Open Thread Wednesday

By on June 3, 2020 6:02 am in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • CassieVonMontague

    Tenants are suing the owner of 2 Pierrepont Street alleging owner illegally offered market-rate leases instead of rent-stabalized leases.

    https://therealdeal.com/2020/06/01/ex-trump-nominee-broke-rent-stabilization-laws-at-his-brooklyn-heights-building-lawsuit/

    The owner is Vinnie Viola, who Trump nominated for Secretary of the Army but Viola withdrew himself from nomination after Secretary of Defense Mattis raised concerns of questionable stock trading practices by Viola.

    Viola purchased the building from Brooklyn Law School in 2015 for $35 million. Brooklyn Law School sold other buildings in the neighborhood to Kushner Companies, and tenants in two of those buildings, 89 Hicks St and 18 Sidney Place, sued for failing to follow rent-stabilization laws. Kushner paid $100K in rent overcharges to the tenants of 89 Hicks in Dec 2018.

    The buildings were exempt from rent stabilization when they were owned by Brooklyn Law School, but did not qualify for exemption when they were purchased by a private landlord

  • Susan O’Doherty

    First Presbyterian Church on Henry Street has an open food pantry on their front stoop. Anyone can drop off nonperishables, including pet food, and anyone can take what they need.

  • CassieVonMontague

    Brooklyn Heights photographer Richard Moses described his fight with Covid-19 to the Wall Street Journal.

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/chicken-soup-remdesivir-and-deep-breaths-how-older-patients-survived-covid-19-11591019558

  • El

    Extremely small news, but I found the usual toilet paper brands (Charmin, Cottonelle, etc) finally back in stock in big packs at the Duane Reade on Court/Montague. The CVS closest to me hasn’t had any paper products every time I’ve gone since March… I’ve also seen regular bags of AP flour/yeast around the neighborhood, so hopefully a sign all the supply chains are getting back to normal!

  • Ernie Lendler

    And for a little amusement. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez has a Democratic Primary. Nope. Not make this up. No one could. Paperboy Love Prince even made City and State Magazine’s winner of the week list a while back, and is on the https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d2ef4b6b455403d64a94f2402dbe90eeacadb2a8dc390465c6c548917856f1d3.jpg official Board of Elections candidate list.

  • KXrVrii1

    So first, I lived near there when they did the renovations, and those were some of the longest and loudest I’ve ever endured. So from a karma perspective, I’ve got no issues with the owner taking some pain.

    But I’d also note that it seems like this suit is by new tenants, i.e. those who benefited from all that renovation and knowingly entered into “market-rate” leases. So I’m not sure I really care either way…

  • afmichaels

    Tomorrow’s the last day to sign up for Sweet Pea CSA, here in Brooklyn Heights. For anyone looking for an easier way to get fresh fruits/veggies/eggs/meat/cheese without having to brave the grocery store, details are below.

    First pick up is Saturday, June 13.
    Sign up here: https://csa.farmigo.com/joi…

    Or learn more about our CSA and the precautions we’re taking for Covid-19, here: http://www.sweetpeacsa.org/

  • AEB

    The day after the demonstrations began I noticed, on the stone wall near the northernmost Promenade entrance, the spray- painted words: Wake Up We Live In a Police State.

    I almost immediately thought of Poe’s the Mask of the Red Death; life has a way of finding its way into even the most protected enclaves.

    A subsequent visit revealed that some of the message, only some, had been painted over so that Police State had been covered. What the?!

  • Clarksy

    What a lovely photo of the foggy waterfront!

  • Andrew Porter

    Great photo, Claude—the opposite of skyscrapers!

    Here’s another one of those historical markers I shot a while ago:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/761c9be798e4614b703f636b5b2304d5d0d393c3d86bba03399491f47f82628e.jpg

  • Andrew Porter

    My brother reported that no stores in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti, Mich., have yeast. Maybe I’ll have to ship some to him from here.

  • Andrew Porter

    You should contact 311—the Parks Dept. will remove this.

  • RD H

    Outdoor dining could return as early as June 22 per Cuomo’s announcement today. Given the distancing requirements, which restaurants around here could choose to take part? BH Wine Bar could probably get a couple of tables going outside. Others?

  • El

    my friend works at Zingermans and I know they offer yeast and same day local pickup/delivery!

  • Jorale-man

    The Heights Cafe might get a couple tables out there as well. The Custom House or Henry’s End also come to mind.

  • Cranberry Beret

    Multiple videos in the last hour showing NYPD dispersing protesters by force along Cadman from Tillary to Montague

  • Cranberry Beret
  • SongBirdNYC

    My brother saw it live on CNN-he lives in DC. He said a peaceful protest came up against a line of cop cars. Most of the crowd complied with whatever was asked of them but a small group surrounded a police car. This apparently kicked off an immediate aggressive response by the cops. Protesters were roughly wrestled to the ground in an attempt to arrest them. He didn’t see the use of any batons or tasers.

  • Cranberry Beret

    New York Times says batons were used (as shown in several videos posted on Twitter):

    “In Brooklyn, officers hemmed in a number of demonstrators on Cadman Plaza, after the group, which had started at the Barclays Center, was prevented from crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. After a tense standoff, the police tried to push the group back, as police cars swarmed the area. Officers charged into the group, some hitting protesters with batons, according to New York Times reporters on the scene. By 9:15 p.m., with rain pouring down and officers again charging at protesters, the group had scattered.”

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/nyregion/nyc-protests-george-floyd.html

  • Jorale-man

    Yes, about 8:30 or so, I saw out my window probably a dozen police vehicles racing up Clinton Street, sirens blaring. Later, a police SUV was driving the wrong way down the street at a good clip. Quite a scene!

  • Remsen Street Dweller
  • aeshtron

    Repeal NYS 50a which keeps the personnel records of violent police officers from the public! The NYPD uses 50a to withhold the disciplinary records of officers who have been repeatedly disciplined for overly violent actions.

    Many police only communicate through intimidation, force and violence. Last night, on Cadman Plaza near Pierrepont, the NYPD once again used violent physical force against peaceful protestors who were on their knees chanting “non-violent protest”.

    The NYPD and other departments believe they can use violence against peaceful demonstrators who are upset about police brutality.

    The police are losing public support.

    Peace and Black Lives Matter!

  • BH Mike

    Keep up the good work NYPD.

  • Brooklyn Noob

    What part of an 8 o’clock curfew was confusing to a public official?

  • meschwar

    What is 50a?

  • meschwar

    What part of the first amendment is confusing to you?

  • Reggie
  • http://www.yotamzohar.com StudioBrooklyn

    Golden opportunity to write “Yellow Submarine” where “Police State” was, or escalate by writing “Fascist Regime” or something like that. Who here has good penmanship and can work fast with a spray can or stencil?

  • Andrew Porter

    Watching from windows is good.

    I am extremely paranoid about the possibility of a vast uptick in Covid-19 cases, brought on by way too many people demonstrating way too close to each other, many without masks.

  • Jorale-man

    I’m with you 100%. I won’t get near any of these crowds, even if I do agree with the general cause. I can only hope that hospitals in the area are getting ready.

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