The Post rips another story from the blogosphere, once again without attribution. In a story first reported on ThatGreenpointBlog.com, Williamsburg CORE gym scammer John Suarez has opened a new gym on South 3rd Street. The thing is, Suarez is forbidden from operating a gym in New York State. For life. (To his credit, at least this time he opened the gym.)
There is also the small matter of the fact that Suarez’s gym (or at least the basement part of it) is probably illegal in DOB’s eyes.
Planet Thailand is officially put out of its misery. It won’t be missed.
Once upon a time, Planet (PlanEat) Thailand was a destination. People would come from Manhattan to eat at its cramped Bedford Avenue quarters (now home of half of Spike Hill). But that was in the 90s. In ’99, they moved over to a huge location on Berry, and the menu became the Microsoft Vista of pan-Asian eateries – pure bloatware. The formula worked early on, probably due to nostalgia and a lack of competition. But over the years, the quality of the food went downhill, the service just dropped off a cliff, and a quagillion other decent, good and very good restaurants.
[photo: Daily News]
In a bold and decisive move, both Democratic candidates for Mayor have vowed to appoint their own commissioners if elected. It’s not clear whether either of them is committed to smart, sustainable transportation policy – though all signs point to “not”. (And I’m betting that neither would be as decisive or bold if the subject of the question was Ray Kelly.)
Markowitz approved the Broadway Triangle rezoning, with some conditions, which generally follow those set by the Community Board. Marty goes a bit further by identifying a specific place (Whipple Street) to get additional open space. He also signed on to (and strengthened) the proposal that local businesses be protected and given relocation funds.
The Triangle moves on to City Planning now.
What, I’m not on the list?
Like I said, busy times. Next Monday, Churches United for Fair Housing is sponsoring a debate for the candidates in the 34th Council District (Reyna) race. It’s not clear if all of the candidates (Maritza Davila, Gerry Esposito and Diana Reyna) are going to show. Given that this is the only debate, forum or reception for the candidates in this race, it would be a shame if anyone was a no-show.
When: Monday, August 31 (7:00 to 9:00 p.m.)
Where: First Presbyterian Church of Williamsburg, 161 South 3rd Street (at Driggs)
There are about two weeks left until the Democratic primaries, so while it may be Summer vacation for the rest of us, the political season is in full swing. There are a host of local events coming up – and first up is Town Square.
I don’t know what a forum reception is (as opposed to a debate, or a forum, or a reception), but Town Square is holding one for the candidates vying for the 33rd (Yassky) Council Seat tomorrow night.
When: Thursday, August 27th – 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: 110 Kent Avenue
A contractor installs flagrantly wrong cornice in a historic district and LPC calls do over.
No one seems to know who is behind Real Reform Brooklyn. But it’s pretty clear that he/she/they do not like Steve Levin. (Or Jo Anne Simon for that matter, but he/she/they definitely does not like Levin more more than he/she/they doesn’t like Simon.)
Its nice to see someone engage on a local race like this, but it seems to me that there is much ado about nothing in a lot of Real Reform’s attacks on the various candidates (including their “deconstruction” of Evan Thies). Take, for instance, the Levin carpetbagging claim. I don’t doubt that Steve moved into the 33rd District in order to run for Councilmember* – candidates do that all the time.
So what?
It would make a difference if Steve had no track record of community involvement, but that’s not true. He has worked in the community for many years, and has made a name for himself. Yes, Steve is Vito Lopez’s candidate. He might be his “own man” once he gets into office, but for now, he is running on his resume as Vito’s Chief of Staff (and he has built up a nice resume there). You might not like him because of his connections to Vito, but it’s a big stretch to call him an outsider.
Keep it real – focus on real issues.
*(Claims by Levin supporters commenters that he only moved “down the street” are just plain silly – 26 blocks is not “down the street”.)
Aaron Short continues his series of candidate profiles for the 33rd Council District with Doug Biviano. If I were voting on biography alone, Biviano would be my choice (he had me at sailing).
[I know I linked to Thies, who was the first in the series, but was on vacation when Simon ran – you can find Jo Anne’s profile here. I’ll dig around the Courier archives (always a painful process) to see if there were others. And Aaron – any chance you’ll be giving the 34th the Short profile treatment?]
[Photo: Aaron Short]
