Daily Gotham has an extensive write up about the Westboro Baptist Church protesters. They sound like they are busy little haters. On Thursday they will be protesting in front of Brooklyn Tech. Their reason for protesting Brooklyn Tech? "Because God hates fags, yo."

Google Westboro Baptist Church and see what comes up first. If anyone can stand it, their protest schedule and vile reasons for protesting are posted there.

Posted by: gowanusdog at September 23, 2009 9:31 AM in response to Wednesday Links

DH,
You haven't really lived until you've been to the Pyramid and had Danny the Pony Boy ask if you wanted a ride.

CarrollGardened,
I am sure Kiev is still there but those days are long over me.

Posted by: gowanusdog at September 18, 2009 7:30 PM in response to New Gowanus Club is Getting There

CarrollGardened,
When you came out of Robots did you have lots of dirt under your fingernails? I could never quite figure that out. It would get in one's too. Besides the glaring sunlight there were also plenty of times when I would look at my watch and wonder wth I was doing in a sandfilled basement dancing at 6:30 AM especially since I could have sworn it had been only 1:00 AM five minutes before.

And there was always Kiev for early (very) morning pierogis to help sop up the alcohol.

Posted by: gowanusdog at September 18, 2009 5:03 PM in response to New Gowanus Club is Getting There

I practically lived in Save the Robots. Granted it was always a little disconcerting to walk out into daylight and see people beginning their day.

Posted by: gowanusdog at September 18, 2009 3:16 PM in response to New Gowanus Club is Getting There

I agree with you bupe except for the crazy wife part.

Posted by: gowanusdog at September 16, 2009 11:48 AM in response to Democratic Primary Results

fsrq,
I was lukewarm on Thomspon as I don't find him very compelling but planned to vote for him in November. Thompson did give an excellent speech last night and I was pleasantly surprised. I hope he keeps this up. Myself and others I know voted for Tony Avella knowing he wouldn't win but we like him and appreciate his integrity. Those votes will most likely go to Thompson in November.

I almost voted for the "rent's to damn high guy" because his platform amused me.

Posted by: gowanusdog at September 16, 2009 10:50 AM in response to Democratic Primary Results

There are quite a few homeowners that are quite happy living next to the canal. If there was a real fear of a drop in property values because the canal might be listed as a superfund site I would think that the naysayers would be listing their houses and fleeing the neighborhood but that doesn't seem to be happening. Quite the contrary, most of the homeowners I know welcome the EPA's involvement.

Posted by: gowanusdog at September 1, 2009 4:46 PM in response to First Closings Recorded at the Satori

Oh believe me, Lena does not support any "hipster/yuppie" agenda and since I had dealings with her for too many years than I care to count I know what I am talking about. She comes from a solidly working class background and is very old school. She loves rules and discipline. She will operate a tight ship and sometimes it will be a little too tight.

Posted by: gowanusdog at July 31, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Friday Links

As a former PS 261 parent I am no fan of Lena Barbera but I am curious as to what the What means. Lena is 1/2 Italian (I think) and 1/2 black.

Posted by: gowanusdog at July 31, 2009 12:02 PM in response to Friday Links

It seems that the City is taking to the media in their continuing PR efforts in another attempt to garner support where there is hardly any.
The City didn't seem at all concerned about the toxic canal when Toll was seeking their rezoning. Make no mistake: this is all about the Gowanus re-zoning. Once the canal is designated a super fund site, and I have every expectation that it will be, even Bill de Blasio and Amanda Burden might have to think twice about allowing residential development on adjacent lots. My feeling is that the City merely wants to delay the listing to get the ULRUP through and then they will throw in the towel in a few years and request the canal be listed. The City is also relying on potential funds from private developers but of course they can't come right out and say that because that would be admitting that the ULURP is on big sham.
The City's plan relies too heavily on everything falling into place starting with Bloomberg's re-elections. The alternative plan also relies on congressional funding from the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). WRDA receives 50 million per year which is shared among the states and the money needs to be requested every year. The canal is not on the list and even if it were it would be in competition with other Hudson Harbor sites. Funding under this method seems an impossibility.
The timeframes for either method are not that far apart and it is impossible to accurately predict how long either will take just like a kitchen or bathroom renovation takes longer than initially expected.
If the City is so gung ho to show there ability to clean a contaminated waterway they should refocus their energy on the Newtown Creek.
And by the way, I am a Gowanus homeowner and welcome the EPA's involvement as do an overwhelming majority of my neighbors.

