Brooklyn Today: The case for complete streets

August 6, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle

Greenpoint. Eagle photo by Lore Croghan

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THE LEDE: Good morning! Danny Harris is taking the helm of one of New York’s most influential street-safety advocacy organizations at a particularly dangerous time for New York cyclists. The Brooklyn Eagle recently caught up with him to discuss his plans for expanding the group’s impact, tailoring streets to specific community needs, addressing the bikes vs. cars narrative and community board tensions.

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THE RUNDOWN

~ LEGAL LOOPHOLE HELPS EAST FLATBUSH DEVELOPERS EVADE PARKING MANDATE: Not only are nine different developments being built along one street in East Flatbush, but many of them will avoid providing the parking normally mandated by the city through a unique loophole: assigning two addresses to a single building.

~ SHOOTING AT CROWN HEIGHTS VIGIL INJURES FOUR: An early-morning vigil in Crown Heights was violently interrupted Monday when a shooter opened fire, injuring four people, police said.

~ HOUSE OF SOLUTIONS IS FIGHTING THE CLIMATE CRISIS WITH DRAG QUEENS AND PLANT PARTIES: A new cultural space on Governors Island is taking a different approach to fighting the global climate crisis: through art and performance.

~ THE CASE FOR COMPLETE STREETS: A Q&A WITH DANNY HARRIS, THE NEW LEADER OF TRANSALT: Danny Harris will come onboard as the new executive director of Transportation Alternatives in early September following the departure of longtime TransAlt leader Paul Steely White.

~ MAYOR ENLISTS BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY TO HELP WITH 2020 CENSUS COUNT: Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday that NYC Census 2020, the city’s census outreach campaign, is pumping $1.4 million into a partnership between the city and its three library systems to ensure that all New Yorkers are counted.

~ HUNDREDS OF CANDLES LIGHT UP EAST RIVER IN SUNSET HINDU CELEBRATION: The Aarti Hindu Lamp Ceremony is historically tied to a Hindu ritual meant to honor rivers as a source of life and peace. In India, where the tradition originated, some perform the ritual daily — at dawn and dusk — at the banks of the Ganges River.

~ GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL POLICE AT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME: Brooklynites can party with their local police today at one of the annual National Night Out Against Crime gatherings being held in every precinct. Of the 70 Night Out parties in New York City this year, 28 are in Brooklyn.

~ GAME CLOCK TICKING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT BROOKLYN’S PACIFIC PARK: The vast real estate development Pacific Park is sprouting apartment towers in the thick of Brooklyn’s building boom — but not fast enough to deliver promised affordable housing on time, local leaders warn. (THE CITY)

MORE BROOKLYN NEWS

~ Mayor Bill de Blasio instructed the NYPD to move his daughter’s belongings out of her Sunset Park apartment, according to sources. (Daily News)

~ A critically acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant in Bensonhurst is expanding to DUMBO. (Eater)

~ The Brooklyn Navy Yard surpassed 10,000 jobs for the first time in 50 years. (am New York)

~ “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is returning to BAM for five shows in October. (ABC7)

STAFF PICKS

~ READ: A handful of conservative Texas district attorneys wrongly convicted Ed Ates for murder. After 20 years behind bars, it took an amateur podcaster and his devoted listeners to finally free an innocent man. (Texas Monthly)

~ EAT: Here are the 20 best splurge-worthy restaurants in New York City, including four in Brooklyn. (Eater)

~ LAUGH: The president makes an announcement. (The New Yorker)

~ WORK: Is it always best to be employed at the most “prestigious” places? Not exactly. (NYT)

WHAT’S HAPPENING

7:00PM — Summer of Know: Allison Janae Hamilton and Elizabeth Yeampierre at the Guggenheim Museum. Details.

7:00PM — Timothy Faust: “Health Justice Now” at McNally Jackson Williamsburg. Details.

7:30PM — Mac DeMarco and Ex Hex at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Details.

THE WRAP

⌛ ON THIS DAY

In 1867, the Eagle reported, “The preparations for the organization of the East River Bridge Company and the commencement of the work are going on in the most satisfactory manner.”

📔 IMPRINT

Angelina Jolie graces not one, but two covers for Elle.

👑 ROYAL WATCH

Here’s how the royal family celebrated Meghan Markle’s birthday on Sunday. (Vogue)

🏀 SPORTS

“Why we shouldn’t underestimate Kyrie and the Nets this year” (Sports Illustrated)

BIRTHDAYS

Happy birthday to Michelle Yeoh, Paolo Bacigalupi, Robin van Persie, Peter Bonerz, M. Night Shyamalan, Soleil Moon Frye, Geri Halliwell, David Robinson, Romola Garai, Melissa George, Catherine Hicks and Dorian Harewood!