More of the racist comments behind a former power plant employee's $4 million discrimination suit came out today. Suzanne Langford, who worked at Starrett City power plant from 2004-2007, says her white boss called a black worker (not her) "a monkey" and "a gorilla," saying that he "should be up a tree sucking on a banana." He also bore ill will towards Oprah Winfrey; allegedly telling Langford the talk show host "should have died in a plane crash," reports the Post. The Queens woman also claims she was forced to serve as locker room attendant in a men's only area decorated with "sexually explicit photographs" showing "women in various states of undress, in sexually suggestive attire and in a demeaning manner." more ›

The mother of a 7-year-old who disappeared from a foster home in Brooklyn more than a week ago remains behind bars because authorities believe she knows where her son is. Staten Island resident Jennifer Rodriguez—who according to the Post was described by a social worker yesterday as a drug-addicted habitual liar—is being held on contempt charges as authorities continue to look her son, Patrick Alford, who went missing on Jan. 22. more ›

An 11-year-old boy was struck by a bullet while taking a photograph at Little League game in Brooklyn. The Daily News reports, "The boy, identified by a relative as Devante Kelly, was taken to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was set for a miraculous recovery after doctors removed the bullet from between his skull and scalp." Devante was either sitting on a bleacher or standing in the field at Starrett City during the incident yesterday afternoon; a relative said, "He felt something, and he just started screaming." At first, it was thought he was struck by a baseball, but when it was clear he was shot, the police searched the complex. So far, there are no suspects and no motives; police are asking anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers 800-577-TIPS, to visit the CrimeStoppers website or to text info to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577. more ›

Having failed to sell the nation's largest federally subsidized complex for big profits, Starrett City Associates have settled on a proposal to refinance the 140-acre Brooklyn complex for a profit of $200 million, far less than the $1.3 billion offered by one buyer in 2007. (That deal was shot down by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.) Under the new plan, the owners would refinance the complex for roughly $500 million, or 80% of its value. About half of that sum would be used to pay off the owners' interest-free mortgage and other fees, while some $40 million would go toward capital improvements. Senator Chuck Schumer called the proposal "a way out of the woods" for Starrett City's 14,000 tenants and promised it would keep the 5,881 apartments at affordable rates for at least the next 30 years. Ismene Speliotis at community group New York Acorn expressed "cautious optimism" about the plan, but told the Times yesterday, "I’m hopeful we’ll get there so that this can be a model for preserving affordability at Mitchell-Lama buildings throughout the state. But we’re not there yet." more ›

Over two years after putting Brooklyn's 140-acre Starrett City complex on the block, its owners have thrown in the towel and will no longer look for a buyer for the country's largest subsidized housing development. The NY Times reports the group of investors "cited the faltering economy and a lack of financing as the reasons" but "the sale may have foundered over price." In February 2007, there was a $1.3 billion offer, but the Department of Housing and Urban Development squashed the deal. Last year, owners decided to sell the development in a way that would keep it affordable, which attracted a number of bidders with non-profit entities and this past September, there were four finalists in the bidding. One of the bidders' spokesman told the Times, "We weren’t prepared to offer a higher price that jeopardized either long-term affordability, or a commercial return." Which makes sense—that Riverton deal is looking bad...is Stuy Town next? more ›

According to police, a mugger has been targeting women for their purses-- many of the victims are in their 60s and 70s-- in Brooklyn's Starrett City development. WABC 7 has a list of the attacks, which started in September: Frequently mugger will follow the victim into her building lobby or elevator and then strike in the back of the head or shove her. Police describe the suspect as an African-American man, 25-35 years old, 5'8" with a medium build. Contact CrimeStoppers if you have information: Call 800-577-TIPS or text 274637 and enter "tip577." more ›

