Citigroup chair and CEO Jane Fraser, speaking at an event at the Council of Foreign Relations last evening, got around to fintech competition, leaving me thinking of a peeve I have with her biggest rival, J.P. Morgan Chase. Noting that Citi has the largest global physical presence of any U.S. commercial bank, Fraser observed thatContinue reading “Chase, Fintech and a Dinosaur’s Paper Checks”
Category Archives: General Blog
A Woman Who Fostered New Americans
As the immigration wrestles continue in the streets and courts and in Washington politics, America lost a great “reformer” on the matter last month. Florence Phillips died at age 95 after spending nearly 20 years helping probably thousands of newcomers to the U.S. learn the basics of belonging here and ideally become citizens. Her EnglishContinue reading “A Woman Who Fostered New Americans”
40 Years of Opening Up Hamptons Public Spaces
“Public-private partnerships” usually refer to some kind of development project. But they can also be the opposite, a form of nature preservation. That’s been a frequent occurrence in recent decades on the East End of Long Island, N.Y. One form this has taken is a willingness of civic groups to look after properties that aContinue reading “40 Years of Opening Up Hamptons Public Spaces”
Build But Don’t Park Here? A Town Says No To That
Zoning reformers want to get rid of some strictures that were written into urban and suburban planning laws in the 1900s. Mostly, these changes are pushed by New Urbanists or YIMBY* activists who seek to remove “exclusionary” regulations that deter new housing, especially for potential residents of lesser wealth or income. But, not surprisingly, theseContinue reading “Build But Don’t Park Here? A Town Says No To That”
Big Part of Phone Costs Is In the Small Text
Recently I succumbed to replacing my mobile phone. Though I chose one of the simpler Android models, and avoided nearly all add-on accessories, the price jumped up as I got to checkout. The reason: New York’s voracious taxing authorities. Whether it be on monthly usage bills or on purchases of the devices, governments have seizedContinue reading “Big Part of Phone Costs Is In the Small Text”
Echoes of the ’70s in a Changed Sag Harbor
As the village of Sag Harbor, N.Y., sought fitfully in the 1970s to renew itself, two young men from west of the Shinnecock Canal–a symbolic divide in the Hamptons real-estate game, which is mostly to the east–came to play notable roles. One was Ted Conklin, who purchased the American Hotel on Main Street—a hostelry andContinue reading “Echoes of the ’70s in a Changed Sag Harbor”
Political Upheaval on the Southampton Shores
Amid the national “blue wave” at the polls Tuesday, engaged Southampton Town Democrats scored another triumph, most notably in sweeping five trustee seats, traditionally a Republican redoubt in much of New York’s Long Island. Town trustees manage the various (and many) waterfronts, including both salt and fresh-water ponds (aka lakes). They are distinct from theContinue reading “Political Upheaval on the Southampton Shores”
Gridiron Riches Aren’t for Everybody on Saturdays
The “college” football season is in high gear, with ever bigger dollars flowing through what is actually a business. As a result–and also to raise their profile in attracting more students and fans–ever more schools are joining the bigtime (expensive) competition. Paradoxically, this is occurring even as participation rates in high-school football have declined noticeablyContinue reading “Gridiron Riches Aren’t for Everybody on Saturdays”
When YIMBY Comes to a Southampton Hamlet
Providing “affordable housing” in the midst of a price surge on the East End of Long Island, N.Y., is challenging enough—but the additional political wrinkles that come with each specific project were on display this month at a community-board meeting in the North Sea hamlet of Southampton town. It took place not far from whereContinue reading “When YIMBY Comes to a Southampton Hamlet”
Text Journalists Should Stick to Their Keyboards
I’m sorry to be seeing and hearing so many of America’s ranking journalists. And why is that? The mission of the journalist is to Find Stuff Out, and ideally convey the Stuff clearly, concisely and accurately. That’s why we bemoan the shrinkage and even closure of so many news staffs, particularly at the local level.Continue reading “Text Journalists Should Stick to Their Keyboards”
Tim W. Ferguson 