The Observer notes the developer of the controversial New Domino project, CPC Resources, has paid $1 million dollars lobbying the city, local politicians, and a handful of nonprofits in the area. They’ve somehow successfully convinved a number of organizations and most notably, Councilwoman Diana Reyna, that the development will bring affordable housing, new jobs, and open space to the neighborhood. Still, nobody on that side of the aisle gives a damn about the strain on local infrastructure that’s to come with thousands of new residents marching down the Bedford subway stairs in the morning to get to their jobs in Manhattan.

What’s funny is CPC is some kind of non-profit primarily owned by banks — Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase are investors — that’s betting the farm that “artists with a budget” like these clowns will move to Williamsburg for its industrial space and “the hipsters.”

Councilman Steve Levin, still holding it down for the good side, has hinted that he won’t vote for the project unless CPC knocks the building down a few floors and includes more affordable units.

The dudes behind biker café Boneshakers will be opening a vegan bakery at the corner of Leonard and Ainslie St. sometime in July. It’ll be called Champ’s Family Bakery!

SuperVegan writes, “Owner Brad Baker (seriously) plans to open the 100% dairy- and egg-free, kosher/pareve shop during the second week of July,” and adds the bakery will serve Gimme! Coffee in its 500 square foot café area which will seat 12 to 13 people.

We, and I’ll bet SuperVegan, will keep you posted.

The Sanitation Department issued a statement last night to clarify their new rules about ghost bikes, saying one will only be removed if it “meets the derelict bicycle criteria.”

This means, it must be affixed to public property and meet three of the following characteristics:

1. Crushed or not usable

2. Missing parts including handlebars, pedals, or the real wheel and chain

3. Flat or missing tires

4. Damaged handlebars, pedals, or bent forks, frames, or rims

5. 75% or more of the bicycle parts are rusted (includes chain)

(h/t Gothamist)

It’s well-documented that should the Domino redevelopment plan go through, L train commuters could see thousands of new neighbors fighting for room on the already sardine-like subway line. Now, two Williamsburg politicians (both Democrats) are speaking out in opposition.

Councilman Steve Levin told the Brooklyn Paper, “I know people who take the L train back towards Canarsie [from Bedford Avenue] just to get a seat,” adding, “The L train is the least likely train to get a seat on.”

Assemblyman Vito Lopez said the project would “create a Gold Coast” along the East River, as wealthier residents buy up the apartments “or pay $6,000″ in rent.”

They vote on the project next week, so now’s the time to let them know you don’t want thousands of new commuters on the L train.

Councilman Steve Levin can be emailed at slevin@council.nyc.gov or called at 212-788-7348, while Assemblyman Vito Lopez can be emailed here or called in Albany at 518-455-5537.

If they get their way, New York City’s Sanitation Department could begin removing the 67 ghost bikes around the city as soon as this fall. Michael Bellew, clearly the bad guy in this story and head of the cleaning unit, says the proposed rules were prompted by a “handful” of neighbors complaining about the “eyesores.”

If you’re outraged, there will be a public hearing to weigh in on the rules July 20th from 9:30am-11:30am at 125 Worth St., in room 819. If you’re not, well, go here.

Artist Paul Ramirez Jonas has invited participants to pick up a ‘key to the city’ at his kiosk in Times Square, which opens actual doors and locks such as a secret door in the Brooklyn Museum and a garden maintained by monks in Staten Island.

The keys will only be distributed until June 27, and unlock spaces in all five boroughs. So hurry up and get yours !

Don’t you fucking dare, you bros!

From the league communicato:

Absolutely no “Icing” at the field.  I was loathe to promote flip-cup (and I won’t anymore), as I dislike gay frat-boy crap.  If I see anyone doing that at our field, I’m shoving that bottle up his ass, and he then can waddle around as he cleans up all the trash on the field.

Please don’t be a marketing pawn for a glorified wine-cooler.

That’s it. I tried to ice someone two weeks ago but she just whipped the bottle around above her head like it was a towel. Didn’t work right. Icing broken.

Tenants in a building on N. 8th St. are having trouble returning home after a years-long vacate order because the landlord is acting like a violent nutcase. He allegedly “deliberately damaged the foundation to foil their return,” forcing DOB officials to vacate the building once again.

I’d say, guys, find a new spot, but this building is rent-controlled and they’ve been living there for 15 years. In the landlord’s defense, all he wants are some new shiny condos, a big weed stash, and a pocket full of cash.

Can student fights be blamed on technology?

That’s the question administrators at Progress High School and the School for Legal Studies in Williamsburg are asking as they struggle to crack down on student fights — many of which are ending up on YouTube. Instead of addressing any roots of the problem, they are addressing the means kids hype-up the fights and record them for viewing online.

A teacher at Legal Studies told the Daily News kids are using their cell phones to schedule the fights and later post them on the internet. Her solution to bring peace: “We need to enforce the rule prohibiting electric devices at our campus.”

[Side note: One video Gothamist linked to this morning has already been removed "due to terms of use violation." Another's still up with about 1,300 views.]

A resident threw a party on the roof of 132 North 5th Street, leaving beer cans and some garbage throughout the public space. Another resident, fuming out the nostrils as he or she bent over the xerox machine, printed out enough flyers to cover all floors of the bulding calling the original partier (OP) an asshole. OP responded by scribbling on the flyer, “I only had a few people over + cleaned up most of it. Poster writer = king douche.”

Check it out: