Could Sleepy Red Hook Really Be Transformed Into a Giant Mass of Skyscrapers?
Engineering firm AECOM proposes to transform Red Hook with subway service and a forest of skyscrapers, but so far the public response has been tepid.
Express F Train Tradeoffs: Shorten Commutes in Brownstone Belt or Southern Brooklyn?
The MTA is considering implementing an express F train, a decision which would improve and worsen the commutes of various straphangers, depending on their station.
Should New Yorkers Pay an Extra Mansion Tax to Fund Affordable Housing?
Home buyers in New York State pay a 1 percent tax on property priced at $1 million or more. Now de Blasio is proposing an additional mansion tax on even pricier properties in New York City to raise money for affordable housing programs.
Should the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges Have Tolls?
A proposal to ease traffic congestion and raise funds for public transit would impose tolls on every East River bridge, so Brooklynites would have to pay to visit Manhattan by car.
East New York: To Rezone or Not Rezone?
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposal to upzone East New York is not moving easily through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. On Monday, the City Council held a hearing on the controversial plan.
But where do you stand?
How Safe Is Dumbo’s York Street Subway Stop With Only One Exit?
There’s only one way in and one way out at the York Street F train stop in Dumbo, much to the displeasure of residents in the ever-growing area.
Charter School vs. Public School: What’s Best?
In October, more than 15,000 people attended a pro-charter-school rally in Cadman Plaza Park. More recently, a charter school in Fort Greene was accused of discriminating against under-performing students.
Many pro-charter folks believe the independent institutions provide more choice and better educational experiences. But a number of public school advocates argue that charter schools skim the best students while taking attention and resources away from public schools that need them.
Which system is better? Where do you stand?
Community Gardens vs. Affordable Housing: What’s Better for City-Owned Sites?
Last week, the Mayor announced that nine city-owned community garden sites — four of them in Brooklyn — would be developed for affordable housing.
Local gardeners affected by the decision are upset about the loss of land they’ve lovingly tended for years — and the implications of a plan that values housing above public green space.
Where do you stand on this thorny issue?
Does Gentrification Help the Poor? NYCHA Residents Weigh In
NYCHA-run Louis Heaton Pink Houses in East New York
The poor do not benefit from gentrification, according to a $250,000 report researched in part by five NYCHA residents hired by the city to investigate urban conditions.
Cuomo vs. de Blasio: Should New York State or City Increase MTA Funding?
Cypress Hills J Station, arguably the most decrepit station in Brooklyn
The New York City Transit system needs help, and the state and city are both saying “not it” when it comes to accepting responsibility for the bill. Evidence of the Transit budget crisis is apparent throughout Brooklyn’s most decrepit stations, and Thursday afternoon’s broken rail along the L line is just the latest incident in a string of commuting troubles.
But which authority should pony up more funds for the beleaguered subway system? Where should the money come from?