What are the chances?

From Eyewitness News:

A woman accidentally threw away thousands of dollars meant to pay for her daughter's college tuition.

The Queens mom has her money back, thanks to some New York City sanitation workers.

Harried working mother of two Melissa Gallagher was rushing from home to her double parked car when she stopped at the garbage can on her corner to throw out a water bottle.

"And it must've just slipped off my wrist," Gallagher said.

Her little Coach wristlet pocketbook, had slipped off into the trash, but this one carried treasure!

"$4,000," Gallagher said.

She was carrying the cash to make a bank deposit to cover her daughter Clarissa's tuition, a basketball player and Junior at SUNY Old Westbury.

The corner can had been emptied along with all the others on Myrtle Avenue, so she frantically called the Department of Sanitation.

The city collects roughly 10,500 tons of refuse a day, rolling 2,230 collection trucks continuously, but DSNY welcomed her to go through the garbage of that truck on her route the next day.

A supervisor had the haul laid out at the Waste Management facility in Maspeth, and the determined mom started digging.

Several helpful sanitation workers assisted in the search, but it was Melissa herself, who spotted the designer pouch.

Ratner looking to sell large stake in AY project

From the Daily News:

After years of lording over Atlantic Yards, Brooklyn developer Bruce Ratner is looking for some help to get his apartment towers off the ground.

Ratner's Forest City Ratner Co. is now seeking to sell a 50 to 80 percent stake in the 22-acre development's housing component.

This is not the first time Ratner has sold a stake in portions of the Atlantic Yards project. In 2009, he sold a stake in both the Brooklyn Nets and their arena, the Barclays Center, to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, raising more than $200 million to get the arena built. He also sold off a 49 percent stake in 15 of the company's retail centers in the metropolitan region, including the Atlantic Center mall across the street from the arena, to raise cash toward construction.

2nd hit piece from developer PAC targets Graziano

Racial strife? Paul Graziano is not the one going around telling whites to vote for him to prevent one of the Asian candidates from getting the seat (there are no Asian candidates). That would be Paul Vallone. BTW, the "inflammatory nonsense" refers to Graziano's statement during a 2001 debate vs. John Liu where he pointed out that Liu's campaign contributions were not reflective of the racial makeup of the district at the time.

All people in the district have been saying today is how cowardly and desperate Paul Vallone is to send out a mailer like this under "Jobs For New York" instead of under the name of his own campaign.

Someone is VERY afraid.

Pot, meet kettle

From Capital New York:

It's a response to a mailer Vallone sent out earlier, portraying himself as a superhero. Here, he's a right-wing supervillain.

The job of borough president has largely been relegated to monitoring land use issues and allocating capital funds for infrastructure projects. Since there isn't much to separate the two Democrats in this race in terms of their respective records in these areas, the election will come down to name recognition and, beyond that, whatever the voters know about the candidates and their values.

Katz has attacked in the past Vallone for seeking the support of the Conservative Party, which opposes abortion rights and stricter gun control measures.

This, coming from someone who is so enamored with conservative radio host Curtis Sliwa that she is not only shacking up with him, but birthed 2 of his children while he was married to someone else...

Details of shady Mattone deal being FOILed

From the Queens Chronicle:

Convinced that something is amiss in an Elmhurst real estate deal, community board members and civic association leaders are investigating the history of a 2.3-acre property located between the Queens Center mall and the Long Island Expressway, where the Mattone Group plans to build three restaurants: Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and Joe’s Crab Shack. The Newtown Civic Association filed a Freedom of Information Request with the city’s Economic Development Corporation for all documents related to the site, last Wednesday. If the EDC’s records confirm their suspicions, the civic association will bring its findings to the city’s Department of Investigation.

Newtown Civic Association President Tom McKenzie, a longtime member of the Community Board 4 Planning Committee, remembers when the city sold the land, which was then a municipal parking lot, to the Mattone Group for $2.2 million in 2001.

