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Jim Tampakis’ plan for the Red Hook and Columbia Waterfront piers pays for itself with shipping, industry and a little fun… not with luxury housing. Story and illustration by Oscar Fock

EDC claims only housing can pay for “the port of the future.” There are other options. Later in April, the Brooklyn Marine Terminal task force is set to vote on a vision plan for the massive redevelopment of New York’s last working waterfront. In the last few months, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) — which is leading […]

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Column: The radical left wing lunatics of Red Hook

You know, it’s interesting to watch public relations at work. Our NYC government has spent almost a year trying to convince us to welcome the addition of many huge luxury towers to the shores of our low rise industrial neighborhood. They began by telling us over and over again how we will finally get a world class shipping terminal to […]

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Opposition mounting against EDC’s plan for BMT

Everyone is outraged with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) right now. Seriously — everyone. The community (except for a fringe group advocating for more housing). Members of Teamsters Local 814. Maritime experts. Community groups. City councilmembers. State assemblymembers. The Brooklyn Borough President. The Public Advocate. The Comptroller. Even a sitting Congressperson who no longer represent the district due to redistricting. […]

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International issues invade local politics, by Oscar Fock

2025 is election year in New York City. Focus of most New Yorkers is, of course, on the mayoral race which is poised to be an interesting one, following Mayor Eric Adams’s string of mishaps, alleged criminal activities and flirting with Donald Trump, likely selling out many New Yorkers in his so far successful search for legal relief in the […]

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Undersized lobsters seized at Brooklyn market, by Oscar Fock

It was a bitterly cold winter morning (probably) on Jan. 27 when New York State Environmental Conservation Officers Bieber and Keegan, fresh out of basic school (the Department of Environmental Conservation’s six-month-long training program for its specialized police officers) visited Star Market at 1778 86th St. in Brooklyn for a seafood inspection. The officers were only there to assist as part […]

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BMT redevelopment update: March, by Oscar Fock

As most in the neighborhood are aware by now, the Brooklyn Marine Terminal is being redeveloped. Since our latest story in the February Star-Revue, nothing has happened that has changed the course of the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC), which leads the project on behalf of the city. Despite continued calls to push the deadline for the finished master plan, […]

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Afraid to go to work in Trump’s America, by Laryn Kuchta

Since Trump’s second inauguration – and the crackdowns on documented and undocumented immigrants alike that have come afterwards – growing numbers of New Yorkers are terrified to leave their homes. Many are “very afraid to even go to work,” says Juan Carlos Pocasangre, president of Guatemaltecos in New York, an organization that has been providing help to immigrants from Guatemala […]

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Afraid to go to work in Trump’s America

Since Trump’s second inauguration – and the crackdowns on documented and undocumented immigrants alike that have come afterwards – growing numbers of New Yorkers are terrified to leave their homes. Many are “very afraid to even go to work,” says Juan Carlos Pocasangre, president of Guatemaltecos in New York, an organization that has been providing help to immigrants from Guatemala […]

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Column: Since the community doesn’t seem to have much sway on the future of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the courts beckon, by George Fiala

Money and politics often get in the way of what economists call “The Public Good.” Here is Wikipedia’s  definition: “In economics, a public good (also referred to as a social good or collective good) is a good that is both non-excludable and non-rivalrous. Use by one person neither prevents access by other people, nor does it reduce availability to others. […]

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Carroll Gardens Association empowers Nannys, by Brian Abate

The Carroll Gardens Nanny Association (CGNA) is working to raise the standards in the domestic work industry. Rosemary Martinez, Wendy Guerrero, and Charon Best are all a part of the CGNA with Martinez working as a domestic worker organizer and Guerrero working as a program coordinator. All three have in common that they all did domestic work after moving to […]

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Spring Bank officially opens on Van Brunt, by Brian Abate

After years without a bank, Red Hook celebrated the opening of Spring Bank at 356 Van Brunt St. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 23. Despite cold weather, more than 50 people attended the celebration including Senator Andrew Gounardes, Akbar Rizvi, the Chief Lending Officer (CLO) and president of Spring Bank, ReyJane Gaudin, the branch manager, Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, […]