Morning Reads: Ex-Cop Accused of Harassing Tenants, Kim’s Video Closure Marks End of Era, Paul’s Boutique 25 Years Later

The state Attorney General has taken legal action against a former cop accused of harassing tenants of rent regulated buildings.  Anthony Falconite works for several property owners, including Steven Croman, who owns buildings on the Lower East Side (Daily News).

Tracking the Real Estate Board of New York’s influence over the governor and Albany lawmakers (Real Deal).

A new report shows NYCHA contractors have failed to hire public housing residents (NYT).

Betty Cunningham fled her Chelsea art gallery due to skyrocketing property taxes. She moved to the space on Rivington Street previously occupied by the Dodge Gallery, which shuttered earlier this year for financial reasons (Artnet News).

The closure of Kim’s Video is “more than a story of rising rents and the disruption wrought by digital streaming. It’s the tale of a downtown culture now largely lost, one in which clerks and creative types mingled, influencing one another and the scene as well.” (NYT)

Community 54 has reopened on Avenue B after losing its Clinton Street storefront (EV Grieve).

Leather goods company Billykirk is opening its first brick-and-mortar store at 16 Orchard St. (Bedford & Bowery).

Paul’s Boutique, the Beastie Boys’ groundbreaking album, turns 25 (Yahoo Music).

Work will begin tomorrow at 11 a.m. on a mural commemorating the album at Rivington and Ludlow streets, where the cover art was shot (in-box/Beastie Boys Square tumblr).