Flyers with the information below are located at the 14th Street Associated Supermarket. I've copied all the info. It is vital that the Small Business Jobs Survival Act gets passed. As you will read, Dan Gardonick, our councilman, has so far refused to support this legislation, which not only affects Associated, but the remaining Mom & Pop stores in the city. Though our Tenants Association took a welcome proactive part in supporting Associated, it has likewise not taken a decisive step to publicly support this legislation, priding itself, instead, on getting, with Garodnick, a "promise" from our future landlord that some type of affordable supermarket may replace Associated.
Dear Customer:
We need your help to survive in business. Even though we are willing to pay a reasonable rent increase and our customers want us to stay in business, our landlord refuses to give us a new lease.
In NYC residential tenants have rights and protection when their leases expire; unfortunately for us and other business owners there are no rights to renewal for commercial tenants when our leases expire. For every business owner, their future and the future of their employees is solely in the hands of the landlord. With long established small businesses being forced to close in record numbers due to exorbitant rent increases or landlords refusing to negotiate with them, the majority of progressive Council Members sponsored a bill, The Small Business Jobs Survival Act (SBJSA), which gives rights to business owners to negotiate fair leases and survive. Every Manhattan Council Member, except one, is a strong sponsor of the SBJSA and committed to stopping the closing of small businesses. The Council Member who refuses to support any legislation to give small business owners rights is CM Dan Garodnick. While CM Garodnick claims he is concerned about The Associated closing, the only action he has taken is reaching out to the landlord who "promised" him that in the future, another supermarket will be at this location.
This is not what the public wants, empty pledges from landlords. Instead of investing energy in making deals and promises with landlords, CM Garodnick could easily join the Manhattan delegation by adding his name to the SBJSA that would literally save The Associated, and every other local Mom & Pop in NYC. Please contact CM Garodnick and demand he sponsor the SBJSA, a bill that will save your supermarket, and demand he ask Speaker Mark-Viverito to hold a Public Hearing and vote on this vital bill. The very few remaining small business owners in CM Garodnick's distrcit who are struggling to survive and are at the mercy of greedly landlords deserve and are entitled to a full vote by the City Council.
E-Mail: dgarodnick@council.nyc.gov
Call: 212-818-0580
188 comments:
Danny Boy G...what a two-faced phony.
He is totally in bed with the Real Estate board of NYC.
Ask him about all the contributions he has received.
He did NOTHING to help the tenants in Stuy Town Peter Cooper and endorsed the HORRIBLE deal which will ultimately destroy the last semblance of affordable housing in Manhattan.
He is the quintessential self-promoting pol.
What a disgrace!
This is going to open a lot of eyes about the real person Danny boy is, especially among the seniors that may not know about this.
What does he do??? Sign and then deal with his RE friends, or continue to deny the small businesses in his district? If he signs, you better believe he will sell himself as a "champion" for small business.
I posted this link before, here are the details of the SBJSA:
http://www.savenycjobs.com/history-of-sbjsa
Here is a link that shows the betrayal:
http://www.savenycjobs.com/#!legal-roadblock/rayx2
And here is the BS link:
"It raises serious constitutional issues about contract and property rights."
http://www.ourtownny.com/columnsop-ed/20150513/brewer-why-the-sbjsa-cant-pass
". Instead of investing energy in making deals and promises with landlords, CM Garodnick could easily join the Manhattan delegation by adding his name to the SBJSA that would literally save The Associated, and every other local Mom & Pop in NYC. "
Exactly Right.
The way the politicians are using the excuse "constitutional rights" for big business interests is a slap in the face, sucker punch in the stomach, kick in the balls to our small business owner citizen constitutional rights. Constitutional rights of all parties should have equal importance.
AND does Canada Ivanhoe Cambridge Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec get to forcefully take a position of power above an American small business owner?
Whose Constitution is this? Canada? or America?
It is plain wrong the New York politicians make their constituents beg while they party with and give unlimited access and favors to global corporations to steal our lives!
Dan and the TA are again aligned in actions with getting the "promise" from Andrew Macarther er I mean Jon Gray, and inaction of anything that produces tangible results for tenants and small businesses.
Someone posted this letter on the TA FB page last night. It now appears to be gone. Does anyone else see it???
If it is gone, all I can say is WOW!
It's there as of 9:27am.
Yeah, just saw it again. Must have been my phone.
>>And here is the BS link:
"It raises serious constitutional issues about contract and property rights."
http://www.ourtownny.com/columnsop-ed/20150513/brewer-why-the-sbjsa-cant-pass<<
If Ms. Brewer's concerns are legitimate (and I assume Dan is piggybacking on them), then let's get the SBJSA refined or something similar in its place. The city's mom & pop stores are being driven out, so what the hell is the city council and the mayor waiting for!? For all mom & pop stores to disappear, so that then there will be no pressure do do anything, leaving big business very satisfied and the coffers of our politicians full with donations from the REBNY?
For me, the Associated Supermarket issue was the most important question on the table at the forum a few weeks ago because it immediately reveals whether Blakstone, Garodnick and the TA are really paying attention to current tenant needs, especially seniors, and maybe whether Blackstone even listens to the TA and Garodnick. It is apparent now that all their happytalk about listening to tenants was a sham. They could have easily made a decision by now to negotiate with Associated in good faith. This supermarket lease issue is a drop in the bucket compared to the money they stand to make on tenant rent increases over the next twenty years, but it is symbolic of how they already think about StuyTown/PCV and plan to reshape it in their own image. If they wont even give Associated a new lease then all other issues from that forum are off the table. Our new overlords will just do as they please,and tenants wishes will obviously be ignored.
I'm still in a wait and see attitude. Remember, Blackstone is not in charge yet. If another supermarket takes the place of Associated, it remains to be seen how "affordable" it will be. There is the larger issue, of course: How will the city stop the forced disappearance of mom and pop stores in our communities?
How many times in how many ways do Dan and the TA have to prove their alliance with RE before we wake the heck up!
From Associated's website:
Associated provides services to a network of approximately 250 independent grocery retail stores predominantly located in the five boroughs of New York City. Associated also has stores in upstate New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
This doesn't really sound like the sort of independent, Mom & Pop retail stores that the SBJSA's original sponsors had in mind. As I recall, CW offered them $750k to vacate two years before their lease was up, and the owner's refused, saying that they could make more than that (that's $325k+ a year) by remaining open. Hardly a struggling small business.
I stop in there once in a while, but prefer Morton's for quality, C-Town for price, and Fresh Direct for heavy or bulky stuff that's difficult to transport. A high-end operation like Whole Paycheck Foods won't open in a small space like that. I'd be just as happy with a Key or a D'Ag there.
It will all be gone soon str. Imagine how tough it is on the independents. they can't even get deliveries easily. Does everyone KNOW THAT NYC GIVES FREE NO RULE PARKING FOR RITE AID, CVS, WALGREENS, HOME DEPOT, WHOLE FOODS, etc etc etc.
But the little guy, deli, bakery, nothing , slapped with fines and fines.
dan threatened the store and those who posted the letter. tsk tsk danny boy.
I know that it is an unpopular position but I would like to see a different affordable store in place of Associated. It is not a great store, poor stock, clogged aisles and the last time that I went in it was quite dirty. Key Food has taken over the Food Emporium on Union Square, so it is possible that we will get an affordable grocery. Associated needs to clean up their act before I support them. Every time I see an item I like it is never there the following week. Do appreciate the convenience but do not like the store
STR-Brewer is parroting REBNY talking points.
No legislation is impervious to court challenge, that's why we have a judicial system for. Nevertheless, in 2009, On Oct 16, 2009, the City Council’s legal and legislative staff presented a legal memorandum of case law supporting the constitutionality of the Small Business Jobs Survival Act. Then-Speaker Quinn's counsel made the unsubstantiated claim that the bill had legal issues and Quinn stopped a vote on it, stopping it dead. That same person now works as Brewer’s general counsel and has yet to produce ANYTHING to demonstrate in any clear way that there's a legal problem with the SMJSA.
Pressure needs to be put on Dan Garodnick to co-sponsor the Small Business Jobs Survival Act and on so-called progressive Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to allow it to come to a vote. And on Bill de Blasio.
Dan Garodnick (212) 818-0580
Melissa Mark-Viverito (212) 828-9800
Bill de Blasio 311 or http://www.nyc.gov/html/static/pages/officeofthemayor/contact.shtml
>>I know that it is an unpopular position but I would like to see a different affordable store in place of Associated. It is not a great store, poor stock, clogged aisles and the last time that I went in it was quite dirty. Key Food has taken over the Food Emporium on Union Square, so it is possible that we will get an affordable grocery. Associated needs to clean up their act before I support them. Every time I see an item I like it is never there the following week.<<
This has not been my experience, and I shop there regularly. The Key Foods I've seen do look like your experience with Associated!
>>dan threatened the store and those who posted the letter. tsk tsk danny boy.<<
Evidence?
>>Associated provides services to a network of approximately 250 independent grocery retail stores predominantly located in the five boroughs of New York City. Associated also has stores in upstate New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
This doesn't really sound like the sort of independent, Mom & Pop retail stores that the SBJSA's original sponsors had in mind.<<
The clue is that the company provides services to "approximately 250 independent grocery retail stores," of which the one on 14th Street is one.
I am not sure if I fully understand what is going on, so can someone enlighten me?
There are currently 24 councilmen/women that do not "support" SBJSA, for one reason or another. Dan is telling people that the City Council legal team is reviewing SBJSA regarding its legality. Does it really hurt Dan or the non supporters if they actually support the bill? If it comes back as unconstitutional or whatever, they will just not support the bill. End of story.
I may be wrong, but is Dan trying to play us for fools again ? Obviously there are more councilmen that support SBJSA than dont, so what makes Dan's support contingent upon legal findings? Oh yeah, REBNY.
"I know that it is an unpopular position but I would like to see a different affordable store in place of Associated. It is not a great store, poor stock, clogged aisles and the last time that I went in it was quite dirty. Key Food has taken over the Food Emporium on Union Square, so it is possible that we will get an affordable grocery. Associated needs to clean up their act before I support them. Every time I see an item I like it is never there the following week. Do appreciate the convenience but do not like the store"
I don't disagree, and personally I couldn't care less if it leaves. They do have the some of the best prices in Manhattan though, and if it helps the seniors in the sty to have it around then I support that.
