Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Wednesday: GWAPP!
Filed under: 11211, 11222, 11249, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
The nuance/”selective cognition” GWAPP— or at least certain members acting unilaterally therein*— employs to continue their charade of being a “grassroots” community organization continues to amuse and confound yours truly. Per Ms. Holowacz and Mr. Thompson organizing meetings requires work. Yet, since the whole “Greenpoint Boathouse” thing went down (which of course GWAPP, among others, “endorsed”) they have been quite active despite the shortfall of “helpers”/”worker bees”. Why is that?
I’ll be wearing this button at this meeting (while filming it), what about you? I for one really hope this lady (who speaks at 1:19) shows up.
She’s got my vote!
P.S.: North 9 street and Kent Avenue is not Greenpoint. DUH.
*…I am not a butler, maid, chauffeur, or Gigolo.
I am a personal “Life Coach” and will be treated in a professional manor. Our relationship will be close, but boundaries will be outlined before employment. Children and Pet Friendly. My requirements for employment: $10,000 USD per week plus travel expenses, and lodging. I take sunday afternoon off. Non Disclosure Agreement – No problem…
I motivate you to be a better person through etiquette, personal relationship development, skill and behavior modification and tact…
My apologies to David Lee Roth.
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part I: And Now A Word From GWAPP
Naturally I had to kick this corker over to Queens Crap. Follows is his analysis:
“The Board is proposing amendments to those by-laws to reflect an organization that is no longer an association of local orgs meeting regularly but, rather, a Board overseeing various programs and initiatives with volunteer help.”
or, rather:
“We don’t like having members who question the things we do, therefore we’re planning to dump them all and close the group off so that’s it’s just the rotten inner circle that makes decisions.”
And what if the reps in attendance vote no?
I do not have much to add aside from noting that, in essence, the powers-that-be behind this organization are using the revision of by-laws to effectively create a new and very different “group”. Of course one has to compare and contrast both sets of by-laws in order to draw this conclusion. While it is refreshing to see that GWAPP seems to have made their by-laws available to the public I find it a mite bit disconcerting they only did so after a blogger, I, made them public. I will share them here once again:
And here are the old/present ones.
Please take a moment, gentle readers, and compare them. You’ll find some interesting differences.
UPDATE, 5:55 p.m.: It has been brought to my attention that the Williamsburg Greenpoint News + Arts has published an item regarding GWAPP and this upcoming meeting. This you can read by clicking here. Follows is a segment I for one found interesting:
But Dewey Thompson — with Christine Holowacz (Board of Directors co-chairs) who are on the receiving end of complaints — is caught off guard by the sudden attacks. “My biggest crime is volunteering my time too much,” he said, also adding, “there’s a misperception that organizations exist at the whim of community input. To set up meetings takes a lot of energy and incredible amount of time. Those people who will want to participate will actually need to commit themselves to this work, and be a part of it, and open to that kind of participation.”
This governance issue, he said, is to change bylaws so there are no longer membership organizations—he indicated that many are no longer active, and that the particular politics that brought them together aren’t relevant anymore.
“We are asking them to now amend those laws, so we can operate the board the way we are doing it now.”
In response to the notion that it would exclude public participation, he said: “We expect the nominating committee to do outreach and find people interested in the committee. We are not beating people away from GWAPP. We are very well known — anyone can have easy access to the board. We’re totally open to meeting new people and hoping we find new blood. We are hoping to refresh the governance, get a new board, and a new set of bylaws, for what we think is a very vital organization.”
Exactly who constitutes this nominating committee, you ask? Well, if a source who took up this matter with Mr. Thompson recently is to be believed, it is the following folks:
- Trina McKeever, a member of Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn, Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park and Community Board 1
- Rich Mazur, Executive Director of the North Brooklyn Development Corporation. Some of you might recall this organization is handling the dispersal of the $19,000,000 Exxon-Mobil settlement.
- Barbara McGlamery, the wife of a board member of Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn: Adam Perlmutter.
(From the April 29, 2005 edition of the New York Daily News)
Interesting, yes?
From The New York Shitty Inbox: A Call To Action From GWAPP
Filed under: 11211, 11222, 11378, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Maspeth, Maspeth Queens, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Follows is a form letter I received from this organization. It came quickly on the heels of this week’s Community Board 1 meeting at which Ms. Velazquez’s representative, Ms. Cruz, spoke.
Dear Congresswoman Velazquez,
We don’t need to tell you how long and hard we have been fighting for the city of New York to turn the MTA lot at 65 Commercial Street in Greenpoint into a park as explicitly promised in the 2005 Waterfront Rezoning Agreement – you joined us at every step in this battle.
