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Special election update

There are two Democrats on the ballot for state assembly on April 19 — though one of them is on the Working Families line — so there’s been some intrigue around endorsements.

Niou nabs local Albany reps

At our candidates forum last week, Working Families Party candidate Yuh-Line Niou announced endorsements from prominent establishment Democrats in the Bronx and Queens, seemingly highlighting her opponent’s criticism that she’s parachuting in from outer boroughs with no LES street cred of her own. Since then, Niou has picked up more local endorsements, from our State Senator Daniel Squadron and neighboring Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh.

Cancel gains (temporary) endorsement from Chin

Despite being the official Democratic candidate, Alice Cancel has had a hard time picking up endorsements from Democratic elected officials. (Even her current boss, Comptroller Scott Stringer, has endorsed Niou, which Cancel called a “back-room deal.”) But this week councilwoman Rosie Mendez, a Cancel backer from the start, persuaded her colleague Margaret Chin to join her in endorsing Cancel. But there’s a catch: Chin supports community board 3 chair Gigi Li, who is already running for this seat for the September primary. So Chin’s endorsement lasts only until April 19; after that, even if Cancel wins, Chin says she’ll support Li.

New York Times endorses Niou

The New York Times has been editorializing against Sheldon Silver for years, even endorsing his primary opponent Paul Newell in 2008. So it was no surprise that the paper this weekend backed Niou given that Cancel’s nomination has been credited (somewhat) to the support of Silver’s wife and chief of staff and other members of the Grand Street establishment. The Times called Cancel “a Silver apologist” and called for voters to reject “manipulators, hacks and cronies” and “disciples of the status quo who promise to reform the state government but never do.”

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Highlights from AD65 debate

We had a great crowd in the community room last night — standing room only — for candidates Alice Cancel and Yuh-Line Niou (Lester Chang cancelled). Ed Litvak moderated, and members of the audience asked several pointed questions about a range of neighborhood and policy issues. Below are just a few excerpts from a lively debate.

Clip 1: Albany reform

Clip 2: Affordable housing

Clip 3: Essex Crossing priorities

Clip 4: Mayoral control of public schools

Clip 5: Democratic nomination process

Clip 6: First priorities after election

If you are interested in more, you can watch almost all of the debate here (my battery died about 10 minutes from the end) or listen to an audio of the entire event here.

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AD65 candidates will hold first debate at East River on Tuesday

The three main candidates for state assembly will meet for the first time this Tuesday at East River Coop to debate the issues and make a pitch for your support.

Tuesday, March 29
7:30 – 9:00 PM

East River Coop Community Room
477 FDR Drive (Section M)

Alice Cancel
Alice Cancel
Lester Chang
Lester Chang
Yuh-Line Niou
Yuh-Line Niou
Ed Litvak from the Lo-Down will moderate and ask questions, and the candidates will also be able to take some questions from the audience.

In less than four weeks, we will have the chance to elect our first new representative in Albany in almost 40 years. Make an informed choice when you vote on April 19 by joining the candidates and your neighbors this Tuesday.

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Cancel: ‘I am not in hiding.’

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Alice Cancel
Alice Cancel
The New York Post has a long history of antagonizing Sheldon Silver, so it should come as no surprise that in the race to succeed him the paper has taken aim at Alice Cancel, the Democratic candidate who won her nomination with the visible support of Silver’s chief Judy Rapfogel and other loyalists from Grand Street’s Truman Democratic Club.

Yesterday the Post ran an article saying that Cancel “appears to be in hiding” citing a few sources — and political opponents — who claim she has not been campaigning for the special election on April 19.

Cancel replied today with a string of tweets from her little-used handle, explaining that an unspecified illness has kept her from campaigning:

I want to state that I am not in hiding. Unfortunately, I have been sick and unable to keep to the intense campaign schedule required of all candidates participating in the special election. So simply put, I’ve been trying to balance my health needs with that of the campaign.

