Thesis Presentation May 1 2012

1. “Bureaucracy is the death of all sound work”—Albert Einstein

2. Checks & Balances: Designing for the Public Forum
Elisabetta Di Stefano | M.S. Communication/Packaging Design | Prof. Tom Klinkowstein

3. Books that inspired my thesis.

4. HYPOTHESIS Statement
Local governmental agencies are built on opaque forms of
organization and communication (bureaucracies), whose impenetrable
structure discourages citizen involvement in a democratic life.
This thesis presents the hypothesis that individual Communication
Designers, alone or in league with one another, powered by the
enlightened self-interest of working within their own communities and
equipped with the ability to create clarity and participation by
non-textual means, may be a lever to instigate transparency, reform
and increase civic engagement.
Elisabetta Di Stefano | M.S. Communication/Packaging Design | Prof. Tom Klinkowstein

5. What is bureaucracy?
A form of government and/or administration
characterized by excessive “red tape” and
routine; where the true power lies in the hands
of committees who dictate policy and bureaus
that carry them out, with little accountability
to the constituency.
Elisabetta Di Stefano | M.S. Communication/Packaging Design | Prof. Tom Klinkowstein

6. New York City‘s Bureaucracy
THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
BOROUGHS OF THE BRONX, BROOKLY N, MANHATTAN, QUEE NS AND STATE N IS LAND
AL L
BOROU GH PRESIDENTS C OMP TROL LER PUB LIC THE COUNCIL DIST RIC T
THE BRO NX ADVOC ATE 51 CO UNC IL MEMBE R S ATTOR NE YS
BRO OKL YN
MANHATTAN
QUEE NS
MAYOR THE B R ONX
BR OOKLY N
8 MEMBERS
16 MEMBE R S
MANHATTAN 10 ME MBERS
ST ATEN IS LAND QUEE NS 14 MEMBERS
S TATE N IS L AND 3 MEMBE R S OF FI CE OF
SP ECI AL
NARC OTICS
FI NANCI AL
OF FIC E OF PRO CUR EME NT
INFOR MATION
PA YR OL L PO LI CY
SE RV IC ES
ADMINIST RA TION BOA R D
AGE NCY
CI TY C L E R K
BO ROU GH C OMMU NITY INDE PE NDEN T
CL ERK OF THE
BO ARD S B OAR DS BU DGE T OF FI CE
C OUNCIL
CHANCE LLOR DEPUTY MAYOR FOR CHIEF ADVISO R FOR P OLICY DEPUT Y MAYOR FOR DEPUTY MAYOR FOR LE GAL
DEP UTY MAYOR FOR PRE SS SECR E TARY FIRST DE PUTY MAYOR SE NIOR AD VISOR DEPUTY M AYOR FO R HEAL TH AND
---------------------------------- GOVERNMEN T AFFAI R S AND AND STR ATEGIC P L ANNING ECON OMIC DE VELOPM E NT AFFAI R S
OPER ATIONS HUMAN SERVIC E S
DE PARTME NT OF ED UCATIO N CO MMUNICATIONS MAYOR’S COUN SEL
DEPART MENT OF
DEP ARTMEN T OF DE PARTMEN T OF HOUS ING
CITY WIDE DEPAR TMENT O F INTERGOV ERNME NTAL OFFICE O F OFFICES OF PRESE RVATIO N AND
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY AF FAIRS ADMINISTRATIV E DEP ARTMEN T FOR TH E
POLICE DEPART MENT ADMINISTRA TIVE BUIL DINGS AFFAIR S MEDIA C OUNSE L OR SCHEDU LING AN D OFFIC E OF CR IMINAL DEVELO P MENT
C OMMUNITY UNIT J USTICE C OORDIN ATOR AGING
SERVICE S RESE ARCH ADVANCE JUSTIC E COOR DINATOR
DEV E LOPM ENT
AND ANALYSIS
DEPA RTMENT OF
TR ANSPOR TATION
DEPAR TMENT O F CITY LEGISL ATIVE DEPART MENT OF PARKS DEPAR TMENT O F OFFICE OF ADMINISTRA TION FO R
OTHE R AUTHOR ITIE S , BO AR DS , DE PARTMEN T OF AFFAIR S OF FICE OF SPECIAL ADMINISTR ATIVE T R IALS CHILDRE N’S SER VICES