I am sure Dan is probably fuming, but I am not sure that he would actually threaten the store. He has to be more concerned about damage control at this point. This probably got into the hands of a lot of people that weren't aware of this side of Dan, and he has been exposed.
Guarantee you will see Dan (and possibly the TA) doing some meet-and-greets near Associated this week as part of their damage control.
Key food @ union square ? I just left there an hour ago. It's not key. ?
dan threatened the store and those who posted the letter. tsk tsk danny boy.
When and where? You have proof of your statement?
When is Garodnick's [illegal] third term up? If he runs for any other office, we should make him beg!
Many grocery stores are members of Cooperatives that handle the supply chain and delivery of their stock. ShopRite actually works this way, with stores individually owned and operated.
I sure hope a city councilman is not threatening a small business constituent or any constituent!
"I'm still in a wait and see attitude. Remember, Blackstone is not in charge yet. If another supermarket takes the place of Associated, it remains to be seen how "affordable" it will be. There is the larger issue, of course: How will the city stop the forced disappearance of mom and pop stores in our communities?"
Mayor de Blasio and Garodnick-TA already handed PCVST over to REBNY/Blackstone together with PCVST tenants' exclusive access to $2.65 billion Fannie/Freddie guaranteed low interest purchase funding, 10.7 million sq. ft. transferrable development rights and a built-in PCVST middle class extinction date. REBNY demanded EVERYTHING. Mayor de Blasio and Garodnick-TA gave EVERYTHING to REBNY that REBNY demanded from them. Under what hypothetical scenario would they ever do anything "real" to preserve mom and pop stores providing affordable services for a middle class PCVST community or any other working class/middle class community they promise to marginalize or render extinct for REBNY?
You have a point.
6:13, You are exactly correct. Dan is trying to play us as fools again. He can support the bill while it goes through its legal review (as many councilmembers have). If found to be unconstitutional, he (and all of them) pull their support and work on making the necessary changes so that it could work.
If DG really cared, he would be putting his legal expertise to work and come up with an alternative that would be legal and save small businesses, but he is not.
Dan is a lame duck term limited Councilmember attorney. Career trajectory could either be with a super white shoe law firm or citywide office. Either path he takes, being chummy now with real estate industry power serves his needs.
So, a likttle off topic but on topic sort of
Cuomo is setting his friends up to make millions from airport food, including legacy La Guardia while Cuomo is wrecking our homes. He works the system for himself and his friends. Not for his constituents. His little cronies follow his every word and will do nothing for Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town tenants. Dan, Daryl Towns and Andrew want us out!
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/230500/following-glasers-path-schwartz-headed-to-airport-concession-firm/
To quickly remind us of Larry Schwartz and the REBNY and Moreland Interference
Larry was replaced by William Mulrow, very wealthy, Blackstone, Westchester neighbor of Cuomo and Larry was the interference into Moreland, REBNY and had a "hard time" finding a private sector job because he was seen as toxic due to Preet Bharara's investigation into Moreland.
http://nypost.com/2015/02/22/cuomos-former-chief-of-staff-still-on-payroll/
"...But a state employment official called the arrangement “highly unusual’’ and noted that Schwartz’s new job title “was one I’ve never seen before.’’
Several Cuomo-administration sources said Schwartz, who was known as Cuomo’s tough-talking and often crude “enforcer,’’ had planned to leave for a private-sector job, possibly in the real-estate industry, but had been unable to finalize an employment agreement because of Bharara’s ongoing investigation.
“People are nervous about hiring Larry because they see him as ‘radioactive’ over the Bharara investigation,’’ said one source.
Another source said Cuomo, who has hired a prominent white-collar criminal lawyer to advise him on the Bharara probe, may be keeping Schwartz on the state payroll in “order to help Larry out at a time when Larry could possibly do the governor a whole lot of damage.’’
Two sources said there had been recent tension between Cuomo and Schwartz over the ongoing probe.
Bharara has been investigating the circumstances under which Cuomo folded his Moreland Commission anti-corruption panel last spring amid allegations that the governor and Schwartz interfered with its probes.
He’s also looking into the possibility that Cuomo and/or Schwartz may have sought to influence witnesses who were interviewed as part of Bharara’s probe.
Cuomo has denied that either he or his aides engaged in any wrongdoing.
Bharara’s investigation resulted last month in criminal corruption charges being filed against then-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), who was forced to resign his leadership position as a result.
Schwartz, who also served as chief-of-staff to former Gov. David Paterson, is a longtime political operative and one-time deputy Westchester County executive. "
The Dirty Dirty Corrupt Triangle Westchester, Nassau, and Albany
Rooting for Preet!
What a putz!
"Mayor de Blasio and Garodnick-TA already handed PCVST over to REBNY/Blackstone together with PCVST tenants' exclusive access to $2.65 billion Fannie/Freddie guaranteed low interest purchase funding, 10.7 million sq. ft. transferrable development rights and a built-in PCVST middle class extinction date. REBNY demanded EVERYTHING. Mayor de Blasio and Garodnick-TA gave EVERYTHING to REBNY that REBNY demanded from them. Under what hypothetical scenario would they ever do anything "real" to preserve mom and pop stores providing affordable services for a middle class PCVST community or any other working class/middle class community they promise to marginalize or render extinct for REBNY?"
I think you answered your own question. They won't help. I'm still waiting to hear from STR why it's better now that Blackstone will be getting equity from stuyvesant town (while achieving the eventual elimination of affordable housing for EVERYONE here) as opposed to the tenants assuming control and thereby getting the equity. He was correct in his prediction of the outcome, I'm just trying to understand how this outcome is the preferable one for us tenants. If affordable housing will eventually die at stuytown (which it will) wouldn't it have been better for the people who have made this dump their home for decades to get the equity?
Bank of America going up with sign today on 21 and 1st. Yeah, goodie. I hope we get more banks all over the avenue. Nice hood here.
November 29, 2015 at 6:13 PM
There are currently 24 councilmen/women that do not "support" SBJSA, for one reason or another. Dan is telling people that the City Council legal team is reviewing SBJSA regarding its legality. Does it really hurt Dan or the non supporters if they actually support the bill? If it comes back as unconstitutional or whatever, they will just not support the bill. End of story.
"Legal issues" is a red herring. The legal issues being raised today concerning the constitutionality of the SBJSA were raised and properly addressed 27 years ago by a collaboration between the Council’s legal staff and the council members sponsoring the original version of the bill. The central case, Ross v. Berkeley, Ca.1987, was carefully analyzed at the time of the decision by both the City Council’s legal department and the attorney representing the bill, who at that time was Sherri Donovan. Councilmember Ruth Messinger was the prime sponsor. A special hearing was held prior to a scheduled vote on the original bill in 1988 to determine “Home Rule” as well as any constitutional concerns of the bill. City’s Corporation Counsel Peter Zimroth testified that the city did have the authority to pass the bill (the 1971 Urstadt Law only prohibits the city from enacting residential rent regulations, not commercial landlord/tenant relations), along with the testimony of Sherri Donovan and constitutional legal experts showed the bill to be legally sound and fully constitutional (ie: Ross v. City of Berkeley, Ca.1987), thus allowing the bill to proceed to committee for the vote in late 1988. That vote was not allowed to happen.
The Small Business Survival Act (the bills’ new name) was reintroduced in 2010 and assigned to the Small Business Committee. No hearings were ever scheduled because Speaker Quinn's Office held firm to its position that the bill had legal problems. They refused to make any recommendations to correct them, or to allow a public hearing on the legal issues.
The bill was reintroduced to the City Council in 2014 as the Small Business Jobs Survival Act. Current Speaker Mark-Viverito promised in June to hold hearings at some point on the SBJSA, but the original author of the 30 year old bill just thinks she's stalling and that the powerful real estate lobby will continue to stall the bill. There are currently 27 co-sponsors of the bill. 26 votes are needed for passage. It would seem likely that the reason for stalling a vote the bill is because there's a possibility that it could pass.
There may be some members adamantly apposed to Binding Arbitration legislation with regard to regulation of commercial rents (and specifically the SBJSA), because of personal philosophy. They may hold strong free market system beliefs and view ANY regulation of the free market as “controls” and the abandonment of the market system. However, the SBJSA allows NO direct government involvement in the commercial lease renewal process.
Again, using "Legal issues" as a reason not to support the SBJSA is simply a red herring for Councilmembers to toss at constituents who support passage of the SBJSA and oppose the current unregulated, out of control commercial lease renewal process that's resulted in the closing of long established successful businesses in every neighborhood and the increase of illegal extortion of small business owners.
And Associated rocks.
why is essa bagel so slow - me want bagels.
Many thanks for the illuminating and thorough review, Anon 12:41PM.
This thread explains why the wealthy hate HATE us. We are educated, intelligent, and self made (something they can never say or accomplish. We have more common sense in our little finger then they have in the entire legislature. We see through their PR spin scam words of shams BS.
GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/01/nyregion/sheldon-silver-guilty-corruption-trial.html?_r=0
Sheldon Silver guilty of all 7 corruption charges in twin kickback schemes, faces up to 130 years in prison
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/sheldon-silver-guilty-7-corruption-charges-article-1.2450685
http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf/2015/11/sheldon_silver_verdict_corruption_trial.html
Sheldon Silver found guilty on all counts
HEY ALBANY YOU ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Former N.Y. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Found Guilty in Corruption Trial
Former Assembly Speaker Convicted of Honest-Services Fraud, Extortion, Money-Laundering Charges
http://www.wsj.com/articles/n-y-assemblyman-sheldon-silver-found-guilty-in-corruption-trial-1448917663
ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO
“Today, Sheldon Silver got justice, and at long last, so did the people of New York,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a news release.
WAY TO GO PREET BHARARA! THANK YOU!
RESPECTFULLY
ONE OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS BELIEVES THERE IS JUSTICE IN THE WORLD
All the news on Shelly Silver's verdict -- guilty -- asks the same question. Will Albany close the llc loophole that serves them so well and from what we hear, Paul Weiss wrote the llc laws. Anyone know about Paul Weiss and the llc laws?
Love the post at 12:41. Important information, for sure, and Associated may not be perfect but the prices are seriously reasonable and the long term employees are competent and very nice. During the summer, a disabled man came in and apologetically asked the manager if they found a wallet the prior day and the staff not only had it waiting for him, but good-naturedly cheered him when they saw how happy and relieved he was to get it back. Good moment for most of us present at the time, what say you, Dan?
