Friday, November 29, 2019

We Interview the Woman Who Screams


The TA inadvertently published a recent photo of a Stuy Town resident screaming "There's no heat!" while the woman next to her (also a resident) is looking thru Stuy Town garbage for anything to eat. As we here at the STR blog are very curious about this scene, we searched for the first woman and found her walking around the Oval, as she was careful not to get run over by a speeding bicycle or scooter.

Me: Is that you?

Yes, I can't take this place anymore. And I'm a new resident that's paying $7,000 a month for a renovated one-room IKEA apartment.

Wow, that's a lot. I didn't know that rents go up that high.

Sure do, even though they say I am a rent-stabilized tenant like everyone else. And now Gracefully is charging $5 for a small cup of coffee. Necessary price increase, Gracefully says.

But you go to Associated?

Closed. I'm still going to the East River to drink water and catch a fish and wash clothes, but the East River Park will be closed soon, while they raise it 2 inches.

All of it?

Yes, all of it., but we have to fight global warming. At least that's what they say, but I'm suspicious of those planned high-rises along the East River that they're going to build.

So what are your options?

Don't tell anyone, but I am forced to do AirBnb because I can't afford the rent anymore. Luckily, our Public Safety department looks the other way on most things.

Boy, you're in a tough situation.

That's why I screamed. I hope I didn't wake you?

No, you didn't. I'm used to noise by now, living near the new subway extension on 14th Street. Human screaming is nothing compared to the jack-hammering that's going on. 

I admit that I went to Management's s'mores event and gobbled what I could. Thank God for small favors.

*     *     *

With that, the woman hustled over to the new Veteran 's Memorial, where, despite no real trees, she found many empty spaces to sit and rest.

Yes, thank God for small favors.

101 comments:

Heatless Hattie said...

O'kind and Benevolent Squire, Master Rick, thank you so much for the heat this chilly morn, me and my little ones are so appreciative of your goodness.
Why, it's a "toasty" 64 degrees in my bedroom.
But the pipes are ice cold.
The Reverend says the legal minimum is 68.
He must be mistaken.
He says you surely wouldn't turn down the fires simply to save a few shillings.
Is that true?
Please, Master Risk, the babies are cold and crying.
Please, Master Rick, a little heat!

Anonymous said...

I was woken at 1:30 am by the sound of a bunch of braying drunken bros. One of them started to vomit. Loudly retching and retching. What a joy it is living here in this filthy, nasty, noisy, cold dorm. Fuck you Hayduk and all your lies and treachery. Go destroy lives and living conditions somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

Everywhere I go these days I hear about the lack of heat in the Sty. I hear tenants discussing it in Associated (the cashiers all know we live in misery), when I run into neighbors in the Street and at the Post Office, at CVS. Stydwellers (especially those who have lived here for many years) are always running into each other locally. The conversation is always about the lack of heat and the latest outrage: the removal of directories.
Theories as to why this is happening to us all seem to revolve around the core theory: they want us long time tenants to die and then they will tear down the property and build a Battery Park type of development. They only want transients and students at this point in time. Renters don't stay long because even breaking their lease is preferable to continuing to pay through the nose to live in such a horrible place.
This is Blackstone at work and don't tell me that our local politicians and the TA didn't know what they were letting us in for when they sold this place to Blackstone. We will remember at the ballot box and if I get one more email from that despicable outfit that calls itself a TA asking me for $50, I will have a two-word response for them. You can guess what it will be.

Anonymous said...

In case anyone has any doubt as to the depth and scope of Blackstone's evil:

https://www.propublica.org/article/this-doctors-group-is-owned-by-a-private-equity-firm-and-repeatedly-sued-the-poor-until-we-called-them?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=

Anonymous said...

At least a Battery Park type development features apartments worth the money . Studios and one bedrooms are not much more than market rate in this dump. Of course people will not pay that to live here in the tenement. Hence the dorms.

Anonymous said...

I had the revolting smell of pot from the bro’s downstairs. Disgusting. Must have slept well because usually I hear the braying hordes.

Anonymous said...

Your frantic pleading falls on deaf ears and you can be sure the evil squire and his loved ones are far away from Freezing New York City and are enjoying some sun-baked resort.
Resorts are Rick’s specialty. He is out of his element running [at least trying to run] a massive apartment complex in New York City. He hasn’t got a clue!

Anonymous said...

Master Rick is too busy preparing for his tree lighting and s’more roast.No time for heat adjustments. The sire has events to emcee.

Anonymous said...

I too will remember at the ballot box. And as for that despicable TA, I have the same two word response to them.

Anonymous said...

