Friday, May 1, 2015

Outrageous Possiblity of MCI Charges for New Intercoms

David Sorise, ST/PCV General Manager and CompassRock University Graduate

In this week's Town & Village newspaper, in an interview with ST/PCV general manager David Sorise, T&V's Sabina Mollot indicated the possibility of a Major Capital Improvement (MCI) for the installation of a new intercom system to replace the new intercom system we acquired under Tishman Speyer. "Since it's a capital project that does mean it could be applicable for a major capital improvement (MCI) increase," wrote Mollot. It's not clear whether Mollot spoke to Sorise directly on this issue.

Though some tenants have bitched about the TS intercom system, if it is not working properly why should tenants pay for an upgrade? Shouldn't the onus be on Tishman Speyer who installed supposedly crappy intercoms?

If a MCI possibility exists (and some MCI rules would have to be bended to make it a reality), this would be a scam, pure and simple, and should be fought by tenants and, obviously, the TA.

The interview also raises a red flag over other possible MCIs for other "improvements," though it doesn't address their possibility. But hallways will be fitted with a motion-activated "dimming feature" and stairways with LED lights. That "dimming feature" will undoubtedly cause problems, I predict.

Meanwhile, tenants should feel secure to know that David Sorise is a graduate of CompassRock University, the "university" that's housed in a former cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. Or he teaches there...or runs the place...or accredits ST/PCV building managers in the fine art of running residential properties...

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fuck this. I'm not paying it. DON'T PAY THIS .

Anonymous said...

The (video intercom) MCI must meet the requirements set forth in the useful life schedule contained in the applicable Rent Regulations, which is 15 years. The date of notice is in the year 2008 for the current MCI I am paying for, therefore, replacing it would not, and cannot be eligible.
AND, to be eligible for a rent increase, the MCI must be a new installation and not a repair to old equipment anyway, soo, nobody panic.
(STR, I am surprised that this was not mentioned by you, therefore eliminating a senseless need for panic.) The same goes for this upgrade in this new lighting system. Again, it is THEIR choice to "repair" it and it is NOT being replaced. All these "improvements" are to save THEM money on electricity, and to inform tenants more quickly on any type of announcements. YOU HEAR THIS TENANTS ASSOCIATION? And boy, just looking at this picture, I would not trust this guy one bit. Sound about right?

Anonymous said...

The lighting system works just fine. It is the original system dating back to when this place was first built. THEY choose to fine tune it. You can't replace it just because YOU want to? This is not even listed on Fact Sheet #33: Useful Life Schedule for Major Capital Improvements. We can't pay for EVERYTHING they do!

Stuy Town Reporter said...

It IS a new installation.

Quoting T&V:

"Since it's a capital project that does mean it could be applicable for a major capital improvement (MCI) increase."

Anonymous said...

STR: According to the T&V newspaper,David Sorise did not indicate the possibility of a Major Capital Improvement (MCI).
He said it was a major capital PROJECT. Sabina mentioned it could be. Stop getting everyone into a frenzy. Besides, we just started to pay for this video intercom MCI which was bundled with the other ones in our JAN14 bills? Remember? There was no retro, just the permanent which was negotiated. It's remaining useful life (15years)isn't even up yet.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

Again, I refer to Sabina's words in the T&V article. She said the possibility of an MCI, not I.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

I did, however, slightly alter the heading to make sure people understand this is a new intercom system.

Anonymous said...

Sorise has a history of harassing tenants and one time went so far as to blame a gas company when in fact it was him and his company who were messing around with the gas. Sorise has a record and is a danger to tenants.

“I am partially suspicious of this gas outage in light of Dermot’s history and pattern of tenant harassment,” said Councilmember Letitia James.

David Sorise, Dermot’s vice president of operations, said the bill was not paid because it wasn’t processed properly after KeySpan, the gas company, changed its name to National Grid.

The bill was $720 and the gas in the entire building was turned off after the company did not receive it, he told real estate bloggers.

National Grid spokesperson Chris Mostyn said the company makes every effort to work with our customers.

“We go through a whole series of steps to avoid discontinuing a service — try to set up payment arrangements, send written notifications, make phone calls,” said Mostyn.

