City Councilman Lew Fidler (46th District) gets a raw deal in the world of web publishing. He’s got at least two nosy, noisy bloggers in his district. And as the Assistant Majority Leader and the so-called “King of Discretionary Dollars“, he draws a lot of fire from the citywide digerati where lesser-known foes would go under the radar. To his credit, he’s far more active in the online community than his colleagues, a noble feat that often invites more flogging than flattery.
Poor Lew. His suffering knows no end. Republican opponent for City Council, Gene Berardelli, has unveiled a new website with an ingenious name: TheFidler.com. Decorated with a perfectly comic motif of dancing fiddlers, a bobble-head-esque Fidler, and the apocalyptic “Lew Fiddles. We Burn” tagline – the site is owned and operated by the Berardelli campaign. It features articles from around the internet criticizing Councilman Fidler on a variety of issues, from sources including Room Eight and NYC Council Watch. So far articles have focused on his involvement with LawCash, pork-barrel spending, profiting off of the housing crisis, and failing to engage in a public debate. It also includes satirical photos and a “Whack-a-Lew” game where visitors can tase the good councilman’s nipples.
Apparently, TheFidler.com has its own contributors that produces editorial content, and Berardelli says in his release that anything he writes will bear his name. So far though, all original posts are labeled “TheFidler.com Staff”. While Berardelli notes in the release that he’s “responsible enough to stand behind all content on this site, even if not written by me” – we’re still pleading for him to make contributors reveal themselves. Anonymous posting is questionable enough on blogs; elected politicians (and those who aspire) shouldn’t meddle with such muck.
Overall, though, the site is an obvious attempt to goad Fidler into a confrontation. It pokes fun at the councilman and is begging for a response. From the campaign’s inception, Berardelli has issued several challenges to his incumbent opponent to meet for debates, but the councilman has been dodgy. Berardelli closed his press release by writing, “If the Councilman has a problem with the characterizations, he can come see me – I’m no shrinking violet myself.”
We’d love to see that scene. How ’bout it, Lew?
Sheepshead Bites is proud to introduce a new feature that requires almost no effort or thought on our behalf (we’re very proud of those types of initiatives): Open Thread Mondays. Every Monday we’re putting up a post – much like this one – that gives you the opportunity to rant and rave about whatever you like. Is there something around the bay that’s been bugging you? Was some chick on the train tragically singing along to her own god-awful music and you want to vent? Did your little ‘un get a good grade in school and you want to brag about it? Want to self-promote last week’s Flickr photos? Here’s the place!
Tell your neighbors what you think they should see online. Tell us what you think we should cover. Rants, raves, jokes, suggestions, blasphemes — this is your free-form playground to broadcast whatever you want. Go for it, Sheepshead!
Construction workers removed the scaffolding around the glass-and-steel construct on Avenue Z and East 17th Street this morning, signaling an end to almost two years of work.
Workers on the scene are now tearing up the sidewalks and preparing to pour new concrete. They say the sidewalk will be done within the next couple of days. With a few exceptions on the street level and on the roof, all exterior work appears to be complete, and the crew said the inside of the building was ready as well.
Still, there appears no sign from the building’s residential realtor – Corcoran Group – that they’ve started marketing the building. On the commercial side, the building’s representative, Massey Knakal Realty Services, said last month that they’re close to a deal with a group of local doctors for medical offices. The docs will take all the commercial units, which include a total of 15,700 square feet spread among the basement and first two floors.
Community Board 15 is meeting tomorrow for the first time since summer recess began. After a larger than usual turnout at their last meeting, Kingsborough security moved the event to the Performing Arts Center in the middle of campus. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. We’re glad we called and checked, because there’s no note of it on CB15′s more-than-underwhelming website. There’s also no agenda available.
Criticism of digital feats aside, make sure you turn up for tomorrow’s hearing. There is always time allocated for public input, so plead to the board to put more pressure on the MTA and find alternatives to their two-year shutdown of express service. You can also, ya’ know, complain about your neighbors or somethin’…
The woman struck on Nostrand Avenue and Avenue Z on Thursday is in critical condition. The driver – an ex-con with convictions for drugs and driving without a license – is awaiting arraignment for charges of vehicular assault, drunken driving, and reckless driving.
