City Plans To Narrow Fourth Avenue As Golden, PBA Lobby Against Gentile-Backed Speed Camera Program

By on March 26, 2013  Featured story, Traffic & Transit
Mar 262013
 
A flier from the Fourth Ave safety workshop. (Image source: NYCDOT).

A flier from the Fourth Ave safety workshop. (Image source: NYCDOT).

As the NYC Department of Transportation unveils a series of traffic-calming measures for Fourth Avenue to mixed reactions, State Senator Marty Golden (R) and the police union are lobbying Albany lawmakers to nix a speed camera demonstration program previously approved by the New York State Assembly and supported by City Councilman Vincent Gentile (D).

At a March 21, meeting where city planners showcased the proposals, Bay Ridgites on both sides of the issue voiced strong opinions about the possible changes – which include narrowing a 13-block stretch of the busy thoroughfare from Ovington Avenue to 84th Street, as reported by Will Bredderman for Brooklyn Paper. Continue reading »

Golden Aide Eying Gentile’s City Council Seat

By on January 17, 2013  Politics
Jan 172013
 
(Image source: vincent desjardins via Flickr.

Image source: vincent desjardins via Flickr.

John Quaglione, State Senator Marty Golden’s deputy chief of staff, says he’s currently considering a run for City Council.

Home Reporter’s Denise Romano writes that the winner of a Republican/Conservative primary between Quaglione and his likely opponent Andy Sullivan would probably face Democrat Councilmember Vincent Gentile – who is expected to seek his third and final full term this fall.

For his part, Quaglione tells Home Reporter that he’s received a positive reaction from potential supporters, and is close to making a final decision as to whether he will run.

“I don’t have a decision yet, but am very close to one,” he told Romano. “We have been talking to some folks, friends, neighbors and people I have interacted with over the years in terms of fundraising and support with party leadership.”

The Golden and Gentile camps have had a long standing, if sometimes subdued, political rivalry going back at least to 2002- the year Golden defeated Gentile for his New York State Senate seat.

Gentile, Golden Want 93 Lounge Shut Down

By on January 7, 2013  Business
Jan 072013
 
Source: Google Maps

Source: Google Maps

Officials in Bay Ridge are calling for the closure of a controversial night club after a New Years Eve melee ended with four people in the hospital after they were allegedly struck by a drunk driving couple fleeing the fight.

Both City Councilman Vincent Gentile and a spokesperson for State Senator Marty Golden had some harsh words for the 93 Lounge, and said it was time to shut the place down once and for all – with Gentile saying he plans to enlist multiple agencies in going after the problematic dance party venue, as reported by Will Bredderman for Brooklyn Daily. Continue reading »

The Condemned House With 100 Fathers – Gentile and Golden both take credit for demolition of vacant 79th street home

By on August 1, 2012  News, Politics
Aug 012012
 

It wasn’t long after neighbors learned that a vacant raccoon-infested house on 79th Street would be demolished that Democrat City Councilman Vincent Gentile, and Republican State Senator Marty Golden both began to take credit for it. And not in the “caring means sharing” kind of way either.

In an article posted yesterday on Brooklyn Paper’s website, Will Bredderman writes that just “moments after the city’s Housing, Preservation, and Development announced its plans to condemn the derelict house between Third Avenue and Ridge Boulevard, Golden (R–Bay Ridge) put out a press release claiming responsibility for the decision.”

The statement put out by Golden’s office, which made the claim that they have worked “over the years to see that this property is regularly inspected and conditions are checked by the Health and Buildings Departments,” lead Councilman Gentile – who says he has recently spent time tracking down the property’s owner, to fire off a statement of his own. Continue reading »

Bay Ridge’s Worst Neighbors: Investment properties left to languish by negligent landlords

By on July 27, 2012  Featured story, Real Estate
Jul 272012
 

Image source: Martin Cathrae via Flickr

Bay Ridge’s worst neighbors strike again.

A piece by Denise Romano for the Home Reporter revealed yesterday that local real estate investor Mousa Khalil owns two additional neglected properties on the same Ovington Avenue block where he allowed a house to collapse – including one that appears to be illegally occupied.

Meanwhile, the Daily News’ Alex Robinson reports that City Councilman Vincent Gentile is trying to guilt property owner Frank Landy to turn a 79th Street house that’s been falling apart for decades over to a good cause.

Residents of Ovington Avenue between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue say that of the three properties Khalil owns on their block, one is actually occupied, albeit illegally. They speculate that 556 Ovington Ave is serving as a home for squatters, or possibly even a hostel. Continue reading »