Thursday, July 30, 2015

The NIMBYs of New York

Crain's published an article this month on "the masters of derailing projects in the city." I haven't derailed anything, regrettably, as much as I've tried, but they included me on their list anyway -- along with a number of folks who are getting stuff done.

NIMBYs? "Anti-change activists"? Are these the right terms for people who aim to preserve the character of New York City?



Here's my bit:

The shadow player

Mr. Berman is one of the most visible anti-development activists. Others, like Jeremiah Moss, operate in the shadows. Mr. Moss uses a fake name and refuses to have his picture taken, yet his blog, Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, has become the go-to hub for those who lament New York's loss of character.

Mr. Moss uses his online following to stage attention-grabbing theatrics, like hosting a funeral for a beloved 82-year-old shoe-repair shop under threat of closure.

He recently shifted tactics from covering the frequent closure of iconic New York dive bars and restaurants to getting involved in the effort to save those businesses. He doesn't consider himself as influential as Mr. Berman or as effective as Mr. Gruen.

But he hopes his "#SaveNYC" movement, a self-described do-it-yourself anti-gentrification crusade, can persuade the City Council to pass the Small Business Jobs Survival Act to help commercial tenants avoid being priced out.

"I'm good at making noise," Mr. Moss said. "I think of myself as a cage-rattler. Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention."
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13 comments:

  1. MitchJuly 30, 2015 at 9:26 AM

    Well screw them then. At least they didn't misquote you. (Or did they?)

    ReplyDelete
  2. TeeJuly 30, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    I think it's hysterical this bozo claims you operate in the shadows. Oh, he wishes!! You're right out in the open, for anyone to find (I did), and what you have to say, and over the years have shown us, is pretty damning evidence about NYC's gentrification. FWIW, I'm glad you've opened our eyes and given voice to others who care.

    If you're pissing them off, it's working.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dave - EverywhereJuly 30, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Congratulations, Jeremiah on becoming annoying enough to the moneyed interests to make a splash in Crains's. They do make an issue about your use of a pseudonym so perhaps you could take a lesson in transparency from your real estate developer friends to mitigate this issue.

    I suggest that you change your name to Jeremiah's Vanishing Nwe York, L.L.C., which is managed by Jeremiah Moss, L.L.C. which is in turn owned by Vanishing New York, L.L.C. If you feel the need for additional transparency, you could always make #SaveNYC, L.L.C. the managing member for all of the entities.

    There - isn't that better?

    ReplyDelete
  4. AncestorJuly 30, 2015 at 2:23 PM

    They pay guys to dream up insulting descriptions of people like us. Remember they called Native People "savage heathens." That was the best way to take their land from them. These folks are no different.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJuly 30, 2015 at 2:30 PM

    Dave - Everywhere, that is some funny shit!

    ReplyDelete
  6. RenwickJuly 30, 2015 at 2:32 PM

    Congratulations! You've made it to the big leagues.

    ReplyDelete
  7. WalterJuly 30, 2015 at 7:41 PM

    You know you're above target when you start taking Flak.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jeremiah MossJuly 30, 2015 at 9:19 PM

    Thanks everyone. Dave, I like this idea. Vanishing NY, the shell company.

    ReplyDelete
  9. onemorefoldedsunsetJuly 30, 2015 at 9:48 PM

    "A developer's nightmare." Well done, Jeremiah!! It makes my blood boil the way they frame this as a pro/anti affordable housing issue, when we all know that developers don't give a damn about low and middle income New Yorkers.

    ReplyDelete
  10. JillAugust 1, 2015 at 10:11 PM

    I hope you feel proud of your noise making and attention getting, it's certainly hitting a nerve that needs to be hit over and over.

    ReplyDelete
  11. JQAugust 2, 2015 at 9:43 AM

    As actual low income and former middle income New Yorker forgotten and ignored by the city, Bravo J Moss LLC. The lapdog local and national news media puppets for the hyper developers have taken notice and have an inkling that more people are informed and are not going to take this anymore. Now if only our big fat ass mayor will finally confront these bastards and make it the one city he purports to accomplish, but alas the same people, the tourists and transients/pioneers (hipsters/yuppies), that they are building these tumors/towers for are the only ones the mayor caters to. For their opinion of the job he has done matters only to him than the complaints of the citizens struggling here.

    Keep getting 'em

    ReplyDelete
  12. DrBOPAugust 2, 2015 at 11:44 AM

    PHEW!
    Thought just for a second there that you had morphed into Auntie Development.

    And anyone know of an anti-dickhead-journalist group forming? There seems to be an EVER-increasing number of these corporate shills acting like they THINK they know what they are talking about.....an ongoing DANGERous development!


    Ohh....and thanks again for sharing your shadowy self with us.....now back to.....

    THE VISIBLE SHADOW STRIKES AGAIN! (upcoming NYPost expose.....because you're so dangerous, and all :+)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jonah FalconAugust 10, 2015 at 5:20 PM

    2 Cooper - $12000 a month for a 2 bedroom. That's so Lower East Side.

    ReplyDelete

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