Brooklyn Today January 29: Brooklyn Today January 29: BQE Rehab Plan Would Put Roadway Over Brooklyn Bridge Walkway

The Lede

THE LEDE: Happy Tuesday! ICE arrests in Brooklyn continue to soar, SUNY Downstate turns off its taps, and the BQE rehab plan will put a roadway over the Brooklyn Bridge walkway. Plus, Andrew Gounardes is sworn into office, parents fight de Blasio’s effort to change school admissions, and a woman is crushed by her car in Bay Ridge. Finally, fried chicken is coming to Williamsburg, the L train causes more headaches, and we recommend the best ice skating rinks in the city.

Imprint

IMPRINT: British model Naomi Campbell graces the March cover of Vogue U.K.

The Rundown

LEGIONNAIRES' BACTERIA CLEANUP ONGOING AT SUNY DOWNSTATE’S BROOKLYN HOSPITAL

The water taps are turned off at SUNY Downstate’s University Hospital of Brooklyn following the discovery of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease in the drinking water. Patients are being supplied with bottled water for drinking and provided with “bath in a bag” products in lieu of using showers. Testing indicated a high percentage of samples were positive for Legionella pneumophila. Most people exposed to the germs do not get sick, but people 50 years old and older – especially those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions – are at a higher risk. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

REPORT: NUMBER OF ICE ARRESTS IN BROOKLYN COURTS SOARS

A report issued by the Immigrant Defense Project on Monday outlines an increase in arrests by ICE agents in New York courthouses by 1,700 percent in 2018. IDP documented 202 reports of ICE arrests and sightings in all of New York’s courthouses last year, a 1,700 percent increase since early 2017, according to the 15-page report. About 75 percent of ICE arrests statewide have occurred in New York City — and Brooklyn had the most arrests and sightings in any of the five boroughs. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

GOUNARDES OATH OF OFFICE CEREMONY FEATURES TALK OF COMEBACKS

Democratic state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who defeated Republican incumbent Marty Golden in November, was sworn into office on Sunday in an event featuring guest speakers such as U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who spoke with optimism about New York’s future. Several of the speakers mentioned that Gounardes, a lawyer and community activist from Bay Ridge, ran against Golden in 2012 and lost. The speakers offered their thoughts on how that campaign wound up planting the seeds for his win in the rematch. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

PARENTS FIGHT DE BLASIO EFFORT TO CHANGE ELITE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Parents opposed to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ambitious plans to overhaul admissions standards in the city’s elite high schools are battling the mayor on two fronts. A group of parents held a press conference in Dyker Heights on Friday to denounce de Blasio’s plans. The mayor has stated that he is looking to increase diversity in the specialized high schools so that more African-American and Latino students can gain admission. But Asian-American parents charged that the changes he is pushing would unfairly hurt their kids, who make up 62 percent of the students in the top schools. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

BAY RIDGE WOMAN DIES AFTER BEING PINNED UNDER CAR IN PARKING GARAGE

Alba Mazza, an 88-year-old Italian-American musician,died on Saturday after being pinned beneath her SUV in the parking garage of her apartment in Bay Ridge. Natalie Hale was walking her dog at approximately 5:45 p.m. when she witnessed the accident. “People were just walking by, and nobody did anything,” Hale said. “And then [the car] goes through the garage door and keeps going. I just didn’t know what was happening.” After the car stopped, Hale noticed a foot sticking out from underneath vehicle. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

NEW HEADACHES FOR L-TRAIN RIDERS ANNOUNCED BY MTA

While the 15-month shutdown of the L train has been canceled, L-train riders must now deal with MTA stopping weeknight service for eight straight weeks, which started yesterday. This latest shutdown, which will take place every weeknight between 10:45 p.m. and 5 a.m., will stop all trains west of Broadway Junction-East New York, affecting more than two-thirds of the line. MTA says the new arrangements are necessary to prepare the line for Gov.Andrew Cuomo’s new plan, which would repair the tunnels one at a time on weekends and at night. (Brooklyn Paper via Brooklyn Eagle)

CHEF KNOWN FOR FRIED CHICKEN TO OPEN CASUAL EATERY IN WILLIAMSBURG

A Washington, D.C. chef whose fried chicken was featured several times on the Food Network is opening a fast-casual restaurant in Williamsburg next month that will feature her famous fried chicken as well as donuts. Gillian Clark is headed to Bagock (named after the sound a chicken makes) at 173 Montrose Ave. between Humboldt and Graham avenues. Clark’s fried chicken won in a 2011 episode of “Beat Bobby Flay,” a cooking competition show that is well-known in foodie circles. (Eater via Brooklyn Eagle)

BQE REHAB PLAN WOULD PUT ROADWAY OVER BROOKLYN BRIDGE WALKWAY

The Brooklyn Heights civic group A Better Way NYC created a rendering of what the city’s plan to install a temporary roadway over and perpendicular to the pedestrian-bicycle path on the Brooklyn Bridge would look like. The images show the unsightly overpass blocking such landmarks as 1 World Trade Center and the bridge’s western suspension tower. Hilary Jager, spokeswoman for A Better Way, said, “The city’s ill-conceived closed-door plan won’t just dump pollution onto the doorsteps of thousands of families, it’ll desecrate two New York City icons.” (New York Post via Brooklyn Eagle)