Joe Crowley keeps his campaign money in the family

From the NY Post:

Rep. Joseph Crowley, who serves as Queens Democratic leader, is ­using campaign funds to rent office space in a family-owned property outside his district, rec­ords show.

Crowley has paid at least $69,700 since 2007 to ­Killean Enterprises LLC, which is controlled by his brother, lobbyist John “Sean” Crowley.

As chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Joseph Crowley is the fourth-highest ranking member of his party in the House.

“This, without a doubt, raises red flags about conflicts of interest,” said John Kaehny, chairman of the NYC Transparency Working Group.

“As an important public official, you want to be above suspicion, not raising suspicion.”

The campaign office in Elmhurst is about 10 blocks outside Crowley’s congressional district.

But as party boss, he already has space at Queens Democratic headquarters in Forest Hills three miles from the Elmhurst office.

“It’s not physically in his district — that would be a key point,” said Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center. “What he uses it for — it’s as old as politics — it’s called a slush fund. And what do you know? It goes to a family-connected entity.”

The Elmhurst address is also home to Crowley & Kaufman, the law firm of Crowley’s campaign treasurer, Scott Kaufman, an attorney who since 2006 has raked in at least $550,000 in fees via appointments from Queens Surrogate’s Court.

Joe ran away from reporters asking questions about this.

Factory turned into church (and luggage storage?) in Elmhurst

This old factory at 74-16 Grand Avenue most recently has been used as a church. The problem is that they never got permits or a place of assembly to legally turn it into one. There currently are 5 active DOB violations and thousands of dollars in ECB fines. The most interesting violation has to be this one:

Not sure why large quantities of luggage are being stored on the premises. And then there's the fact that the facade is crumbling.

2 long time businesses close

From the Queens Courier:

Seafood restaurant Pier 25A in Bayside closed its doors this week after 33 years on Northern Boulevard.

According to Pier 25A’s website, the restaurant was forced to close after the landlord declined to renew the lease for the iconic building, which is designed to resemble a wooden ship, at 215-16 Northern Blvd.

The landlord opted instead to tear the building down and build new storefronts over the next year.

Also got word that the Hilltap Tavern, which is probably older than anyone reading this post, closed for good Monday. It was located on Grand Avenue in Elmhurst.

Grand Avenue looks a lot different these days

Grand Avenue in Maspeth is pretty low-rise, and these latest additions aren't all that tall but they do seem to tower over everything else.

You can see what I wrote last year about progress at the pile on the left as well as the pile on the right. (Love the "balcony on top of false balcony" look.) Then you can take a trip back in time to 2008 when the whole magilla got started under seedy circumstances.

Old Spartan Restaurant to be completely transformed

This building was the Spartan Restaurant on Grand Avenue in Maspeth. Here it is as it appeared in the movie "Goodfellas" in 1990.

After the owner, long time civic leader Peter Chahales died, the restaurant was sold and became a catering hall. First it was Russian, then Glatt Kosher then it was the Lido, whatever that was.

Now it's behind a giant green construction fence, undergoing its latest incarnation.

As what? My best guess, based on what the rest of the Grand Avenue strip is noted to contain, is a massage parlor, nail salon, cell phone store and 99-cent paradise.

A job well done

The disaster at 65-11 Grand Avenue that was featured on these pages in August of last year has finally been completed after they got their act together. Bravo for removing the eyesore.

Who needs a demo permit?

Walking down the street whistling on a wonderful warm day. And what to my wondering eyes should appear? A rodent bait sign on the door. But there's no construction fence... Well, this obviously requires closer attention.

Ah, not just a rodent bait sign, but a stop work order is posted dated from this past January. Let's look into this.

So they apparently tried to hand demolish this brick building in January and after being busted, applied for permits in March. They got stopped before they could finish, but they left several open windows and holes in the place during the high snow season. Lord only knows what the inside looks like now.

