Friday, March 6, 2015

Read This and Be Prepared to Gnash Your Teeth



http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/nyregion/mayor-bill-de-blasio-and-developer-rob-speyer-are-close-but-not-on-affordable-housing.html?_r=0

Unlike many of his more wary real estate brethren, Rob Speyer moved quickly to build a strong relationship with New York’s liberal mayor, Bill de Blasio, after his election in 2013.

The relationship flowered, and Mr. Speyer, whose company owns Rockefeller Center and operates on four continents, was a host at Mayor de Blasio’s birthday party at Gracie Mansion last May. At a real estate gathering five months later, Mr. de Blasio singled out Mr. Speyer, telling the 6,200 attendees that the developer was “tremendously civically oriented.”

While enjoying a close relationship, however, the two men do not seem to be on the same page when it comes to the pressing need for affordable housing in a city where rents are soaring beyond the grasp of the poor and middle class.

More at the above link.

Perhaps Bill can ask his buddy for a return on the billions that Robbie weighed down tenants with when his then-property ownership of this complex went bust.

112 comments:

Anonymous said...

Speyer is a disgusting, putrid piece of shit and the fact that De Blasio is so far up his ass is very disturbing. I really think that this is a one-term mayor and we will be well rid of him.

He wants to overbuild more and more in this already overbuilt city where the people are gasping for air and he makes a point of befriending those who will play for the fool that he is because he is putty in their hands.

Get a clue, Bill, or get out!

Anonymous said...

I saw this article. Very disheartening. The connection is probably that Speyer is a liberal on most issues except one. Which happens to be one that importantly affects us and most other New Yorkers.

I'd never vote GOP but at least they show you right up front that they favor the rich and are out to screw us.

More and more people are starting to catch on that on many important 'money' issues Democrats run as Democrats and once in, on the very same issues they reverse themselves and act like Republicans and rely on most people not looking.

Would love to vote for truly independent candidates but they have insurmountable problems breaking through. Most people only accept candidates as substantial when their names and images are well-established through media...which costs money.

Anonymous said...

This dolt and his RE buddies want to build more and more in a city already polluted to a dangerous level:

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/study-ny-air-pollution-increases-risk-stroke-article-1.2137708

Anonymous said...

Please remove photo from blog. It makes me ill.

Anonymous said...

Speyer's in it to take advantage of De Blasio's mandatory inclusionary zoning/50-30-20 plan.

De Blasio knows that building 50-30-20 is not gonna solve the affordable housing problem in NYC. Building or acquiring and maintaining public housing is the best way to do that but this US Congress is making it impossible to maintain what NYC already has. Rent regulations are the best way to keep private housing prices down but the state of NY sees to that.

De Blasio’s housing plan puts him on the side of RS tenants and big RE: he wants strong rent regulations and he wants to to build which depends on the cooperation of the real estate industry.

Good that he supports rent regulationss, but that's why he was elected. IMO, his idea to build the 30% affordable and 20% low cost housing is bad because they come with 50% market rate housing that's gonna gentrify the areas they getting built in.

One other thing. One reason that affordable-only housing isn't getting built is because land values in NYC are so high. If land values stay high and the market for luxury condos stays strong, that's how it's gonna stay. If the 421a program was eliminated, land values could fall because developers factor subsidies like 421a into how much land costs.

421a and rent regulations both end this June 15 unless they're renewed.

Anonymous said...

In the words of Roseanne Roseanadana (Rest in Peace, Gilda Radner):

I think I'm gonna be sick!

Anonymous said...

It really is a mixed bag with de Blasio. I don't know whether to smile..or puke.

"In the words of Roseanne Roseanadana (Rest in Peace, Gilda Radner):

I think I'm gonna be sick!"

Nice 70's flashback. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Fair weather friends acting like bff's


Speyer wouldn't give him the time of day if he weren't Mayor. Come on Bill...

Anonymous said...

I hate to say it but I have to agree, the Mayor has disappointed and in a big way and in many ways. It is really too bad.

Anonymous said...

Gnash your teeth because ill conceived rent stabilization laws tricked you into being a renter for life. Gnash your teeth because even ultra-liberal politicians can't defend those flawed subsidies nor do they give a rat's ass about you. Gnash your teeth because you wasted a lifetime of rent payments and didn't build up any equity in your home or participate in NYC's real estate boom. Gnash your teeth because you're now flat on your ass with weak protections and no say over what happens in your community.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

Is that you, Richard?

Anonymous said...

It's sort of been proven enough times that this mayor is a boob. The last mayor was something else, such that I was really, really hopeful about DeBlasio, but the proof is in his many clueless acts. So add his latest choice of BFF to the heap.

And to Jerry Speyer... i cuss you because my Saturday morning has again been utterly spoiled by the non-stop industrial noise outside my window ... during the 8AM hour it was the beep beep beep of the snow movers, now it's the Zamboni clearing the ice and soon it will be the yelling and slam-shotting of the man-boys on the ice skating rink. The slam shots sound like gunfire in my apartment, and every other home on the Oval. And yes Jerry, you did not bring the rink, but you started the clueless rampage and destruction of a perfectly wonderful community that respected and was responsive to the 25,000 people who lived here. You were the 1st HUN and shame on you.

Anonymous said...

There is more sense and logic to renting then to owning especially after the crimes of banks were revealed in the housing market crash and same practices since then. No one in their right mind would do business with these con artist fraudster banks who make you pay more then you build in equity and when they feel like it will take away your home all together without blinking an eye. Until there is a better way to buy a home then with these banks people should stay as renters. The only ones making profits off equity built are the investors in real estate homes and not the individual home owners. Buy to build equity is the old brainwash that today has less credibility evident the sharp drop in home ownership since 2009, 78% to 65% of Americans own their home.

Anonymous said...