I seem to remember in that blurb about Hayduk's new enterprise in S. Carolina it said that he commutes between NY and wherever that place is. I wonder how much time he spends here doing his day job? I doubt that he has the slightest interest in what is happening here and how miserable he makes us and how unpopular he is. He's just passing through.
Let's hope he takes off permanently and they replace him with a real Manager who actually cares about tenants and doesn't talk down to them with that slick, smarmy smirk. I have the horrible feeling though that he is probably stereotypical of the breed that Blackstone hires.

Anonymous said...

You will not get any better manager from this company. For the hundredth time, he represents the company . As long as they own us, we will continue to get managers like him.

Anonymous said...

Hayduk is not all that unpopular with some long time tenants and cheerleader moms. He is criticized , rightfully so only on this blog. You would be surprised how he has some people snowed under. A real PR man and not a nice one.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Ebeneezer Hayduk gave some of us lots of heat today. Were there too many calls to 311 or are they just throwing some morsels to the crowd. In any case, it was heavenly.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>You will not get any better manager from this company. For the hundredth time, he represents the company . As long as they own us, we will continue to get managers like him.<<

I don't disagree. He does a good job. For Blackstone.

Anonymous said...

Hayduk’s family doesn’t live here any longer. They moved to South Carolina last year. He travels down there regularly to see them.


Stuy Town Reporter said...

BTW, that sitting bench outside Associated is gone.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>Hayduk’s family doesn’t live here any longer. They moved to South Carolina last year. He travels down there regularly to see them.<<

I suspected something of the sort. It would be nice to get an "official" post on this, from either Rick or Property Services.

Anonymous said...

I wish Hayduk would go join his family. We need a property manager with experience in running apartment complexes. What we have is a former events director who worked at various resorts. I can't imagine why they hired him for the job because he clearly is not interested in it. He is more interested in his cause down South (noble as it may be) and he doesn't give a flying fuck about how he is ruining people's lives here. It's true that Blackstone is the most money-hungry and evil corporation in the world, but they still could find a better manager than Hayduk. We need someone who isn't juggling other balls like Hayduk is. He probably spends more time working on his project in Carolina than he does working on his day job. What does he do other than plan dumb events and make tenants' lives miserable?

Ripping out the directories is against the law and I hope that comes back to bite him in the ass. Where are our politicians on this matter? Where are they on the fact that we have no heat most of the winter? My apartment is as cold as Schwarzman's heart today.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

And the person replacing Hayduk would be? I know what you mean, but we could get a property manager who is far, far worse. At least Hayduk smiles.

Anonymous said...

STR, we could also get one who is better than Hayduk. It's a crap shoot either way. Crap being the operative word.;-)

Anonymous said...

You’re still not getting it - he wasn’t brought in to run an apartment complex, he was brought in to run a resort, which is exactly what he’s doing. Blackstone has exactly the right man in the position for what they want done around here, so you’re wasting your breath with your continued posts about how he’s the wrong person to manage this place.

Anonymous said...

"And the person replacing Hayduk would be? I know what you mean, but we could get a property manager who is far, far worse. At least Hayduk smiles."

You surprised me STR. A property manager manager equally as bad but didn't smile would at least have some integrity. So yes, it would be better.

Anonymous said...

“It would be nice to get an "official" post on this, from either Rick or Property Services.”

I depise Rick Hayduk, who is willing to do Blackstone’s money hungry, destructive-of-community-safety-and-sanity bidding, but his personal life is none of your business. Just like your personal life is no one’s businesses, unless you elect to make it so. What he does in his free time is up to him. And even if Hayduk leaves, whoever they replace him with will continue to do Blackstone’s evil bidding. Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

Anonymous said...

On Friday and Saturday my thermometer was registering between 75 to 77 degrees for the entire day and evening, even opened windows. On Thanksgiving, it was off and on with the heat. This morning, heat didn't come up till after 8am and as quickly as it came on it went off and has been off ever since. Are they doing this to torture us? Sure seems like it! Karma is a bitch!

Anonymous said...

Please get real. They DO NOT want to find another manager. He does their bidding. Stop hoping for a replacement . What makes you think a replacement would be any different. Absurd.

Anonymous said...

"And the person replacing Hayduk would be? I know what you mean, but we could get a property manager who is far, far worse. At least Hayduk smiles."

You're probably right, STR. Probably better to be lied to with a smile than a scowl, and there's always the possibility that a different manager would make those crappy events mandatory and would take attendance!

