"Is anyone surpized?"
Not at all. Planning often times contains the issues that impell citizens to get active and involved in politics. Putting the above documents together, it looks like they lobbied for a minor zoning change before they submitted their Negative Declaration. A NegDec is an action taken by the lead agency of a jurisdiction (in this case the City of New York) saying that an applicant's (WTS) project (Jay Street building) has no significant environmental impact (negative impact). This is taking into account the surrounding environment and the site plans which are being proposed. This NegDec is then reviewed by the planning commission which can disagree with the staff (Planning Department) making the report. In this case, it was approved. Taking this action relieves the applicant of paying for an EIR (environmental impact report) which can take 6 months to a year to complete. It relieves the WTS from paying for a long drawn-out process of getting approval for their project and taking mitigating measures. Every developer will do anything in their power to avoid having to go through the EIR process because it takes a lot of time and money before any development can take place in order to ensure that significant environmental impact measures have been outlined and approved. The reason the Society wanted to change zoning was because this area (DUMBO) is being rehauled for medium-density housing and the residents realize that JW structures are designed as enclaves or fortifications. Their buildings do not attempt to integrate street life and will create dead zones because their property is basically off limits to passerby. It looks like DUMBO had in place some building codes having to do with the streetscape and building facades that the Society circumvented.
daniel-p
JoinedPosts by daniel-p
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23
Watchtower lobbyist!
by Atlantis infrom debbie:http://www.kent.steinhaug.no/forum/showthread.php?s=851bfcc227b752640009930ef93d3eee&threadid=4067 http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/s...ephen+lefkowitz.
one new york plaza.
ny, ny 10004.
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daniel-p
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Watchtower lobbyist!
by Atlantis infrom debbie:http://www.kent.steinhaug.no/forum/showthread.php?s=851bfcc227b752640009930ef93d3eee&threadid=4067 http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/s...ephen+lefkowitz.
one new york plaza.
ny, ny 10004.
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daniel-p
I haven't been able to connect all the dots yet, but it looks like the outcome was this:
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
RESOLUTION NO. 753
Resolution approving with modifications the decision of the City Planning Commission on ULURP No. C 040216 ZSK (L.U. No. 340), for the grant of a special permit pursuant to Section 74-743(a)(2) of the Zoning Resolution to permit location of buildings without regard for the applicable height and setback, outer court and outer court recess regulations.
..Body
By Council Members Katz and Avella
Z-6 Zoning Analysis November 30, 2004
Z-8 Envelope Control Elevation Diagrams - I November 30, 2004
Z-9 Envelope Control Elevation Diagrams - II November 30, 2004
Z-10 Elevation Control Plan Diagram at Roof November 30, 2004
Z-15 Encroachment Diagram - Long Sections November 30, 2004
Z-16 Encroachment Diagrams - Cross Sections - I November 30, 2004
Z-17 Encroachment Diagrams - Cross Sections - II November 30, 2004
The City of New York, } ss.: -
23
Watchtower lobbyist!
by Atlantis infrom debbie:http://www.kent.steinhaug.no/forum/showthread.php?s=851bfcc227b752640009930ef93d3eee&threadid=4067 http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/s...ephen+lefkowitz.
one new york plaza.
ny, ny 10004.
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daniel-p
They hired a lobbyist because they have no in-house planners to approach the City Council for them. Which is lame because the ammount they gave them for that one year is way more than what it would cost to find some brother or sister on the outside to do it. This just shows how INEPT the society is in how they interact with the world.
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2005 Service Report.Where are The Angels?
by Blueblades inwith all the responses about the 2005 service report showing a loss in many areas, i was thinking about the angels that the watchtower teaches about, on how they are out in the field service with the preachers of the good news.. i guess from the report that even the angels have given up working in the door to door work, field service etc.
when was the last time the watchtower printed anything on the support of the angels out in the field service?.
blueblades
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daniel-p
"When was the last time the Watchtower printed anything on the support of the Angels out in the field service?"
In the latest Watchtower. Get yerself a copy. It's positively vomit-worthy. -
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My apology to all
by bigmouth ini made the most awful mistake when i posted a comment about spelling and punctuation on the "bible research etc.." forum.
i learned that i can't just post comments about things when people are unaware of my sense of humour and my general nature.
i have spent the day in tears.
