🍎 citymeetings.nyc #10
Randy Mastro's Nomination Hearing + Projects in Red Hook, Bay Ridge, and Harlem
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Are you interested in #2? Email me letting me know what for.
Thanks,
Vikram
For a complete listing of published meetings, visit https://citymeetings.nyc.
This week's highlights are from:
- Tuesday's 11-hour hearing on the nomination of Randy Mastro to Corporation Counsel.
- Two zoning & landmarks meetings covering projects in Red Hook, Bay Ridge, and Harlem.
Hearing on the nomination of Randy Mastro to Corporation Counsel
There is tons of coverage everywhere on this controversial 11-hour hearing.
In classic citymeetings.nyc fashion, here are some lesser-reported-on or curious moments from the meeting:
- Mastro argues that New Jersey's congestion pricing litigation is a pro-environment case to protect environment justice communities Link.
- (Technically true, like how french fries are technically vegetables.)
- Giuliani attempted to stop funding the Brooklyn Museum in 1999 because he found an exhibit offensive. Link
- Vickie Paladino's impassioned defense of Rudy Giuliani reveals an interesting fact: the city's budget was ~$25B in the 90's, compared to the $112B budget that was just approved. Link
- (This is much lower than I expected.)
- Mastro personally sued New York City and FDNY over a $375 fine he received for failing to prevent 2 unwarranted fire alarms. He lost, then used resources at his firm, Gibson Dunn, to argue his appeal. He lost the appeal and then did it again (and lost, again). Link
- "But the fact of the matter is that it was an example of how the city bureaucracy sometimes drives average New Yorkers nuts. And I thought it was an issue worth establishing." -- Mastro
- Mastro once hired PIs disguised as plumbers to photograph a homeless activist in his private residence. The photos taken were of him, naked, and included in court documents. Link
- Gale Brewer asks "Why do you want this job so badly?" and the audience laughs. Link
- Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would hire Mastro personally as an attorney. Link
- Mastro is a "bear in the court room and a teddy bear in real life". Link
- The City Council during Bloomberg's administration passed a law requiring that there be an "independent unloader of fish" in the Fulton Fish Market because it was one of the organized crime pathways for shakedowns. Link
- Randy Mastro's firm received $8MM in taxpayer funds for their investigation of Bridgegate during Chris Christie's tenure as governor. Link
- Mastro's wife and daughter were present for the entire hearing, and Alexa Aviles hails them as "the true heroes in the room". Link
- Mastro's final appeal to the City Council. Link
- Bridget Anne Kelly, deputy chief of staff to Chris Christie during Bridgegate, testifies. Link
- Matthew Daus, NYC's longest-serving taxi commissioner, argues that it's unfair for the public to go last in such a long meeting. Link
- A representative from the Stonewall Rebellion Veterans' Association (my new favorite website) testifies, referring to former Mayor Ed Koch as honorary member "Gayer" Ed Koch. Link
Two hearings on zoning and landmarks projects in Red Hook, Bay Ridge, and Harlem
These two hearings are here and here.
- If City of Yes for Housing Opportunity passes, the development at the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Plaza will have ~13% more units with AMI and unit type mixes remaining the same. Link
- Vendors pay $20/day for space at the market in the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Plaza and it's designed as an incubator program for community members to build small businesses. Link 1, Link 2
- A proposal aims to rezone a some lots in Bay Ridge so a doctor can use the building she lives in for her medical practice. Link
- The Community Board unanimously voted against the proposal. There's a bunch of useful context on this page here.
- Don't let the Comic Sans fool you.
- Do enjoy the cat photos.
- From that post, a version of what happens everywhere in the city:
- "If rezoned, a developer could come in and purchase the Salvation Army property, 250 – 86th Street and any of the others that were rezoned on the block and put up a five-story buildings."
- "There are so many commercial properties for rent. Why can’t Dr. Kim sell that property and get one in an area that is zoned for an office?"
- The Community Board unanimously voted against the proposal. There's a bunch of useful context on this page here.
- There's a proposal for 10-story mixed-use building right next to the highway in Red Hook -- close to the Smith-9th Street station. A bit about it here. Link
- Brownstoner has renderings, one of which is is super colorful.
- Marjorie Buff is 69 and she moved to Red Hook when she was 9. She's not pleased with how Red Hook has developed. Link
Thanks for reading!
Comments, questions, or feedback? Reply to this email or shoot me a note at vikram@citymeetings.nyc
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