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>I depise Rick Hayduk, who is willing to do Blackstone’s money hungry, destructive-of-community-safety-and-sanity bidding, but his personal life is none of your business. Just like your personal life is no one’s businesses, unless you elect to make it so.<<

Yes, and Hayduk elected to make it his business, and so did I make my life open on another site. We, the residents, were told by the higher-ups that one good thing is that Hayduk and family live here. That was one of the selling points via Blackstone. Also the post I saw was an open post about Hayduk electing to develop something down south. Repeating: It was not a private post, as were the photos of him. I don't see what the problem is. As a matter of fact, I applaud Hayduk for what he is doing and what his plans are. Now, I am not demanding that he or ST post something. But, eventually, it would be nice to hear something official.

Anonymous said...

Among 30 thousand residents, someone must have a connection to someone in the media--a friend of a friend who's a journalist, something like that. Can we not get some kind of recognition of the VAST levels of anger and dissatisfaction among the majority of residents--those staying longer than two years, that is.

What I really want to know is who at Blackstone has been paying the NYT to run all those puff pieces over the years, and how big the handouts were, to make the NYT run basically advertising as "journalism."

I suspect it is somehow connected to diblasio as well. The NYT blindly cheers him on as liberal propaganda move. We have to rely on the post for the true story of that stabilized "affordable" rental unit scam that he pushed through. It is disgusting that the NYT didn't report on that

Anonymous said...

I applaud him for nothing and could care less about his plans.

Anonymous said...

I suppose we could get worse, but what I despise most about Hayduk is his hypocrisy and benevolent facade. A phony veneer of caring and communicating. He actually just tunes residents out while pretending to listen to concerns. His phony sense of community talk is sickening.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

At the TA Facebook page, I read about the ice rink incident. Long post, but worth it. There are two sides to every story, but if reported accurately....

Anonymous said...

I really don't care what Hayduk does in his personal life, and most of the things he does here just make me shake my head and wonder if he doesn't have anything better to do (the banal events, etc.) but when he took down the directories from the lobbies and intercoms THEN I felt and still feel personally violated. It seems to me to be a borderline fascist thing to do. I don't buy the expense nonsense or the too much work nonsense. We are legally entitled to have those directories up and running. I know the place is about 50% dorms, but that should not take away from the real tenants a right that we have. If Hayduk can't manage to keep the directories updated, then he should look for another job. This one is clearly one that he is not up to.

This is NOT a hotel and it shouldn't be a dorm. It is a residential apartment complex and as we have no doormen, we are legally entitled to have directories of names and apartment numbers available. Enough of this "good neighbor" crap when we are not even allowed to know who our neighbor is. This is going to cause all kinds of problems and possibly loss of life when EMT crews are called. It also makes it easy for all kinds of shady deals to be going on behind anonymous doors. Remember sulphuric acid boy? We never did hear any more about that and what he was up to, though I suspect tenants in that building know and are being warned to keep their mouths shut. We know there is drug dealing, hookers doing business and god knows what going on here. Maybe those folks want to be totally anonymous. But for normal, law-abiding citizens who call this place home we have an absolute right to have our names and apartment numbers on a publicly-displayed directory. I have already let in a couple of people who were visiting friends on Thanksgiving and they knew the name (and I knew the people too), but were not sure of the apartment number. They were elderly and were squinting into the intercom, looking for names that are no longer there.

When Hayduk starts treating us with respect, I will have respect for him. If he runs his side ventures as badly as he runs this place, I pity his investors and all involved. He is not professionally qualified to run an apartment complex and doesn't have the skills to do so. THIS IS NOT A HOTEL OR RESORT. IT IS OUR HOMES.

Anonymous said...

Maybe if Hayduk's family actually lived in this dump he'd care a bit more about the quality of life and our safety.

Anonymous said...

"At the TA Facebook page, I read about the ice rink incident. Long post, but worth it. There are two sides to every story, but if reported accurately...."

I read that too. The Stalinist rink monitor should have been wearing a name badge, as is the norm in such venues. For the outraged mom to call 911 was ridiculous. She should have been arrested for that - unless Ms Stalin or anybody else was threatening or employing physical harm to her or anyone in her group.

This place gets worse all the time. It's a major shithole and was much better before the Rink and all the other tawdry crap.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>What I really want to know is who at Blackstone has been paying the NYT to run all those puff pieces over the years, and how big the handouts were, to make the NYT run basically advertising as "journalism."<<

The Real Estate section is where I see these puff pieces.

Stand Up and Fight said...

The meeting with an organization which might be able to help, or at least advise, us, is rescheduled for this Thursday (December 5th). I was initially going to speak principally about heating problems, along with removal of directories.