Business as usual in Albany is over. So is getting the service provider for the name and ip address of commentators here just because we loudly call out the corruption in Albany that is destroying the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Community we call home.
It is outrageous that Sheldon Silver ruined so many peoples lives and homes with his / Albany's favorable actions for RE, his personal bank account and rise of a career politician. It is outrageous our politicians sell their office for a few thousand dollars and another term or higher office. It is outrageous they operate with transparency and with a heavy PR spin cycle. They would never refuse or speak to REBNY or Wall Street they way they speak to constituents. It is outrageous they have been doing it for this long.
The straight forward no spin Press Release from Preet Bharara said it all with just a one line:
“Today, Sheldon Silver got justice, and at long last, so did the people of New York,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a news release.
Newsday Editorial captures it well too
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial/sheldon-silver-s-conviction-is-more-evidence-of-albany-corruption-1.11178078
This 2015 Thanksgiving we all have something to be thankful for - Preet Bharara and his team who rose to the daunting challenge of ending a big piece of corruption in Albany.
Mr Bharara is right in his call to action to GET ANGRY and DEMAND CHANGE:
"But he urged voters to get angry, to demand change. “My hope is that in bringing the case,” he said, “there will be reform.”
We should be demanding, not begging or asking or taking a wait and see attitude that always 100% of the time has the same result, RE and Wall Street win while People lose everything.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/24/nyregion/us-attorney-preet-bharara-criticizes-albanys-three-men-in-a-room-culture.html
The prosecutor, Preet Bharara, speaking at the New York Law School on Friday, castigated how deal-making has long been done in Albany — by “three men in a room” (the governor, the State Assembly speaker and the State Senate majority leader), who work in secret and without accountability to decide most vital issues.
For decades, state government has essentially been controlled by the three leaders. When they emerge from their private meetings, issues are usually settled, with no cause for public debate.
If the charges are proved true, he said, then “at least one of the proverbial three men in a room is compromised.”
If that is the case, he said, “then how can we trust that anything that gets decided in Albany is on the level?”
Albany has ZERO credibility.
November 30, 2015 at 9:58 PM
12:41 here. Thanks.
Unfortunately, posting letters in Associated and comments here won't be enough for the SBJSA to finally get a vote. Dan Garodnick, Speaker Mark-Viverito, and Mayor de Blasio will all need to hear directly from a lot of local business owners and their customers for that to happen because the real estate lobby is very powerful. Please be polite but firm when you call.
Dan Garodnick (212) 818-0580
Melissa Mark-Viverito (212) 828-9800
Bill de Blasio 311 or http://www.nyc.gov/html/static/pages/officeofthemayor/contact.shtml
dan don't care. dan is telling everyone he will make them get another grocer with same prices. lmao. yeah ok dan do nothing dan.
I want to see all the scum in Albany and
City Hall made to realize they were elected to SERVE THE PEOPLE and not their
big donors. Self enrichment and aggrandizement is not what they are
supposed to be pursuing. Ya hear that, Danny boy?
These lowlifes want to give themselves a big fat raise, while cops, teachers and firefighters get 1%. Disgusting!
Although Mr McDonald is 100% wrong in his assessment that All people go in to elected office with the best intentions" Barbara Bartoletti is 100% right that we must demand that those we elect, work for us.
We know Mr McDonald is wrong as the revolving door between lobbyists, law firms private banks, real estate companies and political offices is turning and churning faster than a PCVST apartment.
http://www.twcnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2015/11/30/albany-lawmakers-react-to-sheldon-silver-conviction.html
It took a jury 14 hours across three days to find former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver guilty on seven counts on federal corruption charges, but figuring out what happens next in New York State government could take far longer and thoughts are already coming in from a variety of people.
"All people go in to elected office with the best intentions. At some point, things happen, things change," said Assemblyman John McDonald. "The reality is we need to have the rules, the regulations, the processes and the procedures in place to make sure elected officials stay true to their course, which is to represent the public that elected them to do so."
But leaders of good government groups, like Barbara Bartoletti of the League of Women Voters, say that can only happen if people get involved with politics.
"They have to say to their elected officials: 'We elect you. You work for us,' " said Bartoletti.
You're elected with the public's trust; don't betray it.
That is good news about Mr Bharara and for New Yorkers. Certainly the crimes Silver was found guilty of is just a small fragment of what he did throughout his tenure. Silver should not put the State through the Appeal process and just be relieved his entire career was not on trial. Silver got off easy.
Albany is getting off easy to. Silver corrupted the New York Supreme Courts to carry out the scheme. The Judges at all levels in the New York Supreme Court designed and staffed a court house infrastructure for the Silver Judges, and all the Judges to do as Albany wishes.
Silver could and would not have committed those crimes without the NYC Supreme court's assistance from the dedicated New York Supreme Court wing to mesothelioma cases, rigging, expediting and awarding enormous rigged, biased rulings and payouts on cases.
The three men in a room and their loyal underlings rigged the New York Supreme Courts for Mr Silver's scheme. Where is the call for that reform? Nothing but silence from Albany on that.
Rigging the New York Supreme Courts is a big, admitted, proven crime against New Yorkers and yet nothing from the Attorney General on the rigged New York Supreme Court and its Albany controlled Judges.
9:58 That is an accurate testament to the professionalism and kindness I have always experienced at Associated too.
ALBANY—- Embattled state Sen. Dean Skelos last week lost his powerful majority leader position — can his park be next?
A veteran NYPD detective wants the Long Island village of Rockville Centre to strip Skelos’ name off a local sports complex.
James Coll, who works on the NYPD’s tactics and rescue team, said the village would be better off naming the outdoor sports complex after recently slain officer Brian Moore, who grew up nearby, or a cop or firefighter from the village who died in the line of duty.
“There’s plenty of people from 9/11 or since who are real heroes whose names should be recognized more than a sitting politician,” Coll said.
Banning politicians from putting their names on legacy pet projects and usually using taxpayer dollars to do so sounds like a very good idea. James Coll has our support in getting the name of a NYPD officer, or FDNY or cop who died in the line of duty is a better recognition, deserving of legacy and not the self-promoting, self-serving politicians.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/nypd-detective-seeks-dean-skelos-sports-complex-change-article-1.2226273
From CNYS Founder James Coll's website:
With far too many citizens left out of the discussion as we look to Washington DC to solve every real or imagined problem, CNYS is reengaging Albany in the search for solutions. Politicians are often focused on results that are party-centered. In contrast, CNYS will offer initiatives to make the framework of our state government a citizen-centered endeavor.
By expanding the dialogue to include our fellow citizens in this discussion about reform, CNYS is taking the power of New York government from the backrooms of the state capital to your community.
We welcome you in being part of this challenge.
http://changenys.org/in-the-news/4573040615
http://changenys.org/about-cnys/4573237171
ChangeNYS and its logo are federally registered trademarks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honest_services_fraud
"Honest services fraud refers to a 28-word sentence of 18 U.S.C. § 1346 (the federal mail and wire fraud statute), added by the United States Congress in 1988,[1] which states: "For the purposes of this chapter, the term scheme or artifice to defraud includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services."
"Honest services fraud is generally more easily proven in the public sphere than in the private, because honest services fraud by public officials can include most unethical conduct, whereas honest services fraud by private individuals only includes some unethical conduct. Federal courts have generally recognized two main areas of public-sector honest service fraud: bribery (direct or indirect), where a public official was paid in some way for a particular decision or action, and failure to disclose a conflict of interest, resulting in personal gain."
How much $$$ did REBNY, Brookfield, Moelis and Paul Weiss shower on Garodnick for services rendered?
How did Brookfield, a major REBNY predator and $25 million Speyer investor supporting and cheerleading Speyer's take no prisoners war booting PCVST middle class tenants out of their PCVST homes, somehow get secretly filtered through 60 competitors without any consultation with/notification to PCVST tenants, suddenly without warning become designated the PCVST tenants' phony partner in a phony "tenant led purchase" delivering 100% PCVST ownership and control - literally and figuratively EVERYTHING - to Brookfield and NOTHING to PCVST tenants?
The concept of 11,227 PCVST residents owning the entire PCVST complex and affordably owning their homes was a nightmare REBNY could not stomach. Garodnick ensured REBNY's nightmare concept would never materialize. In the overall REBNY scheme, REBNY predator Blackstone snatching PCVST away from Garodnick's owner, REBNY predator Brookfield, wasn't upsetting. What mattered more than anything to REBNY was that an REBNY predator should take EVERYTHING and PCVST tenants should get NOTHING. Garodnick delivered that outcome. EVERYTHING goes to REBNY and NOTHING goes to his PCVST constituents. REBNY is satisfied. REBNY will distribute rewards.
REBNY will continue rewarding Garodnick, showering tons of $$$ on him for past services rendered and future services demanded from him.
Hey Dan, when's your next "honest services" bus ride to Albany begging Cuomo for his honest services?
Any PCVST residents feel defrauded?
They just got an F for judicial and legislature performance, one of the three men in a room is guilty, one is on trial and the other should be and the politicians and judges are DEMANDING pay raises. They should get pay cuts and fired from the job!
Seriously when are the People going to DEMAND the legislature and courts honor their oaths of office and do their jobs and do them the way they ought to be done!
Pay boost planned for New York state judges – legislators next
BY Glenn Blain
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, November 30, 2015, 9:37 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/pay-boost-planned-ny-state-judges-legislators-article-1.2450969
The Daily News reported Thursday that more than a half-dozen councilmembers want a raise from $112,500 to $192,500. Mark-Viverito held an impromptu gaggle with City Hall reporters to say the plan was "ridiculous."
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20151112/POLITICS/151119938
Let CouncilSpeaker Melissa Mark Viverito if you agree with her
District Office Address
Manhattan
105 East 116th Street
New York, NY 10029
Bronx
214 St. Ann’s Ave
Bronx, NY 10454
District Office Phone
Manhattan: 212-828-9800
Bronx: 347-297-4922
District Office Fax
Manhattan: 212-722-6378
Bronx: 347-270-1213
Legislative Office Address
250 Broadway Suite 1856 New York, NY 10007
Legislative Office Phone
212-788-7210
Legislative Office Fax
212-442-1564
Email
Melissa Mark-Viverito
9:42 pm: Isn't Paul Weiss the law firm that DG used to work for? Maybe they should be investigated by Preet.