The Truth

Tishman never gave up Stuy Town. They were allowed to stop making mortgage payments while keeping their hands here with the same employees, DOB approved land development, and DHCR blind eye to overcharging mci and renovaton overcharging harassment. roberts threw them for a loop and they said if we can;t have that money then we won't make mortgage payments but we will keep our hold on Stuy Town so they came up with this Brookfield scheme. Brookfield is a very close business ally to Robbie. Brookfield and Tishman are partners in crime continuing the tishman plan evicting thousands of middle class residents.
The REBNY Jobs for New York pac is made up of only 7 companies, including Tishman and Brookfield (pretty much the 7 who keep giving each other awards at REBNY galas).
Using "job creator" has been used since the age of time for justifying bad business practices, (used most notoriously in the south to keep an institution that never should have been in the 1800's).
REBNY, Jobs for New York criminal Pac spend in the city and the state to control politicians at both levels.
http://commercialobserver.com/2014/09/campaign-finance-board-details-jobs-for-new-york-funders/

Tishman and Brookfield could not have pulled this off without a REBNY lawyer, enter Meredith Kane. A RE powerhouse law firm, enter Paul Weiss. A PR firm to convince residents to protest for Tishman Brookfield under the guise of "affordable housing". A politician on city council backed by a governor, enter Dan and Andrew. A Tenant Association willing to betray Tenants, enter them too.

That is the line up.


Excerpt from REBNY pac article:

The New York City Campaign Finance Board decried the influence of the real estate industry-backed entity Jobs for New York during the 2013 election in the review of last year’s campaign the agency released Tuesday.

While the board’s regular review of city elections pointed out several City Council races in which the financial clout of Jobs for New York failed to deliver its preferred candidates to victory, the report calls for greater transparency of the contributors whose largesse allowed the Super PAC-like entity that wasn’t connected to any candidate to raise $6.9 million and spend $4.9 million on last year’s City Council elections.

“At the City Council level, spending by Jobs for New York exceeded the candidate spending limit in 15 districts during the primary election,” the report says. “Even those who predicted that Citizens United would lead to a deluge of new spending were surprised at the scope of these efforts.”

The report details the largest of the spenders who bankrolled Jobs for New York through donations from limited liability corporations (LLCs), calling out Tishman Speyer for donating the most of any company to Jobs for New York at $675,000. The Related Cos. backed Jobs for New York to the tune of $500,000, according to the document, while the Durst Organization contributed $457,500. Brookfield Office Properties, Fisher Brothers, Glenwood Management Corp., Jack Resnick & Sons, Rudin Management, Silverstein Properties and SL Green Realty Corp. forwarded $425,000 each to Jobs for New York through various entities, the report says.

Anonymous said...

"Gnash your teeth because you're now flat on your ass with weak protections and no say over what happens in your community."

...because those who are supposed to speak up for you have been worse then being silent, they have engaged with the developers to kick your middle cl ass outta here.

Anonymous said...

"Is that you, Richard?"

LOL! Sounds like Richard (a RS renter himself, indeed), but it could be any hateful troll. They always come out from under their rocks when the subject of rent stabilization comes up.

Anonymous said...

""Is that you, Richard?"


Could be Paul.

Anonymous said...

I hope that Preet Bharaha starts looking closely into the relationship between TS/Brookfield/Garodnick/Paul Weiss, etc. If ever there was a filthy bunch of crooks, I never heard of them. And somehow they suckered in DeBlasio. I think they make Bernie Madoff look almost morally wholesome!

Anonymous said...

Hi all, not Richard. Just someone who has a different point of view most here. I believe that all points of view should be respected and calling someone a "hateful troll" because they don't agree doesn't seem helpful. I don't hate anyone. A smart man once said that it is too big a burden to bear. Thanks to STR for at least letting my comment through. I realize his/her views are just about the opposite of mine as are most of the readers here. I strongly believe that the middle class in NY would not be in nearly as bad a position had pathways to ownership been created and encouraged rather than leading folks to a lifetime of renting. It is not possible for me to disagree more with the comment of 10:43am, but it is interesting to see that people actually think that way, and it explains a lot to me.

Anonymous said...

One Term Bill...we can only hope!!!

Anonymous said...

"There is more sense and logic to renting then to owning especially after the crimes of banks were revealed in the housing market crash and same practices since then."

You do realize that banks never wanted to make those sub prime loans, right? They were forced to make them by the Clinton administration and HUD secretary, our very own Andrew Cuomo. So, it would be the crimes of the Feds not the banks, if you cared to be correct, which I'm guessing you don't since it so popular to blame the evil banks.

Anonymous said...

March 7, 2015 at 11:36 AM

That is not the truth. Even remotely. Read the Bagli book: "Other People's Money," Tishman Speyer Properties and BlackRock Realty turned the keys to ST-PCV over to the lenders in 2010. Since then we have been owned by hundreds, if not thousands of Wall Street investors.

Where the shady part comes in may be the deal that Tishman Speyer Properties and BlackRock made making CW Capital the special servicer. That agreement might make for very interesting reading, but it is secret.

Brookfield entered the picture via the Tenants Association. I'm not sure why pointing out that real estate attorneys would be necessary in a deal buying ST-PCV, but...

Anyway. Brookfield's donations to that POS nasty real estate PAC in last year's elections suggests that Brookfield turned out not to be the company that it purported itself to be. That creates a lot of issues for me that the TA needs to address.

Please try to stick to the facts.

Anonymous said...

"You do realize that banks never wanted to make those sub prime loans, right? They were forced to make them by the Clinton administration and HUD secretary, our very own Andrew Cuomo. So, it would be the crimes of the Feds not the banks, if you cared to be correct, which I'm guessing you don't since it so popular to blame the evil banks."

This is a 1%/Teabagger/Fox News/Right-Wing/Republican talking point that has been thoroughly debunked. Its premise being that the financial collapse of 2008 was based upon giving loans to “those” types of people; it is racist dog-whistle crap.


Anonymous said...

"Gnash your teeth because you wasted a lifetime of rent payments and didn't build up any equity in your home or participate in NYC's real estate boom."

You obviously haven't been paying attention. The TA, with the help of Moelis, P. Weiss, and Brookfield, is engineering a Condo conversion which is going to make all of us residents millionaires. So there goes your "didn't build up and equity" idea. Ok, so its been six years in the making. Wonderful things take time! Sit back and just watch this filthy cesspool of a project transition into a luxury condominium......Thanks TA, no way we could have accomplished this without you!!

Anonymous said...

That's Tea Party bullshit.

