From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part III: Cleaning Up After Hurricane Sandy

December 14, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Newtown Creek 

 

This comes via an anonymous tipster and will undoubtedly be of interest to a great many folks here in north ‘Point. This upcoming Monday, December 17th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Visitors Center at our very own Shit Tits Waste Water Treatment Facility an information session will be conducted for families and businesses impacted by Sandy. Mark your calendars— and ask questions Greenpointers!

Cleaning Up After Sandy: An Information Session
December 17, 2012 starting at 6:30 p.m.
The Newtown Creek Visitors Center
329 Greenpoint Avenue
Brooklyn, new York 11222 

Closing on a related note, those of you who have not seen this segment on PBS regarding the toxic aftermath of Sandy please do give it a watch. In it Greenpoint’s very own (former) resident, Jacqueline Lombard, speaks out. You go, girl!

*You can view Mr. Levin’s missive in Spanish by clicking here.

From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: Emergency Relief Workshop

This item will undoubtedly be of interest to a number of small business owners who have been impacted by hurricane Sandy. This upcoming Friday, November 9th, starting at 1:30 p.m. the folks at EWVIDCO, along with Councilmembers Diana Reyna and Steve Levin will be conducting an Emergency Relief Workshop. The above missive outline rather explicitly what attendees need to provide. This is a great opportunity for anyone who needs help negotiating the copious paperwork required to receive assistance and get his/her businesses back up and running. What’s more, it is totally free! Check it out!

Emergency Relief Workshop
Friday, November 9, 2012 starting at 1:30 p.m.
NOTE: You must RSVP!
EWVIDCO
11 Catherine Street,  Third Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11211 

New York Shitty Day Starter: Should We Stay Or Should We Go?

A commenter, hav, writes on March 29, 2012 (regarding this post about 239 Banker Street):

non-surprisingly someone decided to complain to the DOB which ordered the building to vacate yesterday. As of today there are some interesting developments but nothing solidified yet. It is however looking like the building has a strong possibility of getting covered by the NYC Loft Law which will protect tenants from being vacated.

Here’s the deal: while complaints have been placed, this building has most assuredly NOT been vacated. I know this because I saw another person move in March 30th. His (or her) personal effects included the box at top left.

Nonetheless, I perused the Department of Buildings Building Information System anyway.

Nary a Vacate Order was to be found— but there are plenty of complaints!

Let’s go to the latest: 3407084

So now we have to look at Complaint #3403837 for “closure”.

Hmm.

Given all the previous, I find the following missive (as found on the Broadway stop of the G train and thus out of the 33rd City Council District’s— and 239 Banker Street’s— jurisdiction) fascinating to say the least:

Those of you who have questions (as I do) as to why 239 Banker Street has, once again, been allowed to be illegally employed as residential property despite this— or simply have questions about the loft law should make it a point to attend. Be sure to ask our City Councilman why he is conducting a “loft law” workshop outside his own district while you’re at there!

Panel Discussion on the State of the Loft Law
Co-Conductors: Assemblyman Vito Lopez and Steve Levin, City Councilman, 33rd District (which includes 239 Banker Street)
Invited guests: The Department of Buildings & New York City Loft Board
Date: April 24, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Our Lady of Pompeii, Community Room
225 Seigel Street
Brooklyn, New York 11206

Otherwise those who find all the previous disconcerting can send Mr. Levin an email via his web page.

Live From “Stand Up! Speak Out!” Part II: And The Rest…

As promised here is the remainder of my footage from last night’s event.

PART IX: Carlos Menchaca of Councilwoman Quinn’s office, a respresentative of Councilwoman Reyna’s office and Marianne of the Brooklyn Community Pride Center speaks

  •  Brooklyn, at long last, will be getting its very own Pride Center!

PART X: The Pastor of the Church of the Messiah and Rebecca White, a Representative of the Green Party, speaks

  • Miss White brings up Right Rides. Those of you who do not know what this is should click here and find out!

PART XI: Community Board 1 member Tom Burrows outlines public forums where people can speak up, a citizen speaks

  • Mr. Burrows offers yours truly the mike. I decline (Hey, I’m filming this!)— but suggest he outline what people should do if/when they lodge a complaint via 311
  • 311 is for non-emergencies only
  • It is noted by one very observant attendee that someone who assaults someone at 5:00 a.m. in the morning is probably not attending church. Thus sermons preaching tolerance will probably not be effective.

 PART XII: A representative of Support New York speaks

It was at this point, gentle readers, I headed home. But not before making a recommendation to Mr. Burrows and Lincoln Restler: that a community group/list-serve be created (Yahoo? Facebook? Google+?) where businesses, citizens and our electeds can have a frank and open forum to discuss issues pertaining to the LBGTQ community and get to know each other— on their schedule.  Thoughts, anyone?

Miss Heather

New York Shitty Day Ender: Scott Avenue

January 5, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11237, Bushwick, Bushwick Brooklyn, Street Art 

Taken January 5, 2011.

