Read more about this story at, AlterNet:http://www.alternet.org/
Friday, July 13, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Thoughts On "Taking The Village"
Thoughts and feelings concerning the NY Times article on Ben Shaoul, "Taking The Village" run the gamut here on East 4th St. There are some facts however that must be corrected immediately.
Here is a quote from the story:
This is incorrect. The NYTimes story omitted the STOP WORK order issued for 118 East 4th, for working without a permit. Our blog posted this here. Also, there are numerous complaints and infractions for our buildings listed on the DOB website. Far too numerous to list here, but they are on public view at the DOB website. Our tenant association went to Housing Court over these issues and things were settled in favor of the tenants.
The NYTimes story did not convey the problem with the Department Of Buildings. DOB might not show up to inspect until a week or more after tenants reported a violation. The violation may not be apparent by then. We tenants have recorded photographic and video evidence of these violations, but DOB does not take these into account.
Another serious issue not covered in the story is the issue of "Josh". You will see his name mentioned in some of the comments to the New York Times story. Josh works for Ben. Usually he does not give his last name, but if he does, Josh will say he is Josh Evans, or Josh Greene. This is false. His name is Josh Slepian. He is the one that will knock on your door and try to gain entrance to your apartment by telling you lies. He will say he owns the building. This is a lie. He will tell you that he does not know Ben. A lie. He has followed tenants down the block on their way to work, grilling them for information on them, and on other tenants. He is the one that has menaced the seniors citizens in our buildings.
Regarding Mr. Shaoul's claim that we are resistant to change. A quote from a TA member:
"I think the article makes a few decent points, but it doesn't address the long-term impact of people who share Ben's philosophy on the neighborhoods they invade. It can't simply be written off as "resistance to change" when long-term residents and vital members of the community (and I emphasize community) are being driven from their homes by profit-mongering sleazebags without any ties (aside from a singular financial interest) to our city. When did wanting to continue living in our apartments become some kind of pathological inability to accept 'progress'?"
Regarding Mr. Shaoul's "Hurt feelings". Another TA member quote:
"Ben complaining about "hurt feelings" is like Jack The Ripper complaining about ruining his manicure while dismembering a victim."
There is more to the story covered by the New York Times. A lot of it is in the pages of this blog.
Here is a quote from the story:
The NYTimes story did not convey the problem with the Department Of Buildings. DOB might not show up to inspect until a week or more after tenants reported a violation. The violation may not be apparent by then. We tenants have recorded photographic and video evidence of these violations, but DOB does not take these into account.
Another serious issue not covered in the story is the issue of "Josh". You will see his name mentioned in some of the comments to the New York Times story. Josh works for Ben. Usually he does not give his last name, but if he does, Josh will say he is Josh Evans, or Josh Greene. This is false. His name is Josh Slepian. He is the one that will knock on your door and try to gain entrance to your apartment by telling you lies. He will say he owns the building. This is a lie. He will tell you that he does not know Ben. A lie. He has followed tenants down the block on their way to work, grilling them for information on them, and on other tenants. He is the one that has menaced the seniors citizens in our buildings.
Regarding Mr. Shaoul's claim that we are resistant to change. A quote from a TA member:
"I think the article makes a few decent points, but it doesn't address the long-term impact of people who share Ben's philosophy on the neighborhoods they invade. It can't simply be written off as "resistance to change" when long-term residents and vital members of the community (and I emphasize community) are being driven from their homes by profit-mongering sleazebags without any ties (aside from a singular financial interest) to our city. When did wanting to continue living in our apartments become some kind of pathological inability to accept 'progress'?"
Regarding Mr. Shaoul's "Hurt feelings". Another TA member quote:
"Ben complaining about "hurt feelings" is like Jack The Ripper complaining about ruining his manicure while dismembering a victim."