I am working diligently going door to door to speak to my neighbors about my qualifications and commitment to the district that I lived in for 40 years and represented, in part, for 24 years as the Democratic District Leader.

Meanwhile, in a bit of political mischief, someone has registered domain names like alicecancel.com and cancelforassembly.com and redirected those URLs to the Post article. The Post claimed not to be able to find an Alice Cancel website; I admit I could not either until the Lo-Down pointed me in the right direction: alicecancel.businesscatalyst.com.

Finally, the New York Observer today highlighted the involvement of one of Sheldon Silver’s staffers in Cancel’s campaign: Monica Guardiola, who worked as Silver’s Hispanic liaison, is Cancel’s treasurer and scheduler. But Guardiola also has her own ties to Cancel through the Lower East Side Democratic Club, where she is president and Cancel has been district leader for 26 years.

It will be interesting to see in the coming weeks whether Cancel’s opponents can credibly link her to the convicted former speaker … and whether the connection will hurt or help her on April 19.

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Niou tars Cancel with Silver-Rapfogel connection in first campaign mailing

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Expect a lot of heated campaign mailings over the next few weeks ahead of the April 19 special election for NY state assembly. A race expected to go to the Democrat now has two Democrats running — Alice Cancel on the Democratic line, and Yuh-Line Niou on the Working Families line backed by big unions like the United Federation of Teachers, SEIU-32BJ, and the Hotel Trades Council.

In her first mailing this weekend, Niou highlights an article in the New York Times that linked Cancel to Sheldon Silver and his chief of staff Judy Rapfogel (an East River cooperator), casting a shadow on the Democratic selection process. Niou backed out of that process at the last minute — just hours after herself meeting with Grand Street’s Truman Democratic Club — having already received the Working Families nomination that would guarantee her a spot on April’s ballot.

Niou mailer 1

The mailer is intended to push Niou’s anti-corruption bona fides, stating: “Albany’s corruption does more than erode our trust — it hurts our families and undermines our schools and seniors, our tenants and taxpayers.” Niou takes a position in favor of stripping pensions from corrupt politicians, a good-government reform facing an uphill battle in Albany, and highlights Cancel’s priase of Silver, convicted in December on federal corruption charges, as a “hero.”

The mailer also includes an endorsement by John Liu, former NYC Comptroller, whose campaigns for Comptroller and Mayor were tainted by illegal fundraising practices. Which I guess I’m pointing out just to remind myself that integrity, like beauty, can be in the eye of the beholder.

Update Sunday: At an event today in East River Coop, Yuh-Line Niou described in more detail her decision to drop out of the Democratic convention last month. She said the meeting she had the morning of the convention was not with the Truman Club, but was a meet-and-greet scheduled weeks earlier with some Democratic committee members. Niou says she had decided three days before to exit the Democratic party process after she witnessed first-hand the trading of committee spots among candidates; in particular, the influence of Silver loyalists, in her opinion, would cast a shadow on whoever emerged as the party nominee.

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Flip tax revenue fails to match inflated budget forecasts

Don't count those chickens before they hatch.
Don’t count those chickens before they hatch.
Flip tax revenue numbers published in this month’s report from the board of directors were a clue that income is not matching the inflated income forecast in the 2015-16 coop budget.

In fact, flip tax revenue for the first 8 months of the fiscal year falls $863,000 short of what was budgeted, projecting to a $1.3 million deficit for the year.

How big a deficit is that? That’s about 5% of total projected income. It would take a 9% maintenance increase — retroactive to July — to put us back in the black.

But sales can be highly volatile, not under the coop’s control, and a good spring could make up for a lousy winter. February’s flip tax was great ($726,500) and if we stick to that pace for the next four months we’d be all clear.

I’ve reached out to board members Lee Berman and Peter Herb to find out if the potential deficit has been discussed at board meetings, and I’ll let you know what I find out.