IF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO LIST OUR MISERIES HERE, PRIOR TO THURSDAY MORNING, WITH A DEGREE OF REASONABLE SPECIFICITY, I WOULD BE PLEASED TO ADD THEM TO THE MATTERS I'LL BE DISCUSSING AT THE MEETING.

Thank you. And be safe during the coming snow and other precipitations!

Stuy Town Reporter said...

My focus is the rules here that are always broken and those in authority ignore, but they say publicly they don't. Uncovered mattress outside (against the law), "golf" carts being driven from PCV to ST and back (against the law), and, of course, outside dogs being walked in ST and PCV. These rules (a couple are city rules) are ignored by the higher-ups and Public Safety.

Other things that are bothersome: Ice Rink noise, leaf blowers, resident dogs that are clearly over the weight limit, etc.

It you look at it, this place is a mess, though there are good things, too.

Anonymous said...

I try to think of good things now but it is hard. My rent is good because I have been here a long time, and service for maintenance. Other than that I cannot think of anything. Even the grounds which looked nice are deteriorating. The retail situation is terrible around here. Sad, cannot think of much.

Anonymous said...

@ Stand Up and Fight

Thank you for what you are trying to do to help tenants fight against our $$$ driven, callous owner and management.

Uncovered or inadequately covered apartment floors is a serious negative quality of life, noise issue that should be included. Tenants’ leases include a provision requiring that 80% of floors be covered with rugs or carpeting to prevent noise from traveling to neighbors’ apartments and Blackstone’s non-enforcement or ineffective enforcement of this provision is responsible for much of the unnecessary misery that too many tenants experience here. I think that it could be reasonably argued that the non-enforcement of this provision can even amount to a form of constructive eviction. Over the years, there have been numerous complaints about noise due to lack of floor covering on the TA and the other tenants’ FB pages and one person said that it was so bad for her and her family that she was forced to move out of her apartment and off of the property entirely.

Thanks, again, and good luck on Thursday.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

How could I forget? How remiss of me! We have a TA that is working tirelessly on our behalf. And (an important point) they have a seat at the table! They said so themselves.

Don't forget to support the TA with a $50 check.

Anonymous said...

What happened at the rink? I couldn't find anything on the TA facebook page.

Anonymous said...

That incident in which the skating rink manager would not let the boy use the aid equipment was ridiculous. They don’t enforce any rules around here and why clamp down when the boy clearly needed the walker. Besides, that rink is a zoo. They allow kids to race into people and carry on. I stopped skating there because I was afraid of kids knocking me down. As for contacting Hayduk that is another joke. He will apologize and continue to let this place run wild. He is certainly no rule enforcer. I have to laugh when anyone says to contact that hypocrite.

Anonymous said...

I wish somebody could help us with this abusive landlord. No heat, no directories, constant noise. I feel that all my human rights are being stripped away since Blackstone took over this place. It is very, very depressing. Ripping out the directories was the final insult. I feel violated. It's like they're saying "this is not your home. we can do anything we like and there is nothing you can do about it."

Older people are going to feel more and more marginalized and on their own without even having their name in a directory, especially if there is an emergency. I think Management wants more older people to kill themselves, or at least they don't care if they do. The directories are very, very important. If an ambulance comes and isn't sure of your apartment number or you fall on the street and can only give your name or have only your name on you, they won't know where you live in the building. This is a deliberate and calculated violation of our rights and so dangerous to some of the more vulnerable. It's bad enough never being able to be really warm during the winter and having to keep the oven on.

Anonymous said...

They were talking about Penn South housing on the TA site and some cheerleader cited that they don’t have the amenities and security that we do and that it is dirty. Is she kidding? What amenities! What security! And this place is filthy with low lifes living here. Can’t believe that they view this crap here as amenities.

Anonymous said...

Someone on the Tenants fb page said her apartment was 51 degrees last night. Of course, the Cheerleader-in-Chief chimed in that she had to run her air conditioner overnight. How's that for empathy? She's always got to chime in with a smug remark - when she's not working on how to beat the system.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>What happened at the rink? I couldn't find anything on the TA facebook page.<<

It's there last I checked. A very long story, to summarize a mom wanted her older kid to use a walker, as he is just learning how to skate. The person in charge said it was against policy and also refused to give her name when asked. The incident developed from there.

Anonymous said...

1 46? who?

Anonymous said...

Lower the rent I'll be happy in a colder apartment with a lower rent. Help us and we'll help you.

Anonymous said...

Yes, that one always has an answer. A real phony. Probably gets heat at management behest.

Anonymous said...

