Chicken Little Lieber

Check it out. https://t.co/DeDCeG4trs

— Queens Crapper (@QueensCrapper) December 8, 2023

 

 

 

Tuesday's pro Congestion Pricing Rally, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said "Imagine if your family member was in an ambulance with their life on the line, idiling in traffic because of congestion" follows up on a previous quote that "fire trucks can't get to fires" reminds me of Chicken Little's "The Sky is Falling". 

 Where is the data in ambulance response time to hospitals and fire trucks to fires for validation of Lieber's statement implying loss of life? Over the top rhetoric like this does nothing to build his credibility with commuters, transit advocates, taxpayers and those who will be paying these proposed new tolls. 

His use of the word goddamned when saying "These are self-styled problems solvers who have never lifted a finger to solve a problem, even when there's a half-finished rail line in their own goddamned district" was offensive to many religious people. He should wash his mouth out with soap ; for using such a profanity. City Hall, Albany and Washington via the Federal Transit Administration already provide significant funding. 

 Why not equal passion in dealing with $600 million in annual lost revenue, over $1 billion in excessive employee overtime and capital project cost overruns as well?; Lieber should try sticking to the facts

 .(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office;of Operations and Program Management.  This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for NJ Transit, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NYC Transit

Check it out. https://t.co/DeDCeG4trs

— Queens Crapper (@QueensCrapper) December 8, 2023

AOC's optical illusion open street campaign rally

If you ever feel discouraged or question if organizing is worth it, just take a look outside. Peoples’ movements and successes rarely make the mainstream, but the ground we’re gaining is powerful.

Thank you NY for an incredible day. Let’s get that ballot!
📸IG: christopherhall__ pic.twitter.com/3yGQ42QGKi

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 27, 2022

AOC's perception of a movement...and the reality of one she tried to hide

 

Activists opposed to shelters protest in support of one

From QNS:

Supporters of Councilman Robert Holden hosted a rally on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to encourage him to run for mayor — but were met with protesters who called on him to resign his current post, instead.

About 50 supporters of Holden, who currently represents Council District 30 (which encompasses the Queens neighborhoods of Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Woodhaven and Woodside), gathered in front of the Maspeth Federal Savings Bank at 56-18 69th St. on Tuesday evening.

Shortly after the rally began, a group of about two dozen protesters set up across the street, many of whom were members of the Ridgewood Tenants Union.

Many of the protesters cited Holden’s support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and his push to close the homeless shelter in Glendale as a reason to oppose his run.

Meanwhile, the leader of the RTU testified AGAINST the Glendale shelter last year... Also interesting to see Holden's opponent Juan Ardila standing with people - who welcome him with open arms - in support of a shelter in the district he's running in and claims to be opposed to.

So far, 20 arrests have been tied to the shelter.

It's going to be fun the next few months.

Profound, bro. 

JQ LLC: I don't want to spoil this party, or whatever this thing is (have some people singing and it'll be a woke version of Hair), but I think the lede was buried in this story to get obvious clicks.

 

  “I was humbled when I heard about this, and I certainly appreciate the support,” said Holden. “We have great people in District 30 and I’m focused on being the best Council member I can be. I plan to run for re-election to the NYC Council and will announce in the near future.” 

Sorry to all those that participated here, but this was a waste of time by both sides. 

Slash sign racism is quite deep also.

Rally against Belmont proposal today

Hi Queens Crap,

Could you please write something on the proposed Belmont Arena project. This very large project is in Nassau County within walking distance to Queens will affect every surrounding community within miles of the arena. What they don’t tell you in this article is in addition to the 19,000 seat arena there is a 250 room hotel, a very large Retail Village (Mega mall) and NYRA is planning on making major renovations and changes to the race track. The project is to large, will create gridlock for miles, turn our residential streets into parking lots and devastate all the surrounding communities.

I am not a Islander fan but this project has very little to do with bringing the team back to Long Island. The Islanders will only use the arena 40-50 days a year. Between other events at the arena, racing at Belmont, seven days a week shopping at the mall we can expect easily an additional 30,000-40,000 people a day. Belmont Stakes day every day. Our communities are not against development at Belmont we are just asking for smart development.

There is a rally against the proposed arena on Sunday October 14th at 2:00PM on Hempstead Turnpike in front of the proposed site.

Thanks

Michael

Gianaris suddenly concerned about LIC's dearth of open space

From the Times Ledger:

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) and several Long Island City community organizations are urging the city to include park space in Court Square as the neighborhood continues to grow at an unprecedented pace.

Gianaris called on the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Department of Transportation to renovate public land located underneath the Queensboro Bridge ramps between 23rd Street and Thompson Avenue and turn it into public space to reflect a proposal made in the 1999 Department of City Planning study.

“Long Island City is one of our fastest growing neighborhoods and we must ensure community needs are met as we grow,” Gianaris said Sept. 21. “More public park space must be part of the planning process and utilizing this parcel would be a great way to start.”

