Around Brooklyn: Bicyclist killed in Williamsburg crash with bus

December 28, 2020 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

People have installed "ghost bikes" around the city in memory of killed cyclists. This one is at Church Avenue and Nostrand Avenue in Flatbush. Eagle file photo by Todd Maisel

Ghost bikes across the city mark the sites where cyclists have been killed. Eagle file photo by Todd Maisel

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Bicyclist killed in Williamsburg crash with bus

A 23-year-old bicyclist was killed on Wednesday night after colliding with an MTA bus in Williamsburg. Police say the young man was on his bicycle, riding north on Graham Avenue next to the bus, when the crash took place just after 7:30 p.m. The man sustained injuries to his body and was taken by EMS crews to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. “This is a terrible tragedy and our heart goes out to the cyclist and their family during this tremendously difficult time,” said Amanda Valdes, an MTA spokesperson. “Our thoughts are also with the bus operator. We are working closely with the NYPD on this matter.”

Fire sweeps through caterer

Fire swept through Bassett Caterers on Avenue X in Sheepshead Bay early Saturday morning. It took nearly 140 firefighters, two of whom had to be hospitalized, to put out the flames. According to the caterer’s website, the business has been around since 1962. Russell D’Antonio, an owner since 1988, said, “I stretched myself in getting through COVID, now I got to get through this, it won’t be easy,” according to NY1 News

Cop saved by bulletproof vest

A police officer was shot in the back in Brooklyn on Thursday night, but may have been saved by a bulletproof vest. The officer was responding to a domestic dispute at 1798 Bergen St. in Crown Heights just after 9 p.m. when the gunman opened fire. The suspect, identified as William Moss, was on his way to his girlfriend’s house when he allegedly told her that he had a gun and was going to open fire when he got there, sources said. Police arrived after the girlfriend’s mother called 911. Moss allegedly shot the cop, then fled. Police chased him and took him into custody, according to the New York Post.

Perris resigns at CB2

Robert Perris, district manager of Community Board 2 (Brooklyn Heights-DUMBO-Fort Greene-Downtown-Boerum Hill) has resigned from the post he’s had for 17 years, according to published reports. Perris said he’s been the only one in the office since the coronavirus, after the departure of two staff members. In a memo, board chair Lenny Singletary said, “Over the years, the Community Board has benefitted from Rob’s considerable knowledge about and long experience working in City Government.” Beforehand, Perris worked in the planning departments of former Borough President Howard Golden and Marty Markowitz.

Affordable housing lottery in Sheepshead Bay

An affordable housing lottery is open for 2633 Ocean Avenue apartments, an eight-story development in Sheepshead Bay. The building, designed by Zpoekt Architects and developed by Michael Lillakis, will contain 60 apartments, a mix of studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms. The 18 affordable apartments, available on NYC Housing Connect, are available for people whose incomes range from $56,572 to $159,640. Amenities include a rooftop terrace, a children’s playroom, a gymnasium, a recreation room, bike storage and a virtual doorman. The building also contains ground-floor retail and 30 parking spaces, according to New York YIMBY.

Williams, Persaud distribute toys for Christmas

Assemblywoman Jaime Williams (D-Canarsie, Georgetown, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) along with State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D- Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Old Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, Starrett City), other lawmakers and community helpers helped distribute toys to over 200 children in a Holiday Toy Drive Distribution. “The times we are in are tough enough and we are fortunate to be able to bring some much-needed additional smiles to our district and most importantly our children,” remarked Williams.

‘Central Park 5’ bill passes

Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus (D-Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Bay Ridge) and State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery (D-Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, Red Hook, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Sunset Park, Gowanus, Park Slope) saw their Central Park 5 bill, requiring video recording of all juveniles accused of delinquency in family court get signed into law this week. The legislation (S.6533/A.7970) closed a provision where previously, video recordings were required only in the few cases where minors were accused of violent felonies. Frontus said, “What happened to the Central Park 5, who we now refer to as the Exonerated 5, should never happen to any child, and the way to ensure that is with the transparency that these recordings will provide.”

Rep. Clarke’s fentanyl bill passes

U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke’s (D-East Flatbush, Central Brooklyn) legislation to protect Americans from exposure to synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) passed both in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The Synthetic Opioid Exposure Prevention and Training Act (H.R. 4739) will require mandatory safety measures so the workers screening packages and cargo entering our country can properly and safely screen for fentanyl and other synthetic opioids at our borders and in airports, like New York’s JFK Airport.

“Empowering our workers who screen packages in our airports and at our borders to feel safe when looking for fentanyl helps keep this deadly drug off our streets while protecting these workers from accidental exposure and potential death,” she said.

Group attacks brothers, killing one

Police are investigating a stabbing that claimed the life of a young man in Kensington. It happened just before 8 p.m. Wednesday at the corner of Coney Island Avenue and Turner Place. Twenty-one-year-old Tyler Nichols was walking with his older brother 24-year-old Shane Nichols when a group of men jumped out of a car and assaulted them. Tyler Nichols was stabbed. The four men then ran away, leaving a red car at the scene. The victim was taken by New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The four attackers are described as two Black men and two Hispanic men, all in their 20s, all approximately 5’6″ tall, according to ABC News.

Stringer: Infants are unsafe in city shelters

New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer recently released an audit of infant safety within the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelter system, revealing widespread hazardous conditions in sampled shelters where infants reside – including exposed electrical outlets, mold and mildew, vermin infestations, broken or missing window guards, and unsafe cribs. The Comptroller’s auditors found deficiencies raising health and safety concerns in all 13 shelters they visited and 92 percent of the 91 units they inspected, including 32 units with 4 or more safety concerns in 11 shelters. The audit also found that non-compliant shelter operators faced no apparent consequences; five of the 13 shelters in the audit sample were allowed to continue doing business with the City after receiving poor performance evaluations from DHS.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.