Bank policy sucks for small businesses

On Oct. 25, Shing Lee deposited a $30,000 check from her HSBC account to a Maspeth Federal Savings Bank branch next to her store, Party Solver, at Metropolitan Ave. and 70th Drive.

Maspeth Federal insists it was just following protocol by telling Lee that she had to wait 30 days after the check cleared before she could withdraw funds - on Nov. 28, or Black Friday.

"It delayed my progress, and I had to rush for the opening," said Lee, who filed a complaint on Nov. 11 with the federal Office of Thrift Supervision, an agency within the Treasury Department that regulates savings banks.

Janet Frank, a spokeswoman for the agency, declined to address Lee's specific gripes for privacy reasons. But she referred the Daily News to Federal Reserve Board guidelines that suggest Lee's deposit should have been available within a "reasonable period" of no more than nine business days.

Owner of a party supply store denied funds

Maspeth Federal Savings: They treat you like family.

Bank erects tombstone on public property

When an individual or organization wants to install something on public property, they are supposed to get a permit from the city agency that holds title to it. But this is western Queens - the rules are different here.

Last year, Maspeth Federal Savings built a circular brick pit at the corner of 69th Street and Grand Avenue to host a new town Christmas tree on a piece of land which happens to be owned by DOT. The previous tree had been planted right in the ground. Since the co-sponsor, Maspeth Chamber of Commerce, is pretty much run by Maspeth Federal, they went along with it. (When individual members were asked about it, first they said they didn't know anything about it, later they just shrugged.) Not only was the bank required to obtain a permit from DOT, but they also needed approval from the Art Commission of the City of New York for a permanent installation in this public space.
As if it weren't ugly enough, the Christmas tree pit recently became host to a black tombstone-like monument dedicated to Maspeth Federal's one-time vice president who passed away last year. He was a nice guy who probably wouldn't appreciate his name and image being featured on a town eyesore. A short distance away are bricks that display the names of the bank president's parents and the parents of the bank's lawyer... This despite the fact that the bank has a lovely blooming garden on 68th Street which would be a more appropriate setting for these tributes.
And that's not all! The bank has snagged itself some free advertising on P.S. 58 The School of Heroes. Note that the bottom of this banner states "Compliments of Maspeth Federal Savings". Public schools are not the appropriate place for banks to promote themselves. But this is Maspeth, where anything goes and the town bank acts like they own everything. Let's also not forget that they sold the mortgage to the developer of St. Saviour's Church. But in their minds it's all ok because they sponsor an antique car show, a handful of summer concerts, a foot race and a parade.

Prediction: No local politician will raise this issue with the bank, DOT and the Art Commission won't take any action and no local paper will cover the story from this angle. However, there will be loads of photos of the parade and the dedication of the latest assault on Maspeth as if letting this institution run amok on public space is a good thing. And in a few months, MFS will no doubt place some other permanent eyesore at this intersection. Because they believe in treating us all like family.

Thy candles shine so brightly

Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the replacement Maspeth Christmas tree. Proudly co-sponsored by the town's namesake bank, Maspeth Federal Savings, and the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce. Don't the missing lights and drooping snowflake just warm your heart?

How to mess up a neighborhood profile

Ok, AM-NY, you came to my 'hood and then blew it big time.

City living: Maspeth

"Named for the Mespeatches Indians who once inhabited the area, Maspeth sits in the heart of Queens."

Maspeth sits on the Brooklyn-Queens border.

"Maspeth has no railroad or subway stops of its own, but shares the M station with Middle Village."

The Metropolitan Avenue station is 100% in Middle Village.

"Also nearby is the L train's Morgan Street stop, from which the Q57 bus goes straight to Grand Avenue."

Don't know anyone in Maspeth who takes the bus to the L but if they did, the Q57 goes down Flushing Avenue to the Jefferson Street stop, not the Morgan Avenue stop. How about the E, V, R and 7 trains? That's how most people get to Manhattan. Take the Q58 to Queens Blvd, the Q67 to LIC, or the Q18 to Roosevelt.

"One bedroom, one bath walking distance from 7 train, one block from Q67 bus stop: $1,100
Two bedroom, one bath located off Elliot Avenue next to Woodhaven Boulevard: $1,800
Three-bedroom apartment at 100th Avenue and Springfield Boulevard: $1,500"

The first one stretches the term "walking distance", the second is in Middle Village and the last one is on the other side of Queens...

"Local parks and playgrounds
There are many to choose from, and all promise a nice visit: Frontera Playground, at Brown Place, 69th St, and 58th Ave. Juniper Valley Park: Between Dry Harbor Road, Juniper Boulevard and Lutheran Avenue, in nearby Middle Village."

If there are many to choose from, why would we have to go to nearby Middle Village? Maurice Park and Rieff Park are the only other parks in the nabe that are not small dopey triangles next to the LIE.

"How has the neighborhood changes (sic) for the better?
There are a lot more cultural activities going on. The Maspeth Federal Savings bank does concerts and comedy shoes (sic) during the summer. There's always a Memorial Day parade that ends in the cemetery with a 40-gun salute."

The bank has always done this and we have always had the parade. It ends at the memorial square with a 21-gun salute. Great proofreading, by the way.

"And you can't miss Donovan's on 58th street, it's close to Woodside, but it's known for the best hamburger in NYC."

Donovan's is in Woodside on Roosevelt Avenue.

Then there's one of the dumbest statements I have ever read in print:

"I think we have three Cavalries. (sic) That's why the streets are so narrow. It's because they used to bring in the bodies on ox carts."

Wow.