The major banks weren't "forced" into anything, they weren't unwitting victims. The banks were directly linked to the root cause of the meltdown which was the huge income-generating subprime lending machine. At least 21 of the top 25 subprime lenders were owned by big banks in order to get bundles of mortgage-backed securities that they could sell to the kinds of weasels who bought into TS's plan to buy ST-PCV. They couldn't have done it w/o the credit rating agencies that went along with the scam.

Anonymous said...

It was the investment banks who created the demand for subprime loans because they saw them as a way to make a killing. They got paid for making the loans, for securitizing them, and for trading them, sometimes with other people's money.

Some blame can be placed on Fanny and Freddie but they were just part of the problem. Actually more like a symptom of the problem.

Anonymous said...

12:28 and that is CORRECT.

But no one wants to put down the Democrats now .....

Anonymous said...

If you believe a bank was ever "forced" into approving a loan they didn't want to make - you know very little about how banks work. Don't believe everything fix news tells you to believe.

Anonymous said...

If you think a bank ever made a loan it didn't want to make-you know don't know much about mortgage banking. And stop believing everything you hear on Fox News.

Anonymous said...

"You do realize that banks never wanted to make those sub prime loans, right? They were forced to make them by the Clinton administration and HUD secretary, our very own Andrew Cuomo"

Nonsense. As long as they could package, sell, and get them off their books, banks were VERY happy to write those loans and take their cut of the bounty.

Anonymous said...

March 8, 2015 at 4:12 PM you do realize you kicked out the firefighters, nurses, teachers with your Moelis, P. Weiss, and Brookfield, engineered Condo conversion to as you say "which is going to make all of us residents millionaires."
You are no different then Tishman.

Anonymous said...

4:12 this has NOTHING to do with building equity or anything noble. It has to do with you wanting to be a millionaire and who cares if you have to throw people out of the community so you can be a millionaire. You must be a newer MR with no connection to the neighbors, the community.

Anonymous said...

You're all probably more aware than me that Compass Rock has built a management office between 16 & 18th behind First Ave. I just saw it today.
If Met and T-S never needed this, what was the business need to build this? And who's paying for it?

Just my guess...Compass Rock (CW) is getting comfortable and is here to stay. And the primary bondholders allowed the expenditure to go through. All of which says to me that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are complicit and the fix is in. It's a fait accompli that Fortress will be the top bidder and new owner.
There may be some lawsuits about that.

I would like to hear if Hoylman & Kavanagh support scaling RS turn over increases to years of tenancy. If that passed, it would nicely screw up CR.

Anonymous said...

March 8, 2015 at 4:12 PM I think it is disgusting you kicked nice people, many of them teachers, out of their homes with your plan to become a millionaire. I bet you voted for teacher-hating Cuomo too.

Anonymous said...

Everyone realizes that one of the strongest forces fighting AGAINST us tenants in Albany is the Tenant Assocation's partner Brookfied, via REBNY PAC Jobs For New York and outside PAC donations, right?

Anonymous said...

Nonsense. As long as they could package, sell, and get them off their books, banks were VERY happy to write those loans and take their cut of the bounty.

Just because they weren't stupid doesn't mean they wanted to do this. Again Cuomo/Clinton "forced" banks to make these loans with regulations. It's never been debunked just a story they tell in the main stream media that you gobbled up.

Anonymous said...

You obviously haven't been paying attention. The TA, with the help of Moelis, P. Weiss, and Brookfield, is engineering a Condo conversion which is going to make all of us residents millionaires. So there goes your "didn't build up and equity" idea. Ok, so its been six years in the making. Wonderful things take time! Sit back and just watch this filthy cesspool of a project transition into a luxury condominium......Thanks TA, no way we could have accomplished this without you!!

Good one!!

Anonymous said...

As much as I don't care for DeBlassio, he did pick the right people for the RGB. 1 AND 2.75 rent percent increases is a lot better than previous years.

Anonymous said...

Geez, ruining the lives of 5000 working class families taking away the safety and sanctity of their homes and uprooting children from friends and schools so you can be a millionaire? That makes you a solidified member of the Greedy Assholes on your way to attending the REBNY gala! Would I like to be a millionaire, sure. Would I hurt someone, their family, their kids to do it - No Way. Would I hurt my neighbor to become a millionaire - honestly some of my neighbors are real assholes themselves - but I wouldn't stoop to their level, hurting others for my personal gain to become a millionaire.

Anonymous said...

https://www1.dhcr.state.ny.us/casestatus/default.aspx

To the posters who need to check on their case or complaint with dhcr. follow the link.

Anonymous said...

"You obviously haven't been paying attention. The TA, with the help of Moelis, P. Weiss, and Brookfield, is engineering a Condo conversion which is going to make all of us residents millionaires. So there goes your "didn't build up and equity" idea. Ok, so its been six years in the making. Wonderful things take time! Sit back and just watch this filthy cesspool of a project transition into a luxury condominium......Thanks TA, no way we could have accomplished this without you!!"

I think I detect sarcasm. Am I correct?

Anonymous said...

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2015/03/8563578/experts-urge-de-blasio-expand-his-housing-horizons

Interesting article on why De Blasio's housing plan is nonsensical.

Anonymous said...


Progressive Caucus @NYCProgressives · 8h 8 hours ago

Housing Comm Chair @JumaaneWilliams welcomes CMs & staff 2 briefing on illegal conversions endangering NYers w fires


Progressive Caucus @NYCProgressives · 7h 7 hours ago

Unit conversions huge safety issue @CMReynoso34 tells case of 1st responder perished trying 2 tear down illegal wall
Vincent J. Gentile


https://twitter.com/NYCProgressives


City Council concerns re unit conversions with illegal walls, hazardous to first responders,

NO KIDDING! Why our councilperson and his ta allowed it here and to the large extent they did should be investigated, at least by the FDNY - even though the FDNY commissioner parties with REBNY turning a blind eye to stuy town dorms.

Anonymous said...

You think the TA plan will make you a millionaire....LOL.
It's far more likely you'll walk away underwater.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

Okay. Just a note that any more political commentary that falls outside of what's happening in Stuy Town or the city is not going to get through, no matter if I agree with it or not. This includes references to Fox News, MSNBC, etc. What happens is that once such comments are allowed a flame-war erupts that really does fall outside of the intent and goal of this blog, and sidetracks everything. Thanks for understanding.