ENVIRO NMENTAL AND R E CREA TION CULTURA L AFFAI R S
C OMMI S IONS AND CO R P OR ATIONS
S SANI TATION PHOT O UNIT ENFORC EMENT AND HE ARING S
S c hool Co ns truc tion Authority FIR E DEPA RTMENT P R OTECT ION
C ity Universit y of New York E C ONOMIC
C ity Univers ity C ons truc tion F und
DE VELOPM E NT
New York C ity Ed ucational
C ons truc tion Fun d STATE LEGISLA TIVE CO RPORAT ION FA MILY SE RVICES
DEPARTM E NT OF
AFFAIRS OFFICE OF OFFI CE TO C OMBAT COOR DINATOR
OFFICE OF CONT RACT OFFICE OF DESIGN AND
APPO INTMENT S DOMESTIC VIO L ENCE
SERV ICES OPER ATIONS C ONSTRU C TION
OFFIC E OF EM ERGENC Y
MANAGEMENT DEPAR TMENT O F CITY
PLAN NING DE PARTME NT OF
LAN DMARKS HEA LTH AND MENTAL
FEDER AL AFFA IRS DEPA RTMENT OF MAYOR’S JU DICIARY HYGIE NE
OFFICE OF LON G TERM DEP ART MENT OF PRES ERVATI ON
CO NSUMER AFFAIR S COMMITTEE
PLANN ING AND INF ORMATION COMMISSIO N
SU STAINAB ILITY TE CHNOL OGY AND
OF FICE OF TE LE CO MMUNIC ATIONS NEW YORK CIT Y
MANAGEME NT AND HOUS ING AUT HORITY HEAL TH AND HOSPITA LS
B UDGET MAYOR’S FUND TO CORPOR ATION
GRACI E MANSI ON ADVANCE NEW YORK
OFFI CE OF OFFI CE OF OFFICE F OR PEO P LE
CI TY WITH DISAB ILITIES
ENV IRONME NTAL ENV IRONME NTAL
CO ORDINA TION REME DIATION DEP ARTMEN T OF
SMALL BUSIN ESS HUMAN RESOUR CES
S E RVICE S ADMINISTRATI ON
OFFI CE OF LA BOR OTHER AUTHOR ITIES, B OARDS, OFFICE OF SPE CIAL -----------------------------
RELA TIONS OF FICE OF
CO MMISSIO NS P R OJECT S AND DEPARTM E NT OF
CO RRESPO NDENCE OFFICE O F IMMIGRANT
DE PARTMEN T OF AND C ORPOR ATIONS COMMUNITY EVE NTS SOCIA L SERVI CES
RECOR DS AND Boa rd of Elec tions AFFAIR S
INFORMAT ION Cam paign Fi nance B oard DEPA RTMENT OF
SERVICE S Ele c tion Modernization Task F orce FINAN C E
COMMISSION O N THE
CO RPORAT ION OFFICE OF CITY WIDE
UNITED NA TIONS , T HE DEPARTM E NT OF
COU NSEL EVE NTS COO RDINAT ION
CONS ULAR C ORPS HOME LESS S E RVICE S
----------------------------- AND MANAGEMENT COMMISSION O N HUMAN
AND PR OTOCOL
LAW DEPART MENT RIGHT S
TAXI AND LI MOUSINE
OTHE R AUTHOR ITIE S , BO ARDS , CO MMI S IONS
S COMMISS ION
AND C ORP OR ATIONS PUB L IC DES IGN COMMISSION ON DEPARTM E NT OF
B oard of C ollective B argaining COMMISS ION WOMEN’S ISSUES CORREC TION
C ivil Serv ice C ommis sio n
ENVIR ONMENTAL
DEPAR TMENT O F C ommis s ion on Pu blic Information and C ommunic ation
En vironmental C ontrol B oard CO NTROL B OARD
INVESTIG ATION
F ranch ise an d C oncess ion R eview Committee
BUSINES S INTEG RITY
Loft Board
Metropolitan Transp ortation Authority COMMISS ION DEP ARTMEN T OF
OFFIC E OF
Municip al Assist ance C orporation PROB ATION
Municip al C redit Union ADMINISTRAT IVE C HIEF SE RVICE O FFICER
Munic ipal Water Fi nanc e Authority SE R VIC E S OTHE R AUTHO R ITIES, BOARDS ,
Pr oc urement Po licy B oard
Teach ers R etirement Syst em COMMISSION S AND C ORPOR ATIONS
Transit ional F inance A uthority OFFIC E OF ME DIA AND Civilian Compla int Revie w Board
ENTER TAINMENT CENTER FOR EC ONOMIC
Water Bo ard Commi ssion to C ombat Police
OPPOR TUNITY
OFFICE OF VETE RANS Corruption
AFFA IRS Conflict of Interests Boar d
Equal E mployment Prac tices
