DNA on Dock Street DUMBO: Investigate “Possible Criminal Activity” by Two Trees, SCA and DOE

By on June 1, 2009 1:11 pm in Development, DUMBO, Government, Landmark Preservation, News, Real Estate

The DUMBO Neighborhood Association (“DNA”), which has opposed the Dock Street project proposed by developer Jed Walentas of Two Trees Management, today sent a four page letter to the Inspector General of the New York City School Construction Authority (“SCA”), and to the Inspector General for Lobbying Activities, demanding “a thorough investigation into the activities of the SCA, the Department of Education (‘DOE’), and Two Trees Management, its principals, lobbyists and attorneys.” According to DNA’s press release, this letter was prompted by “stunning testimony” given at a recent City Council hearing concerning the Dock Street project, which is pending Council approval. This testimony, according to DNA, revealed “questionable dealings” between the SCA and Two Trees concerning the siting of a proposed middle school in the Dock Street building. DNA also cited a New York Times article reporting that Two Trees had made substantial contributions to Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Melinda Katz, who chairs the Land Use Committee, as well as spending “about $400,000 lobbying the Council and city agencies.”

In the conclusion to the letter, DNA President Gus Sheha accuses both the SCA and DOE of refusing multiple requests to release all documents relating to Dock Street and to the siting of a middle school in this area. He states, “We believe that more inappropriate behavior and possible criminal activity by the SCA, DOE and Two Trees Management will be revealed should all documents requested be released.”

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  • Publius

    Let the Sunshine In!

  • nabeguy

    One question. Why did the DNA send their letter to the propagator’s of this sham? Wouldn’t SAG Cuomo’s office be a better start?

  • adam

    these criminals were actually trying to build a new middle school at the lowest cost to tax payers. what a scandal. everyone knows that city agencies are supposed to conduct studies for years before making the worst possible financial decision. approve the building but nix the school. it was just part of a make-rich-quick scheme on the part of the SCA and Walentas and Bloomberg. Better a Bed Bath and Beyond store than a school with little kids from the Farragut houses walking all through the neib.

  • davoyager

    Personally I think the DNA acts more like RNA, a Rotten Neighborhood Association.
    How many of the people behind press release after press release have a direct financial stake in if this building gets built.
    These people claim to speak for the best interest of the community and yet have real money at stake.
    Investigate “Possible Criminal Activity” by the so called DNA and their ties to the multimillion dollar buildings with views they stand to lose; investigate the political activity and contributions to local politicians who are notorious opponents of this project and who are now seeking city wide office; and investigate their efforts to mislead the public and win at any cost. Perhaps under the Rico Act.

  • Publius

    **Internal Memo From Super Lobbyist to Multi Six Figure Client and Handful of Lickspittles**

    Stay on Message, Boys, Stay on Message! Keep repeating, the tens of thousands of people who oppose Dock St Dumbo are all 70 Washington residents. Keep repeating! A few distrated or “malleable” City Councilpeople will fall for it!

    Let’s ignore this possible criminal investigation for now. No way I can go to jail, I’m too pretty and wouldn’t last.

    Stay on message, boys, stay on message. 70 Washington residents are behind the entire opposition.

    (note to self: make sure Two Trees’ final check clears)

  • No2Walentas2Trees

    DA, and what of VHNA and BHA? What views will they lose? Correct me if I am wrong, but the members of both the Vinegar Hill Neighborhood Association and Brooklyn Heights Association do not live in DUMBO.

  • curmudgeonly troll

    I have lived in the Heights for 22 years and love the Brooklyn Bridge probably more than my own apartment, and am unable to generate any outrage over the proposed building.

    Now, Mr. Walentas may be a tough businessman and empire builder, but lets contrast him with Mr. Ratner.

    – Created a viable neighborhood where none existed 22 years ago
    – Didn’t build offensive buildings that are a permanent blight on their surroundings, like Atlantic Center (Atlantic Terminal, otoh is acceptable), or Court Street movieplex
    – Didn’t use massive taxpayer subsidies or grab anyone’s property by eminent domain

    Even if true, the allegations about the Walentas building pale in comparison with the facts surrounding other developers. The involvement of press and celebrities suggests the building opponents are in fact the connected cabal.

    The only mystery to me is why Mr. Walentas wants to move forward with this development at a time when there are so many struggling Brooklyn properties… maybe hope springs eternal, or some people just have it in their blood and can’t stop building.

  • Get Real

    Carlo,

    Let’s say the only reason Mr. Sheha is opposed to the project is to protect his views. Are we supposed to think that is more of a “crime” than underhanded dealings of the SCA and the Walentas’?? A person, or people fighting against a project, even if for their own personal views is no crime. Accepting money from developers and then providing them preferential by not doing your job properly, might be an actual crime. As pointed out a million times here and elsewhere, there are far more people opposed to the project than the number of people who could have views. I think it should be illegal for real estate developers to contribute directly to members of the land use board. It is one thing for us to pretend that lobbyists and special interests don’t get a “return” on their money, it is another thing entirely to make it so blatant.

    On that note, shame on Fox 5 News for twisting the fact that Saturday’s rally was all about protecting views. Carlo, do you work there too? Christian Roebling does not have views, Councilman Gioia is from Queens and he is disgusted by this project.

    I have many reasons for opposing this project, none of which are personal views, but right now my main reason has become the complete disgust with the political process and the fact that money talks louder than people.

  • The Where

    Only a fool would build condos in this economy. A middle school should be built at 20 Henry Street regardless of cost. Get Real indeed.