So, it is with shock and utter confusion that we hear that you are rejecting the two sites agreed to by the MTA! And, being from an historically and currently environmentally victimized neighborhood, we are very sensitive to the issue of being dumped on with unwanted facilities but these two sites are not unsuitable, do not take away useable open space, will not have a negative impact on local residents… and moreover, are the result of SIX YEARS of negotiation and will actually CREATE park space in a critically under-served neighborhood!
Let’s look at each of the proposed sites for the MTA transfer specifically:
The Maspeth site:
· Zoned M3/Heavy Industrial
· Currently a truck depot
· In the midst of a completely industrial area with no residential dwellings nearby
· The entrance/exit routes almost all go directly back into Williamsburg/Bushwick over the Grand Avenue Bridge and NOT through Maspeth
The Williamsburg site:
· Directly beneath (and in complete shadow of) the Williamsburg Bridge
· Not on the waterfront (between Wythe/Berry)
· Not currently open to public – actually used to store Parks Vehicles
· Not planned as park space (unattractive space, it’s like an industrial cave)
· (also, we have been pushing the city – and it’s been included in the Vision 2020 Waterfront Plan – to move the DCAS facility just south of the base of the Bridge which would create a far bigger and WATERFRONT parkspace for the Southside)
Please reconsider your opposition to this VITAL move by the MTA.
These are good alternate locations for these facilities and your interference in the process will set us back years in creating the promised parkspace.
We are, of course, eager to talk through this issue with you and your staff.
Thanks and sincerely,
[ADD YOUR NAME]
I was present at this meeting and was— and am— quite frankly confused and troubled by this rather aggressive “response” from GWAPP. Follows are a few reasons why:
- If I understood Ms. Cruz correctly (I was present at this meeting, after all), Ms. Velazquez is not trying to kibosh 65 Commercial Street as being park space. Rather, she did not want this depot to be relocated to any part of her district on this side of the East River. All of which have environmental issues and dearth of park space: Maspeth, Queens, Williamsburg Brooklyn and Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
- How anyone can disagree with the previous is beyond me. Then again, methinks GWAPP (or whoever sent out that email on their behalf) is comfortable with “dumping” this burden on another neighborhood so as to get a park. STAT. I, on the other hand, have serious problems with this. Call it a moral compass or merely ethics; but I am not going to step on another equally burdened community in order to get a park. If this means waiting a little longer so be it.
- It is my understanding that the information GWAPP sent out regarding the Maspeth site is inaccurate. What’s more, I have sojourned quite a bit around Maspeth. The bus depots they have there are colossal. What we have at 65 Commercial Street is child’s play compared to what they have the honor of having.
- Prior to Ms. Cruz speaking Rami Metal, the Community Liaison for Steve Levin spoke. Among other things he brought up the matter of 65 Commercial Street and that Maspeth was going to fight it. He essentially said “we” should fight them. Given that Maspeth and Greenpoint have had the same problems— for decades— and politicians come and go I have a slightly different idea of what “we” is. Greenpoint and Maspeth should unite, not fight. Or if we do choose to be fight it should be against the politicians and their woeful neglect of our respective communities.
My conclusions/opinions are as follows:
- I cannot shake the suspicion that what we’re seeing here is a political battle between Vito Lopez (via Steve Levin) and Nydia Velazquez. It is well known that they rather dislike each other.
- The previous is trying to use this issue— and us— as proxies to fight it out with the latter. No thanks.
- For the above reason(s) and more I object to this letter writing campaign by GWAPP.
Yes, we Greenpointers lack park space and MTA has been intransigent about vacating 65 Commercial Street. But does it have to come to this? I don’t think so. Certainly a better solution can be found? I want to see a complete list of alternative sites for this bus depot.
Those of you who agree (or disagree) with me can contact Nydia Velazquez’s office by clicking here.
Update, 5:32 p.m.: In the interest of equal time here’s an email I have received from Rami Metal.
1. Regarding putting the access a ride vehicles in Maspeth, I want it to be clear that our office has never asked the city to put the vehicles in any particular location, nor have we ever said that we did not want them to be located in our district. Our fundamental concern is that they simply not be on the current site. We have made it clear to the city that we would not have a problem with them putting them in Greenpoint if there was an appropriate location. We do not feel it appropriate to be NIMBY about this particular issue. We want the park we were promised six years ago.
