Brooklyn Today January 30: Brooklyn Today January 30: Demonstrators Rally Against Reproductive Health Act

The Lede

THE LEDE: Happy Wednesday! Demonstrators rally against the Reproductive Health Act, a new food pantry is opening in Brownsville, and Mike Long steps down as Conservative Party chair. Plus, a school bus crash sends nine to the hospital, a vehicle flips over in Midwood, and a bit of Miami comes to Bed-Stuy. Finally, a Greenpoint bar is all the rage, the Brooklyn Navy Yard continues to attracts creatives, and we recommend the best bars with activities in New York City.

Imprint

IMPRINT: American singer Ciara poses with horses in the desert on the February cover of Vogue Arabia.

The Rundown

DEMONSTRATORS RALLY AGAINST REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT

A group of anti-abortion demonstrators held a protest against the state’s new Reproductive Health Act across the street from a ceremony in which one of the bill’s co-sponsors was taking his oath of office on Sunday. Former Republican state Sen. Marty Golden was among the dozens of protesters standing across from Fort Hamilton High School, where Democratic state Sen. Andrew Gounardes was celebrating. Gounardes defeated long-time incumbent Golden in November. Gounardes was a co-sponsor of RHA, a bill signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Jan. 22. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

MIKE LONG STEPS DOWN AS CONSERVATIVE PARTY CHAIR

It’s the end of an era. In a move that took his party’s leaders by surprise, Mike Long, who has served as chairperson of the New York State Conservative Party for 30 years, suddenly announced on Monday that he was stepping down. Long, 78, made his announcement at the conclusion of the 52nd Annual Conservative Party Political Action Conference. Long told party leaders that he had “a heavy heart,” but that he firmly believed “the time has come for me to step away as chairman” and that he felt “the time for new leadership is upon us.” (via Brooklyn Eagle)

SCHOOL BUS CRASH SENDS 9 TO HOSPITAL

A school bus carrying children collided with another car at the intersection of East 22nd Street and Farragut Road in Ditmas Park Monday morning, sending nine people to the hospital. Three of those injured required medical attention, while the others were required to go to Kings County Hospital for a full medical check-up. A Toyota, driven by an unidentified woman, crossed into the intersection and was struck on the right side, causing the car to mount the sidewalk, nearly hitting pedestrians walking toward the local schools on Bedford Avenue. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

VEHICLE FLIPS ON MCDONALD AVENUE

A car driving south on McDonald Avenue on Monday afternoon collided with the beams of an elevated subway station near Avenue I, causing the vehicle to spin out of control and flip over onto its side. Firefighters arriving on the scene were able to extricate the driver, who was taken to Maimonides Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It was unclear how the driver lost control. Within 20 minutes, emergency service officers righted the car and opened the busy avenue to traffic. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

FOOD PANTRY OPENING IN BROWNSVILLE SERVICES ALL INCLUDING THE HOMELESS

When Americans were in the midst of the government’s longest-ever shutdown, groups opened their doors to help federal employees who were not receiving their paychecks. “A lot of these businesses are doing these services from the heart, but I want them to also think about the homeless as well,” said Rev. Kevin McCall of Brownsville. To help, he is launching an evening-only food pantry and nonprofit called Social Justice Preacher. The food distribution centers, which will be open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day, will distribute food to the homeless when other organizations are closed. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

NEW CUBAN BAKERY BRINGS A BIT OF MIAMI TO BED-STUY

Ricardo Barreras, owner of Pilar Cuban Eatery in Bed-Stuy, seeks to further expand the Cuban experience into Brooklyn by opening Pilar Cuban Bakery at 397 Greene Ave. With Pilar Cuban Bakery, Barreras is seeking inspiration from the many Cuban cafes in Miami, which concentrate on sugary pastries and strong coffee. The new bakery will serve both sweet and savory pastries such as chicken empanadas, ham croquettes, guava-and-cream cheese pastelitos (similar to turnovers) and Cuban bread baked on the spot. (Eater via Brooklyn Eagle)

MANHATTAN AVENUE’S GOT SOUL, THANKS TO LOCAL BAR PONYBOY

Ponyboy, a bar that opened in September in Greenpoint, has various identities and can cater to several different crowds. The bar, which occupies the space of the former Manhattan Inn, “flutters from cocktail bar to discotheque to music hall to underground sushi society by zephyr-like whim,” according to The New York Times. People drink, tell stories and dance to the beat of classic soul, disco and funk. At times, there are live performances by local funk bands. Ponyboy is located at 632 Manhattan Ave. (NYT via Brooklyn Eagle)

BROOKLYN NAVY YARD SERVES AS A BROOKLYN ARTS HUB

For years, the Brooklyn Eagle has covered the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s role as an incubator for small manufacturers and startup tech companies. Now, it is serving the same function for art studios, arts-related nonprofits and businesses that serve the arts. Of the Navy Yard’s 400 tenants, 50 are artists, painters or sculptors, David Ehrenberg, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp., said. In a wider sense, almost all of the yard’s occupants are “creatives,” he added. The presence of creative artists has led to a boom in business in the surrounding area. (amNewYork via Brooklyn Eagle)