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: More Shots Fired At Dupont Street & Manhattan Avenue?

November 21, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, WTF 

Remember the email (replete with photos) I posted about shots being fired at this intersection recently? Well, it would appear it has happened again. Laura writes (yesterday, November 20th, in the wee hours of the morning):

At about 5:15 a.m. on 11/20/12 I was awakened by the sound of multiple gun shots. This is the second time our front door has been shot up. This time, the ground floor window was hit in as well.

Shit just got real folks. Closing on an up (?) note, I have received word that our City Councilman, Steve Levin, is attempting to reach out to the owner of the apartment building in question so as to get some surveillance cameras installed there. In the meantime, stay safe and be alert north ‘Pointers!

REMINDER: Transportation & Traffic Town Hall Meeting Tonight!

November 19, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

This is a quick reminder that this evening our City Councilman, Steve Levin, along with a number of elected officials, the 94th Precinct and Department of Transportation will be conducting a Town Hall meeting regarding the manifold number traffic “issues” which concern our community. Show up and speak up, Greenpointers!

Greenpoint Transportation & Traffic Town Hall Meeting
November 19, 2012 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Polish & Slavic Center
176 Java Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222 

Mark Your Calendars: Transportation & Traffic Town Hall Meeting

That’s right folks: next week a host of our elected officials along with the Department of Transportation and our very own 94th Precinct will be conducting a transportation town hall meeting right here in Greenpoint. As you can see, our very own Boulevard of Death has received top billing on this rather intriguing agenda. Mark your calendars, be there and have your say Garden Spotters!

Greenpoint Transportation & Traffic Town Hall Meeting
November 19, 2012 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Polish & Slavic Center
176 Java Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222 

And Now A Word From The MTA

That’s right Greenpointers: Crosstown Local service has yet to be restored.* Now factor in the East River Ferry will not be servicing the India Street Pier…

and, well, you get the idea. Plan accordingly, Garden Spotters!

*As it would happen I bumped into our City Councilman, Steve Levin, this morning. He was headed to the Church of the Ascension (which you may recall is operating a food drive for our friends in need as a result of hurricane Sandy). He too was less than pleased about about the state of mass transit hereabouts.

 

And Now A Word From Our City Councilman

North ‘Pointers who want to lend a helping hand to our less fortunate neighbors please be advised of— and share— the following. City Councilman Levin writes:

Thanks to Rev. John Merz, our office is setting up a temporary satellite at Church of the Ascension at 122 Java St. Rami Metal will be there from 10-6 throughout the weekend and we are collecting donations to send to those in need of supplies in the Rockaways, Coney Island, Gerritsen Beach, Staten Island, Red Hook, and Downtown Manhattan. So far the response at our district office at 410 Atlantic Ave has been extraordinary, and we’re coordinating multiple trips every day (special thanks to the volunteers who has lent their cars) but it’s been very difficult for Greenpointers to get down here.

Donations that are particularly needed right now are:
-water
-non-perishable food, baby food
-toiletries
-towels
-clothing, baby clothing
-batteries
-work gloves
-diapers
-large garbage bags, cleaning supplies, basic tools

Rami can also help with Con Ed and small business issues and Congresswoman Maloney’s office has offered to help with FEMA, small business, and other issues as well…

Thank you Greenpoint/Williamsburg!

No, thank you Mr. Levin and Reverend “Pastor-in-Charge” Merz!

New York Shitty Day Starter: East River Ferry Service Resumes Today…

November 1, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

but not for Greenpoint!

 

Live From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting

As many of those reading this are undoubtedly aware, a homeless man was beaten very severely at McCarren Park this weekend. Gothamist has a synopsis of this horrific incident which you can read by clicking here. In the following footage Deputy Inspector Hurson gives us an update as to what happened. The good news: they have made an arrest. The bad news: they are not certain if the fellow who was assaulted, Pawel, will survive.

