, liquor, beer, and images that are down right negative portrayals of women of color. Do we need 25' of ugly advertising? CIC principles are community members but I can not support a project just because they are nice colored folk. CB 10 take a long hard look at this project before signing off on a letter of support.
Posted by: Siditty | April 24, 2007 10:46 AM
Commenter #1 good point...I went out with my camera this weekend and shot clusters of liquor billboards within close proximity to parks and community centers. Why is it targeted at certain neighborhoods? You don't see it in "nicer" areas and suburbs and those folks drink as much as the next guy.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 24, 2007 03:37 PM
There was a time in Harlem when the community churches were up in arms about these billboards of trash. I don't know what happened to the energy generated by the ministers.
Posted by: Siditty | April 24, 2007 08:55 PM
I will OBEY CIMBI!!!
That is the cutest thing out there. Sorry to see that you guys are falling prey to the billboard/advertising issue. But how could you not expect it with 125th being so....dare I say....gentrified? It is all part of that neverending process called progress. Developers = money = power = freedom to do whatever the heck you want = PROGRESS
At least be happy in knowing that you are not alone. San Francisco might not be a big city (although they swear they are HA!) I am struggling with the Big Developers in our little 'hood called Hunter's Point that contains 80% of all SF's minority population. And yet we are still making headway.
Neighborhood organizing is always grassroots based and often gets the most done. one thing I have learned from living on the left coast is how to be a community organizer/activist. And NO!!! I am not a granola eating, birkenstock wearing hippie dippy tofu vegan. But I do admit to being a tree hugger. :)
So hang in there guys. Try to find out how this stuff gets passed through City Hall. Step up and sya something before there is nothing left to say about anything.
Hanging with ya in San Fran
Melita
Posted by: Melita | April 25, 2007 12:56 PM
Maybe we can put a large advertisement on the jumbotron so that some government official will take notice - GET RID OF THE MASSIVE PROJECTS THAT SEEM TO RUN FOR OVER A THIRD OF MANHATTAN ISLAND FROM 115th ON DOWN TO 112TH, THEY ARE NOT HELPING THOSE PEOPLE - THEY ARE ONLY KEEPING THEM DOWN AND THEIR CHILDREN - AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN- AND THEIR CHILDREN
Posted by: getridoftheprojects | June 11, 2007 10:40 PM
Look at that picture!!! While those are not the MASSIVE 3 block 5 avenue projects that run from 112th to 115th and from Lenox to the east, those projects will prevent 125th turning into 42nd street.
SHUT 'EM DOWN!!!
Posted by: g | June 17, 2007 10:11 PM