Housing Project on 39th and 6th on again!

Earlier this morning I was passing by the construction site on the corner of 39th street and 6th Avenue. The site had been inactive for the last two months and it seemed that they had possibly run out of money or were taking a break. But this morning there was activity at the site. Being the curious sort I went there and asked the workers when the completion date was going to be. Nobody spoke English so that answer was not forthcoming. However, I did get a peek at what the ground floor would look like and having my camera with me I snapped a few shots.

The ground floor seems to be gated and fenced and there appear to be apartments that are located slightly below ground level. That explains why I kept seeing the tops of doors above the wooden fence level. Now that the project appears to be ongoing again, several questions come to mind. When the project was first proposed on the site of the old Getty service station that stood there. There were environmental issues and it had caused a controversy at the local community board as to what type of housing would be built at the site with most preferring affordable middle income housing to be put there. It was never clear to me if they were going to be condos or rentals. There is no indication of that in any of the postings on the outside. There is the issue why the site seemed to be inactive for the last two months. Did these guys run out of money? Are they selling apartments or the entire project? Were they foreclosed? Is Century 21 representing a bank? Questions, questions. I suppose we will eventually find out.

[where: 11232]
[where: 11220]

Our Assemblyman Ortiz wants you to pay more for beer!

 

 

Our esteemed assemblyman representing Sunset Park in the state assembly Felix Ortiz has come out with an idea to raise more revenue according to our local paper the Sunset News. Supposedly the money would go to fund programs for Junior highschoolers and preventing from turning to a life of alcohol. He expects the bill to raise at least $200 million.

 

Our assemblyman has been a very busy boy. Last year he sponsored a bill that would have effectively banned the sale of vitamins and supplements without FDA approval and a doctor's prescription. While I find the supposed goal compelling I find it interesting that he did not also go after wine and hard liquor as well, the drink of choice of the upper classes. Instead he has targeted beer which is the drink of choice of most of his constituents. Especially Hispanics from the Caribbean and blue collar workers which make up the bulk of the voters in our district. Should this bill pass, which seems unlikely at this time with the Governor pushing for lower taxes. I wonder if many of us will like the fact that we will have to pay 25 cents a can more and $1.50 per six pack. Will the voters target their angst at Ortiz? I somehow doubt it. But, if we want to stop the consumption of alcohol, why not ban it altogether? Somehow I don't think that will happen either. The problem with raising taxes is that in the end the ones who pay are the working class and the middle class. The rich have lawyers and loopholes.

 

[where: 11232]

[where: 11220]