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More Protest, Violence, Arrests in Flatbush
After a peaceful vigil Tuesday, police and protesters clashed Wednesday in East Flatbush over the killing Saturday of 16-year-old Kimani Gray by police. Reportedly an officer was hit in the head with a brick, a police car windshield was smashed, and dozens of protesters were arrested. Unconfirmed reports online said NYPD had declared the area a “frozen zone,” meaning transit was shut down and no one was allowed in. The autopsy results also came through Wednesday, revealing Gray was shot seven times. Police said Gray aimed a pistol at them Saturday before they shot him; witnesses said he was fiddling with his waistband but did not see a gun; the boy’s family said he did not have a gun. Gray had an arrest record, but reports he was a member of a gang were not confirmed.
Anger in East Flatbush Persists Over Teenager’s Killing by the Police [NY Times]
Officer Smashed in Face With Brick, 50 Arrested in Brooklyn Protest [NY Post]
Flatbush Teen Kimani Gray Died From Gunshot Wounds [NY Post]
Dozens Arrested as Protesters Clash With Police at Rally for Shot Teen [DNAinfo]
Photo by DNAinfo
03/14/2013 9:00 AM
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Is Soho House Opening in Brooklyn?
Is Soho House opening in Brooklyn? That’s the claim of an item in Out magazine, whose author says he heard it from someone who works at Soho House, the club “known for its raucous rooftop pool parties, swanky book, movie, and fashion events, and plenty of credible celebrity sightings,” as he put it. There’s no word about when or where exactly, although we’d bet Williamsburg, where new clubs are sprouting up around the Wythe Hotel. It would be interesting, though, if it located in Downtown near Barclays Center. There’s an older, more monied crowd there, but what are the chances they’ll make it back out the door once they go home after work to change? (At least we probably wouldn’t.) “Is this a good thing or bad?” the story continues. “Well, I live in Manhattan, so I don’t understand all the fuss. If you can have a backyard, a great farmers’ market, and a chic club, I say go for it. But people never like change. The reality is that Brooklyn, the commodity, has already been bought — and sold. So you better get your piece as fast as you can.”
Is Soho House Opening in Brooklyn? [Out]
Photo by Soho House
03/01/2013 9:00 AM
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Breaking: Transformer Blows in Clinton Hill
A transformer just exploded at Dekalb and Clinton, and power is out for blocks around, according to a tipster. You can see the smoke pouring out from underground. A Con Ed truck and police are on the scene. Anyone have more information? Update: Firemen are putting out the blaze now. Click through for more. (more…)
12/13/2012 11:21 AM
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Broker Blog Rounds up Sandy News
You can follow all the Sandy news in one place now, thanks to a new blog from Brown Harris Stevens broker Lee Solomon, Sandy Report. That rumor that fewer places are listed in Zone A thanks to Sandy destruction? Could also be seasonal fluctuations (the holidays approach) or scarcity of inventory unrelated to the hurricane, she reports. The Sandy Report’s Facebook page and Twitter feed are pretty handy too.
Photo via Sandy Report
11/20/2012 12:00 PM
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Barclays Restaurant Unionizes, BUILD Dissolves
The controversial community organization that helped push through Atlantic Yards despite vocal opposition, BUILD, will officially dissolve by Nov. 16, said Atlantic Yards Report today. Meanwhile, a Barclays Center restaurant is now unionized, the AFL-CIO said. BUILD’s shut down comes on the heels of funding difficulties, tax arrears, and a complaint about spending irregularities from a former staffer. In addition, the organization, which was accused by some critics as being in the pocket of Forest City Ratner, was sued last year by seven participants in a jobs training program who allege they were promised construction jobs and union cards, and said they should have been paid for work they did during training. The lawsuit, which also names Forest City Ratner as a defendant, is ongoing. Levy Restaurants in Barclays Center is now unionized. The 750 workers there voted in Unite Here Local 1.
Job Development Group BUILD Closes Down in Wake of Funding Troubles [AYR]
Hotel, Broadcast, Theater Workers Join AFL-CIO Unions [AFL-CIO Now]
Photo by Kuyata
11/07/2012 10:00 AM
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Donation Update
An update on donations and volunteering:
*Much to its delight, Corcoran has been inundated with donations and has sent more than six carloads to a church organization distributing in the Rockaways and Breezy Point. Keep them coming, says Corcoran. The needs have changed slightly. There is a great need for cleaning supplies such as brooms, buckets, dustpans, mops and bleach.
