A Manhattan Avenue Park Spot Of Death Update: “Fixed”

April 18, 2017 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

This is what I was greeted with bright and early this morning. Per a witness, the Department of Transportation showed up at midnight so as to do this. They made a lot of noise too. In any case, here’s to not having to watch some unfortunate soul’s car getting towed, folks yelling at traffic enforcement agents upon discovering they have been ticketed, etc.

The 983 Manhattan Avenue Parking Spot Of Death: And Now Another Word from the DOT

April 17, 2017 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF 

Since the CBS 2 segment aired there hasn’t been much to relay other than the traffic enforcement agents seem to have stopped— or have seriously cut back— “policing” this ticket trap. Then this morning I received an email. It is so fascinating I am going to share it right here and now. Enjoy!

New York Shitty analysis:

  1. How is “pedestrian safety” relevant to the legality (or otherwise) of this, or any, parking space?
  2. Let’s consider pedestrian safety on the block in question. If “traffic enforcement” took the time/effort to, say, hang out at the intersection of India Street and Manhattan Avenue and ticket each and every motorist and bicyclist who blew through through the traffic signals located there they would make a tidy sum. They would also actually be doing something which does facilitate safer streets for pedestrians. But it is much easier to go after the long-hanging fruit of people parking in an ambiguously marketed parking space.
  3. A response “by mid-July”, you say? NICE.

You can’t make this shit up, folks…

Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Workin’ For The Weekend

April 8, 2017 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF 

Looks like “traffic enforcement” is at it again. On a Saturday, no less. What dedication! In any case this is an excellent opportunity to share a couple of things:

  1. Given this new parking by app thing it could be argued that the city would, could stand to make money by simply legalizing the space and generating revenue from it. However, I suspect they are rolling with the short-term strategy of hitting folks with parking tickets costing $115.00 a pop. And, as we have learned, the truly lucky folks accrue the additional costs of getting towed.
  2. A follow-up complaint to the original complaint (getting more Kafka-esque by the minute!) has been filed: DOT-331717-Z3B9

Oh, did I mention I am looking into installing a webcam so everyone can watch this banquet of bullshit unfold in real time 24/7/365? Well, I just did! Happy Saturday!!!

Spotted On Manhattan Avenue: The DOT

April 6, 2017 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF 


This morning I popped out nice and early to get bagels. I noticed the Department of Transportation was afoot. Naturally my curiosity got the best of me so I checked my favorite illegal parking space for new signage. What I found should hardly be surprising…

Wanting to know what this “zone” business was about (I do not drive a car and have no intentions of doing so anytime soon), I did a spot of online research. Here’s what Patch.com has to say about it. The article in question dates from December 19, 2016:

NYC transportation officials announced Monday that within the next few weeks, New Yorkers will be able to fill any Muni-Meter between 14th and 59th streets in Manhattan via the ParkNYC app, now available for download on all app stores.

And by summer 2017, “every metered parking space in every borough” will be payable by app, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) announced.

The coolest part: By the time every meter is hooked up to the system, you’ll no longer have to sprint back to your car when your meter’s up. Instead, you’ll get a notification from the ParkNYC app, which will prompt you to refill the meter with your phone.

The lamest part: In order to get started, you’ll have to load your account with a minimum payment of $25…

So these “zones” have been put in place so one can pay for parking via an “app”. How very 21st century! As is being required to make a minimum payment of $25.00. Clever!

In closing I will leave you, gentle readers, with a couple stills taken from a video I shot yesterday morning at 10:22 am.

Yep…

Manhattan Avenue Parking Spot of Death Update: And Now A Word From The DOT

April 5, 2017 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF 

(Department of Transportation worker parking in front of 983 Manhattan Avenue so as to procure some lunch, taken April 3rd, 2017.)

As I stated in a previous update, a 311 complaint has been filed regarding this problematic parking space. Specifically, that the lines on the street and signs are not in agreement as to the legality (or, in this case, illegality) of the space in question. Well, gentle readers, this has been brought to the attention of the DOT. Specifically, the person whose jurisdiction is the signage. Yes, you just read me correctly: the person in charge of signage was contacted, not the person in charge of the markings on the street. As you can imagine this fellow does not seem to “get” what the problem is. Somewhere Franz Kafka is smiling.

And now part two!

The problem here is straightforward enough. At least to someone who is not a bureaucrat. In the interest of fostering a better understanding of the issue at hand I offer these videos taken April 3rd, 2017. One clearly shows the discrepancy, the “mixed signals” if you will, between the placement of the sign and the markings on the street. Among other things. Enjoy!

Remember folks, your choices behind the wheel matter. Today’s choice was fried chicken. Yum!

