Real Journalism written by people
Members of the Columbia Street Waterfront community announced that they have officially formed the Columbia Street Waterfront Association (CSWA). Their mission is to “to promote the health, vitality, and character” for the neighborhood and “to advocate for the interests of residents, businesses, and others with a stake in the Columbia Street Waterfront community.” CSWA was formed in part because when […]
At the second residents-only community meeting to discuss Red Hook West’s PACT conversion on Oct. 21, Resident Association President Karen Blondel said that these meetings were being gatekept due to frequent outsider desires to influence the housing complex. “We got too many outsiders trying to make decisions for my residents, and it’s not about that on my block,” said Blondel […]
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the recent interview with Gersh Kuntzman and Kevin Garcia “Opponents of BQE tunnel think trucks and cars are the problem…” by Eric Newstrom. This is probably one the most important issues facing the communities along the BQE corridor, so thank you to the RED HOOK STAR for facilitating this public dialog especially […]
Unlike last year, the elections this year turned out more to my liking. Except for the ballot initiatives. It’s sad for me to see that groups like Open New York have convinced a majority of otherwise progressive New Yorkers to think that taking away local land use decisions and giving them to a central executive is the right thing. Regular […]
Dear Readers, As most of us know, elections are on Tuesday. While we often write about the doings of our local politicians, we haven’t heard from anyone specifically about this election. Except for Matthew Morgan, who is running for the City Council seat in Park Slope/Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill for a seat currently held by Shahana Hanif. This is not an […]
In July, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that there is a proposal on the table for how to clean up a chunk of Public Place, the infamous Gowanus site that used to house a manufactured gas plant. The site, under which there is a coal tar plume reaching about 150 feet deep, has been divided […]
The four objectives outlined by Mayor Adams for revisioning the BQE Corridor – Urgency & Resiliency, Equity, Fiscal Responsibility and Stakeholder Involvement – are noble goals that have been met with universal approval. The call for a “transformative solution” and the recognition that this is a once in lifetime opportunity to address the problems of what may be the worst […]
“More affordable housing in New York City!” is a universal rallying cry and political platform. You could almost imagine there’s consensus behind the words, a shared vision of what constitutes “affordable housing” and how to bring more of it into existence. But you’d be wrong. Due to the Charter Revision Commission appointed by Mayor Adams last December, there will be […]
Do you ever wonder where to find information online about how to start a block association, or particular social services in your neighborhood? Or maybe you’re the owner of a local bar, applying for a liquor license, and need direction on how to do so? Often, the local community board has crucial information on how to pursue all of the […]
“More affordable housing in New York City!” is a universal rallying cry and political platform. You could almost imagine there’s consensus behind the words, a shared vision of what constitutes “affordable housing” and how to bring more of it into existence. But you’d be wrong. Due to the Charter Revision Commission appointed by Mayor Adams last December, there will be […]
On July 24, the vote on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) was postponed again, for the fifth time. This time was somewhat different from last, as it was initiated by outspoken no-voters on the BMT Task Force, to allow for more time to come up with a viable plan for the site. Nevertheless, for many community members this postponement only […]
Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) delivered the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, at a community rally in Red Hook in support of the Brooklyn container port: “Thank you for inviting me here today. As many of you know, I have advocated for the Port of New York and New Jersey for more than forty years. For many of those years, […]
Robert Moses’ legacy is evident across New York City. The “power broker” left his fingerprints on virtually every kind of public infrastructure that exists in the city today: parks, bridges, public housing developments—and yes, highways. That includes the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, or BQE, and particularly the triple cantilever that forms the highway’s bend around Brooklyn Heights. Opened in 1954, the now […]
