New York Shitty Day Ender: Live From The Community Meeting Regarding Construction On Monitor Street & Nassau Avenue

February 2, 2011 by
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, The Natives Are Getting Restless 

It was a full house at tonight’s community meeting— and man, oh Manischewitz what a meeting it was! Naturally I captured the fireworks on video. I’ve cracked open a bottle of wine (it’s much more fun— if less expedient— than aspirin) and have commenced uploading footage. I will be adding it to this post as it successfully uploads— so check back! Teaser: Joe Lentol beating on the table to get the rather angry audience to quiet down and quit shouting. Enjoy!

Introduction by State Representative Joseph Lentol

Part II: Senator Dilan Introduces himself and a Representative of the DDC, Nitan Patel, speaks

  • Mr. Patel explains “Encroachment Notices”* and states that moving forward our elected officials will be notified of said notices.
  • He explains the role of the CCL: Community Construction Liaison.
  • Per Mr. Patel this is a “Federal Highway Project”.
  • Members of the audience are not impressed.

PART III: Mr. Patel rebuts angry Monitor Street residents and explains the surveying process.

  • Mr. Patel explains the ADA requirement and “room for flexibility”.
  • An audience member takes him to task.
  • Per Mr. Patel “We’re working around the stoops and some of the cellar doors— they’re coming out too.”
  • More dialogue about stoops and fences; and Mr. Patel states he has “walked the job”.
  • Why Monitor Street? Why not Kingsland Avenue? (This becomes the rallying cry as the meeting goes on— Ed. Note.)
  • Steve Levin warms up the audience with an informal survey.

Part IV: The Reckoning (Read: Do not F*ck with Monitor Street)

  • Senator Dilan and Mr. Patel go toe to toe regarding the role of contractors in this project.
  • Steve Levin explains why he was late; how this process will impact this community and points out the obvious: why is this “encroachment” a matter now.
  • A Monitor Street resident/expert points out that sewers were replaced 27 years ago. Among other things. (Ed. Note: I love this guy.)
  • The matter of Monitor Street between Greenpoint and Norman Avenue is brought up: it comes to light that this parcel is private.
  • MSR (Monitor Street Resident) keeps hammering away and Mr. Patel gives a visual as to what the fifteen foot curb means.

PART V: Assemblyman Joe beats the table & Steve Levin implores people to raise their hands and speak one at a time.

  • Assemblyman Joseph Lentol points out that Monitor Street between Greenpoint Avenue and Norman Avenue has been de-mapped (READ: not owned by the city) and suggests said stimulus money be used by the city to buy it back and make necessary repairs. This was greeted with much applause.
  • 50th District Female Democratic Leader, Linda Minucci, inquires of Mr. Patel as to whether the aforementioned stretch of Monitor Street was in the initial proposal. He says it was— but since it is not owned by the city they cannot work on it.
  • Mr. Patel shifts the blame to the Department of Transportation.
  • A Greenpoint resident inquires as to how the 11′ 9″ requirements for sidewalks on Nassau Avenue will apply to her mother’s house because it will cut off her stoop. Jeers and dark laughter from the peanut gallery follow. Mr. Patel assures everyone this will be handled on a “case by case” basis.
  • Another DDC representative steps forward and explains the “Encroachment letters”.

PART VI

  • The second DDC Representative continues explaining the “Encroachment letters” and acknowledges that it was not drafted property and distributed to our elected officials.
  • Karen Nieves, the Community Board 1 Transportation Chair, asks why this was not brought to their (her) attention, bemoans the lack of “transparency” and asks for a time-line for this project.
  • A discussion about sewers follows.

Part VII

  • A question about site inspections is raised. Mr. Patel beings up ADA requirements.
  • City Councilman Steve Levin asks Mr. Patel about curb cuts and the fifteen feet requirement. (Ed. Note: the body language in this segment is priceless.)
  • Monitor Street’s expert speaks once again. And Steve Levin once again implores the crowd to speak one at a time.
  • Mr. Patel reiterates that the DDC takes orders from the Department of Transportation.
  • A question is raised about Community Board 1’s role in this project.
  • A complaint is raised about the appropriateness of this project given budget cuts.
  • Taylor of the Brooklyn Kitchen/Meat Hook (and creator of the moniker “Shit Tits”) speaks.

