Van Bramer drops out of matching funds program

From Progress Queens:

New York City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) continues to make fundraising appeals for his 2017 campaign committee to reëlect, even after he has reportedly dropped out of the matching funds program of the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

In an e-mail distributed on Thursday, Councilmember Van Bramer's campaign committee sought campaign contributions, in part, because, "I need your help in order to face the very real and immensely important fights that are ahead. I've spent this year organizing the resistance against the devisive retoric from the White House."

The e-mail apparently referred to a protest march that Councilmember Van Bramer spearheaded last November to denounce the politics of then-President elect Donald Trump as an affront to "Queens values," a vague political construct that appeared to overlook the prominent conservative sensibility that exists amongst voters in the borough of Queens.

Councilmember Van Bramer's campaign fundraising drive continues in the face of a news report that his campaign committee has reportedly exceeded a fundraising cap and has dropped out of the Municipal matching funds program, according to an article published by The Gotham Gazette. Councilmemmber Van Bramer is a member of the City Council's Progressive Caucus.

For this report, Councilmember Van Bramer's office did not answer a request to explain why the incumbent candidate dropped out of matching funds program.

Queens Blvd will get new building at site of 2001 fire

From Sunnyside Post:

A developer filed plans Monday for a 6 story, 19-unit complex to go up Queens Boulevard on the empty lot next to Starbucks, according to Building Dept. records.

The building would go up at 46-11 Queens Boulevard, a lot that has been abandoned since a fire tore through the corner of 46th Street and Queens Boulevard in June 2001.

Since the fire, a new building went up on the corner of 46th Street/Queens Blvd that houses Starbucks—which opened in 2006—and T-Mobile. However, 46-11 Queens Boulevard has remained empty and the owner has faced complaints over the years about the construction fence being dangerous and garbage over the years.

SI wetlands are too dangerous for development

From Crains:

The de Blasio administration is adding a new type of neighborhood to its zoning arsenal: ghost town.

The City Planning Commission will hold a public meeting next Wednesday on a proposal that would discourage new development in the three Staten Island neighborhoods hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy: Graham Beach, Oakwood Beach and Ocean Breeze. The areas proved to be so flood-prone that they were included in a state program that purchased damaged homes at prestorm prices, then tore them down so the area could be returned to nature. The city's zoning proposal aims to aid that process by preventing new houses from being built.

"In some limited locations … conditions are not appropriate for significant new development," a Department of City Planning spokesman said in a statement. "Given the high risk of flooding in these areas and their proximity to ecologically sensitive wetlands, [City Planning] is moving forward with a proposal that will limit future residential density while maintaining the ability of existing homeowners to invest in making their homes safe and resilient."

The new rules would allow only single-family homes to be constructed in the future and only if the builder is able to obtain a permit from the planning commission, which would likely frown on most applications.

Skipping hearings is costly

From DNA Info:

The already-indebted contractor overseeing a long-dormant Third Avenue construction site hated by neighbors has racked up about $35,000 in additional fines after blowing off two hearings over site violations, according to the city agency leveling the penalty.

The city will fine B Genco Contracting Corporation roughly $35,660 for failing to maintain the work site at 133 Third Ave., which sat largely untouched since 2012, after the contractor skipped two hearings on a host of violations, according to Departing of Buildings records and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

The contractor was supposed to appear before OATH on June 22 and June 29 for summonses issued by the DOB for cracks in the sidewalk, failing to secure the construction site, and violations related to the sidewalk shed, records show. Because a representative failed to show up, the corporation was hit with the default penalties for the violations, said an OATH spokeswoman.

DOB records show a fine of $11,660 has already been imposed for the jilted June 22 hearing. The default penalties for the June 29 summons will result in about $24,000 in additional fines, said an OATH spokeswoman.

How affordable is it?

From Crains:

The city has not released adequate information about how much money it has spent on affordable housing three years into the mayor's plan to build or preserve 200,000 subsidized units, a fiscal watchdog group said last week. While the administration has touted the number of units it has financed, the group said, the missing data make it difficult to tell how much has been spent to accomplish the goal and how much more cash might be needed to finish the job down the road.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his Housing New York plan in 2014 and pledged $41 billion in public and private money over 10 years to make it happen, including $6.7 billion in city capital dollars. However, since that time the administration has not revealed enough information about how it is spending the cash, according to the Citizens Budget Commission.

"Without this basic data, whether the mayor's Housing New York plan is deploying its capital in the most cost-effective way cannot be evaluated," Sean Campion, a senior research associate at the nonprofit, wrote Friday.