“Someone on the Tenants fb page said her apartment was 51 degrees last night. ”

WRONG. The person said the temperature was 61 degrees, which is bad enough and also illegal, but let’s try to get the facts straight on this page. It doesn’t help the cause when incorrect information is posted here.

Anonymous said...

Follow up to my post a few days ago (not sure which thread it was) about the security deposit and going to Yelp if you want to get it back. Another case in point just happened - person gave one star and blasted Stuy about nickel and diming them with the deposit. Peter wrote this person and now this person has gotten his security back and changed it to a 5-star review. How very predictable this outfit has become.

To all struggling to get their deposit back - YELP, YELP, YELP!

Anonymous said...

Went shopping in Associated tonight. So sad that store is closing. Shena, one of the Managers was there, and told the cashiers to give everybody 10% off the total. Maybe that's to compensate a bit for there being no sales there now. I don't think any of the cashiers or managers have something to go to and to be tossed out of work before Christmas is brutal. I asked one of the managers if they got any severance pay from the owners and she said they don't. It's brutal. Really brutal. Corporate America at its worst. I was going to go to the Associated on Avenue C, but I don't feel like giving any loyalty to a company that treats its employees so badly. Probably, all supermarkets are owned by the same shitty type of people.

It is going to be such a loss to so many people - people who work there and those of us who shop there. I hate ordering food online. I like to look at it, squeeze the veggies and fruits and bread and sniff the packages of chicken and meat! Also, I just enjoy shopping and often run into neighbors in Associated.

Whoever is responsible for this sad even should have a rotten Christmas and miserable New Year.

Anonymous said...

"It's there last I checked. A very long story, to summarize a mom wanted her older kid to use a walker, as he is just learning how to skate. The person in charge said it was against policy and also refused to give her name when asked. The incident developed from there."

When Blackstone loses a “Stuyvesant moms” Face Book page member, the ground zero of the demo who love all of the Carnival Cruise crap here, well, one can one say?

Anonymous said...

She always has her two cents in about everything, but never blames management, just claims things are failures and crows about her heat. If I weren’t banned I would answer her back,.

Anonymous said...

These bloodsuckers really have the balls to think we would want to refer a friend to live in this place. They're as stupid as they are greedy!

Anonymous said...

Blackstone is responsible

Anonymous said...

Re: Whoever is responsible for this sad even should have a rotten Christmas and miserable New Year.

Blackstone and its greedy, greedy CEO Steven Schwarzman are responsible, in large measure. The owners of Associated were willing to renovate the store, if they were given a reasonable, long term lease. Instead of helping Associated to stay, Blackstone tried to get more expensive Morton Williams to take over that space. Morton Williams backed out when they heard that Trader Joe’s was moving in across the street. However, even knowing that, Associated was willing to stay. And still Blackstone and its greedy, greedy CEO Steven Schwarzman did nothing to help them stay.

Blackstone and its greedy, greedy CEO Steven Schwarzman don’t care about this community or about us having a decently priced supermarket. They are vile, indecent, narcissistic sociopaths. Period. End of story.

Anonymous said...

Although, I will miss the convenience of Associated, I still believe that they had twenty or so years to fix that store up and let it become rundown. I do wish Morton Williams had come in, because we do need a good supermarket there in that location. Am hoping Trader Joe opens sooner than later.

Anonymous said...

A couple of week ago I was chatting to a neighbor in the laundry room and she told me about some exercise classes she goes to for people with arthritis. She told me her name and apartment number and invited me to go with her next time. I can remember her name because it is the same as my maiden name, but have forgotten her apartment #. Now I have to go through the whole damned building, looking at door plates. Soon they will stop putting names on door plates. Thanks Rick, you stupid d*** for thwarting good neighbor interactions by making ripping out the directories and trying to make this dump the dwellings of the anonymous.

Rick, please go back to your crappy resorts world job and stop trying to be Manager of a major apartment complex where people actually live and aren't here just for a vacation. And spare us the cutsie "Chief Elf" "Chief Goblin" SHIT. We are not impressed. THIS IS NOT A RESORT. WE LIVE HERE. YOU ARE HURTING US. GO AWAY!

Anonymous said...

Reading through the information on Rick’s business venture in Clemson, SC, I would say with 95% certainty that Rick will be leaving Stuy Town in the very near future. His partners in the deal are investors/developers, meaning they don’t do management and will either expect Rick to take that role or they will need to hire management. No business venture would be ok with paying for management of the project when one of the partners is more than capable of doing the management themselves, especially in a super small market like Clemson.

He’s done his damage here and the time has come for him to move on to something that actually means something to him, and where he will be able to help those in need, unlike the destruction he caused here.

Anonymous said...

