About a month ago, we received a story idea and a picture from a reader. It concerned cigarette butts and the general attitude of smokers not to treat them as trash. Though this might be considered more of a national or worldwide subject, because many residents in LIC live in tall towers and have balconies and terraces, many of us have experienced falling butts, lit and unlit, either directly or in the aftermath in cleaning them up.
The only question I ask is, under what rationale do the majority of smokers believe that their cigarette butts are not litter? They are made of plastic and not biodegradable, nevertheless a recent survey found that 35% of smokers discard them on the ground.
Enough from me, here is the original letter and pic I received to spur your outrage. If you agree, feel free to start the movement to clean up cigarette butts right here in LIC.
“I witnessed two individuals throw their cigarette butts on the ground while crossing the road on Vernon and 50th today around 2pm. Upon alerting them of their error, they said, “like there isn’t any other trash on the ground.” I am a firm believer we are either part of the solution or the problem. By sharing their image, may we remind them to keep our trash off of our streets. Let’s keep the trash out of LIC. When I snapped their photo and said I would send it to the local blogs they said, “go right ahead but do you know where your phone battery ends up, in a landfill!” I hope they will be more responsible moving forward.”
Signed,
A concerned, long term, LIC resident.
//Live Music at the Gantries – with nary a press release, the 2015 concert series began at the Gantries last week. Why should you care? First of all it’s convenient and free. Secondly, given the perfect setting overlooking Manhattan, for many of these musicians playing the Gantries is akin to playing Madison Square Garden. So grab some food and a small bottle of SoCo, and party on. Here’s the schedule:
Tues @ 7pm: July 21, 28/Aug 4, 11, 18, 25
Wed @ 7pm: July 29
Thur @ 7pm: July 16, 23, 30
Sun @ 5pm: Aug 9, 16, 23, 30/Sep 6
//This Saturday, July 18 is City of Water Day. From 10am to 4pm there will be numerous activities along LIC’s waterfront. Check the schedule below for all the programs.
Oh My, A Whole Organization Dedicated to Fighting the Scourge
Live at The Gantries – full schedule including the acts that are playing on each night
City of Water Day Schedule – free walk-up kayaking, need we say more?
See How Much of NYC Will Be Under Water in 200 Years – speaking of water… All of LIC, and not just the waterfront
Dance Party @ PS1 – the New Yorker gives it’s spin on Warm-Up
Ribs, Ramen, and the Chonut @ Smorgasburg – pics of the event this past Saturday
The Plans: Brooklyn Boulder – LIC’s 2nd climbing gym coming to Dutch Kills in the fall
Kathleen says
July 16, 2015 at 3:38 pmThank you for raising this issue. I was recently at a lovely 4th of July party at a terrace at the Linc building, which was almost ruined because a discarded cigarette butt, tossed from many stories above us, landed inches away from the infant in my arms.
venusasaboy says
July 18, 2015 at 10:26 pmthank you for spotlighting this issue. i sometimes think I am the only one who is driven insane by this issue on a daily basis. cultural norms in our country’s urban centers that we need to change.
get me out says
July 21, 2015 at 5:49 amtypical lic douche and doucehette
counting the days until i am gone from lic