“There are lots of protections in place and full disclosure for tenants in multiple dwellings. National Grid is in full compliance with the NYS PSC requirement to send letters to tenants regarding their rights and responsibilities as occupants and their recourse with the owner,” he added.

http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2008/33/fort_greene_-_clinton_hill_courier_newsgasbackonl08162008.html

Anonymous said...

Everything they do is a scam. New intercoms? Mine works just fine. Before they install anything we need to know the real reason for this charade.

Anonymous said...

STR:They can apply all they want.
If the old installation is only in its 8th year of life, and it has until year 15, there is NO way a new MCI is going to be approved for a new installation, when the old one still exists. It doesn't makes sense. Slightly altering the heading does get the attention of some. I am on your side buddy! Just don't want people to panic until they get all the facts straight. Have a nice weekend!

Anonymous said...

May 1, 2015 at 2:20 PM

I love the attitude.

Anonymous said...

I have two words: NO $!*@!$%'NG
WAY!!

Anonymous said...

Is this an old photo? Is he now bald, shaved head with a goatee?

Anonymous said...

We should ALL simply refuse to pay for such an MCI. The TA had better get on this one and not pussyfoot around it. We should NOT have to pay for defective equipment that is being replaced and for which we already pay an MCI.

I am so sick of this fucking bunch of crooks that I am willing to fight these bastards in any way, shape or form. If the TA doesn't step up to the plate in an aggressive way, then we need to form a new TA and start a class action against this crooked regime. I will volunteer my time and donate my money to such a cause.

Anonymous said...

http://therealdeal.com/blog/2008/08/05/ft-greene-tenants-protest-gas-shutoff/

I think we should do background checks on all the parties that comprise CR. Some of them are reputed to have very dirty track records.

Anonymous said...

WHY THE F DID WE GET NEW INTERCOMS IN PCV. ORIGINAL WERE JUST FINE. SO WAS THE LIGHTING.

WHY? SO CR AND CWC CAN add an MCI to our rent bill. Duh.

Anonymous said...

Yikes! What an odd-looking man! He looks like he's barring his teeth. That doesn't look like a smile! Something sinister about that mug!

Anonymous said...

wtf happened to essa and why aren't they re opening somewhere nearby?

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>We should ALL simply refuse to pay for such an MCI.<<

The other commentator made a good point about this not being a possible MCI based on a couple of factors, which makes me wonder why Sabina Mallot thinks it may become a MCI. I wonder if she broached the subject to Sorise and he responded in such a way as to make her think it could become a MCI. CWCapital is constantly looking to nickle and dime us, and perhaps they think a MCI would be legal, as this would be a "new" intercom. Whatever the situation, we must be vigilant. I also wonder what is the hold-up on repaving the inner sidewalks, with all their cracks, and whether CW isn't waiting around for those sidewalks to expire on their "useful life" so that the company can MCI us on that.

Anonymous said...

We used to have two perfect and paved tree lined walkways. Now we have one crowded walkway with unsafe corners and a big rusty grate. I try to avoid this walkway on my way to the subway. It used to be a perfect quiet breezy respite from the city but that new office ruined the whole block. Or two blocks. Stupid design. They are destroying this place so they can create problems to be fixed and create mci charges. If the intercoms are breaking down then that is proof they are using cheap materials and shoddy work.

Anonymous said...

STR, you should know by now that Sabina Molot is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Anonymous said...

That filthy bottom!

Anonymous said...

May 1, 2015 at 10:57 PM

Absolutely true. Spoke to her a few times myself and got the same impression.

Anonymous said...

David Sorise, Leonard Litwin, the entire RE industry from the lobbyists at the REBNY to the city agencies as DOB and DHCR which are run by RE executives and all those politicians at the REBNY gala which are bought and paid for and owned by RE, this architect's comment in today's New York Times on the Skelos article is addressed to you:

James Hadley Providence, RI 2 hours ago

"The indictment here is does not simply implicate the Skelos pair - following the Silver actions it indicts the entire culture of the 2 NY elected bodies. Something is awry; it was just too easy for these men to mine the offices they won for cash. Like the NYC Building Department, an agency with which I am quite familiar as an architect who practiced in NYC for many years, payoffs seem to be a way of life. (As they are in many institutions in NY that award projects to architects and to builders. If I named the ones where I have personally witnessed corrupt practices, most New Yorkers would be shocked.)
Perhaps they should ALL be removed and an election held for a new senate and legislature."