OTHE R AUTHOR ITIE S , BO ARDS , CO MMIS S IONS
AND CO RP ORATIO NS Commi ssion
Banking Commis s ion
Biomedical Res earc h and Development Tas k Forc e OFF ICE OF F OOD POL ICY
OTHE R AUTHOR ITIES, B OAR DS, C OMMISSION S Board of Educ ation Retirement Sys tem
AND C OR P OR ATIONS Board of Standards and Appeals
Adviso ry C ommiss ion for C ultural Affairs Metropolitan Mus eum of Art Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
New York B otanical Garden Muse um of Modern Art City Planning Commis s ion
American Museu m of Natural Hist ory Mus eum of the C ity of New York City S ports C ommis s ion
Plan etarium Authority New York C ity Opera Commercial Inc entive Bounda ry Area Commi s s ion COO RDINATO R OF
American Museu m of the Moving Image New York Hall of Scien ce Deferred Co mpensat ion Board
Empire S tate Development Cor poration FATHE R HOOD
B ronx C ounty Hist orical So ciety New York Pu blic L ibrary
Fi re Department Pens ion Fund Boa rd of Trus tees INITIATIVE S
B rooklyn Acad emy of Music New York Sh akesp eare F est ival
Gov ernors Is land Pres ervation and Educ ation Cor poration
B rooklyn B otanical Gar den New York C ity B allet
Hous ing Development Cor poration
B rooklyn B ridge Par k New York St ate Theatre Indus trial and Commercial Incentive Boa rd
B rooklyn C hildren's Museu m New York Zoological So ciety Indus trial Development Agenc y
B rooklyn Inst itute of Arts and Scie nc es Queens B orough Pu blic L ibrary In Rem F oreclos ure Release Bo ard
B rooklyn Museu m Queens B otanical Garden So ciety Lower Manhattan Development Cor poration
B rooklyn Pu blic L ibrary Queens Museu m New York City Employees’ Re tirement S yst em OTHER AU THORITIE S, BOAR DS,
C arnegie Hall Sn ug Harbor C ultural C enter New York City Empowerment Zone C OMMISS IONS AN D CORP ORATION S
C entral Park C ons ervancy St aten Is land B otanical Gard en NYC & Company
Polic e Pens ion Fund B oard of Trus tees
B oard of Correctio n
C ity C enter 55th St reet Theatre St aten Is land C hildren’s Museu m
C ouncil o n the En vironment of New York C ity St aten Is land Hist orical So ciety/ NYS P ublic S ervice Co mmis sio n B oard of Health
C ultural C ouncil F oundation R ich mondtown R est oration NYS Department of Ec onomic Development C enter for Animal Care an d Control
Penns ylvania S tation Re development Corporation C ommiss ion for Ec onomic Opportunity
El Museo Del B arrio St aten Is land Inst itute of Arts and Scie nces
Port Authority of NY/NJ
Huds on R iver Park T rus t S taten Is land Zoologica l So ciety Power Authority of the S tate of NY HIV and Human S ervices Planning Council
Inst itute for C ontemporary Art S tudio Museu m in Harlem Private Indus try Counc il Office of the Chief Medical Examin er
Jam aica A rts C enter Theatre in the Par k Rent Guidelines Bo ard P rimary Care De velopment Corporation
L andmarks Hardsh ip Appeals Pan el Trust for Governors Is land S ports Development Corporation
L inc oln C enter Wave Hill Tax Appeals Tribunal
Tax Co mmissio n
United Nations Development Corporation Direct Reporting R elationsh ip
Workforce Inves tment Bo ard
Li aison R elationsh ip

7. New York City‘s Community Districts

8. How do we begin to
repair the public forum?

9. Transparency

10. Transparency is operating in such a way that it is
easy for others to see what actions are performed.
With transparency there is:
“openness, communication, and accountability“

11. Summer ‘11

12. QUEENS
678
New York Pa
rk
wa
y
Cross
Bay Blvd.
27
27
27 B el t
Frank Charles John F. Kennedy
Memorial Park International
Airport
Fl
BROOKLYN
at
Canarsie
bu
Pier
sh
Av
Jamaica Bay
en
Bergen
Wildlife Refuge
ue
Beach
Floyd
Bennett
Field
B e l t P a r kw a y Plumb Beach Channel
Beach Drive
Jacob Riis Park
Fort Tilden
Breezy Point
ATLANTIC OCEAN

13. Fishing Bus stop
RAPTOR POINT
Picnic area
Floyd Bennett Field (Brookyln, NY)
Permit
Permit
M
od HANGAR B
el
Fl
yi
ng
Fi
JAMAICA BAY
el
d
Permit
MILL BASIN
Sh
INLET
or
Permit
eP
Archery Range
ar
kw
ay
Park Gateway Environmental
Bi
Nursery
ke
Study Center
wa
(New York City
y/R
Board of Education)
North Forty
ockw
Ente
rpris
ay Gateway Greenway
e Ro
Shore Parkway
Ecology ad
Village
Permit Park
Permit
Administration
US Park Police NY Field Office
Rang Armed Forces
e r Ro Reserve Center
Natural Area ad
Blvd
n et t
Ben
RYAN VISITOR CENTER
d
Pond
Floy
Aviation Rd
HANGAR ROW HISTORIC DISTRICT
Visitor Contact
Station
Gil H
Rockway Gateway Greenway Me m o d g e s
orial
Bridg
Flatbush Avenue e
Shore Marina
Parkway SPORTS CONCESSION
Bikeway
DEAD HORSE BAY ROCKAWAY INLET

14. 1.5 x the size of Central Park … Mostly abandoned

15. Searching for Answers | Endless Emails

16. Fact #1 (1970s)

17. Fact #1 (1970s)

18. Fact #2 (1970s–now)

19. Fact #2 (1970s–now)
Successful

20. Fact #3 (2006)

21. Fact #3 (2006)
Daily News July 11, 2006

22. Fact #4 (2007)

23. Fact #4 (2007)

24. Fact #5 (2010)
A REPORT BY THE FLOYD BENNETT FIELD BLUE RIBBON PANEL
National parks
are America’s
most precious
treasures and
Gateway National
Recreation Area
is New York City’s
crown jewel.
Senator Charles
Schumer
THE NEXT JEWEL IN NEW YORK’S URBAN PARK CROWN
36

25. Fact #5 (2010)
cOuLD BE...
camping area
grassland restoration Boat Launch
Non-motorized Boating
Possible harP Locations
Sanitation & NYPD
Minimize
5 Year
Potential Education Location
Vision
cOuLD BE...
Plan
hangar row
Active Uses
uS armed Forces reserves
21

26. State of the Bay : Jamaica Bay Symposium (Brookyln College)

27. Floyd Bennett Fields‘s Bureaucracies

28. Project | Thesis 2
In order to solve a complex
community issue, then the
creation of a system of where
information is transparent is
vital to our rights as citizens.

29. Project Proposal
Horrible Attempt to inform the public.

30. Project Proposal
reconstruction of seven bridges on
the belt parkway
FL
BA
FR
AT
ES
YR
B
US
HC
ID
HA
GE
RE
EK
AV
V
E
RO
BA
NU
CK
SIN
E
AW
AY
PA
PA
KWR
E
MI
RD
AY
LL
EG
BA
AT
SIN
B
AS
IN
jAMAICA BAY
WETLAND
NO
GE
MITIGATION
ST
RR
RA
ITS
ND
New York City
EN
AV
Michael R. Bloomberg
IN
FLOYD
ENU
LE
T
E
BENNETT
FIELD
New York City
Department of Transportation
Janette Sadik-Khan CONEY ISLAND SHEEPSHEAD BAY

31. Project Proposal
14 ANtiCipAtEd sCHEdULE, CoNtrACt 1 ReconstRuction of seven Bridges on the Belt Parkway
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
J A S O ND J FMAM J J A S OND J FM AM J J A S OND J FMAM J J A S ONDJ FMAM J J A S OND J FMAM J J A S OND J FMAM J J A S OND J FMAM J J A S OND J A S O ND
FRESH CREEK BASIN
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT 1: LANDSCAPING
ROCKAWAY PARKWAY DURATION OCTOBER 2009  OCTOBER 2014 CONTRACT
PAERDEGAT BASIN
CLEAN UP
PLANTING OFFSITE TIDAL WETLANDS MITIGATION AND MONITORING
Fresh Creek Basin
Rockaway Parkway At the end of each construction contract, a separate
Paerdegat Basin landscaping contract managed by New York City
Department of Parks and Recreation will start. The
landscape contracts are designed to preserve and
Floyd Bennett Field enhance the park-like character of the Belt Parkway,
incorporating selected trees and planting species.
Public?

32. Project Proposal
The nature of this designed transparency model would
be non-hierarchal and organic where the community can
re-imagine, then plan, then develop what essentially
belongs to them.
GOAL : Accessibility
OBJECTIVE : Transparency
Designers should help people find information on what is
going on in their community.
• Make information easy to get
• Allow community to appeal for changes
• Construct a forum to allow for the
exchange of ideas

33. Checks & Balances: Designing for the Public Forum
Elisabetta Di Stefano | M.S. Communication/Packaging Design | Prof. Tom Klinkowstein
Thank you.