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.

The Worst I've Seen

Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, together with the surrounding areas, are the worst I've ever seen. And I have been here for over three decades. The Covid disaster has just exacerbated the situation. A mess everywhere one looks. Inside the complex and outside. Would you want to live here? Yes, there are reasons to do so, but convincing is starting to look purposeless. 

Also, at wintertime, there is infrequent heat for many tenants. Unless you use space heaters and/or turn on the stove (against your lease), you may be freezing. Management does not care. If Blackstone gets penalized, the payment is very small. So Blackstone continues on....

Photos: Inside this complex:

 

Outside:

 

Much more to tell and experience. (My camera was "attacked" by one of the vendors, but I held on and took more photos.) The various quality-of-life rules are not enforced as they should be, and can be ignored. Outside dogs casually being brought in, electric scooters and delivery bikes, unpicked dog refuse, it's all here. Welcome and have a nice day.

Relax (at least once in a while)

Sunny now. Even the rain looks and feels nice.

Update #2, June 6:

Beam Living, Stuy Town Management (constantly addressing residents as little children in "woke" phraseology),
our local politicians to include our Mayor (by far the worst NYC mayor I have seen in my lifetime) and, yes, our Governor:

CHUMPS

 

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New July 1

 

Impeach Mayor Bill de Blasio 

Link above goes to Change.org site. 

This idiot must go.

(150,000 signatures have been reached. Now the site is going for 200,000!)

Newest update, July 6th:

Mayor de Blasio's Accomplishments

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New from the NYC Official Site! Posted 8/6

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Mayor de Blasio has no plan for indoor dining

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 Governor Cuomo begs New Yorkers to come back. He will even cook for you!

Keith Powers, Our City Council Person.

Votes for Police De-funding and the "progressive" issues that are making this city more and more unlivable. Was a lobbyist for Real Estate in his pre-council win. Never does anything about the quality-of-life violations and (some city ones) he has to see in his own community.

If you are satisfied with what you see in the city (dramatic increase in crime, homelessness, garbage), cheer him on!

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 Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association

Not transparent at all.

This organization has so far refused to give the number of paying dues members, pre-virus, despite receiving from our city councilman $30,000 last year and receiving membership fees. They claim they are the largest tenants association in the nation, but are very secretive about membership numbers and where the money they receive is allocated. No tenant organization that I know of is so secretive. Very simple request: Open up the books.

 

Update 6/18/2020:

This is priceless and tells much about people jumping the gun big time--something that is occurring more these days, as people are ready to damn someone before the full facts are known.... So, I am searching the internet and come across a couple of photos that look very familiar. One is exactly what I posted in November, applying it to a fake interview. Well, I got damned by a Stuy Town reader who felt I was making fun of the pain and suffering this person on the photo felt. I tried to find the post, but I may have not passed it. But I discovered the reality today. The photo, one of at least two, shows an Asian girl opening her mouth to try to catch the snow that's falling down. That's it. No pain, no suffering, just a kid playing. A good lesson to be careful before one jumps the gun.

What, Me Worry?

Center for Disease Control and Prevention 

Official Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village Updated News

NEW! Food Assistance Pantry for ST/PCV Residents 

If you are a senior and need assistance, this info in Rick's new letter:

"Are you someone who is ‘at risk’ and don’t have a support network of friends or family locally that can help? Please reply to this email {I will find out to make sure what email--STR} or call 212.420.5000, and we will connect you with a volunteer in our community that can help."

And don't worry to the point of panic. All of us are worried to a certain extent, but we also are all in this, so really you are not alone. 

Click on the new message to make it larger.

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 Blackstone, your landlord, is written about below

Housing Grab - New York Times

and now this:

The Light According to Blackstone

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Here we go again. Our "landlord," (Blackstone in the person of Rick) has sought to minimize or ignore the incidents that occurred a week ago. There has been no public statement about these incidents even though a senior citizen and another person were assaulted/punched/threatened with violence/whatever by a naked resident who may have had issues. Later, there was the incident where this naked man was out in the Oval. Public Safety and the police appeared. Screaming was heard, etc. Not a word from Management about these incidents for over a week. We have been here before where Management has sought to ignore or minimize what is happening here for the sake of the unaware potential renters ($) that Blackstone hopes will come to this place. Wrong move.

Update, 4/30: The two incidents happened on 4/21. Management has been silent, but today there was an email to residents (which I never get, despite telling Resident Services at least twice about my email address). I quote: "Final update on the unfortunate event of last week. The assailant's household has vacated the apartment and terminated the lease. The assailant never returned to the building as requested. Our thoughts remain with those who were involved in this incident."

Only residents of this building got this email. I note the word "final."

The Way We Look - All Photos Taken February 8, 2020

It may be hard to tell, but smears here are at the Oval and close to the small PS booth:

[Photo removed by me, Feb 11, because I don't want to look at dog piles any more.]

Down below. A different path, same problem. I was passing and saw a pile of unpicked dog shit. A few hours later, something (a club car?) must have driven over it, squashing it. Sorry for the dog dropping photos, but nothing changes, and there is NO Public Safety to escort non-ST or PCV residents out of here. Everyone knows that this place doesn't follow some rules, even Management's own rules. But we do have S'mores and Songs. From Management: "Who says city life can’t come with bonfires and s’mores? Make s’mores at the new fire pits for $5 with profits benefiting The Bowery Mission. A guitarist brings a sing-a-long for some 'Kumbaya moments' with complimentary hot chocolate & coffee." 

[Photo removed by me, Feb 11, because I don't want to look at dog piles any more. But these "leavings" are standard to see here in Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village. Management does nothing.]

A Law Unto Itself

Blackstone, ST Management, Beam Living, Public Safety, and the Tenants Association have all failed law-abiding residents of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. We could add a few more names, like our local politicians, newspapers/TV stations, the city's own DOB, but residents of ST and PCV are being duped or ignored by the above. Yes, there are certain things that are right here. It is not all bad for sure. But outright lies or misrepresentations are frequently said or adhered to by the very people and organizations that should help us.

I have lived here for over 30 years, and I challenge anyone of the above to prove otherwise. I have photos (lots) and my own "seeing is believing" experiences. The important attitude of these organizations is to have a happy face--and lie. Every person or organization listed above has lied to residents and to me. Many residents now realize that they are being lied to and refuse the Kool Aid being offered.

Sure, if there is some serious trouble, Public Safety will help, but not in the "small" laws that build up and up and create indifference in residents or even hatred. I cannot go to or call the above organizations or people without preparing myself for the standard BS that all of them give.

Basically, Blackstone and Management are a law unto itself. They do not enforce several city laws and their own. Laws to them are just for talk and promotion. The reality is that a lot of things are just accepted, regardless of Blackstone's own law, regardless of what New York City/State mandates.

This coming year more pressure is going to be put on the above individuals and organizations. From my part, it will be done very legally. As we know, "legal" is ignored here. The fight is to get things that are legal actually legal.

Goodbye Associated

There's been a lot of talk about this supermarket closing. Some of the comments have been pro and some negative. I shop daily there, mostly for milk, sometimes for the deli department. And I always check to see what's on sale, as some of the sale prices are indeed beckoning. Soon, though, no more. The store is becoming empty of items, though many perishables are still to be had. Signs say that the other Associated store at 8th Street and Ave C will have flyers, etc., but that's too far to walk for most. The Management at Stuy Town promised another similar store will take its place, but I'm not holding my breath.

Anyway, one less option for me and for many others. Goodbye.