There is more to the story covered by the New York Times. A lot of it is in the pages of this blog.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Broker Harassment
I'm posting this in response to Stardust's post "Liar Liar Pants On Fire". This morning I was approaching the building after doing some Saturday errands. There were two women out in front that looked like Real Estate Agents. I got to the door and one of then said to me, "I need to get into the building". No Hello, no introduction. I asked if they lived here and they said "No, we just have to get in". They were rude and refused to identify themselves, so I refused them entry. If they would have told me that they were Brokers I would have begrudgingly let them in. Here is a sign that was posted at 86 East 4th St. I think we need one.
Liar Liar Pants On Fire
I was checkin my mail when I heard voices coming down the stairs. It was a Broker with her clients, a man and a woman. They paused in the entry hall and I must admit shamefully that I was lingering at my mailbox to eavesdrop.... and I am glad I did! The clients asked the broker "so WE are the only ones who will have access to the roof?"
The broker responded "Ummmmm...... yes you will be the only tenants that can go on the roof." There is actually a roof terrace up there for another apartment. So I gather that they did not get a look at the roof.
The female client asked with a sense of disbelief, "Are you SURE its OK to have BBQs on the roof".
"Ahhhhh..... Yes its OK as long as you follow the normal safety protocol"
I had to pipe in my 2 cents here. "Its against the law to have a BBQ on the roof or terrace of any NYC building. You can't even store a BBQ on a roof or terrace. Take a look at the FDNY website. Have you never heard of the Chicago Fire or the London Fire? You should be ashamed of yourself telling such lies, what Real Estate company do you work for? You should be reported!"
This got me such a look of hatred from the Broker, you know the ole saying if looks could kill, I wouldn't be writing this. She hustled her clients outta there toot sweet.
The broker responded "Ummmmm...... yes you will be the only tenants that can go on the roof." There is actually a roof terrace up there for another apartment. So I gather that they did not get a look at the roof.
The female client asked with a sense of disbelief, "Are you SURE its OK to have BBQs on the roof".
"Ahhhhh..... Yes its OK as long as you follow the normal safety protocol"
I had to pipe in my 2 cents here. "Its against the law to have a BBQ on the roof or terrace of any NYC building. You can't even store a BBQ on a roof or terrace. Take a look at the FDNY website. Have you never heard of the Chicago Fire or the London Fire? You should be ashamed of yourself telling such lies, what Real Estate company do you work for? You should be reported!"
This got me such a look of hatred from the Broker, you know the ole saying if looks could kill, I wouldn't be writing this. She hustled her clients outta there toot sweet.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Locked Out
There was a malfunction of the new technologically superior electronic surveillance/security key device. The power died and the door was not functional. No tenant could gain access to the building and their homes. The former key hole was plugged with a piece of metal, so using the old key was not an option. Someone decided that the solution was to tape the latch of the door. That way one could gain access to the building. This also left the building exposed to the criminal element. The tape job was sloppy and easily observed by any passerby on the street. 120 had a robbery during the day about a year ago with this electronic door nonsense.
One of the readers of our blog emailed some info on the keys. They are made by a Swedish company called ASSA ABLOY. The emailer said that the keys use 'Proximity technology"which was developed by the military industrial complex. They have codes in them that track the activity of the user. The reader said that they can detect the presence of the key from 100 yds away, and suggested this may be the reason they refused to give out 2 keys. The law says they must provide us with 2 keys. If one leaves home for work, one takes a single key. The second key is left behind in the apartment. This may cause confusion in their data gathering. I'm not sure if this is true, but it makes for some interesting thought. A few tenants have suggested we switch keys regularly to mess up their data.
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One of the readers of our blog emailed some info on the keys. They are made by a Swedish company called ASSA ABLOY. The emailer said that the keys use 'Proximity technology"which was developed by the military industrial complex. They have codes in them that track the activity of the user. The reader said that they can detect the presence of the key from 100 yds away, and suggested this may be the reason they refused to give out 2 keys. The law says they must provide us with 2 keys. If one leaves home for work, one takes a single key. The second key is left behind in the apartment. This may cause confusion in their data gathering. I'm not sure if this is true, but it makes for some interesting thought. A few tenants have suggested we switch keys regularly to mess up their data.
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Wednesday, July 4, 2012
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