Tuesday, September 29, 2009

"Let Them Eat Dim Sum!!" Mayor Tries to buy votes in Chinatown with a Senior Breakfast



Invitation to the Breakfast for Votes Campaign Stop - hosted by Mayor Bloomberg


As if it wasn't bad enough to BUY votes in the Chinatown community, Michael Bloomberg has managed to co-opt a Chinese holiday (Mid Autumn Moon Festival) to do it. Today, Tuesday, September 29 at 9:15 a.m. Mayor Bloomberg slithered his way into and out of a dark, alley way entrance to Jing Fong restaurant at 20 Elizabeth Street, to avoid the chanting protesters at the main entrance shouting "Dump Bloomberg" and "Chinatown - Not For Sale".

Fifteen minutes before Bloomberg's entourage arrived in front of Duane Reade drug store on the Bowery, 5th Precinct officers drove a line of four, full sized NYPD vans in front of the protesters -- parking them bumper to bumper on Elizabeth Street to block the view of the Mayor from protesters. The chanting grew louder as news of the Mayor's arrival spread via cellphone contact with people on the Bowery.
Protester's placards read everything from "Buying Breakfast = Buying Votes" to "Eight is Enough" and "King Bloomberg." One favorite was "Return Democracy," referring to his opponent's comment that "Bloomberg has hijacked democracy".



The Mayor has yet to make an honest-to-goodness meet and greet on the streets of Chinatown, his style is more akin to "let them eat DIM SUM. I can handle them from the podium, heck, I'll even pay for it."

Seniors received this invitation in the mail, advising them to RSVP and that seating was limited. Jing Fong restaurant seats over a 1000 people




Judging from the 1500 or more people lined up at 8:00 A.M., with many turned away, there were plenty to provide a paid audience for his campaign promises. Yet many had long enough memories to remember that for eight years, Bloomberg's policies have only served the elite while destroying the predominantly working families and small business community of Chinatown, passing policies, such as:

  • A rezoning plan that has already caused dozens of buildings to be evicted of long-time residents
  • Large rent increases for small businesses on city property
  • Huge increase in water rates
  • Continued Park Row street closures and loss of Municipal Parking shuttering and battering surrounding small businesses
  • Installation of a Joint Operations Command Center without review that will further tighten "security" in an area over saturated with security cameras
  • Attempt to ram through the Chatham Square Reconstruction with inadequate community notice or input, lied about the time line, distorted pedestrian safety focus away from the many deaths at Canal Street and the Manhattan Bridge
  • Manhattan Bridge entrance still unsafe after decades of deaths and years of protest
  • Renewed threats to install congestion pricing and East River Tolls to further increase the cost of living in Chinatown. Small storefronts dependent on frequent deliveries will be forced to pay increased toll costs that will be passed on to residents whereas the true cause of traffic congestion is not addressed which is --
  • Government Parking Permits still abused despite a crackdown after a $570K DOT study found 145,000 legal government permits, not including illegal ones. Free parking permits one of the leading causes of vehicles into Manhattan, the majority of which are found in Chinatown and Lower Manhattan. Just last month the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau's officer in charge of the permits was forced out after reporters spotted a permit on his girlfriend's car
  • Grand Street Bike Lane on a narrow heavily congested street
  • Parents' loss of voice in their children's schools, "teach to the test" curriculum and inflated grades
  • Scant communication between the mayor's office and the community; translated materials available only at election time
But as a few seniors told us on the way into the restaurant, "Sure, we're
going to enjoy the dim sum, but doesn't mean we're going to vote for him!"

Thursday, September 24, 2009

From City Hall News "Chinatown pushes back against Mayor's reelection"


photo - city hall news



Chris Bragg of City Hall News
Sept. 18th 09

Closing of Park Row, Chatham Square development create backlash for Bloomberg

When he ran for re-election in 2005, Mayor Michael Bloomberg had few bigger boosters than Eddie Chiu.

