Clinical Trials Done in Good Faith

Today’s Report…
Clinical Trials Done in Good Faith
A new report from the Vera Institute of Justice confirms that the city acted in good faith throughout a program, which allowed children in foster care who had been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS to participate in clinical drug trials. The study did find that the city did not follow some of its own procedures during the trials and did not fill out the proper paperwork. The study was commissioned by the city after accusations arose that the children were participating without parental consent and that the drugs were known to cause death.

For the full report, visit here.

An Evening in Black and White From a Playwright Who Is Neither

An Evening in Black and White From a Playwright Who Is Neither

By PATRICK HEALY

Many playwrights dread sitting among their audiences: Nothing is quite as soul-killing as overhearing people savage your work in midperformance. But not Young Jean Lee.

Night after night this month at the Kitchen, the downtown Manhattan theater, she has gritted her teeth and felt her skin crawl at times while white and black audience members have audibly reacted — often along racial lines — to her new play, “The Shipment.”

Not that Ms. Lee is a masochist. She is, rather, a Korean-American writer who set out to challenge theatergoers over their own racial biases (conscious and otherwise) by working with black actors to create a play that explores African-American stereotypes, experiences, and their history as minstrel players. The title is based on a rap song that is about a shipment of drugs but that Ms. Lee said she felt also evoked the African slave trade. read more…[NYT]

Rail dumb, MTA! Platform at South Ferry station 1 inch too far from train

Rail dumb, MTA! Platform at South Ferry station 1 inch too far from train

BY PETE DONOHUE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, January 28th 2009, 1:00 AM
Antonelli/News

Quarter-size error on the positioning of platforms at South Ferry station will cost the MTA 200 grand to fix.

Oops!

A staggeringly basic blunder is delaying the grand opening of the MTA’s first new subway station in 20 years, the Daily News has learned.

The platform at the $530 million South Ferry station is a wee bit too far from the train tracks, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Recent inspections found gaps between the platform and No. 1 train cars up to 1 inch wider than federal rules allow, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed.

Riders will have to wait another three to four weeks before they can use the station while workers make some $200,000 in fixes, the MTA said yesterday. READ MORE…[NYDN]

Antonelli/News

Quarter-size error on the positioning of platforms at South Ferry station will cost the MTA 200 grand to fix.

Report Cites Unexplained Costs of New Parks in the Bronx

Robert Stolarik for The New York Times

The new Macombs Dam Park, atop a parking garage, will have more than seven acres for sports, strolling and other recreation.

Report Cites Unexplained Costs of New Parks in the Bronx

By RALPH BLUMENTHAL

With costs ballooning to replace two Bronx parks that were bulldozed for the new Yankee Stadium — the latest estimate is almost $195 million — the city’s Independent Budget Office said on Tuesday that more than $16 million of the higher expense “remains to be explained.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE…[NYT]