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National Grid Gets “OK” from PSC on Rate Hike, Sparking Protests From Environmentalists

 

By Jean Brannum | jbrannum@queensledger.com

The Public Service Commission unanimously approved a rate increase for gas usage in the state on Aug 15, which will affect people in Brooklyn and parts of Queens. The PSC determined that the rate increases were necessary and consistent with Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals. 

The three-year plan increases the average monthly gas bill by about $30 in the first year, nine dollars in the second year, and $22 in the third year, according to department staff who negotiated the terms of the rate plan. The new rate should increase National Grid’s annual capital to $833 million, $924 million, and $960 million.

Energy company National Grid, which provides electricity and gas in certain parts of New York State, but only provides gas in Kings County, proposed a rate hike in 2023 and with minor modifications was approved on Thursday. In a press release, National Grid said that the rate hike will fund infrastructure improvements, reduce emissions, and improve customer service. The company reasoned that the funding was necessary to ensure safe and reliable gas delivery in its service areas. 

The approval process and proposal were met with opposition, primarily from environmental activism groups like Sane Energy Project, which has protested numerous times against National Grid. The nonprofit based in Williamsburg sports the slogan “We Won’t Pay to be Poisoned.” Leaders of the organization are pushing for New York to support more renewable energy projects and shut down National Grid’s Greenpoint Energy Center. 

The majority of the 2100 public comments opposed the rate hike citing concerns about affordability, and investment in fossil fuels despite the passing of the CLCPA. The joint proposal includes steps to mitigate the impact of energy affordability, according to PSC Chair Rory Christian. National Grid already has an established program to help customers burdened by energy costs. 

However, multiple labor unions and other businesses supported the increase citing that the extra cash would help National Grid meet its environmental goals and improve community safety. 

In Albany at the PSC meeting, Sane Energy Project Director Kim Fraczek and other protesters stepped in front of the commission. Fraczek’s speech was mostly inaudible. The meeting was paused after Christian warned the group that they were disrupting the meeting.  

“This is a testament that those who hold the power to protect us from predatory corporations defying environmental justice turn on the very people they are entrusted to protect,” Fraczek said in a statement. “The financial, health, and safety costs of the climate crisis are not considered in the equation, disregarding the demands of the people.”

Julia Salazar at the protest at the Atlantic Ave Terminal

Downstate at a National Grid office across the street from the Barclays Center on the same day, Sane Energy Project Director of Communications Priscilla Grim led a rally with State Senator Julia Salazar and members of 350 Brooklyn against the rate hike. Salazar accused National Grid of trying to generate more profits. 

“They care about profits for their shareholders and do not care about our futures or our abilities as New Yorkers to make ends meet and pay our bills every month. It’s completely unsustainable,” Salazar said. 

Agreement To Go Green?

Salazar touched on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which was signed into law in June 2019 and mandates the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050. 

Several environmental organizations including Sane and the Newtown Creek Alliance have spoken out about closing National Grid’s Greenpoint Energy Center, saying that the center causes pollution. 

National Grid and the commission concluded that the energy center was necessary on peak usage days, but the commission recommended that the company close the center if alternative solutions are found. 

Greenpoint resident Katherine Thompson said that funding fossil fuel infrastructure will delay the city’s progress towards CLCPA goals and that there should be more investment in green energy.

Greenpoint resident Katherine Thompson.

In the proposal, the PSC disagreed that investment in gas infrastructure would take away from CLCPA-related infrastructure, and even said that infrastructure funded by the rate increase was necessary to reach CLPCPA goals. 

The Commission approved the new proposal with the agreement that the company would try to use alternative energy sources in the future. 

One of the ways National Grid agreed to reduce its environmental impact is by adding additional renewable natural gas interconnections. Renewable natural gas (RNG) is fuel derived from natural waste that emits methane. The Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant produces RNG for National Grid but commenters said the project was incomplete, according to the joint proposal. The City reported in May that the system was offline 46% of the time from April 2023 to May 2024.  

The RNG connects with existing gas lines called interconnection points. The joint proposal includes an agreement with National Grid that excess profits from RNG production will be refunded to customers. If the company does not profit from RNG, then the cost will be mostly recovered by shareholders. Another provision was that National Grid pursues non-pipeline alternatives. 

In addition, National Grid agreed to cease gas marketing to encourage customers to use alternative energy sources and will provide information to new customers. 

The environmental changes should reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 880,000 tons, according to an information presentation at the commission meeting. 

Commissioners approved the proposal with the environmental provisions saying that the rate increase was necessary to provide safe and reliable energy to National Grid customers. However, Fraczek said the PSC is continuing to listen to corporations rather than find alternative energy solutions. 

“Stop clinging to a law that favors industry, and instead follow a law that offers numerous options for releasing that grip,” Fraczek said. “The solutions are abundant. We just need leaders who are willing to lead.”