Chiu, head of the 109-year-old Lin Sing Association social club in Chinatown, allowed Bloomberg to use the group’s six-story headquarters on Mott Street as his Chinatown campaign office—and the mayor proceeded to take upwards of 80 percent of the vote in the neighborhood, winning the overwhelming support of Chiu and other small business owners.

But four years later, Chiu said his feelings have changed dramatically.

Far from allowing the mayor to use his office, Chiu is now refusing to endorse Bloomberg, despite numerous entreaties from his campaign. In fact, he recently allowed an anti-Bloomberg group to hold a press conference at the group’s headquarters blasting the mayor.

“It’s very different from when he was running for a second term, to where he is now,” Chiu said. “A lot of people in Chinatown have had a change of heart. I think they’ll vote for Thompson.”

Bill Thompson has been trying to take advantage of the unrest, making several campaign stops in the neighborhood and holding a press conference at Park Row in late June to receive the endorsement of the Civic Center Residents Coalition. The population flexed its political muscles recently by electing Margaret Chin to the Council and unseating incumbent Alan Gerson.

A bike lane on Grand Street that further narrowed the already tight street is a major concern, but Park Row appears to be the main point of contention for Chinatown voters. The thoroughfare once connected Chinatown with the rest of Lower Manhattan, but was shut down after 9/11 because of concerns about an attack on 1 Police Plaza.

Eight years later, the street remains closed.

Residents say that this has crippled both the economy and the quality of life in Chinatown, choking it from the rest of Manhattan, with traffic often clogging neighborhood streets.

Late last year, the Economic Development Corporation, the Department of Transportation and the Police Department proposed a fix to alleviate the traffic flow problems: a $50 million plan to redevelop Chatham Square, a complicated seven-way intersection south of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Most Chinatown business and civic leaders, however, have objected to the plan since it would essentially make the closing of Park Row permanent.

They also say it was developed without hearing concerns from affected residents.

“We’ve made offers and proposed many alternatives,” said Jeanie Chen, of the Civic Center Residents Coalition, a group that advocates for the reopening of Park Row. “But the mayor’s office wants to do this without community input.”

Bloomberg appears aware of the unrest. In late June, he held a private dinner with 10 leading members of the Chinese business community and members of the Chinese press. Following the meeting, the Chinese press declared that the mayor had indicated he was open to reopening of Park Row.

But when reporters then followed up with the mayor’s office after the meeting, it denied that the mayor had made any such promise.

The Bloomberg campaign did not respond to a request for comments on this or other issues related to Chinatown, or about his standing in the neighborhood.

Justin Yu, head of the powerful Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association business group, attended the dinner. A Bloomberg ally, Yu said that the mayor had promised to delay the start of the Chatham Square development—it had been scheduled to begin in July—and had not specifically promised to advocate for Park Row’s reopening.

Yu, who is considered so influential locally that some people call him the mayor of Chinatown, said that though he opposed the Chatham Square proposal, he would continue to support Bloomberg because of the mayor’s record on education and crime.

“Nobody satisfies people 100 percent of the time,” Yu explained.

Others contend that Yu has divided loyalties because his daughter, Pauleen Yu, is the Chinatown liaison for Bloomberg’s community affairs unit.

And they say the mere fact that Bloomberg is speaking only to the Chinatown elite, rather than seeking input from the community at large, represents the mayor’s attitude towards its residents.

“It’s indicative of a selective, colonial mentality,” said Jan Lee, a Chinatown small business owner and opponent of Bloomberg’s proposal. “In colonial situations, government has chosen to speak only to a select few leaders. They stay away from the masses.”

Others in the community wonder if the unrest with Bloomberg is as deep as some of the rhetoric suggests. During the 2005 campaign, they note, Bloomberg made a concession to the community by allowing bus traffic to again begin traveling down Park Row.

But Lee said that while Thompson has been campaigning often in the neighborhood, Bloomberg had not yet held an appearance.

“He can’t walk down Mott Street anymore,” Lee said. “We will no longer welcome him with open arms. And he knows that.”

