NYCHA weaves a tangled web

From the NY Times:

Mikaila Bonaparte has spent her entire life under the roof of the New York City Housing Authority, the oldest and largest public housing system in the country, where as a toddler she nibbled on paint chips that flaked to the floor. In the summer of 2016, when she was not quite 3 years old, a test by her doctor showed she had lead in her blood at levels rarely seen in modern New York.

A retest two days later revealed an even higher level, one more commonly found in factory or construction workers and, in some cases, enough to cause irreversible brain damage.

Within two weeks, a city health inspector visited the two Brooklyn public housing apartments where Mikaila spent her time — her mother’s in the Tompkins Houses; her grandmother’s in the Gowanus Houses — to look for the source of the lead exposure, records show. The inspector, wielding a hand-held device that can detect lead through multiple layers of paint, found the dangerous heavy metal in both homes. The Health Department ordered the Housing Authority to fix the problems.

The discovery spurred the Housing Authority to action: It challenged the results.

Rather than remove or cover the lead, the Housing Authority dispatched its own inspector who used a different test, documents show. The agency insisted that however Mikaila was poisoned, there was no lead in her apartments.

BDB knew about the NYCHA mess for quite some time

From the Wall Street Journal:

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has known the city’s housing authority wasn’t complying with lead-inspection regulations since last year, his office said Sunday.

In a report issued last week, the city’s Department of Investigation said the New York City Housing Authority submitted false claims to the federal government showing it had conducted lead-paint inspections when the required work hadn’t been done for years.

The mayor was first informed of “the possibility of non-compliance” in March 2016, his office said.

Mr. de Blasio, a Democrat who was re-elected to a second term on Nov. 7, has said “operations executives” were responsible for the lapses.

The housing authority notified City Hall that the agency wasn’t in compliance with local laws in April 2016 and with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rules in July, according to de Blasio spokeswoman Olivia Lapeyrolerie.

“As part of the agency’s response, NYCHA inspected every apartment with kids under 6 where there may have been lead paint in 2016 and will do so again by the end of 2017,” Ms. Lapeyrolerie said.

Meanwhile, all this is costing us taxpayers a ton of cash.

NYCHA lied about inspecting for lead paint

From PIX11:

The New York City Housing Authority failed to conduct lead paint safety inspections for four years beginning in 2013, according to a new report by the city’s Department of Investigation. The DOI further alleges NYCHA then lied about the inspections to Federal housing authorities.

MTA sued over peeling lead paint

From AM-NY:

Queens residents are suing the MTA for failing to protect them from peeling lead paint on the elevated tracks of the 7 line, which they say rains down on pedestrians, property and businesses below, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

Plaintiffs of the class action lawsuit include Jackson Heights residents and their children, a day care chain owner, and the owner of the neighborhood’s popular gay club, Club Evolution, according to Kate Foran, the attorney representing the group.

One plaintiff, Dudley Stewart, lives 500 feet from the elevated track on 80th Street in Jackson Heights and fears for the safety of his two children, ages 12 and 8, Foran said.

“His kids are there all the time,” she said. “It’s a scary situation.”

The first elevated structures on the Flushing line were built before June 1915 and were painted with lead-based paint, according to the complaint. And the tracks have been poorly maintained ever since, it adds.

Astoria pols beg to get bridge painted

From DNA Info:

The Hell Gate Bridge turns 100 years old this year — and its age is showing, a group of elected officials say.

Queens politicians are calling on Amtrak to repaint the Hell Gate ahead of its centennial this September, pointing to the "unbecoming appearance" of the bridge's faded and mismatched paint.

"The bridge has not been repainted since the 1990s, and stands today covered in a patchwork of pink, beige, and brown," the officials wrote in a letter sent to Amtrak President Joseph Boardman last week.

The letter — signed by Congressman Joseph Crowley, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, State Sen. Michael Gianaris and Councilman Costa Constantinides — describes the Hell Gate as "an iconic piece of Amtrak's infrastructure."

Skeptical about DEP plans

"On Sept.30th there was a presentation by DEP in Flushing Meadow Park on their long term control plans for CSO's in Flushing Bay and Creek.Mainly the plan is to construct bioswales along city streets to capture water before it hits the sewers and also to create surfaces that absorb water in areas like school yards and green roofs.They also talked about treating sewage with chlorine before discharging it into the bay and creek.

In the room was a small crowd of about 30 concerned citizens,some environmental activists and people from the Dragon boat teams.Just about everyone in the audience were skeptical of the plans and didn't think it would be sufficient because of the building boom that will be coming along the creek in Flushing and Willets Point. Some were alarmed of the idea of all the chlorine entering the ecosystem and it's effect on wildlife. One elderly man who lived his whole life in Flushing told how yards are being paved over for parking and apartment houses green spaces have been turned to concrete and there seems to be a lack of concern by the city to prevent it.

