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Brooklyn Today: Does race play a factor in weed busts?

May 13, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle
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THE LEDE: Happy Monday! Hector Batista, who made history when he was the first Hispanic to be named president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, is leaving his post after less than a year on the job. Batista, who will officially leave the organization on June 28, has accepted a position as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the City University of New York. He will have served eight months.

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THE RUNDOWN

~ IN LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA CASES, PROSECUTIONS DOWN BUT RACIAL DISPARITIES UP: Despite lower arrest numbers, black and hispanic New Yorkers were still arrested at disproportionately high rates for low-level possession throughout the city, according to data provided by the NYPD.

~ BATISTA LEAVING BROOKLYN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Batista, who was also the CEO of the non-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC, had previously served as a deputy commissioner in the Giuliani Administration and as an aide in the Brooklyn Borough President’s office.

~ THE MAN WHO BUILT NEW YORK, LEGO BY LEGO: Jonathan Lopes is kicking off his first solo LEGO art exhibition at Downtown Brooklyn’s City Point. The show is comprised of about 30 New York structures like the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, City Hall and Grand Central Terminal.

~ ATTORNEYS AND STAFFERS AT LEGAL SERVICES NONPROFIT REACH CONTRACT, END STRIKE: The deal included annual raises for staff attorneys, as well as lower employee contribution to health insurance premiums. The company also agreed to pay employees 10 percent of their salary when they’re on parental leave.

~ UNCONFIRMED REPORT OF ICE ARREST IN BROOKLYN COURT SPARKS CONFUSION: An unconfirmed report of an ICE arrest inside Brooklyn Criminal Court sparked confusion and set defense lawyers and immigrants’ rights advocates on high alert Friday afternoon.

MORE BROOKLYN NEWS

~ A second Grace Court Alley carriage house is put on the market. This one costs $3.95 million. (Curbed)

~ A new brewery opens at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. (Eater)

~ Flatbush residents have to wait the longest for police to respond to their calls, data reveals. (Patch)

STAFF PICKS

~ READ: “A very Florida investigation: Drugs, guns and politics collided in the small town of Port Richey. Two mayors went to jail.” (Tampa Bay Times)

~ DRINK: Here are the nine best cocktails for $10 or less in New York City, including five in Brooklyn. (Thrillist)

~ CARTOON: A Williamsburg playground is divided over Measles. (The Week)

~ ACT: Here are 100 easy ways men can improve the lives of women. (Vice)

WHAT’S HAPPENING

6:30PM 8:30PM — Achieving Accessibility at TransitCenter.  Details.

7:00PM — The Archaeology of the Holocaust with Prof. Richard Freund at The Explorers Club. Details.

7:30PM — Frontiers Lecture: Cassini, Explorer of the Outer Solar System at American Museum of Natural History. Details.

THE WRAP

ON THIS DAY
In 1948, the Eagle reported, “The British dropped their bars against unlimited Jewish immigration to Palestine today and the first of an expected flood of many thousands of Jewish immigrants entered the Holy Land.”

📔 IMPRINT
Australian actress Margot Robbie graces the latest cover of Madame Figaro.

👑 ROYAL WATCH
Archie, the newest British royal family member, has no title. Here’s why (we think)” (LA Times)

🏀 SPORTS
Nets assistant coach Chris Fleming is heading to the Chicago Bulls.

BIRTHDAYS

Happy birthday to Franklyn Ajaye, Frances Barber, Mike Bibby, Stephen Colbert, Tom Cotton, Lena Dunham, John Kasich, Harvey Keitel, Robert Pattinson, Julianne Phillips, Dennis Rodman, Darius Rucker, Bobby Valentine and Stevie Wonder!

Brooklyn Today’s editor is Scott Enman. Contact him at [email protected].

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