--
ABOVE: Bill Thompson has been nurturing support among a Chinatown community unhappy with the mayor’s record, gaining support from local leaders like Jan Lee, a small business owner and executive vice president of the Civic Center Residents Coalition

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Daily News on Thompson's visit to Chinatown - Bike Lanes - his views


photo: Curbed.com
Mayoral Candidate Bill Thompson on bike lanes and their impact on businesses and communities.

Campaigning for mayor in Chinatown yesterday, Controller William Thompson promised to open up Park Row to traffic and rip out the bike lane from SoHo to Chinatown on Grand Street -- both big priorities of angry residents and business owners there.

But that wasn't all: He cast a gimlet eye on some of Mayor Bloomberg's big steps to take away space for cars and give it to bikes and pedestrians, like those snazzy bike lanes on Eighth and Ninth avenues that used to hold traffic lanes, and of course, the closure of parts of Times Square.

"All across the city of New York, you're hearing people complain about bike lanes that have been put in without consultation with the community," he said. "I would take the ones out on Grand Street right now, and I think then going back in other places and working with the community, where they should stay and where they should go. I think that's one of the things -- I'm in favor of bike lanes, but you can't put bike lanes in without speaking to the community. You can't put bike lanes in that do damage to the local businesses, and we're seeing that happen across the city of New York."
The bike lanes have been a controversial push of Bloomberg's transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, and have created somewhat of a backlash among voters who think it's a symbol of New Yorkers being shoved aside for tourists. (For what it's worth, the cabbie who drove the Brawl, the Post and the AP from a Thompson event to a Bloomberg event yesterday said Sadik-Khan's car-free Times Square has convinced him to vote for Thompson in November.)

Thompson didn't take a position on the Times Square closure, saying he'd wait until he has numbers to judge whether it has worked or not. But he seemed willing to reconnect the closed sections of Broadway in a heartbeat:

"A number of tourists are, you know, are spending time in Times Square. I'm not sure that New Yorkers are. And what's more important, what's it doing to the local businesses, particularly in a recession. Is it hurting them? So, we're reaching out, and you're looking to try to see the studies that are coming back. Is it impacting businesses in a negative way? If it is, then it needs to go."

Also see the NY Times CityRoom Blog on Grand St. Bike Lane

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Sino Vision T.V. - eight years after 9/11 - Chinatown progress.

SinoVision T.V. link to their story on Chinatown after 9/11 - eight years later.
This is entirely in Mandarin

Coalition Against Rogue Riding gains momentum throughout the City


This op ed appeared in this week's Villager newspaper, gaining the attention of Transportation commish J. Sadik Kahn.

Talking Point

It’s time to put the brakes on rogue bicycle riding

By Jack Brown


Residents are increasingly concerned about the epidemic of scofflaw cycling plaguing the city’s streets and sidewalks. The prevailing anarchy creates an ongoing sense of jeopardy for many that deprives us of peace of mind and jacks up the stress level in an already high-stress environment.

The Coalition Against Rogue Riding (CARR) was formed by a number of neighborhood organizations — including the Greenwich Village Block Associations and Soho Alliance — to focus on calming the streets and sidewalks through better traffic management. CARR advocates an increase of an evenhanded enforcement of the vehicular laws.

In May the results a rigorous study conducted in April by the departments of sociology and urban affairs of Hunter College was issued. “Biking Behavior in Midtown” observed 5,275 cyclists at 45 intersections between 14th St. and 59th Sts. and First and Tenth Aves. It was found that nearly 38 percent of observed cyclists did not stop at red lights. Nearly a third did not use a designated bike lane. More than 17 percent were either riding the wrong way, or at various times both with and against traffic.

This hard data gives a representative portrait of what causes the sense of anarchy. However, it does not portray the multitude of hits and nears misses that have gone unreported over the years and that activate the adrenalin of the fight-or-flight mechanism and challenge peace of mind. It does not indicate the deaths. Professor Peter Tuckel is the principle investigator. To locate the study, go to the blog site “Commuter Outrage” and find “Academic Study,” where a direct link can be found.