Anonymous said...

1! 2! 3! 4!
Kick Garodnick out the door!
5! 6! 7! 8!
POSTCARDS! POSTCARDS! POSTCARDS!

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? IT'S TIME TO STOP AGONIZING AND START ORGANIZING!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait until One-Term-Bill is out of office and that slimy toad, Garodnick is out of here for good.

What kind of "management" do we have these days? No plumbers available for emergencies; only one repairman for every one of those fucking, inferior laundry machines? This is the way to run a complex this size? Gimme a fucking break! These idiot assholes couldn't run a flea market stall and yet we are stuck with them.
I think we need a rent strike, but it would take a REAL tenants association with balls to organize such a thing.
We ain't ever gonna buy, whether we want to or not, TA. So pull your fingers out of your asses and start behaving like a real Tenants Association ---- such as the one we had before when Al Doyle was in charge of it.

Anonymous said...

This whole place is even weirder than it ever was, which was pretty weird.

No phones working, no replies to calls and emails, can't get any repairs for weeks sometimes. Something must be up.

Anonymous said...

Postacards may be meh, but letters and phone calls are very effective lobbying tool.

Anonymous said...

Dan fighting for more time and advance notice of inspections? rofflllll

how about no inspections dan? when the F did we agree to inspect.

Anonymous said...

Al Doyle must be looking down from the heavens and scratching his head.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

If Al is looking down from heaven, then he must have wings, as he's still very much alive.

Anonymous said...

"Dan fighting for more time and advance notice of inspections? rofflllll

how about no inspections dan? when the F did we agree to inspect."

My sentiment exactly! Who the hell do they think they are that they can inspect our homes? Are we living under the Nazis? The Stasi? Even the cops have to get search warrants! What are they looking for? It is just a ploy to humiliate and dehumanize us. It is an intimidation tactic and unless they actually have a good reason to inspect and can furnish us with that good reason, then they should stay the fuck out of our homes. Keep your snooping eyes and, at times, thieving hands out of our homes. Other landlords in this city don't do inspections, bed checks, etc. Only these slimy bastards and not for any bona fide reason.

Anonymous said...

Via the RGB's website:

Can a management company force me to have a visual inspection or to provide access for repairs in my apartment?

According to the City’s multiple dwelling rules, it is unlawful for a tenant to refuse to permit an owner or the owner’s agent to enter the apartment for the purpose of making repairs or to assess whether the apartment is in compliance with the law. Reasonable notice is required. At least 24 hours notice is required before an inspection and one week’s notice is required to before repairs. Such notice must be in writing, stating the nature of the repairs or improvement to be made. Access may only be scheduled during business hours (9-5) on weekdays. In case of emergencies such as cascading water leaks or gas leaks or collapsing ceilings, no prior written notice is required for access. Access may be further authorized under provisions of your lease.

We advise that you check your lease first. Usually such matters can be worked out at the mutual convenience of the parties.

Anonymous said...

exactly right. if garodnick were serving the public, representing his constituents, or even on the side of the law, he would be fighting for better protections from illegal searches (eg illegal inspections for inventory of appliances for renovations) and seizures (of property stolen during illegal entry and homes taken as a result of illegal inspections searching for harassment tools to use against tenants). even the nypd knows cw conducts illegal searches of our apartments. garodnick and steinberg are acting more like landlords then advocates for tenants. only a landlord would say they will give longer notices in return for being allowed to continue conducting searches. same sham as the mci negotiations where tenants lost and landlord and developers and rebny brookfield won huge - getting tenants to pay for stale law nyu campus security requirements.

Anonymous said...

Tenants do not need longer lead times. Tenants need tighter controls on landlords abusing the "inspection" reasons, expanding them beyond what is legally allowed. Garodnick is a lawyer and would know how to restrict landlords from abusing inspections if he wanted to - seems he is more interested in helping landlords conduct inspections while quieting tenant complaints on surprise entries and leaving unaddressed tenants complaints on illegal inspections. Again (as he did with commercialization of the oval and building of the office building) acting as a lawyer on behalf of CW and not as a councilperson on behalf of his constituents.

Anonymous said...

March 12, 2015 at 10:29 AM the reasons cw is doing inspections are not in the paragraph you and the brookfield ta have been pushing on tenants. It is illegal to do inspections to inventory appliances for their renovation rip off plan. Why hasn't there been an audit. We know why Brookfield's Dan and Susan have not called for an audit...are they blocking tenants requests too?

Anonymous said...

So Steinberg doesn't care that the inspections are illegal. As much as I hate CW, Brookfield would be worse with Dan and Susan running the place and running out the remaining renters and killing the remaining trees. I can't believe she stood there by him while he announced his stupid proposal that doesn't help tenants and does help landlords get away with their illegal inspections. She has now completely lost my respect.

Anonymous said...

Al Doyle is still an active member of the TA. He is not the solution but he is part of the problem. Stop wishing for him to be a savior as he is in line with the CW and he is Dan's right hand man around here.

Anonymous said...

The city isn't ever going to tell landlords they can't inspect our apartments. At least this bill seems like it fixes CWCap inspection abuses.

The two big ones IMO are: 1. The landlord has to have someone deliver the notice personally. Meaning probably under the door like the other shit we get from them. The notice has to include the delivery guy's name and the date so the CWCap can't lie and surprise show up for an inspection saying you were notified by phone last week or whatever. 2. The landlord has to include a reason for the inspection. This one seems like the most important one. I could check the reason's legality out with an attorney or Garodnick's office and if it is legal I can make sure that the inspection is only about the reason on the written notice that I'm holding in my hand and sticking in the inspector's face when he shows up.

Anonymous said...

These two are acting more and more like landlords every day. Do they think for a minute we are stupid enough to believe this extension in notice time is for tenants benefit when it does not at all address illegal inspections occurring in Stuy Town?

This extension helps landlords get away with a continuation of their illegal inspections looking for reasons to harass Stuy Town tenants.
REBNY hates Stuy Town renters.

Tishman and Brookfield hate Stuy Town renters.

