The Stuyvesant Town Report: July 2018

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Rise and Shine!

Photo taken this morning....

And a blast from the past (not that long ago, either):

Monday, July 30, 2018

Thursday, July 26, 2018

https://stuytowntenantsadvocacy.blogspot.com/

A "David" at this point. But it will get bigger. No dues. And, for now, no comments there, please. Some of us wish to remain anonymous.

I am doing its blog chores, but my personal page and the comments and photos will stand and continue. But this "David" is there, too. Just bookmark it.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Unbelievable!

It was drizzling. Weather bad. Yet the films continued.

You know, I will not be surprised any more. There is laughter, a shaking of the head, for sure. After the shark was jumped already, what more is there?

Photos of the second film showing:

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Welcome to Stuyvesant Town. Have a Great Day!

Continued. Later in the day.

7/21 update:

7/24 update:

Later in the day, one mattress was not leaning against a tree anymore. I guess someone needed to take a rest.

Update, some day as before. Position of the mattresses changed! And the photo was taken 7:52 PM. Mattresses still there!

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Daily Sight

Every day. I would be shocked if there was one day in which the loops were free of tossed out furniture and open mattresses.

Monday, July 16, 2018

Wake-Up Call Before 6:30 AM

So this morning, I was awakened by a loud, very loud pounding noise coming from the 20th Street loop. I looked outside and saw the outline of a light from near the corner. Oh, it must be after 8am and work has started already, I thought. But as I checked the kitchen clock, I saw it was 6:23am. Okay, STR has to do his thing and take photos. Sigh.... I took a quick shower, got dressed, and went outside with my camera. The workers had left. But, aside from the very early wake-up call, I saw this....

You will note that I saw on the left side, a discarded sofa, etc. It was there yesterday. So it wasn't picked up expeditiously at all, this being the next day. On the right was "the hole." I assume the loud pounding noise came from there. The workers were already gone. And then I saw something we are all familiar with: unpicked dog do-do. Then, a bit later, I saw those signs informing us to have a "great day" and, eh, a shot of other "things" before them.

Friday, July 13, 2018

This Sunday - Oval Greek Orgy!

As residents know, we have this Sunday a special world cup soccer-watching game on our huge monitor to annoy everyone who lives around the Oval and wants "peace and quiet." Sure you can watch this game at home, or maybe in a pub, but what good is that when you can watch this game sitting your ass on the grass or in our new cruise ship chairs. Don’t let the complainers get to you. Shout and scream all you want. Enjoy! Really enjoy! Sure, soccer is not a sport we Americans favor and no American team is involved, but what the hell, it is all about our community spirit.

Now, get this, starting at sundown, when the kiddies are all asleep after being puckered out with all the events we have in store for them, we will have our first Oval Greek Orgy! Yes, due to many requests, we will have these events for adults only, but also in honor of our big boss, Stephen A. Schwarzman, who goes to the Greek Islands frequently to party and dress up and spend millions of dollars. Last time, he dressed as Aristotle Onassis!... Forget R7 zoning. We’ve already forgotten it!... By nighttime, Public Safety won’t be around anyway. Are they ever around when it gets dark? Ha, ha.

Stuy Town T-Shirts will be given away, for sure. But, if you lose your T-Shirt... Well, what happens in Stuy Town stays in Stuy Town. That we know! Ha, ha.

So, eh, come and enjoy. Don’t forget, this Sunday. Our first Oval Greek Orgy!

Yours very sin-cerely,

Stuyvesant Town Paradise Forever

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Deck Chairs Are Now At The Oval

Gumby must be working overtime. I thought that the shark couldn't have jumped more, but, boy, was I wrong! Spotted this morning at the Oval--white deck chairs! Yes, for those who jokingly made reference to our dear Rick operating a cruise ship in Florida. Well, your joke has turned into reality! Yes, deck chairs are now at the Oval!

Why stop there? As we know from cruise ships, there has been service for those that occupy those chairs. And we know that Five Stuy Cafe is just aching to make money. Deck chairs, service, those cooling drinks....

Inside the new Five Stuy Cafe. Getting ready for the masses at the Oval.

Enjoying all the amenities that the Oval offers. Music, movies, deck chairs, artisanal food, drinks...

Part of Management's Stuy Town Resident Service. Here's looking at you!

Our masseuses are expert at getting out the kinks. (STR has first dibs!)

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Stuy Music

Packing them in! Photos taken around 6:30 to 7:00pm

All comments to posts have to await approval. Approval does not happen immediately. NOTE: Comments reflect the opinions of the person writing them and should not be assumed to reflect the opinion of the blog.

FALSEHOOD: No one has won against our landlord in court. Our landlord, this case Blackstone, would like nothing better than for residents to think that anything legal is hopeless. Management wants residents to go away on certain issues and be forever quiet. The "fact" that no one has won in court is a FALSEHOOD. I know of an individual who won in court when she proved that her ST apartment had loud noises outside that prevented her from doing her job, which took place in said apartment. Also, please remember that the new rents laws passed in NY and landlords are not pleased. Also, remember that there was a case, about the tax break J-51, where the landlords charged more than they should have. The landlords had to pay up. (Of course, they crafted the situation to their advantage, but that is another issue.) The fact remains that you, as a resident of Stuy Town, have legal recourse, but you need documentation, the more documentation, the better.