The city typically releases information about how many units it has financed twice a year and includes the total cost of those apartments. The commission, however, wants to see more granular figures to find out whether taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely, and which programs appear to be the most efficient.

Figures such as per-unit costs are not released publicly, City Hall said, since developers could use the data to their advantage when negotiating on projects.

Albany preparing for possible con-con

From the NY Times:

Every 20 years, New Yorkers have the chance to vote whether they want to hold a constitutional convention to amend, tweak or otherwise improve the founding document of the state.

For the past half-century, voters have demurred. This year, however, academics, good-government groups and others believe the outcome of the ballot question in November may be different. And — perhaps no surprise — it has something to do with the current occupant of the White House.

“Trump’s election emphasizes how valuable it is for states to chart their own course,” said Peter J. Galie, author of “Ordered Liberty: A Constitutional History of New York” and a professor of political science at Canisius College in Buffalo. “We can put a right to clean air and water in our Constitution. If we want to add more labor protections, we can do it. That’s the beauty of federalism.”

But before voters confront the ballot question, they will no doubt be barraged by campaigns for and against a constitutional convention, affectionately called Con-Con.

Nonprofit groups interested in issues including campaign finance reform, redistricting, term limits and the legalization of marijuana have come out in favor of a convention. They argue that the state Legislature is unlikely to take up these thorny, politically treacherous topics. At the same time, unions like the United Federation of Teachers and state legislative leaders have argued against a convention, saying it could repeal hallowed protections.

There are some offbeat — some might say flaky — positions that advocates say could come about only during a constitutional convention. They include calls for a unicameral Legislature — doing away with the Assembly or Senate — and the division of the state into autonomous regions, with separate regional governors and legislatures.

If voters approve a convention, delegates would be elected in 2018, with the convention held the next year.

Photo op award winner

First prize goes to...

Wills finally on trial

From NY1:

Queens City Councilman Ruben Wills is the latest elected official to stand trial on corruption charges. In laying out their case Wednesday, prosecutors said he pocketed thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to use on clothing, meals, and even construction supplies. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the following report.

Even before he was first elected to the City Council, Ruben Wills had already begun a scheme to defraud taxpayers, prosecutors said, stealing $19,000 in state grant money awarded to his Queens non-profit, and $11,500 in public campaign finance funds.

At opening arguments Wednesday, Assistant Attorney General Travis Hill said that for Wills, "stealing taxpayer funds was business as usual."

The trial is now finally underway after numerous delays, including Wills missing court appearances with an undisclosed illness.

He faces up to seven years in prison on six charges, including fraud and grand larceny, all of which he is vigorously contesting.

De Blasio has interesting priorities

From the NY Post:

Mayor de Blasio on Thursday skipped an NYPD swearing-in ceremony made somber by this week’s assassination of a cop — then hours later revealed he was busy preparing to jet off on a surprise trip to join leftist protesters at the G-20 summit in Germany.

Hizzoner’s overseas jaunt was kept under wraps until just 90 minutes before he took off from Newark Airport. A last-minute announcement said he “will attend several events surrounding the G-20 Summit, including Saturday’s Hamburg Zeigt Haltung rally.”

De Blasio will be the keynote speaker, organizers of the demonstration — Hamburg Shows Attitude — tweeted.

The mayor also made sure the free trip will include a visit with his son, Dante, a Yale University student who’s spending the summer on an internship in Berlin, a City Hall spokesman said.

Presumptive Republican challenger Nicole Malliotakis accused de Blasio of abandoning pressing issues in the Big Apple to pursue his progressive agenda in Europe.

“Unbelievable. Instead of jet-setting around the world, he should be here doing his job,” said the Staten Island assemblywoman. “A police officer was murdered, street homelessness has skyrocketed and people continue to get delayed on the trains.”

We sure do love our criminals here

From Epoch Times:

A once-deported Dominican man with a criminal record and felony arrest warrant was recently released on bail, despite immigration authorities requesting that he be handed over to them.

Instead, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) had to locate and arrest Joselin Medina as he left the Bronx Criminal Court in New York on June 16, the agency reported.

Medina has a past felony conviction for the criminal sale of a controlled substance and a pending misdemeanor charge and felony re-entry charge, according to ICE.

“Even a federal criminal warrant issued by a United States magistrate is not enough for the city of New York to turn over a convicted felon to ICE,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York. “It is unfathomable that New York would create such a public safety risk for the sake of political expediency.”

Medina is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and is facing up to 20 years in federal prison, after which he will be deported.

And if it was up to Joe Crowley, the sanctuary system will stay in place.