The eventual plan is to replace this fine old structure with a "community facility" and 6 apartments.

Grand Ave still has too many trucks

From the Queens Courier:

Trucks hurtling down Grand Avenue are hurting businesses and the quality of life in the neighborhood, said Anthony Nunziato, a resident of Maspeth and the owner of a Grand Avenue business.
“These trucks coming through cause numerous amounts of problems for us,” Nunziato said. “People are afraid to cross the street, traffic is constantly backed up, there is unnecessary noise and truck fumes are all over. It’s a real quality-of-life problem.”

Back in 2007, the DOT, along with Community Board 5, devised an alternate truck route named the Maspeth Bypass to alleviate this problem. The route, implemented in 2011, gives trucks and tractor-trailers a Brooklyn-Queens route that avoids Grand Avenue except for local deliveries.

Nunziato, who has owned Enchanted Florist on Grand Avenue for more than 28 years, said the restrictions are rarely enforced, which is why the trucks are still an outstanding issue.

“All we want is enforcement,” he said. “The alternate route was put in for a reason. There has to be something done.”

Moreover, 53-foot-long tractor-trailers, which must follow a strict traffic pattern when traveling in the city and may not make any pick-ups or deliveries when there, according to state law, roll down the avenue daily in apparent violation of state law, Nunziato said.

When asked about the enforcement of the illegal trucks on Grand Avenue, the DOT referred the question to the NYPD.

The 104th Precinct said they conduct enforcement with the state Department of Transportation, which will, after a request, set up a temporary weighing station to check for illegal trucks.

Did someone run out of money?

From MLSLI:

"Land For Sale On Busy Grand Avenue In Maspeth Queens. 75X150 Lot Size With Approved Plans For 2 Commercial And 3 Residential Dwellings In Prime Maspeth Location. Able To Build 3 (2) Family Homes On Adjacent 53rd Road. Property Is Being Sold As Is At Current Time Of Development. This Price Includes Foundations, Structural Steel, And Wood Framing On All 5 Properties." (It actually appears to be 6 residential dwellings if you believe the DOB permit.)

The price? $8,000,000.

Just a bit crazy

We can add this ridiculously placed illegal sign at 69th Street and Grand Ave to the "you've got to be kidding" file.

Gut renovation done without approval

65-11 Grand Avenue in Maspeth has been in rough shape for a really long time. Rumor had it that a reclusive elderly lady lived inside - alone - who couldn't keep the place up. So it was a relief to many to finally see a scaffold erected and work begin on the property.

Alas, the operation was quickly shut down, and now the rickety shrouded scaffold remains. (It usually helps to get approval of your plans before you start gutting the place.)

Household garbage being dumped on commercial strip

From the Queens Ledger:

So what happens if public trashcans regularly overflow with trash? 
Well, according to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) the wasted baskets will be removed, especially if the department believes they are being used by residents to illegally dispose of household garbage.

“DSNY will remove baskets if they are being misused, or if the location no longer meets the requirements for litter basket placement,” explained a representative of the DSNY.

On Grand Avenue, several residents and business owners have watched the large metal baskets appear and disappear on dozens of corners throughout the business district.

After one can was recently removed because nearby homeowners were regularly dumping large quantities of trash, the location became a dumping ground for trash bags and litter.

The shop owner explained that the same residents are dumping trash where the bin once stood, leaving them and other business owners responsible for the cleanup.

DOT workers have nothing but time

Another from my inbox:

On April 7th, we posted a story on QC about deBlasio's, Liz Crowleys, and Community Board 5's inability or unwillingness to implement a one way conversion of 70 Street in Maspeth to a one way northbound that was recommended over 2 years ago !!!

SO MUCH FOR dE BLASIO'S VISION ZERO PLAN

One of the stories we have gotten from the NYC DOT is that this is a budgetary concern. BULLS&#%!!! We are talking about 6 or 7 corners - Not all of Maspeth, NOT all of Queens and NOT all of NYC.

