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.

Leaf Blowers - The Danger and Management Doesn't Care

As long as the leaf blowers are outside and creating noise, let me address this issue, and it is quite simple. Though Stuyvesant Town prides itself on making this place have the latest technology and freedom (or close to it) from pollutants, the fact remains that leaf blowers are a danger to the health of residents. Of course, nothing is being done about them. Yesterday I even saw a bigger leaf blower "doing its thing" and thereby also scattering humans out of the way.

Yes, there are many leaves on the ground from the trees here. But getting rid of them was not like this in the past. The effort previously was quiet and done by grounds workers with things such as rakes. (Remember those?) But now, with the use of leaf blowers, Management thinks it has found a way to do things cheaper and quicker. Your health be damned.

Leaf blowers are not energy efficient, unless the energy we are talking about is human energy. Leaf blowers blow not only leaves, but dirt, feces, etc. They pollute. Period. I myself have gotten a "taste" and a "smell" from leaf blowers nearby. And face it, a lot of the grounds people with leaf blowers are here just to do a job as quickly as possible, and collect a pay check. Again, your health be damned.

If this were the days of King Solomon (remember him, from the Bible?), I would have Management stand in front of a running leaf blower and breath in all the noxious waste and get some of that waste and dirt inside their system. But these are not the days of King Solomon....

This is a good place to start on the potential danger:

https://www.salon.com/2017/10/08/noisy-but-that-is-not-all_partner/

"No trees were cut down..." The TA - Peter Stuyvesant Reports!

I have another post in the near future, but I had to get this in, with photo, because not only did I see a tree being cut here and there, but I also heard the very loud noise a buzz-saw was making. The fact that the TA has assumed something different is not only telling on the TA (it's clear now that your TA does not see what goes on around here) but is indicative of the SPIN told by Stuy Town to anyone who says something different. I guess Management's way out is the tree was removed, but not really, really "cut down."

Here is the process in progress:

 

"Peter Stuyvesant: We asked this question and were told no trees were cut down...."

"Will ask again. Perhaps bushes/other plantings were removed. I know some benches were removed. But we were assured no trees were cut down."

UPDATE: Since Blackstone is broke, residents will have to learn how to make labels themselves and put a label on the front door.

 

Citi-bike Rules Playground 9

So I passed by Playground 9 (that's the playground that has those Citi-bikes), and found that the actual playground is closed for repainting, etc. But not closed is Citi-bike. Playground 9 was recently worked on, but now, in September, the playground will be closed for basketball. Makes no sense. A normal company, if work needs to be done (a big question mark), would close the playground at the winter months, but not in September!

Unless, of course, Citi-bike requires an "adjustment" at that playground, and time can't be wasted with Citi-bike and our incompetent Management. (Or maybe Management is very competent, but doesn't bother about residents in this situation.)

Regarding the rule of walking your Citi-bike. BS. Today I passed by two Citi-bikes that were not being walked in the pathway by Playground 9.

A big failure. Enjoy September.

Another Fine Mess

Can you imagine this uncovered mattress wet? Yes, a little bit of rain adds to another fine mess. Photos taken this Wednesday. The mattress has been there for hours.

Stuy Town Increases Plant and Tree Devastation of the Oval - Uncovered Mattresses Continue

Take a look. Soon all of it will be gone in that area. Our hope is that our Tenants Association still has a seat at the table with Blackstone, as they so proudly proclaim. Who knows? The fallen tree and plants may be made for a new table for them.

Update: The photos below were just taken about 15 minutes ago. The mattresses have been there for hours. Along the First Ave Loop. Entry for cars, 18 St., exit 16 St.; August 8:

From August 3rd:

The Truth About Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village

For those of you who are new to this complex, and even if you are not, but need reminders. From the Daily News, Dec. 16, 1976:

Membership at the time of the Tenants Association was reported as only 2,000.

Another article by the Daily News from October 10, 1982 states that the figure for membership in the TA is 1,000, a droppage of 1,000 since 1976.

The Wheels Start Turning...

It is time to start the wheels moving as there have been no suitable responses. There are only four or five issues that will currently be taken. One involves the Tenants Association, a group that has been responsible for several things, not necessarily to any success, while ignoring other things that are seen by residents daily. This "tenants" organization is not open about current dues-paying membership or what year had the largest membership. As reported by this organization, this information is "confidential." Meaning, no one knows who is a tenant and is not part of a small privileged group. This seems odd, as it is a "tenants organization" and should have no secrets to tenants. But it is not so. The continual promotion of this organization being the largest in the country can't be even checked because of this. This has got to change. Any tenants organization should have basic information about its organization available to tenants. Dues are asked for continually, though.

The other issues have to do with our landlord, currently Blackstone. There have been no responses from their legal department (to which Public Safety ultimately refers) about enforcement of a ban on running e-bikes, outside dogs, and uncovered mattresses on the loops. There is also the crucial question of who "owns" 20th street and whether club cars can cross it.

These issues have been brought up and questions have been asked and will continue to be asked. But the difference is that certain wheels will be turning now.