On June 18, after addressing the Village Alliance (Eighth St.) business improvement district, featured speaker Janette Sadik-Khan, commissioner of the Department of Transportation, was given a copy of the study. Despite a D.O.T. representative’s assurance that the department would have a response to the study by the next day, none was forthcoming. Previously, in a phone message, an agency representative said that “enforcement” was the responsibility of the Police Department.

On July 19, the New York Daily News ran a piece about the death of Stuart Gruskin. Gruskin was a well-liked senior V.P. of Valuation Research. He grew up in New York and was a graduate of N.Y.U. Stern School of Business. On April 28 he was knocked down by a delivery rider cycling the wrong way on W. 43rd St. Three days later he died in Weill Cornell Hospital of head trauma. The bike had no brakes. The rider wore no helmet. The bike was without horn or bell. Rogue rider Alfredo Geraldo was hit with three violations. No criminal charges were filed. Geraldo has disappeared.

A $20 million lawsuit has been filed against the Call Cuisine Catering Company. Gruskin’s widow says that businesses that offer incentives for rush delivery bear a big responsibility. She says that the lawsuit is filed to draw attention to the need for regulation, responsibility and bicycle safety. The Gruskin family is also establishing a foundation to address this problem. Ironically, the suit was filed on July 8. This was the day that Commissioner Sadik-Khan declared that New York was the “bike capital of the world” after completing 200 miles of bike lanes.

The traffic safety department of the Manhattan South police command, which encompasses the area of the study, was informed of the findings. A plan was developed with Manhattan South precinct chiefs for a “sustained step-up in an evenhanded enforcement” of the vehicular laws. After two weeks, there were no measurable results.

Chief James Tuller was recently promoted from Manhattan South to head Transportation at One Police Plaza headquarters. CARR provided a copy of the Hunter College study. A request was communicated to Chief Tuller that he take the Gruskin tragedy into account and declare rogue riding a “quality of life” issue and “refocus” enforcement of the vehicular laws throughout the five boroughs. The response from Chief Tuller’s office was a suggestion that CARR work through Manhattan South.

The offices of state Senator Liz Krueger, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh and Councilmember Jessica Lappin responded to CARR’s request for action. Kavanagh and Krueger undertook the revision of S7851, which had been introduced in 2002 by Krueger. The Vicarious Liability Bill makes a business owner financially responsible for the actions of a delievery agent. Councilmember Lappin is the chief sponsor of Intro No. 624, a similar bill that has been in limbo in the Transportation Committee, headed by Councilmember John Liu. Liu and Speaker Christine Quinn are responsible for bringing it to the floor for a hearing. If a version of this bill had been law and enforced, the tragic death of Stuart Gruskin might have been avoided.

There are places, such as Denmark and Berlin, where cycling is a well-established, lawful way of life. Transportation Alternatives — the pedestrian and bicycle advocacy organization that has promoted bike lanes, bike racks, indoor parking and other amenities — says it wants to double the number of commuter cyclists, currently 185,000, according to T.A., in the next two years. D.O.T.’s focus is on the establishment of bike lanes, which are causing controversy, and encouraging people to lounge in lawn chairs in Times Square. The neglect of enforcement toward a standard of traffic safety seriously calls the priorities of this administration into question.

The elderly are virtually housebound. Parents of young children are deeply concerned for their safety. Animal companions are in peril. The atmosphere of the sidewalks and streets resembles the Coney Island boardwalk carnival live-target paintball game “Shoot The Freak” — and we, the people, are the freak. It is a version of homegrown terrorism.

In a recent paper, “A Mayoral Directive,” Transportation Alternatives calls for the establishment of an “Office of Traffic Safety” by December 2010. Given the ongoing crisis, such an office would be appropriate. However, CARR recommends, in the near term, that the “moving violations unit” be restarted. This would not require legislation. The resulting enforcement would require will, commitment and common decency.

Brown is a founder of Coalition Against Rogue Riding and a former owner of The Hi Ho Cyclery bike shop, at 165 Avenue A.

COMMENT:
marybeth cornell has left a new comment on your post "Coalition Against Rogue Riding gains momentum thro...":

great article, jack. i am in total agreement with the cyclist madness in the city. years ago, you'd be able to walk the streets and not even think about bikes; an unwritten, visceral understanding of conduct that existed has completely disappeared. it's totally changed my mindset when i go outside.

thanks for the efforts to enact enforcement and bravo to offices of state Senator Liz Krueger, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh and Councilmember Jessica Lappin, and Dan Garodnick. but while we're waiting on results, don't forget that we citizens can use our literal voices: "SLOW DOWN"!!!!!!!!!!

marybeth cornell
stuy town 




Volume 22, Number 20 | The Newspaper of Lower Manhattan | September 25 - October 1, 2009
Talking Point
Put the brakes on rogue bicycle riding
By Jack Brown
Residents are increasingly concerned about the epidemic of scofflaw cycling plaguing the city’s streets and sidewalks. The prevailing anarchy creates an ongoing sense of jeopardy for many that deprives us of peace of mind and jacks up the stress level in an already high-stress environment. 
The Coalition Against Rogue Riding (CARR) was formed by a number of neighborhood organizations — including the Greenwich Village Block Associations and Soho Alliance — to focus on calming the streets and sidewalks through better traffic management. CARR advocates an increase of an evenhanded enforcement of the vehicular laws. 
In May the results a rigorous study conducted in April by the departments of sociology and urban affairs of Hunter College was issued. “Biking Behavior in Midtown” observed 5,275 cyclists at 45 intersections between 14th St. and 59th Sts. and First and Tenth Aves. It was found that nearly 38 percent of observed cyclists did not stop at red lights. Nearly a third did not use a designated bike lane. More than 17 percent were either riding the wrong way, or at various times both with and against traffic. 
This hard data gives a representative portrait of what causes the sense of anarchy. However, it does not portray the multitude of hits and nears misses that have gone unreported over the years and that activate the adrenalin of the fight-or-flight mechanism and challenge peace of mind. It does not indicate the deaths. Professor Peter Tuckel is the principal investigator. To locate the study, go to the blog site “Commuter Outrage” and find “Academic Study,” where a direct link can be found. 
On June 18, after addressing the Village Alliance (Eighth St.) business improvement district, featured speaker Janette Sadik-Khan, commissioner of the Department of Transportation, was given a copy of the study. Despite a D.O.T. representative’s assurance that the department would have a response to the study by the next day, none was forthcoming. Previously, in a phone message, an agency representative said that “enforcement” was the responsibility of the Police Department.
On July 19, the New York Daily News ran a piece about the death of Stuart Gruskin. Gruskin was a well-liked senior V.P. of Valuation Research. He grew up in New York and was a graduate of N.Y.U. Stern School of Business. On April 28 he was knocked down by a delivery rider cycling the wrong way on W. 43rd St. Three days later he died in Weill Cornell Hospital of head trauma. The bike had no brakes. The rider wore no helmet. The bike was without horn or bell. Rogue rider Alfredo Geraldo was hit with three violations. No criminal charges were filed. Geraldo has disappeared. 
A $20 million lawsuit has been filed against the Call Cuisine Catering Company. Gruskin’s widow says that businesses that offer incentives for rush delivery bear a big responsibility. She says that the lawsuit is filed to draw attention to the need for regulation, responsibility and bicycle safety. The Gruskin family is also establishing a foundation to address this problem. Ironically, the suit was filed on July 8. This was the day that Commissioner Sadik-Khan declared that New York was the “bike capital of the world” after completing 200 miles of bike lanes.
The traffic safety department of the Manhattan South police command, which encompasses the area of the study, was informed of the findings. A plan was developed with Manhattan South precinct chiefs for a “sustained step-up in an evenhanded enforcement” of the vehicular laws. After two weeks, there were no measurable results. 
Chief James Tuller was recently promoted from Manhattan South to head Transportation at One Police Plaza headquarters. CARR provided a copy of the Hunter College study. A request was communicated to Chief Tuller that he take the Gruskin tragedy into account and declare rogue riding a “quality of life” issue and “refocus” enforcement of the vehicular laws throughout the five boroughs. The response from Chief Tuller’s office was a suggestion that CARR work through Manhattan South. 