Any word on how Dan has reacted to all of this? My mother tells me that this is spreading like wildfire at the Senior Lounge, and there is definitely a sense of betrayal among the seniors towards Dan.
Like another person posted - he is a lame duck and probably doesn't care as long as it doesn't affect his long-term goals/aspirations.
Someone posted about the STR Blog on Yelp!! Let's continue to get the word out there...
Hopefully it doesn't disappear.
Good man that Dan.
Just in on Do Nothing Dan's Wikipedia Page:
"In 2015 Garodnick was instrumental in the Blackstone/Ivanhoe acquisition of Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town which puts over 11,000 apartments in the cross hairs of deregulation. His interests are slated as trying to protect the middle class and rent stabilization when in reality 30,000 people may need to relocate. He can be contributed to the fall of the last major rent stabilized housing project in Manhattan and the overall rise in rent rates."
What do you think? Honestly at this point we need to force him out. Has anyone seen the carved up distract. We should have our own form of representative rather than this lazy sleazeball.
really feel for the seniors living here. getting the royal shaft by landlord. Where do you want the seniors to shop for food.
"Business as usual in Albany is over. So is getting the service provider for the name and ip address of commentators here just because we loudly call out the corruption in Albany that is destroying the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Community we call home. "
What are you talking about? Did somebody try to get that information on the posters here?
Another article Sheldon Silver from The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/30/sheldon-silver-convicted-corruption-new-york-political-powerbroker
Looks like the Wiki page was changed, which is unfortunate. Dan Garodnick needs to step down from his position with the TA immediately.
A Global Twitter on Stuy Town present and future
https://twitter.com/hashtag/stopblackstone
Garodnick is obviously getting something in return for not supporting the proposed Small Business legislation. REBNY has him on their payroll. The sooner he has gone away the better. If Bloomberg hadn't bought his illegal third term we would have been rid of him by now.
Several people on the TA fb are disgusted with him, but the TA itself has not addressed the issue. Surprise! Surprise!
The posters above are exactly right about the job description of the legislature. But New York legislature are treating their offices like an extension or a legal department for REBNY.
When a citizen goes to the REBNY legal department, otherwise known as the councilman for Stuy Town PCV, the REBNY legal department tells the constituent that what is being done is "legal" or if it isn't legal they say "we'll get back to you, let me look into that" It is complete bullshit.
We citizens do not go to a politician to see if something is legal or not - that is what we go to a lawyer for.
We go to a politician because there is something wrong or harmful to a citizen constituent and the politician's job is to write, amend, pass the laws to stop the harm to citizens.
This legislature writes the laws for REBNY to do the harm. The evidence is in the results.
This city council acts as a legal department for REBNY and Wall Street, with the State (Maloney / Schumer writing and passing laws for REBNY), and the lower level politicians who have to deal with the constituents are making arguments on REBNY's behalf saying "well it is legal" to do their bad acts, and covering up for them as is what a legal department does for its employer.
REBNY employs the New York legislature.
Going back to Associated... any word how the DG team took this letter?
"The truth about a complex built for veterans and the middle class and how it has evolved through the years to become one of the more interesting and controversial of New York stories."
I guess that is what John Marsh calls a cesspool. "The truth"
>>Garodnick is obviously getting something in return for not supporting the proposed Small Business legislation. REBNY has him on their payroll.<<
Let's put it this way: Garodnick gets significant donations from individuals who are members of the REBNY.
My AC contract went up 8 bucks. How do we account for that? Anybody else? It's Winter?
Donations from the REBNY won't help him if nobody votes for him, right? He can't pocket them personally.
Stop voting in these assholes you people. Plus the city doing nads for biz small here. So some research into sidewalk cafe fees or taxes. Or violation fees. Or fines. And again taxes
@11:03
I noticed the same thing!! It went down in October, which should have been the rate for the year. Now there is an increase. Going to look into it now.
Actually just got a phone call from Do Nothing Dan... sadly I was in a meeting but he was nice enough to leave a voice mail. Yesterday I penned a letter to him saying even as a new MR resident, and yes my girl friend and I are young middle class professionals and dont mind paying the rent for now, but he is about to push out all the current tenants. The city is going to lose a Bastille of affordable housing, which will pave the way for higher rents pushing out low wage workers due to longer commutes (think CVS MCDS) then who is going to fill these positions... All of the people Dan is pushing out he will soon realize that he counts on. He wants people to pay more well I hope he gets ready to fork over more of his "hard earned" cash. Furthermore he only got 29,000 votes. There are 30,000 PCVST residents and of those 30,000 id bet that 18,000 are voters. Let get this guy the hell out of here, he dosnt care about you or me, he cares about a 70,000 dollar raise which frankly is more than the median family income. He should feel ashamed.
"Let's put it this way: Garodnick gets significant donations from individuals who are members of the REBNY."
---
Repeat
"Honest services fraud refers to a 28-word sentence of 18 U.S.C. § 1346 (the federal mail and wire fraud statute), added by the United States Congress in 1988,[1] which states: "For the purposes of this chapter, the term scheme or artifice to defraud includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services."
Silver was convicted of Honest Services Fraud. REBNY and Glenwood $$$ showering Silver 24/7/365 for decades were evidence at trial showing his predisposition to abuse his government position favoring them at the expense of his constituents deprived of his Honest Services.
PCVST tenants residing in 11,227 PCVST apartments should own PCVST, not REBNY. PCVST residents were deprived of Garodnick's honest services. How the TA got suckered into his scheme is a question for the TA to answer. So far, they jumped on the politician bandwagon claiming REBNY/Blackstone taking EVERYTHING and PCVST residents getting NOTHING is somehow a tremendous middle class tenant victory. Or, as the TA president said, "It could be worse." What does that mean? Roberts class action "winners" win again getting ripped off 5 additional years?
Duped PCVST residents having no honest representation, kept ignorant in the dark for years by Garodnick-TA secrecy and deceit, lost everything.
11:03 AM: I thought the AC fees went down recently? Very strange.
As a small business owner, these are facts. Doing business here on top of the exorbitant rent does not pay. They are killing us (city, state, federal) in taxes and fees. Say goodbye to all the mom pop anyone that is not a franchise, chain. what an ugly city we have now.
"Business as usual in Albany is over. So is getting the service provider for the name and ip address of commentators here just because we loudly call out the corruption in Albany that is destroying the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Community we call home. "
More conspiracy bull shit per usual with no evidence provided. Listen, there is plenty to go on (real facts) with displeasure for the TA, Garodnick, Holtzman, Cuomo (to be indicted 1/2/16? One can only hope), etc. but this constant “Illuminati” shit that is posted here, is what it is, which is bull shit.
"My AC contract went up 8 bucks. How do we account for that? Anybody else? It's Winter?"
Your A/C contract should have went down?
http://www.nyshcr.org/Rent/OperationalBulletins/orao844_30.pdf
Our campus future?
https://www.google.com/search?q=schumer+blackstone&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00001093
https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000021873&year=2012
Who is running the show
Does anyone know when the next TA election is?
Regarding Sheldon Silver: apart from enriching himself, unethically, by taking kickbacks from the ambulance-chasing law firm he lent his name to, did he do anything that actually hurt New Yorkers? Pardon my ignorance, but I find it hard to believe he got away with "criminal " behavior for 40 years. Did Mario Cuomo and George Pataki know anything? I find it hard to believe anything shady would get past Mario. Andy, maybe, but his father was a different breed. (I personally think Andrew was a foundling.)
http://nypost.com/2015/12/02/preet-bharara-is-the-white-knight-new-york-needs/
Bharara should be the next mayor or the next governor, it really doesn’t matter which.
All that matters is that an honest champion of honest government set the agenda.
It is painfully obvious that neither Mayor Bill de Blasio nor Cuomo is up to the job. Their personal feud and policy differences mask their essential sameness — both are content with politics-as-usual. Neither saw anything wrong with Sheldon Silver’s ethics.
Thankfully, Bharara is not content with the status quo. He’s the one who can clean up their mess.
The knock that Bharara is just a prosecutor misses the larger picture. He didn’t merely untangle Silver’s secret get-rich schemes, and those of a host of other government thieves.
As important as those cases are, what sets Bharara apart is his willingness to zero in on the underlying rot. Alone among other prosecutors and city and state pols, Bharara directly challenged the “culture of corruption.”
http://nypost.com/2015/12/02/key-witness-in-silver-and-skelos-trials-a-top-bundler-for-scott-stringer/
Not surprising.
A real-estate executive who received immunity to become a witness in the federal corruption trials of both of the state’s former legislative leaders is also the top “bundler” for city Comptroller Scott Stringer.
Anonymous Tired Of Keyboard Kommandos said...
"My AC contract went up 8 bucks. How do we account for that? Anybody else? It's Winter?"
Your A/C contract should have went down?
http://www.nyshcr.org/Rent/OperationalBulletins/orao844_30.pdf
December 2, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Landlords do this all the time. They deliberately and manually put extra charges onto rent bills of people they think won't notice or question it. Stuyvesant Town is notorious for doing this. It is not an overcharge or an oversight or an accounting error. It is outright, deliberate criminal THEFT.
Yelp needs to go away or be replaced. Does YELP know that businesses are giving cash back for good reviews?
A/C contract issue posters. Just went over my rent invoices from 9/1/15-12/1/15. The new NYS DHCR A/C rate was effective 10/1/15. This was a reduction (see link previously posted) from 9/1/15. However, the 10/1/15 invoice does not reflect this new rate. Therefore, the 11/1/15 rent invoice total rate has a retroactive credit built in. Your 12/1/15 rent invoice has the true rate going forward. Compare your 9/1/15 rent invoice to the 12/1/15 rent invoice for the true reduction in the A/C rate.
http://www.nyshcr.org/Rent/OperationalBulletins/orao844_30.pdf
TA election rules make it extremely difficult to unseat any incumbent or to replace a Board member who has resigned with someone who is not a friend of the Board
Last month's bill reflected by the November and October decrease . That is why you bill went up this month but December bill should still be less than your October bill
My AC contract last month went down, and now it has been re-adjusted back up 8 bucks this month. What are they doing? Is this right? Can someone look into this, legally, for us?
