Just a few words about the tenant meeting at Simon Baruch this past Saturday.
It was overflowing. Seats taken, with packed standing crowds in the back. The biggest turnout of tenants I have seen, with a few bloggers and NY journalists taking note. Of the speakers, the biggest applause was given Dan Garodnick, and rightfully so. The guy presents himself well, speaks clearly and with purpose, and has represented this neighborhood well. The one troubling spot in his speech: Garodnick stated that everyone knew that Tishman Speyer was paying too much for ST/PCV at 5.4 billion, but, a few sentences later, he dangled the hope that tenants could buy the complex. Well, if the tenants had bought the complex at their bidding price of 4 billion, we would have been screwed too.
Tom Duane--well, the crowd became hushed as he went through his mea-culpas ("I'm deeply, deeply, deeply sorry," etc.) and used a slew of disparaging terms about the State Senate. He admitted that this year was the worst of his political life. (Duane had also lost his mother during the summer.) Though Duane tried to finish up on an energizing note, mentioning that he's not quitting the fight, I didn't get a sense of verve and determination from him.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was also present, but her speech was too predictable regarding Stuy Town/Peter Cooper tenants, and then she launched into an unfortunate rah-rah list of things the Democrats are doing in Congress that would have been better suited for a campaign stop, not a tenant meeting.
Anyway, a very good get-together of tenants (both rent-stabilized and market-rate), with a positive vibe of better and greater organizing in the future.
Nice synopsis.
ReplyDeleteGarodnick is really a blessing to ST/PCV. He is both capable and well-intentioned. I really sense that he wants to do right by the tenants.
Duane, on the other hand, has his eye towards the next election.
Hey Tom, you gonna do anything to help us or are you just planning to hold your hand out again next election and ask for a re-up?!?
Unless I see something different, I plan on seeing SOMEONE different in your seat.
You've got some time. Make use of it...
Duane and Maloney had better get their act together before the next election because in this economy with people losing jobs, health insurance left and right, the last thing we want to worry about is losing our homes. The natives are restless. The mood is ugly. There's a lot of pissed-off people on the electoral rolls at this time.
ReplyDeleteDuane has achieved pathetic status.
ReplyDeleteMaloney is a die hard Democrat who was still blaming Bush for our problems at the meeting.Blaming Republicans for the current mess in the country likely worked before a crowd of several hundred Manhattan tenants, the vast majority of whom wouldn't vote for a Republican if a gun was put to their head.What folks like Maloney and Obama don't seem to realize is that continuing to do that while things continue to get worse or, at least' not better,is really pissing off most of this country. That's why Obama's approval rating is the lowest ever recorded for a President at this stage of his Presidency. Personally I hope they keep it up because Dems are looking at an election debacle similar to 1994 and the Gingrich Revolution.
Yeah, but unfortunately, a Republican revolt isn't going to do a damn thing to help us keep our homes here in PCV/ST.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for throw da bums out but we need to replace them with something less...bummy!
When will the Avenue C dumpster fiasco be resolved????
ReplyDeleteIt's time to pressure the city about those dumpsters.
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason why the DEP should not take action based on noise complaints.
The pickup and return in the middle of the night clearly violates the city noise code which includes activity that creates impulse noise that is 15db(a) at or above the ambient noise level.
People should call 311 and report these violations.
311 says that they submit noise complaints to Dept of Sanitation, but that sounds like it won't get action.
ReplyDeleteYou can e-mail noise complaints to the DEP via their website:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildep.html
Thanks to the above poster..
ReplyDeleteI filled out a complaint at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildep.html
PLEASE.. EVERYONE WHO IS SICK AND TIRED OF THE DUMSTER/COMPACTOR SITUATION IN THE AVENUE C LOOP....
take a few minutes and fill in a complaint.
re: DUMPSTER/COMPACTOR NOISE
ReplyDeletePLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK...
http://nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/noise_code_guide.pdf
(refer to page 5 of 8)...
I think I'll send a copy over to management.
Surely this dumpster outrage is something the Tenants Association should be addressing. I think an organized rent strike would be perfectly justifiable.
ReplyDeletewe need to speak with a tenant's association lawyer before commencing a rent strike.
ReplyDeleteI'm making a trip this week to speak with someone at the NYc Dept.of Environmental Protection.
http://nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/noise_code_guide.pdf
Anyone care to join me?
Are you reading this...Lance Cohen?