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From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: Join Us!
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Bed-Stuy, Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Heights Brooklyn, DUMBO, DUMBO Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Earlier today I noted the meeting regarding crime scheduled for this evening has been cancelled —and a public forum regarding crime has been organized by our city Councilman, Steve Levin, is scheduled for August 27th. Well, it has been brought to my attention the previous evening, August 26th, there will be a sunset “meet and greet” at 475 Kent Avenue, replete with cocktails, on the rooftop!
A few thoughts/observations:
- This email blast (which was in turn forwarded to yours truly) was sent to someone who is not a resident of 475 Kent Avenue.
- However he/she has attended Loft Law workshops publicized by NAG (Neighbors Allied For Good Growth).
- NAG is a recipient of city funding for activities like Williamsburg Walks.
- The tenant organizer for NAG also happens to be a member of Community Board 1— and she was appointed by Councilman Levin.
- The NYC Loft Tenant Group is a city-wide group. Are they conducting “meet and greets” for all city councilmembers up for reelection this year— or only Steve Levin?
From The New York Shitty Inbox: CANCELLED
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
For those of you who are not in the know (I wasn’t until Eric, the wonderful proprietor of Red Star Bar informed me): this evening’s meeting regarding crime in Greenpoint has been cancelled. Whether or not this had anything to do with the Public Safety Forum scheduled by Coincilman Levin’s office which will to come to pass on the 27th at the Polish Slavic Center and a conflicting campaign event in DUMBO is anyone’s guess. Nonetheless, mark your calendars, folks!
Forum On Crime
August 27, 2013 starting at 6:00 p.m.
Polish Slavic Cultural Center
176 Java Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
The Word On The Street: Meat
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, The Word On The Street, Urban Artifact
I have long been remiss sharing some of the rather interesting wireless networks to be found hereabouts (such as this one). This I discovered while walking home from the recent ULURP meeting. As you probably notice, my apparel is festooned with kielbasa. This did not go unnoticed that rather contentious evening. I put it this way:
This meeting is all about making sausage. And making sausage is a very ugly affair.
Now jump forward to today, August 17, 2013. I go to the local McDonald’s (so as to use their ATM). While I am waiting— and WAITING— I spy this wireless network.
MEAT TREE.
Well, that would not be that interesting in and of itself. However, a short distance from there I happened upon a tree…
And it had meat (specifically, kielbasa) in it.
So it goes in Greenpoint…
Now On Manhattan Avenue: Christine Quinn
Filed under: 11222, Crosstown Local, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
As the Mister and I were coming home from taking one of the furkids to the vet this morning, we spied a most interesting sight: Christine Quinn and Councilman Levin and Bramer speaking at the India Street stop of our very own Crosstown Local. I went in for a closer look and spied my buddy Charlie, the block mayor of India Street.
Charlie: She wants to cut the fare for the ferry in half on weekends.*
Me: Of course she does. This is because it is an election year. The rest of the time she could not give a fat rat’s ass about this neighborhood.
Charlie nodded in agreement and I went home.
*This is all well and good— but is it really going to be an effective replacement for no G train service (as opposed to, say, more buses)? This is thinking in triage terms at best…
UPDATE: Here’s what CBS has to say:
“The MTA should step up and help with financial to accelerate CitiBike; to make sure that the CitiBikes come to Long Island City and Greenpoint immediately,” Quinn told 1010 WINS’ Carol D’Auria. “That would help people get to where they need to go more easily while the train tunnel is under reconstruction.”
Quinn also said a ticket for the East River ferry should cost the equivalent of a MetroCard swipe while G Train service is partially down…”
This is all well and good— but it does not really address the transportation needs for seniors, those who are mobility-impaired (the ferry stop hereabouts is kind of a schlep) or do not have credit cards so as to secure a Citibike in the first place. We need more buses. Plain and simple.
Quicklink: From The Greenpoint Gazette
Interesting quote/teaser:
Land Use committee chair Del Teague questioned the allocation of affordable housing units. At the highest bracket, 25% of the units would be available only to those Greenpoint residents whose income equals 120% of the average median income for the area. For a two-bedroom unit this translates to $66,000 – $103,000. She questions whether a greater percentage of the units can be allocated to residents at lower income levels.
