2 FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 1, 2018 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
SHEEPSHEAD POL CALLS
AGAIN TO CURB BOOZE
BOATS
Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz, who has
long called for an end to the havoc he says party boats
wreak on Sheepshead Bay, says the 11 p.m. curfew recently
implemented by the city isn’t enough to resolve
longstanding issues of traffic, rampant littering and
drunk, disorderly passengers utilizing the service.
“Passengers get drunk on the 7 p.m. run the same
way they do on the midnight run and are just as
unruly pre and post-sail,” he said. “Under the current
policy the city is putting the neighborhood in
danger.”
Cymbrowitz would like to see the docks moved
elsewhere, calling it “a good compromise.”
CITY WARNS OF POISON
HELP HOTLINE SCAM
The Health Department has issued a warning
about unsolicited calls coming from individuals
claiming to be from the National Poison Help Hotline.
These calls, which have targeted both patients
and healthcare providers nationwide, have solicited
payments and requested personal information from
victims, many of whom are elderly.
“New Yorkers should know that neither the New
York City Poison Control Center, nor the National
Poison Help Hotline will ever ask for personal
information or payment via phone calls,” said city
Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett.
In New York City, there have been more than 50
reports of these scam calls (in some instances, the
caller has identified himself as “Justin”).
Any New Yorker who receives a suspicious call of
this kind should immediately contact the National
Poison Help Hotline at 800-222-1222, said Bassett.
BROOKLYN POL
ANNOUNCES LIEUTENANT
GOV RUN
Brooklyn Councilmember Jumaane Williams has
declared his candidacy for lieutenant governor of
New York State.
“The lieutenant governor position needs to be
more than ribbon cutting and rubber stamping,” said
Williams, a progressive Dem currently serving his
third term in the Council. “I want to be the people's
advocate in Albany, pushing the governor and the
legislature to enact the progressive policies that
are the promise of our state. I want to represent the
diverse needs of the people of our state – and by the
way, our state government could use some diversity.”
Williams represents East Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatlands,
Marine Park, Canarsie and Midwood. He is chair
of the Council’s Committee on Housing and Buildings.
The office is currently held by Kathy Hochul.
-- Meaghan McGoldrick
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photo by Helen Klein
A grocery on 71st Street has raised hackles in Bensonhurst.
City verdict on Bensonhurst
side street market — may be
legal except for signage
BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK
MMCGOLDRICK@BROOKLYNREPORTER.
COM
Bensonhurst residents
perturbed about a new
grocery that opened up
in a private house on a side
street in the neighborhood are
unlikely to be satisfied with the
city's current assessment of the
business — it's legal except for
the glaringly bright signage on
its facade.
The business in question, Tim
Choi Market Inc., has ruffled
feathers on Facebook since the
installation of what neighbors
are slamming on social media
as loud, yellow signage outside
the store, located at 1543 71st
Street – an address that, though
residential, is also zoned to include
a commercial overlay that
allows for grocery stores.
That didn’t stop close to a dozen
311 complaints from coming
in in just five days (there were
11 logged between Tuesday, February
13 and Saturday, February
17), all of which alleged illegal
commercial use at the location.
In response to the complaints,
a Department of Buildings (DOB)
spokesperson told this paper
that its Special Operations Unit,
which deals with issues such as
signs and businesses operating
illegally out of residential buildings,
was indeed assigned to the
case. Though, the rep said, an
in-person inspection on Thursday,
February 15 resulted in just
one violation for an unpermitted
sign.
Furthermore, the spokesperson
explained, there is no certificate
of occupancy that might
constrain usage on file for the
building; according to the agency
rep, most buildings built prior to
1938 are not required to have one.
According to city records, the
building occupied by the store
was built in 1920.
Neighbors feel the market
– which sells produce, meats
and more out of the two-family
building – is out of character
with its surroundings and that
its signage is an eyesore that
adds insult to injury.
“We live in a million dollar
neighborhood and it looks like
the slums,” wrote one user, who
was met with the response,
“Unfortunately, when a block is
zoned for mixed commercial
and residential, you never know
what can happen in the future.”
Councilmember Justin Brannan,
who was quickly alerted to
the controversial property via
more than one Facebook thread,
was quick to look into the issue
and promises to keep close tabs
on the site.
“My office has been in touch
with the Department of Buildings
and is watching this very
closely. Neighbors have a right
to know what’s happening on
their block,” said Brannan. “Permits
and zoning are pretty clear.
Everybody’s gotta play by the
same set of rules and everyone
needs to be treated equally by
the city.”
Though, the case might not be
as closed as it appears.
When pressed further on the
issue, the same DOB spokesperson
subsequently revealed that
the agency’s Padlocks Unit, the
division of Special Operations
that enforces legal use of residential
buildings, has opened
an investigation — and that
investigation is ongoing.