*Above, so many people showed up to help out at the Red Hook Initiative in Red Hook over the weekend that volunteers were being turned away. Volunteers are still needed in the neighborhood this week, though. Just show up at 402 Van Brunt Street from 10 am to 5 pm. Supplies needed: water pumps, cleaning supplies, generators. Bring power tools if you are able. Also, needed at 173 Conover Street: cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, candles, feminine products, blankets, batteries.
*If you want to help out in the Rockaways, Coney Island, and other areas still without electricity and water, drop by St. Jacobi’s church on 4th Avenue and 54th Street in Sunset Park, where Occupy is dispatching volunteers and supplies to the hardest-hit areas. Thousands volunteered over the weekend, and thousands more are needed this week, said the group’s Facebook page on Saturday. Volunteers with cars and gas are especially needed.
*New York Methodist at 501 Sixth Street in Park Slope needs blood donations. Please stop by today.
11/05/2012 12:00 PM
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Occupy Reaches Needy Before Red Cross
Occupy Wall Street, operating under the moniker Occupy Sandy, has been directly aiding the worst-hit areas in Brooklyn and Queens with supplies, shelter, and help cleaning out flooded areas since immediately after the storm. Occupy groups in Red Hook and Sunset Park were among the Brooklyn groups who were already very organized and active, and able to immediately start helping out and coordinating volunteers in Red Hook, Coney Island, and the Rockaways. Several news outlets have reported Occupy was faster to deliver direct aid than the Red Cross and other national organizations. Above, a photo of Occupy taking donations in Sunset Park. Incidentally, Occupy has set up a “wedding registry” on Amazon for anyone who wants to donate supplies.
Occupy Sandy Comes to the Rockaways [New Yorker]
Occupy Wall Street Preoccupied With Sandy Relief [Brooklyn Paper]
Is Occupy Outperforming Red Cross in Relief? [Slate]
Occupy Wedding Registry [Amazon]
Photo by Ellen Weinstat via Occupy Sunset Park
11/05/2012 10:00 AM
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Power, Federal Aid Reach Southern Brooklyn
On Sunday, power had been restored to many areas in Southern Brooklyn and national aid had arrived. (Outside Brooklyn, the Rockaways and Staten Island remain in crisis, with many without power or water.) We checked out Brighton Beach Sunday afternoon, where we found the National Guard distributing water, blankets, diapers, and baby wipes, above. Down the block, a volunteer group gave out free clothes from a truck. Power was back on in most places and delis and groceries were open for business as usual. Debris had been gathered into piles dotted about the beach, which was mostly empty of people, but otherwise it looked pretty normal. Most buildings in the central area seemed to have already completed their basement cleanups, though a few were still siphoning out water and placing wrecked furniture on the sidewalks for pickup. Tensions seemed high; a fistfight almost broke out over a fender bender, we heard a lot of people arguing, and a woman said she was going to call the police because we were taking photographs. There was, of course, no subway service to the shore areas throughout Southern Brooklyn. Buses were running about every 20 minutes, and they were packed full.
11/05/2012 9:00 AM
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Brooklyn Also out of Gas
We are receiving reports that stations in Brooklyn are out of gas. “We drove from Park Slope to Coney Island last night and passed 20 stations that were all out of gas. My colleague said she drove Pro Heights to Greenpoint in the middle of the night and could not get any then either,” emailed a reader. Gas stations throughout Crown Heights and along Bushwick Avenue near the Jackie Robinson are out. People with generators and cars have drained them, and apparently they have not received new deliveries, although roads into Brooklyn are open. Has anyone found a gas station open in Brooklyn with gas? Update: A reader found a station on Coney Island that still has some gas, above. It’s hard to tell, but the cars in the right-hand lane and past the station, beyond, are waiting in line for gas.
11/01/2012 10:33 AM
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Looting, Snarled Traffic in Post-Hurricane Days
Traffic was crazy yesterday and shows no sign of letting up today as people from Brooklyn and other areas tried to go to work in Manhattan via car. Shuttle buses are now running over the bridges, but waits are long, the New York Times reported. In fact, lines are snaking around blocks for any bus. Above, a long line of transit riders waits at Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue. Looting has also been reported in areas such as Coney Island that were without power and with limited police presence. No reports of gas shortages in Brooklyn yet, but stations in Queens and New Jersey are dry. Right now, anyone with a bicycle is sitting pretty. Update: As of about 10:30 this morning, we started receiving reports that gas stations in Brooklyn are also out.
