Jorale-man,
“There’s very little reason someone should own a car in NYC” That’s a thoroughly presumptuous statement. How can you possibly know everyones reasons for owning a car and judge they don’t have a legitimate reason?

The number and frequency of these film crews to the neighborhood has become a real inconvenience for residents. Last night they were filming until 2am and then it got even louder when they were packing up and rollong equipment genrators and deisle engines and trailer lifts up and down loading ban ging equipment. It was not a delight or a treat at 3am. But they are not entirely to blame, after all they were issuedan all nite permit. Why are we allowing the Mayors office to issue all night permits on residential blocks and on weeknites. I’m seriously over it.
I also called Couselman Steve Levin’s office. They are trying to bring improvements but need this type of feedback from residents. Call the office please and give them your feedback at 718-875-5200.

The Muppet Christmas shoot on Joralemon St. of a couple years ago was fantastic — crew let locals drive through the block, and even indulged this local’s request to “meet” some of the characters that were off duty that day.

The film shoots instead make me rethink why we allow so many film shoots.

They command parking that would otherwise be used by people who live here, work here or shop here, sometimes well in advance of their permit. They inconvenience pedestrians and drivers alike. The crews and the advance parking guys are rude. (Sometimes, in my experience, rude and severely stoned.)

What good the shoots do for this neighborhood is unclear to me. What good they do for the industry or the city overall should be balanced against the harm they cause this neighborhood’s residents.

I love these shoots also because they piss off car owners. There should be vastly fewer cars on these streets and anything that makes them rethink their reliance on cars is good,

And I have known through out the years so many of the people involved in this industry here in the city and I know just how valuable these jobs are to your friends, neighbors, family, and all those who worked tonight and will work for the months to come to produce this motion picture.

And it was fun for my 10 year old.

Tonight’s players were (what appear to be) two wholly passive Traffic Enforcement Agents (they’re wearing some sort of trafficky uniforms and have been there for hours), one enraged resident-driver, 4 NYPD MOS, a very officious film crew member, and a small audience. Enraged resident begs to be allowed to drive down Joralemon at Henry to his garage on State Street; officious crew member refuses; lots of ugly dialog ensues. Two police cars arrive, one having driven up Joralemon (the wrong way); more dialog; it seems the resolution was for the Henry Street RMP to escort the enraged resident down Henry to State so he could approach his garage from east to west on State. RMP on Joralemon proceeds to back down Joralemon and is quickly followed down Joralemon by Engine 224, approaching from Clinton (officious crew member does not interfere with FD). So not only can you not park ON the street, you also cannot approach your safe-haven garage FROM said street, without enlisting oodles of help.

Next up – 4 days of filming for Ralph Maccio’s new film – at least that’s what the no parking signs say. The production company letter says they’re only shooting tomorrow and Friday. Odd.