Quicklink: WNYC

WNYCscreencap

Choice quote/teaser:

…The biggest jolt in 2010 was the naming of a new Finance Committee chair. Quinn and her predecessor, Gifford Miller, had given this prize to Queens the previous eight years, a reward for the linchpin role that the 16 Queens Council votes had played in their elections to the speakership by a majority of the 51-member Council. The ironclad control that the Queens party leadership exercised over its Council delegation’s votes for speaker had allowed it to dominate Miller and then Quinn’s committee appointments, and Queens had nine committees, including Land Use and Finance, the pillars of Council power. Chairs aren’t free agents, and the speaker would ultimately call the big questions, but their powers are considerable, and a magnet for contributions.

Quinn appointed Dominick Recchia as Finance Committee chair. Besides the powers, Recchia also got the $18,000 salary bonus that went with the job, a surprisingly important prize to Council members whose base pay is $112,500.  Recchia, who did not respond to requests for comment, represents Coney Island, but he was so obeisant to Lopez that he was, at that very moment, using $2 million of his limited discretionary funds to subsidize Ridgewood Bushwick, as far away from his district as a buck could fly…

Why should we care about this you ask my fellow north Brooklynites? Very simple…

onethousanddollars

It would appear our incumbent Steve Levin (who, it has been established, is quite tight with Ms. Quinn) has accepted the above donation from Recchia— or at least his “friends”.Please take a moment to give this post by WNYC a listen. An informed voter is an empowered voter!

Closing on a related note, I feel compelled to share what is by far the best, B-E-S-T, campaign mailer yours truly has received to date (Lopez notwithstanding)…

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Live From This Evening’s ULURP Meeting

August 27, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

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so there

PROVEITnys@

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All things considered this evening’s proceedings were quite well attended. I write “All things considered” because, once again, this meeting conflicted with another one pertaining to the subject of crime. In any case, I am pleased to announce (SPOILER ALERT):

  1. 77 Commercial has dispensed with the “poor door”.
  2. Ms. Meyer, the lady charged with representing Greenpoint Landing, assured us those who live in their affordable housing units will have (and I quote) “free access” to the parks developed on said parcels. Um, I thought that was kind of the point of having public parks? But I digress.

Without further ado here are tonight’s proceedings. Enjoy!

  • 0:54 – 1:28 watch it. And REwatch it. I did. Here’s an instant replay— albeit of the “I am tired and am in no mood for annotating this sh*t” variety.

Listening to this the first time was bad enough. Hence a Hello Kitty* post-it note and my hand will have to suffice. To my credit, I refrained from using my middle finger

  • Jack Hammer the Director of Planning at HPD (Housing Preservation and Development) speaks. I am not kidding. His name really is Jack Hammer.
  • “Mayoral Process”: one of the two ton gorillas** in the room, it was not mentioned (after all the public was not allowed to comment) but it was certainly there nonetheless. The reason this is being expedited— and Community Board 1 has never been this “active” during their summer break in my recollection— is so it will fly through before Bloomturd leaves office.

  • So was the dude sitting next to me from the Department of City Planning or not?
  • At 4:48 Del Teague, ULURP Chair, makes it clear she is NOT taking questions from “the public”.

The “vote” and next up, 77 Commercial Street…

This fellow represents via Greenberg Traurig LLP. In other words: he’s a lobbyist for “Clipper Equities”.

  • At 3:18 he, on the behalf of 77 Commercial Street, dispenses with the “poor door”.

  • Apparently the City of New York can only sell air rights from 65 Commercial Street to adjacent properties– and 77 Commercial was the only one to make a bid. So they got it.

Congratulations, Greenpoint! We’re getting more park space and it will even be available to residents of affordable housing! What’s more, we may very well have landed us a(nother) slumlord. Run a Google search of David Bistricer and Joseph Chetrit, the fellows behind 77 Commercial Street. This and this are my personal favorites.

I skipped out before the “school” presentation (at the end). But then again Del Teague, ULURP Chair, almost forgot about it too…

Cheers!

Post Script: I would encourage each and every one of you, gentle readers, to familiarize yourselves with the Sunshine Laws. Especially as they pertain to “Open Meetings”. In this respect let’s just say our local Community Board seems to be a mite bit inconsistent in its application

*Hello Kitty neither endorses nor takes a position on this community matter. I simply felt lazy and the need to be a jackass. It happens.