In Brooklyn, Long Lines for Shuttle Buses to Manhattan [NY Times]
Slim Hopes for a Better Commute [NY Times]
Looting Arrests Made [WSJ]
Looting, Fights Plague Southern Brooklyn [HuffPo]
Looters Target Coney Island [NY Daily News]
Nine Photos of People Trying to Get Places Today [Curbed]
Limited Subway Service Resumes [MTA]
Bloomberg Announces Carpool Rules for Manhattan-Bound Drivers [Streetsblog]
Photo from Twitter/@TWULocal100 via Curbed
11/01/2012 9:00 AM
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Roof Collapsing at Crown Heights Church
This was the scene this afternoon at the St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church on the corner of Classon Avenue and Sterling Place. Police taped off the entire block and looked like they were waiting for the portion of the roof to fall off. This church was built in 1905; the twin towers have clock faces on the right and the carillon of ten bells on the left. It’s the right tower with the structural damage. See a BOTD post here. See more pictures after the jump, including a dramatic shot of the collapse happening on the other side of the building. (more…)
10/31/2012 2:40 PM
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After the Storm
The flooding has left a mess in Red Hook, Dumbo, Sheepshead Bay, Coney Island and other coastal areas throughout Brooklyn, and downed trees are everywhere. The cleanup has forced the cancellation of several events this week, including the Park Slope Halloween parade, and residents are scrambling to get their hands on pumps and generators. The Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District emailed to say affordable-housing providor Fifth Avenue Committee has put out a call for help. “At least three of their buildings in Gowanus and Red Hook have been severely flooded and they need to borrow generators and sump pumps,” the email read.
So far the death count is 22 in New York City, and it’s unclear how many took place in Brooklyn. You’ve probably seen by now a couple was killed in Ditmas Park (more…)
10/31/2012 9:00 AM
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Surprising Number of Food and Drink Spots Open
Despite the havoc of last night’s storm, some food and drink places in Brooklyn managed to stay open 24 hours, and others stayed open late last night or opened early this morning. Above, a pic of Mocha Bagels at 202 Smith Street near Baltic in Cobble Hill, which remained open 24 hours, as per usual. (Get the multigrain, said our tipster.) Plenty of bars were busy throughout the borough last night, including Franklin Park in Crown Heights and Miles in Bushwick, where some friends of ours convened a hurricane party. Grub Street is reporting 11 restaurants and groceries open in Brooklyn today or later tonight, including fine dining at Buttermilk Channel, Colonie and Gran Electrica. A reader sent word that Boerum Hill artisinal deli Mile End is open and was packed with people this morning. Rucola is also open. Last night, the big Pioneer Supermarket down the street from us on Broadway and Covert Street in Bushwick stayed open even after the subway shut down, and we couldn’t believe it when we looked out and saw all the lights lit up at the corner deli and the pizza and fried chicken place. At the same time, branches were falling on cars, and we couldn’t have walked down the street if we tried.
Here Are the New York Restaurants Open Today [Grub Street]
Hurricane Sandy Liveblog [Brooklyn Paper]
10/30/2012 2:00 PM
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Brooklyn Floods, Loses Power in Hurricane Sandy
Despite dramatic flooding and downed trees, Brooklyn fared relatively well compared to areas in Manhattan, where NYU Langone Medical Center had to evacuate because of a power failure, and Queens, where several blocks of houses were still on fire as of 7 am this morning. In Brooklyn, water rose so high that Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park was submerged, above, and most of Red Hook was flooded. Van Brunt Street turned into a gushing river, according to The New York Times. The Gowanus and Newtown Creek overflowed with water that is full of sewage and toxic. ConEd shut down power to some areas in Southern Brooklyn, but most residents were able to pass the night fairly peacefully, despite hearing gusting winds and sirens all night long. A reader holed up on the 19th floor in a Dumbo building said apart from some seasickness, everything was fine. A reader in Bed Stuy texted us to say a tree fell in his backyard, smashing the garden. Bridges, tunnels and public transportation remain closed. Jimmy Kimmel did cancel his show in Brooklyn after all. Update: Click through for more photos from readers throughout the day. (more…)
10/30/2012 9:00 AM
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Storm Watch: Red Hook Floods and Other Storm Damage