Queens is no Staten Island

Turns out Staten Islanders can't bear to lose their Victory Diner. That was the consensus of the Parks Department, a bank foundation, the Staten Island Advance and borough leaders who've come up with cash and a plan for buying and moving the classic chrome-and-neon restaurant from Dongan Hills to the Ocean Breeze waterfront.

Molinaro has set aside $6 million for the future construction of a "kiddie" amusement park in that area. When Paulo approached him about relocating the diner there, he said it made perfect sense.

Hey, Helen Marshall, how about $6 million towards the purchase of St. Saviour's?

The Richmond County Savings Foundation had the same enthusiastic response.

Hey, Maspeth Federal Savings, how about the same enthusiastic support for a landmark in your own backyard ... oh, wait, you sold the mortgage to St. Saviour's owners because your president thinks the "decrepit" buildings on the site are "not worthy of landmarking".

"The Parks Department has long been a repository for historic structures," said [Commissioner Adrian] Benepe. "We thought we could combine historic preservation with an opportunity to provide amenities to the park."

Oh, fantastic, Adrian! How about pushing to get more parks funding so you can do the same for St. Saviour's?

A vintage diner, saved

This was just a week before:

Borough President Molinaro has built a well-deserved reputation for "thinking outside the box" to improve our quality of life. Here's an extraordinary chance to demonstrate that talent at a relatively small cost to the city.

We urge him and Staten Island's City Council members to get in touch with Parks Department officials and his friends in the mayor's office to seize this fleeting opportunity before it's too late.

Save the Victory

These same officeholders and institutions in Queens can't come together to save a piece of our history the way the SI guys are coming together to save a greasy spoon. All they do here is say how much they would like historical sites in Queens to be saved while they make excuses as to why what is being asked for can't be done. Speaks volumes about who is in control here and whose bidding they are doing, doesn't it? Inaction speaks louder than words.

Photo from Forgotten-NY

Papers protect & promote Pinky

Coverage of Pinky's rally from the Queens Chronicle:

Residents Rally Outside Maspeth Halfway House

Community Board 5 member Michael LoCascio also assailed the owner for failing to notify the community before moving there — adding that he would never have objected so strenuously if the facility had been authorized to serve nearby residents in need of minor criminal rehabilitation.
Mike LoCascio replaced the 70-year old former marine and community volunteer who was allegedly harassed by Dennis Gallagher at a shopping mall. He hasn't even attended his first CB5 meeting yet.

“This is why we have a problem,” LoCascio said, pointing to a plastic dime bag laying on the sidewalk, just feet from the front door.

Those words coming from him are just so damn funny considering...oh, nevermind.

Anyway, back to Pinky:

Despite the vacate order, Gallagher said he later received a defiant call from Gomez claiming he had no intention of leaving or complying with any of the department’s mandates. “That is why we planned this rally,” Gallagher said last Monday.

Yes, if I were running an illegal flophouse, I would be sure to call up the councilman in the area and tell him that the ex-cons are staying put. Gallagher felt the need to come up with something to explain the reason for this press conference after his phoniness was spotlighted on Queens Crap.

“To send a clear message that this … owner, who showed no respect for the community or for the occupants of this home, is not welcome in Maspeth.”

[I wonder if he told the same thing to the owner of nearby St. Saviour's, who also has shown no respect for the community. It's doubtful since Gallagher failed to show up at either the rally or press conference held last year to save the church and is now cutting deals with the same developer.]

Notice that Assemblywoman Marge Markey didn't come to her own rally, but her number one supporter, Maspeth Federal Savings president, Ken "I'm from Polack Alley" Rudzewick, did. [His bank sold the mortgage for St. Saviour's to the developer.] He's wearing a suit and tie and shades in the photos.

Now, on to the Queens Ledger:

Strength In Numbers

Maspeth will not stand for an illegal halfway house in its community.
150-plus neighbors made that clear on Monday, turning out for a rally hosted by Councilman Dennis Gallagher, who has been leading the fight against 59-39 58th Avenue.

150 people? I think not. Sources tell QC that the turnout was a few dozen. Take a look at the photos from the Times Newsweekly which show the entire crowd. Strangely, despite their own photographic evidence, the Times Newsweekly reported that there were "more than 200 people" at the rally. (The Times Newsweekly article is not linked online yet.)

Let's check the coverage from the Times Ledger:

58th Ave. flophouse sparks rally

More than 75 angry Maspeth residents joined area leaders Monday to protest a halfway house on 58th Avenue which had briefly housed 12 ex-convicts from Rikers Island before the city Department of Buildings issued a vacate order in late March.

The Fire Department gained entry into the home on March 28 and the DOB issued a full vacate order after finding hazardous conditions during inspection, a department spokeswoman said. The city evicted 12 former inmates from Rikers Island who were using the building as a halfway house, she said.

75 attendees sounds more like it. (Perhaps the reporters from the Queens Ledger and Times Newsweekly were seeing double.)

The building has already been shut down. It's obvious that there was no need for this rally or to waste police manpower to oversee it.

Thank you, Times Ledger, for having the guts to report the truth!

The Councilman doth protest too much, methinks!

"Each site has a history that goes back nearly 150 years."

Hey Pinky, Niederstein's was built in 1854, St. Saviour's in 1847. How the hell do you math?

And stop blaming LPC when the real problem is you.

This tripe was handed out at the City Council's June buildings hearing where community leaders were not allowed to speak about problems they experienced with the Department of Buildings. There is a column detailing the shenanigans here: Dennis Gallagher & Maspeth Federal Savings: Rewriting the U.S. Constitution

I agree with the writer's opinion that, "Queens has the same type of democracy that the Iraqis had in Baghdad under Saddam Hussein." But look what happened to him...