Report details major rent squeeze

From Curbed:

When adjusted for inflation, rents throughout New York City have risen a staggering 32 percent since 2002. Think that's bad? Well, it is (as seen here), but in certain neighborhoods, rents have soared twice as much, or even almost threefold. A report released by the nonprofit Community Service Society says that rents in Central Harlem have risen 90 percent in the last 12 years, from a median rent of $821 to 2014's $1,560. Central Harlem is the neighborhood that's most acutely felt the rise in rents since 2002, with Bed-Stuy following with a median rent increase of 63 percent from $921 to $1,500. Other neighborhoods that follow close behind are the lumped areas of Fort Greene/Dumbo/Brooklyn Heights with a 59 percent increase, and Washington Heights/Inwood with a 55 percent increase in median rent (h/t NYDN).

Ridgewood's rat problem gets worse

From the Queens Courier:

Residents of Himrod Street on the Ridgewood/Bushwick border in Brooklyn have noticed an increase in the number of rats they have seen on their block and are looking for a solution.


Pauline Bruscarino, a resident of Himrod Street for 39 years, says she has seen rats roaming the neighborhood almost every night.

After going through 911 and 311, Bruscarino said that she was told that she had to wait before someone could get down to the area to inspect the problem.

On Friday morning, Bruscarino said that a city inspector was seen on the block, investigating the problem.

After going through the area, the inspector told Bruscarino that the landlords of the residents complaining about seeing rats are responsible for getting rid of the rats. If nothing is done by the landlords, then the city takes its own action to wipe out the vermin, then sends the landlords the bill.

More construction + more pigs in the area = more rats.

Pesky bike racks interfere with bar plans

From LIC Post:

It’s back to the drawing board for Station LIC, a bar/restaurant that opened at 1037 Jackson Ave. last November.

Community Board 2 rejected its sidewalk seating application that sought 16 tables and 32 seats. It told co-owner Gregory Okshteyn to come up with a new plan.

The problem arose when the board discovered that there were bicycle racks outside the establishment that had been placed there by the city. The plan that had been filed by Station LIC made no mention of the racks.

The board—following Department of Consumer Affairs’ rules—said that the bicycle racks would block a clear pathway for pedestrians should there be outdoor seating. It said that pedestrians need at least 8 feet of clear space.

Furthermore, the DCA requires that there is a clear path of at least 8 feet from bicycle racks.

Okshetyn assured the board that he would revise the plan quickly.

Can't help but think "first world problems" when I read this.

Excavation continues around Steinway Mansion

More photos of the Steinway Mansion site are in from George the Atheist:

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Hevesi bill seen as a slap at Cuomo

From the Daily News:

In what some see as a direct shot at the governor, a bill moving through the state Legislature would give state Controller Thomas DiNapoli the power to more aggressively go after fraud, waste and abuse in state agencies.

The bill requiring agencies and public authorities to provide the controller's office a treasure trove of electronic data that can be quickly analyzed is sponsored by Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens).

Hevesi’s father, Alan, is a former state controller who went to prison as a result of a massive pension fund pay-to-play investigation headed by Cuomo, who at the time was state attorney general.

Andrew Hevesi denied his bill, which passed the Assembly unanimously last week, is an attempt at some form of payback.