The bidding to buy the federally-subsidized Starrett City complex is now down to four bidders. The finalists are made of teams that include developers/financial institutions and non-profit organizations, such as nonprofit affordable housing developer NHP Foundation with the Related Companies. The NY Times says the four teams were asked submit final bids on September 4, and Starrett City's owners hope to complete a deal by September 15. more ›

After striking a deal to sell the federally-subsidized Starrett City complex--while keeping it affordable--there are now eight new bids for the 140-acre development of 46 towers. Previously, the owners tried to sell the development for $1.3 billion, only for the feds to block it. The NY Times says the bids are in the $700-900 million range, and many bidding groups have non-profit entities ("so the group can issue tax-exempt bonds"). Senator Chuck Schumer, who wants to make sure the complex remains a middle-class haven, was happy with the bids so far, "The good news is that we have a framework in place that will protect the next generation of Starrett City residents and keep this New York City landmark affordable in this sale.” more ›

The NY Times reports that owners of Starrett City will attempt to sell the 140-acres Brooklyn apartment complex again, after reaching "an agreement with federal, state and city officials" that the complex will remain affordable. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a shooting at West 138th St. and Broadway in Manhattan, a triple shooting on Hunter Ave. in the Bronx, and a bomb threat at the intersection of Prospect and 5th Aves. in Brooklyn.
• Residents of Starrett City received a letter from the housing complex's owners that they intend to opt out of the state's subsidized housing program. One third of the 6,000 apartments at Starrett City are subsidized and the owners would have to pay the balance of a $234 million state-subsidized mortgage.
• The Gowanus Lounge wonders if another developer has struck oil on the Roebling oil field in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
• Forget the F train, judging from recent Craigslist "Missed Connections" items, the place to find love is on the commuter trains headed to and from the Hoboken train station.
• A rookie cop miraculously survived a four-story fall after crashing through a skylight yesterday. The officer had been searching for a prowler in Crown Heights, who got away.
• The Times Square subway station Record Mart is scheduled to re-open sometime in early October.
• Kenneth Boss, who was acquitted of charges in the killing of Amadou Diallo and reinstated as a police officer forbidden to carry a firearm, lost his legal bid to get his gun back.
• John Feal was originally going to donate his kidney to Paul Grossfeld, but a better match for his kidney was found. Now Feal is donating his kidney to another patient, whose spouse will donate a kidney to a third patient, whose spouse will donate a kidney to Paul Grossfeld. Doctors at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center will perform the transplant chain.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a large fight on Fordham Rd. and Jerome Ave. in the Bronx, police activity in the employee parking lot at JFK Airport in Queens, and a pedestrian was struck on East 57th St. and Madison Ave. in Manhattan.
• Donald Trump owns almost 20% of Brooklyn's Starrett City that his dad bought for him when he graduated from business school. He now advises lower-income residents of the development that "This is not Communist China," in response to protests against a proposed sale and probable eviction.
• New York magazine's Daily Intelligencer points to the obvious conclusion of recent trends: two Duane Reade drug stores directly across the street from one another. What, no Chase banks nested inside?
• CSI: Egypt. The Brooklyn Museum catscanned a mummified body from Egypt and analysts determined that it died a completly normal and uneventful death.
• A former East Village drug kingpin is now busy getting West Village residents high on endorphins as a personal trainer.
• New York tap water may be proclaimed as the best by Mayor Bloomberg, but the city still pays $1 million annually for Poland Spring and other delivered water.
• The city is re-opening the bike-only lane on the north side of the Manhattan Bridge. Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn notes that it's been closed since October 2006.
• And a City Council member wants Councilman Dennis Gallagher, indicted on rape charges, to resign.

