Big Showing From Pols at 475 Kent Vigil
While the Mayor’s office drags its feet, a slew of local politicians came out yesterday afternoon to show support for the displaced tenants of 475 Kent Avenue and call for a swift resolution of the problem and return home for the tenants. Senator Connor as well as representatives of Assemblyman Vito Lopez and Congresswoman Nydia…
While the Mayor’s office drags its feet, a slew of local politicians came out yesterday afternoon to show support for the displaced tenants of 475 Kent Avenue and call for a swift resolution of the problem and return home for the tenants. Senator Connor as well as representatives of Assemblyman Vito Lopez and Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez all showed up, along with Councilman David Yassky (left) and Assemblyman Joe Lentol (right). “This is an extremely dangerous precedent if the city can just put loft dwellers out on the street with six hours notice,” said Yassky. CB1 environmental chair (and city council hopeful) Evan Thies called on the Department of Buildings to issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy once the immediate fire hazards in the basement had been remedied. (The FDNY is, understandably, concerned about the maze of food storage bins and lack of proper sprinklers and lighting in Nachman Brach’s former illegal matzoh production center.) That’s about all we could hear—Things weren’t set up too well for a press conference.
Closing Bell: Moving Out at 475 Kent Avenue [Brownstoner]
‘Commune of Creative Types’ in the Burg is Emptied Out [Brownstoner]
475 Kent Message Board [475kent.com] GMAP
Yassky, Lentol and Thies.
The crowd across the street from 475 Kent Avenue.
Media attention is definitely welcome, but sometimes can backfire. Here’s how New York Magazine, via wannabe journalist Annsley Chapman, handled the homelessness of their fellow New Yorkers at 1717 Troutman:
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/10/hipsters_sometime_live_in_quee.html
Real classy, Annsley Chapman. Perhaps you should do a Round 2 with the 475 Kent folks?
I’m shocked they got Bilbo to show up.
Friends of ours who are artists renovated their space into a remarkable and beautiful living space over a long period of time..well over a decade..they really invested in the nabe and the building when the city and owner neglected them. It is so gross to se ewhat appears to be the owner is getting away with manipulating the city and forcing people out of their homes, businesses, etc.
It is wrong.
I didn’t know about this but drove by around 4:30 and couldn’t believe how many people and tv cameras were there. and policemen!