Off my chest...

I spoke to the Big Boss the other day at the "Oval Office" meeting (held at the Oval from 5pm to 6pm). By now, I think I've spoken to all the major bosses at STPCV.

So, in light of that and their understanding, I am closing this blog....

Ha, ha.... Fooled you on that one. This blog remains, of course. There are problems that must be addressed, though I'd love to just take photos of the flowers and present them to the readership. The "good news" is management is aware of these problems and is working on them or some of them. At least that is what is said, and we will have photos to prove or disprove it. Why the TA is not doing this, I don't know.

It is the policy of management not to have someone representing management on the blogs, or at least the official TA one. This policy I think is wrong. Having someone, not to battle with tenants, but to speak openly and truthfully, even if it is to say, "I can't address that right now" would do a lot to diffuse any situation. Residents need to be informed. Unlike the Public Safety officer I spoke to not too long ago, who was forceful about "social media" and that no one official goes there. Do know that management is at least aware of the TA Facebook and its comments. Even that knowledge is a big relief.

I recognize that it is not easy dealing with as many tenants that we now have. Even 5,000 less of years back can be difficult. But nothing is easy, and life can be difficult. I've worked in companies where some of the workers are just there to collect a pay check and nothing more. To them, the least amount of work is best--and a union will back them up. And, that was years go, before the advent of the cellphone.

On and off, I've been a member of Oval Study. (I actually do some of my best STR pieces from this spot.) Frankly you can throw all of the books out, as no one reads them, but people, and not just students, use this area to study or write. That said, the presence of the cellphone has done much to change the habits of certain help there. I remember a time (I think it was before Abigail Michaels entered the picture) where the "help" used to be senior citizens or close to them from this community. The place was run like a charm. No cellphones. Try that policy now: No cellphone while you are on the job!

While the help is different from person to person, I've found that some are more interested in the cellphone and their own communication than what happens outside, in the patio, which is their responsibility, not mine or the Oval Study members. Instead of engrossed by their cells and facing the other way, they should be checking to see if someone has sat in the patio to eat lunch or whatever. And the residents (maybe? who knows?) can plead ignorance all they want, but a very clear and large sign states that they have no purpose if they are not members. And you have clear and large signs taped on the tables, at least last year. A simple "Pardon me..." will do much. Yes, these residents will frequently respond: "Oh, I didn't know..." Though at least two very clear signs tell them not to be sitting there without going inside and showing their membership.

Much like this, the cellphone is used at the guard booth where a PS officer should be stationed. How many times have I seen a PS officer on his cellphone and not looking to check the lanyards or the bicycles running around his area, two big problems here. If I see that, others can see it, too. The idea becomes that PS doesn't care and is more interested in, here we go, collecting a pay check and nothing more.

I did an experiment a few weeks ago. I saw very visible dog crap, not picked up, by the "no dog" sign around the Oval pathway. I'd say about four hours went by and the dog crap was not picked up! Unless they were in their own head space, everybody must have seen it and no one called it in? Finally, after my "experiment" was over and I was back in Stuy Town, I called PS, but it shouldn't be me, a resident, to call. It should be the workers, porters, etc. of STPCV who are concerned and call it in. Four hours and counting! What about the unpicked dog crap, very visible, near the corner of 1st Avenue. Why should I or any resident call it in? What are the workers or porters doing? Collecting a pay check and nothing more? And what about these property managers, the small ones that are in charge of this building and that one? Where are they? Are they still around? Don't they see?

A portion of people will try to "get away" with not following the rules. It's been that way forever. (Jaywalking, anyone?--which I have done myself.) But it is up to the representatives of Blackstone--yes, from the lowest to the highest--to make sure that this property works for all of us.