2. The Access-A-Ride facility would be, for the most part, a parking lot. That’s what it is now and that’s what it would be in Maspeth or any other location. When one calls for an Access-A-Ride van, they do not come from 65 Commercial currently nor would they come from Maspeth. The site is a storage site for the vehicles for when the MTA gets new ones or receives broken down ones for repair or scrap. I live three blocks from the 65 Commercial site right now and every so often I will see an Access-A-Ride vehicle on Manhattan Avenue, usually late at night, headed to 65 Commercial. Our office has never ever received a single complaint about them and the MTA has said that they would not be going through the residential sections of Maspeth. They would most likely come in from the BQE or the LIE or Grand Ave from Brooklyn and drive through the M3-1 IBZ area of Maspeth. They would only be going through this 3 block area in Maspeth that, again, is zoned heavy industrial.
3. The Maspeth site is not only zoned M3-1, but the lot itself is zoned for parking facilities. It served this purpose in the past and therefore based on the zoning and past use, it is an entirely appropriate location.
4. We absolutely respect Maspeth’s desire for open space and fully support their efforts for a park at St. Saviour. We hope they get the park they deserve. The truth remains however that the Access-A-Ride vehicles will not prevent this open space from happening in any way nor will it contribute negatively to the residential areas of Maspeth. It will not even contribute negatively to the M3-1 area because, as I said before, it will basically be a parking lot. I do not want to discount Maspeth’s feelings that they get dumped on by the city, as someone who lives in Greenpoint and has worked for years to improve the neighborhood, I understand full well what being dumped on feels like. The air quality in the industrial parts of Maspeth is terrible and they have truck traffic just the same as we do but again, the site would be a parking lot.
5. Regarding the Congresswoman’s stance, I heard it at the same time that you did. All I know is that the site under the bridge was agreed to over a year ago and was known to the CAB, the community board and anyone else who was interested in the issue. Our office had not heard any objections to this site until this week. The Maspeth site was also under consideration as far back as this past summer and again the CAB knew about it this whole time. All I know is that if both sites fall through then we will be back at square one, six years in. For those of us who have been fighting for 65 Commercial to become a park over many years now (and I have only been a part of these efforts for the past 2 ½ years) this would be a major step backwards. This is not about politics. This is about getting the park that the Greenpoint community was promised. That’s it. This has been an often torturous fight with the City and the MTA. Going back to square one would, based on my experience working on this issue, mean many more years of delays.
Miss Heather
P.S.: I have made my feelings on this matter know to both GWAPP and Ms. Velazquez.
GWAPP Town Hall Meeting
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I would like to thank any and all New York Shitty readers who slogged through last night’s delightful weather to attend GWAPP’s Town Hall Meeting. I certainly learned a lot and I hope you did as well. In particular, I was pleased as punch to learn that some of the funds from the $50 million gift Michael Bloomberg has given to refurbish the McCarren Park pool will be allocated towards new public lavatories.
That said, I hope those of you came away as interested in the future park space planned for Greenpoint’s waterfront as I was. For those of you who were unable to attend this event, I will be featuring highlights over the next several days so you can get up to speed!
Miss Heather
Southside Photos Du Jour: The “Tipi” Rant
Filed under: 11211, 11249, Culture War, Stuff The Makes Heather Sad, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Today I had the pleasure of showing a buddy of mine, Lisanne, around northern Brooklandia. She’s been quite busy of late kicking ass in her community (“Gowanus”); was kind enough to take me on a tour of her community and I wanted to return the favor. I felt perhaps a walk around Williamsburg would be an interesting juxtaposition to what her community faces. Above all, I wanted to show her what I consider to be one of the supreme grotesques when to comes to developer/community organization “partnerships”. I speak of none other than the Southside teepee tipi.
I have yet to articulate in words how much this thing enrages me. Maybe I’ll get it right this time. I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.
To preface, a little information about myself:
- I am not of Native American descent. I am not a spokesperson for the Native American community. However…
- my forbears (on my mother’s side) came from Texas. Well, if you want to get “picky” they lived in Texas before Texas was “Texas”. They were European immigrants and they immigrated to Mexico.
- They were not “wealthy” people. They lived alongside and in (relative*) harmony with Native Americans and Latinos (NOTE: I am reticent to use the term ‘Mexicans” because back in the day my forebears would also qualify as such. See point #2).
- When one is living on the “frontier”, “poor” and as such bereft the amenities we have in this modern age he/she does not have the luxury of being racist— and I assure you racism is a “luxury”. Instead, you pulled together as many collective resources as you could as a community. My grandmother and great aunt had (as they put it) a “Comanche woman” (“political correctness” as we know it was/is a mite bit too much to ask from two women born in 1909 and 1911 respectively) from a neighboring plot of land/”ranch” as a babysitter on occasion. They had fond memories of her.
