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A scene from Tompkins Square park today via Steven...
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Although it sorta looks like it from the photos, Christo was NOT eating a rack of ribs.
Today, we are forcing notorious NYC landlord Steve Croman to pay $8 million in restitution to his tenants—the largest-ever settlement with an individual landlord. https://t.co/p7zQSdEfa0 pic.twitter.com/gViuoiMFg8— Eric Schneiderman (@AGSchneiderman) December 20, 2017
New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced an unprecedented settlement with Steven Croman ... for engaging in illegal conduct, including harassment, coercion, and fraud, to force rent-regulated tenants out of their apartments and convert their apartments into highly profitable market-rate units.
The consent decree requires Croman to pay $8 million into a Tenant Restitution Fund – the largest-ever monetary settlement with an individual landlord. The settlement also requires over 100 Croman residential properties to be run by a new, independent management company with no ties to Croman, for five years – the longest-ever term for independent management in OAG history. Moreover, the settlement requires seven years of a monitor who will oversee compliance with the terms of the consent decree and provide regular reporting to the Attorney General – the longest-ever monitorship required in any tenant harassment case.
Croman is currently serving one year in jail and paid a separate $5 million settlement as a result of criminal charges brought by Attorney General Schneiderman.
Eligible tenants will be able to apply for restitution; the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will announce details of a claims process early next year. Tenants will be eligible for restitution if they are or were a tenant in a rent-stabilized or rent-controlled apartment owned by Croman between July 1, 2011 and the date of the agreement (Dec. 20, 2017); they received a buyout of less than $20,000, not including any amount that purported to cover rent or arrears; and no other tenant in their apartment received money from the restitution fund.
The Attorney General’s office will approve both the independent management company and the monitor. The independent management company will oversee operations and institute new policies at the Croman properties to ensure full compliance with the law and correction of all past violations. It will also post a comprehensive set of Tenants Rights in every building it manages.
The monitor will provide quarterly reports to the Attorney General, which will include at minimum any complaints received from tenants and actions taken; the total number of rent-regulated apartments that became deregulated during the reporting period, the reason for deregulation, and all supporting documents; and the monitor’s assessment as to whether Croman has complied with the consent decree.
The consent decree also ensures that Anthony Falconite – another defendant in the Attorney General’s lawsuit whom Croman allegedly referred to as his “secret weapon” in intimidating rent-regulated tenants – will have no interaction with any Croman tenants.
@evgrieve it’s gone. Who knows where who knows when... pic.twitter.com/tQ0qv5fg8X— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) December 20, 2017
[T]he vast majority of the money behind the purchases didn’t belong to [Jared] Kushner or his family. Rather, it came from an obscure Israel-based company called Gaia Investments Corp. and related entities. Gaia has almost no public profile in New York real estate. Its principals have held roles in enterprises owned by the diamond-trading Steinmetz family, with close ties to Raz Steinmetz, the nephew of billionaire Beny Steinmetz.
A 2015 deal for 16 apartment buildings had a similar structure. Again, the Kushners were publicly credited with the acquisition, and again, most of the money belonged to someone else. The investors in this case, not previously reported, were C-III Capital Partners, a Texas-based asset manager run by Andrew Farkas...
From 2012 to 2015, Kushner Cos. purchased more than 40 Manhattan apartment buildings that they still own. In at least 80 percent of them, they’re minority partners to well-heeled investors.
The finding that the company is most often a junior owner heightens concern over conflicts-of-interest a year after Kushner entered the White House. As his family has hunted for investors overseas in countries as far-flung as China and Saudi Arabia, many inside and outside of government worry about the potential for quid-pro-quos — public policy driven by private business. In the partnerships where the Kushner Cos. have minor stakes, there’s pressure to make returns for the investors who put up most of the money.
This newly constructed 20’ wide townhouse is being offered for sale in its entirety. It is comprised of 2 stunning residences totaling 8,323 square feet with an additional 1,600 square feet of private outdoor space and an adjoined heated private garage (capable of fitting any sized SUV).
The townhouse, as constructed, can easily be used as a single residence or a 2-family home.
Designed by Isaac & Stern Architects with interiors by Paris Forino, this brand-new building was designed with a traditional limestone facade that stands as a new classic. Utilizing modern finishes that establish a new contemporary elegance, this home raises the benchmark for luxury living in the East Village.
The East Village location is 4,500 square feet and comes with 16 dining seats, 30 high top seats, and 25 seats in the bar area. It will feature cocktails like the Crooked Knife, a jalepeño-infused DeLeón tequila with lemon and agave; and the Ains Martini with Ketel One citroen, Aperol and citrus.
Michael Swier, co-owner of Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge and an original founder of the Bowery Presents, and Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company, have joined forces to create a new promotions and booking venture called “Mercury East Presents.”
Focused on the coveted live music market in New York City, the alliance creates a nexus of current and future independently-owned and operated venues within the five boroughs while capitalizing on shared expertise and industry strength to serve artists and fans alike. Mercury East unites iconic venues throughout the city under one umbrella, establishing a network of clubs and theaters, including Swier’s Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom, Live Nation’s Irving Plaza, Gramercy Theatre, Warsaw and Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk.
The group will continue to expand this portfolio and will assist in growing artists by bringing acts to NYC’s most venerable open rooms, including Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, The Beacon Theater and Radio City Music Hall. Mercury East will also collaborate with Founders Entertainment, who have introduced hundreds of new artists to the New York market through appearances at their Governors Ball, Meadows Music & Arts Festival and festival after parties.
Both parties have a proven track record in the New York live entertainment scene. Live Nation remains the leader in live entertainment for the region, producing 2,000 events for more than 5.5 million fans in the NYC area in 2016. And Swier’s Bowery Ballroom has hosted thousands of events since its opening in 1998, and is nationally recognized as one of the premier live music venues in the countrry thanks to its talent bookings and intimate performance atmosphere. Well known to music lovers, The Mercury Lounge continues to offer a boutique vibe, welcoming crowds of 250 since its opening in 1994.
My web connection really slowed down. Once I got on my Verizon wireless modem setting online with one of their tech people, it turned out that along with my devices listed as connected there was also an Amazon device connected. I do not have an Amazon wireless device. Turns out it is an Amazon Firestick, the device you connect to a TV to get Amazon streaming video.
Verizon said that there are apps for phones now that can be used to figure out your wireless passwords easily. It is commonly done with Amazon Firesticks since they take a lot of bandwidth. Once I changed my password and wireless network name the device was no longer listed as connected. The tech said she changed her wireless name and password every other month due to this.