So far no power outages yet, thank goodness, but there’s lots of flooding and high winds. A reader sent in this photo, above, of flooding in Red Hook taken by Nick Cope of @greenpainting on Twitter. Over in Williamsburg, a construction site at the corner of Union and Frost was knocked over by the strong winds, as we reported below. We’ve also seen photos of flooding along the Gowanus. Below is a photo of flooding on Woodbine Street in Bushwick. Anyone have any photos or stories to share? (more…)
10/29/2012 2:54 PM
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Navy Yard Transformer Area Loses Superfund Status
The transformer area of the Brooklyn Navy Yard has been partially cleaned and secured and is no longer considered a Superfund site, according to a public document released earlier this month that seems to have gone largely unnoticed. A period for public comment started Sept. 25 and ends Oct. 28. Above is a Google image that accompanied the notice, identifying the location of the site — apparently the chartreuse pushpin labeled “224018A Naval Station Brooklyn Transformer Area.” A map from environmental web site HabitatMap, below, seems to show a different, but more specific area. “Remedial work began in the summer of 1994,” according to HabitatMap, which describes itself as a environmental health and justice non-profit. (more…)
10/02/2012 9:30 AM
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Bollards in at the Atlantic Terminal Mall
Amidst all the Barclays coverage, a reader sent in the photo above and this note: “The Atlantic Terminal bollard replacement seems to be just about complete right on time for the arena opening. Not sure why it took several months to complete, but I’m happy to have it done and (mostly) cleaned up! The sidewalk space out front seems so spacious now. Wonder if they’ll be furnishing it somehow…” Construction began on the new metal bollards, which replaced the four-foot-tall granite blocks, this summer.
Bulky Barriers Removed From LIRR Atlantic Terminal [Brownstoner]
10/01/2012 11:30 AM
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The Barclays Center Is Officially Open
After nine years of planning, protests and construction, the Barclays Center opened today. Mayor Bloomberg, Borough President Markowitz, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and developer Bruce Ratner were there to sing the praises of the Atlantic Avenue development project in front of a sizable crowd. (As McBrooklyn pointed out of the four men: “That’s about $41 billion dollars worth of humanity.”) There was plenty of self-congratulation to go around. “This is a great day for Brooklyn and a great day for New York City,” said Mayor Bloomberg. Ratner and Prokhorov praised each other, each saying they were “the best partner” they’ve ever had. Bloomberg told the crowd he bought a season pass for the Nets and arrived today “by subway, naturally,” apparently in an effort to convince other arena-goers to do the same. Outside the center, protesters — three dressed as Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo and Markowitz puppets — gathered and passed out fliers about not-yet-met promises of 10,000 jobs and 2,250 units of affordable housing. Representatives from the union also stood outside the arena calling for “good-paying union jobs,” while one protestor said, “They won’t even return our calls.” Protesters will be holding pop-up actions outside the arena until 4 pm today. After the jump, you can see a few interior shots of the arena, the protesters, and the crowd attending the ribbon cutting. As for other future plans for the center, quite a few local food vendors will sell at the arena, including Brooklyn Farmacy, Fatty ‘Cue and Calexico. Jay-Z will be the first performer at Barclays with a series of sold-out concerts starting next Friday. The Nets’ first game will be Nov. 1 against the Knicks.
LOTS OF PHOTOS FROM INSIDE THE ARENA ON THE JUMP…
(more…)
09/21/2012 12:00 PM
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New West Elm Store Concept Pops Up in Dumbo
This sign just went up on Washington Street around the corner from West Elm’s regular location at 75 Front Street. We’re not sure what “Market” refers to, but we’re dying to find out. Last month Dumbo NYC wrote that West Elm plans to debut a new store concept at 50 Washington. Could this be West Elm’s take on the heritage-influenced housewares stores that are popping up globally (Brook Farm General Store being the prime Brooklyn example)? Packaged artisanal groceries? Maybe both?
09/18/2012 2:00 PM
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We Hear SJP Is Moving to Brooklyn Heights
You know how Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have put their Greenwich Village townhouse on the market? Well, even before that happened, we heard a rumor they have bought a new-build townhouse in Brooklyn Heights for more than $4 million. We know the address, and the building was recently taken off the market, but we don’t want to say more. And no, this is not the pair of brownstones on State Street they were rumored to have been considering earlier. We heard that deal fell through.
Photo by tsayguy
09/18/2012 11:27 AM
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stargazer
May 21, 2013 | 09:56 AM