Mattone signed a contract with the EDC, promising to build a movie theater on the lot within four and half years and to buy the dilapidated Elmwood Theater across the street and donate the proceeds to the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, which operated nearby St. John’s Hospital. If those conditions were not met, the city would be able to buy back the property for $1.

Mattone had originally planned to have Loews operate the theater, but Loews declared bankruptcy and Mattone struggled to find a replacement. The lot has been used for commercial truck parking until recently, when Mattone erected a fence around the property. Mattone never purchased the Elmwood Theater and therefore no proceeds were donated to the Catholic Medical Center. The theater was sold to the Rock Church and St. John’s Hospital went bankrupt in 2009.

In 2010, the EDC issued an eviction notice and Mattone sued the city. The judge ruled in favor of the EDC, but Mattone appealed and reached a settlement with the agency for $3 million and signed a new contract with it on Feb. 6, 2013, modifying the zoning requirements so that Mattone could build the restaurants. The money went straight to the agency and the promises made to the community evaporated.

Lippman Plaza graffiti is out of control

From the Queens Chronicle:

Lippmann Plaza, a pedestrian walkway in downtown Flushing, has been a problem for years with its graffitied walls and litter-strewn paths. Despite efforts by elected officials and volunteer groups, the site looks as bad today as it did more than 10 years ago.

Recently, Liz Vannicola, a longtime Flushing resident, contacted the Queens Chronicle to vent her frustration about the conditions in the plaza. “When young kids see graffiti, it sends the wrong message,” Vannicola said. “It becomes the norm and they think it’s okay.”

She has called the offices of area elected officials “but nothing gets done” and believes there should be ongoing cleanups at the site.

“It’s not artwork; it’s vandalizing and not welcoming,” Vannicola added.

The city upgraded the site in 2006 after talking about it since 2001. The work involved new lighting, plantings and tree pruning. But looking at the location now, the trees are just as big and sit in dingy pits of eroded soil and weeds. Litter abounds and the walls of businesses are covered in graffiti.

The plaza is a major connector for the 50,000 commuters who travel through the area every day using buses and the subway. It links Roosevelt Avenue, site of the No. 7 subway and several buses, with 39th Avenue, where there are more buses and Municipal Parking Lot 1.

Illegal street vendors set up tables at either end of the plaza, hawking their merchandise and adding to the confusion. Community Board 7 District Manager Marilyn Bitterman said police are trying to crack down, as it’s become a problem.

Bitterman noted that the property belongs to the Department of Transportation and that the Sanitation Department empties the trash cans.

Be careful whose version of events you believe

Last weekend, there was an alleged hate crime reported at the restaurant Shi in LIC. A husband and wife and their gay friend had just left the restaurant when they were allegedly pounced on by a bunch of goons yelling racial and gay slurs. The couple then tried to get back inside the restaurant they just pleasantly dined at and the doorman/management refused to allow them back inside or call 911. That was the victims' story last week, anyway.

This sounded kind of bogus to me, so I decided to wait before posting anything about it. And my intuition was correct. The Queens Courier is now reporting that surveillance video shows that the attack happened down the street and no such refusal to help happened, and the owner says the couple had been thrown out for bad behavior. The NYPD is not charging anyone with a hate crime, and there is at least one report that they provoked the attack.

I've been duped by stories before as well, but the media did a real hatchet job on this restaurant which went viral. Social media lit up with condemnation of Shi based on lies, which is likely to affect their bottom line. I hope the restaurant sues the pants off them all. It seems all people have to do these days is cry discrimination and they are automatically believed, no matter how fishy their story sounds.

Suit against scamming tenant thrown out on technicality

From Curbed:

Even after her landlord hired a private investigator to out her illegal short term rental activities, a resident of 250 Elizabeth Street has managed to avoid getting evicted. Why? Because of a technicality. Before all the Airbnb drama, landlord Ken Podziba actually filed a separate lawsuit against tenant Amy Parness back in 2011 over unauthorized alterations made to her $1,400/month rent-stabilized apartment. And, in housing court, it's not possible to pursue two cases against the same defendant at the same time.

