Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
From The New York Shitty Inbox: What’s That Smell?
(Another) Heather writes: Do you know what the gas smell is near Norman and Humboldt??? It’s very unpleasant and happening daily; seems to be coming from either Syrena Bakery or the water treatment plant. Just curious.
The funny thing I have observed about living a hop-skip from our waste treatment plant is I rarely smell it. Inasmuch as I can ascertain, McGuinness Boulevard serves as some kind of buffer. For this reason I welcome more “luxury” condos on Brooklyn’s “Boulevard of Death”.
Let the fine people who have the ability to pay $2,000+ a month in rent for “luxury” apartments have the honor of quaffing this stench from their balconies whilest watching more pedestrians and bicyclists being struck by speeding motorists. It’ll be just like ancient Greece, the spectacles of Rome and Death Race 2000 combined. How could I, a simple citizen living in a rent-stabilized apartment, deny them this genuinely Greenpoint experience? But I digress.
I promised Heather that while I had my suspicions as to where the smell was coming from (READ: the waste treatment plant) that I would consult an expert. I did. Here’s what she had to say:
At Norman & Humboldt it could be just about anything. That’s TCE, Oil, Sewage, Solid Waste territory.
But this person should :
- Call 311 and state that you are making an “odor complaint” regarding the “Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant” area
- Get a reference number
- Email the reference number to Christine Holowacz (NCMC liaison— That’s the Newtown Creek Monitoring Authority— Ed. Note) at nc (dot) mc (at) verizon (dot) net
DEP has been very helpful in the past sorting out where smells are originating. Many times it’s coming from them, but many times it isn’t.
It is the “isn’t” that should bother you, dear readers. If you smell something, SAY SOMETHING.
In closing I’d like like to give props to the person whose art work graces this post. It comes from Very Small Array and is one of four cartoons that were rejected by The New Yorker. In 2006.
It’s 2010. Greenpoint has (for reasons which mystify some of its own residents) gained the sinecure as the fifth most livable neighborhood in New York City. We’ve come up in the world. It’s time for a new ditty:
We are Greenpoint, hear us roar.
With a stench you can’t ignore!
Shame on you, New Yorker, for your lack of vision— or would that be olfaction? Change has come! You can smell it in the wind. No worries, you get used to it after awhile.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: North Brooklyn Selections
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Spring
Filed under: 11222, Crosstown Local, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
This message hails from the Nassau Avenue stop of the Crosstown Local and comes courtesy of the camera of Single Linds Reflex.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Video Du Jour: Fire Truck Chorus
As some of you, dear readers, might know your truly has been under the weather of late. I do not know if it is a cold (anymore) or allergies. Frankly it doesn’t matter: it sucks. In any case today I mustered up the energy and moseyed over to Monitor Street and Norman Avenue. You see, I have been voicing concerns with the transportation chair of Community Board 1, Karen Nieves, about road/sidewalk maintenance and congestion in this general area. The purpose of today’s sojourn was to document conditions at this intersection and Monitor Street in general. I was not only successful in this endeavor* but I came away with a little “added value”: making the acquaintance of a fire truck siren mimicking dog. Yes, you have read me correctly. But don’t take my word for it: without further ado, here it is. NOTE: listen carefully towards the end. Enjoy!
After the conclusion of this performance I inquired of his person this pup’s name. “His name is Zeus” she replied “and he thinks he is a god”. As do I, Zeus, as do I…
Miss Heather
*documenting Northside car service vehicles idling, cars parked on the sidewalk and double parked on the street and other fun stuff which can be seen here.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Bicyclist Struck On Kingsland?
Speaking as someone who has seen the traffic around Kingland Avenue and Nassau Avenue I wish I could be surprised by this— but I’m not. Jen writes:
hey Heather-
I figured you were the best person to reach out to to ask this questions to. I live on kingsland between nassau and norman which has become a very heavy truck & bus route. The light at kingsland and norman is on the same timing schedule as the light at kingsland and norman so trucks and cars tend to FLY down our street to make both lights, especialy at night. While i don’t know if installing a… camera would deter this behavior perhaps changing the timing of one of the lights ( so they didnt both turn green at the same time) would make drivers less inclined to speed through the block.
Last night there was an accident in front of our apartment because of this very thing, 2 cyclists were riding and one was hit by a large truck (both cyclists had full lights on their bikes front and back along with flashing lights on their tires. The truck was going too fast and has severely injured the cyclist.
Long story short… perhaps you know the best people to try and get in contact with to try and get a change in the lights made?
Off the top of my head I would recommend you and your neighbors:
- bring this to the attention of our local Community Board. They have a transportation committee and this is the kind of thing they would be very interested in knowing about.
- contact our State Representative Joe Lentol. I know one of his community liaisons, a very nice lady named Amy. She is very interested in pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
- attend the next 94th Precinct Community Council meeting and bring this to the attention of our Deputy Inspector, Dennis Fulton. Speaking as someone who has attended these meetings I can tell you traffic is a common complaint. You will NOT be alone.
If anyone has more advice for Jen or would care to recount their own observations about the traffic in this area (in my opinion it needs policing— BADLY) please tender them in the comments. I would love to hear them! In closing I hope this, the latest person to be struck by truck traffic in our community— makes a speedy and full recovery. My best wishes go out to his (or her) family, friends and loved ones.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Dancing With The Stars
From the Norman Avenue branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.
Miss Heather
TOMORROW: The Greenpoint 100
Before this balmy weekend kicks off I wanted to remind my fellow Garden Spotters that tomorrow, May 1, starting at 11:00 a.m. the Greenpoint branch of the Brooklyn Public Library will be conducting its annual fundraiser, The Greenpoint 100. Not only is this a great way to acquire some very nifty art from local artists, but you’ll also be supporting a great cause: our public library. Check it out!
The Greenpoint 100
May 1, 2010 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Brooklyn Public Library, Norman Avenue Branch
107 Norman Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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