Monday, July 16, 2007



What are you doing at 11 Am today? Well, if you are not doing anything, Bill de Blasio would like you to join him once again to protest Robert Scarano, the " I know it's illegal, but I will do it anyway" architect whose firm has designed a Communist era apartment building which will be going up at 360 Smith Street right in my neighborhood.
This is the second time that Bill De Blasio is organizing such a demonstration/photo op. The first time was back in June when he held a news conference in front of 360 Smith.
Back then, Carroll Gardeners were thankful and hopeful that De Blasio was actually going to help save the neighborhood by actively pushing to get Carroll Gardens down zoned. It did not take long for residents to become suspicious about why De Blasio is putting so much effort into going after the architect instead of actively working on protecting Carroll Gardens from further development. Even the incredibly dedicated people at C.O.R.D. have figured out that they cannot count on De Blasio's help. After delivering their petition, they had a hard time getting his office to return their calls.
I think that Carroll Gardens has seen through his diversionary measures very quickly. Here is a pro-development politician seemingly protecting a brownstone neighborhood from development, except not. Because he is not going after the developer, but the architect. Unfortunately, he has been able to fool enough people into thinking that he is helping. Its actually pretty brilliant on his part.
Judging by the rumblings in this part of Brooklyn, De Blasio's failure to step up to the job of Councilman for Brownstone Brooklyn, the incredible dysfunction that rules his office as well as his lack of response to problems big or small, may have finally caught up to him.

Press release from De Blasio's office:

New York City Council Member Bill de Blasio
July 16, 2007

DE BLASIO CALLS ON DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS TO STOP WORK ON ALL SCARANO
PROJECTS

Brooklyn Councilmember Bill de Blasio will join local elected
officials and community activists to demand that the New York City
Department of Buildings (DOB) stop work on all Robert Scarano projects
while he is under investigation for professional misconduct. Scarano, an
architect with a long history of violating zoning codes, building codes,
and practicing unsafe construction, is currently under investigation by
the State Education Department.
Just recently the DOB approved plans for 360 Smith Street, where Scarano
is the architect. Last month, Councilmember de Blasio joined community
activists demanding that Scarano's license be revoked. De Blasio is
still calling on the State Department of Education to strip Scarano's
architecture license because of his unscrupulous building practices and
repeated violations of the building code. In 2006, the City's buildings
department charged Scarano with violating zoning or building codes on 25
projects in several Brooklyn neighborhoods Robert Scarano.
When: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 11a.m
Where: Department of Buildings, 210 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn
Who: Council Member Bill de Blasio, local elected officials, community
activists
Tom Gray
District Director
City Council Member Bill de Blasio
(718) 854-9791
(718) 854-1146 Fax

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