Why is the TA advertising internships to some Life Sciences Internship? Why don't they work as a tenants association instead of these sidelines? Isn't "life sciences" a polite way of describing gruesome testing on animals?

Anonymous said...

What a fu*king freak show!
Go away, Rick.
Go to Florida, Susan.
Taking the name directory down is insane.
No heat.
Brown water.
Pot smoking braying bros.
Urine in the elevator.
Dog sh*t in the stairwells.
Carpeting?...You gotta be kidding.
Shall I continue?

Anonymous said...

"Why is the TA advertising internships to some Life Sciences Internship? Why don't they work as a tenants association instead of these sidelines? Isn't "life sciences" a polite way of describing gruesome testing on animals?"

Also this is really not part of their mandate. But that never stopped them before. From their FB page:

"Members, Volunteers, Supporters of the Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association. An association that promotes affordable housing, a stable and safe community in which people of moderate means can live and raise families for generations to come."

Anonymous said...

It certainly is not a resort. I don’t even liken it to one. Resorts are clean, fancy and have many real amenities.I don’t care for his style of management either but if he goes we will just get another puppet like him. He carries through policies. Some may be his but others including the overwhelmingly disgusting dorm, transient, and city subsidy renting come from above.

Anonymous said...

@ Stand up and Fight

I just want to add to the directory discussion, this "opt in" is utter BS. There needs to be either a building directory, or names on doors--I'm flexible, I don't care which, but removing everyone's name is absolutely a means of ENCOURAGING people to airbnb or short term sublet their apartments. and it should be viewed as such, legally. honestly, I think this is a fight we could take higher, if people are so inclined. If you don't know whose name is on the lease, you have no way of knowing if the people you see going in and out of the apartment have any legal right to be there. Management is negligent and has no interest in checking on this. It shouldn't be our responsibility to police the airbnb situation, but unfortunately it is.

that thing from Rick about harassment is just nonsense. Removing names allows tenants to harass people with impunity.

I also want to add my voice to the carpeting/noise issue. I have proof (not in writing, unfortunately) that management lies and says they have done carpet inspections, when they don't bother to do anything. I wish we could require management to install wall to wall carpeting with each move out.
(yes, I know, it's not the most attractive. but these are gim-crack apartments built in the 40s. I'm sorry, but it is necessary. When my upstairs neighbor is stomping around in her back bedroom, at the other end the apartment, I can hear her when I'm sitting in my living room. I know exactly where she is, at all hours of the day. This is just intolerable. to me, it's worse than the heat issue.)

Anonymous said...

"“Someone on the Tenants fb page said her apartment was 51 degrees last night. ”

WRONG. The person said the temperature was 61 degrees, which is bad enough and also illegal, but let’s try to get the facts straight on this page. It doesn’t help the cause when incorrect information is posted here.

December 2, 2019 at 5:12 PM"

I am the OP. It was a typo. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

A couple of people were inquiring about doorbell cameras on a thread on the TA fb (to catch package thieves) and another person said they are illegal and he is going to send copies of the comments to RH, RS, PS, Legal. I'm sure the posters didn't know such devices are illegal (I've though of getting one myself), but it seems we have a self-appointed "cop" on the beat. I'm sure most people haven't read their lease line-by-line and were totally unaware of such restriction. Does this mean that nanny cams and pet cams are verboten?

Actually, I don't think a doorbell camera would help much because most of the packages are stolen from the lobbies RIGHT UNDER THE SECURITY CAMERAS THAT ARE NEVER WATCHED.

This place gives me diarrhea. Can't wait to break my lease and get the fuck out of here.

Anonymous said...

No heat since early this morning after having more than adequate heat since Saturday. 36 degrees out and ice cold pipes in all rooms. Please explain Mr. Chief Elf!

BIGMO said...

"I also want to add my voice to the carpeting/noise issue. I have proof (not in writing, unfortunately) that management lies and says they have done carpet inspections, when they don't bother to do anything. I wish we could require management to install wall to wall carpeting with each move out.
(yes, I know, it's not the most attractive. but these are gim-crack apartments built in the 40s. I'm sorry, but it is necessary. When my upstairs neighbor is stomping around in her back bedroom, at the other end the apartment, I can hear her when I'm sitting in my living room. I know exactly where she is, at all hours of the day. This is just intolerable. to me, it's worse than the heat issue.)

December 3, 2019 at 1:28 PM"

I have an email trail of my correspondence with Mr. Hayduk a few years back when I was having a noise issue with the tenant above me. Yes, Mr. Hayduk does lie. The upstairs neighbor did have a carpet inspection and of course management told me that the tenant was in compliance. A couple of days after I received the email I replied to Mr. Hayduk that I only wanted a section of the tenant's apartment carpeted which was above my computer workstation. He said it was a reasonable request and had the tenant put a rug down in that area of the apartment. First, they wrote the tenant was in compliance and then they agreed to have that tenant put a rug down. They can't even keep their own lies straight!

My experience with management regarding the 80/20 carpet rule is that they do in fact do an inspection but in most cases they 'rubberstamp' that the tenant is in compliance. Unlike when Metlife owned/operatied Stuytown, this management is only reactive to the 'carpet rule.' This management only inspects after a complaint is made. Metlife used to give you a few weeks to make sure you had adequate carpeting in your apartment. This was done when a tenant initially moved into their apartment.

That's the major difference with Metlife and current management. Metlife was proactive with issues and current management is REACTIVE with issues. This is a failure with management. They could learn some lessons from Metlife when they ran this complex of buildings.

Anonymous said...

Well it looks like the STR is making some serious waves over the TA FB.

What a bunch of spineless people to bow to Rick.
The TA is basically saying “don’t post anything true on this page.” I hope people see this TA for what they really are now.

And the cheerleader role call of likes.....

Anonymous said...

I would imagine that they overlook the lack of carpet in the renovated expensive apartments occupied by students, roomies, and air bnb. That is their bread and butter. The older tenants who pay lower rents would be cited immediately. That is how it goes here.

Anonymous said...

Most of us do see the TA for the phony, useless organization it actually is. The main thing they do is crawl up the politician's assholes in the hopes of a photo op.

As for Rick, I get the impression that he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer and that is probably why Blackstone recruited him for the job. HIs lies, hypocrisy and condescending manner are totally seen through by residents here. The long-term tenants are particularly high on the acuity scale and know bullshit when they see it. If you are going to lie and bullshit people, you need to be good at it, otherwise you become the object of total contempt.

Anonymous said...

"They could learn some lessons from Metlife when they ran this complex of buildings."

MetLife employed intelligent people. Blackstone hires the exact opposite.

Anonymous said...

would imagine that they overlook the lack of carpet in the renovated expensive apartments occupied by students, roomies, and air bnb. That is their bread and butter. The older tenants who pay lower rents would be cited immediately. That is how it goes here.

December 3, 2019 at 8:34 PM

THIS IS TOTAL BULLSHIT PROVE IT AND FTR, WHY DON'T YOU GET RUGS SO YOU ARE NOT CITED?

Anonymous said...

You are both wrong - they overlook everything for everyone now. With the new rent laws there is no benefit in looking to oust true RS tenants since they won’t be able to renovate the apartment anyway. As long as you pay your rent, you are fine. Rules are no longer applicable for anyone.

Anonymous said...

"MetLife employed intelligent people. Blackstone hires the exact opposite."

It seems that all of their recent hires are from the resort world. Zero experience in running what is really a small town. Not a resort. They are all over their heads here.

"First, they wrote the tenant was in compliance and then they agreed to have that tenant put a rug down. They can't even keep their own lies straight!"

I had the same experience with RH.

"That's the major difference with Metlife and current management. Metlife was proactive with issues and current management is REACTIVE with issues. This is a failure with management. They could learn some lessons from Metlife when they ran this complex of buildings."

This sums it all up. Thanks.





Anonymous said...

I disagree with your assessment. Many of my long time tenant friends like Hayduk and they are intelligent, aware people. He definitely has a base here.

Anonymous said...

FYI I have wall to wall rugs. You are the one spouting BS

Anonymous said...

Such bull on that opt in e-mail about respecting resident anonymity and privacy through not having a directory. Hayduk, you know the reason is because this allows the BnBs to flourish and that with all the transients and students coming in, you cannot know who lives here. Don’t try to con us with your crap.

Anonymous said...

8:34 you are full of it. Just stating an opinion. FYI my apartment is wall to wall and I was not cited. Take your nasty comments somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

Anybody got any good recommendations for an insurance company that sells renters insurance? I let mine lapse several years ago because it was expensive and this was such a safe and stable place. Now, it is not so safe and stable and the lousy plumbing could collapse any minute! God! Has this place ever gone down the tubes. It has been raped and pillaged and now it is a crumbling wreck. But we still have the EVENTS!!!!! Puke!

Anonymous said...

"I disagree with your assessment. Many of my long time tenant friends like Hayduk and they are intelligent, aware people. He definitely has a base here."

They are probably suffering from dementia. OK, Rick?

Anonymous said...

Is this racket supposed to be "Christmas" music? !? NOT!!!

Anonymous said...

