Council Member Shahana Hanif, her staff, several artists from the nonprofit Arts & Democracy Project, and a handful of volunteers all gathered in the Old Stone House in Park Slope on a Monday evening last month. At the start of the meeting, each person introduced themselves and stated their artistic skills, before being assigned a project and getting down to […]
News
Ongoing Efforts from the Department of City Planning, by Katherine Rivard
It has been a busy year for the Department of City Planning (DCP). The city has seemed weighed down with budget cuts, constant media attention on crime in the subways, and sexual assault allegations against the mayor, and yet DCP has continued its work, publishing Principles of Good Urban Design for New York City (a tool for creating better neighborhoods) […]
It’s the Battle of Brooklyn revisited at Gowanus Green, by George Fiala
Many people might not realize it, but in 2006 a British utility bought the Brooklyn company that had been providing gas heating and lighting for the borough since 1825. Yes folks, if you pay a National Grid bill, you are adding to the profits of a London based company. Way back in 1776, the British defeated us in Brooklyn when […]
Odds and Sods, by George Fiala
Usually I spend a month trying to figure out what momentous topic I will be making pronouncement about in this column. But for this month at least, I’m going to tackle a bunch of possibly less momentous issues that have been on my mind. Law and Order My office is inside the warehouses on Van Brunt Street across from Food […]
Elmo inspires mental health concerns, by Nathan Weiser
On January 29, the Elmo account posted a simple tweet that said, “”Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” and nobody could have predicted the response this would get. There was a wide range of responses with people revealing how mental health is very much an issue. “I’m at my lowest. Thanks for asking,” one person replied. “Elmo, […]
Alexa Aviles joins family of police victim asking for accountability, by Brian Abate
On March 2, the family of Allan Feliz and politicians including District 38 Council Member Alexa Aviles gathered outside of City Hall despite pouring rain to demand that Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Edward Caban fire police officer Jonathan Rivera. The officer shot and killed Feliz six years ago after stopping him because he thought he was not wearing […]
Gowanus Canal Conservancy builds a new garden, by Brian Abate
The Gowanus Canal Conservancy (GCC) has moved its Lowlands Nursery from the Salt Lot to a new location next to the new Monadanck building at 25 9th St., next to the Smith and 9th Stret subway. The move was necessatied due to the construction of a sewage tank required as part of the Gowanus Canal Superfund cleanup. Andrea Parker, the […]
Civic Association plows through important issues by Nathan Weiser
The Red Hook Civic Association completed it’s first year in its current form with the February meeting. The meeting, held at the Red Hook recreational center on the last Monday of February was attended by 11, including council woman Alexa Aviles. The meeting started with a reading of a proposed vision statement. “We see a caring and united Red Hook […]
Stan the Man takes pool tournament at the Rec Center (and we don’t mean swimming), by George Fiala and Jamaal Lavan
As a dedication to Charles “Bo” Keen, a deceased former staff member at the Red Hook recreation center, a twelve week billiards tournament was established this year. The contest was open to all members of the Rec Center and offered a tremendous opportunity for fostering new friendships. Each participant received a medal for participating and the first and second place […]
What’s next for Shore Power? by Brian Abate
S hore power was brought to City Hall on the Ides of February when council member Alexa Aviles and advocates held a press conference on its steps. The Our Air Water Act, sponsored by Aviles, would require cruise ships to plug into shore power while berthed in New York City. A cruise ship can stay in port for a day […]