The offices of state Senator Liz Krueger, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh and Councilmember Jessica Lappin responded to CARR’s request for action. Kavanagh and Krueger undertook the revision of S7851, which had been introduced in 2002 by Krueger. The Vicarious Liability Bill makes a business owner financially responsible for the actions of a delievery agent. Councilmember Lappin is the chief sponsor of Intro No. 624, a similar bill that has been in limbo in the Transportation Committee, headed by Councilmember John Liu. Liu and Speaker Christine Quinn are responsible for bringing it to the floor for a hearing. If a version of this bill had been law and enforced, the tragic death of Stuart Gruskin might have been avoided. 
There are places, such as Denmark and Berlin, where cycling is a well-established, lawful way of life. Transportation Alternatives — the pedestrian and bicycle advocacy organization that has promoted bike lanes, bike racks, indoor parking and other amenities — says it wants to double the number of commuter cyclists, currently 185,000, according to T.A., in the next two years. D.O.T.’s focus is on the establishment of bike lanes, which are causing controversy, and encouraging people to lounge in lawn chairs in Times Square. The neglect of enforcement toward a standard of traffic safety seriously calls the priorities of this administration into question. 

The elderly are virtually housebound. Parents of young children are deeply concerned for their safety. Animal companions are in peril. The atmosphere of the sidewalks and streets resembles the Coney Island boardwalk carnival live-target paintball game “Shoot The Freak” — and we, the people, are the freak. It is a version of homegrown terrorism. 

In a recent paper, “A Mayoral Directive,” Transportation Alternatives calls for the establishm
ent of an “Office of Traffic Safety” by December 2010. Given the ongoing crisis, such an office would be appropriate. However, zCARR recommends, in the near term, that the “moving violations unit” be restarted. This would not require legislation. The resulting enforcement would require will, commitment and common decency.

Jack Brown is a founder of Coalition Against Rogue Riding and a former owner of The Hi Ho Cyclery bike shop, at 165 Avenue A.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Senator Squadron on Retail Diversity in our district - Hearing on Friday


Senator Squadron, Chair of Senate Cities Committee, to host a hearing on Retail Diversity and Neighborhood Health
Posted by Daniel L. Squadron on Friday, August 28th, 2009

-
SUBJECT: Retail Diversity and Neighborhood Health

PURPOSE: To identify and disseminate best practices for supporting and facilitating the preservation and revitalization of retail in urban neighborhoods.

DATE: Friday, September 18, 2009

LOCATION: Senate Hearing Room
250 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, New York 10007

TIME: 10:00 A.M – 3:00 P.M.



SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:


Healthy Retail Development

• How can New York promote and facilitate appropriate retail development? What “best practices” should be employed?
• What policies should New York be developing to support small business in this economic downturn?
• How can New York promote retail diversity in both affluent neighborhoods and low income neighborhoods?
• What new and innovative policies should the Empire State Development Corporation be advancing to promote, develop and grow diverse retail environments in cities across our state?
• The statute authorizing Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) saw its last major revision in 1989. Are BIDs functioning as intended?
• Should New York develop Community Improvement Districts and take a more holistic approach to neighborhood retail development?

________________________________________
YOU MAY TESTIFY AT THIS HEARING, here is how to do it:
Note:
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the joint public hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. THE FORM IS A .PDF File that you may download and print at THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation. Oral testimony will be limited to ten (10) minutes’ duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to the Committees’ staff as early as possible. Twenty (20) copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk.
The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees’ interest in receiving testimony from all sources. In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Senate and Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate and Assembly facilities and activities.