It was ironic that the meeting was held in a building that was built in the park over what was to be the largest underground tank in the world and at a similar DEP meeting not that many years ago we were told that it would be the answer to prevent sewage from entering the bay and creek.

Can NYC ever get a handle on all it's infrastructures issues if the population keeps increasing and this is especially a concern in Flushing.Just seems like bad city planning to me." - Rich

Take a look at the upcoming dredging meeting taking place:

De Blasio declares war on painted ladies

“This situation is going to change, this is what I’ll guarantee you,” Mr. de Blasio continued. “I’m not going to tolerate it, we’re going to change things. I think we have just begun to recognize all the tools available here. But, you know, this is a situation that I don’t accept, and we will deal with very aggressively.”

If you were hoping he was talking about putting an end to illegal conversions, filthy parks or something criminal, you'd be wrong. The enemy here is women in Times Square with paint on their breasts. Because a crackdown on them will make life better for all New Yorkers.

An idea whose time has come?

From the NY Post:

Public urination has gotten so bad in San Francisco that the city has painted nine walls with a repellent paint that makes pee spray back on the offender.

It’s the latest effort to address a chronic problem in a city where the public works director calls himself Mr. Clean: Walls are coated with a clear, liquid repellent material that goes on much like paint. When the wall is hit with urine, the urine splashes back on a person’s shoes and pants.

Mohammed Nuru, director of San Francisco’s public works department, says offenders will need to make the mistake only once to get the idea.

“If you have to go,” he said, “go in the right place.”

Nuru got the idea from Germany, where walls in Hamburg’s St. Pauli quarter are painted with the material to encourage late-night beer drinkers to find a bathroom rather than an alleyway.

Almost 300 units coming to LIC paint building

From the LIC Post:

Vernon Boulevard’s dilapidated Paragon Paint Factory building may soon be part of a huge new residential development.

Construction plans were filed Saturday for a 28-story, 296-unit building at the site; partial demolition plans for the paint factory were filed a day earlier.

According to developer Brent Carrier, the rear portion of the factory will be torn down. The remaining structure will be attached to the new tower and will hold both first-floor retail and residential space.

“We want to preserve the façade of the paint factory and combine it into the new building,” Carrier said.

Carrier declined to discuss specific design plans for the paint factory, but acknowledged that its green exterior will change.

Dumbasses are shooting paintballs at people in Whitestone

From CBS:

Paintball guns are supposed to be used for a game, but whoever has been leaving splatters on cars and homes in Queens is now pulling the trigger on people.

As CBS2’s Tracee Carrasco reported, the paintball assailants have already caused at least one serious injury.

Police said that incident was one of seven paintball attacks in Queens in the last few weeks. The first started back on May 25 on 17th Road in Whitestone.

The Maris family was home when their front window was shot at.

“All of the sudden, it went boom — and then I saw my screen broken, and then orange paint was all over the window,” said Marlene Maris.
The suspects also fired their paintball gun a few houses away – not before stealing as potted plant and Kimberly Leone’s son’s toys right off the front porch.

“Now we have to look around and look over our shoulder, like, why is this happening?” Leone said.

But even more terrifying, police said the three teenage suspects are now driving around and shooting at people in the area.

Last Thursday night, a 48-year-old woman was hit, and then a 29-year-old man. And on Friday night, a 15-year-old was struck, and later, a 17-year-old boy who suffered a serious eye injury.

Police believe the suspects may even be videotaping their violent crimes. The victims want them caught.

Forest Park potholes painted

From WPIX:

Neighbors in Queens are drawing attention to some recent work along Forest Part Drive. Portions were resurfaced and some potholes were filled. Others appear to have been painted over.

Lipstick on a pig?

From the Daily News:

A rusting World's Fair icon in Queens is getting a $3 million paint job — for free, the Daily News has learned.

Bridge and steel painters will donate their time in a bid to turn back the clock on the New York State Pavilion, which was built more than 50 years ago for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Parks Department officials said the paint job will “restore the original luster and beauty” of the pavilion while “protecting its bones.” It is the first such work to be done on the building since it was constructed.

Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver is expected to make the announcement Wednesday outside the pavilion with the New York Structural Steel Painting Contractors Association and union officials.

The donated work will be done through a training program for apprentice painters, officials said.

Proposal to paint hydrant & bus stop curbs

From Queens Gazette:

A city lawmaker is proposing a measure that would require the city to paint curbs near fire hydrants and bus stops with red paint to clarify them as no parking zones.

Brooklyn City Councilmember Vincent Gentile will introduce the bill to the council this week in an effort to spare motorists from receiving tickets issued when they park too close to hydrants and bus stops throughout the city.

Motorists face a $115 fine if they are caught parking within 15-feet on either side of a hydrant or between a bus stop sign and the closest no parking sign on the same block, authorities said.

Gentile said the red paint would stand out and eliminate any question as to whether or not motorists are parked in no parking zones.

Wild geese that fly with the rust on their wings

Whitefish/Oliver Hazard Triangle, Maspeth

I was going to suggest that some community volunteers roll up their sleeves and apply a coat of paint, but it looks as though more than that is needed to repair this damage.

Archer Avenue walls get a facelift

"Team P/J Clean Up Jamaica Now wins big on the trestle saga. Friday, 9/19/14, work began; the trestle was cleaned & painted. This is a result of a long fierce fight between team P/J and the borough president/Melinda Katz's staff.

The trestle, located on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard between Archer & Liberty avenues was a national disgrace. It is a few feet away from York College. Most appalling, is that residents had no choice. Residents had to stand in the unhealthy, despicable site because it is a bus stop.

For years the trestle, connecting walls and the entire area were neglected by the DOS and LIRR. They remained unkept and filthy with a mountain of garbage, grease and grime. That was until last year when team P/J decided on a relentless pursuit.

Method Of Operation -- WHAT EVER THE HELL IT TAKES.

Earlier this year, the LIRR president/ Helena Williams promised that the area will get a facelift around the third quarter. However, everyone was dragging their feet as time grew near.

Ms. Boranian/ liaison at the borough president's office could not give a specific time frame on which work would start. Further, told me, " If you cannot wait, you can clean it yourself."

That is exactly what team P/J and supporters attempted on Labour Day weekend; with my comrade-in-arms, Joe video taping. However, the area was so stink and dingy that it needed a professional undertaking.

Team P/J continued on the relentless pursuit with supporters' enforcement. That brings us back to the work in progress that began last week.

There is very positive feed back from residents. Here are some comments:
"I feel more comfortable when standing here now."
"Wow, is this the same trestle."
"Waiting here for the bus is no longer a scornful experience."
"It is long overdue."

Scenes from the trestle wall on Archer Avenue.

The manager, Bob said, that he does not know when the work will be completed. He was very friendly and polite. Also, he provided me with a follow up number.

Team P/J will remain on the case until its completion. Special thanks to my comrade. His video of clean up events, has proven to be our most effective tool yet." - Pamela Hazel

Just a friendly reminder...

I know it's frustrating when people repeatedly park in your driveway, but painting your curb could get you a fine.

Parking wars getting nasty in Glendale

From CBS 2:

A note on a windshield is one thing, but neighbors said a spray-painted message reading, “Learn how to park S-bag,” is another.

The owner of the silver car did not want to be identified. She parked at 68th Street and Myrtle Avenue Tuesday night and woke up to the angry message.

“I know how hard it is to find spots in this neighborhood. So I would try to leave space if there was space,” the woman said. “So it’s like, very upsetting.”

Another note in black spray paint on another car read, “Hey scumbag park right.” Police said the second car was tagged overnight just two blocks away from the other.

Neighbor Doreen Pratt said the car was parked perfectly fine.

“There was no way another car would have fit there,” Pratt said. “A smart car was even too big for it.”

A surveillance camera at a nearby school captured an image that may have been the parking vigilante, walking by with spray paint.

Residents in Glendale said parking is a real issue, but to punish drivers by vandalizing their vehicles is excessive.

Cops to cover graffiti in certain areas

From CBS New York:

Black, red, and white. Those are the colors of spray paint that the NYPD will reportedly be using to cover up graffiti in the city.

It’s all part of the department’s new graffiti fighting program, the New York Post reported.

Some New Yorkers have already questioned the policy.

The Post said that officers have been instructed to spray over any graffiti tags, especially those found in areas like Bushwick, Brownsville, and Bed Stuy.

Natural rock a happy sight in Woodhaven

Before

Just as the snow melted, I walked my dog past the giant white rock on Whiting Square, only to discover that the hideous white paint had been stripped off.

It had been painted white for a few years, and vandals got a chance at defacing the rock with black spray paint a few weeks ago. Fortunately, someone decided that rather than to paint over the graffiti, stripping the white paint would be a better idea... And it is!

I think it looks great!

Now if only we could get some benches in the adjacent street row island.

Sincerely,

A Happy Woodhaven Resident

Final paint job for 5 Pointz

From Crain's:

Working under the protection of NYPD officers in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, a crew of more than a dozen people painted over in white every square inch of the distinctive graffiti that had made the 5Pointz building in Long Island City a local landmark in recent years. The move came as the building's owner prepares to replace the industrial buildings with residential towers.

"I got it over with, and believe me, I had tears in my eyes," said Jerry Wolkoff, owner of G&M Realty. "I love what [the artists] did, otherwise I wouldn't have let them do it for the last 20 years, but it was time and I just wanted to end it."

Mr. Wolkoff and his son David, who together run G&M, and have plans to demolish the complex housing light-industrial users as well as artists' studios. In its place they plan to erect nearly 1,000 units of housing in two towers rising 41 and 47 stories.


One last mural: