Omelchenko's "success" in NY is no success at all. See why.
12/21/2002 | Andriy I.
I copy/pasted my message, and a reply to it, from Brama.com's forum. This gives a sens of mayor Omelchenko's "success" in New York. There are two parts; please read the second one, too.
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: Dear Diaspora --
: Ukrainians living in Ukraine found out with great surprise about the recent decision of the World Ukrainian Congress to grant the Person of the Year award to Mayor of Kyiv Oleksandr Omelchenko for "the revival" of Kyiv.
: To Kyivans, Major Omelchenko is no sweety hero. Indeed, the mayor made some efforts to renovate Khreschatyk and start a new residential construction campaign. However, the Diaspora should not forget that the mayor is one of those Kuchmists who tremendously abused his public office during the last mayoral elections. Even the U.S. government-sponsored Community Partnership project, which previously cooperated with Omelchenko's office, drew him out of list for any futher cooperation.
: The curbs of the "European" downtown Kyiv are full of parked cars. Here, right on the "European" pavement made on the funds from the city public budget. The "European" and "national" Maidan Nezalezhnosti sub passage is full of drinking, smoking, and drug-using youth. Ravaging and agressive young poeple are shouting words from Russian Coj's songs:
: "Я на войнє как на тібє,
: І на тібє как на войнє!"
: Tens of homeless people are begging inside the Maidan sub passage. Penny paiterns and flower merchants kick strangers as they pass by. Stray dogs are hovering around. Clouds of tabacco smoke fills anyone's dress with a harsh smell. This is the true "revived", "modern", and "European" Omelchenko's Khreschatyk!
: The police (...sorry - milicia!) could clear the place with little effort, but they are busy collecting illigal cash fees from merchants.
: Other places of the Kyiv metropolitan area may be worse, but come look at what the World Congress is giving the Person of the Year award for!
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Posted by natalka on December 18, 2002 at 10:22:45:
In Reply to: Re diaspora grand prize for O-Omelchenko posted by Andriy I. on December 16, 2002 at 08:47:24:
The greatest surprise was the insanely chaotic event staged by the Ukrainian Institute at the Plaza Hotel.
The seats were assigned ridiculously late and in a very disorganized way. The cocktail hour was one and a half hours giving guests plenty of time to get good and drunk, the rooms were intensely hot and airless.
When the stars of the evening (the Klitschko brothers) arrived, people literally attacked them for autographs. And actually, the mayor Omelchenko was supposed to be the star, but who cared about him? Nobody. He came late anyway.
The tables in the dining area were packed so tight because the room was too small to hold that many people - I bet a million dollars that it was oversold by at least 100 people, maybe more. By the time the program started, people were so drunk that the speakers and performers (including, by the way, Ukrainian singer Nina Matvienko, who came all the way from Kyiv to entertain the audience) had to yell to try and be heard. And, in fact, they weren't heard.
It was a complete failure, and most embarassing for all Ukrainians. On the other hand, it was a perfect tribute to your description of what downtown Kyiv is really like.
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: Dear Diaspora --
: Ukrainians living in Ukraine found out with great surprise about the recent decision of the World Ukrainian Congress to grant the Person of the Year award to Mayor of Kyiv Oleksandr Omelchenko for "the revival" of Kyiv.
: To Kyivans, Major Omelchenko is no sweety hero. Indeed, the mayor made some efforts to renovate Khreschatyk and start a new residential construction campaign. However, the Diaspora should not forget that the mayor is one of those Kuchmists who tremendously abused his public office during the last mayoral elections. Even the U.S. government-sponsored Community Partnership project, which previously cooperated with Omelchenko's office, drew him out of list for any futher cooperation.
: The curbs of the "European" downtown Kyiv are full of parked cars. Here, right on the "European" pavement made on the funds from the city public budget. The "European" and "national" Maidan Nezalezhnosti sub passage is full of drinking, smoking, and drug-using youth. Ravaging and agressive young poeple are shouting words from Russian Coj's songs:
: "Я на войнє как на тібє,
: І на тібє как на войнє!"
: Tens of homeless people are begging inside the Maidan sub passage. Penny paiterns and flower merchants kick strangers as they pass by. Stray dogs are hovering around. Clouds of tabacco smoke fills anyone's dress with a harsh smell. This is the true "revived", "modern", and "European" Omelchenko's Khreschatyk!
: The police (...sorry - milicia!) could clear the place with little effort, but they are busy collecting illigal cash fees from merchants.
: Other places of the Kyiv metropolitan area may be worse, but come look at what the World Congress is giving the Person of the Year award for!
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Posted by natalka on December 18, 2002 at 10:22:45:
In Reply to: Re diaspora grand prize for O-Omelchenko posted by Andriy I. on December 16, 2002 at 08:47:24:
The greatest surprise was the insanely chaotic event staged by the Ukrainian Institute at the Plaza Hotel.
The seats were assigned ridiculously late and in a very disorganized way. The cocktail hour was one and a half hours giving guests plenty of time to get good and drunk, the rooms were intensely hot and airless.
When the stars of the evening (the Klitschko brothers) arrived, people literally attacked them for autographs. And actually, the mayor Omelchenko was supposed to be the star, but who cared about him? Nobody. He came late anyway.
The tables in the dining area were packed so tight because the room was too small to hold that many people - I bet a million dollars that it was oversold by at least 100 people, maybe more. By the time the program started, people were so drunk that the speakers and performers (including, by the way, Ukrainian singer Nina Matvienko, who came all the way from Kyiv to entertain the audience) had to yell to try and be heard. And, in fact, they weren't heard.
It was a complete failure, and most embarassing for all Ukrainians. On the other hand, it was a perfect tribute to your description of what downtown Kyiv is really like.