November 13th, 2009
Preliminary architectural sketches depicting "Grand Park's" proposed glass-enclosed backyard
Jesse Hartman's six-month long quest to open a dramatic, glass-enclosed restaurant on a
desolate stretch of Grand Street takes him back to Community Board 3's
SLA Committee next week. Back in June, the Community Board signaled its approval for"Grand Park's" liquor license. But lease negotiations with Hartman's landlord are still not completed, and CB3's approval was only good for six months. So, on Monday, he must go before the SLA Committee for an extension.
Complicating matters, Hartman has a new nemesis: Seward Park Co-op resident Ernest Marshall (the space is located in a shopette owned by the co-op). He has been sliding letters under the doors of the complex's 1700 apartments, urging his neighbors to oppose "Grand Park's" liquor license. In May, during his initial appearance before CB3, a small number of residents derailed Hartman's application due to concerns about late night noise. After meeting with opponents in the neighborhood and drawing up sound-proofing plans, he satisfied their concerns, and prevailed before the board one month later. Marshall was not part of the group opposing "Grand Park" over the summer.
Continue reading The Battle for “Grand Park” Rages On
November 13th, 2009
As we reported yesterday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Rep. Carolyn Maloney and the Grand Street co-ops are organizing a rally Sunday afternoon to save the Pitt Station Post Office. The Postal Service is expected to decide in the next week or two which of the 371 post offices being evaluated across the country will be closed. So the event on Sunday is very likely the last opportunity for residents to make their voices heard.
The Clinton Street post office is one of 7 locations in Manhattan on the chopping block. According to the Washington Post, it's unlikely more than about 200 offices will be on the final list. The closures are part of the Postal Service's effort to close a $7 billion budget shortfall. At most, shuttering the retail offices will save around $20 million.
Continue reading More on Sunday’s Rally to Save Clinton Street Post Office
November 13th, 2009
Miriam Friedlander memorial at City Hall: Knickerbocker Village has some video from last night's tribute to the legendary and beloved LES councilmember. We'll have more thoughts on the memorial, and Friedlander's legacy, over the weekend.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is organizing a protest outside Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's office today. They are unhappy about changes he wants to make in the proposed "Leandra's Law," the bill making it a felony to drive drunk with a child in the car. Silver wants it to be a misdemeanor unless the driver's blood alcohol
level is at least 0.18, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.According to the Daily News, "Silver said the Assembly will address the issue, but didn't specify
how: 'As a father and a grandfather, I am deeply committed to doing
whatever it takes to protect our kids from drunk drivers.'"
Sources on Capitol Hill tell the Times, although her staff denies it, that Rep. Nydia Velazquez, is blocking a bill that would extend credit card reform to small businesses.
Jeremiah reports: David's Shoe Repair is back in business.
The Columbia Spectator observes it's a "full house at Cafe Katja."
November 13th, 2009
Yesterday, we mentioned Sunday's College Information Fair at the Seward Park Educational Campus (11am-3pm). Now we have the spiffy flyer from Sheldon Silver's office. For more information, contact Paul Goldstein, in Silver's office, at 212-312-1420.
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