  • Bklynperson

    Its the same army of Walentanistas that keep attacking anyone who thinks this project is crazy, and is appalled by the underhanded, backroom politics trying to jam it through. I have no view and hate this entire project with its red herring issues meant
    to confuse and distract us from that monstrosity that Jed things he is entitled to because he is Jed Walentas! Get real

  • davoyager

    Carlo’s post I saw this morning has this time been removed completely. He told you all about those who runs the so called DNA and the personal financial stake they have in the outcome of this fight. There is major thuggery afoot. It is the DNA who has engaged in the constant drumbeat of press releases and rehashing of old lies and all the tactics. The other neighborhood associations have simply voiced opinion but have not engaged in active and suspicious tactics. And now we can add intimidation to the list of Rico complaints. I would like to know who made the decision to censor a contributor who is reporting public information pertinent to this discussion. I would like to know if there was any pressure applied to remove this post and maybe others I never got a chance to see. Somebody doesn’t want you to know something for some reason and don’t toss around privacy because these people are now public figures who have injected themselves aggressively into the public debate.

  • Publius

    DuhVoyager:

    You and your micro-movement are starting to sweat at bit over the SCA/Two Trees scandal. I know you guys were hoping to have the final Council ULURP vote before the delayed FOIL request got out.

    So here’s a little song that might help you through open government and legitimate public scrutiny:

    So let the sun shine in
    face it with a grin.
    Smilers never lose
    and frowners never win.
    So let the sun shine in
    face it with a grin
    Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.

  • Get Real

    DV,

    Just because Carlo is willing to parade his son Luca out in articles and talk about his kids at hearings does not mean he can air everyone’s personal business on the internet. I don’t think his post about the DNA president should have been removed but previous posts listing what people paid for there apartments, etc, are out of line.

  • Carlo Trigiani

    Get Real,

    If Gus Sheha and Sheryl Buckholtz and Bill Birmingham are going to keep my kids from the opportunity of attending a good public school because they want to protect their personal investment, I’m happy to lead the parade.

    Sincerely.

  • Get Real

    Carlo,

    I love the fact you assume your kids would attend the school. It will not be that big of a school, drawing from a large pool of potential students.

    If this gets built in 5 years we might see Carlo on his knees in front of the building crying his eyes out because his son did not even get into the school.

  • Carlo Trigiani

    Get Real,

    It most probably won’t be built in time for my son. Sometimes you have to serve the greater good. Hopefully your kid will be able to attend.

    Best of luck.

    Carlo

  • No One Of Consequence

    CT, that your son might attend was the one point of empathy I shared with you.

  • davoyager

    And if there is any doubt of the bias of this site I draw your attention to the censorship of supporters at the same time when they allow this Publawer liar to copy and paste his posts day after day. When I did that just once Homer jumped all over me in a most insulting way. The so called DNA has driven this debate and conducted themselves in a most unsavory manner. I now believe there may have been laws broken but at the very least there has been an organized effort to mislead the public and politicians and there has been a campaign of intimidation the depth of which we are unaware largely because web sites like this will not allow all the facts to be shown.

  • nabeguy

    Do I hear a conspiracy theory forming?

  • Homer Fink

    davoyager – I have no idea what you’re talking about.

  • anon

    I am against the school being built in this location. I have no stake in any views or in anything else for that matter. Think that area is dangerous for street crossings near where the cars come off the Brooklyn Bridge and on Front St. As a grown adult with solid discrimination I’m freaked out to cross near there since the cars are going in all directions off the bridge and onto the BQE. How can we trust young students to make the right street crossing decisions?

    I think the explainations of Dav and CT are smear filled. Stop while you are ahead gentlemen. You come off not so good and helped me to decide against the project because your reasonings sound too bizaare and mean.

  • nabeguy

    Homer, Da knows exactly what he’s talking about…it’s the facts that he seems to be having trouble with. If ever there was a “you can’t handle the truth” kind of situation, this is it.

  • Publius

    Let the sun shine in! :-)

  • davoyager

    Homer you know exactly what I’m talking about. You remove Carlo’s posts because he names names and you jumped all over me the one time I posted the same thing here as on DumboNYC yet Pub gets to copy and paste the same message here and elsewhere day after day with out a peep of protest from you.
    You give headlines to the people over at the so called DNA giving them cover as if they actually were a neighborhood association and not a group formed expressly to prevent anything from being built in front of their windows.
    I would love it if the sun shine would expose these people and their agenda, how they have hijacked this debate and crowded out the many other voices that need to be heard.

  • No2Walentas2Trees

    DA, how does it feel to be an unpaid spokesman for Two Trees propaganda?

  • Homer Fink

    da – i have no beef with you. godspeed.

  • Homer Fink

    Oh and btw, I spoke to Carlo today on the telephone and explained yesterday’s events and why/what happened.

  • adam

    the censorship on this site is unbelievable. old coots like publius and nabeguy get a false sense of righteousness because they do not know that most of the posts written in opposition to their addleded views are censored.

  • ak

    DNA is being run by a set of muppets. They are soliciting money from the buildings in the area to fight two trees, with the help of board members on the inside who stand to lose views from the dock street project. When building residents oppose, they are censored to prevent the money from going out.

  • adam

    wow! let the sunshine in indeed! This is like the fall of the Berlin Wall at the BH blog!
    My last two posts were not placed on “moderation cueue”
    even though I disagree with the arrogant nimby’s in DUMBO and their clueless henchmen in Brooklyn Heights!!

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