Miss Heather

P.S.: Oh yeah, here’s something else I found of interest on Scott Avenue today. Enjoy!

To bastardize Tallulah Bankhead*:

It’s as pure as the driven slush.

I really like the muffler. It is a nice touch!

*Who yours truly venerates in a big, big way. FACT: an autographed photo of Ms. Bankhead graces Chez Shitty.

New York Shitty Photo Du Jour: Seasons Greetings From Morgan Avenue

The above image goes out to the Department of Sanitation and the Department of Transportation— who, in their Solomon-like wisdom— decided building a snow fort on Vandervoort Avenue was a sterling idea. The end result was not only obstructed truck traffic from Beadel Street to Maspeth Avenue, but also a clusterfuck of Biblical proportions on Morgan Avenue. NOTE: the following photographs and video footage were shot today at 1:00 p.m.

You can read more about this fiasco at the New York Daily News.

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Snow Woes On Vandervoort Avenue

January 3, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

(Or: The DOT Builds a Snow Fort!)

Tara on Beadel Street (who forwarded me the above photograph) writes:

Hi Miss Heather

I have been reading your blog for years and enjoy it. I live on beadel street and vandervoort ave. I don’t know if you have seen the huge pile of snow the city started dumping last Thursday on vandervoort which has caused a ton of honking and horrible traffic.  It’s now Monday and the ave is still shut down. The city has been loading garbage trucks filled with snow and dumping them in front of key span on vandervoort – the actual street itself for more than 5 days now. Why would the city do this?  Seems very unproductive.  Thought  you could solve this riddle.

Aside from basic municipal incompetence I honestly do not know what to say. But then again, it was on Vandervoort where I once saw this:

The above photograph was taken March 10, 2010. A month or so later the DOT saw fit to stick a street cone in it. I can assure you this was truly a vision.

My advice:

Update, 5:35 p.m.: unlike a lot of the Snowmageddon posts I have erected over the last week, I have some very good news to report! After receiving Tara’s email— but before I wrote this post— I advised her to contact a number of people. This list included Community Board 1’s Transportation Committee Chair, Karen Nieves. Tara writes:

I got in touch with Karen and she has been a great help today. We had called 311 on Thursday night as well… She came and took pictures of the snow pile.* I wish I had taken pictures on Thursday when it was a complete nightmare.

You rock, Karen!

Miss Heather

*Here are a couple!

What were these people thinking?

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Party At 66 North 1st Street?

August 1, 2010 ·
Filed under: 11211, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

As noted on Brownstoner this property has had a rather troubled history. Nonetheless 66 North 1 Street recently went back on the market— and as of two weeks ago had nine units in contract. If my inbox is any indication, I’d hazard to guess at least one of them has sold.

Anonymous writes (in an email written at 7:24 this morning and is entitled “Al Fresco Dance Party”):

My wife and I and our 16 month old daughter have been kept up all night by a quite clearly illegal dance party hosted in a stalled condo project on North 1st, between kent and wythe I called the police a total of 4 times during the night, and 311 as well. Do you know how to get hold of the details of the owners of buildings like this ? Also, is there anything we can do as members of the community ? Community board meetings or similar? It’s 7.30 and it’s still going on. I’m concerned that if they think the cops are powerless, they will carry on for the rest of the summer. If they do, we’re moving out. Any suggestions you could make would be greatly appreciated.

Um, is that lady wearing a boa? On a Sunday?

Not just one— not just two— but three turntables. This is one professional operation!

He goes on to write:

90th were on the case last night apparently. They sent out cars 3/4 times apparently and just asked them to turn it down (?!?!)… Actually got in touch with the developers.

Anonymous has called the police and contacted the developer of this property. This is a good start. Regrettably the police did not fix the problem and exactly how the developer will respond remains to be seen. I would recommend he follow-up at the next 90th Precinct Community Council meeting. If my memory serves me correctly the 94th (which I am much more familiar with) does not conduct meetings in August. Therefore, I would encourage him to call their Community Affairs Office at: (718) 963 – 5309 and learn when the next meeting is scheduled (I’m guessing September).

Although this is clearly a police matter, attending the next Community Board 1 meeting might also be worth Anonymous’s time. The next combined public hearing/board meeting will be September 15, 2010 starting at 6:30 p.m. (NOTE/CAVEAT: you must sign up to speak by or before 6:00 p.m.). In the meantime CB1 can be contacted via email at:

bk01(at) cb (dot) nyc (dot) gov

Other resources/contacts I’d recommend are:

  1. His local City Councilman, who happens to be Steve Levin. His district office can be reached via telephone at: (718) 875-5200
  2. And of course there is his local state Assemblyman, Joe Lentol. His office can be reached via telephone at (718) 383-7474.
  3. Lastly, Anonymous’s State Assemblyman is Daniel Squadron. His office can be contacted via email at: squadron (at) senate (dot) state (dot) ny (dot) us

This is just a short list. Anyone out there have advice to tender? If so please submit them via comments or email at: missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com. Your identity will remain anonymous if you so desire. In closing it goes without saying that Anonymous could contact the neighbors in question. My recommendation would be to wait a few more hours. They’re probably sleeping.

