From The New York Shitty Inbox: Season’s Greetings From Manhattan Avenue

A fellow named Hugo (who captured the above bit of Greenpoint goodness today) writes:

Howdy hi, Some Christmas cheer from Manhattan Ave…

Ho! Ho! Ho!

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Much Ado About Nuhart

12.2013 Duraflex Hart plume

Kim of Save Greenpoint writes:

Hi Heather,

I would like to direct your attention to a plume map provided by the DEC which clearly shows the Superfund site contaminants sitting at the school site’s door. Despite reassurances that remediation efforts will be done before a school will be built, NO alternative sites were explored b/c it would make GPL’s construction costs higher.

The school site is located on the bottom left corner with the navigation star. The numbers represent the depth of the liquid phalates. In some cases, it goes 5 ft deep.

This new info should be circulated. Regardless of what Steve Levin’s press release says, the approval of these projects is not a victory for Greenpoint residents. Nothing is affordable if the lives of children and adults are at risk b/c they have no choice but to go to a school so close to toxins because developers want to shave their bottom dollar. It’s deplorable that no other school sites were investigated. This land is undeveloped. GPL could have placed that school anywhere else. A through clean-up does nothing to address this fact. Also, the remediation set forth is not a full guarantee. Under the current language, if a property owner had that designation, they would not be able to plant a garden b/c the plants would die. This is the protection City Council approved.

Here is a link to the School Construction Authorities published RFP that states why they never explored alternative sites. Attached you will find the map.
http://www.nycsca.org/Community/NewSchoolSites/Dist14/Dist14-NewSchool-NOF.pdf

Thanks again Miss Heather for getting the word out. This ugly truth needs to get out…

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Regarding Tomorrow’s Hearing

December 4, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 
A very nice lady named Kim writes:
Hi Heather,
This is Kim over at Save Greenpoint. Just wanted to give you a heads up that the City has switched the location of the Public Hearing to City Hall. I’m not sure if it’s b/c they are anticipating a whole bunch of us or they are trying to confuse people so they won’t have a chance to sign up and speak. Either way, we can’t let that happen.
Here is the new location. The time slots will remain the same.

Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises (77 Commercial Street)

9:30 am

Council Chambers, City Hall

 

Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions,& Concessions (Greenpoint Landing)

1 pm

Committee Room, City Hall

Thanks!

Plan accordingly, Garden Spotters!

Quicklink: Live From The Department Of City Planning

October 16, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Wed Oct 9 Public Hearing

Those of you who missed last week’s hearing at the Department of City Planning regarding Greenpoint Landing and 77 Commercial Street, do not despair. It’s online! Point and click your way here. And download this:

screencap

Start at 6:08. Here’s a general outline:

  • Jack Hammer of HPD outlines the affordable housing component. A Q & A session follows.
  • Melanie Myers, representing Greenpoint Landing Associates, speaks.
  • Lisa Gomez, a partner in this endeavor, speaks.
  • 34:59: Speakers against speak. I found Laura Hofmann’s and the most awesome speaker ever, Nancy, to be especially compelling. They speak sequentially starting at 1:02.06  .
  • Speakers in favor speak start at 1:11:43. Of particular interest to yours truly was the testimony of Adam Perlmutter. He was, after all, the attorney George Klein/The Park Tower Group hired to push for the 2005 Rezone in the first place. I wonder if he’s back on the “payroll”— so to speak?

 

Quicklink: Honey Smacks

WGNAscChoice quote/excerpt:

…So residents of Greenpoint and Williamsburg, do you want Cheerios (real affordable housing at income levels that residents that are so desperate for a affordable home can afford) or Honey Smacks that the non-binding agreements by the Bloomberg administration and the City Council created. If you look at the tower plan from the 77 Commercial Street Environmental Assessment Statement, it lays out affordable housing which is out of reach to most residents and yet it’s heavily subsidized…

Subsidized = our tax dollars are paying for affordable housing that is not, in fact, affordable. Those of you who want to read a concise, easy to follow breakdown as to why affordable housing as put forth by Two Trees and Clipper Equities (77 Commercials Street) is little more than smoke and mirrors— among many other things— please do give this tome a read. It is time well spent.

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Mark Your Calendars

October 3, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Wed Oct 9 Public Hearing

Agenda: Uniform Land Use Review Procedure public hearing regarding proposed, large-scale developments for Greenpoint

Date & Time: Wednesday 10/09/2013, 10:00am

Place: Spector Hall, 22 Reade Street, subway 4, 5, 6, N, R, A, C, 1, 2, 3

Participate: Arrive early, sign up to speak for 3 mins. If you are unable to speak, please submit a written statement (Department of City Planning website form)

Email Concerns: aburden@planning.nyc.gov

Cc Concerns: savegreenpoint@gmail.com

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! It’s not too late! Please sign our petition & join our mailing list for updates, at www.savegreenpoint.org

Live From The ULURP Review Meeting: 77 Commercial Street Presents

Pretty Shot

Borough Of Brooklyn

Chris O Is In The House

Rami Is In The House

175 AMI

As promised, here comes the footage from last night’s hearing regarding 77 Commercial Street. Enjoy!

The public speaking session starts.