Posted by: gowanusdog at July 2, 2009 11:19 AM in response to The City Pushes Its Plan for Gowanus Canal Clean-Up

jwendell,
Here you go.
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=090000648094b7d2

Posted by: gowanusdog at April 15, 2009 11:22 AM in response to Conflict over Gowanus Canal Superfund Status

Rob,

And I mean this with all due respect, before you claim "it really isn't that bad" why don't you find it first. I recommend a warm summer day for your stroll or immediately after a good rainfall. Then tell us it isn't that bad.

Posted by: gowanusdog at April 15, 2009 10:59 AM in response to Conflict over Gowanus Canal Superfund Status

feral,
OK, you and I seem to have attended the same meeting. I was beginning to wonder if I were in an alternate universe.

tybur6, raw sewage flows into the canal during even moderate rains. During heavy rains the canal can rise above its banks where they want to build housing. The website the feral posted has a screenshot of just some of the contaminants. And yes, the canal leeches onto adjacent properties.

Posted by: gowanusdog at April 15, 2009 10:41 AM in response to Conflict over Gowanus Canal Superfund Status

I was at the meeting last night. I live and own in Gowanus/Carroll Gardens and welcome the proposed EPA clean up.
Isn't the Hudson Companies also developing Third and Bond? I think they are more worried of what Superfund status might mean for that project more than Public Place.
What happens if the flushing tunnel propeller breaks again? There has already been dredging and repairs which have failed. Why not do a proper and comprehensive clean up? I thought USACE was prepared to dredge the length of the canal many years ago but the problem was disposal of the toxic sludge. If the EPA can resolve disposal why shouldn't they be involved?

I am not sure whether Toll has even closed on the site. The contract was contingent on obtaining a rezoning but I doubt there is a Superfund contingency. Toll claims to be financially healthy so they can wait it out or resell.

Posted by: gowanusdog at April 15, 2009 10:33 AM in response to Conflict over Gowanus Canal Superfund Status

Yes, that is Marty. I think he showed up because City Planning decided not to adopt his recommendations.

Posted by: gowanusdog at March 6, 2009 12:06 PM in response to Pols Skip Out on Toll Brothers Gowanus Hearing

smeyer418,
If I were paranoid that would mean I care whether the affordable housing was built or union labor was used. I don't.

Posted by: gowanusdog at March 2, 2009 12:06 PM in response to City Approved Toll Brothers Gowanus Plan...2 Weeks Ago!

So, now the affordable housing part of this project is in jeopardy. Has Bill De Blasio publicly commented on this since his support of the project and its height were contingent on affordable units? If Toll reneges on building the affordable housing there is certainly nothing that will prevent them from deciding that using union labor is too costly in this economic climate. I hope all of the non-NIMBYs who raved about the affordable housing and union labor are happy. The project might create jobs but not necessarily for the unions. You can thank Amanda Burden.

Posted by: gowanusdog at March 2, 2009 10:56 AM in response to City Approved Toll Brothers Gowanus Plan...2 Weeks Ago!

OK, so the board is neglecting their obligation to maintain the common elements. Their mindset is probably that they want to preserve the building's reserve fund/don't think it is fair that their common charges will contribute to interior repairs of individual units. Eventually, they will have to pay and correct the problem and their neglect will have exacerbated the interior damage so repairs will be more costly for ALL unit owners. Don't be surprised if the board tries to bs you and ask something stupid like how do we know these owners didn't take baseball bats and bang on the flues.

Make sure to mention in any correspondence that the board's neglect is a breach of their fiduciary duty that they owe to all unit owners and that the longer this is not addressed the more expensive it will be to repair.

New developments usually have various issues. It sounds like you have a board comprised of people who are new to this and don't have a grasp about their obligations as there is a huge learning curve.

Posted by: gowanusdog at January 29, 2009 11:19 AM in response to Advice Regarding Abusive Board?

It sounds like they are doing this through an assessment in which case they need to comply with the bylaws.
Write to the board and provide the relevant sections of the bylaws. If your building has an attorney, send a copy to the attorney and the managing agent.
Is the building mostly first time owners because many first timers have a tenant mentality and being "too busy" is all too common until something directly impacts them.

Posted by: gowanusdog at January 29, 2009 10:37 AM in response to Advice Regarding Abusive Board?

Your board needs to adhere to the bylaws in apportioning shared costs.

Are you friendly with the other owners? If so, hold your own meeting and try to get one or two people to run for the board. I am not sure how your building apportions votes but if you can get one or two people to run try to convince your like minded neighbors to only vote for those candidates. You can always run for the board yourself.

Posted by: gowanusdog at January 29, 2009 10:05 AM in response to Advice Regarding Abusive Board?

My sixth grader was mugged on Lafayette and Vanderbilt a few weeks ago. He didn't have any money, iPod, or cell phone and he was also "frisked". He said it was two guys and they were at least sixteen. He was too shaken to remember anything else. It happened at around 4:30 in the afternoon on the one day he stays a little later so there were no other students to walk with him to the G. I take him in the mornings and in the afternoon he comes back with other students and parents except that one day a week. The school staff was superb and if there aren't other students going in the same direction he waits for a staff person to take him when they are done for the day.

Posted by: gowanusdog at December 8, 2008 11:22 AM in response to Violent Mugging on South Elliott Place

Aunt Suzie's was owned by Irene Lo Re who is a former chair of CB6. I think it was opened in the 90s so that would take it out of the running.

Posted by: gowanusdog at December 4, 2008 11:01 AM in response to What's the Oldest Business in Park Slope?

No, there is no way around the mortgage recording tax. I also forgot that a refi might also entail paying a point or a percentage of a point along with various fees. I only refinanced because my rate was somewhere in the mid sevens which was pretty good at the time. When I bought my rate was 11 3/4 so for awhile I thought any mortgage rate in the single digits was pretty good.

Posted by: gowanusdog at December 3, 2008 10:38 AM in response to Refi Wave on the Way?

It usually isn't worth it to me to refi. Currently have a 6.25 30 year fixed. I would estimate that I have 70-80 percent in equity (for the moment) so that isn't an issue. I've been in my place long enough to have been underwater with 25% down in the early nineties. Because of the additional amount of recording taxes that will be added to the principle rates have to fall at least a full percentage point for me save anything and the savings is negligible for me.

Posted by: gowanusdog at December 3, 2008 9:46 AM in response to Refi Wave on the Way?

You need to find a lawyer to petition the court for a license to access adjoining property. You will also probably have to post a bond and the judge might require other conditions such as working hours, method of protecting your neighbor's property, and use of licensed contractors. The ball will pretty much be in your neighbor's court (no pun intended) regarding conditions.

Posted by: gowanusdog at December 1, 2008 10:14 AM in response to Aggressive lawyer

I have seen a definite uptick in what I am calling thug on nerd. My sixth grader was jumped on his way home from school on Vanderbilt and Clermont. He was on his way to the G. I am not sure it was really a mugging since he didn't have anything. Friends of my ninth grader were jumped leaving school on the Upper West Side and another of his friends was mugged in front of PS 32. From what I was told by the principal of my kid's middle school, the younger middle schoolers are particularly vulnerable.

Posted by: gowanusdog at November 25, 2008 11:25 AM in response to Headed Back to the 1970s in Bed Stuy and Beyond?