December 2, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Does it not make sense for the rates to go down in the winter and up in the summer?
Hi, December 2, 2015 at 12:22 PM,
Find out anything?
It went down $15 prior, then it went up $8. Net effect $7 decrease per month. Looks like they adjusted down 1 extra prior month. Agree?
Who are these people and why would the TA "hire" them, to give the perception of what or access to what?
Moelis? Is this the Moelis that Alicia Glen sat on the Board of Directors? Who is this Moelis?
http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/02/16/two-de-blasio-housing-picks-have-ties-to-developers/
Who are they and what the heck did they do to us?
When is DG gone from his THIRD term as City Councilman? When can we vote out Steinberg? Enough is enough with both of them...
One 57 is a stain on the skyline and a legacy reminder of Three Men In A Room Shelly Silver's corruption (and all of Glenwood's bought and paid for....)
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/2015/12/03/silvers-conviction-places-reform-burden-cuomos-feet/76717050/
Skelos trial lays out how ALL of Albany operates/ each and every one of them
"New York’s campaign finance restrictions are as porous as Swiss cheese without the cheese.
“Tell Dean we are giving 300000 thru Joe.”
And: “Whelan can put more money into Tommy L pac called Empire something or other. That Ok with Dean?”
And: “Please send us the list of senators Dean wants us to help.” Then: “Ok. All through LLC.”
And: “Whelan can put more money into Tommy L pac called Empire something or other. That Ok with Dean?”
And: “Please send us the list of senators Dean wants us to help.” Then: “Ok. All through LLC.”
And: “Should I follow up with (lobbyist and lawyer) Richard Runes about the make-up and timing of the checks we are seeking from Glenwood?”
And: “Skelos needs money.”
And: “Another $25K. Jeez.”
At Silver’s trial, Runes testified that he enclosed with his contributions his Glenwood business card, in a Glenwood envelope, to ensure that the recipient knew exactly who was donating.
Glenwood is the single largest LLC donor in the state, having given $1.6 million to Republicans since 1999. The company’s LLCs also gave Cuomo $1.1 million — part of his total LLC haul of $4.3 million during last year’s reelection, with $1.4 million more in 2015.
That’s the New York way, and the governor and the successors to Silver and Skelos will be part of it unless they close what is charitably called the LLC loophole and should be called the access code to a graft ATM.
www.nydailynews.com/opinion/editorial-buy-buy-silver-skelos-article-1.2453407
http://collegestudentapartments.com/property/stuytown-new-york-new-york/4001417-18700/
collegestudentapartments.com
Stuytown
252 1st Ave, New York, NY 10009
They are not limiting the number of students.
"We should thank Preet Bharara for taking on one of the most powerful, untouchable people in New York -- and then realize it is our job, as citizens, to take on other politicians doing the same thing, unless we want our legacy to stay in Silver's shadow.
Silver's conviction places the entire "business as usual" system at Andrew Cuomo's feet. If he doesn't act now, this broken infrastructure and corrupt politics is his, not Sheldon SIlver's. It is Andrew Cuomo who plays the partisan split between the Assembly and Senate like a master violinist to insure truly progressive policies that would cost his campaign contributors don't pass and unaffordable luxury buildings get built, and Andrew Cuomo who led the charge against fair redistricting, and Andrew Cuomo who has taken more money from Glenwood Management than Silver ever did. In the wake of this trial, Glenwood Management money should be treated as toxic, corrupt, and corrupting."
"...One Fifty Seven, that rises up out off the street, a big, ugly, empty, luxury condominium. Its a building that wouldn't exist without tax subsidies from New York State.
It is a building that wouldn't exist without Sheldon Silver.
Sheldon Silver is going to prison, and we are left with a constant reminder, the shadow from One Fifty Seven of the cost of corruption.
Silver presented himself as a tenant's advocate, but in reality -- as we learned at his trial -- he was making hundreds of thousands of dollars from Glenwood Management, and then pushing for tax breaks for Glenwood Management. The New Yorkers he was supposed to represent were left out in the cold, fighting for affordable housing. One Fifty Seven is just one of the many buildings that Sheldon Silver got a percent of."
Zephyr Teachout
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zephyr-teachout/sheldon-silvers-legacy_b_8693306.html
Sheldon (and other politicians) presented himself as a tenant advocate by using PR spin and trickery.
Preet ALONE took on a deeply corrupt institution robbing us of house and home by using llc donation bribes for tax break welfare subsidiaries for billionaires, robbing us of taxpayer dollars needed for infrastructure. Preet ALONE, not the Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, not the DA Cyrus Vance, who are supposed to pursue justice too.
Thank you Preet.
December 3, 2015 at 8:04 AM
Correct. Verified with Accounting.
So basically there is no democracy within our TA? Sounds like a group of people I want representing the community.
They were already rigged so badly they got an F.
Now they are Full on Fixed.
http://nypost.com/2015/12/03/gov-cuomos-new-control-over-new-yorks-courts-is-dangerous/
It looks like Danny Boy is making a show in the T&V to get back the seniors that he turned his back on with Associated.
Here is how it works. Dan needs to question CW Capital/Compass Rock/Blackstone about the # of rooms that the property has. This will affect the MCI rates FOR ALL OF US!
Second, he needs to have a commitment from Blackstone on what the future of the property is. Will it be one year turn-arounds going forward? I also don't want to see the local Delta Kappa's and their friends continuing to rent here as a frat/sorority house.
Third, Dan sucks. Why does he continue to speak for us? I think we need someone new that isn't skewed by REBNY (with the occassional about-face in situations like this).
There was a DHCR credit adjustment for the A/C that was credited to the November bill, so the November A/C charge is slightly lower than December. It should stay this way until the next DHCR adjustment.
http://gothamist.com/2015/12/04/tower_power_u_guys.php
This is the doing of our favorite Councilman... DAN GARODNICK!!
I like the sarcasm in the article though.
A theory
The developers Tishman Speyer, Brookfield, Ratner, the MTA, Blackstone / BlackRock
2013 Tishman Speyer starts Paul Weiss Hudson Yards that Meredith Kane represents for the MTA (but TS backs out for a little while then re-enters this year with Brookfield).
2014 De Blasio announces MTA Sunnyside property will be affordable housing complex like "Stuyvesant Town" to replace it but with better protections while De Blasio stays silent (turns a blind eye and deaf ears) on our demise all year. Therefore De Blasio would meet his affordable housing plan and loss of Stuyvesant Town appears not to be on his watch
MTA and Cuomo stab him in the back the very next day and say De Blasio cannot have Sunnyside for his affordable housing plan and the MTA Cuomo stab him again in the back this year on the budget.
The Committee, Partnership and REBNY are playing the politicians against each other and as fools while they all join together to pitch the democratic convention that Forest City Ratner built for Hilary Clinton to announce her run for president in a NYC borough that appears more "of the people" than the "of the wealthy" Manhattan.
De Blasio gets no affordable housing, gets railroaded on the MTA budget, the DNC chooses Philly over NY so the developers partnership and committee lose on that one, rightly so - the Tenant Association supports Paul Weiss who represents the Bloomberg Applied Sciences college campus signature initiatives, NYU and other colleges take over thousands of PCVST apartments, PCVST Tenants pay for NYS mandatory campus security, the DOB chops thousands of apartments for 3+ nonrelated tenants to live in, and over the three day Christmas holiday the DOB reverses its original denial of the Bunker to approval status, Fortress CW Compass Rock Charles Spetka does one last golub push with hundreds of notices just before De Blasio announces Blackstone owns us, barely 40% of PCVST apartments remain affordable, and De Blasio announces BlackRock gets the Fannie Freddi money because Steinberg is beside him appearing as if tenants approve all of this. Paul Weiss also represents the Canadian pension fund in the takeover of the Canadian Stock Exchange which then sees Canada investing in a lot of NY real estate including PCVST which they had their eye on for some time.
Paul Weiss, representing the MTA in Hudson Yards in 2013, representing the Tenant Association of PCVST (not to be confused with the tenants of PCVST), representing all the conflicting clients in the major real estate deals, buyers and sellers, while thousands upon thousands of tenants lose their homes.
Paul Weiss is at the center of the loss of affordable housing in many if not every way.
Teacher's perspective on Moreland Interference Corruption by the Governor's office and his minions
Let us hope the January 2 indictment includes the minions.
http://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-cuomo-meddled-into-moreland.html
Our landlord Stephen Schwarzman will be co-chair of his (and Hoylman's) Partnership for New York
http://pfnyc.org/news_press/stephen-a-schwarzman-announced-as-incoming-co-chair-of-the-partnership-for-new-york-city/#more-5232
The current politicians gave away our community to the business consortium the Partnership for New York City.
Tishman Speyer
The Partnership for New York and the 20th street ferry
http://pfnyc.org/news_press/partnership-for-new-york-city-endorses-mayor-de-blasios-five-borough-ferry-service-plan/#more-4734
Shame on them for not being honest with us.
Brad Hoylman and The Partnership for New York billionaire's names come up at the center of every controversial real estate bullying deal
http://thevillager.com/villager_287/stvincents.html
No they will not limit the number of students. This is a business to them, nothing less and if anyone thinks they're not planning to get all of us out you are sad and mistaken.
I should add this under Marsh's window MCI ("IAI") thread, but it might not get seen.
It looks like Johnny boy may be getting his wish. Everyone should take a walk past 360 First Ave and look up at the 2nd floor - facing First Ave. New window in place that is totally different, and newer than the already new under the window AC units.
Is this our future right in front of us??
I had to laugh at the article in Town and Village concerning Dan Garodnick telling
Blackstone that they have to limit the number of students. He should have thought
about that when he advocated the deal. With 5000 market rate apartments, Blackstone
will have to rent to students. Who else is going to rent those apartments? Ridiculous.
John boy going to pay for all those new ac's?
Fannie Mae was 'awarded' the $2.7 billion loan for STPCV. I believe terms are 10 years at 10-year treasury + 120bps (1.20%). Loan will allow Blackstone to 'top off' during term, meaning if Blackstone can increase income they can add more debt (which means returning capital to investors).
The billionaires are making sure they get their profits,
NY politicians are making sure the billionaires are getting their profits, their legacies, and advancement to their bought and paid for next office.
No one is making sure citizens are safe in their homes.
