The Word On The Street, Part II: Driggs Avenue

March 28, 2014 ·
Filed under: 11211, The Word On The Street, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

Taken March 28, 2014.

Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: 958 Manhattan Avenue

March 28, 2014 ·
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Another day, another panel has opted to shirk its duty. Note this fellow’s pup found this lot of tremendous interest. Now that I think about it, it would make a nice dog run. Anyone with me on this?

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Goodbye, Goldscholle & Garfinkel

A very nice fellow named Matthew writes on March 21st:

I spoke to the gentleman who owns and operates Goldsholle and Garfinkel Hardware on Manhattan Ave today (I believe his name is Steve), and found out that he’s closing the store and retiring after 30 years. He told me the store has been family owned since the 1920’s. I do not know the man well, but he has always been friendly and helpful whenever I’ve gone into the store. I thought people might like to stop by and wish him well in retirement. He likes dogs and has always been happy to give my dog a treat when I’ve brought him in. Canine-centric bon voyage?

As it would happen I am friends with Steve. I can attest that he is not only a very nice fellow, but a gentleman as well. His establishment has long been a community cracker barrel of sorts. The panels vary, as do the subjects discussed. The latter usually are sports, local events, news and whatnot. Today’s “subject matter” would fall under the lattermost. And being a gentleman, Steve wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. No worries, that’s where I come in.

I have met a number of wonderful people at Steve’s. One of them is a fellow who is a landlord hereabouts. For reasons which will soon become clear he did not want his name used. It’s not really important anyway. Those of you who are familiar with this blog are well aware that I feature landlords quite frequently and it is usually not for “good” reasons. In the interest of “equal time” I will now endeavor to feature one of the “good guys”. A fellow who, upon discovering a tenant had left something of— how shall we say— a highly personal manner, has seen fit to store it in his basement for safe-keeping. Before I proceed I offering the following observations/caveats:

  1. If you find stuff like this offensive, do NOT watch the following video.
  2. Measures were taken to ensure no one who finds such accoutrements offensive was not present at the, um, “unveiling” of this item.
  3. If you are at work, you should probably not watch this unless you want a visit from the HR Department.
  4. It was quite fortuitous the following came to pass at a hardware store as a tape measure was required so as to establish its size. All I’m sayin’ is a woman knows.

Without further ado on with the show!

Thanks for the memories, Steve. You will be missed!

The Word On The Street: North 6 Street

March 28, 2014 ·
Filed under: 11211, The Word On The Street, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

Taken March 28, 2014.

New York Shitty Photo Du Jour: The Word On The Street

Taken March 28, 2014.

UPDATE, 10:17 pm: it has been brought to my attention that this is the handiwork of this lady. Thanks MMB!

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: The Word On The Street

March 28, 2014 ·
Filed under: New York City, The Word On The Street 

Taken by Scoboco.

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Policy Advisory

March 27, 2014 ·
Filed under: New York City, Street Art 

By Jilly Ballistic.

Spotted On Manhattan Avenue: Missing

These flyers have been popping up all over the Garden Spot. Keep your eyes peeled fellow Greenpointers— and spread the word!

UPDATE, 9:50 p.m.: Thanks to Citizen Christine I can pass along more information about this fellow as posted by Womens Wear Daily (Mr. Ott is a fashion designer).

Quicklink: City & State

March 26, 2014 ·
Filed under: Brooklyn, New York City 

Choice quote/teaser:

Another progressive whose TIE fundraising appears to be incongruous with his politics is Councilman Carlos Menchaca, who, like Johnson, was selected as a freshman by his borough colleagues to be a co-leader of their respective delegations. Menchaca ran as a reformist insurgent against Sara Gonzalez, whom he vilified as a tool of “Manhattan millionaire developers” for receiving support from Jobs for New York, the Real Estate Board’s independent expenditure arm. But soon after taking office, Menchaca accepted $1,500 in TIE funding from Taxpayers for an Affordable New York, which is essentially run and funded by the same major property owners who spearheaded Jobs for New York.

Menchaca also took $1,500 from John Ciafone, a Queens lawyer and property owner who was listed on Public Advocate Bill de Blasio’s Worst Slumlord watchlist in 2011. De Blasio returned two large contributions from Ciafone when it was revealed that he was a donor, but Menchaca is apparently untroubled by or unaware of whom he is accepting from.

John Ciafone’s wife is Gina Argento, the CEO of Broadway Stages, a large television and film production studio and sound stage company in Brooklyn and Queens. Argento and her brother Anthony Argento are prolific contributors to political campaigns, and each gave $1,500 to Menchaca’s TIE committee.
Last year the Argentos applied to have a subsidiary company, Luna Lighting, receive a license to operate as a trade waste business, which would allow the company to cart demolition and construction debris from worksites. As the Argentos have ownership interest in many industrial sites that they would like to repurpose for other commercial uses (for example, the Knockdown Center in Maspeth), owning their own demolition hauling company would provide vertical integration to their business. The city’s Business Integrity Commission issued a harsh denial of the Argentos’ application, citing a history of illegal carting by Luna Lighting, and also misrepresentation by Anthony Argento of his arrest record.

Furthermore, Anthony Argento was shown to have over $1 million in federal tax liens against him, as well as his business. As of April 2013 Argento owed the Internal Revenue Service more than $600,000. This information was all published by the city and is a matter of public record. One imagines that Menchaca or his staff must have done some cursory analysis of who was giving him money. Or perhaps the Argentos have papered the city with enough contributions that their questionable business practices do not raise the eyebrows of even the most progressive elected officials.

Hmm. Some of this sounds strangely familiar? Deja vu, perhaps? Oh wait, i’s because Queens Crap and I have blogged this already!!! In any case this is an interesting read so take a moment and check it out. Perhaps Mr. Barron would be so kind as to direct his attention to the Argentos clan’s shenanigans in other neighborhoods? If he is paying attention, why not ask them about the Greenpoint Boathouse being relocated to 51 Ash Street and the ~$5,000 tax lien which stands on that property presently?

P.S.: A few other details/facts Mr. Barron might find interesting:

  1. Ms. Argento – Ciafone is a member of Community Board 1 Brooklyn. Has been for some time.
  2. Her spouse is a chronic office seeker.
  3. The Argentos financed Mr. Menchaca’s inauguration party.

Go ahead, run a Google search and see for yourself!

The Word On The Street, Part II: North 11 Street

March 26, 2014 ·
Filed under: 11249, The Word On The Street, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

Taken March 24, 2014.

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