Jacob Javits Federal Building

To the security staff of 26 Federal Plaza,
You screened monitored my bag and took away my deodorant can but you let me walk in with my pepper spray? Great job! I am sure all the personnel in the building are glad to have you as their front line of defense. Suck it to the house!

Another mid century architectural blight that bears the name Jacob Javits, 26 Federal Plaza is part of the Civic Center district of Lower Manhattan. It houses many of our favorite three letter acronym departments like DHS, FBI, SSA and GSA, amongst others.
Don’t try and take any pictures outside of this facility as the guards may interrogate you. (Then again, considering the aesthetics, unless you are preparing an exhibit on why the more powerful the level of government the more the buildings resemble East German exemplars of bland)
Naturally the prohibition on photos, if encountered by an American tourist in a foreign land, would likely result in a social media uproar about freedom, oppression and other meaningless platitudes. For the tourists visiting Federal Plaza, just be aware that fun photo taking could be questioned.
In case you haven’t taken a flight in awhile and don’t want to go to JFK or LGA, simply visit this building for a refresher on obedience, conformity, fear and the resultant security. I certainly understand the precautions required but I also understand that no one really likes being yelled at to get in line, take off your coat, empty your pockets and remove your shoes. (Unless you are the self righteous sort who, when MTA violations of the 4^th amendment started happily volunteered to let them sift through your private possessions and smiled that you were doing your part to keep ‘Murica safe)
Once past the security gauntlet, the rest is as you’d expect– poor lighting, 1970’s carpeting, random confused immigrant families taking the elevator to the wrong floor, surprisingly clean bathrooms and fire drill announcements. In other words, unless you need to be here, keep a healthy distance.
Exiting on to the plaza and encountering a few rays of sunshine, I felt a new birth of freedom.

My new jobby job is here with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and I love love love it!

This is that very weird open public area nestled cheek-​by-​jowl to Thomas Paine Park near City Hall. At least THAT park is appropriately named, appointed, and appurtanced. It has grass. It has trees. It has statuary. This bizarre ‘Federal Plaza’ is some visage of how the future will look, I think. Barren, concrete, treeless; unfriendly. Idiotic curvy benches zigzagging all over; trapping you. Security Guards and cameras.
Most striking aspect: color scheme. Umm. yeah, who is the FBI using for its architects these days? They came up with purple and green? Can you stand it?