Results tagged “martymarkowitz”

Yesterday the Dreamland Bell was received at a welcoming ceremony at Brooklyn Borough Hall; after spending a few weeks at the Coney Island History Project, it will now be temporarily on display inside the Joralemon entrance for two weeks. The NY Times reports that "there are plans being discussed for a tour of other city buildings, including City Hall and the New York Aquarium."

As previously mentioned, Democratic City Councilmember Charles Barron has blasted Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowtiz, calling him a Benedict Arnold for endorsing Mayor Bloomberg's third term bid. At a rally outside of Brooklyn Borough Hall yesterday, Markowitz, a Democrat, threw his support behind the billionaire mayor, telling everyone, "When you have a great thing you stick with it...Do we agree on everything? No. But I know we agree that Brooklyn is where New York City begins."

Days after the Post had one of their "sources" describe Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz as "angry and embarrassed" over the prospect of a Russian-owned Nyets team at the embattled Atlantic Yards site in Brooklyn, Marty's fired back. Far from being embarrassed, he's simply delighted: "Brooklyn is the Russian capital of America, so [Russian playboy Mikhail] Prokhorov will feel right at home here, and I have been assured he will put the interests of Brooklyn first." Plus, given those Russkies' historic knack for winning basketball games against all odds, maybe New York will finally get a b-ball team to be proud of again?

The Post gets one of their juicy "sources" to dish on Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's reaction to the idea of a Russian-owned Nyets team. Markowitz, a big Atlantic Yards booster throughout the controversy and delays, is feeling a little burned at this point, according to "one operative": "It's a combination of anger and embarrassment. He signed on to a magnificent Frank Gehry-designed Brooklyn palace in the sky, and now he's got a foreign-owned big hole in the ground." But fuggedaboutit; it's still the best hole in the best borough of New York!

David Foster Wallace, in his essay "Authority and American Usage," spoke of a specific type of nerd: the "SNOOT." Ostracized by every other nerd group, the "SNOOT" was the nerd responsible for correcting your grammar. He knew when to use "whom" and not "who," would cringe any time you misplaced your modifiers, and complained about the grocery store's "10 ITEMS OR LESS" sign. It seems that there are few places SNOOTS may go to enjoy themselves outside of the Public Library, but Marty Markowitz is out to change that. On Sunday, September 13th, Markowitz and the Brooklyn Literary Council hosted the 4th Annual Brooklyn Book Festival at Borough Hall. Publishers, authors and readers alike converged over new books, lit mags and discussion panels to celebrate all things readable and to argue about what the Kindle is doing to society.

              

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden announced the Greenest Block in Brooklyn today! The contest has inspired locals since 1995 to get creative with their greens and clean up their blocks. Marty Markowitz was on hand at the ceremony this morning, declaring, "Brooklyn’s gardens—and stoops, planters, window boxes, and tree beds—are the greenest!" (And those stoops sure are nice to drink a nice glass of wine on.)

Like "everyman" Kimber VanRy before him, Marty Markowitz is standing up for stoop drinking. The Brooklyn Borough President was caught red handed with a glass of white as he sat on a Brooklyn stoop for an interview on NBC's "Talk Stoop" segment. VanRy, who became the poster boy for stoop drinking when he was ticketed for it last year, told the Daily News, "I just think there's a clear double standard. A law should be applied blindly to everyone, or it should be deemed ridiculous and we get rid of the law."

All Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz wants to do is build a nice little $64 million concert hall in Coney Island's Asser Levy Park, but the local critics won't stop trying to undermine him. Opponents say that besides gobbling up precious park land, it would be so close to nearby synagogues that concerts couldn't be scheduled on Friday nights and Saturdays, because city law bans amplified sound within 500 feet of a place of worship during religious services. Also, they think it looks weird. Opposition leader Ida Sanoff tells the Daily News, "It's going to be like a spaceship plunked down in the middle of a park across from people's bedrooms." And all this negativity is really starting to get to Marty, who says the criticism's "hurtful because I don't deserve it. I've entertained the people in that neighborhood since 1991. I've put a smile on their face for 31 years. Why would I want them to frown?" The amphitheater's architect promises the state-of-the-art sound design would focus the sound toward the audience, not the neighbors, but naysayers like Sanoff remain unconvinced: "We don't need this. We have benches and walkways now." Construction's expected to start in the fall anyway.