Law enforcement authorities and commissioners are making sure tenants are pushed out so billionaires get their profits and the land.
Litigation Could Delay Stuy Town Loan Payoff: Trepp
By Felipe Ossa
December 3, 2015
http://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/servicing/litigation-could-delay-stuy-town-loan-payoff-trepp-1067134-1.html
Zephyr Teachout and others are organizing a take-back our government from the billionaires action
https://twitter.com/ZephyrTeachout?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author
http://www.thenation.com/article/open-letter-lets-get-arrested-to-save-democracy-from-the-billionaire-class/
Steinberg Doyle Marsh and Garodnick sell real estate interests to this community, vrom Barclays, to the Ferry to the air conditioner MCI, to the bunker. They 100% represent RE. They do not represent tenants.
Another reason not to take JP Morgan's word when they say the PCVST deal is a good one. You can't believe anything they say and do.
They are ruthless and care only about putting money in their pockets
JPMorgan Wrote Complaints After Firing a Whistle-Blower
By NATHANIEL POPPERDEC. 3, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/business/dealbook/bank-wrote-grievances-after-firing-a-broker.html?_r=0
There are tens of thousands of illegally chopped apartments rented to students and 3+ unrelated tenants being ignored by Mayor De Blasio, the City Council, the FDNY, the New York Attorney General -- that are causing large losses of affordable housing, 6000 lost affordable homes in PCV ST alone, chopped up by the DOB.
The City administration is spending tens of millions of dollars on 681 complaints of illegal hotels. Surely they have money to investigate these 681 illegal hotels AND the tens of thousands of chopped apartments illegally rented to 3+ unrelated tenants.
Had the OSE used their staff appropriately in PCV ST they could have caught any if there are any illegal hotels and they could have caught and stopped the 6000 DOB chopped apartment dorms. 6000 lost affordable houses.
"From January through September of 2015, the first three quarters of this calendar year, OSE received a total of 681 complaints via 311 reporting an “illegal hotel” operation. During this period, OSE conducted 1192 inspections in response to these “illegal hotel” complaints and issued approximately 1325 violations. OSE has a track record of effectively fielding complaints, conducting investigations, and imposing appropriate sanctions
M a y o r ’ s O f f i c e o f C r i m i n a l J u s t i c e
OSE is currently made up of twelve staff members: three sworn members of the New York City Police Department, two Department of Buildings inspectors, one Fire Department inspector, an investigator from the Department of Finance, two attorneys, one full-time investigator, an office manager, and now an Executive Director.
In the adopted budget for FY2015, OSE was allocated an additional 17 staff members. These new positions will allow the office to deploy targeted strategies, expand our analytic capacity, and conduct more sustained and proactive investigations aimed at the most egregious offenders."
http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/criminaljustice/downloads/pdfs/Klossner_OSE%20Testimony_10-30.pdf
Another Berlin Rosen client who got a sweetheart deal from Mayor De Blasio, taxpayer dollars that are needed for infrastructure but instead going to billionaire developers in bribes for affordable housing, is again money wasted as the developer renege on their word and worse.
OVERCHARGING TENANTS FOR 8 YEARS WHILE LAW ENFORCEMENT TURNS A BLIND EYE AND DEAF EARS
http://therealdeal.com/blog/2015/12/04/two-trees-overcharged-renters-for-years/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=popular_widget&utm_campaign=posts_popular
"Subsequently, an analysis of city and state data showed that landlords had failed to register 50,000 apartments for rent stabilization, as required by law, yet continued to receive more than $100 million in 421-a and other tax benefits.
“Tenants are the only ones expected to do anything to enforce the law,” said Ellen Davidson, a tenant lawyer with the Legal Aid Society.
ProPublica’s analysis of rent histories, meanwhile, shows that the building’s original tenants were charged at least $368,000 in excess rents. Two Trees confirmed that it had imposed “accidental” overcharges in the building’s early years, but said it later repaid tenants almost $300,000 plus interest.
Together, the overcharges and Two Trees’ lack of final approval show a city that is eager to give out tax breaks but loathe to police them, enabling developers to easily sidestep tenant protections under its single-biggest housing subsidy.
Neither Two Trees nor city officials were able to explain why the building still had no final certificate of 421-a eligibility a decade after tenants began moving in.
A spokesman at BerlinRosen, the public relations firm representing Two Trees, called it an “administrative oversight” that is being corrected."
Pro RE / Anti-tenant Berlin Rosen is 100% WRONG
IT IS NOT AN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT. IT IS NOT AN ACCOUNTING ERROR.
IT IS THEFT. PLAIN AND SIMPLE THEFT.
http://therealdeal.com/blog/2015/12/04/two-trees-overcharged-renters-for-years/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=popular_widget&utm_campaign=posts_popular
"This account relies on rent records, leases and hundreds of pages of documents Two Trees has produced in court, as well as materials longtime tenants obtained via public records requests.
ProPublica also interviewed tenants, housing advocates and attorneys who are expert in rent-stabilization law. All five lawyers who reviewed leases and other documents agreed that Two Trees had violated the law. Based on the records, three described the city’s enforcement as “toothless.”
“Who’s watching the store?” said Phil DePaolo, a housing activist who opposed the Domino Sugar deal. “Nobody.”
EXACTLY RIGHT - NOBODY IS WATCHING THE STORE. THE DEVELOPERS ARE BREAKING THE LAW. THEY ARE COMMITTING CRIMES.
THEY SHOULD BE CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED.
NOBODY IS PROTECTING TENANTS.
NOT THE DA AND NOT THE AG
THE DEVELOPERS ARE COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST THE TENANTS.
AND THE PR SPIN CALLS IT AN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT WHEN IT IS A CRIME.
THE CITY AND STATE POLITICIANS ARE SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPERS CRIMES AGAINST TENANTS WHILE MANAGING THEIR OWN PR BY GETTING HEADLINES GOING AFTER A FEW SMALL PLAYERS AND MAKING IT SOUND LIKE A BIG VICTORY WHILE THE BIG PLAYERS ARE GETTING AWAY WITH IT. OR WORSE AS THE ARTICLE SAYS:
"The city maintains that it is the state’s job to make sure tenants in 421-a buildings aren’t charged higher rents than the law allows. The state says it’s up to the city to administer and enforce the program. The result: A regulatory dead zone."
The incumbents are either corrupt or inept or both.
If the below is true, and they pulled a first rent scam in PCVST which in essence makes us the original tenant then we should be able to keep our preferential rent too, right?
"But city officials and housing lawyers have said such leases are improper: Under rent stabilization rules, the amount actually “charged and paid” becomes the legal rent for an original tenant."
therealdeal.com/blog/2015/12/04/two-trees-overcharged-renters-for-years/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=popular_widget&utm_campaign=posts_popular
Typical. The landlords overcharge because the city and state allow them to.
"In all, ProPublica estimated that at least 43 of the 64 original low-income tenants at 125 Court Street were overcharged a total of $80,000. Additionally, 47 original tenants in market-rate units were charged about $288,000 more than what city limits allowed."
After breaking the law and robbing the tenants, Two Trees said they were angels and the ENTIRE City Council spit in the face of tenants:
“I’m here today to request that the City Council suspend any further concessions or taxpayer subsidies to Two Trees because they have proven unworthy of the public trust,” said Sher.
The Two Trees plan sailed through the City Council on a 47–0 vote the following month. Council members even sweetened the Domino deal by agreeing to provide access to tax-exempt financing, as the city had done for 125 Court Street.
The deal allowed de Blasio to claim a win because Two Trees agreed to include 40 more lower-income units than the 660 originally planned for the complex."
therealdeal.com/blog/2015/12/04/two-trees-overcharged-renters-for-years/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=popular_widget&utm_campaign=posts_popular
The Mayor's developer friendly affordable housing plan:
"Achieving the goals in de Blasio’s housing plan — which include building 80,000 new lower-income units over a decade — will require cutting many similar 421-a deals. The legislature’s expansion of the program, expected to be finalized in January, contains many provisionsproposed directly by the mayor’s office.
Under the revised program, developers could collect 421-a benefits for up to 35 years instead of the current 25, but new 421-a buildings would have to include more lower-income apartments than are now required, up to 30 percent. Income limits also would be lifted, opening these rent-stabilized units to wealthier tenants."
therealdeal.com/blog/2015/12/04/two-trees-overcharged-renters-for-years/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=popular_widget&utm_campaign=posts_popular
The sucker punch in the stomach on our already stolen hard fought battle and "victory"
"Under the revised program, developers could collect 421-a benefits for up to 35 years instead of the current 25, but new 421-a buildings would have to include more lower-income apartments than are now required, up to 30 percent. Income limits also would be lifted, opening these rent-stabilized units to wealthier tenants.
Perhaps the biggest change is that new units renting for more than $2,700 a month would no longer have to be rent-stabilized — freeing 421-a landlords from Rent Guidelines Board limits for the first time since the program began in 1971.
That shift effectively sets a floor for market-rate apartments, tenant advocates say, and undermines a major court victory tenants won in 2009. In the case,Roberts v. Tishman Speyer, judges ruled that apartments getting similar tax breaks can’t be removed from rent stabilization because the rent gets too high.
With rents rapidly rising above $2,700 in many neighborhoods, the new law “categorizes thousands of middle-class tenants as undeserving of rent stabilization,” said Seth Miller, a tenant lawyer with Collins, Dobkin & Miller in Manhattan.
“Why should developers get to charge any rent they want for most of the apartments the taxpayers pay for?” he said."
therealdeal.com/blog/2015/12/04/two-trees-overcharged-renters-for-years/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=popular_widget&utm_campaign=posts_popular
And the kick in the teeth
"In April, a $100,000 gift came in to the mayor’s fund, which is also represented by BerlinRosen, the Two Trees PR firm.
The source? A Two Trees subsidiary named for a Domino Sugar address: 316 Kent Ave."
Is GE the major financing tool of the Blackstone Ivanhoe Cambridge Paul Weiss Paul Hastings Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town deal? Are we really owned by GE? Has anyone else been hearing this?
I agree with 9:44. They are as aggressive and deceitful as Tishman Speyer. A few years back they moved a frat house into the lower floor of our building to harass out the rent stabilized tenants. Last year they moved in a potential combination apartment family who is notoriously harassing the rent stabilized neighbor who put up with the frat house years earlier. They, the Partnership for New York, City Council, NYC and NYS and the hidden and frontmen landlord consortium want the rent stabilized tenants out to replace us with the tech campuses. No innovation or creativity, just the same thug tactics used for decades, harass tenants to kick them out and takeover the land.