Hit piece sent out by Vallone supporters

The FBI didn't exactly arrest these two for betraying Queens, but whatever.
While not untrue, these 2 candidates were never implicated in any wrongdoing. This hit piece had to have come from either John Duane, Paul Graziano or Paul Vallone. Of course, it doesn't identify on which candidate's behalf it was sent.

Jobs for New York is the Real Estate Board of New York's PAC. Jobs4NY endorsed Paul Vallone.
When you have skeletons in your closet, such as being poker buddies with one of the accused, you might want to think twice about giving your blessing to literature such as this.

By the way, Paul Vallone gave one excuse to the organizers of Monday night's Bayside Historical Society event: "A client of mine passed away, and I am helping with funeral arrangements." And another excuse to the Queens Courier: "He was comforting the family of his 'good friend and mentor' Judge Joseph Risi, who had just passed away, a campaign spokesperson said."

The judge actually passed away on Saturday and his son is an attorney and likely does not require the legal services of Mr. Vallone.

Whoops.

CPC also approves shopping mall on parkland

From the Daily News:

The City Planning Commission approved a plan to build a mega mall near Citi Field as part of a larger redevelopment of the gritty stretch of auto body shops.

The 13-member panel gave its overwhelming approval for the proposal — paving the way for a City Council vote within the next 50 days.

Board member Michelle de la Uz was the lone dissenting voice during the meeting.

She argued that there are a glut of malls already in Queens and said “questionable and weak” efforts have been made to relocate the immigrant shop owners working in the auto body shops.

The development group — a joint venture between Sterling Equities and the Related Co. — said Wednesday that they will begin “briefing Council members” on the “support the plan has received from local civic leaders.”

What civic leaders are those? Chuck Apelian and Paul Vallone?


New York City Planning Commissioner Michelle de la Uz explains her "NO" vote -- opposing the proposed Willets West mall / Willets Point development of Sterling Equities and Related Companies -- during the Planning Commission meeting on August 21, 2013. Commissioner de la Uz is appointed by the New York City Public Advocate. Her predecessor, Commissioner Karen Phillips -- who was appointed by the prior NYC Public Advocate -- similarly voted against the original proposed Willets Point development during 2008.

Copyright 2013 LoScalzo Media Design LLC. All rights reserved.

CPC approves Vallonia expansion

From Brownstoner Queens:

Also at today’s meeting, the commission approved zoning changes for the $1 billion Hallets Point project planned for the Astoria waterfront. The project (pictured above) will bring 2,600 units to a now-sleepy corner of Astoria. Plans for this mega-development have been floating around for years so it’s big new that it’s finally ready to roll. The commission-level approval today follows the Community Board 1 vote of support back in May.

Lastly, the CPC approved landmarking of Jamaica High School and Forest Park Carousel. No surprises there, since the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to landmark these two structures earlier this summer.

5 Pointz permit approved by City Planning Commission

From the Queens Courier:

5Pointz, the graffiti covered warehouses in Long Island City, are one step closer to becoming two high-rise apartment buildings.

On Wednesday the City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the land use application that would allow the Wolkoff family, owners of the property on Jackson Avenue and Davis Street, to build apartment towers to larger dimensions than allowed by current zoning rules.

One tower would reach 47 stories and the other 41 stories, with close to 1,000 rental apartments, 30,000 square feet of outdoor public space and 50,000 square feet of retail space between them.

“Once City Planning delivers the application to the New York City Council, which we anticipate to be sometime next week, I will call the matter up,” said Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer. “By calling it up we will trigger a 50 day window in which the City Council must vote on this application. Once this happens there will be two public City Council hearings at which the public will be invited to comment and testify. I will review the application at City Planning’s recommendation.”

Little Bay Park construction stalled

Dear Community,

Many of you have noticed that work on the Little Bay Park Comfort Station and parking lot expansion have come to a grinding halt. That's not completely true because in actuality construction never began.

