Upper Green Side

The Case for Physically Separated Bike Lanes

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As the weather gets nicer and people feel more like getting out on their bikes to get around town, it’s a good time to think about how we could make cycling safer and more convenient in NYC. One of the best ways to encourage more cycling in NYC is to create more physicially separated bike lanes and greenways in our area.

What would physically separated bike lanes look like in NYC? Probably something like this:

If static pictures tell a thousand words, a short video is probably worth a whole book. Streetfilms Clarence Eckerson put together this great video featuring The Open Planning Project’s Mark Gorton, former NYC DOT Commissioner Sam Schwartz, former Mayor of Bogata Columbia Enrique Penalosa, many folks from Transportation Alternatives and other folks to demonstrate how physically separated bike lanes can revolutionize cycling in NYC. Sit back and enjoy this short film

Meet Ms. Green Clean

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This week, Upper Green Side caught up with Cori Morenberg, otherwise known as Ms. Green Clean. Cori is one of NYC’s eco-entrepreneurs. She runs a small business that cleans people’s apartments in an eco-friendly manner.

UGS: Can you describe your business? How did you get started?

Cori: Luckily, a cleaning business is relatively easy to start and there’s not much financial investment. Of course, there was a good amount of research involved regarding non-toxic cleaning recipes and products, hepa-filtered vacuum cleaners, business and pricing structures, where to buy printed t-shirts, business cards. I had to learn how to make a bed properly. Things like that.

UGS: What did you do before you started the business? How was the transition to being an eco-entrepreneur?

It was a pretty natural transition for me. I have a B.A. in Botany from Miami University, Ohio. During college I worked at Greenpeace and after school I worked at the New York Botanical Garden and the Wildlife Conservation Society in the Bronx. I wanted a job that I could feel good about at the end of the day and where I could be my own boss and make my own schedule. Starting Ms. Green-Clean was the perfect career answer for me.

UGS: How has it grown since you founded it?

Cori: I actually got my first client call several months back, before I was even ready to begin. I was still working on the website and had done no advertising. But they found the site so the business was launched! My clientele increases every week.

UGS: What types of products do you use? Are these available in local stores?

Cori: All the cleaning products we use are made from simple and naturally-derived ingredients. They contain no VOC’s, or volatile organic compounds. I use a lot of borax, a miracle cleaner as far as I’m concerned. In well-stocked grocery stores it’s sold as “Boraxo” in the cleanser section, or as “20-Mule Team Borax” in the laundry section. I also use “Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner,” also available in many grocery stores. “Bon Ami,” a mineral-derived non-abrasive cleanser is a mainstay in my supply bag. We also use vinegar, baking soda and simple soaps. And I like to use a diffuser while we work to disperse different mixtures of essential oils into the air for an aromatherapy perk.

Continue reading Meet Ms. Green Clean…

BRINGING BABY UP GREEN

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This week, contributing Upper Green Side writer Amber Roniger explores life for an Upper East Side Mom from an environmental perspective.

It ‘aint easy being green (as Kermit can attest to). We all know this from personal experience. It requires a huge amount of awareness, diligence and dedication to be environmentally conscious in the NYC. I don’t go in much for Jewish guilt (contrary to my upbringing), but I do feel a certain twinge at times when I simply don’t feel like washing out the General Tsao’s Tofu tin, or sorting through the recycling. And yet, I persist. Truly, consistency is key if we are all to contribute meaningfully toward getting our city green. I’ll take a boost wherever I can find it and I definitely draw inspiration from those around me. Most particularly from citizen-mom extraordinaire, Jen Levin, who is my own personal mom-icon. Jen is green from head to toe… well, as much as is humanly possible. Especially when juggling two small children (with the aid of her fantab husband, but still, it ‘aint easy). I’ve long admired Jen’s top-drawer mama’ing skills and her green-leaning lifestyle. She was generous to share some excellent tips and tidbits for green mothering on the Upper East Side.
Continue reading BRINGING BABY UP GREEN…

Greenmarket Renewal Victory

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Last night Upper Green Side turned out over 30 people on a cold night to attend the community board meeting to discuss the renewal of the Greenmarkets at St. Stephen’s Church on 82nd Street (between First and York) and the Isaacs/Holmes Towers on First Avenue (between 92nd and 93rd Streets). We had also lined up letters of support from Borough President Scott Stringer and both Councilmembers Lappin and Garodnick and collected over 300 signatures. CM Garodnick even came in person to report what a success the greenmarkets had been and advocate for the renewal of the Greenmarkets. Micah Kellner, who is running for an Assembly seat in the area, attended to support the renewal of the Greenmarkets.

The discussion began with Father Angelo of St. Stephen’s church talking about how the Greenmarket had added to the life of the community and been a boon to the neighborhood. He added that the operators of the Greenmarkets, Council on the Environment of NYC, was a “class act” in that they were quiet in the morning, the farmers brought great produce and how they thoroughly cleaned up afterward.

Many others lent their voices to the Greenmarkets and there was no real opposition to these two greenmarkets so the Community Board Street Fairs Committee voted unanimously to renew the two markets. The next step for formal approval is for the Full Community Board to approve them on March 21st.

Upper Green Side thanks everyone who lent their voices to support the renewal of the markets. We’ll see you in July