| AUGUST
14,
2004 --
Dear Delegates,
Please forgive the nature of what is essentially a form letter.
I doubt, however, that I would have the opportunity to hand you
a memo from LPR as you enter, or leave, Madison Square Garden for
your deliberations. (Except you are not deliberating over anything,
are you -- just applauding and cheering on cue, I believe.)
Once the convention started with a keynote address, then a platform
fight, and nomination third day and acceptance on the fourth and
last day.
Now, a national political convention -- for Democrats
and GOP -- is occasion to visit an American city.
Accordingly, LPR here takes note of additional places that might
be of interest to you, during your New York City stay.
The Empire State Building is that nearest major tourist attraction
to the convention venue at Madison Square Garden, just two very
long blocks east on 34th and 33rd streets.
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The
upper floors of the Empire State Building, looking north
on Sixth Avenue.
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Nine blocks
north, up Seventh Avenue
is The New York Times, at 229 West 43rd Street, across from "42nd
Street" -- the musical, not the street, which, happily,
is one block away.
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The
Main Entrance at the New York Times, West 43rd Street.
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And wouldn't
it be something if Republicans were to demonstrate in front
of the Times building, before marching to their convention
rubberstamping.
(From LPR's perspective, even Dennis Kucinich is starting to
look good.)
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"Dennis
Kucinich for President" posters (photo taken
in Wisconsin, last February).
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Some delegates
are scheduled to see Bombay Dreams, at the Broadway Theater
ten blocks north of the Times, at
53rd and Broadway.
This theater is just across the street
from the Ed Sullivan Theater, where "Late Show with David Letterman" is
taped.
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The
Marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theatre, where the Late Show
with David Letterman tapes, on Seventh near 53rd.
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Continue
up Broadway, past Columbus Circle, and you will find Lincoln
Center in the 60's with some some curious statuary at the plaza
entrance, if they are still there, end of August, for you to
wonder at.
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An
interesting exhibit at Lincoln Center.
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A
view of the Avery Fisher Hall, with a slight glimpse
of the Metropolitan Opera House (left), at Lincoln Center.
The Avery Fisher Hall is home to the New York Philharmonic.
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Are there any
Republican delegates who like the music that John Lennon gave
us? LPR caught a tour bus making a left turn up Central Park
West, off 72nd Street, perhaps to tell passengers about the Dakota,
at this corner, and the
night Lennon was murdered. Also to tell
passengers about the "Imagine" memorial for Lennon
just inside the park at 72nd Street, close by Strawberry Fields.
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The
Red Bus on 72nd turning north on Central Park West.
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The
John Lennon "Imagine" Memorial in Central
Park, at the 72nd Street and Central Park West entrance.
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If
you go into the park on the weekend, or during a weekday, between
morning and evening rush hours, you can walk on the park drives.
But don't think you
are free of peril.
LPR saw one person on the ground after a bike collision, the morning of August
8, and a rollerskater on the ground, bleeding from the head, the evening of August
9. These accident victims did not collide with autos.
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A
Central Park bike accident.
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Look both ways
when crossing the park drives and don't speed, not even on a bike
or on roller skates.
What bridge in New York City has the same initials as your presidential nominee?
It does seem that George Washington Bridge is ailing somewhat. An omen for the
GOP's imminent political future?
There are a number of places in Manhattan that delegates can retreat to for peace
and serenity and away from the clamoring, contentious, condescending New York
Democrats -- those who have not fled the city, that is, during your presence.
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The
East Tower of the GWB (Bridge, not Bush).
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The furthest
place of refuge is Fort Tryon Park, about ten blocks north of GWB,
on Fort Washington Avenue. (By subway, take the A train -- as Duke
Ellingon
advised--and get off at 190th Street.)
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Fort
Tryon Park, above the George Washington Bridge.
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Fort Tryon Park
includes a lovely flower garden, a cafe, and The Cloisters, home
to much of the Metropolitan Museum's
medieval collection. In the garden are park benchs with small memorial plaques,
including plaques to Louis Kissinger and Paula Kissinger, parents of Henry
A.Kissinger, who grew up nearby.
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Louis
Kissinger memorial plaque on a bench in Fort Tryon
Park, at the Heather Garden.
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The
Paula Kissinger memorial plaque also on a bench, in
Fort Tryon Park. Perhaps benches they would occupy
on visits to the park
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Virginia and
Maryland delegates should know that there is a plaque in the park
taking note of the service of troops from
these states at this place, November, 1776.
How fitting it would be if members of these delegations visited Fort Tryon Park
to reaffirm the bonds that link their states to New York, bonds transcending
partisanship and transient matters of public policy, -- bonds created by commitment
to what Lincoln termed, "government of the people, by the people, and for
the people."
Yours
truly,
David R. Zukerman
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LPR Open Letter to the Delegates 
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