Officials from National Grid did not comment on the rate increase but did send press releases. 



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Dust, Noise Plague Neighbors of Cement Plant

 

By Jean Brannum | jbrannum@queensledger.com

Sixty-six-year-old Laura Hofmann is used to the industrial pollution many Greenpointers are familiar with, but nothing like this. She can draw pictures on her car with the dust that coats it. She struggled with esophagitis until taking preventative measures to keep herself from breathing in the dust. Her problems have since subsided, but the air quality has changed the way she interacts with her environment. 

After wondering where the dust was coming from, she finally stumbled upon a cement plant a few blocks from her home: DKN Ready Mix, a neighbor to many Greenpointers since last fall.

“You can write your own name in the car windows,” Hofmann said referring to the dust that reportedly coats the cars. 

The DKN Ready Mix plant moved to 270 Green St from Maspeth Ave and according to nearby residents, the company has not been a good neighbor. Residents have spoken out about the pollution, noise, and cracks in the buildings the plant has allegedly caused. 

Jens Rasmussen, a longtime resident next to the plant, has spoken about the impact of DKN on his and his family’s ability to live in their apartment. His two-year-old son dealt with coughing and sneezing allegedly because of the plant.  

Another resident, who did not want to give out their name but lives near the plant, said that the dust had caused puffy eyes and a burning sensation in their chest. They used to love being on her deck, but cannot enjoy it due to the dust and the noise. 

North Brooklyn Neighbors, an environmental advocacy nonprofit has provided air quality monitors to several Greenpointers, including Rasmussen. The monitors measure for particulate matter under 2.5 micrometers in diameter. These particles are small enough to inhale. An acceptable air quality reading is an average of 35 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) over 24 hours, according to NYC Environment and Health. Air quality readings on Purple Air show the average 24-hour amount to be 45 µg/m3as of Aug 13. The one-week average is 60 µg/m3.

Rasmussen used to open his apartment windows frequently since one of his rooms do not have air conditioning. He stopped opening his windows due to the dust before installing a fan at the window.

The DKN Cement plant has caused noise levels in the area to increase past what is allowed according to residents. One resident said that the noise levels are high through the night. 

“I do understand that since we have chosen to live in an industrial zone, we have to make peace with a certain amount of noise,” the resident said, “But DKN goes way above the regulation limits, both in terms of decibels and permitted hours.”

A video from Rasmussen showing a noise monitor app shows noise levels near the plant to be above 85 decibels on Jan 3 at 2 PM with a blaring buzzing sound in the background. Eighty-five decibels is equivalent to a lawnmower or a motorcycle. 

Crack in Rasmussen’s building. Courtesy of Jens Rasmussen.

He also reports seeing DKN breaking up concrete by throwing large chunks onto the ground to load up pieces in trucks. He mentioned experiencing shaking that he felt was even more intense than the earthquake in April.  His landlord has already had to repair cracks allegedly caused by DKN. 

While the lot that DKN is on is zoned for heavy industrial use, it is not for cement mixing. A Department of Buildings violation states that the lot is for the sale of used cars, metals, irons, and parts. The DOB fined DKN $620. 

Probe by Elected Officials

Elected officials in the Greenpoint area eventually caught wind of what was happening and have written a letter to DKN owner Diane Macchio and Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Director Rodney Rivera requesting a meeting on the matter and an inspection from the DEC.

The meeting between the community, DKN, and elected officials was scheduled for Aug 14, but was canceled by DKN the day before, Rasmussen said. He received the news through email and was told that DKN hired a consultant to address the issue and needed more time. 

Councilmember Lincoln Restler said he wants the DEC and the Department of Environmental Protection to hold DKN accountable for the damage it has allegedly caused to nearby residents. 

“If they were to find another spot, I’d be a happy councilman,” Restler said. 

The letter noted that Greenpoint has historically been an industrial zone, which has led to significant environmental issues such as the Meeker Avenue Plume. 

Rasmussen said that while other cement plants exist near him, none have caused this much damage. At the very least, he wants DKN to comply with local laws that would make living near the plant easier. 

DKN Ready Mix did not respond to repeated requests for comment. 

Editor’s Note: This article was updated Aug 14 at 2 pm with additional information. 



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Revenue Source for Under the ‘K’ Bridge Park Sparks Neighborhood Backlash

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly said that the map image showed where noise and traffic complaints come from. The caption has been corrected to say that the map shows where noise monitors and traffic guards are located. 

By Jean Brannum | jbrannum@queensledger.com

The park under the former Kosciuszko Bridge doubles as an event space in the once-empty area. Throughout the year, people stroll through the seven-acre land, ride through the skate park, and flock to the concerts under the BQE. 

