Results tagged “gershkuntzman”

This isn't the first time that Brooklyn Paper Editor Gersh Kuntzman has gone too far in his web videos. He has already posed nude and documented himself using the bathroom, but it's safe to say that nothing he — or any semi-reputable journalist — has ever done will make you feel as uncomfortable as this PG-but-very-suggestive video.

The Observer reports that local independent Brooklyn newspaper The Brooklyn Paper has been purchased by News Corporation. The paper's editor Gersh Kuntzman said he hadn't met or spoken with News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch yet, but assured the Observer, "They don’t want the product to change. And they love the product. And the product is fantastic." Kuntzman, a former NY Post writer, had dismissed concerns that the Brooklyn Paper was in financial trouble last year, "Brooklyn needs us too much right now, what with local papers being snapped up by billionaire moguls who have no interest in local news except maximizing classified ad sales," a statement that he now amends to, "Brooklyn still needs The Brooklyn Paper, which is why one of the only people in the world who still believes in newspapers — Rupert Murdoch — is putting his money and genius behind us." Recently, a NY Times article looked at how Murdoch's fondness for printing was hurting News Corp.'s bottom line.

The Brooklyn Paper has an interesting map showing how Brooklyn's donations to Clinton and Obama have changed over the past year. Gersh Kuntzman writes, "Just-released campaign finance filings that cover the second half of 2007 show that Obama made strong inroads into 'Hillary Country,' specifically turning Brooklyn Heights, Bay Ridge, Bushwick, Canarsie and Greenpoint from Hillary red to Barack blue." In total for Brooklyn, Obama has raised almost $600,000, whereas Clinton raised $726,524.

On Friday, Gawker speculated that The Brooklyn Paper was in trouble after a tipster told them freelancers haven't been paid since last summer (a late freelancing check...unprecedented!) and perhaps more relevant, if true, that editor Gersh Kuntzman told staffers the "independent, family owned, locally-run" since 1978 paper is "undergoing some turmoil." We asked Kuntzman about the rumor, and here's what he had to say:

"The Gawker story is a complete fabrication. The Brooklyn Paper, which just won 'Newspaper of the Year' from a major national trade group, is certainly not going out of business. Brooklyn needs us too much right now, what with local papers being snapped up by billionaire moguls who have no interest in local news except maximizing classified ad sales. Has Rupert Murdoch even BEEN to Brooklyn? His reporters don't know the territory, either."

We bet Marty Markowitz would totally sign Rupert Murdoch's cast, though. As we noted last week, Kuntzman recently put up his used, signed cast on eBay -- and more recently he requested a last minute plug to generate buzz (and drive up the bid!) from Gawker. He described the cast, which sold for $102.50, as "a piece of journalistic, medical and political history." Priceless.

By the end of next year, downtown Brooklyn will have a new upscale steakhouse to rival Peter Luger in Williamsburg; it was recently announced that Morton’s will be occupying the ground floor of a new Marriott annex tower on Adams Street. The Chicago-based restaurant chain will dish out their beef, seafood and sandwiches in a 300 seat restaurant near the Brooklyn Bridge.

Hoorah! The Brooklyn Paper reports that 94 year old Dominick Diomede has found a new home. Diomede was evicted by his Carroll Gardens landlord, because he didn't have a lease - he had been living there for two decades, based on the verbal agreement he had with the previous owner. Now, Diomede will move into one of non-profit Fifth Avenue Committee's subsidized apartments on Warren Street. A Good Samaritan stepped in with $2,000 for another month's rent at Diomede's current Luquer Street apartment when the story broke in The Brooklyn Paper, as there were fears the 94 year old would live in his car; the Samaritan said he wanted Diomede "to keep whatever dignity he can." And the senior received many offers for free moving, so we have a feeling the transition moving from his home of 20 years will be a little easier.

Remember Dominick Diomede? He's the 94-year old man that was about to be evicted from the apartment that's been his home for the last twenty years. There was quite a discussion on our comments after Gothamist wrote about his plight.

We have a nominee for the "Worst Landlord Ever (This Week)" after reading a sad story in the The Brooklyn Paper. Ninety-four year old Dominick Diomede was interviewed about his real estate plight: He is being evicted from the Carroll Gardens apartment he's lived in for years.

Diomede, you see, pays just $500 a month for his floor-through apartment on Woodhull Street. His downstairs neighbors? They came much later, so they pay $2,500.

Continue reading "94 Year Old Evicted by Old Landlord's Grandkids"

Gersh Kuntzman and Marc Dinkin, Creators of SUV: The Musical!