The private co-ops were once derelict buildings in neighborhoods like Harlem, Washington Heights and the Lower East Side that the cash-strapped city sold to residents beginning in the 1980s for as little as $250 per unit. The city was happy to off-load the headache properties, which had been abandoned by absentee landlords or seized from tax deadbeats.
Over the years, the homesteaders banded together to create livable apartments, and at the same time revitalized blighted neighborhoods.
Now, the city wants to seize control of what have become valuable assets, and livid residents are preparing for a legal war to stop it.
This new proposed Regulatory Agreement is overreaching and would result in a loss of autonomy and decision-making abilities that benefit HDFC buildings, as well as costing individual shareholders hard-earned equity.
The new rules include a 30 percent flip tax on all units when they sell; the requirement of hiring outside managers and monitors at our expense; a ban on owning other residential property within a 100-mile radius of New York City; and more draconian clauses. Community meetings to discuss the agreement have been contentious and hostile, and so far not one HDFC in the entire city has publicly supported the plan. Very few HDFCs in the city need financial help and we strongly oppose a "one size fits all" regulatory agreement that will cost us money, resources, and most important, value in our home equity.
The problem was that HDP wrote the Regulatory Agreement without any input from HDFC shareholders. When we caught wind of what was happening, we were able to force a community meeting, with the help of Council Member Mendez's office. They have since held a handful of meetings but say they are moving forward within the next couple of months. They are also not giving a clear timeline, which of course has many of us panicked.
"We have a special obligation in NYC to be an example ... we're the greatest city in the world & to lead by example" #AlwaysNewYork pic.twitter.com/PxEOOBBuC8
— NYC ImmigrantAffairs (@NYCImmigrants) November 21, 2016
De Blasio ... said it's important for New York to be at the forefront of a burgeoning anti-Trump movement because this city has always been a beacon of opportunity all over the world.
He urged the crowd — which twice gave him a standing ovation — to "always be proud of our values."
"The president-elect talked during the campaign about the movement that he had built. Now its our turn to build a movement, a movement of the majority," he said.
To all of you – we will protect you. This is your home. We are #AlwaysNewYork.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 21, 2016
A single election does not change who we are - we are 8.5 million strong. We are #AlwaysNewYork.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 21, 2016
“Politicians suck!” shouted Jerry Foust, 41, who had grabbed one of the blue folding seats in the East Village park set up for the mayor’s Tuesday afternoon press conference in hopes of hearing how he planned to improve life on the streets.
“I want to see what the mayor had to say about homelessness because I’m homeless and I want to f–king help homeless people,” he said.
But around 1 p.m., two cops approached Foust and booted him from the park, where he regularly hangs out and which is a haven for homeless encampments.
Foust said he was told to leave because he was taking swigs out of a bottle of gin, but was not issued a summons for an open container.
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced over 500 workers are helping homeless people move from the streets of New York City to shelters with an array of services now that the Administration’s new HOME-STAT initiative has been fully staffed. The Mayor also announced that beginning May 2, the City will be adding three new homeless counts, in addition to the annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE Count).
“HOME-STAT represents an unprecedented response to street homelessness in New York City. Today, we are doing even more to count and connect homeless people to care. Every homeless person had a path to the streets. Each one needs to find a path back from the streets. It is our responsibility to help them get there, and we will continue these efforts until we reach each person. The only way to do that is to literally walk the streets.”
"NYC is now one step closer to being a city where EVERYONE can work and live." - @BilldeBlasio #affordablenyc pic.twitter.com/LN6kgDzTTE
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 22, 2016
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler today announced that they will quadruple the penalties for serious construction-safety lapses, conduct a wave of more than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect workers and the public amid the record building boom.
To make sure builders cannot profit by skirting safety rules, the City is raising the penalties for serious safety lapses from $2,400 to $10,000, and the penalty for lacking a construction superintendent will increase from $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000. Construction has surged more than 300 percent since 2009, contributing more jobs and more housing to New York City, but leading to an increase in preventable construction-related injuries and fatalities.
They also have more details about the worker who died here.
The worker, 33-year-old Luis Alberto Pomboza, was working on the renovation of 356 East 8th St. when he fell from the third to first floor, according to records from the Department of Buildings.
Pomboza — an undocumented Ecuadorian immigrant and father of five — was transported to Bellevue Hospital in serious condition with trauma to the head and face but later died of his injuries, according to the NYPD and Medical Examiner’s Office.
The effort will include stepped up Graffiti-Free NYC efforts, sidewalk power washing in commercial corridors, the expansion of Sunday and holiday litter basket collection service, and high shoulder/ramp cleanup.
Graffiti-Free NYC will remove graffiti from private and public structures, power wash sidewalks and remove stains from street furniture. The new Graffiti-Free NYC trucks will be equipped with power inverters, allowing the equipment to run without using the engines or gas-powered generators.
"This is so important for the lives of everyday New Yorkers for whom their neighborhood is the center of their life," de Blasio said. "It's so important for our small businesses, it's important of our economy. And the people of this city deserve nothing less than the cleanest city we can make it."
Under the plan, announced a day ahead of the mayor's State of the City address, the Department of Sanitation will increase litter basket pickups on Sundays and holidays by 40 percent in heavily trafficked areas starting April 1 by adding 20 more trucks.
There is no crime happening in the park that cannot be handled by foot police or officers in patrol cars. The precinct is just around the corner, patrol cars find their way into the park on a moment's notice.
Take down the tower. We don't want it. It makes us feel violated, insulted and angry that you chose this path under the guise of protecting us.
Take down the tower. We don't need it. It is overkill and just a display of muscle that infringes on our enjoyment of the park.
Take down the tower, Mr. Mayor. Take it down. Today.
"It's stupid, it's a waste of money," Annick de Lorme told us as she walked her dog past the tower last night. "It doesn't make sense to have two police officers sit around."
De Lorme said that she has lived next to the park on East 7th Street for 13 years, and felt that Tompkins is "one hundred percent" safer than it was when she first moved to the neighborhood.
Mayor de Blasio's press secretary, Karen Hinton, told us that the Tompkins Skywatch "is a temporary 'high visibility' police command post to address safety issues on a temporary basis," and that "how long it stays is up to the Boro Commander."
Hinton said that the "NYPD tried to park the Skywatch in the street area, away from the park, but that was problematic. The park was the next best solution."
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City today announced that $125,000 has been raised to date to support individuals and families directly affected by the Second Avenue explosion and building collapse on March 26.
The Mayor’s Fund launched a fundraising campaign on March 27 to coordinate direct financial support for those impacted by the tragedy. So far, the Mayor’s Fund has received over 350 contributions from everyday New Yorkers, totaling more than $50,000 – the majority of which were donated by individuals contributing amounts ranging from $5 to $15,000.
The total of $125,000 in pledges also includes support from corporate partners, including Con Edison, Gramercy Theatre and Irving Plaza, and Google. In response to New York City Google employees’ interest in helping those affected, Google launched a Disaster Relief Campaign that will run through the end of April. To date, Google employees and Google’s matching funds have raised over $25,000. In addition, local concert venues Irving Plaza and Gramercy Theatre will be offering patrons the option of donating to the Mayor’s Fund when purchasing tickets during the month of April. Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of these venues, has committed to matching the donations collected up to $10,000.
“It is truly characteristic of our city to join together in the face of adversity, and to show compassion and love to our fellow New Yorkers when they need it most – and these combined efforts of everyday New Yorkers and community and corporate partners are no exception,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Whether they are giving a little or giving a lot, the people of this city clearly have each other’s backs. The donations we’ve seen in recent days prove yet again that a tragedy that affects some New Yorkers touches us all.”
Help support families affected by the #EastVillage building collapse by donating to the @nycmayorsfund: http://t.co/wqHYrzPgwT
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 27, 2015
We’ve been anxiously awaiting the moment when Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is ready to divulge which Mayoral candidate she is throwing her considerable weight behind.
She’s been wooed by all the major candidates as she seems to have her paws on the pulse of the neighborhood. The last time she voted here it was just after Superstorm Sandy and the lines were incredibly long so she’s hoping for smoother sailing this time.
She carefully considered all the candidates; briefly thought of supporting the former Congressman because she thought Weiner was a breed of dog. Another leading candidate behaves a bit too much like an attack dog so that put her off needless to say. Finally she’s informed us she’s supporting Bill De Blasio. Apparently she’s become quite chummy with him and his entire family.
Kita won't confirm for sure but we have an inkling that De Blasio promised his first act as Mayor will be to ban 7-11s and Yorkies named Max so that’s what finally won her over.
Kita looks forward to seeing everyone at the polls on September 10.
