Brooklyn Today: Jail Plan: Public interest vs. optics

December 12, 2019 Brooklyn Today

Coney Island Beach. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

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THE LEDE: Good morning! A decision to reduce the size of four new jails was made months ahead of a contentious vote, but sources say that it was quietly withheld from the public in favor of political theatrics that could benefit the “mayoral ambitions” of City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

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THE RUNDOWN

~ DESPITE OPPOSITION, DEVELOPERS BREAK GROUND ON BEDFORD UNION ARMORY REDEVELOPMENT: The first component of Crown Heights’ Bedford Union Armory redevelopment — a redevelopment detractors continue to oppose — is set to open a year from now.

~ CRITICAL COMPONENT OF JAIL PLAN CONCEALED FROM THE PUBLIC FOR ‘OPTICS’: SOURCES: “Was this the best way of handling something as massive and important as the dismantling and reshaping of New York City’s jail system? Or would it have been better to put the public’s interests ahead of the speaker’s desire for good optics?” the source asked.

~ CONEY ISLAND LAWMAKER SECURES FUNDS FOR ‘HOLISTIC’ APPROACH TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE: Anti-violence programs across Coney Island are getting $850,000 in city funding to address an uptick in gun violence in the community, starting with gaps in social services.

~ THE 5 BEST RESTAURANTS IN COBBLE HILL: Cobble Hill is primarily known for its quiet streets lined with brownstones, but it should also be recognized for the world-class dining and cozy haunts scattered around the neighborhood. Here are the top five restaurants in the area.

~ SUBWAY-SIDE HOMEOWNERS STILL WAITING FOR VIOLATION NOTICES TO BE LIFTED: Homeowners living on West Seventh and West Eighth streets, on either side of the N subway line, are not getting any satisfaction from the Department of Buildings over the retaining walls located between their backyards and the subway, local officials said.

~ TAKE A WINTRY STROLL TO QUEENS ON GATES AVENUE: PART ONE: Gates Avenue offers you glimpses of some very fine ones indeed, in Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant. If you keep walking, before you know it, this avenue will also take you across Bushwick to the Queens border.

~ 5 BROOKLYN-MADE GIFTS FOR THE TECH LOVER ON YOUR LIST: Brooklyn’s emergence as one of the country’s most attractive landing spots for technology start-ups means a growing number of gadgets proudly stamped with the borough’s brand have found homes on retailer shelves. Here are five you can surprise your loved ones with during the holidays.

~ TWO BROOKLYN SCHOOLS PREPARE FOR MERGER THAT WOULD FURTHER STUDENT INTEGRATION: District 13’s Community Education Council held a public meeting Monday night on its proposal to merge Fort Greene’s disproportionately white Academy of Arts and Letters with P.S. 305, an under-enrolled and majority-black elementary school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, starting in the 2020-2021 school year. (THE CITY)

MORE BROOKLYN NEWS

~ “Rome’s Culinary Delights Are on Dazzling Display at Williamsburg’s Montesacro Pinseria” (Eater)

~ Two Brooklynyites were among those killed in the Jersey City shooting. (NY1)

~ Former President Bill Clinton visited a Bed-Stuy church on Tuesday. (News 12)

STAFF PICKS

~ READ: “Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited 72 Years Later. He Had One Question.” (NYT)

~ EAT: Here are New York City’s 13 best restaurant openings of 2019, including three in Brooklyn. (Grub Street)

~ LAUGH: The White House staff is turned into Russian dolls.

~ TRAVEL: Here are three tips on how to travel across the globe while on a budget. (CNN)

BULLETIN BOARD

~ Laser Touch has more than 10 years of experience providing medical aesthetic and cosmetic laser procedures for female and male clients of all skin complexions. Choose one of their current promotions and gift yourself a new start for 2020. Five locations plus a convenient location in Brooklyn. SPONSORED

WHAT’S HAPPENING

6:30PM — Now and at the Hour of Our Death: The Sorrowful Mother in Italy and Italian-American Communities with Mallorie Vaudoise at Green-Wood Cemetery. Details.

7:00PM — Book Launch: “Why You Should Be A Socialist” by Nathan J. Robinson in Conversation with Timothy Faust at powerHouse Arena. Details.

8:00PM — Vanity Fair’s Women on Women: A Conversation Between Radhika Jones, Tina Brown and Marie Brenner at 92nd Street Y. Details.

THE WRAP

⌛ ON THIS DAY
In 1859, the Brooklyn Eagle reported, “The ship Henrietta, which arrived here on Saturday evening from Leghorn, has on board a very small horse. It is a stallion, of a clear jet black, perfect in shape, with black mane and tail, and is about 7 hands high. During the voyage he has had the run of the ship like any ordinary dog.”

IMPRINT
Taylor Swift pulls up her sleeve on the December cover of Billboard.

ROYAL WATCH
“How Meghan Markle Woke Up the Royal Family” (The Ringer)

SPORTS
The Nets’ Wilson Chandler is set to return to the team on Sunday. (Daily News)

BIRTHDAYS

Happy birthday to Dionne Warwick, Mayim Bialik, Sheila E., Rey Mysterio, Connie Francis, Tom Wilkinson, Jennifer Connelly, Bob Barker, Lucas Hedges, Cathy Rigby, Tracy Ann Austin and Robert Lindsay!