The public-owned lots are currently used by the city Department of Transportation and while the city can not build on them, it has proposed transferring air rights to The Lions Group, which plans on building two residential towers at 27-01 and 26-31 Jackson Ave. The Court Square Civic Association organized a rally against that plan last Saturday at the corner of Dutch Kills Street and Jackson Avenue.

A public service announcement

College Point hotel raises concerns

From the Times Ledger:

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) joined concerned College Point residents who are unhappy with a proposed hotel Tuesday afternoon.

Avella and community members denounced the plans to construct a six-story hotel at 14-61 127th St., the former site of a single-story building. The rally comes weeks after Avella wrote three letters to the city Department of Buildings expressing concerns that the hotel, located in an M1-1 zoning district, would be totally inappropriate. In his letters he pointed out that the traffic situation in College Point is already bad due to the narrow streets and there is already over-development in the area.

He said he has yet to receive a sufficient response from DOB, but the agency did agree that turning a one-story building into a six-story hotel should not be considered an “alteration” as the developer originally claimed.

Residents at the rally said the hotel would be totally out of character with the surrounding neighborhood. Avella and community leaders have held multiple meetings with the owner of the property in hopes of coming to an agreement on a better use of the land without success. Avella said at one point the developer agreed to an alternative use for the location but quickly changed his mind and went back to his plans for a hotel at the site.

There are only 2 reasons you would put a hotel in College Point and neither of them are good ones.

LIC residents unhappy with City's plan

From the Times Ledger:

Hundreds of Long Island City residents and business owners rallied with community leaders and elected officials Saturday against the city’s plan to develop two plots of publicly owned waterfront property on 44th Drive and a neighboring Department of Education building on Vernon Boulevard.

The proposal, announced in 2016, would turn the city-owned lots into commercial space, luxury apartments and a school, but the community has other ideas that are not being heard by the de Blasio administration.

“With the critical lack of infrastructure in the area, from schools to transportation to senior centers, the fact that the city would try to sell precious public neighborhood land to private developers shows their shortsightedness and lack of understanding of the needs of the neighborho­od,” Hunters Point Civic Association President Brent O’Leary said. “I am proud of our neighborhood for standing up to the city and saying our neighborhood will not be sold off. If you want to develop community land, it is the community who should be deciding how that best helps the neighborhood not outside interests.”

The rally was organized by the group Coalition LIC whose online petition has over 1,000 signatures and would prefer the waterfront lots be turned into parkland with wetlands that would afford climate protection in a flood zone. The coalition wants the DOE building turned into a school with a community recreation center, artist and light manufacturing space, a cultural center, a climate change educational center and job training.

Please support a developer's victims

"Kelly Doyle Amen is a single mom and grandma who has lived in her small single family home in Bay Ridge for over twenty years. Last year the house next to her was purchased by a local businessman in order to develop and 'flip' the property for a quick profit. When the funding ran out - the developer flew the coop and left the construction in disarray. Now Kelly's home is in grave danger of fire, rodents and collapse. Please join us as we demand action from our elected officials and irresponsible developers."

Facebook event

Actors hired to attend rally

From the Daily News:

At a rally outside City Hall, an activist calling for the city to move forward with a developer’s plan to turn a long-vacant landmarked school in the East Village into college dorms poured his heart out about how the group was just comprised of concerned community folks.

“We have jobs here. We don’t get paid for this, and literally we spent hours uncovering information,” Jose de Yarza said.

But while de Yarza doesn’t get paid for his advocacy, that doesn’t appear to be true for some of the 30 people standing quietly behind him, holding signs bashing Mayor de Blasio and local elected officials.

The Daily News obtained a casting email seeking people to “beef up attendance” for the rally, held by the newly formed group East Village Cares, in exchange for a rate of “$50 CASH / 2.5 hour booking.”

One person holding a sign at the event confirmed attending as a result of the casting call. Another declined to answer, saying it wouldn’t be right to discuss whether he’d been paid. Two others approached by The News denied being paid or getting the casting call email.

Construction workers seek drug testing

From NY1:

Dozens of construction workers want the city council to enforce drug and alcohol testing for employees.

The Associated Builders and Contractors Empire State Chapter rallied Monday at the steps of City Hall, calling on the city to enforce the testing.

"Construction is hazardous enough already, without having to worry about if the person next to you is under the influence of something," said an advocate at the rally. "So I think testing that's done by a third party would be beneficial to help give workers the confidence to know that their job site is as safely run as possible."

A performance report that the group released says drug and alcohol use account for nearly one-third of construction accidents nationwide.

Queens March Against Gentrification happens today

From DNA Info:

Queens residents will take to the streets Thursday to protest several of Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposals that they fear will speed up gentrification and displacement in the borough, organizers said.

The "Queens March Against Gentrification" will start at 6 p.m. at the 46th Street 7 train station, where attendees will denounce the mayor's proposed BQX Streetcar, his plan to develop Sunnyside Yards as well as rezone a large portion of Long Island City.

The marchers — organized by the Queens Anti-Gentrification Project and other advocacy groups — argue that these three projects will spur additional development in Western Queens, raising rents and displacing residents.