How NYC protects the environment

From Brooklyn Daily:

The state has approved a permit for the city to pour up to 7.2 million gallons of contaminated groundwater into Coney Island Creek every day for up to two years while the city upgrades sewer and water mains in Coney’s west end.

The permit allows the city to overlook nearly a dozen heavy metals found in the water because only small amounts were discovered in the creek, and state officials say locals have nothing to fear because Coney creek flows into Gravesend Bay, which will dilute the pollutants. But with millions of gallons gushing into the inlet each day for years, experts and locals fear that the contaminates could amass to dangerous levels, and aren’t buying the state’s argument that being connected to a large body of water will mitigate the risks.

The project being run by the Economic Development Corporation will upgrade aging water mains and storm and sanitary sewers in an area bounded by W. 17th and W. 22nd streets from Neptune Avenue to the Boardwalk. Shovels are expected to hit the ground this summer and the project will last for roughly two years — with an embargo on Surf Avenue construction from May 15 to Sept. 15 so as not to clash with the swell of beach-goers, according to city records.

But to keep the construction site dry, the city applied for a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to “dewater” contaminated groundwater from several sites by pumping it into Coney Island Creek — where people swim, students routinely wade for city-run education programs, and some congregations use the waters for religious rites such as baptisms.

Cops need safer command centers

From NBC:

In light of the slain NYPD police officer, there is talk of bulletproofing NYPD's mobile command centers. Chris Glorioso reports.

Hamilton Beach, Broad Channel rezoned

From the Queens Chronicle:

The City Council on June 21 unanimously approved a rezoning of Hamilton Beach and Broad Channel, which permits the construction of single-family homes on most lots in the coastal neighborhoods.

The initiatives were pushed through by Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who urged the City Planning Commission to approve the plans at its June 7 meeting — even though the panel had more time to review them.

The rezonings will take effect once signed by the City Clerk — which could happen in the coming days.

Under the rezoning, future residential developments in Hamilton Beach and Broad Channel will be limited to one-family houses, with the possibility of two-family homes only on lots wider than 40 feet in the former area.

In Broad Channel, new developments would be single-family only and the construction of community facilities with sleeping accommodations would be prohibited.

The new rules would also prohibit the construction of semidetached multifamily housing in both communities.

Larger homes are often less storm-resilient and out of character in the low-lying, shoreline neighborhoods.

Rego Park building gets upgrade and new name

From Forest Hills Post:

A 16-story building in Rego Park has been revamped and units in the fully-amenitized rental building are now available for lease.

The building, located at 62-60 99th Street, has been renamed ‘The Drake’ and 100 of the 419 apartments are now available with prices starting at $2,000 per month.

The building was purchased in 2016 by Madison Realty Capital for $135 million, the largest investment sales transaction in the history of Rego Park, according to local brokers. Madison bought the property from New Jersey-based Treetop Development, which had invested millions of dollars upgrading the 1960s-era building.

“Named after a historic cinema, which was a lively social and cultural center in the 1950s, The Drake honors Rego Park’s rich history, while delivering upgraded high-end apartments to an area dominated by Tudor-style homes,” said Eric Benaim, CEO and founder of Modern Spaces.

Happy Independence Day from Queens Crap!

Happy 4th of July! Stay safe out there.

May God Bless America and Save Us From The Tweeders.

Kew Gardens business has problems with MTA

From CBS 2:

A business owner in Queens blames the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a company hired to oversee repairs for a loss in customers.

There are growing fears among store owners and residents that the problems will lead to stores shutting down.

Anil Argawal says for the past week, he’s had no electricity in half of his store, and it’s led to fruits and vegetables going bad.

He says it’s cost him thousands of dollars in lost business.

“I’m totally devastated, I’m totally ruined,” he said.

Argawal and his brother own the market on Lefferts Boulevard right off Austin Street in Kew Gardens. The property, along with others, is on a bridge above the Long Island Rail Road tracks — owned by the MTA.

The agency hired management company Zee N Kay to oversee repair work.

Agarwal says the repairs have taken too long to make. The management company disagrees.

“We have fulfilled each and every one of our obligations,” Kunal Kapoor from Zee N Kay said.

Last Thursday, an electrician the company hired started to fix a panel because the electricity had been tripping. But four days later, an MTA Fire Marshal issued a stop work order — saying the agency needed to approve all electrical plans beforehand.

“Typically, LIRR takes several months to get back to you and we couldn’t wait that long,” Kapoor said.

Merchants say they feel repairs are dragged out because of possible plans in the future by the MTA to shut down stores on the historic bridge.

Locals have come up with a solution to the bridge problem. Will the MTA listen?

