cwbuecheler - not everyone is driving 'to Manhattan'.
I go over the Brooklyn Bridge everyday on my way to work in New Jersey via the Holland Tunnel.
Granted, I only ride two wheeled vehicles. For me it's easier than two or three trains, quicker, and gives me more flexibility for errands after work. I don't use much gas, don't contribute to traffic backing up and am more ready to start the day at work after doing something I love (riding) than if I was crammed on a train.
I wouldn't mind bridge fares, as I didn't mind the congestion pricing plan, as long as they exempt two wheeled vehicles like other plans across the world.

PS - I might ride a bike if it were possible to get to Jersey City easily on a bike from Brooklyn.

Posted by: Flatbushrising at November 11, 2008 1:08 PM in response to New Rule for New Buildings: Bike Parking

Of course, it's building by building, landlord by landlord, but just because a place is stabilized doesn't mean it's a dingy mess.

Walk around Flatbush area near PLG. Most of the buildings are kept up - neat in front - trash bags placed around the neighborhood since the city doesn't have trashcans on the corner - and right now there's a really neat Holloween display on Lenox between Flatbush and Bedford.

My apartment was gut renovated right before I moved in. Granted - there aren't stainless appliances & it's Home Depot cabinets - but I don't care. It's clean and functional.
Granted, some of the units where people have lived for ages are getting a bit worn - but they are working on those little by little as well - or at least maintaining them.

I doubt any of my neighbors have a vacation home anywhere - except maybe still a home in their native country.

People get up - go to work - raise their families and try to get by. How little we sometimes forget that in order for you to have a high paying job and nice home - there have to be people around to fix your plumbing, serve your latte, and ring up your Fairway purchase.

Posted by: Flatbushrising at October 20, 2008 12:02 PM in response to For Post-Rent Control Real Estate, Leave Brooklyn

If he does have a sense of civic mindedness and any sort of real conscience, he will not take the money.
He should get 3 months worth of salary, no signing bonus, and the rest of that money should go into an account to pay severance for the many who will be out of work because of this.

Posted by: Flatbushrising at September 26, 2008 11:47 AM in response to WaMu Bailout a Bonus Bonanza for Brooklyn Bigwig

Flatbushdemata - what do you consider not safe at night?
I get out of a cab at Flatbush $ Caton drunk at 3 in the morning to walk home and have never had a problem.
I don't think a couple of blocks down it can be that different.

Oh wait - there are people that don't look like me on the streets so it must be scary.

Different doesn't have to mean bad people - get over it.
Not everyone can afford to live in the suburbs that many 'choice' Brooklyn areas are becoming. Having lived in Flatbush for over a year I've not had a single issue - yet hear about muggings and such in 'Almost Prime' over priced areas like Clinton Hill all the time.

Posted by: Flatbushrising at September 19, 2008 4:49 PM in response to Open House Picks

I don't understand this need for 2 bathrooms in a small 2 bedroom apartment.

I'd prefer the rentals at 147 St. James Pl have a larger second bedroom and do away with that shower bathroom.

Posted by: Flatbushrising at August 15, 2008 3:45 PM in response to Open House Picks

We don't need Sam's Club.

We have Costco already - a company that treats it's employees way better than most retail stores.

Walmart/Sam's Club is part of the problem in this country, not the solution.

Posted by: Flatbushrising at August 4, 2008 11:40 AM in response to Will Retail Continue to Trump Industry in Red Hook?

How can you insist someone have insurance on their personal belongings? It's their issue to deal with, and if they don't they are S*&T out of luck in case of a situation like this.
How would it affect you as a landlord?
Of course if the fire was the problem of the landlord not dealing with possibly dangerous issues - they could sue. Is that your thinking 'Hey, if they have their own insurance they won't come after me when I screw up?"

Posted by: Flatbushrising at August 4, 2008 10:44 AM in response to Fire Leaves 75 PLG Households Looking for Shelter

This city really has become of bunch of entitled whiners

The only problem I see with this is that the west side Brooklyn bound entrance does not have a booth and are turnstile only – so people with strollers are going to have to go in on the other side and walk all the way down to cross over. But then again people with strollers and such make crazy train connections up and down stairs at Atlantic/Pacific and other stations everyday.

Posted by: Flatbushrising at July 21, 2008 4:29 PM in response to Closing Bell: Carroll St. Subway Entrance Closed

This school has always been around criminals - why is this that much different?
St. Ann's Established in 1965 - Brooklyn court houses est 19th Century.

Reminds me of when I was living upstate and a church moved in next to a porn movie theater that had been there for ages - very tasteful place - no inapropriate signs out front or sleezy characters hanging around. Then the church spent hours a week walking up and down protesting the place saying something like that shouldn't be near a church.

Posted by: Flatbushrising at July 16, 2008 11:02 AM in response to Federal Probation Officer Defends Proximity to St. Ann's