Red Hook is Solar Car Ground Zero

Brought to you in an old shipping container in Red Hook comes New York's first electric vehicle (EV) charging station, and this one uses a battery bank that stores solar energy to charge the cars. From In Habitat:

Located on an industrial lot near the Beautiful Earth’s headquarters overlooking downtown Manhattan, the off-grid, modular station is constructed of recycled steel shipping containers and powered solely by 235 watt photovoltaic panels. The car that is currently being charged at the station is a 100% electric BMW MINI E, and is now one of the few cars in the world to run exclusively on solar power. The vehicle has a range of just over 100 miles and takes about 3 hours to charge.

Check out the company running this amazing setup at www.beautifulearthgroup.com.

No car is really "green" and we need to get away from the mentality that our future transportation option are based around the car. Also, EV charging stations in Red Hook, which itself is out of the way for the majority of New Yorkers, will have limited use and application in building a charging station network, which is the real hold up for EVs.

Having said that, this is probably a step in the right direction in demonstrating that solar power is feasible for charging applications and (possibly) as cost-efficient as other powering methods.

Carroll Gardens Native Named New Fire Commisioner

According to both the Daily News and the Village Voice, Carroll Gardens native Sal Cassano (not to be confused with Antonio Cassano, the world-class Barese soccer player) has been named the FDNY's newest Commissioner. Although obviously lacking in housing choices (Commissioner Cassano now resides in Staten Island), he does have an impressive record as the FDNY's Chief of Department. Lets hope that fired deaths keep going down, the 911 dispatching system gets straightened out and budget woes don't force further cuts under Mr. Cassano's watch.

Snowpacalypse In Brooklyn Heights

Shocking! Marty Markowitz Comes to Defense of Brooklyn!

This is going to be hard to process, so hold on to your seats. According to the Brooklyn Eagle, Borough President (and new homeowner) Marty Markowitz has weighed in on the MTA's proposed service cuts, which are necessary to close a $400 million budget gap:

“In Brooklyn, the elimination of the Z subway service [forcing the J line to run local], the closing of the Lawrence Street station overnight along the R line, changes to the G and M lines in Brooklyn and Queens, drastic reductions in regular bus service ... and reductions in Access-a-Ride will add up to a disproportionate burden from Brooklynites.”

I know, take a moment to process that. So shocking to hear Marty stand up for our borough!

CGNA General Meeting - Monday, December 21st (Tonight!)

From the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association:

7:00pm-9:00pm
Hannah Senesh Community Day School Gym
324 Smith St

Agenda:

Dr. Peter Wood, LICH ED Director, Update from 76th Precinct, Updates from local elected officials/representatives

Reports from CGNA Committees: Land Use/Landmarks, Transportation, Health and Hospitals, Parks

Brooklyn Snow Time Lapse Video

HT to the Brooklyn Bugle.

Third Street Block Association Holiday Caroling

Every year, the Third Street Block Association (from Smith Street to the Canal) gets together and sings Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza/Non-Denominational carols for all on the block. Here is an interesting composition called "Matzah Balls".

UPDATE: Union Market at Old Blockbuster on Court Street

According to the Cobble Hill Blog, Union Market will be (finally) opening their newest location at 288 Court Street this Monday. Although it is sad to see another competitor to local shops such as Caputo's, Esposito's, the Carroll Garden Fish Market and even Good Foods, it is encouraging to see that more options are coming into the neighborhood. Additionally, the vacant (huge) storefront was there for too long and kind of killed that block. Lets hope that Union Market only helps the existing flavor and doesn't snuff it out, or further Slopification.

Update: According to Pardon Me For Asking and Cobble Hill Blog, Union Market's Court Street location will open on Tuesday, December 22nd, due to the weather conditions.

Ironic Ping Pong in Gowanus!

Stop the presses! Ironic sports in a hipster haven! From the Huffington Post:

"On Monday night the Bellhouse in Gowanus is hosting their semi-annual ping pong tournament. The competition is sure to be fierce, but the attitude is definitely all South Brooklyn."

If by South Brooklyn they mean skinny jeans, flannel shirts with ironic Ts underneath and lots of broke-ass imitations of Rivers Cuomo (who himself was doing a broke-ass Buddy Holly/Roy Orbison imitation), then yes, the attitude will be ALL South Brooklyn. However, if you expect to see anyone who knows what the South Brooklyn Casket Company is, good luck.