However, according to the park’s neighbors, the space is also a source of noise pollution and traffic. Nearby residents complained to the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance staff of music blaring into their apartments until as late as 4 AM, and car horns waking them after the concerts conclude. Residents with young children say that the noise often wakes them up.

Greenpointer Lucy, who declined to give her last name, said that she hears music as late as 4 AM. She has sent multiple emails about the noise but said she has received few replies. Other members of the community affirmed that they had heard noise at the same time.

Katie Denny Horowitz, executive director of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance.

Katie Denny Horowitz, executive director of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance said that some official events go as late as 2 AM, but most events conclude around 10 PM. Noise later than that comes from park visitors who hang around afterward. 

“Why can’t they end at a decent time? By 10:30 or 11 o’clock?” Greenpointer Michele Chesnicka said. Many residents at a public meeting voiced their agreement that events should conclude earlier. 

If the noise from the park is disturbing, residents can call a hotline to request noise testing. Horowitz said that the response time is usually immediate and encourages residents to call them as soon as the noise becomes a disturbance. 

The Parks Alliance’s policy is to keep noise in the park below 100 decibels, which is as loud as a train, according to a city noise code guide. For areas outside the park, Horowitz and her team try to keep noise at less than 50 decibels, or less loud than a normal conversation.

Katie Denny Horowitz and Lynn Del Sol from the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance show a map displaying where traffic guards and sound monitors are located. 

Horowitz mentioned that since the park started hosting concerts, they only just started receiving noise and traffic complaints. Councilmember Lincoln Restler said that he has received a few emails about the noise from the park, but takes those complaints seriously. 

Noise Beyond Control

 

Event space in the Under the ‘K’ Bridge Park

But the issue of late-night noise is—many times—beyond the park staff’s control, Horowitz said.

During a tour, we heard music from the other side of the skate park. On the street adjacent to the end of the park, a white car sat with all the doors open blasting music. The noise was so loud we had to end our tour before reaching Newtown Creek. 

Horowitz said she normally calls the police for noise, but often the car partiers either come back to the site or move to another area to become someone else’s problem. The partiers are also on the street and technically off of park property. 

Another source of noise is post-event traffic. Greenpointer Matt Maclean walks through the park with his three-year-old son daily but said the post-event car honking often wakes up his three-year-old son.

“The honking on Apollo St is bad enough during the day, but when it’s 2 AM wakes me up and wakes him up. That’s totally out of the ordinary,” said Maclean. 

Eric Kun, another neighbor, said it would be better if the Parks Alliance worked with the community. Horowitz responded that the meeting was set up to work with residents, but Kun wants a follow-up meeting to keep the community involved in improvements. Horowitz also noted that the space started hosting larger events this past season. 

“If people come together like this, we have the opportunity to have face-to-face time with you, this a little bit more empowering and it feels like there’s a connection, Kun said. 

Balancing Act

 

While some suggested a complete shutdown of events, staff of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, the nonprofit that designed the park, and Restler pointed out that the money from the concerts is reinvested in parks across Community District One. The nonprofit hires gardeners to maintain the grounds and provides much-needed maintenance to playgrounds and plazas. 

The North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, which is registered as a nonprofit as Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn, made $457,000 in 2022 from “Program Services”. This is significantly more than the $33,000 made the previous year before the nonprofit expanded programming in the Under the K Bridge Park. Program Services were about 34% of the total revenue. Contributions were 34% of income. 

About $290,000 from the Parks Alliance goes towards staff salaries. The Parks Alliance spent $85,000 on park improvements in 2022. 

Greenpointer Heidi Vanderlee said that if the city provides parks with more funding, then there would not be a need for concerts at Under The K and that District One residents are lucky to have another revenue stream for parks. 

Greenpointer Kevin La Cherra said the Parks Alliance contributed supplies to clean up McGolrick Park in 2020 when mudslides occurred and funding was cut. 

“We see what these parks look like day to day and how much worse they are when they’re not invested in,” La Cherra said.

Under the K Bridge will host six events scheduled from Sept 1 to Oct 12. 



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NYC’s First Microhub May Happen in Greenpoint

By Jean Brannum | jbrannum@queensledger.com

A micro-distribution center may come to Greenpoint as part of a pilot program for the city.

The center, known as a microhub, is a small distribution center for e-commerce companies such as Amazon. The program follows Local Law 166, which went into effect in Dec 2021 and mandates the city seek feedback on a possible microhub network, request interest from relevant businesses, and, in 2023, establish a pilot program to support these centers. .

The City Department of Transportation will open some areas for businesses to use as microhubs. One of the potential locations is under the BQE between Kingsland Ave and Sutton St. in Greenpoint, which is currently a low-demand parking lot. The pilot program allows this in a few areas before the DOT expands the program to other parts of the city.

