Very cool. Mr. B, I think you should order more of the hoodies!

Posted by: jessibaby at November 12, 2009 8:56 PM in response to Closing Bell: Martha's Brooklyn Show Now Online

Certificates of occupancy aren't just for residential use. Just because there is a C of O, doesn't mean that the space can be legally occupied by a residential tenant. Perhaps the landlord doens't want you to see the lease for this reason.

Posted by: jessibaby at November 4, 2009 1:00 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

Snappy, I'll take a stab at answering your affordable housing question: it depends. I think each project will be individually negotiated with the respective lenders and developers, i.e., if a building was supposed to be condo but the bank is getting a decent enough return as rentals, no incentive to negotiate with city, but if the bank thinks they will need to foreclose, then they'll talk. Seems possible that a bond issue could help finance any acquisitions.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 28, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Open Thread

M4L, don't know personally, virgin here.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 23, 2009 5:30 PM in response to Open Thread

Rob, interns get paid in sex.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 23, 2009 5:18 PM in response to Open Thread

"When the cat get's thirsty, he'll drink from his bowel"

Here's hoping he's had a colostomy.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 23, 2009 5:10 PM in response to Open Thread

CG, is that right? Martha's coming to check out the merch?

Posted by: jessibaby at October 23, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Closing Bell: Win Some, Lose Some

Dave, watch out for "S" shaped cookies.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 22, 2009 10:00 AM in response to Open Thread

Joe, I don't think Rob has a passport for Iceland :(

Rob, maybe take Amtrak somewhere. You need to leave the East Coast.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 22, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Open Thread

And, Go Phils!

Posted by: jessibaby at October 22, 2009 9:45 AM in response to Open Thread

Rob, I can't remember, do you know how to drive? If so, get in a car and drive west.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 22, 2009 9:45 AM in response to Open Thread

"at the corner of Clifton Place and Grand Avenue in New York"

it's in new york? who woulda thunk it...?

Posted by: jessibaby at October 19, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Getting Close on Grand?

Bed Stuy house tour was great. Very nice to see that there's more than one way to restore and renovate a brownstone. Saw Amzi, too, and met his lovely mother.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 19, 2009 9:32 AM in response to Open Thread

mines is base on balls.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 5:11 PM in response to Open Thread

Haha, Joe! That's exactly the move! A tribute to Captain Lou!

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 4:46 PM in response to Open Thread

Rob, I think the girl might have called jester a worm. Someone asked him to *do* the worm and then people got confused. Even after he called her the other word, she continued to call him WORM!

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 4:40 PM in response to Open Thread

ENY: Smile! The Phillies are on!

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Open Thread

CG: Mopar came late, Arkady, Mrs. D and Herki left early. Kensingtonka was there very briefly.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 3:48 PM in response to Open Thread

jester, please don't tell us that's your kill list.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 3:38 PM in response to Open Thread

Biff, can't make it. I'm going to one of the New Yorker events. But thanks.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:41 PM in response to Open Thread

CG, ha, that sounds like the belly of care bear.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:39 PM in response to Open Thread

Tara, I'm happy to help. I know a Jewish Dermatologist. Any interest?

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:38 PM in response to Open Thread

She fasted, I didn't.

CG, I thought married men had fairy dust there :)

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:31 PM in response to Open Thread

Oooh, ditto, with lemon curd? Yum!

You, too, Joe. I got freaked out by the drama and had to get out of there quickly.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:29 PM in response to Open Thread

Thanks, Biff. I will let her know you said that. M4L and Wasder, it's true. We've never talked beyond the electric bill and fasting for Yom Kippur.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:23 PM in response to Open Thread

Biff, perhaps we could donate the proceeds to feral cats.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:18 PM in response to Open Thread

Wasder, I think she did. That was literaly the first time we ever talked to each other for more than three minutes.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:11 PM in response to Open Thread

Benson, you missed my roommate, too ;)

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:09 PM in response to Open Thread

Tara, Legion is taken. Two kids, too.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 2:04 PM in response to Open Thread

yes, randolph. the same as any tv network running an ad for a candidate. Where the eff were you last night?

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 1:14 PM in response to Open Thread

DeLepp, it's true. I had my hands full with Grade-A PLUSA moobies.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Open Thread

At first, Rob wasn't sure what he was doing. He initially just poked at them. He was further instructed about the "right" way to touch a boobie.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 10:15 AM in response to Open Thread

My roommate was surprised about how self-depreciating everyone was -- she commented that people kept calling themselves pathetic losers. She was the lucky one who was groped by Rob.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 10:12 AM in response to Open Thread

I think we'll wait and let jester tell his story. only seems fair.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 16, 2009 9:35 AM in response to Open Thread

"OMG!!! I think I just tinkled in my pants a little."

Well, if you're gonna drop a deuce, wait for the rest of us!

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 5:22 PM in response to Open Thread

I being of sound body and mind do hereby bequeth the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to TownhouseLady.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 2:56 PM in response to Open Thread

BJ, here's on to add: lechacal ;)

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 2:00 PM in response to PARTY TONIGHT!

AMZI?

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Open Thread

Dave, I agree. Philles were true pimps on Tuesday - especially in the 9th. Hard to belive we've got a mature team -- very un-Philly.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Open Thread

Update: one roommate has expressed interest.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 1:28 PM in response to Open Thread

"I'm doing it right.
Love,
BJ"

BJ, my skills were lauded on the wall of the boys bathroom in high school. Top that!

One roommate has responded, she's too sick to make it but said count her in for next time!!

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 11:57 AM in response to Open Thread

BJ, clearly we've never dated. No doubts in rash town.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Open Thread

Brownjokester, are you even coming? (Hope so!)

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 11:03 AM in response to Open Thread

I love Captain Lou. Big time.

Ok, M4L, the roommates have been officially invited. See you later.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 10:35 AM in response to Open Thread

M4L, is that a hint? I feel fine, was planning to come, but didn't want to (potentially) infect anyone. It's unclear what I'm packing here. Probably nothing.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 10:12 AM in response to Open Thread

Kens, if it was from Ratifico, that was quite the incubation period. People seem to think it came from Sweden.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 9:56 AM in response to Open Thread

Kens, I know. It's freaky - but fading. I don't want anyone to get sick!

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 9:45 AM in response to Open Thread

Wow. Body shots. Ha. Now's a good time to tell you that I have a rash all over my arms and chest!

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 9:33 AM in response to Open Thread

My plan is to come, but I've been feeling a bit sick lately. I'm fine to join, but don't want to upset the seemingly fragile PLUSA immune systems.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 15, 2009 9:25 AM in response to Open Thread

Snappy, if there is a mortgage, the public records don't seem to reflect it.

Posted by: jessibaby at October 14, 2009 1:09 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

it doesnt matter he OVERcharged. it was agreed to that youd pay 700 dollars a month, doesnt MATTER that he was paying less. at ALL. and maly your scenario is completely ridiculous and doesnt relate to this issue at all.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at November 4, 2009 3:11 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

if the 4 of you are paying $2800/month to him, why does he have $5000 in security deposit? did he make you all pay more than 1 month's security?

Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 3:25 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

*rob* sounds like you would do the same to your friends?

Posted by: joe_the_bummer at November 4, 2009 3:30 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

That was my guess, CG_ups. First and last month's, plus $400 for something.

Posted by: CarrollGardened at November 4, 2009 3:30 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

$400 is for chips and margarita mix, but, sadly, not the tequila.

Posted by: antidope at November 4, 2009 3:35 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

he made us pay "1 month rent + $500" as a security deposit. so he has actually $4800 of our money if you want me to be specific.

last year he said i could have a copy of the lease if i wanted, and so i said ok i would like one. then anytime i'd ask him to pony it up, he would say he didn't know where it was. (we have a lot of shelves/common space in our loft and much of it is cluttered with his shit, so he would just motion toward the shared office area and say "it's in there somewhere".) i finally just rifled through some of the shelves one day, and found it in an envelope marked "lease."

the day that i saw the rent check, he had left it on the kitchen table and ran out to get stamps or something (to mail it to the LL). since we all have office jobs, and he quit his (since he has like no expenses) i assume he didn't realize i was home sick that day and that i saw it when i woke up.

this has become insane. i was just wondering if we had recourse to take over the lease since he pretty much moved out so long ago. guess not. thanks to those of you who are understanding of how stressful it is to live with a greedy sociopath.

Posted by: mightierthanswords at November 4, 2009 3:49 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

main reason that we don't all pack up and leave is that he has $5000 in security deposit money from us that i know he will try and find any way not to return.

You were never getting that money back from John. You think a guy who's done this to you won't find some pretext to keep more of your money?

If I've got this right, when you moved in he told you the rent was $3500 per month and it would be split equally? Or he told you you paid 1/5 of the rent, which was $700 (same difference).

Well, then, since the rent was only $3000, that means you were overpaying your agreed-upon share by $175 per month before the new roommate moved in. And since the new roommate moved in, you've been overpaying by $200.

So, stop paying him.

I'd tell him that since there is a new roommate, you will be paying 1/6 of the $3,000 rent from this point forward ($500 a month), and that he should take the first however many months out of your security deposit, and the next however many months out of your overpayments to date. If he comes back at you, don't negotiate, don't explain, don't discuss, this is just how it is. Give him a lot of "I'm so sorry you feel that way. I felt pretty terrible when I found out I'd been overpaying for so many months." And then just say nothing.

He mis-represented the terms of a contract that is probably unenforceable anyway. It doesn't matter how you found out he was lying. Blah blah blah, don't get sucked into his drama. Just, these are your terms. And if he gets all "and if I don't accept your terms," just say "I'm sorry." And hang up. It's not your job to solve his problem of not liking the fact you'll be paying him less, and only start paying him again after your overpayments/security have brought you back to an even balance.

Tell your roommates you are doing this, as an FYI. If they want to do it, too, be supportive of them. But do this with or without them. But be clear that this is between you and John, it's John's name on the lease, it's HIS problem (not theirs) to find the money to pay.

He will undoubtedly try to get you out of there. But odds are, he would have tried to get you out of there anyway since you're the pesky troublemaker who exposed his scam.

Remove all your valuables from the apartment NOW. Put some clothes at a friend's house where you could crash for awhile if he changes the locks. Make sure none of the utilities, etc are in your name. Have a plan for what to do if you come home to find the locks changed. Get all illegal substances out of your place (pot, whatever) in case he calls the cops. Change the password of all your accounts to something that's hard to hack.

And start looking for a new place. If this works out and he doesn't give you a hard time, once you've lived there long enough that all the overpayments are even, ask yourself if you want to live in this place for $500 a month, given the trust situation with John. If the answer is no, start looking for a new place.

But under no circumstances does John get any more of your money until the balance comes even.

Posted by: bkrules at November 4, 2009 3:50 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

I think the issue is black and white. You all agreed to pay what he was asking. It doesn't matter what he is/was paying.

If I felt an item is worth $100 and I buy it for $100, do I have the right to to get my money back if I found out someone else bought it for $20? No.

I still agree that "John" is a douche... AND he is the one who has his credit at risk here. If you want to stick it to him, you have the option.

Posted by: mrkknox at November 4, 2009 3:55 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

oh whatever. John gave you and your broke a$$ friends a place to live, for cheap i might add, and he threw in chips and salsa. you sound like a whiney brat. you have no recourse. Judge Judy would rip you a new one if you were in her court.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at November 4, 2009 4:06 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

If he made you pay more than a month for security then that is most certainly "business" and not "friendship". That should have been a big tip-off as to the kind of relationship you were getting into when dealing with him.

I was friendly with a former landlord before renting from her. When I agreed to take her apartment she suddenly asked me for 2 months security deposit. I was a little taken aback by the request but still gave it to her. I also quickly downgraded our relationship from friend to business- a very good call. Particularly over a year later when she casually mentioned that it was "cheeky and resourceful" of her to ask for 2 months security because she really needed the cashflow at the time. Now a friend might have been rather annoyed by such a statement. However, somebody who did "business" with her chalked one up for experience and moved on.

And please do not take bkrule's advice unless you are looking for a shit ton of drama. If you are so unhappy with the arrangement and civilized behavior and dialogue isn't creating a satisfying resolution for you then you really should just move on. It's not worth the negativity, especially when you have to live in it.

I will add that I do think John is a douche, too, but that has nothing to do with the arrangement you made with him.

Posted by: Snarkypants at November 4, 2009 4:07 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue