[Second Avenue this morning via Vinny and 0]
The latest headlines
Focus shifts to cause of East Village explosion after 2 bodies found (CBS New York)
Tourist apologizes for snapping selfie near blast site (New York Post)
And from the EVG inbox this afternoon...
Councilmember Rosie Mendez statement on the aftermath of East Village explosion
“When our city experiences a disaster such as the explosion that occurred last week in my district, we see New Yorkers at their best. The explosion on 2nd Avenue led many individuals to display their fearlessness and courage to aide people in danger.
“I would like to thank all of the agencies and organizations involved in assisting and protecting our neighbors from combatting the fire to restoring services. Thank you to the FDNY, NYPD, OEM, Red Cross NY, Small Business Services, LES Ready, P.S.63, the Tompkins Square Library, Animal Care & Control, Community Board 3 and many others.
“This explosion was a true tragedy that has rendered many homeless and took the lives of two young men. My heart goes out to the individuals who have lost a friend or family member. I hope the families can find some comfort in that they will be able to move forward with a proper service for their loved one.
“This week, the city will continue to station an emergency resource center in the East Village for residents to obtain a variety of services including relocation and mental health referrals. New Yorkers and East Villagers are strong and resilient and we will survive this trying moment.”
Donations and Services
• Cooper's Craft & Kitchen will be accepting donations from patrons who wish to contribute to the American Red Cross at both their East Village (Second Avenue and East Fifth Street) and Chelsea (Eighth Avenue at 18th Street) locations. "We are deeply saddened by this accident and our thoughts are with the victims & their families," Tom O'Byrne, one of the owners of Cooper's Craft & Kitchen, said in a statement.
• East Village resident Sara Walshe is holding a by-donation yoga class at the Ashtanga Yoga Shala (East Eighth Street at Avenue B) to raise money for displaced residents. All donations will be given to the Mayor's Fund to Advance NYC, earmarked for the explosion. The class is Monday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. Details here.
Missing Pets
The cats, Sebastian (left) and Kitty Cordelia, that belong to Kathleen Blomberg, who lives at 125 Second Ave., adjacent to the three collapsed buildings, are missing. No. 125 is still under a Full Vacate Order. We have her contact info should you spot her beloved pets...
20 comments:
Wait—is this an official communication? Why is the Tompkins Square Library being called "Thompkins Square?"
This is a small point, I know, but it's the way common usage changes actual names around; many people know the park as "Thompkins Square"—or even "Thompson Square."
Is anyone else unnerved by this boilerplate letter that Rosie's office couldn't even bother to proofread?
The pet photos are heartbreaking.
Got my fingers crossed for 125 but it doesn't look good. After this weekend, I have an inkling of what it was like to live downtown near Ground Zero. Moishe's had a huge line yesterday and had sold out of bagels. My dry cleaner on 7th said he would be open today. Remember when the cranes were falling - the one on 3rd Avenue?? Like the falling cranes these gas situations are the end result of several mayors worth of untreated corruption.
Looks like 125 2nd Ave was heavily damaged by fire, if not the explosion itself... Wonder if it will lead to a full gut renovation and tenants tossed aside
I wonder how badly damaged 41 E 7th St?? Thats the building that directly faces the back of mine and I'd imagine most of the east facing apartments must have been heavily damaged & ruined by water.
Watching the removal of the buildings from my rear window & roof of mine has been interesting. Glad they were able to take down what was left of the back of 123 2nd Ave without it damaging anymore buildings
@Scuba Diva
I removed the h...
My heart breaks for those beautiful kitties and their owners. :(
I'll bet Sebastian and Kitty Cordelia are littermates—identical noses, identical poses. Poor sweet babies. I'm so sorry, Kathleen. I'll pray for a miracle.
:(
I wonder about 125 2nd as well. I mean, I doubt they would tear it down, but if the foundation was damaged from the explosion, and the upper floors are burnt to a crisp, that's a lot of $ for the owner to fix.
I doubt any residents will be living there anytime soon. I wonder also about Enz's , E-Nails, and Himalayan Vision. On Enz's Instagram they seem to think the store's merchandise was damaged from water/smoke and will not be able to open.
Seems like the building that has Burp Castle/Jimmy's/Standings was barely damaged and the businesses/residents will be back in soon. I heard the NYU GreenHouse building students are moving back in tonight after being evacuated. Haven't heard anything about the tenement between the Greenhouse and the old Kiev. I imagine San Marzanos won't be able to open for quite awhile.
I love seeing Moishe open and seeing the pics of him passing out free pastries to the firefighters was very cool.
"Is anyone else unnerved by this boilerplate letter that Rosie's office couldn't even bother to proofread?"
Hmm... Nope. We all have real things to be concerned about.
With the vacate order, how did animals escape (what were the circumstances)? I think there are at least four in buildings that did not come down. Thanks. So heart wrenching. Hoping for best --
did anyone else hear that one of the buildings behind the explosion on 7th was condemned after tenants at first had been allowed back in last week? I heard tenants were given 15 minutes to remove belongings and they would not be allowed back any time soon, if at all.
The doors were likely open for fire fighters and inspections of the building.
The idea of being given 15 minutes to remove your belongings is madness. No one could possibly think clearly in those circumstances. I wouldn't even know where to BEGIN in that situation. It's also inhumane, b/c if you had a pet that might be hiding, you wouldn't have time to look for it if you only have 15 minutes total.
Unless the building is genuinely imminently about to collapse, the weight of one or two humans walking inside one apartment is not going to cause a collapse. I have NEVER understood the "15 minutes" routine, and my heart goes out to those who find themselves in these circumstances.
The FDNY should be able to accompany a tenant into the apartment, or (at the very least) FDNY can accompany ASPCA or other animal rescue workers into the apartments.
I still remember the LES building that was deliberately demolished and bulldozed years ago, with all the tenants' belongings inside and without ANY effort to remove or rescue their pets - during Giuliani's reign, if I remember correctly. This cannot be allowed to happen again.
Re the cats: It happened in my building where the fire dept opened all the doors (the fire ended up being contained luckily) and when I went in through the wide open door I was sure one of my cats escaped..turns out she was so deeply hidden in the apt - in a place she had never gone before - that I didn't find her at first. Off chance but MAYBE they are in the apt (or building) hidden and the people didn't have time to search enough. Just a thought - fingers crossed - I hope they are found safely soon!
If they haven't been already, she should contact animal care to be on the lookout for these two kitties in case they are brought in as strays.
I really hope they have already been found and being taken care of until their owners retrieve them. Fingers crossed.
Anon 8:59: "The FDNY should be able to accompany a tenant into the apartment, or (at the very least) FDNY can accompany ASPCA or other animal rescue workers into the apartments."
Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, and I don't ASPCA workers, and certainly not FDNY firefighters, put in harm's way. Some people do not understand that this type of occurance is CHOAS, and throwing people into burning buildings will result in mass injuries and deaths. Good lord - sending civilians into burning buildings to root out cats and dogs that may not be there - can you imagine such a thing? Can you imagine a fire chief saying no more people can go into the building and then some loose-cannon ASPCA volunteer throwing a shitfit and then beelining it into the building causing an FDNY firefighter to have to go in there to bring them out? Can you imagine the lawsuits? Oy vey. I love my pet as much as the next guy, and would be completely beside myself if something happened to them, but death happens and best to prepare yourself if it does.
"or (at the very least) FDNY can accompany ASPCA" - The "at the very least" is causing me to grin like idiot-boy. At the very least - oh that's rich!
Anon 8:52: "No one could possibly think clearly in those circumstances. I wouldn't even know where to BEGIN in that situation."
I have, and so have a lot of people on this site I bet, and you should too. Google "bug out bag" or "go bag". You need an exit plan. Your essential-essentials need to be in one place. Important papers and docs should be scanned and put in the cloud, or on a flash drive that's part of your go-kit. If you can't find your animal in your apartment then you have too much stuff.
"Unless the building is genuinely imminently about to collapse, the weight of one or two humans walking inside one apartment is not going to cause a collapse." Stick to what you know pal.
Kathleen's kitties now said to've been found safe & sound
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