UPDATE, 10:22 am: They’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

A New York Shitty Public Service Announcement

March 30, 2017 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

If you happen to own a motor vehicle and find yourself needing to park it in Greenpoint listen up, you will undoubtedly find what I am about to relay of the utmost interest.

See the highlighted area above? The one which seems to be demarcated as a legally permissible parking space if one consults the lines drawn on the street? Well, it is most decidedly not legal and has become quite the revenue mill for our traffic enforcement officials. I have seen (and in one case, photographed) “meter maids” loitering nearby— in one case, for nearly twenty minutes— waiting for someone to park in this space so he or she can issue the motorist a ticket.

Before I proceed I would like to make it known why this space is illegal. Some time ago there was work conducted on the street proper. It was by Con Ed, I believe. This required moving the bus stop for the B43 and B62 approximately fifteen feet to the north (or, referencing the above photo, to the right). Given buses need a wide berth of passage this change is quite understandable and indeed necessary. The question still arises as to why the lines on the street were not changed, but we’ll table that matter.

I know what you’re thinking:

Okay, so the bus stop was moved? What’s the big deal here?

Well this is where it gets interesting, gentle readers. You see this bus stop has since been moved yet again. This time to the south. It is presently located roughly in front of our local C-Town: 953 Manhattan Avenue. I have generated a map so as to illustrate what I am talking about.

Here you can see where the original bus stop was located, versus where it is actually located. It has been moved to the next block. So of course now the question arises as to why this parking space is still illegal. I will leave this for the “authorities” to answer.

What I can tell you— because I have seen it with my own eyes and filmed it— is “traffic” has stepped up their game regarding the enforcement of this illegal parking space. They are no longer simply issuing tickets. They have started towing the vehicles outright. And, as of this morning, they are breaking into said misplaced vehicles if need be in order to tow them. Don’t take my word for it, watch for yourself. Seeing is truly believing.

bandepart1

bandepart2

Many questions crossed my mind as I watched this transpire. Foremost among them was “Is this really necessary?” No, I do not think it is. Lord only knows north Brooklyn and Greenpoint in particular have a litany of traffic-related problems which are much more urgent in nature than this. If you happen to agree, by all means please share this with any/all elected officials, “authorities”, etc., as you see fit.

Given the NYPD, and specifically the 94th Precinct, have had a spate of bad publicity lately (I am being very kind here), one would presume, hope, they would be endeavoring to foster better “community relations”. However, stuff like this (enforcing an illegal parking space whose reason for being illegal in the first place is no longer extant) does the exact opposite. Want to (further) erode the respect and trust of the community one serves? This here example is a sterling way to do it.

Seriously folks, we deserve better than this.

UPDATE, 1:05 pm: We have a complaint number! DOT-330779-H1X6

The Word On The Street: Season’s Greetings From Second Avenue

Second Avenue at East 5 Street nys

As spotted today just around the corner from the premises of the 9th Precinct. Closing on a related note…

  • Free Williamsburg has seen fit to publish a handy map of the establishments in Williamsburg which will be participating in this year’s SantaCon event. One establishment offers mechanical bull rides. Drunk Santa Testosteronathon + mechanical bull rides = culling the herd.
  • E.V. Grieve has excellent coverage regarding the “back and forth” between a number of elected officials and Norman Seigel, SantaCon’s hired attorney. I encourage any/all north Brooklyn residents to give it a read as I for one found the coalition of elected officials who saw fit to sign this letter almost as interesting as the ones who did not. Inasmuch as I can tell (and by all means correct me if I am wrong), the only signee who represents north Brooklyn (READ: Greenpoint/Williamsburg) is Daniel Squadron. This of course begs a number of questions. It should be noted the Brooklyn Borough President’s name is not to be found either. Not that I find this surprising, mind you. I don’t.

New York Shitty Day Ender: A Couple Community Meetings of Interest

The ever-dedicated lady of our Community board’s Transportation Committee, Karen Nieves, has brought a couple of items to my attention. Items in which I suspect a number of my friends and neighbors will be interested. Without further ado, here they are— bike share enthusiasts and those who still have issues with the Nassau Avenue Reconstruction Project should pay special attention!

Transportation Committee Meeting


Transportation Committee Meeting
May 15, 2012 starting at 6:30 p.m. (NOTE: you have to sign in in order to speak)
Community Board 1 Office
435 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11211

Nassau Avenue Construction Meeting 2.0

Nassau Avenue Construction Meeting
May 24, 2012 starting at 7:00 p.m.
Lutheran Church of the Messiah
129 Russell Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222

Spread the word!

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