According to a presentation about the program, similar microhub networks exist in Paris, Washington DC, and Seattle. The hubs are a solution to increased truck traffic and pollution due to the recent increase in e-commerce users since 2020. Freight Planner Katherine Ponte from the DOT estimates that four trucks per company would make trips to the microhub daily, which means 8-16 trucks total.

Courtesy of NYC Department of Transportation

As the owner of a microhub, a company would have to limit truck usage within the city. Companies would have the option to use cargo bikes, hand carts, or electric vehicles.

At a meeting on July 31, community members met on Zoom to give public comments to the DOT, and ask questions. Many residents are supportive of the idea but want strict regulations to minimize traffic in the immediate area and noise.

Ponte touted the program as a way to prevent injuries for e-commerce delivery people, who frequently have to sort packages on sidewalks or even on the street. Microhubs give workers room to sort packages within those neighborhoods, which would minimize the number of delivery trucks that block traffic lanes.

Bronwyn Breitner, a street safety advocate who lives near the potential site, is thrilled about the potential microhubs program but wants to ensure that the areas do not bring more congestion to the area, which already has a lot of traffic. Breitner is also worried about cyclist and pedestrian safety since she is waiting for bike lane improvements in the area.

Kevin La Cherra, another Greenpoint resident,  wanted to know how the microhub would affect truck traffic in the immediate area.

Ponte noted the residents’ concerns and said that the DOT will soon conduct a cargo bike survey. The DOT authorized the use of E-cargo bikes in March 2024. Ponte said that the DOT can use the survey and feedback from the pilot program to find areas of improvement for bike-friendly infrastructure.

La Cherra also commented that current laws meant to decrease pollution are already not being enforced, such as idling laws, and that members of the community have been advocating for street safety improvements for years with no action from the DOT. La Cherra pointed to the proposed improvements to slow traffic at McGuinness Blvd, which the mayor famously rejected in 2023, and similar proposed changes to Kingsland Ave.

Councilmember Lincoln Restler decided to speak after Breitner and La Cherra’s comments, saying that while their frustration is valid, it is important to look at the “big picture”

“I don’t think that we should confuse what is a promising and exciting pilot project that I’m happy is happening in our neighborhood with some of the other initiatives that have not moved forward,” Restler said.

Restler clarified that he wants the program to be implemented in a way that benefits the community and appreciates the public input.

The DOT issued a Request for Expressions of Interest from businesses that wish to take part in the program. Ponte said that one of the conditions for businesses to set up a microhub will be that they adhere to policies that keep the area clean and minimize noise.

The DOT is currently working to finalize what businesses will take part in the pilot program, but cannot reveal names yet.

 

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The People’s Firehouse’s Ongoing Legacy

By Olivia Graffeo | olivia@queensledger.com

The People’s Firehouse, Inc. of Greenpoint and Williamsburg has been advocating for their community for nearly 50 years. When New York City faced a massive budget crisis in the 1970s, firehouses in all five boroughs were vulnerable to sweeping cuts. The People’s Firehouse was one of many organizations that fought back. 

Now a non-profit focused on restoring and helping the community of Greenpoint-Williamsburg, The People’s Firehouse performs a myriad of services. A pillar of the organization focuses on anti-arson work  and fire prevention education in hopes of reducing the number of fires in the area; the dangers associated with e-bikes and their highly flammable batteries are the newest opponent to fire safety, having caused deaths and injuries throughout the city. In addition to the more traditional firehouse services, The People’s Firehouse participates in building restoration and the tenant rights movement. By owning and restoring buildings in the area, the organization provides affordable housing to vulnerable individuals such as seniors. Tenants and smaller landlords can come to The People’s Firehouse if they are in need of help, and there is always an ear open to them there. 

Originally called Engine 212, The People’s Firehouse was always a staple of its community. The three-story structure gave neighborhood residents a much-needed sense of safety during a time when house fire deaths were dramatically on the rise in New York City. Despite this gruesome trend, the decision was made to make cuts to fire protection all over the city. Engine 212 was officially chosen for closure in the fall of 1975, although rumors of firehouse budget cuts had been circulating for months. The community in which the firehouse resided was caught unaware when the day finally came, perhaps due to the logistics of the city’s plan. While residents of the neighborhood enjoyed Thanksgiving weekend with their families, the city was scheduled to seize Engine 212’s fire truck and shutter the building early that Saturday morning. 

Within hours of receiving the news, the neighborhood came out in droves to protest the closing of their beloved firehouse. Hundreds of people rushed to the building, assisted by community leaders and advocates who worked quickly to organize the demonstration as best they could. With the city expected to arrive the next morning, many residents decided to bunk within the firehouse, creating a physical barrier between the fire truck and those who sought to seize it.  

While many communities rallied around the firehouses that were slated to close in the mid-70s, none were as stalwart and dedicated as those in Greenpoint-Williamsburg. Protests of the city’s fire protection budget cuts were common, but they often died down or were snuffed out. The Engine 212 protests were different; the firefighters employed there actively assisted locals in their mission, and even participated as willing hostages within the building. Despite the city’s continued efforts to end the occupation of the firehouse, the neighborhood remained there for sixteen months. 