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Two suspects arrested in local attacks

Police have apprehended two suspects in the recent neighborhood attacks, according to Hillman board member Mathew Quezada. Earlier today, Mathew wrote on Facebook:

I have great news to report. First, thank you to the ER and Hillman shareholders who came to the community meeting at the 7th Precinct last week. It showed Captain Hellman that we were concerned and wanted quick action to find these perpetrators. With all of our help, 2 out of three were arrested yesterday, and yes, they know who the third one is! Our streets are safer for all of us, just be careful and aware of your surroundings!

A few days ago, East River board member Lee Berman reported on the 7th precinct community meeting:

The captain of the 7th precinct believes that there is a small group of youths from the neighborhood who are committing these acts. He believes that they will be caught and recommends that everyone remain aware of their surroundings and stay vigilant. He explained that the NYPD relies on neighborhood property owners and businesses for help in providing security camera footage and that it is invaluable.

He claims that we don’t need to worry about letting our kids walk home alone from school because these youths haven’t attacked kids. Yet. I requested that he increase patrols at 3:00-4:00 when schools let out and he agreed to do so.

There was a larger than usual turn out at the precinct meeting last night due to concern about these attacks. A Hillman resent who was assaulted attended along with Mathew Quezada of the Hillman board and at least half a dozen other concerned Hillman residents. I was pleased to see a large turnout from East River also. Jeff Super, Ellen Renstrom, Michael Marino, and Ted Pender attended from the house committee, along with an additional 10 or so other concerned East River residents.

One attendee asked about an attack that occurred earlier in the day at Seward Park involving teachers from the Edgies who took a preschool class to the park. Apparently two of the teachers were assaulted by someone in the park while their students watched. Unfortunately he was not yet aware of the situation.

If you’re on Facebook, join the group I Live in East River Housing for quick neighborhood updates and conversation among cooperators.

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NY1: Valet parking at Seward brings revenue, controversy

NY1 ran a story yesterday on changes in parking policy at our sister coop, Seward Park.

Seward parking.
Seward parking.

Seward has a new vendor running their parking garage with valet parking, meaning spots can be reconfigured and cars can be packed tighter, allowing more people to get monthly spots (they expect room for about 100 more cars). Valet parking also allows for day parking, meaning the spots can bring in more revenue during times when they would normally sit empty.

Some residents, apparently, are not sold on the idea, with one on camera complaining about someone else driving his car.

Cooperators at East River have long asked our board and management to look into increasing the parking spots available to residents. The Delancey lot has wider driving lanes than are necessary and could probably add a handful of new spots if the area was redrawn. Board member Tommy Schlanger voiced his support at last year’s meet the candidates night for an old idea to add car lifts in that lot to increase the number of spots available. And many residents have noticed that cars not explicitly granted rights to park in our lots nevertheless do so because of on-the-sly spot trading among residents. The board last year asked management to recertify all the spots — meaning to make sure people who are parking there are allowed to park there — but as yet there has been no change to policy here.

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Stay alert! A pattern emerges of violent attacks in the neighborhood.

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  • Ten days ago a woman was attacked by teens in Corlears Hook Park around 9:30 pm, punched and kicked and pushed to the ground.
  • Last week a Hillman woman was sucker-punched by a teen on Grand Street at around 10 pm right outside the entrance to our management office.
  • Sunday at 6 pm a woman was mugged on Delancey right in front of the parking garage at Columbia by a group of three teens.

In all three incidents, the police were notified. The Lo-Down reports that one arrest was made from the Corlears Hook attack. Security cameras from Amalgamated may have caught the second attack on tape. Hopefully the cops will find a lead to follow.

Our neighborhood has been safe, even late at night, but three similar incidents so close together is enough to make everyone more alert. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is a pattern. Please be aware of your surroundings, and don’t take your safety for granted.

Update: There’s a regularly-scheduled meeting of the 7th Precinct Community Council Wednesday, March 9 at 7 pm. Board member Lee Berman says that he’s going, along with house committee chair Jeff Super and Mathew Quezada from the Hillman board. All members of the community are welcome to attend.