Greenpoint
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From The New York Shitty Inbox: Locked Out
T (who sent the above image) writes:
Attached you’ll find a pic of our lovely new park at the end west end of Greenpoint Ave. I have no idea what this park is called, so I can’t be more specific but I’m pretty sure you know the park pictured. I’m sure you’ll also note that the gate to this public park is padlocked and that the sun is still shining. What you might not know is that this gate has been padlocked for three days straight with no notice as to why. I have been by this park with my lovely canine companion Kenneth twice a day for the last three days – morning around 6:30 and evening around 6:30 and never has it been accessible. Is there something I don’t know about the park schedule that would cause it to be closed? Also, if it should in fact be open, do you have any idea who I should complain to? I called 311, but as I mentioned this park is not marked with any name from without and the 311 operator had no record of a park at the location so did not know who to call. I filed a general complaint. Is this something I can send on to our assemblyman friend? Thoughts? As this is pretty much the only unpaved park in my area, it’s pretty friggin annoying that I can’t get into it.
This public space is called WNYC Transmitter Interim Park— or something to that effect. Of course this information is not of much use if the 311 operator has no idea this park (if you can call it that) exists. But I’ll leave the semantics and philosophical stuff to the city. Here are four people/entities I would recommend T contact about this (or any other neighborhood) problem (in order of relevance):
- The New York City Parks Department
- Community Board 1 (I go into more detail about how to go about this here)
- Our City Councilman: Steve Levin
- Our State Assemblyman: Joseph Lentol
I hope this has been helpful, T!
Miss Heather
UPDATE, March 18, 2010; T has some exciting news to relay! He/she writes:
I am extremely pleased to report some actual good news on this. This morning, as a result of my 311 call, the District Manager responsible for this park called me back. We were both on cell phones so I did not 100% catch his name but I believe it was Harmon or Carmen. First, how’s that for promptness?!? Awesome! Second, he was not only beyond polite but also clearly interested in this and concerned. We spoke for about ten minutes, the result being that he had already spoken to the employee responsible for that park who reported he had been closing it at 5:15 every day. Harmon/Carmen explained to me that their employees are still on winter hours and that within a month, as dusk officially becomes 7 or 8 o’clock, they will switch to summer hours.
I feel it’s important to commend our public servants in this or at least note that everything functioned exactly as it should in this case. There was the kind of promptness, concern, respect and knowledge on display that should characterize every interaction between citizens and the city apparatus.
Thanks Harmon/Carmen!!
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Hey You!
As many of you are undoubtedly aware next weekend is Valentine’s Day. I imagine a number of you are looking for companionship— albeit even of the interim variety— to celebrate this very special day. If your idea of romance is a rendezvous at a interstate rest stop (and why shouldn’t it be?) worry not, my fellow north Brooklynites. Now only do I have you I have you covered— but you don’t even have to leave Greenpoint! So put on your sneakers kids— we have a date to meet!
(still waiting)
Miss Heather
FRIDAY: Greenpoint Open Studios
This is a quick reminder that the Greenpoint Open Studios extravaganza kicks off Friday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. at WYNC Transmitter Park. More detailed information (including the above itinerary, list of participating galleries and a handy map!) can be yours for the download at Greenpoint Open Studio’s web site. Check it out!
Miss Heather
NEXT WEEK: A Ribbon Cutting With Mayor Mike!
Some of you probably know ground has been broken for the new soccer field which will grace Bushwick Inlet Park. What you probably do not know is (per a most curious anonymous source) I have been told there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony with none other than our fair Mayor as well as “other elected officials and Commissioner Benepe” this upcoming Monday, July 6, 2009! The festivities will kick off at either 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. (I am awaiting confirmation for all of this— if/when I get a firm time and date I will post them here.) Let’s celebrate!
Or not.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony For the New Soccer Field At Bushwick Inlet Park
Monday, July 6, 2009
Time: Either 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. (time and date to be confirmed) 11:00 a.m.
Kent Avenue between North 11 & 12 Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211*
Why hasn’t this event been announced to the general public, you ask? That’s an excellent question! Why not pop by on Monday and ask Mayor Mike and/or Mr. Benepe in person?
Miss Heather
*Or would that be WNYC Transmitter Park? As you can see in the following photographs (taken at 7:30 this evening) the stage is being set for something to go down there. Soon.