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daniel-p
Hey i don't even know what this is all about but I can sympathize with you. I have often said things that didn't come out the right way. It's harder on the net because we can't see your facial expression, tone of voice, etc. This isn't about being a JW or an apostate, it's just about being human and communicating. Chin up.
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Preaching a drag
by Inquisitor inanyone here still goes from door to door despite a reluctance to serve the interests of the wts??.
i know i'll have to when i see my folks in a coupla weeks time.
have to keep up the appearance that all is well.
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daniel-p
I am a pro at half-hearted witnessing. Actually, I am quite adept and pathetic - it is the product of 4 years of pioneering with a bunch of older pioneers who knew all the tricks. Follow these easy steps and your morning will go by a little less slow.
1. Be the last one to leave the hall after the field service meeting. Linger and chit-chat with people. If you are a brother with "privileges," fumble around behind the literature counter like your'e taking care of necessary business.
2. If door-to-door seems inevitable, offer to go do X street alone. If there is an even number of JW's in the car, pair up with a talker or someone whom you don't care shrugging off every door to, saying stuff like "ah, I'm a bit nervous today, why don't you go ahead," or "i'd like to see how you use that fantastic presentation" or some such bullcrap.
3. By no circumstance are you to bring your own territory! You forgot it at home.
4. 10:20am: Ask to be driven to a bathroom. Take about 15-20 minutes; everyone will think you have diarrhea or something and will be sympathetic for the rest of the morning.
5. 10:30-10:40am: Coffee break. There is always someone in the car group who really wants a break. This should be the easiest step in this list.
6. Once you get back in the car, mention how you have this one guy (or woman) you really need to see this morning, but that he gets up late and you need to drop by his house about 11:30. This way you have cut the next hour in half, further discouraging a return to door-to-door. At this point someone should offer a bunch of magazine route calls or something and you are scott free... except of course for that RV you said you needed to do. Well, all you have to do is a "drive-by" of a random house. Just drive across town, have them drive by some house somewhere, and say "oh darnit, his red truck isn't there - I'll have to try back next time... his wife hates the witnesses... [insert random bullshit]"
7. Congratulations! You have completed the morning of service with the luxury of knowing you have Jehovah's favor (until next Saturday of course). -
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Dumbing down of WT literature can be measured mathematically.
by hamsterbait inevery magazine on the news stand is very carefully aimed at a target market.. .
it has long been known that how information is presented makes a big difference to who will read it.
you will agree that the ny times or scientific american are more erudite than the national enquirer or the toronto star.. .
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daniel-p
I am not so concerned with the simplistic language - like you, Oronobus, I see it as effective writing - perhaps not the kind of writing I want to read, but it is quite effective at reaching a broad audience. HOWEVER, the "dumbing down" that I see as counter-productive is exemplified in this excerpt:
*** w04 9/1 pp. 17-18 Beware of “the Voice of Strangers” ***
"Obeying Jehovah’s voice also means obeying Jesus’ voice, for Jehovah himself told us to do so. (Matthew 17:5) What does Jesus, the Fine Shepherd, tell us to do? He teaches us to make disciples and to trust “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45; 28:18-20) Obeying his voice means our eternal life.—Acts 3:23."
I don't think I need to point it out for you. This kind of prose is rampant in the Society's literature and only aquires merit if the reader is under-educated or if it has been applied with repetition over years of indoctrination. -
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do you know them?
by rekless injim nazaroff, gil nazaroff.
jim is in santa rosa, ca via clearlake,ca.
and gil went to bethel in the late 80's he was on the building department or what ever they called the construction crew there?.
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daniel-p
rekless, pm.
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College deletions?
by Collegegurl inaccording to our new co, elders nor their children are allowed to go to college.
my dad is being deleted.
evidently new material was presented at the elder school.
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daniel-p
There never was a policy on this, and, according to the notes on the recent Elder's School, there was nothing said about deleting anyone just for attending college. Of course, they heavily discourage it, which may amount to the same thing, but there is no policy. The attitude for/against college varies greatly by the congregation.
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daniel-p
I bet they don't do that anymore
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so true
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I'll find out tonight. ;)