It goes without saying that the subject of homelessness dominated last night’s meeting. In fact our City Councilman, Steve Levin had plenty to say on the subject. What I found particularly interesting (and encouraging) was his run-down of the new respite shelter in the works to give our homeless a safe place to sleep this upcoming winter. In addition he outlines the resources available to our local homeless and the rather (and this is putting it nicely) problematic Greenpoint Hotel/the quarter house. Do take a moment to give this— and the frank discussion which followed— a listen.

Part I

Part II

Part III

Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Men At Work

September 10, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

This vision hails from none other than 239 Banker Street and was taken today, September 10, 2012.

Oh yeah, for those of you who are wondering this building still has a Stop Work Order on it.

 

LAST GASP: & Now A Word From Christopher Olechowski

As it would happen, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with two individuals canvassing for this fellow earlier this evening. Initially I was content with simply recounting the hilarity on Facebook* and letting the subject go. However, when the above missive found its way to my inbox, well, I felt it was worth sharing. What I found particularly interesting (aside from the items I have seen fit to highlight and/or annotate) is Mr. Olechowski’s emphasis on safety. It reminded me of what I saw while walking by the McCarren Park Pool this afternoon. You see, he in his capacity as Chair of Community Board 1 this fellow was present at that (not so) “secret” meeting about the pool recently.

All in all, I counted ten police vehicles total. Yours truly almost shit her pants beholding the law enforcement at hand— and mind you, I was not even IN the pool! Numbers “1” and “2” were from the 94th Precinct. “2” and “5” were from the North Brooklyn Task Force (READ: The fellows who are called when serious shit hits the fan.). But what I found most interesting was in front of the pool’s entrance.

For those of you who are not in the know:

  1. “Impact” vehicles (and the officers who man them) are assigned to chronic high crime areas.
  2. The 75th Precinct (whose assistance pool-goers apparently require) is located in a high crime area: East New York, to be precise.

As some of you might recall, I spied a NYPD vehicle from the 83rd Precinct, which also has its fair share of problems, last week. And once again I’m asking myself:

Why are we allocating police manpower to this facility when it is clearly needed elsewhere?

But don’t take my word for it. Let’s compare CompStat numbers.

It is not my intent to criticize our Finest. They are simply following orders and I for one think D.I. Hurson has proven the be the best Commanding Officer we have seen in years (really). But is this the best possible use of their manpower? I for one do not think so.

I wish Mr. Olechowski would dedicate more time to addressing, say, the dearth of affordable housing here for ALL citizens rather than fear-mongering. In closing, I’d be remiss if I did not point out that while a purported proponent of “public safety”, I have not seen Mr. Olechowski at any Public Safety Committee meetings of Community Board 1 (over which he ostensibly presides as Chair) since the town hall meeting regarding the proposed homeless assessment center at 400 McGuinness. This came to pass in 2011.

* A few highlights:

Friend of Christopher Olechowski: Good evening, are you a registered Democrat?
Me: Yes.
FOCO: We’re spreading the word about Chris Olechowski.
Me: I know who he is. I’m voting against him.
FOCO: Are voting against him or for the other candidate.
Me: A little column a, a little column b.
FOCO: Why are you not voting for him?

(I give rather extensive feedback which ends with “This is highly questionable from an ethical point of view if you ask me”).

FOCO (while parsing through paperwork, presumably that of registered Democrats): Do you happen to know what apartment (Mr. Heather) lives in?
Me: As a matter of fact, I do. He’s my husband— and he is not voting for Mr. Olechowski either. In fact, I am telling everyone I know not to vote for him.
FOCO: Have a nice evening.

And of course there are these videos to consider:

Which comes via this web site (which does not, anywhere, disclose Mr. Olechowski’s party affiliation).

New York Shitty analysis: If Mr. Olechowski (or his hired guns) cannot even spell the sinecure in question correctly, he should not be elected to it.

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