Dear Chuck Otey – Regarding the BID
Chuck Otey wrote a heart-felt article in the local paper this week. I’m not going to link to it because it didn’t provide enough information for Bay Ridge residents. In the article, Otey talks about why a 3rd Avenue BID is necessary, but doesn’t seem to understand the burden of this new tax of the BID for business owners.
We have questions for Chuck Otey. We know Otey is a casual reader of this blog, as he left me two comments to let me know I am not a writer. (LOL) When he stumbles on these questions, maybe he will take a few minutes to answer them.
1) Was there funding for the 3rd Avenue Summer Stroll under one of the former senator’s projects? The Shore Road Parks Conservancy group disbanded after the election. Could some people have been given a stipend from that money or another fund? We believe there is a correlation between some wanting the BID and the expiration of the old regime. A FOIL request could provide the answer, but neighbors can share info as well.
2) The BID wasn’t as badly wanted by merchants as the community was made to believe. Last July, the voting starting and the BID still doesn’t have the votes. The Merchants have asked for a year to work together. Why can’t they be given a year?
3) For the storefronts that don’t participate in the Stroll, their area is rented out. Why isn’t there a form online for people to fill out, pay the fee and rent a spot? I know because this blog has been asked about how to sign up for a table many times.
4) New business owners have moved onto Third Avenue and no one told them about the 3rd Avenue Merchants Group. I’ve asked several if they were invited to join and they told me no one asked them.
5) Why doesn’t the Merchants group have a paypal or venmo account to accept monthly dues. A man walking from store to store may have worked years ago, but that isn’t happening any more.
6) Iraqi House Restaurant was rated highly by the New York Times. It also shows the hardship of being a new business owner in this time. Have you gone in to welcome Mohammed and enjoy his food?
7) Fifth Avenue has a BID and it isn’t doing better than Third Avenue. RadioFree Bay Ridge reported that the 5th Avenue BID executive director stole money from the BID in 2016. Why didn’t you report about this in the local paper?
We don’t want businesses nickeled and dimed by the government any more than they already are. Residents here want these businesses to stay open and thrive.
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February 8, 2020Create a Vision Board Workshop
On Sunday, March 1st, Lisa Cappiello will give a Vision Board Workshop at The BookMark Shoppe from 9:30 – 11:00 am.
The cost is $40.
Call 718-833-5115 to register.
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February 8, 2020My Natural Pet Photos
My Natural Pet at 8318 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge is taking photos with their cute setup – seen above. Three digital photos are $10 and the proceeds are going to a rescue.
They have cute dog cookies and organic peanut butter for dogs.
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February 7, 2020New Barber Shop Coming to 3rd Avenue
A new barber shop will be opening at: 8813 – 3rd Avenue
The storefront used to belong to Planet of the Vapes, which closed quietly a few months ago.
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February 7, 2020Mother Stabbed on 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge
On Wednesday morning, around 6:40 am, a 34-year-old woman was stabbed in the stomach on 5th Avenue and 83rd Street as she was walking to her car. The news shared that the Bay Ridge <other was with her two children, so she put herself between the man and her daughter, so her daughter would be safe.
Councilman Justin Brannan wrote that the man bumped into the woman, stabbed her in the side through her coat and that she didn’t know she was stabbed until hours later. When she got home, she saw the puncture and went to NYU Lutheran Hospital (some articles say she walked there).
Tonight, Brannan shared more about it when someone asked if he spoke to the NYPD Captain about it:
We are glad that this Bay Ridge Mother wasn’t hurt more seriously!
The woman did not know the man and he did not rob her. See here, here and here.
Councilman Brannan said that the cops believe they know who the guy is.
????WANTED???? for AN ASSAULT in front of 8303 5th Avenue. #Bayridge #Brooklyn @NYPD68pct on 2/05/20 @ 6:40 AM ????Reward up to $2500????Seen him? Know who he is???Call 1-800-577-TIPS or DM us!????Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! pic.twitter.com/v56dKPhGyH
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) February 7, 2020
Yesterday, the 68th Precinct tweeted vague information that wasn’t useful to anyone. The NYPD should have written that a woman was stabbed by someone she didn’t know. Instead they forgot about the woman and just wrote about the “Felonious Assault.” Whatever that means!
Police believe the man below stabbed the woman.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website, by tweeting @NYPDTips or by texting 274637.
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February 7, 2020If You Adopted From Sean Casey, Help Them Win
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February 7, 2020ICE in Gravesend, Brooklyn
ICE was at 1755 West 12th Street in Gravesend to arrest a man.
Another man got shot in the face (the news is saying he was not armed). Story here
Now the men are at Maimonides Hospital and can’t get legal counsel? See letter.
More protests are planned today after ICE shot a man in the face while serving a warrant for another man in Brooklyn. @jennamdeangelis has the details: https://t.co/7WPLxC6UPh
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) February 7, 2020
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February 6, 2020Mike’s Pizza Opened on 5th Avenue
Mike Pizza is now at 8125 – 5th Avenue. See menu for specials. Free delivery
This spit used to be Decora’s Pizza or Gusto Pizza.
Good luck to Mike!
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February 6, 2020McCabe Challenges Gounardes Over Bail Reform
Liam McCabe is challenging Andrew Gounardes’ support for ‘no bail’ for criminals. See here
In Bay Ridge, a woman was attacked and had her leggings pulled down in the bathroom at the 95th Street Subway Station by a man who got out of jail because of bail reform.
McCabe called Gounardes a bum on Facebook for supporting bail reform. See here
Most people here believe the NY State elected politicians went too far with bail reform.
I called on Mathylde Frontus and Andrew Gounardes to do something and neither has done anything to correct the bill because their party doesn’t want to. We got the feeling that neither thinks they need our support.
While Bay Ridge has many Democrats, Socialists and Republicans, a lot of us will base our vote on our community. We are looking for the Bay Ridge candidate. There are enough people playing politics and the Trump cards. We need someone who is going to base their vote on the Bay Ridge community and not their party.
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February 6, 2020Can Your Neighbor Build a Tiny House in Their Backyard?
This article in today’s paper makes it sound like it is possible – see here
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February 6, 2020Ft. Hamilton Army Base Set For Quarantining People
As of 6:30 am on Friday, February 7th, There are no known cases of corona virus in Bay Ridge, but the city is testing a two NY’ers for it.
The city has primary and secondary locations identified to quarantine people, but they need army bases for large groups who aren’t showing signs of the virus, but need to be tested.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked the Pentagon to find military installations near 11 major airports that could potentially house up to 220 U.S. citizens quarantined due to the novel corona virus.
Ft. Hamilton was chosen because it is close to JFK Airport. See here
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February 6, 2020Yemen Cafe in Bay Ridge was Featured
Lamb at the Yemen Cafe at 7130 5th Avenue was featured.
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