by Gina 
Local blogger, Miss Heather of New York Shitty stirred up some controversy in early February with a theory about scandal and embezzlement within the ranks of the North Brooklyn Boat Club (NBBC), in regards to a the organization’s new location. The Boat Club responded with a statement on their site explaining their story and defending the funding.
Then two weeks ago, Queens…
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Well, blogs are by design a medium for opinion and the tone used can often be unnecessarily snarky. Both this decidedly pro NBBC article and the posts from Queen’s Crap and New York Shitty critical of the club show aspects of that. Although, I think it must be said that posts form the latter two seem to have been composed as part of a genuine quest for accountability for a project being undertaken with public funds. While one of this article’s goals seems to make an effort to imply that these questioners of the NBBC’s practices are at best angry spoil sports, at worst, have some nefarious intentions by simply asking questions. I’m not sure if there is a point here or if the writer is just letting off steam. I suppose it doesn’t matter but it does seem like an odd attempt to paint paint two vocal critics of the NBBC’s lack of transparency (without their hand being forced) as possibly having something to hide themselves.
I think it’s pretty clear that these two bloggers do have something to hide. If they were really on a genuine quest for accountability they would start off by being accountable themselves– not being anonymous, and not filtering comments on their blogs. All of their entries ride on the assumption that everyone that they are targeting (because that’s what they do) is stealing, or behind some grand conspiracy to rip power from the little guy. They never actually provide any proof or genuine basis for these accusations, only their hyper-cynical speculation. They’re toxic cowards who get their sense of accomplishment by assuming that anyone actually accomplishing anything in this community must be evil. Either that, or they’re being backed by political opposition. Whatever quest they’re on, there’s nothing noble about it.
May I point you to New York Shitty’s Comments FAQ? Miss H requires all users to register and weeds out spam.
Moreover, you’re writing on a blog that filters its comments. In fact, one of my comments has yet to be approved because it corrects something in the current post. What usually happens is that comment is trashed and the post silently edited.
On the contrary, it is not clear at all that both bloggers have something to hide. Based on what proof, or even half way grounded speculation? While you may not have liked their tone, the questions they posed are absolutely valid for a project using public funds.
I am very concerned about a few facts.
The plan to create a boathouse and repair the bulkhead at the GMDC (a respected organization) is what community members were presented with during the Newtown Creek Environmental Benefits Fund process, supposedly a public process. That plan was significantly changed without community input, and the boathouse plan was relocated to be beneath a hotel that a local business would build. If the plan had support and was a good plan, why was it kept secret? One of the organizations involved in obtaining the funding for the boathouse plan used member organization’s names and former member organizations names to create the illusion of blanket community support for the project. Even though I support the Boat Club’s activities and educating people about the Newtown Creek, I consider the above to be a serious community issue. When you consider that there have been historical trust issues with the New York State Department of Conservation, what does it say to me, when that agency and supposedly trusted organizations fail to be transparent? What does it say to me that I learned about via a blog? Mind you, I don’t care about the blog commentary. I care about one fact. This is not the plan that was originally presented to the community.
Gina writes: “However, she failed to identify it as a plan for a contest submitted 10 years ago.”
Nope, she updated her original post with this information: “Your tipster has misled you. The boathouse renderings you posted are ten years old, part of a 2004 design competition focused on Bushwick Inlet.”
How are they being anonymous? That is their blog and anyone can email them. Heather is always standing up for the citizens of Greenpoint. She as well as many other citizens, myself included, are suspicious of money that is meant to go toward park land is instead going to Broadway Stages. Broadway Stages is taking over Greenpoint in leaps and bounds and they make a lot of money already from the neighborhood. Yes they do some good but they are very connected. The little good can be construed as buying off the politicians and community board which one of them is a member. Hopefully we are wrong but the community has a right to know the truth. Too many of us are just sheep allowing politicians and corporations do what they want.
Yes, it is. The money was for a boathouse, which is what is going to be built. Are you in bed with GMDC? Are they funding your posts? If they hadn’t screwed themselves, the boathouse could have been there. I’m going to start making baseless accusations about Laura, Heather and Queens Crap being bought and paid for shills for the GMDC until the NY Post writes an expose about them!
I wish a you attention seeking hipsters would go home or drown in the Gowanus Canal
I think it is very important that the community dig into the information about community deals and community resources. Unfortunately, this sometimes results in very sloppy information floating around. People love to espouse conspiracies and corruption. From what I can tell, the bloggers in question have mischaracterized the actions, intentions, and motives of the NBBC. I have visited the NBBC many times and been very impressed with the dedication and activity of its volunteer members. I don’t see any reason to work against this effort; it will be a great addition to the neighborhood.
The most important aspect to scrutinize is the deal with developers. Developers tend to salivate over government funding and will very quickly begin to believe their own spin when trumpeting their ‘community work’ in exchange for financial benefits. This process should be very carefully laid out. For starters, if NBBC is entering into a deal in which they are on the hook for construction costs, this process will very likely result in a huge and questionable price tag once it is all said and done.
I would think that the NBBC should continue to be resourceful and satisfy its expansion within moderate means. If a developer is seeking perks such as additional FAR or zoning or tax benefits through housing a community organization, then the build-out of that facility should be part of the price the developer pays in order to receive those perks.
The NBBC needs basic space, some boat storage, some sheds, some bathrooms and a classroom or two, located along a bulkhead and utilizing a floating dock. This could be gotten very readily from an existing building on the waterfront and come in at a very reasonable cost. The dream facility, incorporated into the design of new hotel construction, could very well have a HUGE price tag to taxpayers, once the real numbers are added up.
The GMDC location would be great. Of course, it is no surprise that the management of GMDC would be mercenary in lease negotiation, as they have grown more and more profit oriented over the years. Nonetheless, the city could exercise some muscle and persuade the GMDC to accommodate the NBBC and meet them somewhere in the middle. The facility would be very well located and the price tag, if the project is approached with restraint, would most likely come in a lot cheaper than the new construction version.
I think it would be great for the NBBC to have a great home, but I really hope that a very sober approach is taken to making any deals with private developers and that a shrewd hand is put to the task of detailing any such deal.
Miss Heather is a bloglodyte.