CORRECTION:

Sorry - I quoted the state's figures in my math.

The city's numbers are here:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dhs/downloads/pdf/dailyreport.pdf

As of today's census numbers, the shelter will be taking 28% of the single adult homeless men in the city (4,922 as of today), not "almost 15%".

THIS IS ALMOST 1/3 OF THE HOMELESS MEN IN THE CITY GOING TO ONE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Posted by: hans at October 17, 2008 12:13 AM in response to Shelter Woes Spread From Crown Heights to Bed Stuy

An addendum:

Of course, if the state wants to increase the amount of public funds allocated to the surrounding area by 700% through increases in treatment programs, police, education, community organizations, tax incentives for business, they by all means increase our burden by 700%.

I am very much in favor of this "in my back yard" as long as they are willing to also invest more money "in my back yard".

But, if they're not willing to reciprocate the additional burden they are asking the community to carry, then why SHOULD we want it?

Posted by: hans at October 16, 2008 11:47 PM in response to Shelter Woes Spread From Crown Heights to Bed Stuy

What they're talking about here is increasing the number of homeless men in the Sumner Ave shelter to 700% of the current number.

Let me restate that number:
700%

Not only that, but the shelter is currently designated as a "working" shelter, meaning they will only admit men who are employed or seeking employment.

Not so with the new plan.

By the Bureau of Housing and Shelter Services' own numbers, this would be almost 15% of the total homeless population they are serving - all in a single neighborhood. If you don't believe me, look at their numbers here:

"...9,800 single adults are housed in facilities approved and monitored by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance"
http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/bhs/programs.asp

This does not only affect Bed Stuy and Crown Heights, but all of Brooklyn. The facility at Bellvue was surrounded by a healthy economic matrix and an active, powerful political constituency.

The new plan will drop the main intake center into one of the most beaten-down areas of Brooklyn. The economic revival of the past 6-7 years isn't going to continue if this is carried out. All those property owners in Clinton Hill, Ft. Greene, Prospect Heights and Park Slope will feel like they're living next door the South Bronx of the 70s too. It's only a 25 minute walk to any of these neighborhoods.

This neighborhood simply cannot shoulder this large a burden - it has already shouldered too large share of the city's poor. Just look at a map of NYCHA properties and you will see what I mean.

On top of all this, the plan does not serve the very people it purports to, the homeless. Concentrating poverty in an area with an economy that is only starting to grow does not help anyone, least of all the most impoverished.

Posted by: hans at October 16, 2008 11:42 PM in response to Shelter Woes Spread From Crown Heights to Bed Stuy

Run extra wires through the walls. it's easier now than after they've closed up all the walls.
You may want them later and if/when ethernet becomes obsolete it will be convenient to have a way to pull new wires through the wall cavity.

Posted by: hans at October 11, 2008 5:18 PM in response to Looking for network consultant

OP here-
Wish I could have a cat, but I'm insanely allergic.
So, we're looking for exterminator recommendations.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Someone with no mercy for little mice.

Posted by: hans at October 22, 2007 5:20 PM in response to Exterminator for mice...

I forgot to say - our neighbor has mentioned that she has a mouse infestation, but we're not confident she will take care of it effectively, based on a track record of a lack of maitenence on her place.

We're practically ready to pay for an exterminator to treat HER house.

Posted by: hans at October 22, 2007 11:48 AM in response to Exterminator for mice...

This guy is the best: http://pestquest.info/index.htm

Posted by: statestreeter at October 22, 2007 4:44 PM in response to Exterminator for mice...

1:08 here. APS does not only deal with the elderly. If it's as bad as OP indicates, they can provide different services, but it takes a looong time.

Posted by: guest at October 22, 2007 5:12 PM in response to Exterminator for mice...

OP here-
Wish I could have a cat, but I'm insanely allergic.
So, we're looking for exterminator recommendations.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Someone with no mercy for little mice.

Posted by: hans at October 22, 2007 5:20 PM in response to Exterminator for mice...

I would just have a talk with the neighbor and explain that you think her mouse problem is carrying over to you .Ask her how can you two work together to alleviate the problem.Stress that mice carry disease and affect the quality of your life.Tell her that if she isnt providing food and clutter, they wouldnt harbor in her home and travel over to yours.

Posted by: guest at October 22, 2007 9:00 PM in response to Exterminator for mice...

I'm allergic to cats as well, but since I married into two, I've been getting once a month allergy shots and have had no problems at all.

Posted by: guest at October 23, 2007 11:05 AM in response to Exterminator for mice...

I think that the mouse infestation is not a house-by-house proposition. All the houses are interconnected and the mice run the block, popping up wherever there is an opening. We had no mice at all. Then a radiator was moved and a hole was left in the floor. Mice started to come up from the hole. As soon as we had the hole closed all mice disappeared. Try to close up all openings that will allow the travelers to stop over.

Posted by: guest at October 23, 2007 4:09 PM in response to Exterminator for mice...

An exterminator is a waste of time until you seal up every hole in your place. This can be a huge job involving pulling out appliances, cabinets, emptying closets etc. Mice can get in through incredibly small holes. In my experience the most common entry points are the holes around radiator pipes and through holes around any pipes coming into a kitchen (water, waste, gas). Try sealing up these first with steel wool and plaster. If you use plaster alone, they can eat through it if they're determined.

Posted by: guest at October 27, 2007 12:46 PM in response to Exterminator for mice...

Please contact me offline at bruce@jerseydata.net or 609-965-4899.

I am a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, but also a brownstoner. I support schools, non-profits, and small businesses.

For general guidance, Cat 5 or (5e or 6) is an inexpensive, secure, and fast "infrastructure" for a home or business network. Your connection to the internet may be as much as 1MB/sec, and that's a big maybe.

To compare, a wired network gets an honest 100MB/sec, right out of the box. As to recommendations for wireless networks, we certainly maintain many of them, and in some historic homes, there is no easy alternative. Nevertheless if there are open walls or other paths to pull cable, it is simple, straight forward, and utterly reliable. Wireless security is an oxymoron. Once the security is locked down, it slows the network and makes the limitations so annoying that the security is often downgraded for better useability.

We usually recommend at least a hybrid, where wires carry the backbone, and wireless access points are installed in locations to which wire reaches, to complete the "last mile". This provides for the laptop in the garden, while the heavy lifting is done on wire.

Posted by: brucef at October 11, 2008 11:13 PM in response to Looking for network consultant

cmu, there are a lot of advantages to having a wired network, as pointed out. Not the least is that you can still add a wireless modem to the network! Remember I've ripped out all the walls so, as Hans points out, it costs almost nothing for the wiring.

Brucef, I'll be giving you a call in the next few days.

Posted by: denton at October 12, 2008 7:01 AM in response to Looking for network consultant

Denton,

I run a one-man IT consulting business here in Brooklyn. I serve mostly small business and sophisticated home networks.

I've completed a few residential jobs (for other Brownstoners) similar to yours and quite a few commercial wiring jobs. Please email me at victor@diadian.com.

I'm able to help you plan your cable layout, specify materials and complete the actual connections. I can also give you realistic materials estimates if you don't already have them.

I don't want to leave my phone number in a public forum, so please email me at victor@diadian.com for details.

Posted by: thecomputerguy at October 12, 2008 12:20 PM in response to Looking for network consultant