In addition to residing within the building to prevent its seizure, community members and those who supported them held organized demonstrations and marches. During one of these marches, the group managed to briefly shut down the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway as a form of protest. It was here that “The People’s Firehouse” was born; the neighborhood considered the firehouse to be a part of their community, belonging not to the city, but to the people. 

In 1977, after sixteen long months of activism from the community, the city finally agreed to allow Engine 212 to re-open at full capacity. Forty-seven years after their monumental victory, The People’s Firehouse is still fighting for their neighborhood. Although they have faced setbacks and burdens throughout the years, people remain at the heart of the organization. 

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Your Guide to Good Cause Laws

By Jean Brannum | jbrannum@queensledger.com

Politicians and tenant’s rights groups met with residents of Greenpoint for a town hall about the new “Good Cause” Evictions law, which went into effect in April 2024. 

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and State Senator Julia Salazar, who introduced the Good Cause law, hosted the event. Dominique Hood from the Metropolitan Council on Housing and Lino Diaz from Communities Resist gave presentations on what residents need to know about the Good Cause laws.  Councilmember Lincoln Restler was also in attendance. Housing experts joined attendants in the El Puente Community Center to answer additional questions.  

The Good Cause laws protect tenants in market-rate homes from unreasonable rent hikes and unjust evictions. It also allows tenants to challenge rent increases in court. 

Are You Eligible?

It’s important to note that only certain homes are eligible for Good Cause protections. Only market-rate homes are protected, meaning they are not classified as Section Eight, NYCHA, Rent Controlled or Rent Stabilized units. Homes must also be built before 2009 and rent must be less than 245% of the market rate per month. Co-op homes and condos are not eligible for Good Cause protections. 

Landlords have to notify tenants if their homes are covered under Good Cause for leases, renewals, rent hikes and evictions starting after Aug. 18. Your landlord must state why or why not you are protected under Good Cause. 

Lastly, a Good Cause only applies to landlords who own more than 10 units. You can find out how many apartments your landlord owns by searching on whoownswhat.justfix.org

Can my rent increase if it is under Good Cause protections?

Landlords can reasonably raise rent if the apartment is under Good Cause protections. However, the increase cannot be more than 5-10% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Landlords have to provide advanced notice to tenants. Notices must be 30 days in advance for residents who have stayed in a unit for less than a year, 60 days for one or two-year stays, and 90 days for residents staying two or more years in a unit. 

To increase the rent beyond 10%, landlords have to prove that a rent hike is necessary for the upkeep of the property. 

Can I get evicted from my apartment?

In New York City, a landlord has to evict a tenant through a court proceeding.  In a Good Cause unit, landlords have to have a good reason to evict you. The reasons include rent nonpayment, violating a substantial obligation of your lease, being a nuisance, or failure to provide the landlord adequate access to your unit, according to the Legal Aid Society.  

How can I exercise my rights as a tenant in a Good Cause unit?

There are two different types of cases where the defense could be based on the Good Cause law: nonpayment and holdover cases. In a nonpayment case, the landlord’s goal is for the tenant to pay the missing rent. The case is closed once that rent is paid, according to Diaz. In a holdover case, the goal for the landlord is to get the tenant out of the unit whether rent is paid or not. If a landlord takes a tenant to court then the tenant can provide a defense or “answer.”

If you believe your rent was raised unjustly, you can use Good Cause as a defense for nonpayment in a rent trial. One example of a defense is the Warranty of Habitability, which means the landlord knew of certain conditions in the unit and did not fix them. Therefore, rent should be reduced. 

For a nonpayment case, answers must be filed within 10 business days of receiving the petition. The form is available at the court clerk’s office. After filing, a court date is set. In a holdover, you must serve an answer before your first court date. The housing court may provide a form, or you can find it online.

Most importantly, tenants do have the right to have an attorney to represent them. NYC tenants are entitled to an adjournment at their first court appearance to find counsel. Tenants can also use the Right to Counsel program at their courthouse, which is access to free representation through nonprofit organizations. 

Who can I contact if I have questions?

Many organizations advocate for tenants and provide legal services for free, such as the Legal Aid Society, Communities Resist, the Metropolitan Council on Housing, and Brooklyn Legal Services. Communities Resist has an intake hotline at (646)974-8761. 



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Seeing the Scandinavian Light; A New Home Decor Store in Greenpoint Aims to Do More than Furnish your Living Room

 

By Alexander Bernhardt Bloom | alex@queensledger.com

 

Natural light comes streaming in through the ceiling windows by day at 34 Norman Avenue. The newly minted commercial space was once a zipper factory, more recently a warehouse for a private owner’s hoards of scraps and refuse. When Caitlin Maestrini, whose Scandinavian furniture showroom opened to the public there on Friday, first took over the lease on the space it had dirt floors.

These have been paved over with smooth, gray cement now, to give a stable setting for the feet of the sofas and coffee tables and storage shelves that populate the 4,000 square feet of store and cafe within 34 Norman Avenue’s walls, the realization of a personal dream for Maestrini.

Now the space beneath the address’s vaulted ceilings is full of soft light and soft furniture, objects that are easy on the eyes and which sit gently in a visitor’s hands. A space as such doesn’t naturally suggest the descriptor cozy, but that is the feeling, more than any other, that Maestrini has achieved there.

A major part of that achievement is in the lighting, and the natural bits of it that spill in through the skylights and broad windows are supported by lamps set up in exhibition about the store, essential to Scandinavian interior decor as they are.

Before she was a furniture store owner Maestrini was a product specialist and education manager with an Italian designer lighting company, and traveled the US teaching sales representatives about the installations they sold. Before that, Maestrini was an educator who taught high school students about the fine arts and expression. In each of these varied stations there seems to have been something central in common: Ms. Maestrini wants to help people better understand how to use design to enhance their lives.

* * *

The Danish concept called hygge (hooe-gah) had its moment of popularity in the US in the 2010’s, and a fair amount of ink had been spilled and a fair number of marketing campaigns mounted, with hygge their focus, long before anyone had uttered the words covid and nineteen together.

The pandemic changed the situation some. Hygge is all about creating cozy spaces and cozy moments, burrowing in with the ones that you love and a glass of wine or hot cocoa under the flicker of candlelight while darkness and terrorizing storms haunt the world outside.

After March, 2020 that sounded just about right. People started investing more in their homes as they increasingly confined in them and many spent the contents of their stimulus checks on carefully selected objects that they hoped would brighten their lives inside and under quarantine.

It was a couple of years before all of this that Maestrini had traveled the constellation of Scandinavian countries north of Europe where she was studying a part of her master’s program in interior design. Her base was London, but she became fixed on the design principles and styles she began to discover further north, – later she would also discover Scandinavian ancestry in her family – and when she made her return to the US the images of Mid-Century Modern furniture and fixtures made it with her.

She founded Teak in 2021, to begin with, in order to bring Scandinavian home furnishings to the US that she hadn’t been able to find here since her return.

* * *

On the afternoon of the day before Teak would first welcome visitors inside its new location the sound of pneumatic drills pierced the interior air. There was the smell of fresh paint and a frenzy of activity as Maestrini and the ten employees who make up her team and a host of others sought to finish stocking shelves and straightening wall hangings and all of the other big and small details that go into making a new place feel like a new home.

She made her way to a quiet corner and put her phone face down on a coffee table, empty otherwise save for a simple vase with a buoyant bouquet of flowers, and sat on the sofa beside it, one among the models recognizable from the company’s website.

Once a pop-up shop, she’d moved the business to a little storefront space in Greenpoint about a year ago and now in the new, expanded space, – which will include a cafe and Scandinavian-styled deli run by her friend and collaborator Leah Flannigan – Maestrini felt Teak could finally set down and realize its real purpose.

“There are two main missions:” she explained, looking out into the room heaped with imported domestic products, “Educate people on hygge and Scandinavian lifestyle, and inspire them to create a beautiful space at home.”

“This place, New York, is chaotic,” she went on, “we’re always in a rush, we’re always in chaos – when I come home I just want a place to decompress.”

It was a notion not incongruous with the New Yorker mentality, Maestrini argued, even if the focus on minimalist, utilitarian living often called for in hygge seems to be at odds with New York’s striving, competitive, race-to-the-top attitude.

“When you’re trying to survive in this city you still need a place to land at the end of the day.”

Her project, she would allow, does in any case present some quietly transgressive ideas. To begin with, it is a physical showroom in the digital age, a brick and mortar store to which people are invited to come to touch and spend time with the things they might otherwise click on and have delivered.

Also, the products Maestrini and her team sell are meant to last, nothing of the turn-and-burn of conspicuous consumption of goods Americans generally use in their households and otherwise.

“In Scandy countries you would save for the pieces that you knew that you wanted to have in your home,” finally buying them with purpose and treating them with care. “You would have people passing down furniture to you, and you would also be buying your chairs and your tables and things to ultimately pass down to someone else as well.”

Maestrini’s is a woman-owned and led business focused on equitable pay and direct-sourcing from other small business manufacturers and artisans. The furniture and products her shop sells in turn are far from cheap, but they’re meant to be used a great deal and to last and each has a story to tell.

