3,000 loyal readers are doing without Not Only Brooklyn, a free, twice (sometimes thrice)-weekly eNewsletter/tip sheet about cultural events in Brooklyn, because it has been temporarily shut down by AOL for unspecificed reasons.

The account was suddenly shut down on November 7th and Neil Feldman, who runs NOB with an urgent and single-minded sense of purpose and passion, tried to find out why he’s been blacklisted at AOL.

Feldman assumes that it’s probably a computer error and thinks the matter could be resolved quickly if he could just get someone on the phone

In the past, if there was a problem with his account, Feldman would contact the company’s Community Action Team, where he could speak to someone on the phone about a service problem.

No more. "That department has gone black box," says Feldman. That’s why he enlisted the help of Borough President Marty Markowitz, who responded swiftly to Feldman’s call for assistance in resolving this matter.   

A legal counsel for the Borough President’s Office did leave several messages at AOL, without any response. Now Feldman is wondering if it’s time to leave a message for Ron Grant, AOL’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

According to Feldman, thousands of people are being inconvenienced and Brooklyn cultural institutions are experiencing reduced patronage as long as the cancellation of NOB persists. 

"The whole situation is preposterous; it should take no more than five minutes for an AOL executive with authority to resolve.  And isn’t it ironic that AOL algorithms, not humans, shut down a much appreciated public service that the company should be proud chooses to use it?" Feldman wrote in an email.

Not Only Brooklyn is a discriminating and well-written tip sheet about arts events in, but not limited to, Brooklyn. The mission is clear: To bring more people to the arts, to bring the arts to more people. It’s a win-win for audience members and cultural institutions who are struggling during these tough economic times and don’t have big marketing budgets.

Feldman, whose newsletter is an unpaid labor of love, is rigorous in his efforts to keep abreast of  what’s going on in the music clubs, art galleries, performance spaces, and other cultural institutions in Brooklyn.

But for Feldman, the issue is even bigger than the temporary termination of his eNewsletter, a much appreciated free and non-commercial community resource, one that its users had all requested in writing. He asks:

"How is it that AOL allows its algorithms to terminate customer accounts without human oversight. And why AOL customers get no explanation or recourse, as AOL has removed and blocked the access to its Community Access Team that it did allow its customers until a few years ago."

Good questions all. Feldman hopes this matter will be resolved quickly  as he  is desperate to get back to work writing and researching NOB.

"This is my life," he told OTBKB. "This is what I do."