Around Brooklyn: Sen. Parker enters comptroller race

November 13, 2020 Editorial Staff

The corner house is 1423 Albemarle Road. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

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Sen. Parker enters comptroller race

Brooklyn State Sen. Kevin Parker has entered the race for New York City comptroller. Among his rivals, all on the Democratic side, are Brooklyn Councilmember Brad Lander, Manhattan State Sen. Brian Benjamin and Queens Assemblymember David Weprin. “We need people who have leadership and who can bring practical solutions to the table to get us out of this pandemic,” Parker said on NY1’s “Inside City Hall.” Parker represents Flatbush, Midwood, Park Slope, Kensington, Ditmas Park and Windsor Terrace.

Neil Diamond inspired by Dodgers

In a short memoir published in the Guardian, a British newspaper, rock star Neil Diamond reminisced about his childhood in Brooklyn and said that “the most important aspect of growing up there was the Dodgers baseball team.” He recalls the joy and euphoria that filled the streets after the Dodgers won the World Series when he was 14 and the disappointment after the Dodgers announced they were moving to California two years later. If the Dodgers hadn’t left, he said, he might never have turned his attention toward music.

Nadler, Velazquez support Sunset Park wind proposal

U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan-Brooklyn) and Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn) recently wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in support of Empire Wind’s Port Infrastructure Improvement Plan to build what would become the nation’s first offshore wind production hub at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park. “A project at SBMT will be part of the ecosystem of working waterfront we foster in Brooklyn,” the lawmakers said. “It also … can offer equitable economic opportunity for residents and area small businesses through training, workforce development and contracting.”

Catholics seek to block COVID restrictions

The Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block New York State’s coronavirus-related restrictions on houses of worship, saying the rules unfairly target religion. The diocese is challenging an executive order signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that limits attendance at churches to 10 people in the state’s red zones and 25 in orange zones. The diocese alleges that Cuomo’s order “expressly singles out houses of worship by that name for adverse treatment relative to secular businesses, and does so in a way that is not narrowly tailored to any compelling government interest.” The Supreme Court has rejected similar challenges by religious groups in California and Nevada, according to CNBC.

Off-duty cop shoots carjacking suspect

An off-duty NYPD officer on Wednesday morning shot a man who allegedly tried to hijack his white Mercedes in Canarsie, according to police. As surveillance video shows, the cop was driving home from work when the suspect got in front of the car and pulled out a gun. The officer got out of the car to confront the suspect. When he got back in, the suspect fired a shot into the vehicle but missed, according to police reports. The officer then pulled out his firearm and shot several times at the perp, striking him in the chest. Police said the suspect had two firearms and a knife, according to CBS News.

Clarke thanks U.S. veterans

U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D- Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Prospect Lefferts Gardens) on Wednesday honored this country’s veterans on Veterans Day, saying this country needs to make sure it is taking care of veterans by supporting the Veterans Administration, creating affordable housing and getting quality healthcare for those who enlist. “We owe those who have served our country a great debt, and they deserve so much more than a one-day celebration,” she said.

Eugene hosts hearing on summonses

Councilmember Mathieu Eugene (D-Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Lefferts Gardens) on Thursday co-sponsored, along with The Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) an “OATH In The Park Before Dark” event at the Parade Grounds in Prospect Park. The event had OATH staff at the park to assist and educate individuals about what to do should they have received a summons and to check to determine if someone has an outstanding summons.

Metal-and-glass exterior proceeds on Fulton St.

Installation of a metal-and-glass wall at 540 Fulton St. in Downtown Brooklyn is steadily proceeding. The tower, designed by Marvel Architects and developed by Jenel Management, is slated to include 327 residential units as well as retail stores on the lower floors and more than 70,000 feet of commercial space. The metal and glass “curtain” is rising up the north side facing Fulton Street and the back side facing Livingston Street, according to New York YIMBY.

Things aren’t looking up for restaurant industry

A new survey by the NYC Hospitality Alliance details a cold reality settling in over New York City’s restaurant industry, as 88 percent of respondents could not pay full rent in October, up from previous months’ reports and a signal that the sector’s crisis is far from over. According to more than 400 survey-takers representing restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues across the five boroughs, 30 percent of these small businesses could pay no rent at all during October; 59 percent of tenants’ landlords did not waive or reduce rent; and 83 percent of businesses have been unsuccessful in renegotiating their leases as a result of the pandemic. As frigid winter temperatures approach New York’s untested outdoor dining setups, high financial costs and uncertainty about dining behaviors hang over restaurant owners who are otherwise reduced to serving customers at 25 percent capacity indoors, and due to an increase in statewide, COVID-19 infection rates now have their operating hours further restricted, according to the NYC Hospitality Alliance.

Carroll introduces bill on mail-in ballots

Assemblymember Robert Carroll (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Ditmas Park) last week introduced legislation to count and canvass mail-in ballots as they are received by the Board of Elections, so that election results are reported in a more timely and efficient manner. After New York’s Primary Election in June, it took more than six weeks to count mail-in ballots and certify election results. Current law in New York requires that the Board of Elections begin counting mail-in ballots no more than eight days after a Primary election and 14 days after a General election. “Because of New York’s antiquated election laws there will be multiple down-ballot races where the results will not be known for weeks to come. This will have implications on the U.S. House, State Senate, and New York State Assembly,” he said.

Online seminar on AI, robotics

On Tuesday, the French American Institute will host a special webinar at 1 p.m. with Mark Esposito on artificial intelligence and robotics. Esposito is recognized internationally as a top expert on the digital revolution. He is co-founder of Nexus Frontier Tech, an artificial intelligence venture dedicated to helping businesses become more efficient and competitive. He will be joined by Adrien Treuille, who is co-founder and CEO of Streamlit, which pioneers next-generation tools for data scientists.

Ortiz comments on Affordable Care Act

Assemblymember and Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix W. Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) released a statement upon hearing the news that a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared ready to uphold certain tenets from the Affordable Care Act in light of recent challenges it has faced by President Trump and Republican-led states. “I was pleased to hear that a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court justices may vote to uphold most of the Affordable Care Act after it was challenged by Republican-controlled states and the Trump Administration. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh signaled that the Congressional decision in 2017 to end the penalty for not buying health insurance didn’t mean Congress wanted to end Obamacare entirely,” he said.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.