Prime location that no one wants

So this eyesore on Metropolitan Avenue was originally slated to become a "World Financial Group" location as reported back in 2013 on this blog. However, that never happened, and the building has continued to deteriorate for 4 years. There was a change in the sign to indicate that "Legacy Panning Solutions" would be moving in, but that also never occurred.

Would someone please buy this building and fix it up?

Dilapidated Jamaica home is raccoon heaven

"A seven year-old girl had to run for her life from a raccoon; but according to policy the raccoon has the right to stay. A woman reached out to CleanupJamaicaQueens after her child was almost attacked by a fierce looking raccoon on Sunday June 25th.

The woman is living next door to the raccoon dwelling. Her home is about six feet away separated by a short fence. The decade old abandoned property is located at 167-05 144 Avenue Jamaica Queens. And yes, she has reached out to the local leaders many times to clean up the site.

The woman, Ms. B said that she has seen: rats and lizards, but the raccoons appear to be the leader of the pack. She said, "I was sitting on my stoop, watching my daughter play in my yard; when a raccoon started walking towards her direction; she started screaming, crying and running." That is when I had to reach out to CleanupJamaicaQueens.

Well, I (Hazel) got to the scene around fourish; the Sunday afternoon was still bright. The raccoon was long gone home, but next door. I called 311 and reported the issue. The operator said, some one will come out to investigate, but the raccoon can stay if it does do not have rabies. He went on, "do you know if that raccoon has rabies?" I was so damn angry that I responded, "no I did not have time to investigate."

Photos were taken on 6/25/17. Location, 167-05 144th. Avenue Jamaica Queens.

And this is why the black communities remain a fourth world area in America. There is always a technicality NOT to resolve problems in black communities.

Borough President/Katz, please get off your ever promising ass. You are responsible for Jamaica; It is part of Queens.

Please have your henchwoman/Boranian call the appropriate agency. The raccoon house is surrounded by trees and bushes, where creatures run freely. The entire house is inhabitable and the neighbours are living in fear."

P. Hazel: Social Media Journalist for Justice.

Hi-tech building enforcement happening

From the Daily News:

The non-union Rhode Island-based Gilbane is currently building all over the city, including Hudson Yards on the far West Side and an expansion of New York-Presbyterian Hospital on the Upper East Side. After the crowbar incident, the Department of Buildings searched its internal system to locate every Gilbane site in the city.

They found 14 sites, and over the span of four weeks, inspectors were able to gain access to 12. There they uncovered 49 hazardous violations and issued 13 partial or full stop-work orders at four locations.

At one, a Gilbane site in Hell’s Kitchen, where luxury condos are under construction, inspectors were forced to issue partial stop-work orders three times within a month. They also learned a worker at the site had been hospitalized in April after injuring his head while delivering sheetrock.

The Gilbane sweep is part of a new tech-savvy approach Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler is taking to find and shut down dangerous job sites citywide. Currently the public can check the safety of a site via the department’s public records system by entering the site address. Looking at a contractor’s safety record at multiple sites is impossible.

Eight months ago, the department's chief of enforcement, Tim Hogan, began mining inspection data to find contractors with patterns of unsafe conditions.

Officials say Gilbane got the message. During the first week of inspections, 12 Gilbane sites produced 19 hazardous violations and six stop-work orders. By week four, the sweeps produced nine violations at six sites and only one stop-work order.

Taxpayers on the hook for BDB legal fees

From the Daily News:

Mayor de Blasio has decided to “let” taxpayers foot most of the $2.3 million bill he owes the lawyers who defended him in probes that found he’d intervened on behalf of donors seeking favors from City Hall.

After months of insisting he would never ask the public to pay what he owed, the mayor put up a brief explanation of his reversal on Medium.com early Friday entitled “Our Legal Bills.”

He revealed that “after giving this a great deal of thought,” he’s decided the city will pay $2 million for legal work “tied to my government service.”

Another $300,000 in legal work he said is related to his non-governmental service will come from private donors via an as-yet-to-be created legal defense fund.

From 2016 through March, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney, the Manhattan District Attorney and the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics investigated de Blasio’s fund-raising activities.

On March 16 the U.S. Attorney and DA both announced they had closed their investigations without finding evidence of criminal culpability against de Blasio or his aides.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim, however, made clear that he did find evidence that de Blasio and his aides “solicited donations from individuals who sought official favors from the City.” In turn, Kim noted, “the mayor made or directed inquiries to relevant City agencies on behalf of those donors.”

De Blasio raised $4.3 million for a nonprofit Campaign For One New York that promoted his causes. The News found at least $3 million came from entities seeking favors from City Hall.