Bloomberg: The Citi Bike program isn't profitable yet, but you should be happy

[This morning at 13th and A]

Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday that the Citi Bike program hasn't turned a profit yet some six months after the bike-rental program launched.

Per the Post:

“It is, I think, better than anybody had anticipated in terms of usage,” Bloomberg said during a press conference at the Department of Transportation.

“It’s a way to commute, it’s a mass-transit system that requires no federal, state or city monies whatsoever.”

And!

The program is run in conjunction with NYC Bike Share, a subsidiary of Alta Bicycle Share, which designs and manages the massive system of docking stations.

“If they make money, we’re going to share in the profits,” Bloomberg said.

“So, you know, everybody should be happy with this.”

Today's lost and found

Spotted on East Second Street near Avenue C.



To discretely claim, you may now find it atop the cube in Astor Place.

Reader mailbag: What do I do about my new neighbors who smoke pot all the time?

After last week's reader question about finding places in the neighborhood that still have an older East Village vibe... and after assuring me that he was not pulling one over on the Griever ...

The scenario from a reader: The neighbors are new as of the beginning of September. They are recent college grads who seem fairly well off and pretty insular. (Meaning they're not the let's-meet-the-new-neighbor types.) They have some unknown office jobs. They both arrive home around the same time each night (7ish). And then just about every waking moment in the evenings, mornings and weekends, they're smoking pot. And it's likely not for medical reasons.

While the reader isn't opposed to you know, partying, he doesn't want to have to smell the weed all the time. It has become annoying.

So. Urban Etiquette Sign? An awkward knock on the door? Call the landlord's management company? 311? The cops? If you don't like pot, then move to ________?

I did a little research and found this piece from the Daily News from May 2012 on the topic.

Important soundbite:

"New York courts have recently found that secondhand smoke constitutes a breach of the warranty of habitability, which is a non-waivable obligation imposed on all residential landlords [including co-ops] to insure that the premises are fit for human habitation and do not contain any conditions that would be dangerous, hazardous, or detrimental to tenants' life, health or safety," says Ian Brandt, a real estate lawyer at Braverman & Associates in Manhattan. "The threat of habitability violations might be sufficient economic incentive for a landlord to begin eviction proceedings."

The reader wanted to know if anyone has managed a similar experience (preferably successfully). Any advice? Anyone...?

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We often get reader queries ... asking for help with, say, donating clothes or books ... or finding an East Village-based caterer... If you have a question for the masses, then try the EV Grieve email...

Here's more of the November CB3/SLA docket

[Root & Bone on East Third Street]

Yesterday we looked at three of the applicants on the November CB3/SLA agenda. (Find that post here.)

And please note that the CB3/SLA meetings are now double the fun, double the drama! The meetings are now spread out over two nights.
So here's a look at some more of the above East Houston (mostly!) applicants... starting with Monday!

Monday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm — Community Board 3 Office, 59 East 4th Street (btwn 2nd Ave & Bowery)

Applications within Saturated Areas

• Brownstone Lounge & Grill, 240 E 4th St (op) (aka 50 Ave B)

That was quick. In the face of neighbor opposition and skepticism from Board members about a rather half-baked business plan, the applicants looking to take over the former Affaire space decided to withdraw their application during the October CB3/SLA meeting. Guess they have it all figured out after a month.

Alterations
• Rockwood Music Hall (Ken Rock Enterprises LLC), 192 Allen St (op/acoustic music in basement)

• Nublu (Tatu LLC), 151 Ave C (op/expand to upstairs)

New Liquor License Applications

• To be Determined, 8 Extra Pl (op)

Most likely the new location for Momofuku Ko.

• DY Schnitz LLC, 177 1st Ave (wb)

The mystery applicants taking over the former Something Sweet bakery.

• Root & Bone (Root & Bone LLC), 200 E 3rd St (op)

As previously reported, "Top Chef" alum Jeff McInnis and current "Top Chef" contestant Janine Boothwas are joining forces to open a restaurant called Root & Bone at the former Mama's Food Shop and Heart N' Soul on East Third Street and Avenue B.

• 9 East First Street LLC, 9 E 1st St (op)

The former Veselka Bowery space. Eater and Grub Street reported that restaurateur John McDonald signed a lease for a steakhouse/oyster place here.

• To be Determined, 269 E Houston St (op)

About the 500th time an unknown applicant has signed up to take over the former Local 269 venue on East Houston at Suffolk. The applicants always seem to withdraw before the meetings.

• Gaia Lounge (Sams 1 Lounge Inc), 103 E 2nd St (wb)

The former Animal Crackers pet shop near First Avenue.

• Moonstruck (88 2nd Ave Food Corp), 88 2nd Ave (op)

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b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

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Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 pm — Community Board 3 Office, 59 East 4th Street (btwn 2nd Ave & Bowery)

Applications within Saturated Areas

• Cantina LES (Black Fish LLC), 8-10 Ave B (op)

The former M&M Variety Hardware between Houston and East Second Street looks to become a bar/restaurant serving Mexican fare... the applicants had previously looked at 1 Ludlow St.

New Liquor License Applications

• To be Determined, 134 1st Ave (op)

This is the address of Simone at St. Mark's Place... anyone know what's happening here?

• Ginger (Gold River Restaurant Corp), 109 1st Ave (upgrade/op)

• Ethos Meze (167 AA Rest Corp), 167 Ave A (op) (saturated area)

As we first reported on Oct. 3, the Diablo Royale Este space will become a Greek place from restauranteur John Kapetanos, who operates Ethos Gallery, Ethos Meze and the Moonstruck Diners, among others.

Corporate Change (not heard at committee)

• Paprika (Inter Pepe Inc), 110 St Marks Pl (wb)

• Croissanteria (Croissanteria Inc), 68 Ave A (wb)

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b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

On Avenue D, Sergio Deli Superette will yield to a 7-story building

[Google Maps]

Some recent news from BuzzBuzzHome: There's a 7-story mixed-use building in the works for 127 Avenue D near East Ninth Street... currently home to Sergio Deli Superette.

Paperwork filed Monday with the DOB shows that the 11-unit building will have ground-floor retail and 7,932 square feet of residential space.

Per BuzzBuzz, the developer is H Holding Group, whose projects include four luxury townhouses on Degraw Street in Boerum Hill.

Cute dogs in costumes alert for Saturday

The 23rd annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is tomorrow, noon to 3. (Quick — how many Miley Cyrus and Walter White-inspired costumes will there be?)

Beggin' Stips is the sponsor ... and they apparently made a $10,000 donation to Tompkins Square Park and donated more $3,500 in prizes ... all which was discussed here.

Today's hawk in Tompkins Square Park

Via Bobby Williams...

Today on Avenue C

Via Dave on 7th

Fall on Avenue B

Today, a littler earlier.

Tompkins Square Park, 12:49 p.m., Oct. 24