More important than anything, she explained, is the importance of changing peoples’ perspective on domestic life. Hygge encourages simple comforts and physical togetherness which are often missing in the age of increased isolation and virtual narcissism and vicarious living through screens and headsets. A home shouldn’t be just for crashing, a home shouldn’t be a lonely place, according to the hygge principles.

Ever the educator, Maestrini returned the meandering conversation to its origin question, objective: “I’m here to talk to New Yorkers about small space solutions, to talk to New Yorkers about Hygge. I want people to create a home that they’re happy with, where they feel cozy, where they feel calm.”

We might yet see our domestic space in a different light.

 

 

 

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ExxonMobil Proposed SPDES Changes Sparks Land-Use Debate

 

By Jean Brannum | jbrannum@queensledger.com

ExxonMobil Corporation and environmental consulting company Roux held its second public hearing on the consolidation of its groundwater treatment plant plans on July 18, and most of the public comments were directed at the future use of the land. 

Community advocates, some who have commented multiple times on the plans, grilled ExxonMobil employees on the use of the potential old plant sites. 

ExxonMobil has two groundwater treatment plants, but the oil company wants to consolidate the plants into one, according to a fact sheet from Roux. Public liaisons for the company said in a presentation that the treatment plants would be able to run more efficiently and that the project would include adding updated equipment that would last throughout the entire remediation process. The two plants are at 400 Kingsland Avenue and 5 Bridgewater St. The new plant will be at 38 Varick St. 

The company has to apply for a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit modification. The process includes public meetings and meetings with Brooklyn Community Board One. 

However, attendees at the last public meeting with ExxonMobil discussed the use of the proposed empty land more than the SPDES permit. Advocates for Greenpoint’s environment expressed concerns about the future use of the land. Project Liaison, Kevin Thompson said that ExxonMobil does not disclose business dealings and that he could only hear suggestions about future land use. Thompson mentioned that the land is currently zoned for industrial use and that some new uses would require rezoning. 

Willis Elkins from the Newtown Creek Alliance spoke to the ExxonMobil and Roux representatives about the importance of using the land to better the community. Elkins is not concerned about the consolidation plan but suggests the industrial land be a site for green energy production. 

“I get ads all the time whenever I listen to WNYC and other podcasts and constantly bombarded by Exxon greenwashing ads about all the great stuff they’re doing to benefit the planet. This would be an ideal place to put that into practice.”

Elkins said that because the oil spill site has caused detrimental effects to the Greenpoint community, then ExxonMobil should use the site to positively impact the environment and community. His biggest concern, he said, was that the site would become a “last mile” distribution center, which the city council is working to limit. These centers act as quick distribution warehouses for e-commerce companies. Newtown Creek Alliance is a partner of the Last Mile Coalition, which advocates against such facilities. 

“There’s a significant opportunity to integrate things like environmental restoration, habitat restoration that will not just benefit ecologically, but will also benefit the community as well.”

Elkins added that the company now has a chance to move the state towards green energy use, which is part of New York state’s new law to reach 70% clean energy use by 2030. 

Kim Fraczek, director of the Sane Energy Project and a meeting attendant, agreed with Elkins and other Newtown Creek Alliance members that the land should become a green energy hub.

About the Greenpoint Oil Spill 

 

After the Greenpoint oil spill was discovered in 1978, multiple oil companies, the city, and the state have made efforts to clean up the site, according to the Newtown Creek Alliance.. . The oil spill was discovered in 1978 by the U.S. Coast Guard after 140 years of spillage. Oil giants BP, ExxonMobil, and Chevron/Texaco would acquire the spill site through years of acquisitions since the breakup of Standard Oil. ExxonMobil says that over 13.5 million gallons of oil have been removed from the spill site

A settlement between ExxonMobil and then-Mayor Andrew Cuomo, advocacy group Riverkeeper and the Greenpoint community ruled that the oil company must clean up the oil. Previous efforts to clean up the site did not take care of the problem. The state of New York Department of Energy Conservation oversees the current cleanup efforts.

For information on the project, ExxonMobil has a document repository on Rouxinc.com.



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Sonny Singh: Sikh Sage Warrior

Musician Sonny Singh. Credit: Shruti Parekh

By Olivia Graffeo | olivia@queensledger.com

Pioneering his own unique blend of South Asian fusion, Brooklyn-based musician and activist Sonny Singh is continuing a decades-long mission of bringing people together. 

Singh was raised in Sikhism, a religion originating in the Punjab region of India that preaches meditation and equality of all people. Born of two Indian immigrants in North Carolina, Singh embraced his Sikh background as a way to cope with rising racial and ethnic tension in America. 

“When times were tough, I found myself gravitating towards some of the [Sikh] devotional songs I learned as a kid,” Singh said. 

Noting that the demographics of Charlotte in the 1980s was mostly white and Black people, Singh and his brother were the only children in their school who wore turbans. He described this as causing a deep feeling of isolation and otherness. 