Dan and Susan are partners with Stuy Town haters.

Anonymous said...

In love and in bed with REBNY
Bloomberg and De Blasio are same


While the wider business community, from finance to Wall Street, maintains some skepticism of the Democratic mayor—how pro-business can an ex-Sandinista really be?—the Real Estate Board of New York, the industry’s chief lobby, has grown closer to Mr. de Blasio as he promises an unprecedented pace of housing construction. Like REBNY, he mayor wants more building density and is less willing to cater to NIMBY fears that can block shovels from every hitting the ground.

REBNY may have opposed Mr. de Blasio’s effort to swing the State Senate into Democratic hands last year, but the organization, as their chairman Steven Spinola has maintained, isn’t looking to become the permanent opposition—a coziness that could, in time, begin to alienate the mayor’s loudest allies on the left.

Read more at http://observer.com/2015/03/de-blasios-high-wire-act-wooing-business-while-keeping-the-left-content/#ixzz3UI7W4gS5
Follow us: @newyorkobserver on Twitter | newyorkobserver on Facebook
...

Read more at http://observer.com/2015/03/de-blasios-high-wire-act-wooing-business-while-keeping-the-left-content/#ixzz3UI7K2I2S
Follow us: @newyorkobserver on Twitter | newyorkobserver on Facebook

Anonymous said...

The fastest way to evict an entire community of firefighters, nurses, police officers, middle class renters - partner with REBNY developer (even faster when you partner with biggest REBNY PAC contributors!); hire REBNY lawyer to negotiate "on behalf" of community residents; negotiate for excessive MCI charges; install thousands of dorms with illegal walls; triple overcharge on apartment renovation charges passed to tenants; kill thousands of trees to commercially develop land; then add insult to injury and tell tenants you are on their side when you propose a law for longer notice time on illegal inspections.

You can't take serious this joke of proposed legislation that helps landlords and does NOT help residents protect themselves and their property.

The process for landlord inspections needs tighter controls but not ones developed by councilpersons disloyal to constituents.

The reign of terror and harassment on Stuyvesant Town Peter Cooper Village residents needs to end now!

Anonymous said...

I'm not exactly sure where the claims of "illegal inspections" are coming from - repeated inspections in a short period of time? Isn't that already considered tenant harassment?

But for a single inspection in say a year? According to NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, a landlord can enter a tenant’s apartment for three reasons: emergency repairs, non-emergency repairs, and apartment inspections.

State law allows landlords entry to RS apartments (with notice) to conduct routine inspections of the unit's physical condition or to evaluate a "special problem."

Anonymous said...

Filed and applied for audit June 2014

reply on March 11, 2015:

Your application was received and assigned Docket #..... Regretfully, it is not possible to determine how long it will take to process any particular case. All aspects of the matter must be reviewed, and due process requirements satisfied before the case concludes. Each case is processed as expeditiously as possible.

Anonymous said...

12:44 they inspected our apartment for appliance model numbers for upcoming renovation work to order new appliances. That is illegal according to every authority we asked from city agencies to the police dept. Why don't you let us know what your friend the public advocate Letitia James says to that. I believe the NYPD before I believe a politician but go ahead, ask your friend.

Anonymous said...

I was disappointed to read Letitia James weighing in on the inspections here but now I am just angry.

Fact is we are not the only ones getting illegally inspected. They checked the model number on our fridge, stove and air conditioners. That is not for any legal purpose according to all we asked at the 5th.

Last year other tenants were inspected for illegal reasons too.

"In a case of short notice, the TA said, a tenant was given notice on a Thursday that workers would be entering the apartment on the following Monday. “That’s just four calendar days; the city requires seven calendar days,” the TA said. Additionally, the TA said, management is only supposed to be entering apartments for non-emergency work if tenants’ have given their explicit permission, “and these renovations are not emergencies.”

http://town-village.com/2014/08/

RENOVATIONS ARE NOT LEGAL REASONS TO ENTER OUR APARTMENTS AND WE DO NOT NEED NEW APPLIANCES. OURS WORK JUST FINE!

Why is the public advocate getting involved in this on behalf of landlords? We would ask why she was at the REBNY party but we know she is a politician first, a public advocate second. These politicians need to stop going to that party. It is just bad news all around.

Ask the guys at the 5th precinct and they will all tell you the inspections in PCV are illegal! When they inspect you, record the inspectors on your iphones then show it to NYPD.

If you don't know where the illegal inspections are coming from then you have not been talking to enough residents in PCV. My wife used to like Letitia James but she just lost our votes.

Anonymous said...

BTW page 3 of our lease section Use of Apartment says the apartments may not be used as dorms so why are there loud student parties until 4 in the morning in the dorm in our building or why is NYU advertising our community as dorm halls?

The dorms and the inspections are illegal and no one is doing a damn thing about it not even the public advocate apparently.

Anonymous said...

Our lease requires tenants to report names of occupants to landlord. Is the landlord gathering these names for all the students advertising for roommate occupants? Anyone auditing management record keeping on that or is that getting the same treatment from politicians as the renovation charges and college campus security we are paying for, unchallenged approval?

Anonymous said...

Lastly, in our lease management added a lot more access to our apartment that is not allowed by law. Anyone challenge the landlord's lease terms that are not in accordance with the law?

Anonymous said...

"Bloomberg and De Blasio are same"

Sorry, this statement is ridiculous. As a Liberal, I am VERY disappointed with de Blasio but last year's RGB increase was 1% (still too high, should have been ZERO). Do you honestly think that Bloomberg’s RGB would have had a 1% increase? The REBNY connection criticisms are well founded but let’s not go into the Twilight Zone here. Here’s hoping against hope that for the next election, de Blasio will be primaried with a REAL progressive. The question will be, as always, where will the funding come from?

Anonymous said...


"Regretfully, it is not possible to determine how long it will take to process any particular case."

The DHCR, like the DOB, is corrupt. Darryl C. Towns is Cuomo’s puppet and Cuomo is Pataki light, at best. So depressing.

Anonymous said...

I think I'd feel more comfortable with Mr. De Blasio's choice of RE friends if he was hanging out with other Robbie of RE family fame: DURST! I think Robert Durst is less sinister (and certainly no worse looking) than Speyer.