And the ostensible “Voice of Our Community”, Christopher Olechowski, is nowhere to be found.

No worries, there were plenty of citizens with something to say. Like one of north ‘Point’s foremost and formidable badasses: Laura Hofmann! You can read her statement here.

Clipper Equity? That sounds vaguely familiar

New York Shitty Video Du Jour: Live From The ULURP Review Meeting

Angry Panther

I am pleased to announce there was a terrific turn-out at this last evening’s proceedings. Not only did my fellow Greenpointers show up— but they SPOKE UP! So much so, I suspect I will be up quite late uploading all the footage. I cannot say I am exactly fond of pulling all-nighters. However, I realize a lot of concerned folks could not attend this hearing and would find the footage of interest. What’s more when bits Greenpoint glory are to be shared with the general public like this…

Best Public Speaker EVER from Miss Heather on Vimeo.

…well, then as far as I am concerned, it is totally time well spent. I will share everything in (hopefully) chronological order in two separate posts: one for 77 Commercial and one for Greenpoint Landing. For reasons which require no explanation I felt this citizen (who was speaking in regards to 77 Commercial) merited her own post— and a New York Shitty salute! It is both an honor and a privilege to call you a neighbor, Nancy.

From The New York Shitty Inbox: DNA.info

September 17, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF 

DNAinfosc

Choice quote/teaser:

“You know what? Change the laws, because nobody came along and said there were rules and regulations that would allow people to stay in place in their homes in the Polish community here,” Olechowski said. “Nobody’s regulated the rents in this community. Market-rate rents are legal but they’re affecting peoples lives.”

You don’t say, Mr. Olechowski? Speaking as a resident of north ‘Point I have seen a great many people priced out of this community. The Latino population, in particular, has taken a drubbing. Don’t take my word for it— a simple comparison of the 2000 and 2010 Census statistics say it all.

STATS

To favor one part of the community above all others is not only illegal*, but it strikes me as craven political pandering. I would also like to note that by designating housing for a specific group/demographic, one is effectively precluding others access. Thus the discrimination being exercised is actually two-fold.

Of course you can’t say I did not see this one coming. I wonder who will administer this special Polish-specific housing? North Brooklyn Development Corporation, perhaps? Yes sir: those ULURP hearings were essentially co-opted by local organizations whose interest is getting a cut of the action be it in the way of parks, affordable housing, etc. The overall health/well being of this community is immaterial. I’ll refrain from using the unseemly word “extortion”. Whoops, I just did.

You can (and should) read this tome in its entirety by clicking here.

*The man doesn’t give a flip about Community Board One’s By-laws or Parliamentary Procedure, so why should this be surprising? Really?

New York Shitty Videos Du Jour: And The Vote Is In!

September 9, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Greenpoint Landing

  • Note the Community Board 1 members who trickle in as the proceedings commence. Rabbi Neiderman is one of them.
  • One board member (whose name eludes me) asked about “density”. A very good question— one which was not answered in any meaningful fashion whatsoever.
  • Esteban Duran, Education and Youth chair, asks about the school which will be built. It will be pre-K – eighth grade, but it is ultimately the city’s call.
  • The motion is carried with 4 votes against and 1 abstention.

77 Commercial Street

In news of not the terribly surprising variety, the Community Board (at least the majority of the 37-ish members* who elected to show up) voted in favor of the Land Use Committee’s recommendations. This is not to suggest no one had anything to say. Estaban Duran certainly did. In fact, I’d go so far as to say he asked the question which was on the minds of a fair number of citizens in the room:

Why aren’t we rejecting it outright?

Ms. Teague’s answer was as follows:

I believe if we reject them outright the city will give them what they want.

Conclusion: As is usually the case, much was made about affordable housing. Let’s put it this way, gentle readers: the reason I film this stuff is 1, 2, 5, 10 years down the line folks can go back and watch it. Speaking for myself, I will be very, very interested to see who ends up administering said affordable housing. Especially that at 77 Commercial Street.

If I was a betting woman (and I am not) I’d place my money on Peoples’ Firehouse. As some of you might recall, they were among the neighborhood organizations of whom Ms. Teague mentions as attesting to the need for affordable housing (at the prior Land Use meeting, which can be viewed here). I suppose it is sad that I harbor this level of cynicism— but history lends my prognostication some credence. A great many of the community organizations here, while certainly founded for laudable reasons, seem use these proceedings not so much to reflect the sentiments/interests/needs of the community they represent. Rather, they are a means of getting a “cut” of the action. Thus time is spent debating how many angels can sit on the head of a pin instead of examining “the larger picture” in any meaningful fashion.

And that’s exactly how they want it.

*As opposed to the twenty who answered roll call at the beginning of the meeting. If my memory serves me correctly, this is a new low. For those of you who are wondering, Community Board 1 has 49 members. Yup, we have a chronic absenteeism problem. Perhaps this should be brought to the attention of the:

You can always leave it to good ol’ Community Board 1 for a healthy dose of Kafka— with an Orwell chaser.

P.S.: You can view the Oh-Es-Aye minute by clicking here. It would appear the monetization bubble for the McCarren Park Tennis Courts has been tabled until next year.

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