“When corruption is the priority, honesty become evil.”

— Kindembo

Let’s face it folks, even before you walk out the door someone is planning on conning you. Forget the landlord. I do. I know that I live in a building where the people who own it are criminals. I’m in good company — my criminal history was widely publicized even if arranged in order to stop me from exposing corruption. But, this isn’t about that. This is about our neighborhoods being sold for tax benefits (not yours) , employment (not yours) and power purposes — certainly not yours or mine!

I was warned about the rise of the BIDs (Business Improvement Districts)) decades ago. I don’t know how they work so I’ll give you few details. People who have NOT grown up here, take control of your neighborhood, claim to improve it, and make a fortune. It’s about politics, power, control and lying to the residents. The big claim is that the neighborhood looks better. Well, let me tell you, a park-like sitting area where you can soak up as much carbon monoxide as your lungs can handle is NOT a great place ro put tables, chairs, and art objects. I’m talking about the entrance to the Holland Tunnel, where you take your life into your hands trying to avoid being hit by cars flying to New Jersey and Traffic Agents who would rather you stay away. But, it looks nice. Somebody’s got to pocket the cash for all of that design bullshit, right?

So here’s the point.

The SoHo BID, the Hudson Square BID are con games. They’re not about doing anything for the neighborhood. They hire guys who clean the streets (I thought that’s what the Department of Sanitation did?) — but say hello to one of the guys and they ignore you. Call the BID office and the answering machine also ignores you (no one calls back). More important, the cars still head for you and block the crosswalks. I’ve been hit by SUVs and Teslas alike and the police neither protect you NOR try to find out who the Hit & Run culprit was.

The street construction goes on in the BID without oversight and anyone who trips or falls due to the endless Con Edison directed street construction impediments — forget it. If you get hurt (as many residents have) Con Edison spends time using lawyers in trying to find someone to claim you’re lying as you are hauled away in an ambulance with your head bleeding — rather than try to ameliorate your injuries or be concerned about you. This happened to me. I had broken bones, bleeding from the head, and Con Ed, instead of wishing me well tried to get the ambulance driver to testify against me.

So, listen folks, don’t be conned. Many of us moved to SoHo and Hudson Square for the gritty, gothic nature of the environs. Not for shiny, colorful, Disney-like, cartoonish cityscapes or Citibikes trying to hit us. We came for Warhol and Basquiat originals.

That’s the developers and Trinity Real Estate looking for the money at the expense of children being able to cross the street unmolested or being asphixiated. But, the CROSSWALKS, motherfuckers!

Protect us — residents, seniors, the disabled and children! Don’t line your pockets at our expense!

Don’t write to the downtown politicians — they’re too busy checking on their donations.

Recent Hudson Square Installation to beautify the neighborhood. Really? One less parking spot and shrubs that blocked the paving of Varick Street — courtesy of the Hudson Square BID.