Anonymous said...

CW/CR is getting away with all kinds of illegal actions from illegal inspections to illegally renting apartments as dorms and not taking any interest or action on the revolving doors of roommates, Airbnb, etc.

The fact that Letitia James, the Mayor and that apology for a councilman, Garodnick, lets them get away with this says a lot about the depth and dirtiness of the corruption in this management and this regime.
I will 60 Minutes would do a job on this barrel of scum.

Anonymous said...

60 minutes should do the expose as a warning to the rest of the country of what is upcoming with BlackRock and the likes hoarding housing runing them as rental properties, influencing and running city state and federal government and running operations at government agencies (dhcr commiss. Towns boss)
AND
as a warning to the country not to vote for these pols in case any involved in the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town mass middle class assaults decide to run for national office.

Now we know, absent real advocacy results, the public advocacy office is nothing more than a photo op pedestal stepping stone to the Mayor's office.

Anonymous said...

March 15, 2015 at 1:02 PM I was asking a question because my online research didn't yield any clearcut answers, IMO, as to what exactly constitutes an illegal inspection. I copied/pasted that from Letitia James site, a Q&A page on tenants' rights. BTW, James didn't make that law, she's just answering questions.

What city agencies did you talk to? I got the same inspection last year so I'm genuinely curious -- it's not necessary to get all unecessarily bitchy again.

Anonymous said...

9:26 PM It's illegal for more than three unrelated people to live together in a NYC apartment, but there's nothing illegal about landlords renting to students, as much as you and I may not like it.

Anonymous said...

12:59 you call it bitchy. I call it angry. Of course I am angry. The whole family is angry at how we have been treated. We all, the entire community past and present should be angry. Or if you want to call it, bitchy, we should all get bitchy. It is necessary. It is called for. If we do not get angry, or bitchy, then we deserve the shit they are throwing at us.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree with you 5:42 pm. We have every right in the world to be bitchy. At the very least, bitchy! We are being victimized by slimeballs who buy off politicians to get away with their shit. We would have to be totally, fucking brain dead morons to not get bitchy! I just wish we could find a way to put our bitchiness into action so that we can scrape this shit of a landlord and pols off our shoes.

Anonymous said...

Call it whatever you want, I asked a legit question that you still haven't answered.

Anonymous said...

Demand investigations into practices and corruption of REBNY, Compass Rock employees, CW employees, PCVST middle and low level management, Knapp and all on DOB DHCR records (including renovation invoices), ST Owner lp and all the names they call themselves, NYU, McCraken Foundation, every politician whose dirty hands crafted this mess with their wall street and law firm partners. That no one blinked an eye when Paul Weiss announced they are not getting paid for work then got shady on when they would be, how and from who, is the most unbelievable act of stupidity ever. A law firm especially that one, not getting paid was the biggest load of crap they threw at us and it was a slippery shit slope downward from there for tenants. A coup for REBNY and Robbie's partner in crime Brookfield.

Until the investigation sets right - Rent Strike.

Anonymous said...

"9:26 PM It's illegal for more than three unrelated people to live together in a NYC apartment, but there's nothing illegal about landlords renting to students, as much as you and I may not like it."

Unless the students are related, how is it legal?

Anonymous said...

9:22 your questions seem to be so you can figure out who is commenting. It doesn't matter what city agencies someone went to. You just go to the ones you think would work for you. You seem to consider yourself smart enough to do it on your own.

March 15, 2015 at 1:02 PM If I were you I wouldn't bother to answer the question. They don't need to know who you are, they can figure out the city agencies on their own by now, they are arrogant in demanding their every question be given your attention, and condescending in the second demand for an answer to their regal royal question. Seriously March 17, 2015 at 9:22 AM get over yourself. Stop being condescending to people who are helping other tenants. Appreciate what help they give and stop stomping your little feet when you every question is not given 100% of everyones attention. You are coming off as a troll.

Anonymous said...

DeBlasio, like Bloomberg, is a total hypocrite. Bloomberg encouraged overbuilding and congestion that is very bad for the health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally, of the populace; however, he tried to micromanage how people ate and drank and where and whether they could smoke. He also pushed hard for recycling, notwithstanding the fact that he had refused to allow recycling in his office building when he was CEO of Bloomberg, LLP. He wouldn't even allow paper recycling.

DeB wants to build higher and denser and is perfectly happy with the Bloombergian glass boxes in the sky which cut sunlight from Central Park as well as the streets and are giant energy-sucking monstrosities. To add insult to injury, they are for the most part empty.
Then DeB wants us to recycle everything from electronics to paper clips and wants to introduce mandatory food composting. What a fucking hypocrite.
There's something in the Bible about a hypocrite who will swallow a camel, but will strain out a gnat. Sounds a lot like what we have running our City.

Anonymous said...

"Seriously March 17, 2015 at 9:22 AM get over yourself. Stop being condescending to people who are helping other tenants. Appreciate what help they give and stop stomping your little feet when you every question is not given 100% of everyones attention. You are coming off as a troll."

Sounds like a real peach of a troll!

Anonymous said...

March 17, 2015 at 1:43 PM It's legal in NYC if there are 3 unrelated students in an apartment. It's not legal if there are 4 or more. students

March 17, 2015 at 1:46 PM I have some more arrogant questions. How could I possibly figure out who is who? And why would I bother? What is this, a looney bin?

I'll just call the TA or an attorney myself. Thanks for nothing.

Anonymous said...

5:52 You do realize there are trolls on the site. Whoever you are angry at is telling you to be careful of the trolls and they are themselves being careful of the trolls. All of those in the power play for ownership are after a lot of money and will destroy anything in their way of that money so let people protect their identities if they feel they need to and appreciate what help they offer and use it however you can to further your own efforts to protect your quality of life and money from being robbed by Fortress/Brookfield Speyer.

Anonymous said...

March 17, 2015 at 1:43 PM It's legal in NYC if there are 3 unrelated students in an apartment. It's not legal if there are 4 or more. students....

There are 4 or more students in many of the dorm apartments.

Anonymous said...

This is a great blog post STR. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

They are the same

http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/bill-de-blasio-friend-of-real-estate-developers

Bloomberg and De Blasio

Good thing the EPA stopped the toxic greedy RE Gowanus plan.