You may have many opinions of Senator Charles Schumer. A man who gives weekly press conferences by way of making the rounds on Sunday morning news shows, someone who will "put a bullet betweens the president's eyes," the senior Senator of New York, orchestrator of the Senate's shift back to the Democrats, husband of a recent Department of Transportation commissioner, imaginer of middle class couple the Baileys, cereal hog. But defender of hedge funds' and private equity firms' desire to keep their low tax rate? Who knew? more ›

Starrett City, the subsidized housing development in Brooklyn, was sold for $1.3 billion in February, but for the second time, the Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected the deal. The February sale needed to be approved by HUD, because Starrett City is the country's largest subsidized development, and shortly after the sale was announced, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo got to work on blocking the sale. more ›

While there's no video of Mayor Bloomberg's Inner Circle Dinner performance online yet (though there's a YouTube clip of someone taping the CW 11's New at Ten - complete with giggling at Mayor Mike), the Daily News' Daily Politics did post this commercial for "Mayor Poppins." Elizabeth Benjamin writes, "My favorite part is Mark Green, playing himself and uttering a line so quintessentially Mark Green it's scary." more ›

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver joined Sen. Schumer and said that the legislation was necessary to prevent the city from becoming too expensive for the firefighters, police, teachers, and nurses who work in New York, skillfully ingratiating himself with four unions in a single sentence. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a 4-alarm brush fire on Staten Island, a missing child report at 3rd Ave. and East 117th St. in Manhattan, and a stabbing on Boston Road in the Bronx.
• Finding parking in NYC requires a guide. Here it is (garage parking only). Street parkers must continue to survive on guile, cunning, and skill.
• The winning $105 million Mega Millions lottery ticket was sold at at The Magazine Store on 31st Street in Astoria, Queens. The winning numbers are 24, 32, 34, 36, and 39, with the Powerball number 6. Now go check your pockets.

• Today on Gothamist Newsmap: a barricaded emotionally disturbed person/stabbing on Parsons Blvd. in Queens, an overturned auto on Bushwick Ave. in Brooklyn, and a stabbing on Staten Island's Taylor St.
• City Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) is a big fan of Tom Cruise's Scientology detox program that is being offered free to firefighters. He's done it and it made him feel "100 times better", which is pretty good.
• City Island residents contemplate life on the water without the repetitive "thock, thock, thock" sound of gunfire drifting across Eastchester Bay.

Central Park Dark #6, by 100Five. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Carjacking at a carwash in Queens, a gas main break in Staten Island and instances of a barricaded perp.
• The biggest problem with off-leash laws in parks? People that don't pick up their dog's shit. Off-leash or not, that's a problem all the time, no?
• Remember those disturbing details of the cop that was seduced while in Montessori school? Well, the cop says that it was 'cool' when it happened.

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The $1.3 billion deal for Brooklyn developer Berkshire LLC to buy federally subsidized Brooklyn housing complex Starrett City may be blocked by State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Cuomo announced that his office will enforce an injunction barring the lead investor David Bistricer from completing "certain real estate for life and will not permit the conversion of any of the property to cooperative apartments." Cuomo's statement was pretty damning, calling Bistricer's real estate history "sordid" and saying, "The material I turned over today should be enough to ban him from this deal at the start."

Findings that led to the court order against Bistricer include that he failed to disclose the terms of refinanced mortgages in amendments filed prior to the auction of apartments he owned, a violation of the Martin Act. He was ordered to pay $450,000 in restitution to residents and $50,000 to the State Attorney General’s office. more ›

Untitled, by Jeanettics. more ›

When you shell out $5.4 billion for thousands of apartments in Manhattan, some of them rent-regulated, clearly the next course of action is to oot out the illegal subletters. The NY Sun reports that private detective Fred Knapp has been hired by Tishman-Speyer to find out if tenants are violating rent stabilization rules. more ›

The country's largest federally subsidized housing development was sold today for $1.3 billion. Berkshire LLC bought Starrett City, and Starrett City Associates say the money would be deposited today. more ›

What do slumlords, apartment-seekers, and big real estate developers around the city have in common? Not much. But the latest debate in City Hall should have all of them closely watching the reforms of 421-a, a bill that will decide the future of New York City’s affordable housing policy and long-term housing stock if passed by the state legislature. more ›

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