Brooklyn Today February 21: Brooklyn Today Feb. 21: Are Catholic Schools Prepared to Discuss Sex Abuse With Students?

The Lede

Prosecution of low-level marijuana cases are down 98 percent, the alternative BQE plan will not block the Brooklyn Bridge view after all, and not all catholic schools are prepared to discuss sex abuse with students. Plus, presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg speaks at the Brooklyn Public Library, the borough’s third boozy Taco Bell faces opposition, and former Dodgers great Don Newcombe dies at 92. Finally, freight trains could make a comeback in Brooklyn, and we recommend the best soups in the city.

Imprint

IMPRINT: English actress Felicity Jones poses in black and white on the latest cover of Stylist.

The Rundown

ARE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PREPARED TO DISCUSS SEX ABUSE WITH STUDENTS?

The Brooklyn Diocese released the names of 108 clergy members credibly accused of sexual abuse against children and parishioners at their Brooklyn and Queens churches and schools on Friday. Despite the latest revelation of church abuse, not all Catholic schools are taking a proactive approach to reaching out to families and students, according to school staff, families and alumni who spoke with the Eagle anonymously. “To be honest, our school hasn’t addressed it at all,” one teacher said. “It hasn’t been mentioned to me by parents. We haven’t even received anything from the archdiocese about it or how to handle it.” (via Brooklyn Eagle)

ALT BQE PLAN WILL NOT BLOCK BROOKLYN BRIDGE VIEW AFTER ALL, SAYS DOT

DOT admitted on Tuesday that the agency goofed when it said the Brooklyn Heights Association’s plan for a temporary Brooklyn-Queens Expressway bypass would travel over the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway. A DOT spokesperson said that with multiple BQE proposals out there, there was a miscommunication about the alternate route proposed by the neighborhood association. The spokesperson said DOT understood the need for a retraction.(via Brooklyn Eagle)

BROOKLYN DA: PROSECUTION OF LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA CASES DOWN 98 PERCENT

Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said last week that his office is no longer prosecuting low-level marijuana possession cases and is vacating more than 1,400 related warrants. Over the past year, the number of simple marijuana possession cases prosecuted in Brooklyn was down by 98 percent, Gonzalez said. “It costs my office about $2,000 a pop to process a marijuana arrest. That’s your tax dollars and it’s not keeping us safer,” he said. “I’d rather spend that $2,000 working on a sex crime or domestic violence case.” (via Brooklyn Eagle)

PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL PETE BUTTIGIEG SPEAKS AT BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old Democratic mayor of South Bend, Indiana, visited the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Branch Monday to tout his book — and his bid to be the youngest person to ever occupy the Oval Office. Buttigieg outlined his stance on several issues, including his support for the Green New Deal and universal health care. He also said he supported the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, but maintaining a military presence in Syria. Buttigieg, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, defended his relatively young age and lack of federal government experience for the audience. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

BROOKLYN’S THIRD BOOZY TACO BELL FACES BOARD OPPOSITION

Want booze with that Chalupa Supreme? Taco Bell plans to serve wine, beer and slushies blended with vodka, rum or tequila at the restaurant it’s building at 58 Court St. in Brooklyn Heights. Before the drinking can commence, however, the fast-food chain needs a liquor license for this location. Earlier this month, CB 2’s health, environment and social services committee voted against granting a liquor license to the proposed Taco Bell Cantina. The group’s executive committee is scheduled to vote on the liquor license application on Monday. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

WILL BROOKLYN’S FREIGHT TRAINS GET ROLLING AGAIN?

On occasional moments of quiet in Brooklyn, when the sounds of honking horns and garbage trucks die down, residents can hear the lonely whistle of a freight train. Many might wonder where it’s coming from, since lines of boxcars are not a familiar sight in Kings County. The answer is that a few freight trains still roll along the Bay Ridge Branch of the New York & Atlantic Railway. Freight-rail advocates see a golden opportunity for growth along the Bay Ridge line, thanks to the city’s Freight NYC initiative, a $100 million plan to modernize the city’s freight-distribution system. (The Bridge via Brooklyn Eagle)

FORMER DODGERS GREAT DON NEWCOMBE DIES AT 92

Don Newcombe, the hard-throwing Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who was one of the first black players in the major leagues and who went on to win the Rookie of the Year, MVP and Cy Young awards, has died at 92. The team confirmed that Newcombe passed away Tuesday morning after a lengthy illness. “Don Newcombe’s presence and life established him as a role model for Major Leaguers across the country,” Dodgers President Stan Kasten said. Newcombe, like Dodgers teammate Jackie Robinson, was signed by Branch Rickey from the Negro Leagues. (AP via Brooklyn Eagle)