From Sheepshead Bites:With just about all of the roads finally clear, outrage at the city’s bungled response to the December 26 blizzard is now spreading beyond the Mayor’s office and the Sanitation Department. Flatbush Scoop, a blog owned by Yeshiva World News, is laying into our local City Council representatives for being MIA as residents struggled to cope.
They give high marks to Councilman David Greenfield, who was caught on video blasting the city’s response and the decision to clear bike lanes before residential streets. But other councilmembers received scathing reviews:
We at FlatbushScoop.com were shocked when we reached out to all the local Council Members representing the Jewish areas that were hard-hit by the Bloomberg Blizzard. We expected them to at the very least have staff answer our phone calls. Sadly, many were on vacation or simply did not answer the phone. Please don’t forgot that these politicians were NOT THERE FOR YOU next time these politicians ask for your vote.
Flatbush Scoop also put together a shame list of four local representatives – three of whom represent parts our coverage area – that were on vacation or otherwise unavailable during the storm.
FLATBUSHSCOOP.COM’S SHAME ON YOU LIST:
1. Brad Lander – Councilman Lander’s Boro Park portion of his district was hard-hit. On Monday his office wasn’t event taking phone calls. On Tuesday, when we asked for the Councilman we were told he was on vacation!
2. Mike Nelson – There were rumors of Councilman Nelson sighting this week but we called his office every single day this week and couldn’t get through even once!
3. Domenic Recchia – Councilman Recchia had some of the worst snow-piled streets in his Gravesend district. While some people told us they saw Recchia in the beginning of the week, his office was closed!
4. Lew Fidler – Councilman Fidler was on vacation this week. Enough said.
Ah, well where the hell were the representatives of Queens? Other than Council Members Peter Vallone and Dan Halloran, who seemed to be on every newscast you turned on complaining about the city's response, Queens council members were completely MIA. Their offices were either not answering the phone, not responsive or on vacation. Share your experiences here.
(Oh, and a lot of the third termers don't even bother to show up to work anymore.)
39 comments:
Queens Crap drives me Koo Koo!!!
Crappy, is this the same Peter Vallone that voted for a budget to cut funding for snow removal and supported the mayor's effort at a third term and thinks that another million people in NY is great when we cannot obviously handle the current population?
I mean, hell, Jimmy Van Bramer sent out this email - did Peter?
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It is hard to believe that nearly three days after snow started to fall, and two days after it stopped, hundreds if not thousands of streets and roadways have been left untouched and unplowed, endangering the safety and wellbeing of New Yorkers. Never in the history of our great city has such a gross mismanagement of a snow cleanup turned into the disastrous lack of response we see before us today. For the past two days I have trekked through the impassable sidewalks and roadways in my district, witnessing first hand the systemic failure that our Mayor seems to believe is the best job our city can do in a time of emergency. The disconnect between “Hizzoner” and the everyday people that are struggling to get out of their houses, walk down their streets and attempt to get to work to make a living is unbelievable. The people of my district, and indeed all New Yorkers need help and answers and they need them now.
In the past two days my office has received over 150 complaints, emails and phone calls from distraught constituents and senior citizens who cannot walk down their streets, access their vehicles or get to the places and services they need. I am baffled as to how major roadways were left untouched and unplowed nearly 48 hours after a storm hit our city and the photographs that I have personally taken and collected from my constituents capture the chaos Queens has and is currently experiencing in the aftermath of the snowstorm.
Every complaint taken by my office has been documented and filed with the the Mayor’s Office, the Speaker's office, and the Department of Sanitation to ensure that all levels are notified of the urgency and severity of the issue at hand and to expedite the snow removal. When not on the streets of our neighborhoods, I've been on the phone with residents, demanding answers from City agencies, and drawing attention to this debacle in interviews with media. Something has clearly gone wrong and answers will be sought out at a City Council hearing on January 10th, which will address and examine the City’s snow emergency policy and response.
My staff and I are dedicated to getting our community the services it needs and the answers it deserves and will be working around the clock to ensure that every complaint is adequately addressed. As always, please do not hesitate to call my district office, at 718-383-9566 or send us an email at JimmyVanBramer@gmail.com.
I work for you. I'll never forget that, and I'll always be grateful for the honor and privilege.
I think the point of the previous poster is its one thing to STAND in front of a camera, quite something else to DO something.
Maybe NY1 went to Astoria cause it was just the closest.
I got that email from Jimmy, too. Sent 12/28/10.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/Blizzard_Clean-Up__Working_Hard_or_Hardly_Working___Part_2__New_York-112691654.html
here's danny dromm on it. not sitting quietly.
was mike bloomberg driving the plow with the shovel up??????
Send Councilman "doofy" Dan Halloran back to Bulgaria and keep him there!
This "Tea Party" nut job ain't our cup-o-tea!
True dat...Ass-toria is as far as NY 1 would dare venture into Queens!
Ullrick made it before the cameras but no help for my block from him.
Dromm was out on the street pushing cars and helping folks cross the streets.
Re: Vallone vs. Van Bramer...
Sending out an e-mail is "doing something?" What is the difference between sending out a press release vs. being on camera? Are most of Van Bramer's constituents on his e-mail list? I'd bet no, but I'm sure most of them saw Vallone on TV at one point or another and not Jimmy. Van Bramer sent that out after Vallone arranged for the hearings about the handling of the storm, which resulted in the Jan 10th hearing date that Van Bramer mentions in his email.
What makes me laugh is that you are patting Van Bramer on the back for sending out an email about how his office is DOING THEIR JOB. I guess you have been so brainwashed by the lack of response that when someone does what they are paid to do it seems like they went above and beyond the call of duty. Give me a break. You sound like Michael Schenkler.
Peter Vallone's office took complaints, too. And he shoveled a few of his neighbors out.
Clearing the "Vaseline Alley" intersection was my prime concern.
Try clearing Jackson Heights of political slush instead C.M. Dromm!
Begin with yourself...you grandstanding do-nothing A-hole!
H-m-m-m-m....
isn't that what slush funds are for....snow removal?
At least the blizzard made it impossible for the city health department to inspect the Stavisky district office.
For the record, I got a press release from Sanders' office, too.
Comrie, Crowley, Gennaro, Ferreras, Koo, Koslowitz, Weprin, Wills - where were they?
Why am I not shocked by this?
What a distinguished group. Lander is a self proclaimed "Do-Gooder" who does nothing. Vallone and Halloran are kings of the "Ego-Maniacs.
The best of all though is Halloran and his imaginary band of sanitation workers. No big deal, even Council Members need make believe friends.
What about our State Senators? why are they getting a free pass?
This was a snafu on the city level, not on the state level.
Crowley was on vacation
While I do not always agree with Councilman Halloran, I appreciate his being out there during emergencies (Queens Tornado, Blizzard). Councilman kept his offices open till all hours of the day and night, keeping all his constituents updated via his Facebook, and by actualy answering calls. One of our members, actualy had the phone answered by the Councilman himself. Good Job Councilman, and on behalf of the Malba Gardens Civic Association and it residents, THANK YOU,
Peter Koo, where are you??
Speaking of Astoria, it appears that all the Whitestone Bayside people that moved out of Astoria, Corona, Jackson heights because of the overcrowded conditions are happy to see their once residential neighborhood become just like what they ran away from.
The overcrowded schools, overdevelopment, no street parking etc.
The Vallones, along with the Whitestone Taxpayers, Halloran, Avella, Markel, and many others have joined forces to to become a very Pro Developer group. A 6 acre lot owned by a developer has just received a 50% tax break, and no one is saying a thing about it. Whitestone Taxpayers, which taxpayers are you representing? All of these people agree that developing the acres would be a very good thing, and that a park or community garden would not because of the "Nasty little children".
There is no sewer currently in that acerage, who do they think is going to pay for it? What about EPA/DEP/Traffic Impact studies?
WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ALONG WITH THE LEADERS OF SOME "COMMUNITY GROUPS" ARE DESTROYING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. +
Van Bramer was on TV more than once, including WB11 and NY1 and Fox 5. He also took complaints from residents and logged them and transmitted same to Sanitation. He had no kind words for the Mayor either. In fact I'd say his sentiments matched those of many readers here--so before rushing to judgement, do a little poking around and you'll find where he appeared on TV.
I find Halloran's office 100% better than that lying hood ornament Carozza. They were very proactive during the snow "emergency", and have helped with other issues in the neighborhood recently.
I find Halloran's office 100% better than that lying hood ornament Carozza. They were very proactive during the snow "emergency", and have helped with other issues in the neighborhood recently.
What exactly has the councilman been proactive in helping with other issues in the neighborhood recently?
The torched cars on 9th avenue?
The forced One way streets on 10th and 11th avenues against the residents wishes? (what about getting the police to enforce the law?)
The tax break for the old CYO (I learned about on this site, thank you)?
What exactly has the Councilman been active, let alone proactive in with issues in the neighborhood that didn't get him a sound bite?
He came out against the Police Academy in College Point made a speach and then was never heard from again regarding the issue. He has allowed the developers to contiue with 200 new homes along the College Point, Whitestone Waterfront with no Studies.
