What Can the Wealthy Buy For Ten Million Dollars?
[Prototype page – in progress]
Manhattan’s Smith Houses public housing project, home to 5,739
people, is located adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge and is just a short walk
from the Wall Street financial district. It is one of the oldest low income
housing projects of the New York City Housing Authority.
One the day of sudden disaster, September 11, 2001,
thousands of people working in the financial district were forced to escape by
foot. Not only was the footpath on Brooklyn Bridge packed with Wall Street
professionals and workers in business attire carrying brief cases, but the
walkways of Smith Houses were loaded with escapees. For the vast majority it
was the first time they ever entered the grounds of a public housing project.
Sixteen years later Wall Street is not only recovered, the
World Trade Center has been rebuilt, but is booming with business. Yet Smith
Houses is experiencing a slow motion hidden demolition. It is rotting away due
to unconscionable neglect.
The piping system in Smith House’s 1,931 homes is 66 years
old and rust has rendered the pipes paper thin, ready to break and leak at any
time, causing serious and extensive damage and leading to hazardous mold
infestations.
The cost to replace the pipes in 12 buildings is estimated
at ten million dollars, yet there is no government-based funding to correct
this urgent problem, this impending disaster.
The solution may turn out to be to request charitable
donations – from Smith’s Wall Street neighbors. Call it the Pipes for People campaign.
Ten Million dollars is a lot of money, right? In order to
gauge what this kind of money can buy these days let’s take look at what
a wealthy person might pick up if they want to drop $10 million on a single purchase.
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1. Pipes for People? - $10 million (estimate)
2. 2017 La Ferra La Porta - $10 million
3. 1794 US Silver Dollar
4. Wedding (Kardashian style)
5. Embrarer Phenome 300E
6. Vacheron Constantin watch
7. Northern Marine Yacht
8. Painting by Joan Miro
9. Horse – Havre de Grace sold as hip #76
10. Diamond, 404 carat, Lula mine, Angola
11. Stamp, One-Cent Magenta from British Guiana, 1856
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Or, for the same amount of money, badly needed new pipes for 12 buildings where 5,739 low-income New Manhattan residents make their home.
What do you think is the best choice?
What do you think is the best choice?
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What is galvanized steel piping?
Galvanized steel plumbing pipes are pipes made of steel, and
coated with zinc to prevent rusting. This is commonly done by dipping the pipes
in a molten zinc bath. These pipes and fittings were commonly installed in
homes prior to 1950 (some sites say it was used until the 1960s). Over time,
the galvanized steel pipes begin to rust or corrode from the inside out,
resulting in reduced water pressure and restricted water flow. This presents an
increased risk of leaks or ruptures occurring in the pipes and the potential
for flood damage. Corrosion also occurs to steel when it is connected directly
to copper or brass.
What is the life expectancy?
Galvanized steel pipes have an average life expectancy of 40
to 50 years. Since these have not been installed since, at the very latest, the
1960’s, these would all have passed their expected lifespan. If your supply
lines are made of galvanized steel, there is constant water pressure pushing
the water towards the faucets, placing pressure on the corroded pipes. If your
waste lines are made of galvanized steel, there is less pressure on them, as
the waste liquid is just flowing out of the home, and the lifespan may be a bit
longer.
Source: “Getting to know galvanized steel plumbing,” Square
One Insurance Services
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Smith Houses construction was completed in 1953. Therefore
the proper time to replace the pipes was, at the latest, 2003.
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In the weeks following September 11, the wind direction changed and sent toxic smoke toxic dust from the still burning disaster site directly into smith houses, penetrating window seals and depositing a layer and dust in every department.
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In the weeks following September 11, the wind direction changed and sent toxic smoke toxic dust from the still burning disaster site directly into smith houses, penetrating window seals and depositing a layer and dust in every department.
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