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/02/nyregion/dean-skelos-new-york-senate-leader-and-his-son-are-said-to-face-arrest-next-week.html?_r=0

His one sentence summarizes everything that is wrong with every elected currently in office and why they have done many awful things to us here since 2006.

"it was just too easy for these men to mine the offices they won for cash."

The win their politicial office for cash mostly from Glenwood Leonard Litwin.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

Just a note that I have to be careful accepting posts that infer serious charges about gas and Sorise and resulting possibilities.

Anonymous said...

A better time and a better idea, and a successful plan

http://ow.ly/i/acNmC

thanks for the tweet.... CRDC @CRDCNYC · Apr 2

Here's a great #tbt: JFK and Eleanor Roosevelt at the dedication of Penn South in 1962!


#NYC #uniteblue http://ow.ly/i/acNmC

Anonymous said...

It is amazing how fast REBNY gets laws passed for developers and landlords and we get diddly squat. The laws the REBNY gets unanimously passed by our government will now open flood gates for foreign investors who already launder so much money in American real estate. Who does our government work for? Certainly not the American people. The REBNY is getting its money worth.


http://www.rebny.com/content/rebny/en/newsroom/in-the-news/2015/federal_law_lift_foreign_investment_NYC_real_estate.html

Anonymous said...

Did he get his headshot taken at the mall?

Anonymous said...

12:12 AM. The American People are no longer of any importance to the American Government. This is a sort of "feudal system" we have here. The very rich reign supreme and the rest of us just dirt before the broom, so to speak.
The days when American was a democracy and was government of the people, for the people, etc., are long gone. We now live in a plutocracy/oligarchy. Of course, if everybody got out on election day and expressed their disgust, it may help to offset the power of the oligarchs who buy our politicians lock stock and barrel. They would ban elections if they thought that could happen.

Anonymous said...

Is it true Donalda does not do carpet inspections? We've been told that she doesn't even check - CR allows the disturbance to annoy tenants in hopes they'll move. How can this be ok with anyone?

Anonymous said...

Well let's form a new TA. PLEASE POST REASON WHY WE ARE NOT DOING SO OR CANNOT DO SO. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Donalda the Hun has been quoted as saying that the 80% carpeting rule doesn't apply anymore. Why does she still work here? Who is she sleeping with or have dirt on?

Anonymous said...

Agree with your entire post STR. All good and valid points. Thank you for posting this.

Anonymous said...

This guy looks someone who'd drive a tow truck and illegally tow your car, probably to a chop shop.

Anonymous said...

What another crook.

Anonymous said...

Mayor de Blasio Calls for Stronger Rent Laws


May 5, 2015

De Blasio: End vacancy decontrol, eliminate vacancy bonus, make improvement rent increases temporary instead of permanent

Affordable housing for more than two million New Yorkers at stake as rent laws come up for renewal on June 15


Reforms to Protect Rent-Stabilized Housing:
•End High-Rent Vacancy Decontrol: The City is calling for the elimination of vacancy decontrol. Currently, a vacant apartment with a rent of $2,500 per month may be deregulated.
•End the Vacancy Allowance: The City is calling for eliminating the 20 percent increase in monthly rent when tenants vacate an apartment. This allowance has created strong incentives for bad actors to pressure tenants out of their homes in the hopes of faster-rising rents.
•Make Individual Apartment Improvement (IAI) and Major Capital Improvement (MCI) Increases Temporary: The City is calling for the current permanent rent increases for building-wide or individual apartments to be made temporary. Costs from increased services or improvements to individual apartments would be spread over 10 years, while building-wide or system improvements could be spread over 7 years. Long-term rent would be unaffected, and would reset after the fixed period

Anonymous said...

He was vetted and fits right in with Compass Rock.