Brooklyn Boro

Around Brooklyn: Brooklyn Museum to sell 12 works

September 21, 2020 Editorial Staff
This scenic spot is the corner of Stratford Road and Turner Place. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle
Share this:

Brooklyn Museum to sell 12 works

Facing financial pressure as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Brooklyn Museum plans to sell 12 works from its permanent collection via auction at Christie’s. The auction house confirmed that the total pre-sale estimated value of the 12 works is between $2.3 million and $3.5 million. Brooklyn Museum Director Anne Pasternak told the New York Times that the museum’s goal is to establish a $40 million fund that generates $2 million every year to pay for the management of its collection.

Colton, restaurants have press conference

Assemblymember William Colton (D-Gravesend-Bensonhurst-Bath Beat) held a press conference to help local restaurants last week. Among those represented were the Federation of Italian American Organizations, he Bath Beach, Bensonhurst & Gravesend Alliance, the Chinese American Social Service Center, the United Chinese Association of Brooklyn, and the owners of Mama Rao’s Restaurant, Gargiulo’s Restaurant, Homestretch Pub, La Bella Pizza Express, and many others. “Their concern is that 25 percent of indoor dining capacity is simply not enough to stay in business especially in the winter,” he said.

Subscribe to our newsletters

Yellow cabs stop traffic on Brooklyn Bridge

About 100 yellow cabs stopped traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge on Thursday afternoon in a protest that demanded debt forgiveness for cab drivers hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The cabs continued onto the FDR Drive and eventually went over to the Queensboro Bridge. The protest was staged by the NY Taxi Workers union. Like most New York City industries, the taxi industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Many drivers have also been the victims of predatory loans. About 80 percent of drivers are food-insecure, according to Patch.

Downtown Brooklyn hotel faces foreclosure

A Downtown Brooklyn hotel that provided housing for the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic is facing foreclosure. The 174-room Tillary Hotel at 85 Flatbush Ave. Extension is in default on a loan that owner Isaac Hager took out to finance the property, a notice of a foreclosure auction states.  Hager’s company, Cornell Realty Management, bought the building, which also includes 64 rental apartments, for $95 million last September, according to The New York Post. When the coronavirus hit and guests started leaving, that’s when the building’s troubles began.

Rose condemns anti-Asian racism

U.S. Rep. (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) helped pass a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment related to COVID-19. “Hate, violence and discrimination against our neighbors in the Asian community is disgusting and wrong,” Rose said. “This shouldn’t be a partisan effort, but unfortunately 164 of my Republican colleagues disagreed and voted against this resolution. My heart breaks every time I hear from a constituent who is afraid to leave their homes or business owners who have been forced to shut down due to violence and discrimination.” Since the beginning of the crisis, there have been numerous reports of Asian Americans being threatened, harassed, or assaulted.

Brooklyn pizzerias make America’s top 101

Ten Brooklyn pizzerias have made the 2020 list of “America’s 101 Best Pizzas” from the website Daily Meal. The highest-ranking pizzeria was Lucali, located at 575 Henry St. in Carroll Gardens. The Daily Eater, another food website, also reports that Lucali has become a hot spot for celebrities such as John Legend, Kylie Jenner and Ed Sheeran. Other Brooklyn pizza places that made the list include Cuts and Slices, Emmy Squared, Julianna’s Pizza, L&B Spumoni Gardens, L’Industrie Pizza, DiFara, Roberta’s, Zuri Lee and Paulie Gee’s.  As far as New York City as a whole is concerned, John’s of Bleecker Street topped the list, according to Patch.

Out-of-control car kills pedestrian

A pedestrian was struck and killed by an out-of-control car in Cypress Hills. Police said a black SUV jumped the curb at Atlantic Avenue and Milford Street in Cypress Hill on Friday afternoon. Police say the black Jeep ran over a man, then slammed into the front of a furniture and carpet store.  The victim was declared dead at the scene. Witnesses said the Jeep had just left a nearby car wash, and it was going very fast. The driver, who may have been an employee of the car wash, was also injured, and he was taken to the hospital, according to ABC News.

Four-story building planned for East Flatbush

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 643 Midwood St. in East Flatbush. The site, which is currently a vacant lot, is close to the 2 and 5 trains’ Sterling Street subway station. The building is slated to have 21 apartments, most likely rentals, as well as a cellar, penthouse and rear yard. Mark Jankowits is listed as the owner, and Oleg Rudister of Engineering Professional Services is listed as the architect of record, according to New York YIMBY.

Kid’s remote learning interrupted by porno

A Bay Ridge mother recently reported that her daughter’s first day of remote learning was interrupted by pornography. Devon Morales said that five minutes into the sixth-grade lesson, someone took over as the host and started streaming porno. “I was not prepared to have to have a conversation with my daughter about sex acts on her first day of sixth grade, but we did,” Morales said in an interview. The Department of Education said it immediately took the lesson offline, according to CBS News.

Man critically injured after Bushwick crash

A man was critically injured after a crash between two vehicles in Bushwick on Sunday morning. The accident happened soon after 4 a.m. on Myrtle Avenue and Suydam Street.  Police said a van raced through a red light and struck the other vehicle. A 38-year-old passenger was ejected from the van and was rushed to a nearby hospital, according to ABC7.

`F—k Cuomo and de Blasio’ message quickly painted over

A few partygoers at a block party on North 15th Street between Wythe Avenue and Banker Street in Williamsburg on Friday night decided to paint on the street, using yellow paint with rollers, “F—k Cuomo and de Blasio.” Someone who was at the block party said that people cheered and everyone took photos. However, city officials didn’t share the assessment. The next day, workers from the city Department of Transportation were dispatched to paint it over. The block party also apparently doubled as a small-business protest against city policies, according to the New York Post. The NYPD is investigating the incident.

Affordable housing lottery open in East Williamsburg

An affordable housing lottery is now open for 222 Johnson Ave. in East Williamsburg. The building, developed by State Property Group, has 35 affordable rentals, which are a mix of studios, one-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom apartments for New Yorkers whose incomes range between $31,000 and $159,000. Altogether, the building has 363 apartments. Amenities include a furnished rooftop with a gas BBQ, a part-time doorman, a private conference room and kitchenette, a fitness center and an on-site garage, according to New York YIMBY.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment