DOB denies permit to Knockdown Center

From the Queens Chronicle:

The Knockdown Center’s application for an assembly permit of 5,000 persons has been turned down by the Buildings Department, according to Community Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano.

“I sat down with them early on,” Giordano told CB 5 on Wednesday night. “I was really taken aback when [Knockdown Center’s operators] said to me that they were looking for a permit to have that many people assemble there.”

The Knockdown Center, located at 52-19 Flushing Ave. in Maspeth, is no stranger to public skepticism and animosity. Board members and concerned citizens alike have all expressed outrage at the center’s workings in past months.

The arts center’s application for a 600-person liquor license came under fire last month from CB 5, which voted against granting it because it lacked a valid certificate of occupancy after a recommendation from the board’s Land Use Committee.

Those concerned over the Knockdown Center’s place in the community allege that excessive drinking and loud parties occurring late into the night have been and will potentially continue to be problems in the neighborhood.

The denial of the assembly permit will not prevent the center from filing a new application for a different amount of people.

They're out to get Mary Ann

Dear Crapper,

Mary Ann Carey has been the target of a secretive attempt to pressure her into retirement from Community Board 9's executive office. Last night, many whom she has helped in the community came forward to speak on her behalf. The board decided not to vote on the dismissal measure, and instead put her on probation. Blenkinsopp emerged as the ringleader. In 2012, he was featured by the Courier.

Quite interesting that he is quoted as saying "It’s a struggle to try to make government bodies responsive and accountable, and to help them do their work better."

Mary Ann Carey has been one of the most responsive public servants I have ever met, going above and beyond the call of duty (such as staying after hours, instructing me about other agencies, and finding contact information) to help me with the Triumph of Civic Virtue issue and other local government matters. I never found her to be lacking in “technology” or “with accountability” as he states here.

Sincerely,
Jon Torodash

Yeah, they're out to get Mary Ann. I suppose someone else wants her job so they can run for office one day.