Initial inquiries to the Department of Parks & Recreation were met with the sounds of silence. When the Parks Department did respond they would deny the existence of a problem. They even went so far as to make the ludicrous claim that work was taking place but it just happened to be at times when no one was nearby to view the progress.

As is so often the case, the story has once again taken a new turn. A spokesperson for the Parks Department now reports that work was delayed because the contractor needed to obtain the proper construction permits. What this means, if it's accurate, is that a contractor hired by the Parks Department fenced off a large area of parkland and moved dirt and large pieces of construction equipment onto the worksite without have all the permits in place. Would anyone reading this email allow a contractor they had hired to perform in such a reckless and irresponsible manner? I don't think so.

Individuals employed by the Parks Department are dedicated and hard working. However, incidents like the Little Bay Park fiasco emphasize the need for greater oversight. Hopefully a new mayor will bring about much needed change.

Sincerely
Warren Schreiber

It's a shame we need an upzoning to get better subways

From DNA Info:

More rush-hour subway trains, wider stairways, new escalators and a pedestrian connection to regional rail lines are all part of the MTA's planned upgrades for Grand Central Terminal under a proposed rezoning of the area, the Department of City Planning said Monday.

The projects, estimated to cost $465 million, were presented to the City Planning Commission, which is reviewing the Bloomberg administration's application to rezone an aging 73-block area around Grand Central with newer and larger skyscrapers.

"This may not be the sexiest thing," city planner Frank Ruchala acknowledged during his presentation, but "it's a significant improvement to the system."

An accompanying slideshow touted "less congestion, improved sight lines, and additional Lexington Avenue express-track capacity."

The upgrades would be funded, at least in part, by a District Improvement Fund, an account paid into by developers planning to construct high-density buildings in the East Midtown rezoning area. The money would be overseen by a five-member, mayor-appointed committee, and would be earmarked for transit projects and other infrastructure upgrades.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also promised to allocate city funds for East Midtown infrastructure projects, but he and the city have yet to offer any firm commitments.

The measures presented to the City Planning Commission at Monday's meeting included adding an underground walkway between the Lexington Avenue subway lines and the Long Island Railroad, which is being extended to Grand Central Terminal as part of the MTA's East Side Access program.

Other plans include widening stairways and adding escalators at Grand Central and subway stations at Lexington Avenue and 51st Street, Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street, and Madison Avenue and 53rd Street.

All told, these improvements and others would allow one more northbound 4 or 5 train to pass through Grand Central during the evening rush-hour, and another southbound train during the morning rush.

Council pushing disposable bag fee

From the Politicker:

City Councilmembers and advocates announced a plan today to slap a 10 cent charge on all plastic and paper carry-out bags at grocery and retail stores across New York City.

Customers would be required to bring their own bags or pay the fee, which stores would get to pocket, according to the proposed legislation, unveiled this afternoon at City Hall.

The legislation, which will be formally introduced at a Council meeting Thursday, is aimed at reigning in “wasteful” plastic bag use in the city, where it’s not uncommon for grocery stores to double-bag single quarts of milk.

According to the bill’s proponents, New Yorkers use approximately 5.2 billion plastic bags per year–the vast majority of which are not recycled. The city also spends an estimated $10 million a year to transport those 100,000 tons of plastic bags to landfills each year, they said.

“Many agree that it is time to move forward on addressing this environmentally-harmful problem,” the group said in a release.

The legislation would also force the city to begin widespread distribution of free, reusable bags. Restaurants would be exempt from the rule, Stores that break the rules twice would be slapped with $250 fines.

A spokesman for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, whose support is likely necessary for the bills to pass, declined to say whether or not she supports the bills.

A spokesman for the mayor said the office is reviewing the legislation.

Bioswales or garbage pails?

From CBS New York:

Some Queens residents say new sidewalk gardens aimed at improving drainage may end up being more of a bother than a help, CBS 2′s Janelle Burrell reported.

The city is spending $2.4 billion to install more than 6,000 of the gardens, known as bioswales, throughout the five boroughs over the next five years. The gardens are engineered to extend five feet into the ground and can hold up to 2,500 gallons of rainwater.

