Around Brooklyn: Reynoso picks up support for BP campaign

September 25, 2020 Editorial Staff

The modern building with the huge circular windows is the Wyndham Garden Hotel. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

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Reynoso picks up support for BP campaign

City Councilmember Antonio Reynoso has picked up several endorsements from Brooklyn progressives for his campaign for borough president. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Sen. Julia Salazar and others made their endorsements on Wednesday. We’ve fought together to address systemic racism and to demand income-targeted, affordable housing, better policing and safer streets,” Williams said in a statement. “I’m excited to stand with him as he runs to make Brooklyn the absolute best it can be.” Reynoso won the City Council primary against disgraced former Assemblymember Vito Lopez in 2013, the Daily News reported.

Borough Hall topography bureau goes online

Borough President Eric Adams recently announced the launch of an online appointment portal for Brooklyn Borough Hall’s topography bureau, whose mandate under the City Charter is to maintain the Borough Map and to furnish copies of the map and related data to city agencies and the general public upon request. Beginning this week, appointments can be made through the portal. Topographical bureau staff will be at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Mondays through Wednesdays and will be working remotely through email and phone on Thursdays and Fridays.

Unassuming wood-frame house contains hidden amenities

A townhouse in north Brooklyn Heights that is going for $8 million may look like a typical wood-frame house, but it opens up to a modern addition in the rear, an indoor pool, an enclosed greenhouse that is currently set up as a yoga studio, and a two-car driveway. The house also has a wrap-around terrace, custom-built storage, a laundry room, a green roof deck, and multiple rooms, according to 6sqft.com, a real estate website.

Subway thief attacks passenger

An angry Brooklyn transit rider attacked a woman who intervened while he was trying to steal another passenger’s backpack on Sunday, police said. The victim was riding a southbound D train from Columbus Circle around 5:30 a.m. when she saw a man who was trying to grab a sleeping person’s bookbag. The woman then woke up the passenger, angering the robber. He started kicking the woman all over her face and body, then got off the train at Union Street, where he transferred to a Bay Ridge-bound R train, police reported. The victim was treated with non-life-threatening injuries at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, the New York Post said.

Councilmember Eugene aids food drive

Councilmember Mathieu Eugene (D-Crown Heights-Flatbush-Kensington-Midwood) recently partnered with local organizations to provide free food and face masks to residents who are facing food insecurity and to protect them during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a serious public health issue, and we still have friends and neighbors who are at-risk and need resources to stay healthy. By providing food and masks to those who are dealing with financial instability and food insecurity, we are helping numerous families get through this crisis,” he said.

Brannan introduces disaster legislation

City Councilmember Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Bath Beach) recently introduced legislation to ensure that the city is prepared for any future state disaster emergency or local state of emergency. “As we have all seen with the COVID19 pandemic, all levels of government were caught off guard and ill-prepared, and the consequences have been dire, unacceptable, and completely avoidable. We need to ensure that our city has plans in place for any future public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks so that countless lives and livelihoods can be saved,” said Brannan.

Stringer slams Gowanus power project

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer has called on the New York State Board of Electric Generation Siting and the Environment to reject the Astoria Generating Company’s Gowanus Repowering Project Proposal. Rather than continuing to allow peaker plants to run off of fossil fuels, the comptroller said New Yorkers must seek every opportunity to leverage new technology. Astoria Generating Company’s plans would redevelop its existing peaker plant, located on barges floating in Gowanus Bay, with larger turbines powered by natural gas. Stringer said the company should look at sustainable alternatives that would rely on renewable energy and large utility-scale batteries.

Adams seeks to advance nutrition education

Borough President Eric Adams and Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic have released a report outlining opportunities in New York to advance nutrition education for physicians and other health professionals. Most physicians receive little or no formal education on nutrition. The report details several ways lawmakers can work with medical schools and similar institutions throughout the state to strengthen nutrition education requirements. With this knowledge, physicians will be able to include basic nutrition assessments during patient exams, respond to patient questions about food and diet, and make necessary referrals for their patients.

Marriage proposal on the Brooklyn Bridge disrupted

A man’s marriage proposal on Brooklyn Bridge’s promenade was disrupted when a cyclist crashed into the scene. Video of Chris Vigo proposing to Angelina Rivera shows everything going to plan, until a friend who was taking photos stepped into the bike lane. As he was trying to focus his camera, a cyclist collided with him. The cyclist said he was OK and pedaled off. As for the couple’s wedding plans, they’re still on.

Health Dept. closes Brooklyn, Queens yeshivas

A yeshiva elementary school in Brooklyn and a girls’ yeshiva in Queens informed community members that they will be closing due to an outbreak in COVID-19 cases. Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn sent out an email to families informing parents that the Department of Health has “instructed us to close our Elementary School building effective tomorrow.” The yeshiva will be permitted to return to its school building after Sukkot. Torah Academy for Girls, a yeshiva high school in Far Rockaway, was also forced to close due to COVID-19, according to the Jewish Week.

Workers find dynamite at recycling yard

Workers picking through a pile of scrap metal found what people believe was a stick of dynamite discarded in debris at a Brownsville recycling yard. Police said that employees of Gershow Recycling at 1885 Pitkin Ave. made the discovery at around 12:20 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. The workers immediately called police, who called the Bomb Squad. Detectives retrieved the stick and put it into a containment vessel for disposal. Police believe the dynamite may have been formerly used for construction demolition, according to amNewYork.

Firefighters discover hidden cash

While fighting a fire in Old Mill Basin on Thursday night, firefighters cut through a ceiling and discovered hundreds of bundles of $100 bills, wrapped in clear plastic. The cash could total more than $1 million, and a neighbor said it came from the life insurance policy of a resident’s deceased husband. The fire took place around 2 a.m. at a three-story brick row house at East 57th Street. Even next-door neighbors knew nothing about the cash. The bundles were turned over to the NYPD so they could voucher them, the New York Post said.

Mask-wearing still scarce in Hasidic Williamsburg

In Hasidic Williamsburg, it’s common to see large numbers of people on the street not wearing masks, although many carry masks for when they enter stores. “It’s striking seeing hundreds of people, families and individuals all not wearing masks, without any exceptions,” said Mark Horowitz, a writer who often visits the area. Residents have a simple explanation. “I had it already and most of the members of my community had it already,” one young man said. Another said that “the rebbes aren’t wearing masks” and “no Hasidic leaders are telling people to put on masks,” according to The Times of Israel.

Simon considering run for BP

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (D-Brooklyn Heights-Downtown Brooklyn-Cobble Hill-Carroll Gardens-Park Slope) said last week that she is exploring the idea of running for Brooklyn borough president and will make a decision soon. Several supporters have been making calls to elected officials seeking their support on behalf of Simon.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.