Claim: Landlord of 444 E. 13th St. threatened 'to drop dynamite on the building'

As we reported earlier today, residents who live at 444 E. 13th St. plan to sue their landlord for "deplorable conditions" as well as for ongoing threats and harassment.

The rent-regulated tenants, along with their legal counsel and City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, held a press conference outside the building between Avenue A and First Avenue this morning at 10 to speak out against landlord Goldmark Property Management and their associates.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos from the press conference.

The residents said that they have haven't had gas for cooking or hot water since April 17 in the building that houses several children under the age of 7.




[Resident Patricia Ramirez]

Here's more from the Daily News:

They claim they've … endured racist taunts and threats to call immigration from the landlord's aggressive agents.

"They don't know the reality," said tenant Angel Salazar, 39. "Most of us are legal. That's why we are not afraid."

Tenants' lawyer Stephanie Rudolph said "this threat of retaliation and racial discrimination is egregious." She said only nine of the 18 units remain occupied — everybody else has been forced out.


[Stephanie Rudolph]

"There are tape recorded conversations where the landlord is threatening to drop dynamite on the building and then let everyone 'figure it out themselves,'" said Rudolph, a staff attorney at the Urban Justice Center.

There was no immediate response from Goldmark, whose agents include former NYPD Sgt. Miguel Cueto. The cop cost the city $2 million after he and his partner ran over and killed a Brooklyn man in their squad car three years ago.

[Rosie Mendez]


[Resident Cesar Bello with son, Ivan]


[Residents Lidia Puentes and Emma Gomez]



Said one longtime resident: "They are killing us. They don't have any feelings and they think everything's about money."

DNAinfo has more on the story here.

Part of the Tompkins Square Lawn got seeded today

Not quite sure what it was seeded with at the moment...



Now we'll go to the Park for a live report…

@evgrieve HAVE YOU SEEN THIS LATEST FASCISM?! pic.twitter.com/ww5twXvl2y

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) May 28, 2015

Photos by Bobby Williams

Special delivery

At St. Stanislaus on East Seventh Street... via Derek Berg

Reader report: Rent hike KOs Delicacity (RIP Robin Raj) on 3rd Avenue

A reader let us know that Delicacity (aka Robin Raj!) is closing for good very soon at 114 Third Ave. near East 14th Street. The reader, a regular here, reports that the landlord passed along a hefty rent hike.

In the meantime, you can enjoy 50 percent off most everything in the store...



Robin Raj and their cartoon food illustrations moved here from the corner in January 2009. Robin Raj turned into Delicacity in February 2012.

The address was formerly the Grace and Hope Mission.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More Robin Raj intel (and what about those cartoon hams?)

Oh no! Robin Raj is no longer Robin Raj!

Robin Raj finally makes the move, though there's no sign of the cartoon ham

Live above Robin Raj

E. 13th St. tenants filing lawsuit against landlord for alleged harassment, poor living conditions

[444 E. 13th St. photo from March via EVG reader Gamelan]

Several families who live at 444 E. 13th St. are filing a lawsuit against their landlord for "deplorable conditions" as well as for ongoing threats and harassment, according to a media advisory about the tenants' situation.

The residents and their legal and housing reps will hold a press conference this morning at 10 outside 444 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue to discuss the lawsuit.

Here's background via the EVG inbox:

The Community Development Project (CDP) of the Urban Justice Center, in collaboration with Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), is representing nine rent-regulated Mexican immigrant tenants of 444 E. 13th St. who are suing their landlord, Raphael Toledano, and his agents in Manhattan Housing Court. They are asking the court for an injunction against illegal harassment, the restoration of basic services, and repairs to individual apartments and common areas.

In addition to the wide range of alleged illegal harassment and discrimination practices from agents hired by the owners, tenants have gone without heat, hot water, and gas since mid-April.

Other alleged bad practices by the landlord include:
· Threats of demolishing the building;
· Threatening Mexican tenants who the owner alleges are undocumented; racist and discriminatory remarks about Latino tenants;
· Relocation pressure by agents;
· Health and safety hazards due to illegal construction and unsafe work on the gas lines.

There are currently several Stop Work Orders on the building, including for illegal renovations and unauthorized work on the gas lines, according to DOB records.

Meanwhile at 444, workers have carved out a new storefront on the ground-floor in the building. According to the listing (no longer online), the "Landlord will present as a restaurant ready space." The asking rent is $10,000 a month.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A storefront arrives on East 13th Street

Reader report: Mono + Mono hoping for a mid-summer return

Last that we heard, the owners of Mono + Mono were hoping to be serving their Korean fried chicken (and playing some of their classic jazz albums) on East Fourth Street again by last fall.