I was reading the threads about Rick and his non-Stuytown investment and I get the impression that he is a good, decent person who loves his family and is endeavoring to do the best he can for his little girl. Maybe he didn't work for a Blackstone-type of company before and is locked into a contract. I met him once and he seemed very nice and honest. Blackstone must be a brutal outfit to work for, especially since the rent laws changed. That Schwartzman must be one of the most evil men in all creation. He'll get his eventually. They all do.

Anonymous said...

No they are not. He is a clever PR man and believe me, he has a base here.

Anonymous said...

At every event, they have to annoy us with these cheap, amateur bands. Sickening.

Anonymous said...

I disagree. I have met him too and he is a slick PR man who has an answer for everything. He makes a fortune with this company and his statements show a total lack of honesty. All slick PA. He may live his family but he is not honest.

Anonymous said...

Just because he does his best for his little girl as many parents do, that doesn’t mean that he is an honest, nice guy. He lies through his teeth and presents himself as a slick PR man. In my dealings with him I have found him rather cold and untruthful. He has made up excuses for terrible policies and lack of heat. He works for Blackstone because he makes a pretty penny. Get real please 7:57. Your remark is very Pollyanna like.

Anonymous said...

Hayduk happens to be very good at bullshitting people . He has been from the beginning.

Anonymous said...

An event like the Christmas tree lighting would be very nice if it weren’t for the bombardment of events all year long. If they did a handful of events throughout the year, it would be that much more special, but this event was just the icing on the cake in terms of an event filled 2019 where the tenants who face the oval are noise blasted out of their apartments much more frequently than anyone should be subjected to.

Oh, and Rick is not a nice and decent person. Almost all parents, from the kindest human beings up to the most vile and despicable, will do anything for their child(ren). Don’t mistake that for kindness and decency in any way shape or form.

Anonymous said...

Where and when is meeting tonight??? Urgent!!!

Anonymous said...

that they overlook the lack of carpet in the renovated expensive apartments occupied by students, room

dear str: please stop the posting of the above crap. It is utter bs. They do not favor those of us who pay more, in fact it's the opposite since, what the fucks, we pay more.

and they inspect us often and they abuse us also and lie to us too and ruin our credit and they hate us as much as they hate the real RS. cut the crack

Anonymous said...

MR tenants and students are the most abused by the Filth who run this place.

Anonymous said...

Not the opposite. They love the five students and roomies. Do not pay any attention to noise or pot smell complaints. I know that in my building the dorm and roomie apartments get away with everything.They don’t care.

Anonymous said...

Hardly. The students that have lived below me (fortunately gone now) have saturated my apartment with stinking pot and kept me awake weekends with partying. After calling security 10 or so times, a great PS officer finally confronted them. Management told me that they could do whatever they wanted in their apartment. Thank goodness both groups have been gone a couple of years. Another group of bros on my floor plague the hallway with pot odor every day. So do not tell me that the students and roomies are abused,

Anonymous said...

They don’t hate the money you are paying for your apartments. You sound like a student or roomie and I cannot see how they ruin your credit.

Anonymous said...

Yes - the following personnel have all been commanded to read from the same playbook, and with very, very, very few exceptions they do so, and often, quite nastily:

Resident Services
The "management" level people in Resident Services
"Management"
"Legal."

They inform you, without blinking, of "facts" such as the following:

1. It is blackstone's "property," it "belongs" to blackstone, so that __________ (fill in the blank) is LEGAL and they can DO WHAT THEY WANT.

2. __________ (fill in the blank) can DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING/WHATEVER THEY WANT in "their" own apartment AT ANY TIME.

3. ___________ (fill in the blank) LIKE what is happening/what they are doing. What the heck is wrong with you??? EVERYONE HERE LOVES IT.

4. IT (supply your own description) isn't anything I can do anything about.

5. I DON'T KNOW.

6. Silence. Utter silence. If in person, averted eyes, or the dead-eyes-hostile-silence routine. Perhaps followed by some version of "Get Out!" or "Leave" or "You're free to stay, but no one will talk to you."

Anonymous said...

Although I agree that Blackstone, our fearless manager Hayduk, court jester entertainment director Vasquez and some others do treat residents in the above manner, not all resident service reps react that way. I have received help and courtesy from a few in the office and engineers. Probably not the norm but true. The biggest offenders are Hayduk and his crew. That tent is a joke. That is where you hear the above all the time.

Anonymous said...

I have heard the above from lawyer Fred, Slick Rick, and his crew.

Anonymous said...

I always record conversations with RS it any dept of Management.

Anonymous said...

6 43 would be correct We are MR and abused since day 1.