But when the politicians are childish and petty and vengeful and fave other poor characteristics, there is a much bigger problem. I regret giving my vote.

http://nypost.com/2015/03/20/pba-big-claims-de-blasio-behind-campaign-to-oust-lynch/


Anonymous said...

Report it and Take It Very Seriously

To the person who asked about what to do when harassed by your neighbors. Do not take it lightly. Document each instance, their name, the date and details of the harassment. Report it to a lawyer and to the police and/or every relevant authority. No one should be harassed in any way in their home. Zero tolerance on harassing neighbors.

http://www.youblawg.com/general-law/being-harassed-by-neighbors-heres-how-to-take-action

Anonymous said...

I saw lots of rolling luggage "tenants" coming in tonight. Do these "hosts" have the required insurance and do they file tax reports on their activities with the City and State?

If I see you and know what you are doing be sure I WILL REPORT YOU!

Anonymous said...

6 ;13 no one here posted about being harassed by neighbors. What are you talking about?

Anonymous said...

I see a lot of rolling luggage in and out of my building too! A LOT!

Anonymous said...

A politician first and foremost, in it for the headlines and money with no results for the people on campaign promises or even any at all. Calculating what headlines will advance him to the next office and the next and the next while leaving a wake of destruction on the people. When as "public advocate" Brooklyn and PCV ST had huge historic community losses. Building a headliner "sunnyside" can't hide the shade cast over Brooklyn from REBNY Atlantic Yards and over Manhattan PCV ST from REBNY Brookfield/Tishman.

Anonymous said...

No true progressive Mayor would put Goldman Sachs in charge of Housing.

Anonymous said...

Tehre are many tenants living out of state and subletting illegally. WE all know this, security must know too (um, you can see who is actually coming and going with a visual face....). Met life employees, ? former? Employees of CR / CWC... ?

Anonymous said...

The sooner DeB's term is over, the better. Same goes for Garodnick.

Anonymous said...

Thanks STR for this blog post.

De Blasio calls Speyer “tremendously civically oriented", Shelly a man of great integrity, and Hillary Clinton a woman of great integrity which as with the above two, needs a closer look at. So here is this. The De Blasio Clinton view on inequality, how they really feel about the lowly middle class and the honesty behind De Blasio choosing an all one-percenter team for the DNC pitch

http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/hillary-clinton-money-issues


"This week, as the Democratic National Committee was preparing to announce Philadelphia will host the Party’s 2016 convention, Hillary Clinton’s still undeclared Presidential campaign was running into a media squall about money—two of them, actually. First, David Brock, the conservative activist turned liberal activist, resigned from Priorities USA Action, a big money-raising group that is supporting Clinton, and accused the group of taking part in an “orchestrated political hit job” on two other pro-Clinton groups that Brock is involved with. Then, the Guardian revealed that a number of wealthy donors to the Clinton Foundation, a philanthropic organization set up by Bill Clinton, were clients of the Swiss division of H.S.B.C., a big bank that is embroiled in a tax-avoidance scandal.

The upshot of the Brock story was that Hillary’s money guys and gals are squabbling, and that Priorities USA Action, the political-action committee that spent seventy-five million dollars supporting Barack Obama, in 2012, is off to a slow start this year. (According to Politico, it had less than half a million dollars in the bank end of 2014.) The Guardian story, which was based on leaked documents from H.S.B.C., identified seven rich donors to the Clinton Foundation who had bank accounts at H.S.B.C.’s Geneva branch. One of them, Richard Caring, a British entrepreneur, “used his tax-free Geneva account to transfer $1m into the New York-based foundation,” the newspaper reported. “The HSBC records suggest Caring’s $1m donation was paid in return for former president Bill Clinton’s attendance at a lavish costume charity ball organised by Caring in St Petersburg, Russia.

Outside of the political bubble, I doubt that one likely 2016 voter in twenty noticed either of these articles, or the follow-ups. But, at a moment when Hillary is reported to be consulting with numerous experts about how to tackle rising inequality, the articles raise anew an awkward question: How far will the Clinton family’s ties to moneyed interests complicate Hillary’s efforts to fashion a populist campaign built around the theme of defending the middle class?”

Anonymous said...

DeBlasio talks out of his arse. We all know that.

Anonymous said...

Speyer is anything BUT civic minded. He's a predatory bloodsucker who destroyed a whole community of hardworking middle-class New Yorkers. He will never be forgotten for that. Some of us will not forgive him to our dying breath and will always remind the world of what he did. He doesn't have even the basic decency to apologize and pay his debt.

His family raised a parasitic loser, with not a shred of decency and morality.

Anonymous said...

Hey March 24, 2015 at 2:20 PM that is out of line and untrue.

There are many current and former MetLife employees living here and have for generations and are some of the nicest people and good neighbors. They do not deserve to be targeted or falsely accused by you and whoever you include in your "We" which we have a good idea who is in your "We".

Anonymous said...

Good news for Wall Street and REBNY/Paul Weiss Robert Schumer.
Bad news for the Middle Class. What the politicians did to the Middle Class in Stuyvesant Town, which De Blasio admitted in his speech is lost forever, will now be done to the entire Country.

"The New York senator’s ascension would be good news for Wall Street — his top three contributors from 1989 through 2014 were the employees and political action committees of Goldman Sachs ($543,000), Citigroup Inc. ($484,000) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. ($365,000) according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The securities and investment industries are by far his top donors having given more than $10.4 million over that time frame.

Schumer serves on the Senate Finance Committee as well as the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee."

It is a sad day for America.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/03/27/17008/schumer-s-road-top-greased-donations-colleagues

Anonymous said...

Does the schmuck in the middle realize he has his arms draped around the spawn of Satan? What a fool.

Anonymous said...

De Blasio's affordable housing plan for the wealthy sucks and everyone knows it. His plan is only to make the rich developers richer to further his own political ambitions. If De Blasio fails the NYC middle class Greenwich Village and all else who want to join us, will let the world know!

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150330/greenwich-village/de-blasios-affordable-housing-plan-comes-under-fire-at-hearing

"Bigger buildings do not equal lower rents," Carroll said. "If that were the case, West 57th Street would be Manhattan’s newest neighborhood for the middle class."

