I'm glad that the election was as close as it was, but disheartened by the fact that Bloomberg still won't take any lessons from it. It's amazing to me that Hizzoner stated that he wants to change at least 15 out of 40 City Commissioners--- even though they are doing a good job--- just because he thinks that the staff needs to be shaken up after 8 years...but it's OK for him to stay on. Why is it OK for him and not anyone else?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mike_honing_third_term_ax_with_eye_2YzrkykXhAPEyKAne7zbgI

Posted by: BrookLynn at November 4, 2009 11:42 AM in response to Election 2009: No Big Surprises in Brooklyn

I agree with g_man. I have worked for NYC government for the past 4 years. All these City postings have very wide salary ranges, but honestly, I don't know why they bother. Very few, if any employees seem to get anything beyond the minimum. I don't think that's for lack of negotiating, it's just the way business is done. Lots of people stay in their positions and don't get more than the union raise.

It's often said that if you want to make more money, you have to leave your agency. A fair number of people just hop around the agencies or leave city service for short periods of time and come back to their same job title at a higher salary. This makes NO sense at all from a Human Resources or any other job perspective. When people leave to chase $ elsewhere, they take the knowledge with them; then the agency has to advertise the position, interview replacements, train the replacement, etc. This is all a waste of time and money! It also leads to the loss of some really talented people and reduces morale amongst those who remain. Getting rid of the residency requirement was a step in the right direction. I'm not advocating that people do unethical things to make up the difference in salary, but it's kind of sad that many of the people who serve the City are forced into its outskirts, or NJ. Serving the City shouldn't be "just a job". Maybe if people felt like more of a part of it, they would be inclined to take their work more seriously...instead of thinking "well, what do I care? I live in NJ" or something similar.

With that said, there needs to be a zero tolerance policy for employees who are caught engaging in this kind of behavior. I don't know if it exists, but maybe an informant hotline where people can report instances of inspectors looking the other way?

Posted by: BrookLynn at November 2, 2009 1:02 PM in response to DOB: A Challenge for All Times (and Mayors)

I closed in May using HSBC on a contract that was signed Jan 9th. 4.875% with no points. I had 40% down, and several accounts at HSBC and they were still annoying. I don't know if it was my particular rep or HSBC in general, but the customer service was terrible. Someone had recommended a mortgage broker from Prudential, but the RE broker I used told me to go with a bank because it would be faster than using a broker. He couldn't have been more wrong. I will not be using HSBC for my next purchase. I'd go with WFC or a broker if you have those options.

Posted by: BrookLynn at September 23, 2009 3:03 PM in response to Recent Mortgage Experiences?

I agree with quikazoid. I'm in my late 20s and have been lurking around B'stoner for years. My parents have owned their Brooklyn home free and clear for decades and have been encouraging me to buy a home of my own. "Just get a multi-family and rent it out" they keep saying. I looked around Brooklyn for a while and realized that even with a stable, decent salary and extremely disciplined savings practices, the only way I could afford to buy would be to rely on rental income....in the fringe of the fringe neighborhoods. Having seen housing court in action though, it's hard to provide optimistic advice for OP's situation. Now doesn't seem like the right time for someone in OP's position to jump into the NY market. Just my $.02

Posted by: BrookLynn at June 17, 2009 12:01 PM in response to Seeking Advice on Multi-Family

The L train gets everything except service. Take it from one who's been living at the Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway stop since 1980. *Surprise* it's a shuttle bus this weekend! Ugh.

Posted by: BrookLynn at April 8, 2009 4:53 PM in response to Closing Bell: L Train Gets A Blog

Running more trains, closer together without someone watching seems like a recipe for disaster...but you never know. Does this mean that we can now avoid the huge delay in train service at the terminal stations? If you're getting off at the Rockaway Parkway or 8th Ave. stations for example, the trains have a tendency to sit at the second to last stops for quite some time before finally pulling into the terminals. I've always wondered why that delay existed...isn't there any communication between the train and the terminal stations? I guess now we'll see.

Posted by: BrookLynn at February 24, 2009 4:16 PM in response to Closing Bell: Robo Train Has Arrived

I'd have to agree with SnappyName. The map may not be drawn to scale, but as one who lived in Canarsie for a long time (southeast brooklyn off the last stop on the L train) I can tell you that there are PLENTY of people in the neighborhoods out there who would benefit from subway service. I don't have statistics, but I have lived it, walked it, driven it. The houses in that neighborhood were originally intended to be 2 family homes with 2-car garages. For various reasons, many of the owners have closed down the garages and created illegal basement apartments. DOB and the City look the other way...

I digress. The point is that all these extra apartments contain people in a neighborhood where bus service is spotty...to the point where there are illegal cabs that take people from this neighborhood to the Flatbush Ave. 2/5 train stop. It takes the B6 about 20 minutes (if you get a Limited bus) to get from there to the Flatbush Ave. stop. Or it will take you about the same amount of time to walk to the Canarsie stop on the L train.

But that's only one example of one neighborhood. There are others, and there are plenty of people living in them. Try hanging out at Franklin Ave. or just going from some point in Brooklyn to some point in Queens using mass transit, without passing through Manhattan...you will want to slit your wrists. There are plenty of people who do those commutes everyday. I've lived in Brooklyn, worked in Queens and Manhattan, gone to school in the Bronx and Manhattan, and spent liesure time at all points in between. I will agree that it would be great to have a subway running down 2nd Ave. but I think other places could benefit just as much, if not more,from having improved transit.

Posted by: BrookLynn at February 10, 2009 2:41 PM in response to Local Groups Hit Atlantic Station to Push Ravitch Plan

6% of municipal employees stil isn't alot...especially when you consider that most of those are concentrated in a handful of agencies and it takes years for most people to reach those salaries on the municipal pay scale (unless you're well connected).

Disclosure: former City employee.

Posted by: BrookLynn at January 7, 2009 11:23 AM in response to Wednesday Links

Mopar, I've been keeping an eye on Jax Heights. The places near the BQE or north of 88th street are a little dicey, but if you're looking at something solidly in the historic district, you may be able to find something comparable for the price. It probably won't have a real kitchen though...

Posted by: BrookLynn at December 2, 2008 12:01 PM in response to Co-op Success Story in Bushwick

The idea of mortgage moratoria is not a new one. It happened many moons ago...during the Great Depression. Although it had a positive short term effect, long term most people agreed that it increased borrowing costs.

Check out this study by a VP of the St. Louis Fed:

http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/08/11/Wheelock.pdf

Posted by: BrookLynn at November 11, 2008 12:41 PM in response to Citigroup Puts the Kibosh on Foreclosures