Brooklyn Today February 6: Brooklyn Today February 6: Car Stolen in Cobble Hill, Police Chase Perp on Foot

The Lede

Happy Wednesday! A stolen car prompts a police chase in Cobble Hill, a grocery store specializing in Kings County artisanal goods opens in Brooklyn Heights, and MoCADA is bringing a sculpture garden to Fort Greene. Plus, six tiny lots could soon be transformed into affordable housing, deliberations in the El Chapo trial are set to resume this morning, and homeowners seek Cuomo’s help to lower property taxes. Finally, a pol demands DOT investigate a string of fatal Bensonhurst crashes, and we recommend the most romantic restaurants in the city.

Imprint

IMPRINT: Actor Armie Hammer poses neck-deep in water on the March coverof GQ U.K.

The Rundown

CAR STOLEN IN COBBLE HILL, POLICE CHASE PERP ON FOOT

A car was stolen on Tuesday afternoon around 12:35 p.m. in Cobble Hill on Atlantic Avenue and Hicks Street. NYPD pursued the vehicle to where it crashed on Pacific Street between Clinton and Henry streets. Video shows the careening car narrowly avoiding a group of students on the sidewalk. The perp then took off on foot and was chased by police. At press time, no arrests had been made, and no injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

NEW BROOKLYN HEIGHTS GROCERY SPECIALIZES IN KINGS COUNTY ARTISANAL GOODS

Most Brooklyn Heights residents are familiar with Jamel Othman’s Heights Falafel restaurant and takeout shop at 78 Henry St. Last week, his son, Karim Othman, opened an unusual business next door bearing the same address — Brooklyn Only Foods, a grocery store selling only products made in the borough. “There are many stores that carry Brooklyn-made products,” Othman said, but he wanted to spotlight Brooklyn-made food products in a way that other stores haven’t done before. In addition, the shop contains an art gallery. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

MOCADA IS BRINGING A SCULPTURE GARDEN TO FORT GREENE

Take it outside. The city Landmarks Preservation Commission gave the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts the go-ahead Tuesday to create a sculpture garden on a Fort Greene lot. The site, which has been vacant for several decades, is located at 48 Lafayette Ave. on the corner of Fort Greene Place. “The exhibitions will highlight the beautiful culture of the African diaspora,” MoCADA board member Randall Sawyer said before the commission’s unanimous vote. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

THESE SIX TINY LOTS IN BROOKLYN MAY SOON SEE INNOVATIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Hoping to solve a peculiar design problem, the city is calling on its architects with a peculiar request: think small. In this case, the instructions are literal. The Department of Housing and Development announced on Monday the Big Ideas for Small Lots initiative, an architectural competition to fill 23 of New York City’s narrowest vacant lots, many of which have been neglected and trash-strewn for decades. Six are in Brooklyn. The city will host a two-stage design challenge that asks architects to create models for affordable housing on a small scale. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

NO VERDICT FOR EL CHAPO AFTER SECOND DAY OF DELIBERATIONS

A jury at the U.S. trial of the infamous Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo ended its second day of deliberations without a verdict. Jurors were in court Tuesday to decide whether Joaquin Guzman should be convicted of drug-trafficking charges. Deliberations are to resume this morning. The 61-year-old Guzman is accused of operating a drug-smuggling empire that moved hundreds of tons of cocaine north of the U.S. border over two decades. Guzman has been in solitary confinement since being brought to the U.S. in 2017. He could get life in prison if convicted. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

DYKER HOMEOWNERS SEEK CUOMO’S HELP TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES

Carl Esposito’s property tax bill is going up $1,200 this year to $9,600. Esposito, a resident of Dyker Heights, said his parents paid $35,000 when they bought the three-family house in 1961. Today, the home is worth much more than that. But he doesn’t feel rich. “I’m lucky the house is paid for and I don’t have a mortgage. Otherwise, I don’t know what I’d do,” he said. Esposito was one of a small group of homeowners who is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to impose a mandate to bring NYC in line with other cities around the state where property tax levies are capped at two percent. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

COLTON DEMANDS DOT INVESTIGATE FATAL BENSONHURST CRASHES

Alarmed by fatal car crashes on Bensonhurst streets in recent months, Assemblymember William Colton is demanding that DOT turn its focus to the Southwest Brooklyn neighborhood to determine why the deadly incidents are happening. “What is really troubling me here is that too many people have lost their lives in those accidents, Colton said. “It is very shocking that nothing has been done about it. The matter is very serious and something needs to be done to prevent tragedies like these from reoccurring.” (via Brooklyn Eagle)