So, WHAT THE FUCK. Do they goons get tax breaks from us and nyC only to charge us Market rates and beyond? Holy fuck.
Our new owners will file for an MCI for the Christmas tree and Chanukah menorah.
You'll see.
Our new owners are fighting hard and winning to erase all complaint dockets for DHCR. Wait for it. Done deal.
IT'S HERE!!
Go to the Stuy Town Tenants FB page (not the TA page). The new windows are taking up half of a top floor in PCV, and I am guessing we will all be getting them soon, otherwise it will look ugly with 2 totally different types of windows.
AC's will probably all go below the window also. THANK YOU JOHN MARSH...
hold on, what? you haven't gotten replies on your complaints to dhcr?
i am sorry, you people are total suckers.
The conviction of Silver is the conviction of the entire NY system run by Cuomo and Schneiderman, Senators and city council for REBNY.
nypost.com/2015/01/25/democrats-defend-silver-because-they-profit-from-his-corrupt-system/
The big business consortium that calls itself the Partnership for New York is the only approval the Mayor cares about so the ferry at 20th is a done deal and the public process where voters are supposed to weigh in is a big joke after the fact.
Another done deal behind closed doors.
http://pfnyc.org/news_press/partnership-for-new-york-city-endorses-mayor-de-blasios-five-borough-ferry-service-plan/#more-4734
How are ya, STR? Haven't heard from you in a while. I hope you are relaxing and enjoying time with your family and that there is nothing wrong.
Wishing you all the very best!
Sorry, one more post re Associated. Guess who shops there as well? NY’s Bravest, the East 14th Street station. Can you see them at a Gracefully clone? Or a Walgreens?
>>How are ya, STR? Haven't heard from you in a while. I hope you are relaxing and enjoying time with your family and that there is nothing wrong.<<
Nothing wrong. Busy personal days. Thanks for asking.
Absolutely ridiculous how Firemen have to go food shopping together. FIREMEN!
11:34
The FDNY can just wait in line at Trader Joes... who cares if they miss an emergency call or ten!
So now the loss of Associated (it's inevitable) affects local senior citizens and the FDNY.
Great
Questions on the "Unity Pledge" have started coming up more and more, and I was hoping that maybe an attorney can chime in with what they think the legality of signing the document. It seems like is still speaking for the community based on this pledge from 2010, and MANY people do not want them as the collective voice of the community any longer.
http://www.stpcvta.org/flyers/unity/unity_pledge_10-068_r5.pdf
1) This pledge was created in 2010 when the TA thought it might be able to purchase and convert the property. The first bullet gives the TA the designation to negotiate on their behalf. My concern is that there is no time frame mentioned. Does the TA still believe that it can negotiate on behalf of the people that signed the unity pledge in 2010? Obviously they must think so, since they negotiated with Blackstone on our behalf.
2) Although it is not a legally binding document, can people individually revoke the Unity Pledge in writing to the TA? I believe that if people start doing that, the TA will get the hint that the people are not behind them.
>>Although it is not a legally binding document, can people individually revoke the Unity Pledge in writing to the TA?<<
Yes.
"2) Although it is not a legally binding document, can people individually revoke the Unity Pledge in writing to the TA? I believe that if people start doing that, the TA will get the hint that the people are not behind them."
I think they kind of got that message by now. Also, isn't the damage already done? Other than symbolism, what real utility would there be in doing this? Don't get me wrong, just tell me where to sign to revoke my name, I just don't see the point anymore.
Do you think the TA keeps a list of who signed their stupid Unity Pledge? I don't think I did, but you could get hoodwinked into signing it if you ask them a question on their website.
1.52 PM---"Absolutely ridiculous how Firemen have to go food shopping together. FIREMEN!"
You are fucking clueless. Are you a real New Yorker? Or some fly over state rube? They all shop together because they park the fire truck outside the store. If they get a call, then food shopping is over and the whole crew can then go back to the truck and take the call. I can’t believe this anti-FDNY post was made. DB say what?
1:52, what's ridiculous about that? You just moved here from Podunk.?
FDNY companies have to always be together if a call comes in. That's why if they leave the firehouse, for shopping, or just for a lunch break outside, they have to be with the truck and in full uniform. I've been at Pathmark when an alarm came in. They leave their stuff sitting in the cart and head out the door.
The TA Board could care less
Listening to upstairs tenants walk, run and drop things for hours whilst attempting to work. No carpets there. Not one. Fuck this - Sory but I'm going to look into subletting till the lease is up. Fuck this.
December 10, 2015 at 12:08 PM
The point is they showed they are not trustworthy to be a tenants voice at the places they list where they say they speak for you. They will either not speak up or they will do worse, they will negotiate an MCI where some tenants pay more than other tenants for the same major capital improvement. They divide the community when they did that.
"The TA Board could care less"
I think you mean the TA COULDN'T care less.
8 27 Podunk trolls are stupid as the day is long. Typical flyover.
http://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/government/6029-tenant-activists-trace-road-to-corruption-trials-eye-elusive-reform
2016 is an important voting year ...Mike McKee says.....
Preet is doing the heavy lifting. We need to vote out the rest.
STR, there's all kinds of juicy stuff going on while you are busy having fun! (joking)
Skelos has been found guilty and there is an interesting article in T&V about the llc racket.
Call legal until they are sick of you. Call PS safety EVERYTIME you here a noise and record it on your cell. If you need to call them 5 times in a row, DO IT!!This will work!!
Listening to upstairs tenants walk, run and drop things for hours whilst attempting to work. No carpets there. Not one. Fuck this
Blackstone, are you listening? THIS is the QOL elephant in the room that CW and TS pretends isn't there.
Day one, job one: Inspect and enforce the 80% carpet rule.
EditorialOpinion
Dean Skelos, Adam Skelos verdict proves the dysfunction of New York politics
December 11, 2015 2:34 PM
By The Editorial Board
if we want it to improve, we’ll have to make sweeping changes. We need election laws that create competitive races at every level. We need more disclosure, more transparency, more limits on contributions from anyone who has business in front of public entities. And we need to unseat any elected official who fights these changes. Because they’re working against the voters, and for their own pocketbooks.
And that’s gone on far too long.
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial/dean-skelos-adam-skelos-verdict-proves-the-dysfunction-of-new-york-politics-1.11218705
Cuomo and Schneiderman prepared for the Skelos and Silver convictions by making it harder for New Yorkers to hold them accountable just like the private businesses do. In other words, like every corporation, the cover up is always worse than the crime but hey, let's get better at the cover up.
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-and-attorney-general-schneiderman-partner-reduce-risk-litigation-against-new
SantaCon is an even bigger PoliticalCon - they could call it PolitiCon
Another fake out! New York Politicians are supporting Santa Con while they get headlines pretending to be against it.
Edmund Dunn comment on T&V exposes who is behind this Event Party which in turn exposes more politician's lies.
The politician's headlines opposing Santa Con is a con
The City and State government offices and the private business powers back Figment Party Events including Hoylman, Glen, and one of the many a newer named Partners who featured is with Hoylman in People Magazine and worked for Cuomo himself.
The City and State government backs Santa Con while the politicians pretend to oppose it with headlines while they deliberately achieve no results for residents.
Here are Figment Event party planner Santa Con Partners / sponsors / backers / brought to you by
http://www.figmentproject.org/partners
Basically every NYC government and private business organization including close friends of Hoylman who also worked with Cuomo at times, and including the water, air and loud noise polluter who is building a ferry stop at once peaceful quiet tree filled PCVST 20th street despite there being a ferry stop at 34th (which includes Speyer).
Louder, denser, drunker, higher - that is no quality of life. That is temporary 4 year college existence to grow out of - not to remain in for life.
Figment has very wealthy and powerful partners, including ones in government positions to end this Santa Con con.
But then what would the politicians do for headlines if they can't make our lives miserable then pretend to be outraged?
http://www.figmentproject.org/leadership
Don't bother getting upset, but instead get angry the politicians can put an end to this Event but refuse to do so.
How about the Tenants Association Board doing something useful and addressing these issues after wasting years on trying to buy this place
7:07 AM: this boozefest is partnered by several "cultural" agencies. What kind of culture is this? When did a boozy freak show become "cultural?"
Great 12/9/15 Yelp review. The STPCV Yelp link is on the right side of the STR banner page. We all need to swarm and click "Useful." And, per usual, click on the "Funny" for the BS reviews.
"I rarely write reviews but felt compelled in this case. This place is borderline ok but for the money you're better off looking somewhere else. If you live anywhere near the courts, you're screwed. The way the buildings were first built makes the sound travel directly into your apartment. That means every basketball game is played live in your apartment. All the shouting, yelling, etc. Good luck trying to relax after a long day of work. This is ESPECIALLY true of the tented courts they have during the cold weather months. Nice idea in theory, but completely inconsiderate programming. Saturday and Sunday early morning? You're not reading the newspaper and relaxing with your coffee...you're listening to people yell "GOALLLL" from the kids' soccer camp in the tented courts. Weekday nights? Don't plan on relaxing after work. All you will hear is yelling from people playing basketball until late at night (at least 9pm if not later). This is no exaggeration. Anywhere else in the city the cops would be called for a noise violation. I live on the 12th floor (which is the very top floor) and it's terrible. I can't imagine what it's like on lower level floors. I put on my TV to try and drown it out and that doesn't even work. They even have referees blowing their whistles! Again, nice idea in theory but 100% inconsiderate of the people who live there. And by the way, this isn't once in a while...it's EVERY DAY. No joke. Every. Single. Day. Will drive you insane. When making a complaint and asking for more considerate programming, they basically tell you to go pound sound. If they can make a buck off of that stuff, they don't care about your quality of life. Horrible management. Your money is better spent elsewhere. The noise from the courts is intolerable. Take my advice and spend your money somewhere else."
Citizens pension funds should be used for citizens quality of life eg infrastructure. Not for tall luxury towers for world wealthiest only. As in London so to New York. These towers are doing nothing for New Yorkers and everything against New Yorkers. They are fueling the overseas investment markets. So much for De Blasio being of the People.
