Thursday, October 27, 2011

He shoulda been a contender


From the Daily News:

Sal Napolitano has built a reputation over the past four decades as the city's carousel man, helping fix and operate its priceless, historic merry-go-rounds.

But Napolitano's expertise wasn't enough to convince the Parks Department he could operate two carousels in Queens - even though he may have been the only bidder for a contract.

Earlier this month, agency officials rejected his bid to reopen the shuttered Forest Park Carousel and continue running the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Carousel.

There is no one lined up to reopen the Forest Park Carousel or take the reins of the more lucrative Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Carousel next year.

Parks officials declined to comment on their decision. Officials previously told the Daily News that the agency received "no viable proposals." A new Request for Proposals to operate both carousels is being prepared.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

What did you expect? This is Queens-- land of corruption and red tape.
Ineffective leadership that drags it's feet on everything.
Do you think this would have gone this long in Manhattan?

Anonymous said...

I can tell you why it was denied. Without even knowing Sal, his flaw was his name. Being of Italian heritage, he is seen as a mobster and thur not allowed to make an honest living.

Anonymous said...

the city is simply letting queens rot into the ground, while it focuses on Brooklyn and Manhattan, two more "tradable" names. It should come as no surprise.

Joe said...

That Flushing Meadows-Corona Park carousel is a total mess and sounds horrible. Its tuning is so off it actually sounds scarey.

The organs reeds haven't been tuned in 50 years, ripped air hoses,loose pipes simply removed (instead of repaired) and never put back on.
Shame on the parks dept father and sons running that park they need all be fired !

Anonymous said...

The Flushing Meadows Carousel has never looked better. Some of the horses and a chariot have been restored. Joe, the previous responder, does not know what he is talking about. The area is cleaner and I enjoy taking my grandson there.