Brooklyn Today: “We crawled in from the sea.”

June 28, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle

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THE LEDE: Good morning! It was a nautical-themed weekend in Brooklyn. As hundreds of thousands of people converged on Coney Island for the sights and sounds of the 37th annual Mermaid Parade, another group of residents gathered in Sheepshead Bay for the borough’s sixth annual Brooklyn Shark Tournament.

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THE RUNDOWN

~ YOUR GUIDE TO BROOKLYN’S JUDICIAL ELECTIONS: Brooklyn Democrats will head to the polls today to vote on three judicial seats, including two countywide races: the Surrogate’s Court and the Civil Court. These seats are important, so we’ve put together what you need to know to do your part.

~ CHALLENGING YOUR PROPERTY TAXES PAYS OFF. HERE’S HOW TO DO IT.: According to a report from the Independent Budget Office, Brooklyn taxpayers saved $57.5 million after appealing their property tax assessments with the Tax Commission in 2017.

~ DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC S.W. BOWNE BUILDING RESUMES, ANGERING ACTIVISTS: After a hiatus of more than two months because of a Stop Work Order issued by the city Buildings Department, a demolition crew is back on the job at the 1880s building.

~ SO YOU’RE A POTHEAD. WHAT DOES MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION MEAN FOR YOU?: They didn’t legalize marijuana in New York State, but they did decriminalize it. Here’s what changed and what you can still can’t do when it comes to smoking weed.

~ HOW TO SPREAD BROOKLYN’S ‘INNOVATION ECONOMY’: Real estate and floor space, infrastructure, diversity and creative “collisions” are some of the reasons Brooklyn is so attractive to start-ups — but if the city doesn’t fix some nagging problems, that growth could slow, according to experts.

~ DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: ALICE’S TEA CUP BREWS IN BROOKLYN: Alice’s Tea Cup, the popular cafe chain frequented by Amy Schumer andKatie Holmes, recently opened its first location in the borough in Brooklyn Heights.

~ CATCHING THE WHOPPER: BROOKLYN’S ANNUAL SHARK-FISHING CONTEST: We went inside Brooklyn’s only shark tournament. The reward: $50,000 in prize money.

~ CONEY ISLAND’S MERMAID PARADE IN PHOTOS: The 37th annual Mermaid Parade took over Coney Island on Saturday, featuring revelers decked out in seafaring attire and reportedly drawing more than 800,000 people. It is considered the largest artistic parade in the country.

~ A SUNDAY IN BROWER PARK: We spent an afternoon in Brower Park inCrown Heights, where longtime residents explained how the neighborhood is changing.

~ SWEEPING ATTENDANCE ZONE CHANGES PROPOSED FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN BROOKLYN’S DISTRICT 15: In a bid to relieve overcrowding and help spur integration, the education department is weighing whether to redraw elementary school zone lines — or remove attendance boundaries altogether — in a swath of Brooklyn’s District 15.(Chalkbeat)

____BULLETIN BOARD____

~ Let’s put champions on the bench. We want: 1. Full knowledge of practice of law. 2. Wisdom of serving in the military, including military justice system. 3. Family values, lifetime work ethic.

***

~ Tuesday, June 25, is primary day here in Brooklyn and, yes, there are important races on the ballot. One of them is a judicial election for Brooklyn Surrogate’s Court. Many people are unaware of the significance of the Surrogate’s Court: It’s where cases are heard involving probate of wills, administration of estates and adoptions. You can find more about current Surrogate’s Court Judge Margarita López Torres, who is running for re-election, here.

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MORE BROOKLYN NEWS

~ Carlo Scissura says Brooklyn Heights will “bear the brunt of pain” during BQE rehab. (BHB)

~ About 40 percent of real estate listings in New York City are less than 525 feet away from an active construction site. (NYT)

~ A Pokémon-themed burger bar is coming to Williamsburg. (Eater)

STAFF PICKS

~ READ: “The Wild Ride at Babe.Net: The Aziz Ansari controversy was just the beginning of the trouble for the website.” (The Cut)

~ EAT: It’s getting hot out there! Here are the five best cold noodle dishes in New York City, including two in Brooklyn. (Thrillist)

~ LAUGH: A decision weighs on President Trump’s mind. (The Week)

~ SAVE: Here are some tips on how to save money, according to a personal finance reporter. (NYT)

WHAT’S HAPPENING

12:00PM — One Man, An Underground Army and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz at 92nd Street Y. Details.

4:00PM – 8:00PM — Night at the Museums 2019 at multiple locations. Details.

6:00PM – 10:00PM — Gamechangers at Williamsburg Art & Historical Center.Details.

THE WRAP

⌛ ON THIS DAY
In 1950, the Eagle reported, “Waltham, Mass. (U.P.) – A woman seeking U.S. citizenship papers did all right with the examination until she came to a question about the flag. To the query, ‘What flies over the state house in Boston?’ she replied: ‘Pigeons.’”

IMPRINT
Actress Elisabeth Moss shows off her blue eyes on the latest cover of Marie Claire Ukraine.

ROYAL WATCH
“The royal family’s best exes are ‘bigger than friends,’ according to Sarah Ferguson” (Vanity Fair)

SPORTS
The Nets are considering signing DeAndre Jordan to lure Kevin Durant.(New York Post)

BIRTHDAYS

Happy birthday to Billy Wagner, Linda Cardellini, Carly Simon, Jimmie Walker, Dikembe Mutombo, June Lockhart, Sonya Sotomayor and Ricky Gervais!

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