This is a fucking joke.
News From The Greenpoint Grapevine
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Some of you might have noticed that the lot at the western terminus of Greenpoint Avenue (the designated site of WNYC Transmitter Park) has received a heaping helping of mulch. I was initially mystified but have since heard some neighborhood buzz that might shed some light on this recent turn of events: this space will be temporarily opened as a dog run.
Although I am pleased at the prospect that north Greenpoint’s mutts might finally— albeit temporarily— have a place to stretch their legs (and sniff each other’s butts) and I might have the opportunity to see the WNYC Transmitter building up close and personal (it’s a lovely Art Deco building) I must confess that I cannot stop asking myself:
Where’s my park?
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Dude, Where’s My Park?
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Some of you may or may not be aware that I am on the steering committee for what has been dubbed “WNYC Transmitter Park”.
But most people, my fellow Greenpointers included, better know it as “that vacant lot at the end of Greenpoint Avenue”. I mention this because GWAPP in cooperation with NAG (Neighbors Allied For Good Growth) will be conducting what can best be called a “Park-In” protesting the lack of open space in Greenpoint promised under the now infamous 2005 re-zone. I’ll let the folks from NAG take it from here:
Remember the 2005 Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning? In it, we were told that in exchange for enormous buildings along the water front we would receive a number of parks and open spaces to relax in, to get up by the water, to play soccer, to do whatever we please!
Not one park has been completed, not one has been opened.
So while the rest of New York City is celebrating “It’s My Park Day!” on May 16th, NAG and GWAPP will be instead asking, “Where’s My Park?!?” in an act of community awareness and civic action.
Bring your kids and your grandmas to the NAG Office (N 8th and Kent) at 12:30p to make some pro-park crafts and picket signs, and then join us at 2:00p at Bushwick Inlet (N 14th and Kent) as we march down past several of the promised parks’ locked gates. The day will end with a block party full of music, games, refreshments, and community… in a parking lot.
Come help us make a scene! It’s the only way we’ll unplug the City’s deaf ears across the river.
What NAG’s press release does not mention specifically is WNYC Transmitter Park is one of the “promised parks”. I have been assured the money has been set aside to build it. And by “it” I mean the park, not the pier and water taxi.
Still, when I walk by this site (as I did May 9th which is when the photographs gracing this post date from) to discover a newly built deck, tires and oil drums being employed as planters it makes me wonder…
what’s going on? If the Parks Department (who owns and occupies this land) can enjoy this space why can’t we?
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Bushwick Inlet Park (where the Monitor was built and as such is a historically significant site) and 65 Commercial Street (which is currently occupied by the MTA) are also on the itinerary. The previous should be a park. The latter leaves me with certain trepidations. David Yassky’s lackeys have seen fit to spam a great number of neighborhood groups in north Brooklyn with a petition addressed to Mayor Bloomberg demanding the MTA vacate 65 Commercial Street:
Particularly frustrating is the fact a few months ago the MTA decided, seemingly of it’s (sic) own volition, to remove the buses that had been the main obstacle for leaving the site.
What’s particularly frustrating to me are the manifold ways David Yassky has failed north Brooklyn as a City Councilman and seems unwilling to admit it. Sure, I like the fancy garbage cans with his name emblazoned upon them (for reasons I will not go into here) but I cannot shake the feeling David “I’m running for Comptroller” is simply using us for votes. I have learned over the years that the key to deciphering David is to follow the money. His maligning of the MTA is merely a crass exploitation of popular sentiment against their malfeasance. So as to direct attention away from his shoddy record in our community (take 184 Kent Avenue, for example).
Those of you interested in participating in this event (and I encourage you to do so, you can get more details by checking out NAG’s blog) please do not confuse Mr. Yassky’s recent interest in Greenpoint or financial involvement in its “parks” (READ: India Street) as being genuine concern. Ask him why a parcel of land ostensibly owned by the New York City’s Parks Department has yet to become a park for its own citizens.
March For Parks
May, 16, 2009
Preparations start at the NAG Office at 12:30 p.m.: 101 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn 11211
March starts at Bushwick Inlet at 2:00 p.m.
The odds David Yassky will be soap boxing/shilling for votes when you reach the promised “party”: let’s just say I wouldn’t bet against it.
Miss Heather
P.S.: This the most vomit-inducing plea for money I have seen. EVER.
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