- When there was a “feud”, as great aunt put it, between this “Comanche” family and another family (non-native American, I recall) they sided with the Comanches. Like I said: racism is a luxury.
I am not Native American. However— and in large part due to my grandmother and her sister— I have been exposed Native Amercian history and culture since pretty much day one. And that’s why this teepee tipi pisses me off so goddamn much.
After I took this photo a 20-something fellow, the “fire setter”, clad in overalls, bandanna and a straw hat approached me.
Are you Miss Heather of New York Shitty?
he asked.
I answered to the affirmative. He responded as follows:
I’m Ryan, I used to work for GWAPP. We’ve met before.
Instead of tendering my condolences (I am capable of restraint when I want to be) I asked:
What are you doing?
We’re going to have a barbecue.
He replied and added:
We’re using wood because lighter fluid is bad!
“Oh I know” I replied and added:
Please tell that to my neighbors.** They just LOVE lighter fluid. They can’t barbecue for shit. They’d be excellent arsonists if they wanted to be.
Laughter, albeit of the uncomfortable/awkward variety, followed. “Ryan” went about his business and we went in.
Upon seeing this pair of New Balance sneakers outside the “tipi” my companion and I burst into fits of cynical laughter. She noted “NBs” are the footwear of choice among “progressives”.
No shoes are allowed in the tipi.
But apparently the “tipi” has an open door policy for smart phones.
I do not recall Native Americans having iphones. Hell, I do not recall reading— ANYWHERE— about the Native Americans who once called this land their home having teepees tipis. This is because they didn’t. Teepees were used by nomadic tribes— generally on the great plains. Teepees were made of buffalo hide. Brooklyn did not have “nomadic tribes” (or buffalo for that matter). There was no need to travel long distances: everything they needed was here.
My travelling companion, Lisanne, put it (more or less— paraphrasing here) very well:
Don’t they see the irony of having a teepee in a neighborhood where a lot of residents (many of whom are Latino and probably “Mestizo”— Ed. Note.) are being forced out?
No they don’t— and that is the problem.
Straight up: If you are going to appropriate Native American culture (which you probably shouldn’t do in the first place), at least make it contextually/historically relevant. New York City is not lacking in Native American history. So why I ask, once again, do we have this teepee? I am guessing it is a “nod” to Native American culture.
The problem with this teepee is— however well intended it may be— is the wrong Native American culture. By erecting this you are doing our predecessors here— and probably giving youths the notion that teepees did in fact exist here— a serious disservice. In fact I’d go so far to say one poorly placed teepee in Williamsburg is actually worse than no acknowledgement of Native American presence at all. Wrong information is worse than no information.
This could have, should have been an opportunity to educate people— newcomers and old timers, young and old— about the Native Americans who once lived here. Instead we have a hang-out wherein one can peruse one’s iphone. No lighter fluid, New Balances or Nikes allowed.
Rather sad, yes?
*For example, one time my grandmother and great aunt’s mother placed pies on a window sill to cool. The “Indians” stole them. My great aunt found her mother’s tristesse quite hilarious.
**Who also, thankfully rarely, host drum circles.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: It Came From Beneath The Creek
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Or: Release The Kraken!
This corker was sent to me a couple months ago via anonymous tipster. I tabled sharing it until I felt the time was right. Today, for reasons which will soon become apparent, is that day. The above polemic was created shortly after the 2005 rezone. As it was explained to me (by said tipster) its purpose was to criticize GWAPP assuming the lion’s share of credit for the successful fight against the Trans Gas power plant which was slated to grace Bushwick Inlet. For those of you who were not here in 2005 (and I suspect there are many) I present the following video from NY1.
If the above “Community Activist” looks/sounds familiar it is because:
1. He was recently appointed* to the advisory board of the new “GWAPP”.
2. And I also recently verified that contrary to what is stated in this gent’s biography on the aforementioned site (an excerpt of which is above), Mr. Perlmutter is not now nor was he ever under the employ of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn.
Interesting yes? Well today I had the item at left brought to my attention by my buddy Crappy. It got me to thinking— and finally it hit me:
What is not mentioned in this biography is every bit as fascinating— if not more so— than what is.
Namely, that in addition to being a “Community Activist” in the fight against the Trans Gas power plant, Mr. Perlmutter also happened to be under the hire of George Klein, the fellow responsible for Greenpoint Landing, so as to argue in favor of the 2005 rezone.
But don’t take my word for it. It is stated quite clearly in the April 29, 2005 edition of the New York Daily News.
(You can/should read the rest here.)
Straight up: as the featured cartoon attests, GWAPP has been the subject of controversy for some time. Controversy which persists to this very day. Controversy which would have, could have, should have been avoided by the simple practice of transparency.
