At the Dump

At the Westerly, RI, Transfer Station.

Waiting for the three bears?

A Little Bird Told Me...

The first thing that catches the eye is the weird logo or mascot. What in God's name is it? Some kind of fashionista angel? On closer inspection, it seems to be an exotic beaked bird with a penchant for scarfs.

On closer inspection, the Shaffer Trucking Company (founded 1937, New Kingstown, Pennsylvania) truck has a blunter message: "Hillary - Dump Trump."

Stixit?

Silver Lake Park, S.I.

The sun sets on the Forgotten Borough. Is the timing ripe for a Staten Island exit from New York City? The warning signs are here: complaints about the tolls on the Verrazano, a growing Trump constituency, xenophobic rumblings, resentment of how the rest of the City perceives "the Rock."

"Stop the lying. Stop the stealing. Stop the misspending. Vote for Trump." 

Of course, this would not be the first time Staten Island considered secession. In 1993, with Governor Cuomo's blessing, 65% of the Island voted to go. But Mario had an ace up his sleeve: the State got the final say, and the fifth borough remained. (Read the S.I. Advance story here.)

At least, Staten Island never adopted its own currency. But we have plenty of our own golf courses, so we must be self-sufficient.

Swiftboating

The Jonathan Swift (reg. Monrovia), headed for the Port of Newark, passes in front of the John F. Kennedy Staten Island, headed for the St. George terminal.

These cargo ships make us all feel somewhat Lilliputian.

Иuggets

Does these topiary remind you of anything...?

Jewett Avenue, Staten Island.

Channeling the BQE

The windows are open on the Staten Island ferries these days. Allowing for easy shots, unobscured by the grime of decades, across the harbor to Brooklyn Heights and the BQE.

Waiter, There's a Bus in My Pho

Inside Pho Mac Vietnamese restaurant on Richmond Road, Staten Island. The expressway entrance is just across the street. So is a firehouse, but according to the waitress, the fire fighters never eat there, though cops do.

Verbs

South Gannon Road, just above the S.I. Expressway.

Crown & Crane

The spikes of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal poke up above Richmond Terrace, while a crane is poised to resume work on the new outlet mall. We await the groundbreaking for the world's largest ferris wheel.

Harbor Grays

Since the construction of the Uplands in Brooklyn Bridge Park, it has been difficult to enjoy the view of the harbor from the westbound lane of the BQE as you scoot under the Heights Promenade. But there are still a few momentary vantage points.

(Photo: F. Someki)

Asterisk

Foggy ride on the BQE.

A Little Perspective

(Photo: F. Someki)

 N.Y.C.T. Coney Island Rapid Transit Car Overhaul Shop from the Belt Parkway.