Teague said later that Greenpoint has suffered a “horrific displacement of people who cannot afford to stay.” She says the income median, “is skewed because of gentrification,” and worries that the standards for awarding the affordable units may not be “meaningful.”
As I pointed out in this post, the median household income at Green Street and Manhattan Avenue per the 2010 Census is $56,690. Thus at 120 AMI a great many people hereabouts would not qualify for these units because they simply do not have a high enough income. Doesn’t sound very “affordable” to me. You can read the Gazette’s tome in its entirety by clicking here.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: What Happened On Manhattan Avenue
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Stuff The Makes Heather Sad
Per a tipster (who sent the above photo):
I heard the accident from my apartment (on the NW corner of Eagle and Manhattan). It happened a little after 9pm. No horns, no tires screeching, just a skid followed by the sound of impact. By the time I got to the front window, someone was attempting to pick the motorcyclist up from the ground by pulling on his arms until someone said not to move him. I don’t know if his helmet had been knocked off from the impact or if someone had taken it off. Another guy eventually started CPR which an EMT took over once they arrived. At that point it was clear how serious it was as the man was completely unresponsive. From the looks of it, I don’t think he survived. The driver of the car was extricated (side airbags had deployed) and was taken away on a stretcher and was the only other person taken by ambulance aside from the motorcyclist. There was a second motorcyclist at the scene who appeared to have been involved but was uninjured and later rode away. Sanitation is still cleaning up the intersection. Just a horrible, horrible thing.
Update, August 16th: Here’s what happened per the NYPD
On Thursday, August 15, 2013 at approximately 2113 hours, police responded to a motor vehicle accident at the corner of Eagle Street & Manhattan Avenue, located within the confines of the 94 Precinct. Upon arrival, officers determined that Vehicle #1, a Yamaha R6L motorcycle, operated by a M/W/18, was traveling southbound on Manhattan avenue approaching Eagle Street. At the same time, Vehicle #2, a 2011 Toyota Camry, operated by a M/B/23, was at a stop sign on Eagle street, when the operator proceeded to enter the intersection. Vehicle #1 collided into the driver’s side of Vehicle #2 as it entered the intersection. EMS responded to the location and transported both victims Woodhull hospital. The operator of Vehicle #2 suffered non-life threatening injuries and is listed in stable condition. Vehicle #1 operator sustained severe body trauma and was pronounced DOA. The investigation is ongoing.
BREAKING: An Accident On Manhattan Avenue?
There was quite a clip of activity on Greenpoint’s main drag tonight. For those of you who are wondering, it sounds (and looks) pretty bad. Per an anonymous tipster:
I heard a motorcycle roaring by my building, then heard a crash. Looked out my window to see an accident had happened on Eagle & Manhattan. I think someone died. The medics were doing CPR.
None of the people in the car looked good. And I didn’t see who was on the motorcycle. I also saw a bicycle laying in the street.
As of 12:31 this morning (August 16th) there are still police cars on the scene. Not good. Is it just me or do we need some serious traffic enforcement in north ‘Point? YESTERDAY.
QUICKLINKS: A Couple Of Items From The New York Daily News
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
- A take on the recent “crime wave” in Greenpoint. Interesting quote/teaser:
“We always have these waves (of crime),” said Community Affairs Officer Steve Truglio of the 94th Precinct.Truglio declined to discuss if the precinct is altering its tactics to combat the crime increase. But he did say criminals are attracted to the neighborhood for the same reason as Willie Sutton robbed banks — that’s where the money is.
- A run-down of the pistol-whipping which came to pass this weekend.
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Seeing Double
Late this afternoon while running errands on the fly I bumped into my good friend Josef. He simply had to have me see the above portrait which I agreed was quite wonderful. I asked if I could take a photo of Josef holding Josef. As you can see he happily obliged. Our conversation caught the attention of a passerby. Josef invited him to join us. More specifically, he told this fellow that I (and I quote):
Take pictures of the stuff I do around the neighborhood.
To wit I countered:
No Josef, you do site-specific installations. I am going to write a list of terminology and buzz phrases. I want you to learn and start using them.
Now if you do not mind, gentle readers, I am off to put that MFA to work…
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