Our 5 best podcast episodes of 2019
"Brooklyn This Week" has covered a lot this year — from deed theft to the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show.
Photo: Pexels
The Brooklyn Eagle’s podcast “Brooklyn This Week” released 54 episodes since its inaugural one on Oct. 11, 2018. Since then we’ve covered quintessential Brooklyn icons like Walt Whitman and the Brooklyn Dodgers, as well as important stories on the BQE, the jail plan and the SHSAT.
Here were some of our most popular episodes from the past year.
Deed theft at crisis level in Brooklyn
We covered deed theft, a predatory scheme primarily targeting black and brown communities in Brooklyn.
More about this episode: There’s a friendly voice on the phone. They offer financial help. Next thing you know, the house you planned to pass down to your family is gone. Listen here.
Good or bad? Analyzing smart tech use in Brooklyn
We examined the pros and cons of smart technology.
More about this episode: Technological advances inevitably continue to improve the quality of life in urban areas around the world, and Brooklyn is no exception.
The borough works hard to refine such technologies in its own neighborhoods for more effective and fair implementation, but some devices come with risk and raise questions about privacy. Listen here.
Should the SHSAT be eliminated?
We explored whether the high-stakes SHSAT should be eradicated.
More about this episode: Most people are aware of the SAT, the rigorous test that can influence where some students go to college, but fewer may know of the SHSAT. The Specialized High School Admissions Test has been a catalyst for an ongoing feud between parents, students and schools Chancellor Richard Carranza after Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed doing away with the exam last year. Listen here.
Here’s what it takes to plan the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show
We spoke with the man responsible for the Fourth of July Macy’s fireworks show.
More about this episode: There are few people in the world who know the inner workings of the Fourth of July Macy’s fireworks show more than Gary Souza. The pyro-technician has been meticulously planning and executing the show for the last 37 years. Listen here.
Where do we stand on the Brooklyn jail plan?
We brought our listeners up to speed on the Brooklyn jail plan.
More about this episode: Four new jails are coming to every borough except Staten Island as the city plans to close Rikers Island by 2026. In Brooklyn, public hearings have drawn local residents and outside activists, who have not only commented on the physical makeup of the jail, but also on the implications a larger facility in Boerum Hill would have on the city’s incarceration culture. Listen here.
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