Part VIII

  • Annoying ring tone.
  • A question about getting a stop light is raised. Hilarity ensues.
  • At this point the audience is rather subdued.
  • A fellow Greenpointer asks who will benefit from this project. Mr. Patel assures her she will be happy after the project is done.

Part IX

  • An amusing anecdote about Jewel Street’s street sign is shared.
  • The “Lady in white” finally speaks.
  • State Senator Dilan speaks, Linda Minucci texts.
  • A tentative time-table for this project has been established: April 2011.

Conclusion

  • Senator Dilan and his fellow electeds concur that another meeting with a representative from the Department of Transportation is in order.

Until next time, Greenpointers!

Miss Heather

P.S.: The woman in the pink sweater is Linda Minucci. I recognized her as  the woman “on the flier”. And later as the 50th District Female Democratic Leader. I have lived in Greenpoint for 11 years, attended various and sundry community meetings and have never— ever— seen hide nor hair of this woman until last night. Maybe I’m dotty or when there’s a genuine Greenpoint Auto de fé in effect everyone joins in the fun.

*You can view the printed material available at this meeting— including the contentious “Encroachment Notice”— by clicking here.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Comments

7 Comments on New York Shitty Day Ender: Live From The Community Meeting Regarding Construction On Monitor Street & Nassau Avenue

  1. rutila on Wed, 2nd Feb 2011 11:18 pm

    2. Thank you for letting me “borrow” Mister Heather tonight, and he gave me a few spoilers regarding this event. I can’t wait to see your footage, and I’m so sorry that I missed the meeting.

  2. mcgolrickheights on Wed, 2nd Feb 2011 11:55 pm

    3. sitting by computer.. waiting for second video..

  3. missheather on Thu, 3rd Feb 2011 12:01 am

    4. Sitting by the computer. Waiting for this damned shit to upload. Can we get fiber-optic cable or FIOS already? Seriously. For such a “hot neighborhood” (with Manhattan level rents to boot) why do we have such ghetto-ass Internet service?

  4. rutila on Thu, 3rd Feb 2011 3:45 pm

    5. Okay, now I want to pick up a pitchfork! It’s one thing for the city to tell residents that they’ll be sending out surveyors to see which properties’ fences or stoops “encroach” on city property — funny enough this wasn’t caught all those years ago! — but it’s strange that Monitor Street, of all the streets that touch Nassau, is being singled out.

    It’s a whole ‘nother can of worms when you’re citing ADA regulations. I’m all for the handicapped and disabled to have enough space to get around, but shouldn’t the Monitor Street properties have been “grandfathered” from the requirement, much like the very narrow streets of downtown Manhattan? Will Nassau Avenue sidewalks be widened for such accommodation, and are its property owners aware of the possibility as Monitor Street residents are?

    Thank you so much for taking your time to shoot and post this material.

  5. missheather on Thu, 3rd Feb 2011 3:58 pm

    6. The good thing is Mr. Dilan and Mr. Lentol seem to have a very good plan of action to get Monitor removed from this project. All in all I really have to applaud our electeds and Community Board Transportation Chair for their due diligence on this matter and willingness to work together to get it addressed. They did a smash-up job. Seriously. We’ll see how it goes!

  6. Linds on Fri, 4th Feb 2011 9:01 am

    7. Oh my!! Wow! Great footage- thank you for taking all of the time to upload this! Time well spent! I know this is dealing with “city property”… but the word encroachment is being thrown quite a bit and I’m wondering if adverse possession rights come into play given the fences and stoops have been there for quite a long time. I cannot believe this insanity!

  7. missheather on Fri, 4th Feb 2011 10:26 am

    8. Meanwhile you have a rather large stretch of Monitor Street (Greenpoint Avenue to Norman methinks) that has been demapped (READ: is not owned by the city). It has fairly recently been repaved but it is still a mess. No sidewalks, trucks parked all over the place, etc. Why can’t the DOT and DDC direct their attention to that?

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • NYS Flickr Pool

    christmas tree oddly placedDissociationMalevolent and asking for donations20241031_095113Hudson Yards EDGELooking east-Northern view.

  • Ads