Rebecca Ferguson

Her visit just made me realize how conflicted I am about the park renovation.

In truth, I've always thought that the excuses to rally against it by those opposed were a little ridiculous, "oh the trees are going to get cut down," "oh, my dog won't have a place to pee." Whatever. But that does not mean I am necessarily pro-renovation. And when Ms. Ferguson came to speak to us I realized that all of the excuses for the "anti" people were borne of propoganda. The trees will stay. Your dogs can still pee. Your kids can still be brats on the swing sets.

I think it has more to do with convenience, which is why I'm a little upset about the renovation as well. It's a hassle to see this ugly construction site where there once was beauty, and now your favorite spot to sit is completely destroyed and will stay that way for another two years (or seven. Things in New York never finish on time... consider the Cortlandt stop on the R Train. I saw a sign: "Re-opening Feb. 2006. That was over two years ago, and still nothing.)

The truth is, once the renovation is completed and everyone sees how nice it is people will shut up. It has nothing to do with politics, it's everything to do with "I don't have the patience, I want my park now!" Don't get me wrong, I'm just as impatient. But this whole "leftist political ideology?" Puh-leese, folks. Chill out.