Banning the Leaf Blowing

 

Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village constantly use leaf blowing, despite their promotion at being a sustainable community, reducing greenhouse emissions and LEED certification. (That certification costs money, and the building complex is not inspected again.) Leaf blowing is a heath hazard. We are told that even after the leaves have been blow way, the blowers "put into the air little fragments of leaves, and other dust which could be irritating, and could aggravate asthma with exposure. Additionally, there are the exhaust fumes from gas-powered blowers." Here, in this complex which encourages dogs, there is the certainly that particles of dog refuse can be traveling in the air with these blowers. Yummy!

I have seen, and personally was "blown" by such leaf blowers, who use their blowers in the morning, when people are going to work (and later, too). Typically people off to work try to avoid the blowers, but this avoidance is every brief. Residents frequently pass through the kicked-up air on their way to work, shop, or, if they are younger, school. Stuyvesant is too small for the amount of people in the complex to allow this. And we are not even mentioning Covid or other viruses that may be put into the air briefly.

The reason Stuyvesant Town uses leaf blowing is that it gets the job done quickly. That's it. Before, rakes were used, but that takes time and taking time costs Blackstone money. But the rules may be changing, legally. There is a state bill up that may prohibit leaf blowers. Of course, our City Council (which got a pay raise of over 33%) should adopt this resolution, too, and sooner rather than later (or never). Perhaps, our councilman, Keith Powers, can introduce this legislation and work toward its implementation?

Stuyvesant Town is doing residents a harm with these leaf blowers. Management and Blackstone should know it. But, even if they don't, they are warned now. Next is a lawsuit if nothing changes.

Further reading: https://bigfrog104.com/grab-the-rake-gas-powered-leaf-blowers-being-banned-in-parts-of-new-york-state/

The Rules

The diagram is from the city showing the rules for outside dinning. Click on image to make it bigger. The bus stop was on the corner. It was moved. A city bus stop. Why was it moved?

 

You've probably seen this in your building downstairs. You can pick one up. It's a promo for Rosemary's, the new Italian restaurant on 20th street. Blackstone owns a financial interest. Yes, when you pay for your Italian food, you are also paying Blackstone. Thank you. Your money is most appreciated. By Blackstone.

Notice, too, that the bus stop which was at the corner, has been moved to give space for seating on the sidewalk. Thank you, Blackstone. Your will is a command to residents.

For more information, please go here and know where your money is going.

The truth hurts, but it's the truth

 

There are several types of residents. Some residents don't care as they are just passing through, a couple of years at most. Other residents are idiots (I'm being frank, sorry) and will accept just about anything. But there are residents that care. The problem is that I care, too.

I see battles. The major one is the two power plants being built in Stuyvesant Town. Both are pollutants in an area that is already high in pollutants. The power plants are also obstructing the view of those in apartments living close. This is Blackstone's doing. (Beam Living is under the leadership of Blackstone, so one is the other.) I will refrain from talking about the East River Park, another serious disaster that will devastate that community, usually poorer people and therefore "undesirable."

The other battle is Rosemary's, the new Italian restaurant on the corner of 20th Street and 1st Ave. The Peter Cooper building that was adjacent to it had a loss of certain power for weeks. You can guess why that building needed to be rewired. Rosemary's upper new area for growing eatable plants is nice, but it is also blocking a few apartments from the clear view they once had.

Aside from these issues, I was willing to let Rosemary's "live and let live." But an article appeared in the NY Post that explained more. While the article is a promo piece for the restaurant and an embarrassment of its writer and the Post, we learn that Blackstone has a financial investment in Rosemary's. Yes. Blackstone. (They probably also invested in the Five Stuy Cafe, but that's another story.) Also, the article stated that we live in a "ghost town," with insufficient eateries and catering to the hospital crowd..... Hm, what of the large Hane, which is just across the corner from Rosemary's? What of the Italian restaurants on the other side of 1st Ave? What of the Coopertown Diner? Gracefully?? What of the popular two restaurants that were where Rosemary's now is--the Belgian Waffle place and Mexican one--Vamos? Of course, the new bus stop is away from the old one, near 1st Ave. Makes sense now. It gives Rosemary's extra space to construct an outdoor seating area. A lot of things make sense now with Blackstone's involvement.

There are other concerns. If you go to Trader Joe's at various times of the day, it is hard to get through on south 14th Street. The councilperson of that area does nothing. There are movements to defund the police, have Black Lives Matter as our unofficial spokesperson, etc.These are concerns, but right now, in our community, are other concerns, more immediate ones..

(Thanks to political involvement and concerned neighbors, the power plants may be halted. To be seen what happens and if the plant that's on Ave. C will be demolished or just left as an "example.")

Police Officer Suicide in Stuy Town

 

What can one say?... Photo: Daily News.

Are You Doing Anything Important? Need Some Money?

 

Not happening now, at least officially, but our beloved Stuy Town had this in the past. (Actual photo.)

More Money

I used to belong to Oval Study a few years ago. I paid 30 dollars a month and quit when it wasn't being run to justify the price. In just a year or two, the price for Oval Study, which now includes a Peter Cooper location, rose to 55 dollars a month.Of course, the thick one-page brochure that you must have seen somewhere in your building, touts "for only $55," but that kind of happy-face push is not fooling anyone. At least, I hope it's not.

Who is paying for this? I would suppose mostly college students whose wealthier parents are paying for their son's or daughter's privilege. (Since masks are required, you will probably feel more liberated at your Stuy Town or Peter Cooper room, though this apartment could have inhabitants that hamper your studying.)

And that is the point. Stuy Town hopes that more money will be coming in from weathy parents.

The prices of everything have gone up. Part of the reason is the Covid disaster, but the prices were going up anyway, though the pandemic gives a talking points reason for higher prices.

As I look about, this community has taken a hit in everything. And not just prices in the neighborhood or those given by our lord and master, Beam Living.

To think. our former congressman, Daniel Garodnick, has just released a book on Saving Stuyvesant Town. The book's title is no joke, though it should be a comedy book. But not to worry. You can be sure that in a year's time, the book will be remaindered. A dollar is too much to ask, actually, but the book can maybe save you on 14th Street from one of the vagrants selling a piece of junk and becoming hostile to you because you are you.