‘It
don’t mean a thing if…’
After
a long pause, a brave soul spoke up: “To swing.” Satisfied with the young bass
player’s interpretation of a rhythm section’s function, trumpeter and “jazz
spokesman” Wynton Marsalis replied, “To swing… Hard.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Welcome to Wynton’s place, where the
standards of excellence are specific and the understanding of history and
tradition are of the utmost importance. During a master class at the Eastman
School of Music last Friday, Marsalis continued his quest to push the
importance of jazz music (sometimes to the exclusion of other musics) and
encourage the youth of America to aim towards excellence and to “purify [their]
thought.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The class began with Wynton
successfully putting the student performers at ease (any pressure of performing
for Wynton was multiplied by the hyper-charged media that stared with cameras
poised) by reminiscing about his childhood experiences with clinicians: “They
said I was sad, I didn’t like ’em. They said I was good, I liked ’em.” After
the students’ rendition of Duke Ellington’s “C Jam Blues,” Marsalis dug in,
focusing most of his comments on issues like confidence, time, communication,
and, of course, swing. Equating historical understanding with sophistication,
legitimacy, and integrity, Wynton encouraged all the musicians to study up, as
“there’s a vocabulary of American Music that you’re responsible for every time
you play.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย In true Wynton Marsalis fashion,
charismatic comments to the young musicians were often given in the form of
sports or food analogies, and every now and then were sprinkled with subtle
jabs at avant-garde and popular music. (He mentioned that many musicians
“turned to ‘art-improvisation music’ to escape the challenges of swing.”)
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Despite this, Marsalis was able to
get at many things that the students could work on to improve their playing in
this genre. And for many, just the presence of such a great trumpeter was
enough to push their jazz playing to a new level.
—
Josh Rutner
No
home improvement
The
federal housing program known as
“Section 8” keeps an affordable roof over many a family’s head. More than two
million households in the US receive Section 8 vouchers, which ensure that
low-income tenants don’t pay more than 30 to 40 percent of their income for
shelter (rent plus utilities). The program is no substitute for true social
policy on housing, but it accomplishes a good deal: The tenants can avoid
homelessness and better afford food and other essentials; the landlords get
market-rate rents for their properties; the local economy is at least
stabilized.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Trouble is, funding for Section 8 is
chronically short, and many eligible families are left in the lurch. In
Rochester, for example, the waiting list for Section 8 vouchers runs to
something like 6,000 names. The Rochester Housing Authority, which administers
the program, has resorted to a lottery system to give tenants a fairer shot at
securing a voucher. In 2001, says the RHA website, more than 5,300 application/lottery
cards were submitted; just 2,500 names were drawn.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย You’d think that during a recession
— or whatever our leaders are calling it this week — the Section 8 program
would be a good candidate for increased funding. But the US Congress and one
influential local Representative have a different idea.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The Senate and House recently
grappled with Section 8 funding, and after some parliamentary sleight-of-hand
with cost projections, etc., things are not looking good. According to a
September 5 report in the New York Times,
there could be 114,000 fewer vouchers available next year — around the same
number of vouchers that New York City issues annually by itself. (There are
150,000 families on the Big Apple’s waiting list, says the Times.)
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The lowball funding could prevent
the renewal of many current vouchers, say some observers. But US Representative
Jim Walsh, a Republican-Conservative who represents parts of Monroe County and
points east, contests this. He told the Times that the recently approved Congressional funding would be sufficient. The
House, he said, “provided a 7 percent increase, which is more than the
president requested.” He did not, however, address the Congressional Budget
Office finding that to renew all vouchers, the House would have to allocate
$900 million more than it did.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The Congressman also told the Times, apparently with a straight face,
that none of this is related to recent federal tax cuts. (Walsh’s press
secretary did not return a call for comment by press time.)
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Michael Hanley, a Rochester attorney
who specializes in housing with the Greater Upstate Law Project, says the “big
issue” is “whether the total number of families served will be less in this
area.” He fears that “600 or so” local families might be out of luck. “This is
the first time people may be losing ground,” he says. He adds that any
shortfall would represent “a real loss to the local economy.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The loss is felt first in low-income
households, of course. A brand new report from the National Low Income Housing
Coalition notes the “average income earned by families with extremely low
incomes… is $8.34 an hour.” At this level, says the report, no family in any
state in the nation can afford the fair-market rent on a two-bedroom home.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย But the inadequacy of public subsidies
and programs causes damage across the community, too. For one thing, lower
subsidies can lead to lower property values in low-income neighborhoods and
widen the gap between jurisdictions. And we’re already pretty far down that
road. Consider this: In 2002 the city of Rochester, with a population of
219,000, had a total full-value assessment of $4.711 billion. The town of
Pittsford, population 27,000, came in at $2.075 billion. If federal subsidies
slip ever downward, comparisons drawn after the next census will be even more
stunning.
