Brooklyn Today January 22: Brooklyn Today January 22: Stuck in Limbo, NY Gov’t Workers Assess Impact of Shutdown

The Lede

THE LEDE: Happy Tuesday! The full impact of the government shutdown could fall heaviest on low-income New Yorkers, Bay Ridge officials unearth troubling car crash statistics and renderings are released for the development on DUMBO’s old Watchtower parking lot. Plus, new restaurants bring foodie attention back to the Columbia Street Waterfront District and thousands sign a petition to bring a Trader Joe’s to Coney Island. Finally, the children of Justice Willie Thompson held a celebration of their father’s life with a ceremony at Borough Hall.

Imprint

IMPRINT: Actress Vanessa Hudgens graces the January/February 2019 cover of Marie Claire Indonesia.

The Rundown

STUCK IN LIMBO, NY GOV’T WORKERS ASSESS IMPACT OF SHUTDOWN

Heather Kramer notices the trash piling up along Cross Bay Boulevard as it bisects Gateway National Recreation Area. Under normal circumstances, employees with the National Park Service would pick up the garbage — but they are all furloughed during the government shutdown. Kramer is one of thousands of New York City residents experiencing the effects of the shutdown. The full impact of the shutdown will fall heaviest on millions of low-income New Yorkers who depend on federal benefits and entitlements, beginning March 1, when the funding will run out. “I cannot promise we’ll be okay,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. (via Brooklyn Eagle

BAY RIDGE OFFICIALS SEARCH FOR ANSWERS AS CAR CRASH STATS EXPLODE

In the wake of the revelation that 17 car accidents took place in the course of just a single day, Councilmember Justin Brannan and Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann unearthed even more troubling statistics. There were 3,312 car crashes in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. This is 400 more than the average number of collisions in other Brooklyn neighborhoods. And in 2018, 569 motorists driving in the 68th Precinct were issued tickets for driving without a license. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

FIRST LOOK AT NEW RENDERINGS FOR 85 JAY ST

Take a look at what the development on DUMBO’s old Watchtower parking lot will look like. The drawings show two towers, each 21 stories tall, connected by a low-rise base. The renderings serve as illustrations for a registration site for potential purchasers that the developers just launched for condos at Front and York, which is the name they’ve given the property. Sales of the one-to-four-bedroom condos are slated to launch later this year, according to a press release from the developers. There will be a total of 732 apartments at 85 Jay St. plus space for shops and a community facility. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

NEW RESTAURANTS LIVEN UP COLUMBIA STREET DINING SCENE

While several restaurants have left the Columbia Street Waterfront District, three new ones may bring foodies’ attention back to the neighborhood. The first is Krok at 117 Columbia St. with a menu that focuses on dishes from northern Thailand. The second is The Longshoreman at 215 Columbia St. between Sackett and Union streets, which is described as a “new neighborhood-friendly modern Italian restaurant.” And Popina at 327 Columbia St. has been around since 2017, but it will introduce brunch next month with menu items like hot chicken Milanese. (Bklyner via Brooklyn Eagle)

THOUSANDS SIGN PETITION SEEKING TRADER JOE’S IN CONEY ISLAND

Thousands of Coney Island residents have signed a petition calling upon Trader Joe’s to open a store in Coney Island. The petition’s co-organizer, who only identified himself as Alex, admitted that he owns three apartments in the neighborhood and that he wants a Trader Joe’s because he believes it would increase the value of his real estate. Alex said he and the petition’s co-creator, who is remaining anonymous, initially started the petition, which calls for “more skinny-pants residents” to Coney Island, as a joke. However, more than 2,600 people had signed the petition by Thursday morning. (Brooklyn Paper via Brooklyn Eagle)

HUNDREDS SHOW UP TO BOROUGH HALL FOR MEMORIAL TO JUSTICE WILLIE THOMPSON

The children of Justice Willie Thompson held a celebration of their father’s life with a ceremony at Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn that was attended by local politicians, judges and other members of the legal community. “Gail and I welcome all of you to this celebration of the life of our father, William C. Thompson,” said Bill Thompson Jr. “This isn’t a wake, this isn’t a mourning, this isn’t a down event. This is a celebration.” There were a handful of speakers at the event, each of whom shared their stories of the judge. All of the stories reflected upon Justice Thompson either as a family man or as a trailblazer in the Civil Rights movement. (via Brooklyn Eagle)