Amazingly Well Done Video on Brooklyn Heights

Be sure to head on over to the Brooklyn Heights Blog and check out a really well done video that chronicles the history of the Heights, Cadman Plaza, and much more. We will be trying to put together some videos shortly.

Cuts to Community Board Funding Possible?

New York City Community Boards do play an important role in local governance. Although not vested with any real authority, they do allow for concerns of residents to be at least aired. Community Boards do tend to generally be anti-development and don't really follow adopted rules and laws for ULURP proceedings, but providing a voice for community members is a valuable service, as well as disseminating information. From the New York Post:

"The cuts could amount to about 20 percent of each of the board’s budgets, an amount that advocates say could potentially cripple community boards, which represent the most local level of city government, and which advocates fear are under assault, possibly targeted for elimination when a new Charter Revision Commission is convened.

There are 59 community boards in the five boroughs, 18 in Brooklyn, and, this year, each has had a budget of around $200,000, to cover staff, rent and office expenses."

It would really be a shame to see these cuts made, not because the Community Boards need massive budgets, since the service they provide is not essential, but because the amounts are so trivial compared to other items in the budget.

Express F Train Service...but not in Carroll Gardens

Well, mixed news for all those in Carroll Gardens who are concerned about the F train service in Carroll Gardens. Although the MTA is currently studying the feasibility of reimplementing express service along the Culver Line, the main beneficiaries would be those in Southern Brooklyn (NOT South Brooklyn) who have extensive commuting times. According to Courier Life:

"“F express is good for some neighborhoods and not others,” according to Andrew Inglesby, assistant director of MTA Government and Community Relations. “It’s really good for the southern portion [of the borough], but for Carroll Gardens, you have to look at which stations will be express stations.” The express would stop at Jay Street, Seventh Avenue and Church Avenue, where the infrastructure will allow its reinstatement. It would bypass Bergen Street, Carroll Street, Smith/9th Street, 15th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway."

Mr. Inglesby has a good point. Commuting to the city from Carroll Gardens is a breeze, especially when compared to the commute times from farther afield in the borough. Although at times crowded (which an express train will help with), one of the characteristics that makes our area so desirable is the short travel times to Manhattan.

Ratner Raises Some Serious Cash - 500 Large!

Downtown developer Bruce Ratner, whose projects have and will continue to reshape the face of downtown Brooklyn, raised over $500 million two days ago for his controversial Atlantic Yards project. From the New York Times:

The $1 billion basketball arena at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues is the centerpiece for the 22-acre Atlantic Yards development, which is to include more than 6,000 apartments.
“There was a strong appetite for the bonds,” said Jay Abrams, a bond analyst at FMS Bonds. “The market was comfortable with the ratings the deal received and the security that was pledged.”

Whatever your stance on the Atlantic Yards Development, this is a pretty resounding vote of confidence from financial investors for the future of the development.

Murder on 4th Street

Sad news for the safety of all in Carroll Gardeners.  In what police are terming a home invasion, a 29-year old 4th Street resident was found dead from a gunshot. From the Daily News:

A young rock musician was found dead in his apartment on a quiet Brooklyn street - with a bullet in his heart, cops said Friday. No one has been arrested in the killing of drummer Troy Young, 29, and the motive for the shooting was a mystery. His body was discovered after a friend went to the 76th Precinct to report him missing. Cops said he was shot in the shoulder and the bullet went through his heart.


Just another reminder to be vigilant in these times.

A Familiar Tune from a New Politician

It never ceases to amaze how constituents think that a new politician will change things. In the latest example, New York City Councilman-elect Brad Lander (who I voted for, in the interests of full disclosure) came out with a classic non-statement in the egregious case of the Hannah Senesh's land grab. For more on the background of the case, check out Katia Kelly's Pardon Me For Asking. Here is what Brad had to say, courtesy of the Brooklyn Eagle:

"“The change being proposed is a significant one, which would involve an amendment to the city’s Administrative Code to remove the courtyard requirement on this lot, the disposition of the lot from the DOT to Hannah Senesh, and other land use actions,” said Lander in a statement, adding that he is against any process that would not include community hearings and a vote by Community Board 6."

Brad, the issue is very simple. The additional time you're taking to make up your mind will only allow you more time to get further and further from the wishes of your constituents, and more time to be lobbied by an organization that brings only problems to this neighborhood.

Of course, the most egregious part of it all seems to be that the lot is currently used as a parking lot, and no one has said boo about it.