GOOD NEWS!!! (FOR US...NOT THE AFOREMENTIONED POLITICIANS OR THE DOT)

We have found the money !!!!


Take a look at the pictures of some of the dozen plus DOT trucks parked illegally along Grand Ave in Maspeth (above) while the workers are enjoying breakfast at 8:30.....truly an hour and an a half after their shift starts. THIS IS EVERYDAY !!!!

Look a little further, and notice the trucks parked around Juniper Park. These pictures were taken at 2:30 to 3 PM one recent afternoon. The workers were enjoying the sunshine waiting for their shift to end. This is less than 1/2 mile from Crowley's office....duh !!! Notice the meter maintenance truck. There are no meters within a mile of this location.

We have redacted the vehicle and plate #' s as it is not and was never our intention to get the workers into trouble, but rather to draw attention to the lies and stories we are being told.

There are enough man hours wasted here, that this conversion could be done on a daily basis !!!

A building too short

Received this photo of 73-47 Grand Avenue. There are 3 layers of zoning here: R6B, R4-1, C1-2. A typical Fedders-style building is being constructed, although by Fedders standards, it's not all that ugly.

There are several revisions to the plans, and they all include 4 stories. The latest filing says 8 units, 4 stories. However, this construction appears to be capped at 3 stories.

Even if you decide to build smaller than allowed, don’t you have to resubmit plans to reflect that?

Also, the City Planning map says it has 12 units, not 8!

Reporting on the past, charging for the future

This photo was snapped this past Monday, January 20th, 2014 along Grand Avenue. There are 2 things that are very, very wrong with this newspaper vending box. Let's see if you can pick them out. (You may have click on it to enlarge it in order to spot the problems.)

Prostitution bust at Maspeth spa

From the Times Newsweekly:

Two workers at a Maspeth day spa were locked up last Friday, Nov. 22, for allegedly offering to perform sexual acts for cash on a pair of undercover police officers posing as customers, law enforcement sources said.

Police identified the suspects as Mary Deng, 43, of Grand Avenue in Maspeth and Mao Anting, 41, of Bowne Street in Flushing.

Reportedly, the bust took place between 6:25 and 6:50 p.m. last Friday at the Natural Health Body Work spa located at 65-50 Grand Ave., near 66th Street.

According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, Deng allegedly agreed to perform oral sex on one of the undercover officers in exchange for $100 cash.

Police said Anting allegedly made an offer to a second undercover officer to perform manual stimulation, also in exchange for a $100 payment.

After the offers were agreed upon, both Deng and Anting were taken into custody by police on charges of prostitution.

According to court records, they were arraigned last Saturday, Nov. 23, in Queens Criminal Court before Judge Toko Serita, who released them on their own recognizance. The suspects are scheduled to return to court on Dec. 13.

How do they get up there?

I just have to ask...are they riding around with a huge ladder? How do they post their illegal signs up there?

Union plasters strike warnings all over Grand Avenue

Took another stroll along Grand Avenue this weekend and here's what I found:

Signs warning the members of Local 79 that a strike is coming Monday morning.

I don't know why they are taped to telephone poles and parking meters along Grand Avenue.


We have telephones, faxes and e-mail these days, which certainly are better ways to communicate with members.

Dunkin Donuts thinks street tree is their property

The Dunkin Donuts on Grand Avenue just east of 69th Street has been using the street tree and tree pit as advertising space for years. I have made several complaints to no avail. This is the biggest sign I have seen there so far. You'd think the Parks Department would do something about it as it should be a fairly easy situation to rectify.

Grand Avenue concretions

Someone discharged concrete into the street on Grand Avenue in Maspeth in 2 locations. Here's the first one, near Hamilton Place.

And here's the second one, near 69th Street.

I wonder what DOT wants pedestrians to look for here. It's the drivers that have the responsibility to stop at the stop sign. It's the poorly maintained roadway that seems to need attention.