Making
(air) waves
If
you’ve had trouble tuning in jazz on WGMC 90.1 and 105.1 FM in recent weeks,
it’s not your radio’s fault. The station has been off the air for a while
during the installation of its new tower. WGMC is now back on the air. And the
tower that’s been the focus of countless fund-drives is now a 199-foot-high
reality on the reinforced roof of Greece Athena High School.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย But that doesn’t mean the
fundraising is over. The $35,000 tower was Phase I of a plan to make the
station’s signal reach across the entire metropolitan area. During Phase II,
WGMC needs to raise another $30,000 by the end of December (when its permit
expires) to purchase a transmitter. The transmitter, along with a $20,000 antenna
(to be purchased with funds already in the bank) will complete the station’s
goal.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “We’re just one step away from truly
becoming Rochester’s Jazz station,” says station manager Jason Crane. “The
support from the community has been outstanding.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The station’s future also involves
the recent addition of well-known local jazz DJ Forrest Cummings. Rather than
accept an inconvenient new timeslot at his long-time home, WRUR 88.5 FM, during
a recent shake-up to allow collaboration with WXXI 1370 AM and 91.5 FM,
Cummings has brought his show to WGMC and can be heard Saturdays from 5 to 7
p.m.
—
Ron Netsky
First
volley
Labor
Day marked the official onset of political
campaign season and no spaghetti dinner is safe.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Maggie Brooks got her mug and her
message on television with the first of what presumably will be a long line of
ads. Brooks, the Republican candidate for county executive, followed her TV
debut with a press conference, pledging to make jobs the top issue of her
campaign. “Voters are talking about one issue — jobs, jobs, jobs in Monroe
County,” she said. Her very first action if elected, Brooks said, will be to
make sure any company receiving county government tax benefits will have to use
local labor in its new construction or expansion.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย She also vowed to create an economic
roundtable to remedy the “disconnect” between government and local businesses,
community members, and higher education. Brooks blasted Rochester Mayor Bill
Johnson’s record on jobs. There were approximately 10,000 fewer city residents
employed in 2000 than in 1990, according to census figures. “The mayor has a
record and it’s nothing to brag about,” she said.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Johnson got a little help from
Democratic Party boss Molly Clifford, who called the county clerk’s television
ads nothing more than “an attempt to qualify herself for the campaign.” In a
press release, Clifford credits Johnson with creating more than 10,000 jobs
during his tenure and retaining more than 20,000 jobs. She also cites $445
million in new investments in 1,067 companies under Johnson.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The mayor has played a role in
bringing the fast ferry, bus terminal, and soccer stadium — all projects in
development — to Rochester. “One person in this campaign has demonstrated
leadership ability and the qualifications for the job,” Clifford said. “The
other — Clerk Brooks — does not.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Johnson himself turned up at a
meeting of the Greece Rotary Club and a dinner for the National Association of
Women in Construction. Johnson’s own television campaign got underway in July.
Asked if the mayor would crank up the TV action now that Brooks has hit the
airwaves, Johnson spokesman Travis Heider said that Johnson’s camp believes
debates, not “a 30-second sound bite,” are the best way for voters to hear from
candidates.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Let the games begin.
Way
below radar
You
vs. terrorism
You
may not think much of Rochester Gas and Electric during a blackout. But at
least the utility’s helping to fight the War On Terrorism. RG&E has
included a booklet recently with electric bills that should allay all your
deepest fears. It proclaims “You Can Help Prevent Terrorism, Too.”
Yes, now every one of you with too much time on your hands and an itchy
phone-finger can help make America safe again.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย What does the handy tract suggest?
“Know the routines. Be alert as you go about your daily business. This
will help you to learn the normal routines of your neighborhood, community, and
workplace.” And why is this useful? “Understanding these routines
will help you spot anything out of place.” For instance, if you see
somebody in a behemoth S.U.V. NOT talking in smug oblivion on their cell phone,
that’s certainly an anomaly that deserves closer watch.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Other helpful hints include:
“Take what you hear seriously.” For example, if TV newspeople claim
that steroidal musclemen with German accents are running for public office, you
best put your whole family on red alert.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “Be on the lookout for
suspicious activities,” the pamphlet instructs us, but in no way defines
the term “suspicious.” We suspect that the guy next door drinks way
too much Sterno and the woman across the street is having an affair with the
kid who cuts her lawn. And we can even marshal some evidence to prove these
points. But we also suspect no one really cares.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Much more useful was the New York
Terrorism Tips Hotline, also touted in your electric bill. The woman on the
other end of the line explained that they collect information on
“suspicious activities.” When asked what exactly that meant, she said
“for instance, if you saw a group of people video taping a bridge or
reservoir or other piece of critical infrastructure,” you should report
it. If you see people “who don’t belong there” hanging around a
reservoir, you certainly should call John Ashcroft.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย We asked how to tell the difference
between terrorists and a family on vacation taking home videos of their
lakeside campsite. She said they should not be reported, “if they’re
obviously not terrorists” and left it at that. There you have it, your tax
dollars at work keeping you safe. After all, if you say the words
“tourist” and “terrorist” quickly, they sound suspiciously
the same.
—
Th. Metzger
Correcting
ourselves
In
last week’s Metro Ink, we referred to an air-polluting power plant on the Lake
Erie shore in Chautauqua County. We got it mixed up with the Carlson plant in
Jamestown, Chautauqua County. The plant on the lakeshore is the Dunkirk Steam
Station. Both plants are coal-burners.
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2003.
