Brooklyn Today: BQE panel head says don’t jump to conclusions

January 15, 2020 Brooklyn Today

Roughly 2,500 toy elephants were dropped from rooftops onto Washington Street in DUMBO for the third annual DUMBO Drop. Eagle photo by Paul Frangipane

Roughly 2,500 toy elephants were dropped from rooftops onto Washington Street in DUMBO for the third annual DUMBO Drop. Photo: Paul Frangipane/Brooklyn Eagle

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THE LEDE: Good morning! Pay no attention to those leaks, says the head of the panel appointed by the mayor to study the $4 billion BQE reconstruction. Last week, Politico reported on a draft report that said the panel may recommend no particular solution at all for rebuilding the crumbling triple-cantilever highway underpinning the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

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THE RUNDOWN

~ SEDDIO TO STEP DOWN AS BROOKLYN DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, BICHOTTE EYED AS SUCCESSOR: Brooklyn’s Democratic Party is about to undergo a sea change. Frank Seddio, who has served as party chairperson since 2012, has confirmed that he is resigning from his post.

~ AFTER LEAKS, BQE PANEL HEAD SAYS DON’T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS: Panel head Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, said the draft described by Politico was not final, and urged people not to jump to conclusions.

~ MAN TOSSES JUICE ON PRIEST AND ALTAR DURING GREENPOINT MASS: A man was arrested after throwing juice on an altar and at a priest during a Sunday morning mass in Greenpoint, according to the Diocese of Brooklyn.

~ DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN GETS AN ICE SKATING RINK: For the first time, Downtown Brooklyn has its own outdoor ice skating rink, bringing winter fun to the plaza at MetroTech. The Rink At MetroTech Commons offers daily public skating along with ice skating programs for adults and children hosted by Olympians Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov.

~ POLICE SEARCHING FOR MISSING 14-YEAR-OLD BROOKLYN TECH STUDENT: Police and family members are searching for a 14-year-old Brooklyn Technical High School student missing since entering a subway station after school last week.

~ INDUSTRY CITY DEBUTS NEW EVENT SPACE FOR WEDDINGS, ART SHOWS AND MORE: Industry City is celebrating the launch of Five Two A, a brand new event space that can be booked for everything from weddings and other private parties to art shows, corporate events and more.

~ ASK A HISTORIAN: WHAT’S THE OLDEST BAR IN BROOKLYN?: Rich from Marine Park asks: “What is the oldest bar in Brooklyn?”

~ OPINION: IN SUNSET PARK, THE PROBLEM ISN’T INDUSTRY CITY. IT’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING: “Over the past decade, we have seen Brooklyn get the credit it rightfully deserves as a major part of the city’s broader economy. The job creation we’ve achieved at places like Industry City make them global models for 21st century economic growth and workforce development,” writes our guest columnist.

MORE BROOKLYN NEWS

~ “Off-Duty Secret Service Agent Shoots and Kills Dog in Brooklyn” (NYT)

~ Did the MTA de-map Greenwood Heights? (Brooklyn Paper)

~ Councilmember Stephen Levin says he’s committed to removing cop cars from a Downtown Brooklyn bike lane. (Streetsblog NYC)

STAFF PICKS

~ READ: “A woman told police she was raped by three New York Mets. They were never charged.” (Slate)

~ EAT: Here are the 38 must-try eateries in New York City right now, including 16 spots in Brooklyn. (Thrillist)

~ LAUGH: A debate watch party. (The New Yorker)

~ SPORTS: After the Houston Astros were punished by Major League Baseball for cheating, the team fired two top employees embroiled in the scandal. (NYT)

WHAT’S HAPPENING

4:00PM — BWI/BNY Cocktail Hour & Ribbon Cutting at Building 92. Details.

6:30PM — Gentrification 2.0: The Good, the Bad and the Blurry at Brooklyn Historical Society. Details.

7:00PM — Nevertheless She Existed: Boss of Her Body at Caveat. Details.

THE WRAP

⌛ ON THIS DAY
In 1937, the Brooklyn Eagle reported, “NEW DRINK — Recent mention here of the Brooklyn Cocktail has created some controversy. A young woman whose last name is Pinson writes that she (and not Art Arthur) devised the recipe for the original Brooklyn Cocktail: made of gin, grapefruit juice (not grape juice, whatever you do) and grenadine.”

IMPRINT
Eddie Murphy, Renee Zellweger and Jennifer Lopez grace the latest cover of Vanity Fair.