“Kids on the playground would ask me, ‘are you white or black?’ and I wouldn’t know how to answer,” he said. 

Despite being part of a small minority in the American South, Singh found a way to feel he was a part of something. Exploring his heritage, and specifically the music of his ancestors, provided Singh an outlet to feel connection and peace within his community. Though there were not any gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in their area growing up, Singh was able to find meaning through playing music at small events, usually at community members’ houses. 

After making his career in music, which he calls becoming “a musician with a capital ‘M,’” Singh found success in trying out many different genres. Participating in bands that played mixes of ska, reggae, punk rock, and other fused genres, he has only recently returned to his roots in Sikh-inspired compositions. After the release of his first solo album, Chardi Kala, in 2022, Singh fully embraced the style of music that comforted him in childhood while putting his own flair in every song. 

Sonny Singh performing music from his debut solo album “Chardi Kala”

Singh’s second solo album, Sage Warrior, will be released on September 6th. While his recent work harkens back to the religious music of Sikhism, which he calls “sacred poetry,” Singh is not simply performing renditions of the spiritual hymns of his faith. His music combines different genres, languages and instruments to reflect the unique identity Singh has formed over decades of playing music. 

While classical renditions of Sikh music usually contain the Punjabi language and instruments such as the harmonium and tabla (a type of South Asian drum), Singh expands on this. He can be heard singing in Punjabi, Spanish, English and Hindi; in addition, Singh’s skill as a trumpet player is utilized often, creating a distinctive new sound. While Singh notes that some more traditional Sikhs may disagree with his interpretation of their religion’s music and teachings, he is sure that his work is having positive effects for their community.

“It’s a constant evolution… I’m making music that makes sense to me and my own heart,” he said.

A facet of Singh’s work that is especially important to him is its foundation in social justice and activism. Since becoming involved in social causes as a teenager, Singh has continually worked to help others not only through his music, but through activism work as well. A major tenant of Sikhism is the notion that all people are equal: providing justice to everyone is paramount. 

“This sacred poetry of our tradition, there is so much wisdom in it that’s applicable today… Sikh wisdom has always inspired me, has inspired my activism,” he said.

Through music and activism, Singh notes he was able to avoid falling into “despair and assimilation,” and keep his culture alive. During his live concerts, he gives context and history to the audience, most of whom are not Sikh themselves. 

Singh describes his current musical journey as “Coming back to my past, coming back to ancestral wisdom.” 

Sonny Singh’s new album Sage Warrior can be pre-ordered before release on September 6th at https://sonnysingh.com/. 

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Service Company of Williamsburg Apartment Building Sued for Bad Wage Practices

By Jean Brannum | jbrannum@queensledger.com

The New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is suing the Planned Companies divisions for over $72,000 in unpaid wages to custodial staff, doorpeople, and security guards. The company provides services to The Williams apartment building. 

The petition alleges that Planned Lifestyle Services and Planned Building Services failed to pay wages and benefits to staff members who worked at 282 S. 5th Street in Williamsburg. The company provides services to another building in Manhattan. Sam Spilkes LLC owns both buildings and the comptroller alleges that the company owes over $140,000 total in unpaid wages. 

This lawsuit comes after a 2020 case of the same nature. Spilkes and the Comptroller’s office agreed to a settlement in which Spilkes agreed to pay $450,000 in lost wages, the Comptroller reports. The case was based on the same Williamsburg building. 

“We cannot stand by while workers continue to be cheated out of their hard-earned wages,” said Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights at the Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law. “This is about ensuring fairness and accountability for all employees employed by Planned.” 

Planned Companies did not respond to a request for comment. 

Under the Real Property Tax 421a law, development companies can receive a tax credit for building multiple dwellings. In exchange, some apartments are subject to rent stabilization. One of the terms of receiving the benefits is that the company pays prevailing wage to workers. The prevailing wage is what workers for public works projects receive. The comptroller alleges that Planned companies violated the 421a eligibility requirements. 

421a expired in 2022, but a “placeholder” law, 485-x, was enacted in April 2024. It provides similar benefits including prevailing wage requirements. 

32BJ SEIU is a union that represents several workers at Planned Companies and helped with getting workers in touch with the comptroller about lost wages. President Manny Pastreich said that the company has repeatedly hurt hard-working staff members and thanked the Comptroller for his help. 

“The union’s going to do its part to defend that, but the comptroller is doing his part,” Pastreich said. “We really appreciate it. We’ve fought very hard to win and defend these standards, and together with the Comptroller, will ensure that these workers get what they deserve.”

Pastreich clarified that this case is an exception and that most companies his union represents pay employees fairly. Pastreich emphasized that real estate companies should only support contractors that pay workers fairly. 

The RealDeal reports that the comptroller’s office has resolved nine wage suits related to 421a buildings since 2022. The cases have involved construction workers rather than building service workers.