Brooklyn Today November 29: Hakeem Jeffries Elected Chair of House Democratic Caucus

The Lede

Happy Thursday! Hakeem Jeffries is elected chairperson of the House Democratic Caucus, the Barclays Center shooter is convicted, and Brooklyn Bridge Park moves forward with a controversial upgrade. Plus, the Cobble Hill Association tears down a wall, we go inside Sunset Park’s new Japanese market, and Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens is closing this weekend. Finally, Red Hook gets a little safer, a blind woman falls down an elevator shaft, and we recommend the best steakhouses in the city.

Imprint

A host of female all-stars like Lady Gaga, Nicole Kidman and Rachel Weisz grace the most recent cover of The Hollywood Reporter.

The Rundown

MAJOR BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK UPGRADE COMMENCES AS BQE QUESTIONS LOOM

The excavation phase is complete, and construction is going ahead on 3.2 acres of new parkland in Brooklyn Bridge Park in the uplands of Pier 2. This sounds like good news — but not for everybody. Construction has begun despite uncertainty over the course of the upcoming BQE renovation. This has some residents asking how the park can justify proceeding with costly construction which might have to be torn down if an alternate BQE reconstruction plan is approved — in the exact area where park construction is underway. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

HAKEEM JEFFRIES ELECTED CHAIR OF HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

Brooklyn will have a seat at the table when key decisions are made in the new Democratic-controlled House in January. U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat whose congressional district cuts across Brooklyn and Queens, was elected by his fellow Democrats on Wednesday to serve as chairperson of the House Democratic Caucus. It’s the fourth highest position in the Democratic House leadership. As caucus chairperson, Jeffries will preside over caucus meetings and help the House Speaker and other top House leaders to set the party’s legislative agenda. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

PARTIALLY BLIND, ELDERLY WOMAN FALLS DOWN ELEVATOR SHAFT IN DITMAS PARK

A 66-year-old partially blind woman fell into an open elevator shaft in her Ocean Avenue building late Wednesday afternoon. Josephine Camtor, a resident of 615 Ocean Ave. for about a year, was entering the first-floor elevator, but didn’t realize that the elevator wasn’t there. She stepped inside the shaft and crashed down into the basement. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene, where they found Camtor lying in the elevator shaft in pain. Rescuers were able to remove her from the basement level and take her to an ambulance. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

SUSPECT CONVICTED FOR DAYTIME SHOOTING OUTSIDE BARCLAYS CENTER

A 30-year-old man from Brooklyn was convicted on Wednesday of first-degree assault and first-degree attempted assault for shooting a 50-year-old man outside of Barclays Center last year. Jonathan Cordoba was convicted following a jury trial in front of Justice John Hecht. “This defendant fired numerous shots in the middle of the day in a busy area, endangering scores of innocent people,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. “Luckily, no one was killed. This verdict underscores our commitment to the safety of the people of Brooklyn.” (via Brooklyn Eagle)

COBBLE HILL: REPLACE FORTIS’ BRICK WALL WITH WROUGHT IRON FENCE

The Cobble Hill Association has come up with its own proposal to counter an unpopular 9-foot-high brick wall that Fortis Property Group asked to build around a swimming pool at its 5 River Park development. The wall or fence would extend 49 feet around the pool. Instead of a wall, the group is submitting a proposal for a classic wrought iron fence to Community Board 6 on Thursday. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

BROOKLYN FINALLY GETS A JAPANESE MARKET OF ITS OWN

Saying that Brooklyn is a food destination is, at the end of 2018, a full-on platitude. Yet, despite the worldwide culinary experience the borough has been offering, Japanese cuisine has had a shortage of representation. At least until now. Since mid November, the 20,000-sq.-ft. Japan Village in Sunset Park’s Industry City has been in soft-opening mode, with offerings ranging from an outpost of Manhattan’s Japanese supermarket Sunrise Martto back-alley-style stalls that celebrate the wide variety of Japanese comfort food ranging from ramen to okonomiyaki, the decadent savory pancakes. (The Bridge via Brooklyn Eagle)

PRIME MEATS IN CARROLL GARDENS IS CLOSING THIS WEEKEND

Carroll Gardens eatery Prime Meats, a German restaurant known for its steaks, is closing on Sunday. The owners Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli plan to expand their next-door Italian restaurant, Frankies 457 Spuntino, into the space, as well as establish a new wine bar. From now until Sunday, the restaurant is offering a special farewell menu that includes dishes like wagyu beef tartare, roast chicken and bratwurst. (Eater via Brooklyn Eagle)

CITY INSTITUTES MEASURES TO MAKE RED HOOK’S COLUMBIA STREET SAFER

City officials plan to install four crosswalks across Columbia Street in Red Hook that they believe will help pedestrians cross the busy street more safely. Two of the crosswalks will be installed at the intersection of Nelson and Columbia streets, while the other two will traverse the street at the three-way junction where Commerce and Luquer streets also meet. Workers will also install pedestrian warning side and curbside ramps for the disabled at each of the crosswalks. Between 2012 and 2016, 26 non-fatal crashes took place on this five-block stretch. (Brooklyn Paper via Brooklyn Eagle)

VICTIMS OF BROOKLYN PROSECUTOR’S ILLEGAL EAVESDROPPING FILE FOR DAMAGES

A proposed class action filed in Brooklyn’s federal court says that hundreds of law enforcement officials and other city employees whose phone conversations were eavesdropped upon by a former Brooklyn prosecutor may be entitled to thousands of dollars in damages. Tara Lenich, who worked as deputy bureau chief in charge of investigations for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, was sentenced in February to one year in prison. Under the Wiretap Act, people whose phone conservations were subject to Lenich’s eavesdropping could be entitled to up to $10,000 each in damages.(New York Law Journal via Brooklyn Eagle)