Around Brooklyn: Many act like pandemic is already over

June 22, 2020 Editorial Staff

The blue house at right, which is 291 23rd St., sold for $1.325 million in 2019. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

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Many act like pandemic is already over

Many New Yorkers are acting like the coronavirus pandemic is over, even though the City is only beginning Phase Two of four phases. Teenagers with baseball gloves and a bat sneak through a hole in a fence. Bar patrons socialize at outdoor tables without face coverings. “We made it, that’s all I can say,” said one of three sisters who were sitting close together on a bench at Coney Island on Friday. The sisters had followed the quarantine guidelines until recently, The New York Times said.

Some business won’t reopen despite Phase Two

Even though Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced Phase Two for reopening, in which retail stores are allowed to open with some guidelines, some stores may never return. Many stores have been completely closed for more than 100 days. On Flatbush Avenue, many stores already have “for rent” signs in the windows. A store employee at a kids’ clothing stores last weekend allowed shoppers to browse, even though at the time the city was still in Phase One. “It doesn’t matter, we’re going to close the store,” he said to amNewYork. Many barbershops, beauty salons and nail salons, in particular, had “for rent” signs.

Two councilmembers want De Blasio out

Two City councilmembers have introduced resolutions calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to removed Mayor Bill de Blasio from office. One, introduced by Sunset Park-Red Hook Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, criticized de Blasio’s unwillingness to cut the NYPD budget. The other, from Queens Councilmember Eric Ulrich, takes the opposite viewpoint — it says the mayor has failed to maintain law and order in the face of unrest. Menchaca, writing on Medium, said, “New Yorkers have realized that the mayor represents the single greatest obstacle to peace and justice in New York City.” If de Blasio were removed, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would become the interim mayor, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

Cuomo threatens bars with loss of license

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday signed two executive orders that would allow officials to revoke liquor licenses if bars don’t follow state guidelines, and that holds bars responsible for the areas in front of their establishments. He issued his orders after photos posted on social media, many from New York City, showed people drinking in front of bars and restaurants without wearing masks and ignoring social distancing guidelines, according to 6sqft.com.

Man objects to ‘Black Lives Matter’ sign

A Trump supporter who believes the coronavirus is a hoax protested a sign in a Bed-Stuy coffee shop that said “Black Lives Matter.” The confrontation took place around 9:30 a.m. when the man, identified as Abraham “Avrummy” Knofler, pointed to the sign and said. “This is the most racist thing out there. This is offensive and I want you to take off this sign.” In a video that was posted on Reddit, one of the store’s employees said to Knofler, “It’s not saying that all lives don’t matter. I’m just saying that Black lives matter because they haven’t mattered in this country,” said Gothamist.

Naval cemetery near Navy Yard reopens

The Naval Cemetery Landscape, a 1.7-acre memorial landscape on the edge of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, is much beloved by nature lovers. Although the landscape has been closed for several months due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is now open from Wednesday through Sunday, although visitors must wear face coverings. From 1831 to 1910, the landscape served as a cemetery where more than 2,000 Navy and Marine Corps officers were buried. The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, which administers the space, decided to open the landscape as soon as possible because there were few open spaces or parks nearby, according to Gothamist.

Unofficial graduation ceremony for Boerum Hill seniors

Even though official graduation ceremonies have been canceled, a group of Boerum Hill parents and graduates are organizing their own outdoor, socially distanced high school graduation ceremony for all graduating seniors who live in the neighborhood. The event will have a DJ, a guest speaker, a procession, and a specially designed “neighborhood diploma.” The event is slated to take place on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on Wyckoff Street between Bond and Hoyt streets, according to Brownstoner.

DOT to install three protected bike lanes downtown

The city Department of Transportation plans to install three protected bike lanes in Downtown Brooklyn and nearby areas this summer. The lanes will be installed on Smith Street, Navy Street and the northern part of Fourth Avenue, connecting with a Fourth Avenue bike lane further south. The new lanes will be separated from traffic by a row of parked cars. The Smith Street lane will be between State and Fulton streets. The one-block bike lane on Navy Street will be beside the new Wegmans supermarket. On Fourth Avenue, the new bike lane will be part of an in-progress corridor that stretches southward to 64th Street in Sunset Park, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

Clothing designer shot to death in front of home

An East New York-based clothing designer and graffiti artist was shot to death in front of his home on Saturday morning while washing his car. The victim was identified as Kenneth Singleton, also known by his graffiti tag Foot 4 Mayor. Police say that around 11 a.m., he was washing his Chrysler in front of his home at 334 Milford St. when a gunman walked up to him and shot him. Paramedics rushed him to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to amNewYork.

Cops probe uptick in gun violence

Police are investigating an explosion of gun violence in the City. From last Monday through Sunday, there have been 51 shooting deaths, according to the NYPD. For example, on Saturday night, three people were shot in Brownsville and one in Clinton Hill. From Friday night to Saturday citywide, there were 15 shootings. Police are looking into what is causing the upswing in gun violence, according to News 12 Brooklyn.

11-story building planned for Bed-Stuy

Permits have been filed for an 11-story mixed-use building at 1100 Myrtle Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The site, currently occupied by a vacant warehouse, is five minutes from the J, Z and M trains’ Myrtle Avenue-Broadway subway station. The building is slated to have 233 units, most likely rentals, as well as a rear yard and a 111-car parking garage. Shorewood Real Estate Group is listed as the owner on the applications, and Bill West Architects is listed as the architect of record, according to New York YIMBY.

Adams: Don’t call 311 or 911 on fireworks

Borough President Eric Adams on Sunday said that New Yorkers should not call 311 or 911 to report fireworks use. “Stopping fireworks cannot turn into fireworks between the police and the community,” he said. Instead, he said, they should talk to young people about the dangers of fireworks. He added that the day-to-day stopping of illegal fireworks should be the responsibility of community groups. Police should concentrate on confiscating large quantities of firecrackers, he said, according to the New York Post.

Prices of Brooklyn condos, co-ops decrease

Resale prices of Brooklyn condos, co-ops and townhouses have experienced their biggest drop in almost 10 years, according to a report released by StreetEasy. The 2.7 percent year-over-year fall was the biggest drop in the market in nine years. The Brooklyn index has seen year-over-year decreases for each of the past 12 months. According to the report, prices of luxury homes were down by 2.9 percent, and prices at the bottom 20 percent of the market decreased by 4.5 percent. “Before the pandemic, prices in Brooklyn were relatively stable compared to the declines we were seeing in Manhattan,” the StreetEasy report said.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.