However, the place has yet to reopen since the fire here at 116 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue back on April 21, 2013.

Now, an EVG reader heard from workers at the space that they are planning to reopen mid-summer. (The reader also noted that a pile of vinyl records that survived the fire were sitting on the bar.)

There is an approved permit on file with the city for a "roof replacement and removal of existing fire damaged mechanical equipment." March 23 was the proposed job start.

There's nothing about a reopening date on Mono + Mono's website or social media properties. A full vacate for the address is still in effect, per the DOB.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Early-morning fire at 116 E. Fourth St., home of Mono + Mono

(Kind of) An update on Mono + Mono

What is happening with the Mono + Mono space?

Report: Mono + Mono plans fall reopening

Learn about the East River Resiliency Project tonight

[Photo of 8th and C during Sandy by Robert Walker]

Via the EVG inbox…

Join us to discuss the future of the East River Waterfront!

LOCATION: Church of St. Brigid, 119 Avenue B (enter on E. 8th Street)

DATE: Thursday, May 28, 6:30-8:30 P.M.

Community Design Workshop for Flood Protection on the East River

Join the Lower East Side/East Village community to discuss plans for the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) Project, intended to reduce risks from extreme weather and climate change and improve quality of life. We will discuss the potential for flood and storm protections to be built into community and park space along the East River.

What do you want flood protection on the East River waterfront to look like? Come and let your voice be heard!

Find a PDF of the presentation here.

As the sushi rolls on 1st Avenue

Sometime in the past week or so, Milosun Sushi closed at 141 First Ave. … quickly giving way to an all-you-can-sushi place called Kikoo, per EVG reader Charlie Chen.

The new restaurant between St. Mark's Place and East Ninth Street hasn't opened yet, though they do have a website:

Our restaurant offers a wide array of fine Japanese fusion cuisine, ranging from traditional Sashimi Lunch, California Roll to new style entrees such as Tempura Udon, Color Dragon and Butterfly Roll.

Previously the place was Ippin, a sushi and noodle bar that lasted about six months here in 2013.

A sunset strip

After the rain... an East Village sunset view courtesy of ‏@EOSredux2 ... click on the image for a better view...

Actors come out of their shells on East 7th Street

Crews seem to be everywhere today filming "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Half Shell" (aka "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II" or "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Half Shell.")

EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted this scene outside Vazac's/Horseshoe Bar/7B on East Seventh Street and Avenue B. (The bar will be closed today and tomorrow for filming.)



TMNT2, arguably the most prestigious production to film here since "The Smurfs Movie," stars Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Tyler Perry and Laura Linney.

Bonus flashback to May 2010

In case you wanted to buy bitcoins from a temporary ATM on East 6th Street

You're in luck! EVG regular Jose Garcia spotted this operation on East Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C... the sign explains how it works...

[Updated] Reader report: The city dumps Manny the Peddler's wares on Avenue A

A City sanitation crew stopped by Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street around noon today and dumped all of the items Manny the Peddler has been selling along here.

Said one witness:

It appears the manager of the New York Sports Club called the city rather than ask Manny to move his things to another spot along the block, which most other business owners on this block do. Manny is happy to oblige.

Considering the eyesore and highly illegal-looking construction that's been taking up the sidewalk for MONTHS now outside the sports club, it seems like a real douchey move.

Manny is a sweetheart and favorite of many locals in the neighborhood.

This isn't the first time that the city tossed Manny's sale items.

Manny, aka Emmanuel Howard, has been selling second-hand items on Avenue A and East Second Street for more than 35 years.

Updated 5/27

NYSC General Manager Anthony Testai responded with this comment:

I just wanted to say — as the General Manager of the NYSC on Ave A that I am shocked to see how badly my company is getting dragged thru the mud with this. Manny and I have personally chatted multiple times and I was disappointed to see the city throw away his things again.

Just so most of you are aware this is the third time that I know of that this has happened and as all of you know..(weve only been here for 3 months). I can assure you that NYSC myself and my staff included had NOTHING to do with the fact that he had his things thrown away. The first time this happened before we were even open I immediately ran down to Manny and apologized for his belongings being thrown away.

Manny sells his things in front of the methadone clinic and he's not near our storefront, which is why we have no problem with him doing his business, he knows that because we have spoken and I say hello to him almost everyday.

On behalf of NYSC I apologize for this happening but it did not come from us, I even spoke to the construction team and they had nothing to do with it.

Now for the real issue the SIDEWALK! This is killing everyone's business and is a huge problem with the community and me. Just so everyone is aware the sidewalk has been the city not giving us to remove an oil tank that was abandoned beneath the old sidewalk. And so everyone is updated it will be completed by the end of this month if not sooner.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to stop by, tour the gym and see that we are not some "big business" or call me...