"Any of these proposals alone would result in displacement and gentrification in Queens," the event's organizers said in a press release. "Together, they represent nothing less than an all-out assault on our neighborhood."

The protest echoes concerns previously expressed by some city residents about each of the targeted projects.

Union blaming de Blasio for construction deaths

From the Commercial Observer:

Thirty-one members of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York were arrested as part of a planned construction safety demonstration today—hours before the City Council introduced a package of 18 bills aimed at curbing the high number of jobsite deaths in the last two years.

Hundreds of union members and supporters filled a stretch of Park Row outside of City Hall to raise awareness for the 30 workers who have been killed in New York City over the last 24 months. (The extra arrestee was for the next worker to die, according to a spokesman for the union.)

Chanting “How many more must die?” in English and Spanish, some members carried ceremonial black coffins on their shoulders and a prop of the grim reaper. The coordinated arrest occurred after union protesters, wearing a number on their sweatshirt for each of those killed, blocked a section of the Lower Manhattan street while holding up signs.

“The first step to solving the problem is admitting you have one,” James Mahoney, the president of the New York State Iron Workers District Council, told Commercial Observer at the rally this morning. “Mayor de Blasio, you have one. People are dying; there’s blood on his hands.”

East Elmhurst up in arms over plethora of shelters

I can't wait to see the propaganda video that results from this one!

Homeless family joins anti-shelter rally, tells de Blasio to stop lying

From PIX11:

More than 100 demonstrators, along with bipartisan coalition of three state senators and two city Council Members, stood at the steps of City Hall Friday to speak out on Mayor Bill de Blasio and DHS Commissioner Steven Banks' mismanagement of the homeless crisis.

"Dump the dope from Park Slope! Dump the dope from Park Slope!" they chanted loudly. The chants have echoed in the outer boroughs in recent months and were heard loud and clear Friday morning.

One of the demonstrators at the rally, Alan Diaz, is a working father of two children. He also has been homeless for two years.

"The system is only getting worse," Diaz said.

The evidence is all around the city's landscape with cardboard, shopping carts and mini-encampments becoming more prevalent.

PIX 11 News asked Diaz if he had any message for Mayor de Blasio considering his office was a few yards behind him.

"To make a change, to make the system better, to stop saying that is better and actually make it better. And stop lying to the people and tell them the truth," Diaz said.

A Mayor's Office spokeswoman responded for the Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Banks in an email statement:

“Local elected officials should have the courage to take on this problem with the mayor, rather than rally against housing homeless children in their communities.”

Raw videos from rally can be watched here.

Homeless shelters opening in Queens at breakneck pace

From PIX11:

More than 100 people packed a Knights of Columbus hall to protest a move by the owner of the Playland Motel to house homeless families starting last Friday.

Cayuga Capital, owners of the space which includes a popular bar, restaurant and hotel, signed a deal with the Department of Homeless Services to rent its rooms to homeless families. Community members say no one was aware of the deal until after it happened.

"I don't know if it was middle of the night," City Councilmember Eric Ulrich, "people want to know how many homeless are here, what services are being provided, how many more are coming."

All the city's Department of Homeless Services would say is there is no plan to convert the location into a permanent shelter.
____________________________________

The best part of this is that taxpayers payed for empty rooms there.

East Elmhurst is also getting yet another shelter.

Friends, Queens is under siege by this administration. Friday morning, let them know that we aren't going to take it. Join the rally at City Hall.

Katz & Sliwa send messages to de Blasio about proposed Maspeth shelter

Melinda, sensing a community victory, suddenly comes out of the woodwork!

Melinda Katz letter to de Blasio re: proposed Maspeth shelter

And Curtis Sliwa attended the Maspeth shelter protest last night:






Meanwhile, NY1 reports that the city is still negotiating with the hotel owner.

Interestingly, a manager at the hotel, believed to be a relative of his, briefly spoke with protesters and was asked to relay a message back to him.



This gets more interesting by the day.

Thank you to Juniper Park Civic Association for the videos and letter.

Elected official finally shows up to Maspeth protest

So an elected official from the other side of Queens, Tony Avella, attended the Maspeth shelter rally last night, but no electeds that actually represent the area have thus far.

In the meantime, the DHS is denying all FOIL requests for information about the contract.

Day 3 of protests and still no electeds

Screenshot of NY1 website

Hundreds of Maspeth residents have been showing up every night at the Holiday Inn Express to protest against the mayor's plan to dump 220 homeless adults into their community. Noticeably absent are Elizabeth Crowley, Joe Addabbo and Marge Markey, the elected officials who represent the area. Their lack of attendance is one of the biggest topics mentioned every night. You really need to wonder what they are thinking by not showing up to support their constituents.

Electeds fail to show at Maspeth shelter rally

The community was out in full force to protest the proposed Maspeth homeless shelter at the Holiday Inn last night.


Present were civic leaders and political candidates but no actual current sitting elected officials. Hmmm...