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Brooklyn Today January 18: Commuters Made More Than 280 Million Subway Calls in 2017

January 18, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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THE LEDE: Happy Thursday, Brooklyn! New Yorkers made millions of subway calls last year, dogs are getting electrified in Bed-Stuy, and we take photos ofTom Selleck’s Bay Ridge home in “Blue Bloods.” Plus, MTA’s new PresidentAndy Byford takes the subway to work, Bob Dole receives the Congressional Gold Medal, and the U.K. creates the first-ever Minister for Loneliness. Finally,Jimmy Kimmel graces the cover of GQ, we travel to the coldest village on earth, and North and South Korea will compete as one team in the Winter Olympics.   
 
IMPRINT: Jimmy Kimmel looks dapper as ever on the February cover ofGQ.

 
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The Rundown
 

~COMMUTERS MADE MORE THAN 280 MILLION SUBWAY CALLS IN 2017: New Yorkers hate having to wait for their trains in the morning, but there’s at least one part of the transit system that they love. Straphangers are quite happy with the cellphone service and Wi-Fi connections on trains and in subway stations, according to Transit Wireless, the firm that worked with MTA to install the features and bring the transit system into the 21st century. In 2017, the first year the new technology was fully operational, more than 280 million phone calls were made from underground subway stations, and there were 120 million logins on the public Wi-Fi network. Riders also sent innumerable text messages and downloaded countless apps on their smartphones. Wi-Fi customers use more than 500 terabytes of data a month, according to Transit Wireless representatives. “The adoption of the network among subway riders has been incredible,” Transit Wireless CEO William A. Bayne Jr. said. “It’s being put to the test every day by customers streaming videos or music, downloading a book or podcast; the demand is strong and the network is fulfilling a great need.” (via Brooklyn Eagle)
 
~BROOKLYN DOGS GET ZAPPED IN BED-STUY: Brooklyn dogs would be smart to tiptoe around Bed-Stuy streets after at least five pooches werezapped by stray voltage outside an abandoned electrical site. When a dog walker’s pet “buckled” in pain while walking near Throop Avenue and Kosciuszko Street, he started asking around. Some neighbors informed him that other canines were getting zapped from salt and melted snow conducting electricity near metal manholes. Con Edison workers rushed to the block and deactivated the electricity, according to spokeswoman Joy Faber. “Around this time of year, after a major snowfall, we hear about this happening.” Faber said. The phenomenon usually doesn’t hurt humans, but dog walkers still took it personal. “Our dog has a heart murmur and if she got shocked by something, she could potentially have a heart attack,” said husky-German shepherd ownerDylan Long. “Con Ed should post a sign and say, ‘Heads up!’” (via New York Post)
 
~A WINTER GLIMPSE OF TOM SELLECK’S BAY RIDGE “BLUE BLOODS” HOUSE: Tom Selleck’s house looks swell in the snow. We’re talking about his “Blue Bloods” house in Bay Ridge — the home of NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan, whom Selleck plays on the CBS TV hit series. As fans of “Blue Bloods” know, the fictional police commissioner and multiple generations of his TV-show family have Sunday dinner together at his Bay Ridge home. The house exterior that’s shown in the series is a real place. It’s a 1920s Colonial-style brick house at 8070 Harbor View Terrace. The house is situated on a big corner lot — with plenty of room for a picturesque snow pileup. The other day, after the bomb cyclone blew into town, we snapped some photos to share with readers. In real life, the Harbor View Terrace house belongs to the Diocese of St. Maron-USA. (via Brooklyn Eagle)
 
~CONDO BUILDING STANDS TALL ON CONVENT SITE ACROSS FROM ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH: No nuns now. A new condo building stands tall on a site in Bay Ridge where a convent was located. J&J Property & Management Group LLC is getting close to completing the construction of seven-story 401 95th St., which has 22 residential units and retail space. It’s on the corner of Fifth Avenue, right across the street from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Thecondo building’s facade is mostly made of glass, and is really eye-catching. In 2009, the church sold the convent site for $3 million to J&J Property & Management Group LLC with Tin Tak Cheng as manager. We know that condos are planned — as opposed to rental apartments — at 401 95th St. because of a March 2016 building-loan agreement between the developer and Banco Popular North America. The agreement says the minimum price will not be less than $401 per square foot for any unit at 401 95th St. (via Brooklyn Eagle)


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Staff Picks:   
 

LONG READ: In GQ’s February cover story, the magazine labels late-night host Jimmy Kimmel as “the most sane and rational voice” in America. (via GQ)
 
ANOTHER LONG READ: Is college worth its steep cost? One professor says no. (via The Atlantic)
 
PODCAST: Listen to ProPublica investigative journalist Kiera Feldman speak about the need for reporters to be good-natured. (via Longform)
 
CARTOON: “Three Billboards Outside Washington, D.C.” (via The New Yorker)

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NATIONAL BULLETIN: MTA’s new President Andy Byford takes the subway to work…Thirteen children in California shackled to beds by their parents are freed…And Bob Dole receives the Congressional Gold Medal. (via NYT, CNN and NPR)
 
FOREIGN FLASH: The U.K. creates the first-ever Minister for Loneliness…In Oymyakon, Russia, the temperature goes down to 88 below zero…And North and South Korea will compete as one team in the Winter Olympics. (via Metro, WaPo and USA Today)  
  

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 ROYAL WATCH: Here are some of the strangest gifts that the Royal Family received last year. (via Daily Mail)

 
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BROOKLYN TONIGHT   
 

9:30AM — Tiny Tot Theater at Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Details.
 
9:30AM — Designing Destiny: Your Life is Your Masterpiece at Park Plaza Restaurant. Details.
 
10:00AM – 6:00PM — Kenseth Armstead: Master Work: Slaves of New York 1776 at BRIC Arts. Details.
 
10:15AM — Positive Aging: My Yoga Community at Dyker Library. Details.
 
10:30AM — DIY: Blogging 101 at Cypress Hills Library. Details.
 
12:00PM – 5:00PM — Wise Eyes: Still Woke at Brooklyn Historical Society.Details.
 
1:00PM — Chinese Brush Painting at Paerdegat Library. Details.  
 
4:00PM – 7:00PM — Vicki Behm at 440 Gallery. Details.
 
6:00PM – 10:00PM — Smorgasburns at The Weylin. Details.
 
6:30PM — Brooklyn Winery Tour & Tasting at Brooklyn Winery. Details.
 

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 EAGLE SPORTS: Less than 24 hours removed from a thrilling overtime win in Montreal, the New York Islanders looked like they were still in snooze mode Tuesday night at Barclays Center. “It was a tough draw,” Islanders head coach Doug Weight ceded following the 4-1 loss to the previously slumping New Jersey Devils. “They’ve been off for a couple of days, [we had] a real hard couple of games, some battles and went to OT in Montreal against a real fast team,” Weight added. “Guys get to bed at 3:30 a.m., it’s tough, but teams go through it.” The loss dropped New York one point behind Pittsburgh and the rival Rangers in the hunt for the Eastern Conference’s final two playoff spots. It also created a sense of urgency in the locker room as the Isles hope to get back on track tonight at Barclays against Boston in their final home game before the All-Star break. (via Brooklyn Eagle)


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MILESTONES
 
Happy birthday to John Boorman, Kevin Costner, Jane Horrocks, Jesse L. Martin, Mark Messier, Mark Rylance and Jason Segal!


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