Good article, good visuals, spells it all out. The Alicia Glen Bill De Blasio NYC built by Tishman Speyer Construction.
“These are silos of safety deposit boxes. They are doing nothing for London but fuelling the overseas investment market.”)
'A tortured heap of towers': the London skyline of tomorrow
The ley lines, the hallowed dome of St Paul’s, packs of hungry dogs – and a tipsy surveyor in the 1930s ... these are the invisible forces shaping the City’s skyline
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/dec/11/city-of-london-skyline-of-tomorrow-interactive
Besides laundering money and enriching overseas investors and blocking the sun, they create other hazards
"Besides blocking the sky, there will be consequences on the ground. After the Walkie-Talkie was found to create gusts of wind that can sweep people off their feet, it raises questions about the effect this new wall of giants standing shoulder-to-shoulder will have on just being able to walk down the street."
There exists no uniqueness between New York, London, any city. Why travel when it is all the same everywhere. Commercialization living tower pods like Hudson Yards New York leads to piss poor, bland design from a global perspective.
Their job is to improve our quality of life and instead they push us out of our homes and businesses while then improve their careers and profits for ABNY, Partnership for New York, Committee to Save New York, Rebny and Wall Street.
Our quality of life is gone.
Their profits are up.
Their careers are advancing.
Team Cuomo has to Go and be permanently banned from holding any public office anywhere ever.
Well, we really are a dorm. Everyone got a mailing today from some cryonics lab telling us that we can pay for Spring Break by selling our sperm. The code word to give at the lab is "STUY."
"dean-skelos-adam-skelos-verdict-proves-the-dysfunction-of-new-york-politics"
New York politics is not dysfunctional. What took place at PCVST over the last 10 years is living proof New York politics purposefully functions very well for billionaires, corporations and the politicians they buy and own.
The notion that ending an LLC loophole will stop billionaires and corporations showering money 24/7/365 over corrupt politicians betraying their constituents is like building a wall to stop illegal immigration and terrorism. Billionaires, corporations and corrupt politicians will find alternative ways to conduct their business as usual.
Convictions are insufficient. Examples need to be set. Silver and Skelos should be sentenced and should serve long prison sentences. New York politicians should be afraid to accept money showered on them 24/7/365 from billionaires and corporations ordering them to betray their constituents.
Preet must continue arresting and prosecuting corrupt New York politicians. If anything, he should step up the pace. Additionally, he shouldn't allow billionaires and corporations to portray themselves as extortion victims. Political corruption is a 2-way street. Speyer, Glenwood, Brookfield, Fortress, Blackstone, etc. should be afraid to meet and socialize with corrupt politicians offering to betray their constituents in exchange for money.
It took 10 years for billionaires, corporations and corrupt politicians betraying their constituents to destroy PCVST. An ongoing corrupt political culture makes it difficult pointing out a single corruption incident most responsible for destroying our historic community, but Bloomberg buying himself and Garodnick an unconstitutional 3rd term of office has to rank close to the top on the list.
A lot of news. The good news GUILTY by a jury of the People.
That sends the clearest message. We do not respect, like, or think the politicians are doing their job. So FIRED!
We should be able to fire them lore easily.
Thank you Preet Bharara for removing Silver and Skelos
Next the other two highest offices in the state!
Nothing but goons.
These dirt bags play games, using their political offices to play games with people's lives.
This is not a game.
It is our lives. Which the quality of our lives is put in the hands of political offices, and they are FAILING!
Dear Albany
It is not a game so we won't play with you.
Stop your loopholed, legal and illegal crimes you do to screw with our lives.
Our lives, small businesses, and homes are not yours for the stealing in your little-child games of real estate monopoly.
You have only begun to be found guilty, as there is more to come so as Mr Bharara says, Stay Tuned. And we are staying tuned to you dirty crooks and goons.
****
Albany is nothing more than goons who have the audacity to say they are innocent victims of the system - that they created! Bullshit.
We worked at companies who asked us to do unethical business things and always said no, even got fired for it. It is better to get fired from an unethical business then to partake in the unethical business and do bad things to innocent people, then hide and say "it wasn't me, it was the company policy. Politician's defense blaming the system is ridiculously stupid. A big load of crap defense. In other words, I cant do the right thing because they are paying me to do the wrong thing.
It is our lives they are screwing with for their own advancement to higher power offices funded by liars ball real estate thugs and wall street bullies - nothing more. Easy money, no great skills necessary because they steal properties, business and residential properties and trade them amongst each other moving billions of dollars in different company names but all the same players. The same people have worked in the management office under company names MetLife, Rose, Tishman Speyer, Compass Rock, and now the vaguest name of all "PCVST" which dos not indicate who is making payroll.
Silver and Skelos are nothing more than common criminals in expensive suits abusing offices of the American government that belong to the people
Albany is a bunch of slick-suited, unjustly enriched, classless "goons" who wage war games on tenants and small businesses to further the CTSNY, REBNY, ABNY and PNY.
GOONS - "a bully or thug, especially one hired to terrorize or do away with opposition"
Power does not corrupt. But it does attract the already corrupted.
Oh the Sunday News is good today.
Will the real cesspool please stand up...
The sense of entitlement by Skelos Silver all of Albany and even now with the Albany takeover of PCVST and some of the new stabilizer neighbors here is monumentally grotesque. No one is entitled to take another persons home. But New York is being taken over and rent stabilized tenants are being pushed out in large quantities.
Albany uses our homes as gifts to their moneybackers, as if it was theirs in the first place and they are entitled to take our homes, like we are so unimportant, beneath them, we really do not even exist in their clubby world.
Albany is the cesspool. Someone made the comment that this and truth blogs are a cesspool - that commentater is without a doubt up Albany's inglorious ass.
The last paragraph sums it up well. That absence of morality is what we have seen go down in PCVST and everywhere
It will keep occurring until the other two heads are indicted and in prison for their morally repugnant acts.
The whole article rinhs true, loud and clear. Especially this line that rings 100% true:
"There is a truism in play that nothing happens of any significance in political Albany without Cuomo's involvement."
You can be sure Cuomo has his hands in everything significant from Buffalo to Syracuse to SUNY to La Guardia to Hudson Yards to Stuyvesant Town to Nassau Suffolk.
I shiver at the thought of all the people this current regime has hurt
A lot of people are safer on Long Island and the lower east side NYC with Skelos and Silver now out.
http://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-local/article/LeBrun-Attitude-of-entitlement-in-Skelos-case-6694550.php
The thought that kept recurring to me was, how clueless are these people?
I suppose ultimately that proved to be the most disorienting, chilling, aspect of the Skelos revelations, how utterly matter-of-fact, business-as-usual, they felt about their totally out-of-bounds behavior.
They exhibited an arrogant and grotesque sense of entitlement, boundless and without conscience, oblivious to any moral standards. The definition of what's wrong, and remains wrong, with the darker side of the Albany political culture.
Not only do "The Courts" ruin the QOL with their noise, but those tents look like a fucking refugee camp. I expect UN choppers to start dropping food and relief packages onto the Oval (what WAS the Oval) any time now.
"The code word to give at the lab is "STUY."
ALERT! UPDATED AND CORRECTED!
The code word to give at the lab is "STY."
This management wants you to be intimidated and angry about noisy neighbors. If not they would post signs in all hallways on a continual basis.
GET CARPETS PEOPLE GET CARPETS YOU INCONSIDERATE BUNCH OF LOW LIFE LOSERS
A few months ago when I had an inspection of my apartment I told the 'inspector' that when Metlife owned/managed the property they checked that all apartments were in compliance with the 'carpet rule'. This inspector told me that they only inspect an apartment for carpet compliance if there are complaints against the offending tenant.
I told him if they were more proactive in carpet inspections many of these noise complaints would disappear. I also told him the reason they don't care about doing carpet inspections is the transient tenants they rent to these days.
I doubt Blackstone will be any different though they appear to 'care' with their surveys and full page ads in Town & Village. Of course the cynic in me will say that's just corporate nonsense to appease old-timers like myself!
At the end of the day Blackstone is here to make a tidy profit. Never forget that; they are not here to hold hands with us and sing kumbaya!
The billionaire and RE assholes who buy our corrupt politicians should be prosecuted. Bribery, extortion and corruption involve a giver/taker/giver/taker dynamic.
I hope that Blackstone makes Compass Rock turn over ALL their books for examination and let them see how they are spending the huge amount of rent they have been scooping in. They have been short hanging tenants by refusing to do even basic maintenance, as well as refusing to take care of emergency electrical and plumbing repairs. Somebody is lining their pockets at tenants' expense.
Never mind the skating rink and the refugee camp "Court" tenants, let's have this place run as a residential property where real people live and PAY THROUGH THE NOSE to live here,
Met Life never posted signs in all the hallways reminding people of the carpet rule. That's ridiculous. A sign in the halwaay isn't going to enforce compliance, inspections and consequences will. The best consequences would be financial penalties, add a rider to every lease that states that if the situation is not promptly corrected, there will be penalty fees added to the rent invoice. As it is, even IF management wanted to enforce the rules, the only recourse they have is non-renewal of the lease. And since most of the offenders are short-termers, they can thumb their noses at management, and their neighbors.
TS never enforced the rules because they were bleeding red ink and desperate to get renters. CW never gave a shit about anything because they were only temporary custodians and all they wanted was to rake in fees. Hopefully, hopefully, as the new owners are in it for the long haul, they will be more concerned with QOL issues.
The calling Security for noise problem neighbors is a total bull cRap cop out for the landlord. It was 1 am and 7 am and you don't believe me? You have to come into my apartment with my babies sleeping at 1 am , half naked , to prove to me the fucking tools living above us have no carpets? Are you fudking for real. These assholes pledge this bullshit to do absolutely dick squat nothing unless........ it's a money issue. then they are on you like white on rice. In a NY minute, if you are a day late or less, bam a huge late fee and more. fucking assholes here. leaving this pig stuy soon and posting it all on SM.
I agree with signs. Perhaps there are dumb, ignorant insensitive folks who forgot to stop playing ball in their apartments?
Rs long timer here and you're wrong. To dis enforce carpet rules. Had offenders above us get full on wall to wall. Stop lying
YES YES YES TO SIGNS. Reminder: Be mindful of neighboring tenants. Carpet all main rooms PRE INSPECTION.
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