When a Twitter user named "Marty Markowitz" (complete with "Fugheddaboutit" tagline) started following people, many thought it must be the ubiquitous Brooklyn Borough President. Twitter Marty appeared folks for help for slogan for Brooklyn but when we asked the Beep's office whether it was truly Marty, we were told, "Although the Borough President thinks Twitter is a wonderful way to keep in touch with family and friends, and would even consider joining one day, that is NOT his Twitter page. We are contacting Twitter to request that it be taken down." And thus, Twitter.com/MartyMarkowitz is no longer. Markowitz does, however, have a Facebook page—maybe he'll reappear on Twitter as THE_REAL_MARTY.

The Coney Island Boardwalk has been seriously deteriorating over the years, and Borough President Marty Markowitz says it's time for Washington to help save it. He tells the Daily News what anyone who's drunkenly stumbled around the Boardwalk with a Pina Colada knows all too well: "It’s in horrible condition." The city is currently spending $5 million to renovate a small section of the Boardwalk (with plastic!), but a total overhaul of the entire 3-mile promenade is estimated to cost more than $200 million. That's close to half of the total $500 million for infrastructure projects the city expects to receive as part of the federal stimulus package, and Markowitz says it's worth it, because Coney Island "generates jobs and it generates family fun, which is so needed right now." But with Astroland gone and other Boardwalk businesses getting squeezed by developer Joe Sitt, one wonders how much fun a family can really expect in the summers to come. On the other hand, falling into one of those treacherous holes in the Boardwalk is no fun at all.

We knew it was coming, and this morning Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz held a mock funeral for the M train. Joining him were Daniel Squadron (New York State Senator), Michael Burke (Downtown Brooklyn Partnership), a bagpiper, and Paul Nelson (Assemblywoman Joan Millman's Chief of Staff).

Tomorrow morning the Straphangers Campaign and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will meet again, this time to hold a “mock funeral” for the M and R trains. They say, "Without new state aid, the MTA is proposing to eliminate parts of these subway lines, while also raising transit fares." They'll be grieving at the Court Street subway station in downtown Brooklyn mid-morning. When asked what was going on with the R, we were told: "NYC Transit is going to shutter 5 stations on the line between 11 pm and 6 am." Tomorrow's ceremony follows the farewell to the Z train—yet still, the W is getting nothing but disrespect!

How does Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz spend $6,000 of campaign cash? On Jacques Torres fine chocolates, of course. The NY Post reports that Marty, who is running for re-election this year, laid down all that dough for "staff gifts and gift bags" in December 2007. One watchdog group told the paper that the spending "illustrates yet again the laxity of oversight and guidance the New York law provides for what is and is not an appropriate campaign expense"—but the BBP says: "not a single penny of public funds was used to purchase them." Maybe Marty should get the Brooklyn shop to make chocolate-molded Marty pops for his campaign season.

The Straphangers Campaign, Brooklyn Borough president Marty Markowitz and even bagpiper John Maynard came together today to mourn the passing of the Z train. A mock funeral was held at the Fulton Street-Broadway/Nassau subway station in Manhattan, and those in attendance tell us that there was also a "call on lawmakers and the MTA to save the Z line in its 2009 budget." So what does this mean, besides having to refer to the line as the JM now?

Loss of the Z would end "skip stop" service on the J line during rush hours between Jamaica, Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, adding an hour extra each week in commuting for many riders, according to the Straphangers Campaign.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, a fervent champion of an embattled plan to build an ambitious $4.2 billion plan to build a Nets basketball arena, office towers and thousands of apartments in Brooklyn, has for the first time muted his enthusiasm for the development. Could this be the canary in the coalmine for the controversial project, which throughout 2008 struggled to gain momentum against repeated setbacks? Markowitz issued a statement this afternoon opining that, because of the economic tailspin and all, developer Bruce Ratner should conceive of a "sports and entertainment venue that is more economically feasible but provides the modern amenities our residents and visitors to Brooklyn demand and deserve."

Santa may be able to fly fast through the sky, but when it comes to parking he's got to follow the law like the rest of us civilians. The Daily News reports that one Santa (The Santa?) double-parked his sleigh SUV on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, and "neighbors and politicians demanded the summons be quashed." But James Huntley, "who heads Local 1182, defended the agent who slapped a ticket on Chip Cafiero's SUV." He also added that seeing the driver in a Santa suit wouldn't have changed the law, and notes that calling the agent a Grinch or Scrooge isn't going to make matters better (is that a threat?). Marty Markowitz, whose office sponsored the event that Santa was at, said "It's the holidays. In these situations, there should be a combination of common sense and holiday spirit instead of humbug." Free double-parking at Brooklyn Borough Hall for everyone in a Santa hat!

It seems the taxpayer-funded Keyspan park—where baseball games alternate with rock concerts—isn't good enough for borough president Marty Markowitz; he's still pushing for a new taxpayer-funded amphitheater to replace the existing one at Asser Levy Park, to the tune of $64 million. (When originally proposed two years ago, that number was $40 million.) Markowitz says the new 5,000 seat venue, which would replace the current bandshell, "would make our borough a natural stop on the summer concert circuit for entertainers." Gee, wouldn't that be something? According to the Post, Markowitz will fund the project with $54 million from his office's capital improvement funds and $10 million from the mayor's office, but Community Board 13 and the city's Arts Commission have yet to give him a green light.

Downtown Brooklyn has a new aggressive marketing initiative, and at the top of the press release it's noted that the area will be promoted "as a College Town." Allegedly the plan is to expand and diversify with some new tenants, companies and retailers. Sure, they've got an Urban Outfitters and Trader Joe's, but they're looking to make the area "a vibrant, 24/7, live-work urban center". (Hoboken has allegedly been stealing their business over the past 10 years!). So Marty Markowitz has officially stated they're "'open for business' and—with all due respect to our friends in Jersey—our borough is the very best place for companies to locate and employees to live, work, and raise families." The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership promises "a mix of advertising, direct marketing, promotional events and other activities" to help attain their goal. So, a round of Jäger shots to celebrate?

Wheee, the tabloids won't stop hammering Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz over the way he runs three non-profits that produce free Brooklyn events and promote tourism! First the Daily News got up in his grill over $680,496 in no-bid contracts he awarded to the non-profits, then the Post was all, What's up with all the loot the Atlantic Yards developer pours into your pet projects, Marty? Now the Post is insinuating that the $2.7 million (maybe more) in tax dollars the Bloomberg administration has funneled to Markowitz's non-profits is essentially a payoff for the beep's Bloomberg cheerleading. Politicians doling out tax money for favors? We're shocked, and so is Dick Dadey of the watchdog group Citizens Union: "It doesn't smell right that he's getting so much city funds for nonprofits serving his interest."

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, pictured here at last week's Atlantic Antic, is still drawing fire over the way he runs several non-profit groups that put on free Brooklyn events and promote tourism. Last month city comptroller Bill Thompson said he was "very concerned" about $680,496 in taxpayer-financed no-bid contracts Markowitz awarded to the non-profits, and the Brooklyn Paper saw a conflict in the estimated $260,000 that Atlantic Yards developer Forest City Ratner donated to fund Markowitz's Best of Brooklyn non-profit and his concert series.