**The other being “infrastructural” stress: policing. The fact of the matter is the 94th is presently under-staffed to protect and serve this community. It has never overcome the wave of “attrition”/”retirements” that came to pass several years ago. So, I ask:

How is the 94th Precinct going to handle the influx of new residents from Greenpoint Landing, 77 Commercial Street and all the Greenpoint Condo Corridor?

Given the current path we’re on they cannot. Plain and simple. It was noted in 94th Precinct Community Council meetings long before this “Crime Wave” that block watchers and neighborhood watch groups should be (re)implemented. They were not.

But what irritates the fuck out of me is the fact this is the second time a meeting/forum regarding “crime” has conflicted with a ULURP meeting regarding the development on Greenpoint’s waterfront. So we have to choose. Is Community Board 1 really that inept/out of touch?

From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: A Robbery At Carmine’s?

A person we’ll call “E” Writes:

Miss Heather:Any info on the robbery at Carmine’s Pizza on Norman Ave. yesterday? I was in there around 6:30 for my evening slice, and the place was filled with cops. I thought they were just ordering slices until I realized they were questioning the workers. Evidently, some guy pulled a gun and made of with $600 or so. In broad daylight! Anyhow, please pass along anything you hear…Thanks

I have not heard anything here— but if anyone reading this has the 411 please share via comments or email at: missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com. Your identity will remain anonymous if you so desire.

Thanks!

UPDATE, August 28, 2913: I have received word an arrest was made!

TONIGHT: ULURP Meeting

August 27, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

ULURP

 

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This one damned near slipped past. But thanks to the folks at Save Domino I got a reminder/heads-up!

ULURP Committee Meeting, Community Board 1
August 27, 2013 starting at 6:30
Mary D’s Seniors Center
80 Dupont Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222

Tipsters Wanted

August 27, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, New York City, Queens 

It has been brought to my attention that Mr. John Ciafone, in fact, owns a great deal of property in north Brooklyn. I learned this from two people who have had the misfortune of being his tenants. If anyone wishes to share their experience of having this fellow as a landlord please shoot me an email at missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com. Your identity will remain anonymous if you so desire.

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part II: Nassau Avenue

August 27, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Crosstown Local, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Entrance at Nassau Ave (Church bound G)

Given the rather, um, aromatic nature of this subway station I have to say this is rather apropos. Well done, Jilly Ballistic!

From The New York Shitty Inbox: A Cancellation & Reminder

cancelled

Given the community forum/workshop which will come to pass this evening, I suppose it is not surprising that September’s 94th Precinct Community Council has been cancelled. Otherwise, follows is the 411 regarding this evening’s convocation:

Forum On Crime
August 27, 2013 starting at 6:00 p.m.
Polish Slavic Cultural Center
176 Java Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222

A self-defense workshop conducted by the Anti Violence Project will follow.

Urban Fur: Mimi

August 26, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Fur 

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Taken August 26, 2013.

Urban Artifact: 317 Days & Counting!

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The Greenpoint Avenue Teddy is still keeping watch over the intersection at Franklin Street— with his faithful feline friend.

(Previously)

Quicklink: By Their Friends Ye $hall Know Them…

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Ever wondered who this fellow is? I know I have. This is because I see his mug all over north Brooklyn.

QCscreencapCIAFANOWell, Queens Crap has the low-down. Here’s a teaser:

Astoria attorney John Ciafone is running for City Council District 22 (Astoria) to replace outgoing Peter Vallone, Jr. He has run previously for the council as well as for the assembly… What you may not know is that Ciafone currently appears on Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio’s slumlord list (for a property located in Greenpoint no less — Ed. Note). To his credit, he is on the “most improved” list, having reduced his violations from 195 to 2. He tried to donate to DeBlasio, but it was returned. Local council member/Vito Lopez protege Steve Levin and Queens BP candidates Peter Vallone and Melinda Katz apparently have no qualms about keeping his money, however…

Read it for yourselves here.

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Otherwise, I will leave you with this footage from a campaign event from Christopher Olechowski’s campaign for 50th Assembly District Democratic Party Male Leader. At 0:28 you can see John J. Ciafone, Esquire, himself…

I encourage you all, gentle readers, to give ALL these videos (there are five total) a watch. They’re, um, interesting.

(Image Credit: Ciafone making aluminum siding look good comes courtesy of Queens Crap)

  • NYS Flickr Pool

    DissociationMalevolent and asking for donations20241031_095113Hudson Yards  EDGELooking east-Northern view.Thompson and Broome Streets
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