Another Zipster Born
Back in March, the city of New York pulled a fast one on me and my reliable, dented-but-beautiful Honda Civic. This car turned over in below freezing weather, despite not getting a tune up. Dented Beauty and I parked at a spot near the Farragut Houses, after circling the block, studying signs on poles and the gate.
I threw the car door shut and hurried to my appointment with lively silver-haired ladies. Two hours later, I find Dented Beauty gone. What happened? Did some thief steal her for her parts or for a joy ride? I kept thinking, "My car is stolen." In the meantime, NYPD trucks kept whizzing past with cars or vans trailing behind them. It dawned on me that New York City stole my car.
But why steal my car? I went to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Tow Pound. Sure enough, my car was there. Frustrated people surveyed me as I entered the reception. Some had been on line for two hours.
Jumping two days ahead....the judge looked at my photos and heard me testimony. Although there were no signs on poles or the gate; and the gate didn't have hinges or a latch to permit its opening; and behind the gate was a grassy expanse with a cement pathway curving decidely away from the gate, the judge said I parked in front of a driveway. The judge said I was supposed to read the sidewalk before moving away from my car.
I told this story to my forever novio who explained that, as a Port Authority traffic cop, he had to know both NYC and New Jersey traffic & moving violation laws. When a driver was particularly disrespectful or aggressive, he'd write summonses for violations the average motorist is not aware of. He said NYC has a law on the books that autos parked at curbside are to keep their parking lights on throughout the night. This law isn't enforced but can be.
That tip was my tipping point; I chose to surrender the car to the city of New York. Coincidentally, my auto insurance was due in two weeks, my rent in one week.
It took two months but I joined Zip Cars today. A friend told me about Zip Car and Drive Mint. She'd been a Zipster for several months but hadn't told me.
Zip Car is a great operation. It's getting harder to find parking in New York. The new residential towers will make the population denser--once the RE agents can secure tenants for all those buildings.
Hmmm....after years of getting about in my reliable Dented Beauty and paying gas, maintenance, registration, insurance, AAA membership, and inspection fees, life is different. I bought my second Unlimited Week MetroCard and study the MTA subway map even more intensely. I hope Zip Car satisfy my needs, otherwise, I'll be back to contributing to global warming, road rage, asthma and other respiratory maladies.
Crowd Jeers As Elected Protect Their Interest in Atlantic Yards
Amidst much jeering and booing, NYS Senate Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee conducted a public hearing at Pratt Institute to ascertain the status of the Atlantic Yards/FCR project, March 29, 2009. Bill Perkins (30 SD, Manh.), committee chair and the sole committee member present, St. Senator Velmanette Montgomery (18 SD, Bk.), Martin Golden (22 SD, Bk.), Karl Kruger (27 SD, Bk.), and St. Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (57 AD, Bk.) were present to hear testimony of five panels.
While Senator Montgomery and Assemblyman Jeffries’ presence were due to the project being in their respective catchments areas and Senator Kruger is the Finance committee chair, Martin Golden’s presence was questionable. Senator Golden isn’t a committee member and represents Brooklyn neighborhoods Gravesend, Bensonhurst and Gerritsen Beach. Sen. Montgomery remarked that Golden “showed disrespect toward his colleagues,” after he asked for “the public hearings to stop.” Absent were Forest City Ratner representatives.
The hearing’s purpose was to watch out for the public’s interest in the progress of a massive project involving the Empire State Development Corp. and the Metropolitan Transit Authority State of New York. Jeffries stated, “The Atlantic Yards Project bypassed the ULURP procedure, received $400 million from New York State, $200 million from the City and eminent domain approved to expedite land assembly to make way for luxury housing, an arena and commercial space.”
When asked what kept construction from starting, ESDC executive director Marisa Lago explained it was financial constraints; however, neither ESDC nor MTA applied for stimulus money (ARRA 2009), whose application deadline is June 24 2009.
Hakeem Jeffries served his constituency handsomely by asking the MTA why it hadn’t collected all or most of the $100 million up front from FCR, given its recent proposal to raise fares, defer maintenance and cut bus routes. Rather, the MTA agreed to accept allotment payments and can’t commit to holding fares to the increases that go in effect June 28, 2009.
Jeffries other questions concerned activating construction trade training, raising the present 10% allocation for affordable condominiums (195 units) and getting affordable rental and condominium housing constructed (2,445 units) constructed during Phase I.
Other panels included Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance, and the Independent Budget Office. BUILD COO Marie Louis asked “the elected to work with us to make the community benefits agreement enforceable.” The CBA is not a contract; rather a deal between FCR and the community. ESDC and MTA are not included or accountable for its execution.
Labels: Atlantic Yards Project, Brooklyn, Forest City Ratner, gentrification, NYS Senate
