I was out of town when this hit, so am coming to it a bit late. Based on what I’ve read, it seems as though Rangel was on thin ice for using one rent-stabilized for purposes other than a primary residence (it was his campaign office), but is OK on the other three because the mini-compound forms his primary residence. So today he has given up the campaign office, but is keeping the others.

Fair enough, its apparently all legal. But can someone explain to me why its legal? Why is a program that is designed to make more housing available allowing people to “live” in more than one apartment? This isn’t a question of Rangel’s right to live in three apartments, but one of a rent stabilization law that would allow any tenant to occupy more than one apartment.

Moronic.

No Gas.

The last post, in particular Will Femia’s photo, reminds me that Mobil sign in Will’s photo is no more. Above is a picture I took on 1 July, showing the new chain link fence and the decapitated Mobil sign. The sign itself was lay in the parking lot, freshly cut, the day I walked by. I have no idea when a Mobil (or any other gas) station last operated at this site – never in my Williamsburg life. The service station moved out in 2001 or so (they’re now at McGuinness and Java).

Based on this recent activity, the site is being prepped for work. Shockingly, it will not be luxury housing. The owner wants to open a Tibetan cultural center of some sort. This requires a partial rezoning, as part of the site does not allow commercial uses as of right.

144 North 8th Street (aka The Finger Building)
Photo: A Test of Will

The moment of truth for the Finger Building may finally be at hand. On 22 July, the Board of Standard and Appeals will hear an appeal by community residents on the BSA’s previous decision to allow the construction of the building to go forward. (That decision is still pending resolution of the partnership dispute over air rights between developer Mendel Brach and the owner of the adjoining properties, Scott Specter.) The hearing will be at the BSA, 40 Rector Street in Manhattan, 10 a.m. on 22 July. By mass transit, take the J/M/Z to Broad Street or the 1 via the L to Rector Street.

An excerpted version of Hindy’s longer piece on the lack of affordable manufacturing space in Brooklyn, originally published by the Center for an Urban Future. The original article was in pdf format only, so some may have missed it; even if you downloaded it, its worth a second read to remind yourself that the City is quickly losing some of its most valuable economic resources.

According to the latest NYPD figures, felonious assaults in Williamsburg are up 21 percent this year, from 96 to 116 as of last July 6.

Its hard not to notice the huge increase in beat cops on the street the past few months, and there have been rumors of knife attacks (even machete attacks) in the past few months. In this case, it sounds like a vendetta incident, but previous attacks have been more random.

Nydia Velasquez and Yvette Clarke have endorsed Bill de Blasio for Brooklyn Boro President. Clarke had this to say about her former campaign manager:

No other voice has been as strident about our children’s education as Bill de Blasio.

Clearly, Clarke’s speechwriter needs a dictionary.

Larry Harmon dies at 83.

Only without the benefit of increased mass transit services.