SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

State Senator John Sampson (center) (Source: nysenate.gov)

The troubles for State Senator John Sampson keep mounting. Sampson, who has been accused of accepting bribes and threatening witnesses who might testify against him, now has state officials wondering where more than $39,000 in taxpayer money earmarked for a Brooklyn charity has gone.

Times Union is reporting that Sampson, who represents parts of Sheepshead Bay, funneled $39,560 to a charity that was supposed to train inner city youths the inner workings of a digital radio station. The radio station, “One Caribbean Radio,” is owned by Edmon Braithwaite and broadcasts to the more than three million Caribbean New Yorkers.

When One Caribbean Radio received the grant, they failed in documenting the spending of the money in question. Officials are accusing Sampson and Braithwaite of investing the money in a Bedford-Stuyvesant liquor store named Good Wine and Spirits.

In his defense, Sampson said he had relinquished his ownership stake in the liquor store earlier in the year and that law enforcement officials weren’t interested in the matter.

Despite this, the State Liquor Authority refused to issue details on the liquor store, telling Times Union that, “disclosure of the information and documents requested would interfere with an ongoing investigation.”

Source: aresauburn via flickr

While it seems that every major American city has its own brand of political corruption, New York’s scandal plagued politicians are marked by the high cost their misdeeds inflict on taxpayers. The New York Post is reporting that the accumulated cost of all the illegal and unethical actions of dirty politicians have cost taxpayers at least $49,710,630.64 since 2006.

The rogues gallery is led by former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who cost the state $36 million in pension-fund management fees after taking nearly $1 million in illegal gifts; ex-state Sen. Pedro Espada, who funneled $7 million to himself and family members through a Medicare-funded nonprofit; and Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who cost taxpayers $103,000 in secret settlements after staffers accused him of sexual harassment.

The huge sum of money does not include the $440,000 in bribes that have recently put State Senator John Sampson in hot water. It also doesn’t include money promised by politicians that was never distributed, including $80,000 in discretionary funds given to a dummy company by Councilman Dan Halloran in exchange for a bribe.

The list of crooked pols also includes former State Senator Carl Kruger, who was bribed into funneling $900,000 to certain nonprofits. Kruger is currently serving a prison sentence on federal corruption charges.

While organizers of the not-so-Great GoogaMooga reneged on their “rain or shine” billing in the face of Sunday’s drizzle, hundreds of Sheepshead Bay residents flocked to Emmons Avenue to prove what the phrase really means.

Bay Improvement Group’s 22nd Annual Bayfest went forward despite a day-long downfall that appeared to come in from all directions. Attendance was surely hampered by the weather, and even several of the sponsors bailed (Sheepshead Bites set up table, but, without a tent, was forced to say our goodbyes after our materials took on too much water).

Organizers plowed ahead anyway, keeping good on their promise, with music blaring from two main stages and a handful of performance areas. Inflatable rides amused kids – and also provided brief refuge from the rain, and sponsors like Investors Bank kept in good spirits, cheering to the music with their teams and handing out goodies.

Aside from all fun – soggy or not – the group’s president, Steve Barrison, took a moment before the festivities to honor the  Department of Sanitation with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Barrison and the group thanked the department for lifting, carting and removing countless tons of debris in the months after Superstorm Sandy.

See the photo gallery.

Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority Patrick Cashin

As the $60 billion Sandy aid package finally gets doled out, it is interesting to see how that mountain of money actually gets spent. A New York Post editorial highlights how Governor Andrew Cuomo intends to spend $6 billion worth of the pie on water-proofing the city’s subway system.

On top of the $6 billion set aside to figure out a way to somehow make sure the subway doesn’t get flooded again, the MTA is also receiving $4.8 billion in federal funds for general Sandy repairs. The Post editorial takes aim at Cuomo and the MTA for trumping up the damage estimates to ensure the biggest federal payout possible.

For example, when accessing the damage to the A train tracks in the Rockaways, the MTA guessed that they would need $650 million. Construction on that line is nearly finished and will open at the end of the month. In Cuomo’s actual budget released at the end of March, the cost so far has only amounted to $17.9 million. According to the Post, something isn’t adding up:

From photo op to photo op, there’s no reconciliation between huge initial numbers and later smaller ones. But this seeming opposite of a massive cost overrun isn’t that surprising — and it’s more Cuomo’s fault than the MTA’s.

Last year, the MTA was under huge pressure to announce huge numbers, fast — or watch the state lose out on federal aid. And now that the state has secured that cash, no one much cares what happens to it. After all, the money was free.

The cost overruns are creating questions as to where the money earmarked for the ‘water-proofing’ plan is going and how exactly it will be spent. While officials have solutions on how to protect above ground subways from storm surges by building protective walls, they have less of a clear picture on how to protect the underground portion of the system.

At a recent press conference, MTA chief Tom Prendergast admitted that he has no idea how to prevent flooding in places like Lower Manhattan, which has over 500 flood entry points alone.

The Post noted that many ideas floated to protect the underground subway are practical and low on cost, like installing deployable watertight grates across vents and stairways and placing inflatable bladders in key locations. Despite this, the Post is guessing that Cuomo and the MTA will likely favor a more expensive and futuristic idea that makes full use of the billions headed their way.

Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge

The MTA has announced scheduled overnight closures of the pedestrian walkway at Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge.

The walkway will be closed each night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning Monday, May 20 through Friday, May 24. Workers will be replacing 2,500-square-feet of protective overlay along the walkway.

Photos by and courtesy of Allan Rosen

THE COMMUTE: In early 2012, we reported on confusing Department of Transportation (DOT) parking and traffic regulations and on confusing and outdated signage mentioning the taxi stand on Brighton Beach Avenue. That stand is not even listed in DOT’s database of taxi stands so apparently they are unaware of its existence.

In January 2013, DOT — realizing the problems with existing signage that were causing unnecessary confusion — unveiled a new format for parking regulatory signs, which shortly thereafter began to make their appearance in Manhattan. A consultant was hired who devised what you see here.

Click here to see the photo and continue reading.

Source: sszdl/Flickr

What? Another week with no service adjustments on the B line? And just minimal ones on the Q and F lines? Wowzer, maybe I didn’t see the pigs flying through all the fog over the weekend.

Q LINE

From 11:45 p.m. to 5 a.m., Tuesday to Friday, Coney Island-bound Q trains are rerouted via the R from Canal St to DeKalb Av.

F LINE

From 11:45 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday to Friday, 179 St-bound F trains run express from W 4 St to 34 St-Herald Sq.

…or for the secular among you, light reflecting through drops of water high above (actually in) the Earth’s atmosphere.

From the photographer:

Thursday Afternoon [Ed. -- A week and a half ago, May 9]. Rainbow after the rain. (picture taken from the Ocean Ave bridge)

Photo by Anastasiya

 
Photo by Barbara Pearson

Source: trams aux fils/Flickr

Pretty smooth sailing for weekend subway trips. But, really, why would you leave the neighborhood when we have a parade on Saturday and Bayfest on Sunday? Stay and support local businesses!

Q LINE

From midnight tonight until 5 a.m. Monday, 57 St/7 Av-bound Q trains stop at 49 St.

F LINE

From 9:45 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, Jamaica-bound F trains are rerouted via the M from 47-50 Sts to Queens Plaza.

Additionally, from 11:45 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, Jamaica-bound F trains skip Fort Hamilton Pkwy, 15 St-Prospect Park, and 4 Av-9 St.