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".
Sunday, December 20, 2009
UPDATE: Union Market at Old Blockbuster on Court Street
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.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
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.
Friday, December 18, 2009
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.
"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.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
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.
"“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.
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 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.
"“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.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Responsible Development in CB6
Community Board Six recently (finally) passed it's long-awaited responsible development policy. According to the Courier-Life papers:"Under the policy, all new construction, substantial renovations or additions totalling 10,000 square feet that come before the board for review would be subject to a series of actions called the “large project review process,” which asks applicants for as much information as possible about a project, and requests that a commitment is made to follow responsible development standards."
Although ambitious, it is highly doubtful that this policy will ultimately have any teeth. Land-use decisions must be made based solely on the merits of the project and whether or not it complies with local regulations. The nature of the applicant is completely irrelevant, especially because many times, projects change hands after approval.
Gowanus Canal Superfund me now!
To start out, here is the link to the EPA's Gowanus Canal site:http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/gowanus/
Also, check out the Coalition for Responsible Development's site, which has some good info on local thoughts on Superfund Status.
http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/
Hello World
Hello World (and Carroll Gardens!). This blog is intended to provide a forum for the discussion and dissemination of information regarding Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, and the immediate surrounding area. Occasionally, there will be original content and opinion, but I will attempt to stick to newsworthy items and allow for useful discussion.
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