Matt Mahoney, associate commissioner for intergovernmental affairs for the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, said that alleviating the demand on the sewage system will save taxpayers $3 billion over the next 20 years.

But Pat Kannengieser, who said two of the gardens are slated to be added in front of her Middle Village home, said she is worried she will inevitably be the one left to maintain them.

“I see them also as catch basins for litter,” she said.

The DEP said it is paying the Parks Department to maintain the plots, but Kannengieser said the city plans to clean the gardens just once a week.

Okay, these will be maintained by Parks? Does anyone believe that? They don't have the money to do routine maintenance in actual parks, never mind along the curb.

2M gallons of East River water per day?

From New York Water Law:

The first noticed application for a water withdrawal permit under New York's new water withdrawal laws and regulations, the application of the Ravenswood Generating Station in Queens, does not establish a comforting precedent for the handling of such applications by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Notice of the Ravenswood application is given in the DEC's August 7, 2013, Environmental Notice Bulletin,

No hearings are scheduled on the application for a permit to withdraw approximately 1.5 billion gallons per day from the East River in New York City, and the DEC determined that the project is not subject to SEQRA because, according to the notice, "it is a Type II action." Comments are due on Aug 22, 2013. The entire comment period on this very first application by one of the state's largest water users is only two weeks long and is located in the middle of August, when summer vacations are often taken.

The categorization of the project as a Type II action is difficult to fathom because projects that "would use ground or surface water in excess of 2,000,000 gallons per day," are explicitly defined as Type I actions in Section 617.4(6)(ii) of the SEQRA regulations.

Although this is the first noticed application under the new water withdrawal regulations and as such can be expected to be the subject of considerable interest across the state, the filed application documents and DEC's draft permit are available for inspection only during normal business hours at the address of the DEC contact person in Albany. Members of the public who wish to comment on the application, but do not live in Albany, are likely to find that it takes most of the two week comment period just to obtain a copy of the application and draft permit.

Doorman's SUV set on fire

From WPIX:

Former New York City Councilman, Eric Gioia, held his 10-month-old baby son in his arms and told PIX11 he’s grateful his wife and three small children escaped an arson fire early Sunday morning.

“We heard a big boom and I opened up his door,” Gioia said, referring to the baby’s second floor bedroom. “And I just saw this huge, orange ball of fire. So I jumped on top of his crib, called my wife, and told her to get the girls.”

Gioia’s family vehicle, a 2007 Mercury Mariner, was enveloped in flames in the driveway on 49th Street, near 39th Avenue. Police say an arsonist deliberately set it on fire, before starting four trash fires within two blocks of the Gioia home.

Two Sunnyside pols hit in less than 2 weeks...

This one was caught.

A rather ridiculous building

From Curbed:

An air rights purchase from the rear neighbor on Richardson Street allowed the developer to go tall(er) with a new building at 60 Bayard Street. We glimpsed the front of this space invader last month, and now a tipster has passed along the view of the back.

Holy crap!

Second class citizens?

From the Village Voice:

Dear big developers: Not every tax break is worth a bad headline. Extell Development Company is building a 274-unit luxury condo building in the Upper West Side, with plans to put in a separate door for people living in its planned below-market-rate units. The reason? It's a workaround enabled by the city's Inclusionary Housing law to help Extel collect on some major tax breaks and building allowances. Local residents are upset and have gotten their elected officials to jump into the ring.

Of the 274 units in the building, 55 will be below-market-rate housing, meaning only those earning less than 60 percent of the neighborhood's median income will be eligible for leases. That's about $51,000 for a family of four for the Upper West Side--about the same as the median income for the city as a whole.

The building's affordable units would occupy floors two through six, attached to the building but legally as a separate entity. That separate entity allows Extell to cash in millions in affordances for technically having an entire building devoted to affordable housing. To add insult to injury, zoning law requires that a separate building have a separate entrance.

Neighbors are crying wolf when it comes to Extell's blueprints, accusing the developer of demeaning potential tenants with the second entrance.