WAY TO GO DAN DAN HES OUR MAN. PLEASE, IF I MISSED SOMETHING, LET ME KNOW WHAT HE HAS DONE?
ALSO, CAROZZA WAS AN ASSEMBLYWOMAN, NOT A COUNCILWOMAN.
Jimmy Van Bramer was out there yelling starting Monday and was soliciting unplowed locations early Tuesday....he was one of the first I saw yelling about the lack of plowing in Queens, actually...
WHATS YOUR NAME?
COUNCILMAN ASSHOLE SIR!
WHATS YOUR NAME?
COUNCILWOMAN ASSHOLE SIR!
WHATS YOUR NAME?
SPEAKER ASSHOLE SIR!
I KNEW IT, I'M SURROUNDED BY
ASSHOLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Councilmembers Nelson & Recchia are always MIA when it comes to tough circumstances.
They only get on the news when it's good news for them
As usual a bunch of BUMS.
But what goes around comes around.
Our Liz was to busy making sure the city doesn't close fire houses (that are only used as a ploy, but don't tell her she thinks she keeps them open) and making sure that only union members remove the lead paint on the subway walls. You have to admit these issues are far more pressing than what we all went through here in Middle Village. You get what you vote for!
The city council is a sham organization to begin with. What the fuck do you think they would have been able to do even if they were answering their phones?
the playground at P.S.159 in Bayside,on 33 rd avenue at 205 street was reworked at a cost of about $3 million in july,2009. it was planned by pla2030 and local movers. in prior years the principal locked this play facility 24/7. they would not allow community teens to use it. it remained closed for 6 months after the work...
since CM Halloran was elected,it is now open7 days a week for the teens.
thank you Dan...... 21 of the new trees planted died and were replaced. the ball field has been eliminated, for 20 benches and a gazebo and painted tiny running track ???? the teens could use a full court B/B space.
Hey Anonymous, shut up. I was speaking from my own experience, whoever you are. So whoops I said Carrozza instead of was it Avella? She was a hood ornament anyway, a do nothing. People were in Halloran's office taking care of business during the storm, when roads here were still impassable. You're a Carrozza fan? Oh well she's gone and Avella is movin' on up. Get over it!
Where was Van Bramer when his Maspeth constituents were trapped by a mound of snow deposited on the turn between 64th and 65th Streets? How about when all 3 bus lines - Q18, Q45, Q67 were not running or were rerouted?
ELA MALAKIA, NO NEED TO GET HOSTILE. YOUR PASTICCIO NO COME OUT GOOD TODAY?
YES HALLORANS OFFICE HAS BEEN OPEN DURING EMERGENCIES, ASIDE FROM THAT I ASKED WHAT HAS HE DONE.
TALKING ABOUT THE SCHOOL ARE YOU SURE IT WAS HIM THAT GOT THAT PARK OPEN? ARE YOU SURE? LOOK INTO THAT BEFORE YOU KEEP TALKING. ASK THE PRINCIPAL WHY IT WAS CLOSED, BETTER YET ASK THE CUSTODIAN FIND OUT THE REAL REASON FIRST.
GAMOTO! CAROZZA WAS A USELESS PIECE OF CRAP AND AVELLA WAS STAGNANT, I NEVER DEFENDED ANY OF THEM. LEARN TO READ!!! OR GO BACK TO ASS TORIA!!!
PUSTI
We haven't heard about Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, but evidently the plow trucks couldn't move in Forest Hills because the mere sight of her face stopped them dead in their tracks.
RE:"are you sure" P.S.159 play space for teens.
i personally monitored the planting of 19 trees across the ballfield,destroying it.
i made comments on the Q.C and sent photos and letters to parks officials and local politicians,before CM. Halloran came on the scene.
nothing was done about the locking of the teens playspace 24/7.
when i contacted his staff in person,but anon to the community,the play space became available to the local teens.
sadly ,young parents are not permitted to use the barred toddler equipment and sitting garden ,because the custodian and principal refuse to unlock the barred gates to these facilities.
all of c.p.b.11 playgrounds have full basketball courts. the spenders of $3 million of taxpayers money neglected to do this for the teens of this community,even though they have state of the art shatterproof plastic backboards.
"play ground rats" from my era would be envious. but we really learned the real game because we had full courts to play on.
if you visit 150 street and 130 avenue near jfk,the teens have courts ,with lights until 12 midnite, and they really are running the full court. no trees in the center court like P.S.159. only a nut would plan a playspace with trees & benches in the middle?????
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