                    

Yesterday, Gothamist attended the 34th annual Atlantic Antic along Atlantic Avenue between Hicks Street and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. For the uninitiated, this not your typical New York "tube sock" street fair. Sure there are some of the typical food vendors (gyros, roasted corn and Mozzarepas, natch). But unlike most other street fairs, there is a strong neighborhood presence in both food (including freebees from the new kid on the block Trader Joe’s) and vendors, along with many Brooklyn community groups and a wide variety of live music. As an added bonus this year, the New York Transit Museum had free admission along with its annual bus festival.

Brooklyn's biggest cheerleader, Borough President Marty Markowitz, has been a rumored possible candidate for mayor next year, but CityRoom finds out he's fine with a third term for Mayor Bloomberg--if only because that could mean a third term for him as Beep. Markowitz said he would reapply, if term limits are overturned, "I always said that this was my dream job. And to be able to do it for four more years would thrill me, absolutely thrill me. And I just hope that the people of Brooklyn would be thrilled, too. Well, not everyone will be thrilled, but I hope most of the people will.” Well, maybe not Charles Barron who announced he was running for Borough President--but maybe he'll run for City Council again.

After the Daily News raised questions about $680,496 in no-bid contracts that Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz awarded to the nonprofit he runs out of his office, a spokesperson for city comptroller Bill Thompson tells the Brooklyn Paper that he's "very concerned about the contracts, which were clearly meant to circumvent the transparency [of] the contract registration process.” Thompson and Markowitz are both possible mayoral contenders.

Are the city's borough presidents just a bunch of lazy, pampered functionaries who draw a $160,000-a-year salary to show up for photo ops and issue proclamations? After reviewing the schedules for all five presidents during the week of August 4th, the Post seems to have arrived at that conclusion. The tabloid is shocked to find that the job of borough president turns out to be largely ceremonial, with a week in the life filled with such duties as attending a Liza Minelli concert (Brooklyn's Marty Markowitz), a party for Hillary Clinton at Cipriani (the Bronx's Adolfo Carrión), and a staff meeting on replacing a disabled constituent's stolen scooter (Staten Island's James Molinaro).

Carrión spent 2½ hours having "private" time on Monday and an hour of the same on Thursday..."He can be known to disappear," said a source close to Carrión...Queens Borough President Helen Marshall also had lots of time missing from her schedule. On Aug. 5, she attended Gov. Paterson's signing of a bill about home foreclosures at 10:30 a.m., then went to a National Night Out Against Crime event at 6 p.m. Nothing was listed in between. "She could definitely do more with that position," said a Queens democratic insider.

       

The Manhattan Bridge Archway in DUMBO has reopened today, giving the neighborhood more public space. The DUMBO Improvement District, who is helping to secure funding for the $500K project, noted that the historic, 46-foot-wide archway below the Manhattan Bridge will be "for public, non-vehicular use, granting access to a spacious but long-inaccessible public space and connecting two parts of DUMBO that had been separated for 17 years."

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is looking for a new driver, and The Daily News reports that he's resorted to the classifieds to find the perfect person for the job.

Photo courtesy New York Shitty.

Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner wasn’t the only one causing controversy at the Brooklyn Museum’s gala celebration for the Takashi Murakami retrospective last Thursday night. Some attendees say Jamie Snow, wife of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, was rather boorish in her accumulation of freebies at the event.

Well, this explains a lot: The Center for Disease Control and Protection says this year's flu shot is only good for 40% of the flu bugs going around. Thanks a lot, new strains of flu viruses that are kicking people's butts!

We noticed two YouTube videos, taken from an apartment with a view of Dean Street, documenting some late night construction activity at the Atlantic Yards site in downtown Brooklyn. How late? Well, one video takes place at 11:42PM (video) while the other is in the 4AM hour (above!). For reference, according to 311, construction hours are generally 7AM to 6PM on weekdays (there may be emergency work in the middle of the night, but only on occasion; we also know some contractors get variances and conduct work late at night).