A thousand reasons to love Long Island City. Tips: Editor@LICtalk.com
And I’m outta here, but here’s a couple of notes that might be of interest if you’re sticking around for the weekend, and I’ll even throw in a rumor. [Read more…] about MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2014 HAS COMETH TO LIC
What’s a parent to do if they live in LIC and are not very happy sandwiching their kid into a class with thirty others at the local public school, and don’t want to ship their child to a private one across the river? [Read more…] about THE PAIDEIA SCHOOL IN LIC
Nothing sells copy like sex, thus the headline above. I’m not the only sensationalist journalist though, as similar headlines about this affair were scripted in England, France, and Australia. Yes, it is true, a female principal of a school in LIC allegedly did some naughty things on school property with multiple partners, but that high school is near LaGuardia CC and I doubt many of the readers in this rag would care. Nevertheless you know you want to see what she looks like, so click away on the link below before we start digging into all the other LIC news.
Closer to home, and considerably more relevant to many residents, [Read more…] about LIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN SEX SCANDAL
Three articles over the last few days, summarize what the LICtalk juggernaut has been saying for the last two years. The first, in The New York Times ((a little name dropping)) talks about the compression in the discount that Queens typically receives in residential real estate pricing. The second, also in The New York Times1, acts proactively2 in pitching a street car along the East River waterfront that runs from Red Hook to Astoria. The third, talks about what current apartment buyers and renters are looking for in LIC. It’s a little weaker than the first two articles, and doesn’t have the same journalistic pedigree, but does contain this nugget, which justifies it’s inclusion: [Read more…] about LIC & QUEENS: THE PRESS IS CATCHING UP
Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
Two weeks ago I walked over to Mario’s Deli on Vernon to pick up a something-parmigiana hero and a coke, only to find that the deli was no more. I don’t know if it’s closed for good, or just under renovation, but I’m inclined to believe the former as the telephone number no longer works. Old Italian deli’s notwithstanding, a better indicator of all the changes in LIC is the loss this year of Title I funding for PS78/312.
On Wednesday night, the local PTA held a meeting at the new K – 8 school, which started 15 minutes later than planned due to the number of parents needing to get signed in. According to a source, the biggest issue was the loss of Title I funding and the implications it would have on the after school program. It seems that this funding is given out on an “all-or-none” basis, according to the percentage of parents whose incomes are below a certain number. With the massive gentrification of LIC recently, this is the year we pushed through that threshold. The loss of funding means that the school will no longer provide after school coverage between the hours of 3pm and 6pm. In other words, the post-class daycare needed for parents who normally couldn’t afford it, of whom there were supposedly few in attendance. Those that did attend, and their light turnout may very well have not been indicative of their actual numbers, were obviously vocal about this loss. It basically means that they will have to make some very difficult decisions as to whether they keep their children at PS 78/312, or make an abrupt change and uproot them in order to receive this coverage elsewhere. Thus taking them away from their friends, and the continuity and familiarity of a school. Either way, it highlights the very sad downside of rapid gentrification.
In other news, an LIC townhouse just sold for $3 million, smashing the previous record price for a single-family home in the area. It’s the changing of the guard.
Finally, I’d be remiss in not passing on that the LIC Partnership, Long Island City’s version of The Chamber of Commerce, has announced a new President, Elizabeth Lusskin. This group has done a good job melding the disparate businesses of LIC together into a collective voice, and integrating it with the rest of the community. You can read Liz’s bio here.
LIC Rowhouse Sells for Eye-Popping $3 Million – let me tell you, it’s not a bad buy at that price either.
7-Train Service to Be Suspended for Five Weekends This Fall – in case you didn’t get my tweet two weeks ago!
New Bar In Dutch Kills Aims To Be Gathering Place For Changing Area – a typical conversation at this “local” watering hole might go like this “Hola Hans, I’m Guadalupe and this is my friend Xinmao”