Friday, December 6, 2013

Pols celebrate closing of a street


From The Sunnyside Post:

Movie makers can now film on the streets of New York — without taking away coveted parking spaces.

On Tuesday, elected officials cut the ribbon on a new outdoor lot at Kaufman Astoria Studios — which will allow producers to shoot outdoor scenes in the convenience of a studio setting. The studio setting is viewed as less costly for producers — since old cars and other props don’t have to be moved — and it helps avoid problems such as inclement weather.

The outdoor lot, the first of its kind in New York, will also reduce the need for filmmakers to use local streets — thereby avoiding upset city residents peeved by lost parking spaces or over-the-top fans.

Officials say the outdoor studio lot will help make New York more competitive with Hollywood and will help draw the big production companies to the area. Outdoor lots are commonplace in Tinseltown.

“This is a gamechanger,” said New York Senator Charles Schumer. “We are telling Hollywood we can compete. Hollywood watch out.”

The outdoor lot is a 34,800 square foot space located on 36th Street – between 34th and 35th Avenues–in Astoria. The street was demapped by the city in 2011 and construction of the outdoor lot began this year.


Ah, the holy film industry in NYC:

First they get lucrative tax breaks.
Then they get free reign on our streets.
They claim that filming helps "local businesses" but most businesses lose money when streets are closed for filming.
Then we hand over a public street to them for nothing.
There isn't a welfare queen in the City that has made more $ than the film industry.
Maybe we'll sell the rest of Flushing Meadows to them next.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I also like how they scream about providing jobs, yet most jobs are temporary, non-union and low-paying.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Chuckie should run for city council or local community board member. It seems that he prefers these things to his supposed job as a US Senator (for which he's being paid). Not that I'm a Hillary fan, but as a NY Senator, I don't recall her spending a lot of time dealing with local NYC bullshit. Hey Chuckie, is there no work to be done in DC?

Anonymous said...

Wow, the one way you get "Stonewall" Van Bramer into the public eye is a photo op - and that publicity hound is always in the center. The only thing missing is Chrissy Quinn.

And that other fellow that shows up when Dutch Kills needs a stop sign but pretty much keeps a low profile as he slowly rises in the ranks in Albany on our tab - well could it be - "Mystery Man" Gianaris!

Anonymous said...

Hey Chuckie, is there no work to be done in DC?

That's what he covers in his Sunday press conferences, always guaranteed to get him in Monday's newspapers. When there's nothing else for him to discuss, he'll always go back to how the majority of cargo containers are not inspected.

Anonymous said...

Public space handed over to private owners. We'll never get it back.

James Van B. said...

Careful with those scissors Chuck. They're too close for comfort.

Anonymous said...

Those are real jobs. Temporary, sure, but repetitive. Actually well paid jobs. Union and nonunion (those these will be union)

The tax breaks are needed because other cities offer them and its necessary to remain competitive.

We can argue the benifits of handing over a street to a private company for free. That's a legit argument.

ron s said...

The most intelligent one, and the most ethical one is in the center, sort of bluish.

Anonymous said...

The "local economy" line is always a joke, because every piece of material they need, they bring, including food.

They dont go to a local deli or restaurant because they gotta kick back something to their 'uncle' with the catering business.

Chuck said...

Jimmy, Dan asked me to perform a bris on you. A trimmed willie is more efficient.

Liman said...

Pardon my Lithuanian, but ONE F------ BLOCK is celebrated? This one block will be like Mayberry's Sheriff's office, appearing in every TV show and movie? Residents' parking spaces are safe! Hollywood has a block! They're just jiving us again.

Anonymous said...

There he is, the queen of Queens...Jimmy Van Bramer...fresh from selling out 5 Pointz for a low $10,000 campaign contribution he received from the property owner Jerry Wolkoff's family.

JVB didn't even have the decency to recuse himself from voting for this anti union slumlord.

Councilman Jimmy claims to be a strong labor union advocate.

Pish-tosh! He's an advocate only for himself!

Anonymous said...

Mayberry, indeed! RIGHT ON, fella1

Small town politics for a small town borough.
How I hate living in Queens.

It's time to move!

Anonymous said...

All Queens will get is more big trucks hauling scenery from Jersey, Delaware & Mexico.
Most the NYC studio no longer reserve space for set building.
The other jobs are all closed union, catering and all sorts of things from "the mayors list" as part of the tax break deal.
Almost everything on "the mayors list" is based in Manhattan and in all the movie credits.
Chuckie, Bloomberg and all them bastards always fail to mention that parts of this corrupt scam to give away public property.

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