Miss Heather

UPDATE, 6:20 p.m.: An eagle-eyed reader (and I would presume, disgruntled neighbor) writes:

That stupid party at 66 North 1st finally stopped at 9 am. Did you notice the 2 gas cylinders on either side of the DJ table? I wonder if they’re oxygen, acetylene, or maybe nitrous oxide?

I have now! This latest revelation has been a source of serious debate between the Mister and me. He says they’ve been “huffing”. I beg to differ. Being the kind of gal who likes to see the glass gas tank as “half full” I prefer to see these tanks filling balloons for Chelsea Clinton’s wedding reception. Is the barefoot woman in white Hillary? One can only hope so. After all, Willyburg already has one Bill— what’s another one?

Update, 8:40 p.m.: Per a commenter no one lives in this building at all! And so the mystery of the 66 North 1st Street “party” continues. It is also interesting to note a complaint was filed on June 9, 2010 stating this was a derelict construction site. The Department of Building’s inspection (which dates from July 14, 2010) is as follows:

Heh.

Update, August 2, 2010: and now a word from this building’s PR firm…

I handle the public relations for 66 North1st, and I just saw the recent post on 66 North 1st. Wanted to let you know that it was definitely not a pr/sales stunt and the brokers truly had no idea. This party was held without permission from the owners and without management’s knowledge…

Update, August 3, 2010: it would appear this was the second party thrown at this nondo. A tipster writes:

That was the second of those parties at 66 North 1st. The first was a month or two ago. It was just as loud, but must have ended sometime during the night, because I couldn’t hear it in the morning.

But it was definitely at that location, because I could see the lights in the back yard.

Photo Credits: 66 North 1 Street thumbnail comes courtesy of Brownstoner.

New York Shitty Slide Show & Videos Du Jour: Visitor’s Center Grand Opening

April 24, 2010 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Newtown Creek 

It was (and is) a beautiful day in the Garden Spot of the Universe. The sun is shining and it is a very comfortable 68 degrees. In other words, the conditions were ideal for Greenpoint’s event of the year: the opening of the Visitor’s Center for our fair Waste Treatment Plant. I awoke bright and early to prepare myself for this most auspicious occasion. My shit shirt was laundered, my camera and flip cam were fully charged. I was ready. Before I proceed to the body of this post (a slide show and ample video footage!) I’d like to tender a few thoughts:

  1. I for one was pleased that a number of neighborhood children were present to witness this moment in Garden Spot History.
  2. I applaud the DEP for providing a number of activities and souvenirs for the kids. The “Drip Patrol” badges and Commemorative Silly Putty were nothing short of inspired (And yes, I grabbed one of each for myself. I am a child at heart!).
  3. All the north Brooklyn notables were there: Joe Lentol, Steve Levin, Marty Markowitz and Diana Reyna. The latter most I had never met in person. She’s a really nice lady and had never seen the Nature Walk before. She was impressed. What’s more, she was not aware that the digester eggs (as the eggheads call them) are popularly known hereabouts as the “Shit Tits”. She found this tremendously entertaining. I like Diana.
  4. I made it known to Ms. Reyna that the digester egg lighting ceremony had cake and voiced my disappointment that this ceremony did not have cake. Now that I think about it, a number of people were rather despondent over the lack of confections.
  5. When do we get a gift shop? I want Shit Tit snow globes and I want them NOW!
  6. I was also disappointed that Vito Acconci, the artist who designed the fountain which graces our new Visitor’s Center, was unable to attend.
  7. I met one of the peeps from Polshek Partners (the blue chip brains behind the “boobs”). I brought it to his attention that the Shit Tits (as we call them) have become a point of civic pride in my community and then showed him my shirt shirt. I am pleased to report he liked it! In fact, he wanted to know how to order one. As you can imagine, I provided this chap all the information needed to make this happen!

Without further ado, here is a slide show from today’s opening. Enjoy!

Introduction

Representative Joe Lentol

Mister Brooklyn Himself: Marty Markowitz

The First Lady of North Brooklyn (or at least the 34th City Council District), Diana Reyna

Polshek Partners

Percent For Art Program

NCMC Speaks

The Money Shot

WONDER!

The wonders never cease in the Garden Spot of the Universe!

Miss Heather

Reader Contribution Du Jour: Home

January 20, 2010 ·
Filed under: 11211, Street Art, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

This item (which hails from the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Berry Street) comes courtesy of a lady named Donna. What really makes this image if you ask me are the remains of a flier from Diana Reyna’s latest (and I will add successful) run for the 34th City Council seat. This somehow pulls it all together. Great find, Donna!

Miss Heather

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