From the Daily News:
A drunken ex-con three times over the legal limit mowed down a Brooklyn woman walking home from work – leaving her with horrendous injuries, sources said Friday.
Olga Skibina, 22, was headed to her Gerritsen Beach home when a wasted Zachary Kitt barreled his 1997 Ford van into her Thursday evening, police said.
She was in critical condition at Lutheran Medical Center Friday with severe brain, facial and lung injuries.
“We’re hoping it’s not going to get any worse,” said the victim’s stepfather, Alex Litvachkis, 44.
Earlier reports:
Another Accident on Nostrand and Ave Z
Accident on Nostrand and Ave Z: Update
If you leave your house, if you take the subway, if you watch TV, if you do anything other than sit in a dark bunker closed off from the world – then you know Ken Burns’s new documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea is premiering on PBS on Sunday, September 27.
To celebrate the television event, National Parks across the country are asking citizens to join them tomorrow, September 26, in “A Day of Service and Celebration“. Plumb Beach will be hosting the event for our area, and organizers are asking neighbors to turn out “to make America’s Best Idea – the national parks – even better.”
Gateway National Recreation Area is seeking volunteers (and here) to assist with various park cleanup activities at Plumb Beach. To thank volunteers, the park is offering a sneak peak of the Ken Burns’ epic documentary. The preview will be running from 9 am to 1 pm.
• 8:30 am to 9 am – Register for volunteer event at Plumb Beach (Belt Parkway between exits 9 and 11)
• 9 am to 1 pm – Volunteer work activities
For more information on the Gateway National Recreation Area event please call the park at (347) 672-3210 or Matt Molony (843) 795-9292.
(Photo courtesy of bayrat via Flickr)
We admit: we have no idea what the laws, regulations, standards or whatever are on this topic. But reader Arthur B. wrote in – suspicions all aroused – so we figured it best to pass this on to the larger community, and you can fill us in.
Here’s what Arthur wrote:
I saw a bunch of construction workers stacking and moving open sand bags in the area of 3101-3111 Brighton 2nd. I’m no expert but since when are sandbags open like that? I think they are stealing the sand from our public beach (though I did not see them do that). They quickly took the bags out of my field of vision (I think into the basement of 3101). I also have a pic of the truck I think they were using which has sand all over it. When I questioned the workers they were evasive and refused to answer me in English!
Does anyone know if this is illegal? Ought it to be reported? First ten people with information leading to an arrest get an official Sheepshead Bites trout flavored Slushie!
(Ed. — No they don’t… and that’s disgusting.)
The driver of the van was arrested. The charges are unknown. We have also heard three ages for the girl – 14, 17, and 21. If you have any information, please add it in the comments. We’re following up with the NYPD Office of Public Information.
This is an update of an earlier post.
We just got word that a pedestrian on Nostrand Avenue and Avenue Z was hit by a maroon van about thirty minutes ago. The woman was in the crosswalk when hit. Witnesses say the woman was bleeding when the ambulance arrived. The maroon van stopped about a half block up from Nostrand. The incident follows an accident in July in which an elderly woman was hit by a livery cab while crossing the street. We’ll update this story when information is available.
(Courtesy of Dana L.)
After sitting empty for nine months, the former Chock Full o’Nuts location on Ave. U between East 19th Street and Ocean Avenue is occupied again. Healthalicious Food opened up a little more than a week ago selling, you guessed it, health food. Unlike Forces of Nature on Sheepshead Bay Rd., Healthalicious Food is a counter-service restaurant serving healthy diner-style cooked foods. So far, reviews have been good.
Meanwhile, across the street, the former florist on the corner of East 19th and Ave. U has given way to Central Hair Salon, which may just be the six-billionth stylist in Sheepshead Bay.
(Tip and photo courtesy of Arthur B.)
