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Brooklyn Today: 2-way tolls proposed for Verrazzano Bridge

April 29, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle
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THE LEDE: Good morning! Residents, activists and elected officials lambasted the city’s Gowanus rezoning plan on Thursday, calling it “shortsighted,” “overreaching” and “not responsive to the community’s needs.” Attendees at a contentious public scoping meeting alleged that the current proposal would overburden infrastructure and schools, alter the character of the area, and — most importantly — compromise the cleanup of the neighborhood’s 1.8-mile toxic canal. “You’re proposing to build totally out-of-scale, 30-story buildings on toxic waste sites that are in flood zones,” one resident said.

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THE RUNDOWN

~ POLS PUSH FOR TWO-WAY TOLLS ON VERRAZZANO BRIDGE: Under the current system, which has been in place since 1986, the toll, now $19, is collected from motorists driving toward Staten Island. Motorists heading toward Brooklyn drive for free.

~ FIX THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE REZONING, GOWANUS RESIDENTS SAY: “This zoning plan is predicated on the city’s insistence that we are under an affordable housing crisis. But there is a much greater crisis — an environmental crisis — in this neighborhood that takes precedence over the lack of housing.”

~ L-TRAIN SLOWDOWN BEGINS: UBER, ALTER OR SUCK IT UP, EAST NY RIDERS SAY: L trains will now run every 20 minutes between Manhattan and Brooklyn and every 10 minutes in Brooklyn all nights and on the weekends, while the MTA repairs damage done to tunnels by Superstorm Sandy.

~ THE OLD AND THE NEW: HOW COSPLAYERS ARE WIDENING THE SCOPE OF SAKURA MATSURI: The cosplay community has steadily growneach year for the past decade. Organizers added anime and manga-themed events for a crowd interested in late-20th century Japanese culture.

~ VINTAGE STILETTOS AND SINGING SHARKS: COME SEE KNICKERBOCKER AVENUE: Geeks, fashionistas and foodies should feel right at home on Knickerbocker Avenue. The shops on this Bushwick commercial corridor sell products that appeal to all of them — from gauzy formal wear to collectible Transformer toys to staggeringly good cannoli.

BULLETIN BOARD

~ SPONSORED: A MESSAGE FROM THE RENT STABILIZATION ASSOCIATION: Building owners are our neighbors, friends, family and a part of our community. They support the economy of our neighborhoods. Impractical regulations make it harder for owners to keep their buildings running, and impact hardware stores, electricians, plumbers and other local businesses. Landlords like Janice house New York and help our local economy thrive. Learn more about Janice.

MORE BROOKLYN NEWS

~ Brooklyn has the most child lead poisoning cases in the city, according to new data. (Patch)

~ Here are six must-see Brooklyn galleries this spring. (NYT)

~ Rents are continuing to go down in North Brooklyn. (Crain’s)

STAFF PICKS

~ READ: “Why are so many people getting rare cancers in this small Georgia town?” (Atlanta Magazine)

~ EAT: Here are the 12 hottest brunch spots right now, including three restaurants in Brooklyn. (Eater)

~ LAUGH: President Trump gets his own pacifier. (The Week)

~ LIVE: Careful what you eat: The number of foodborne illnesses are on the rise, according to a new report. (CNN)

WHAT’S HAPPENING

6:15PM Churchill: The Statesman as Artist at The General Society Library. Details.

7:00PM — How to Stay Balanced in a Busy World at 92nd Street Y. Details.

7:30PM — Queen of Diamonds at BAM Rose Cinemas. Details.

THE WRAP

ON THIS DAY
In 1852, the Eagle reported, “Passengers can now leave New York in the Hudson River Railroad, at 6 o’clock in the morning, and reach Buffalo, on the same day, at twelve o’clock at night — distance 450 miles. From Buffalo to New York with the like rapidity.”

📔 IMPRINT
American actress Scarlett Johansson graces the latest cover of As If.

👑 ROYAL WATCH
“Is cheating accepted in the Royal Family?” (The Cheat Sheet)

🏀SPORTS
The Nets are preparing to make a push for the NBA’s top free agents. (New York Post)

BIRTHDAYS

Happy birthday to Andre Agassi, Megan Boone, Daniel Day-Lewis, Nora Dunn, Robert Gottlieb, Zubin Mehta, Kate Mulgrew, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eve Plumb, Jerry Seinfeld, Debbie Stabenow, Uma Thurman and Jonathan Toews!

Brooklyn Today’s editor is Scott Enman. Contact him at scott@brooklyneagle.com.

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