Management has two priorities: 1) Making sure money is made, hence upgrading and filling up apartments is their goal. "Amenities" are important in selling the place, though few residents use them. 2) If someone needs medical attention, Public Safety will be there, if alerted.

Quality of life issues are not that important, however. Things like the carpet rule or outsider dogs. These "rules" tend to be ignored, on purpose it seems. So you will see a lot that isn't taken care of properly, and complaints will be met with a creative excuse and a smile.

Though money was always important, it is now more important than ever. Money rules many things, as you will find.

At this point, 30 years into living here and seeing many things, I can state that Management and their reps are BS-ing us. I can't say that loudly enough: We are being BS-ed. I don't see any genuine change, though the "selling" of this place is intense. Few of the "rules" will be enforced, as Management doesn't want to lose customers or potential customers. Where personal integrity is a hallmark of an excellent management style, this integrity is not seen in enforcing some of the rules.

Our Tenants Association is, basically, null and void. Oh, it is still around, but it lacks the will power to confront much of anything. The TA will ask for your dues, however. By now, the TA is a charade.

Life in Stuy Town

I write this on May 3, 2018: Since this year, there have been three suicides in ST/PCV. Aside from silence by almost everyone, there occurred a suicide where sulfuric acid was used and the city had to be called in, including the Fire Dept. As of now, there has been a general state of silence about this suicide, even though other resident lives were at danger. Yes, our councilperson is silent. The TA is silent. Obviously, Management is silent, too.

Added April 29, 2019: Another suicide in ST/PCV. That we know of.

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"We'll be introducing a new process to identify registered dogs thus enabling Public Safety Officers to clearly approach offending dog owners. The registration will hang from the leash handle; clearly identifying the dog as registered.

"If the dog is not registered by May 1; a summons will be issued at the point of contact. If we learn the dog owner is not a resident, they will be escorted off the property."

Rick Hayduk, CEO and General Manager of PCVST. Letter to Barry Shapiro, February 2016.

STR here: I have been around since the inception of this dog policy and I have NEVER seen anyone escorted out of ST or PCV with their non-lanyard dog. But I have seen, many times, a dog owner from outside, and his/her dog, casually walking through ST or PCV.

BICYCLES, MOPEDS, SCOOTERS, ETC.

What is legal?

Something for everyone to read:

Motorized vehicles:

The direct link:

https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/motorized-devices-cannot-be-registered-new-york

And...

Of course, "private property" but "public access" - whatever that means! And if a part of it is public access, do the rules of the city apply to our roads and sidewalks? Or does anything give because this complex is "private property"? Who comes here in case of a fire in one of our buildings? The Stuy Town Fire Brigade?

Hint: Look both ways if you are in the complex. Look on the ground, too!

61.03 Control of dogs and other animals to prevent nuisance.
(a) A person who owns, possesses or controls a dog, cat or other animal shall not permit the animal to commit a nuisance on a sidewalk of any public place, on a floor, wall, stairway, sidewalk, lawn, garden or roof of any public or private premises used in common by the public, or on a fence, wall [or], stairway or entranceway of a building abutting on a public place

Banned & Oversize Dog Breeds in Stuy Town

Message from now EX-Landlord Rob Speyer to Stuy Town & Peter Cooper Tenants 11/06

I am writing on behalf of everyone at Tishman Speyer to express how honored we are to become part of your outstanding community. We are a business with deep roots in New York, a true love of our city and a great respect for the neighborhoods that make it special. We are committed to maintaining the unique character and environment that have made Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town such a wonderful place to live for so long. We look forward to providing you an extraordinary level of service and attentiveness that will be the source of pride and satisfaction for the entire community.

Neighborhood Recommendations

New to Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village? Here are some basic recommendations.

Best gym: Don't waste your money on the Oval Fitness Gym. Instead go to the earthy but real Asser Levy Recreational Center, right above 23rd St on Asser Levy Place (near the FDR Drive). $75 for a year's membership; seniors are almost free. Contains seasonal indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ping-pong table, two pool tables. Called by some rich people who wouldn't get caught going there "the prison gym," and you know why.

A Stuy Town favorite is Lenz's on 20 St. between the 20 St. Loop. The way New York used to be. Be careful of unwanted "pepper" in your food, however. Lenz's got a B grade rating and was temporarily closed down due to an order from the Health Department. Bruno's on First Avenue is more upscale, with a greater selection of food items (higher-priced, too), but was closed down temporarily by the Health Department. Stuy Town's own cafe was closed, too! And not because of all the dogs that hover and piss outside.

Gracefully has two locations, but we prefer for its size the one on 1st Ave. Prices are high and reflect the new tenants that are currently renting Stuy Town and Peter Cooper apartments. ("Do you have a credit card?") We like Gracefully's lunch specials, which are somewhat affordable.

I priced the CVS on 1st Ave near 14st. The non-aerosol hairspray was 20 cents above CVS' own website price, and one of the highest in NY. (Yes, I have hair.) You can save at least a dollar or more buying at another place. So beware. Look around for a better deal on all your items.

I love warm Quaker Oats in the morning. Gristedes is not the place to get it, nor is Associated, though their price is less. Look around!

The Stuyvesant Town Report