The Day: 35th District Race, a Sculpture to Leave Fort Greene Park and a Real Estate Summit

About three months after Citi Bike Share came to the nabe, we noticed this rack on Lafayette Avenue at Classon Avenue nearly empty at about 2:30 p.m. yesterday. Have you been using the bikes, locals? What do you think so far? (Photo by Amanda Woods)
About three months after Citi Bike came to the nabe, we noticed this rack on Lafayette Avenue at Classon Avenue nearly empty at about 2:30 p.m. yesterday. Have you been using the bikes, locals? What do you think so far? (Photo by Amanda Woods)

Good morning, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Although public schools don’t open until Sept. 9, yesterday was the first day of school for some private schools. Did your kids start school this week? How was the first day back? Tell us in the comments, locals. We’d also like to see some first day of school style, so feel free to snap a shot and share it in our Flickr group.

This evening marks another beginning – the start of Rosh Hashana, or Jewish New Year. We posted on Monday about the Chabad of Fort Greene’s observance of the holiday, including services and events that will be held today and tomorrow.

Here’s more news to start your day:

  • The New York Daily News wrote a brief overview of the race for the 35th District City Council seat, who will represent Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant and parts of Crown Heights. Laurie Cumbo, Olanike Alabi, Ede Fox, Jelani Mashariki and F. Richard Hurley are hoping to replace current Council Member Letitia James, who is vying for the city’s Public Advocate position. The 35th District seat has traditionally been held by a black woman, but the district’s white population has jumped by 600 percent since 2000, the article outlined. Affordable housing is one of the central issues of the race, the paper reported. With no Republican candidates seeking the position, whoever wins the Democratic primary on Sept. 10 will take the title.
  • Fort Greene Park’s Tomorrow Sculpture, on Myrtle Avenue at Washington Park, will be removed on Sept. 19 after a year-long installation at the park, Myrtle Minutes reported. The sculpture, designed by artist Akihiro Ito, played host to the Sing for Hope pianos, the P.S. 20 jazz band during Make Music New York and other local festivities. Before the sculpture moves to its next home, which was not revealed in the post, a farewell party will be held in front of the sculpture on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. The party will include family-friendly activities such as a fruity pop workshop, keepsake family Polaroids with the sculpture and snacks with Myrtle Eats Fresh community chefs, according to the blog.
  • If you’re interested in real estate, Massey Knakal Brooklyn is holding its fourth annual real estate summit on Sept. 17 at Stage 6 Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. At this event, tenants will take the stage alongside real estate professionals to explain why Brooklyn is so popular for retailers, office tenants and renters lately, and how owners can harness that attractiveness and get deals done. The conference, which is expected to garner 500 attendees, will also feature a performance by The Wailers, Bob Marley’s former band, and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the city.  If you’d like to purchase tickets, check out www.mkbrooklynsummit.com. If you’re interested in speaking at the conference, you can reach out to Greenpearl Event’s Clare Kelly at clare@greenpearlevents.com. If your company is interested in sponsoring the summit, you can contact Greenpearl Event’s Abel Devis at abel@greenpearlevents.com.