"Some at Thursday's hearing accused the mayor of being unduly influenced by the Real Estate Board of New York, an organization that lobbies in the interest of developers."

“If not for the fact of emails flying from Greenwich Village… to civic groups in Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx," said Ed Jaworski, president of the Marine-Madison-Homecrest Civic Association in Brooklyn, "this might have been held before two people.”

Steve Spinola Grand poobah of the Liars Ball and author of NY laws said he is only thinking of others with REBNY's massive development projects to house the wealthy.

Anonymous said...


It worked in the UK to garner good press for the middle working class.

To counter the disgusting list of 100 de Blasio used to represent New York for the DNC pitch that only included one-percenters and declaring them to be the best and brightest in New York -- we should do what was done in the UK where their leaders are doing what Cuomo/deBlasio are doing -- running New York so it benefits the wealthy and not the workers.

"Labour tried to counter a potentially damaging letter from 103 senior business executives calling on voters to embrace Tory economic policy by producing a counter message from what it described as a true cross section of British society.

The Labour letter was signed by a mixed group of actors, businessmen, writers, nurses and a host of low-paid workers in response to an array of leading UK businessmen, many of them Conservative donors, who had signed the pro-Tory letter that first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.

The 100 signatories, who declared “We come from all walks of life, this is what Britain looks like,” included as many as 50 people working on zero-hours contracts.

The Labour supporters argued the fundamental choice at the election is whether the country works only for those at the top or for all working people – including those trying to make ends meet working in British businesses across the country to create wealth and support their families.

Although the letter risks underlining Labour’s lack of high level business support, the organisers insist it was not designed to match the Conservative letter, but instead to make the point that everyone, not just business, has a stake in the coming election."

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/01/labour-offers-counterpunch-to-daily-telegraph-business-letter

Anonymous said...

Mayor de Blasio

Overdevelopment is not the answer!
It is the problem!

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/gallery/2015/apr/01/over-population-over-consumption-in-pictures

Anonymous said...

I would think people are waking up to the charade. He may have campaigned on a progressive agenda but since in office he has delivered remarkable results for REBNY and Big Business and utterly failed Small Businesses and further oppressed communities and people.

Now he is the anointed one to campaign for Hilary? what and leave Glen and Shorris to wreak havoc on NYC? Are we better off or worse off with his focus away from NYC communities while he travels the country campaigning for Hilary? He may have campaigned on a "for the people - trickle up" agenda but so far he governs a "Big Business trickle down oppress, relocate and warehouse the people" agenda.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/02/what-hillary-wants-from-de-blasio.html

Anonymous said...

2014

http://www.netsdaily.com/2014/2/2/5371888/bruce-ratner-says-he-wouldnt-change-anything-about-barclays-center

Ratner bragging sitting next to Clinton at the basketball game at the convention monstrousity built by eminent domain, displacing communities of working people and creating unsafe blocks.

2015

The monster convention center that kicked working and middle class people out of their homes and shut small businesses, where Hilary has her HQ for her campaign for Presidency and probably planned on delivering speeches at a DNC convention in Brooklyn while standing next to De Blasio's list of one percenters including Ratner and Speyer. Two of the biggest destroyers of middle working class. That was the plan? Tout the success of shoddy Barclays made with Russian oligarchy money declaring eminent domain? What the hell kind of progressive is that? He backs Cuomo over progressive Teachout, ultraconservative Hochul over progressive Tim Wu, and the integrity of Shelly. Does anyone really still believe this guy is a progressive or even a bridge to the progressives? If you do I have a bridge to sell you, the Brooklyn Bridge. He is more Republican and Conservative than me.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/02/what-hillary-wants-from-de-blasio.html

http://www.netsdaily.com/2014/2/2/5371888/bruce-ratner-says-he-wouldnt-change-anything-about-barclays-center

Anonymous said...


RE involvement and influence and control of City Hall bigger than we thought.


TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT? Good government groups question de Blasio’s ties to consultant at BerlinRosen -- NY1’s Grace Rauh: “[I]n addition to advising Mayor de Blasio, [Jonathan] Rosen's firm, BerlinRosen, also advises real estate companies—like Forest City Ratner and SL Green; labor unions, like SEIU and Communication Workers of America; and progressive advocacy groups like Coalition for the Homeless. … The mayor has paid BerlinRosen $270,000, nearly all of it for his mayoral bid. … A review of the mayor's schedule from last year shows that Rosen attended 20 meetings with the mayor. It is that level of access that alarms government watchdogs. ‘We have real questions about the role of outside consultants advising elected officials who have public staff to provide them with strategy and communication ideas,’ says Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York. ‘When you substitute private influence or privately paid advisors, you lose the public.’”

“A spokesman for de Blasio says public concerns are always the sole priority of the mayor. He says Rosen is a trusted friend and close confidante of de Blasio's. The pair has known each other for years. … [P]olitical consultant and lobbyist Hank Sheinkopf [said] ‘Private clients aren't hiring them because they don't think they are connected to City Hall. Of course, they are hiring them because they are connected to City Hall.’” http://goo.gl/SkL9zD

-- News columnist @HarrySiegel: “Wow - @gracerauh breaking down @BerlinRosen's influence web on @InsideCityHall is some of the strongest TV reporting I've seen in ages” http://goo.gl/gx84ZZ

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/04/8565388/capital-playbook-de-blasios-2016-push-berlinrosen%E2%80%99s-pull

Anonymous said...

Cuomo is making NY taxpayers pay $1Million dollars to clean up the toxic construction debris dumped in Roberto Clemente State Park instead of making the construction company and RE developer pay to clean up their own mess. Working Class Islip taxpayers are angry they have to pay to clean up the toxic NYC construction debris dumped in their kids park last year, February - April 2014 instead of the RE developers who were video'd dumping it.

Anonymous said...

Cuomo and Skelos are corrupt as can be. Not surprised they are screwing taxpayers in Hispanic neighborhoods given Skelos ties to Real Estate and his declaration that yacht and plane tax breaks for the rich benefit the working class. Is anyone drinking the Kool-aid they serve up in Albany anymore?