Greenpoint Landing, regrettably, is going to happen whether we want it or not. That’s reality. However, I do not think expecting an organization which purports to represent the interests of the community giving full disclosure of their activities and board/advisory panel’s business relationships— past and present— is asking too much. Or is it? Now if you don’t mind, gentle readers, I am off to corner the market on ear plugs. I sense a very lucrative entrepreneurial opportunity is at hand!
*By a panel which includes his spouse. How’s that for nepotism?*
Quicklink: A Story To Tell
Filed under: 11211, 11222, 11249, Bushwick, Bushwick Brooklyn, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Gentrification, Gowanus, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Maspeth, Maspeth Queens, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
This tome was brought to my attention by a fellow named Richard. Richard is a resident of Lawrence, Kansas. This Letter to the Powers That Be, not surprisingly, pertains to matters in Lawrence, Kansas. However, while reading this tome more than one community hereabouts— and the non/not-for-profit organizations (which purport to act as a “voice”/”advocate” for the aforementioned communities) came to mind. I do not think I need to list/name the previous here, gentle readers. We know them.*
Follows is an excerpt from this essay so as the pique your interest:
…I have been long in forming my opinion of the Cultural Arts District and the 9th Street Corridor. When the pros and cons of the issue are laid across a scale, I find myself on the side of favor. I am in support of the Cultural Arts District and 9th Street Corridor in East Lawrence. I am excited at the prospect of renewal and repair that the Cultural District designation dollars can bring. I want new sidewalks and safer lighting and renovated limestone curbs and bricks in my streets. I want the businesses in my neighborhood to thrive and prosper and have the funds to reinvest in my community. I want an economic base that can support an East Lawrence or Downtown grocery store. I want my daughters to grow up in a vibrant, thriving neighborhood that supports the arts and creativity. I am personally invested in positive outcomes for the Cultural Arts District.
And yet…
There remains a sense of unease when I think about what will happen as the Cultural Arts District and 9th Street Corridor develop. I cannot shake the feeling of anxiety, of foreboding, of “ick” in my belly and bad smell wrinkle in my nose. And this time, it isn’t a downdraft from the wastewater treatment plant (Emphasis mine— Ed. Note) or the river. It’s the aftertaste of cultural co-option. But what does that mean, you say? I can’t explain it to you without the help of Alice Walker. Here’s where the story comes in…
You can— no, make that should— read this essay in its entirety by clicking here. Pass it along. Who knows? Maybe it’ll inspire someone (else) in our fair burgh/city to speak up?
*Hence why I found this excerpt of Adam “GWAPP Advisory Board” Perlmutter’s biography so fascinating:
…Adam is a currently lawyer for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn opposing the Atlantic Yards project …
Speaking as a resident of Greenpoint for fourteen years now who knows quite a few bloggers— bloggers who have taken a keen interest in Atlantic Yards, no less— I have not once heard his name mentioned. What’s more, someone closely connected with DDDB confirmed my suspicions:
He isn’t in the employ and never was. He volunteered with DDDB about 9 years ago and helped them find their great lawyer Matt Brinckerhoff – but he’s not done anything with them for about 7 years.
Hmm…
Note the “Treasurer”. It is none other than Steve “Brooklyn Beer/I loves me some Atlantic Yards” Hindy himself.
Double hmm…
Quicklink: A New Chapter?
Filed under: 11211, 11222, 11249, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Choice quote: teaser:
After a multi-month process, the Greenpoint Association for Parks & Planning is pleased to announce it’s new Executive Board: Barbara McGlamery (Chair)*, Rich Mazur**, Trina McKeever*** (Treasurer), Laura Treciokas (Secretary)****,Manuel Zuniga and Katie Denny*****. Learn more about each of them and their connection to Greenpoint on the Board Members page…
New York Shitty translation: the nominating committee stalled until mid-summer (when folks are on vacation) to announce that they have appointed themselves.
You can read this “news” in its entirety by clicking here. In closing I feel compelled to share the following video. It features the new chair of GWAPP in action. It is quite something as you will see…
*Wife of a founding member and board member of Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn. Samesaid fellow was under hire by George “Greenpoint Landing” Klen to argue the case for the 2005 rezone.
**Head of North Brooklyn Development Corporation which is overseeing the distribution of the Greenpoint Environmental Relief Fund money.
***Employee of the North Brooklyn Development Corporation. Also the owner of The Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park web site’s url. (Run a “who is” search and see for yourself!)
*****Co-chair of the Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park group.
***** Former Community Co-chair of Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn.
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