Bklyner

Cuomo Says New York’s State of Emergency Will End After Thursday

Governor Andrew Cuomo announcing the end of New York’s COVID-19 State of Emergency on Wednesday, June 23rd. (Image: Governor’s office) Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that he will formally end the 15-month-long emergency declaration he imposed to beat back the COVID-19 pandemic. Given New York’s progress in

Election 2021

The Next Mayor Will Be From Brooklyn, And Other Takeaways From Tuesday’s Primary

A winding and contentious primary election season came to a rainy end yesterday, as Brooklynites and New Yorkers across the city headed to the polls to cast their vote for primaries in a range of citywide elected offices. A total of 750,000 Democrats and 51,000 Republicans voted across

Election 2021

On Primary Election Day, a Chance to Shape Brooklyn’s Future

Tuesday, June 22nd, marks a crucially important moment in the life of New York City: primary election day - the day Democratic primary voters will decide who will be our next elected representatives as the city emerges from a devastating pandemic that has killed over 33,000 New Yorkers. Our

Traveling George Floyd Statue Unveiled to Celebrate Juneteenth on Flatbush Avenue

On Saturday, June 19th, a statue was unveiled at Brooklyn Junction in Midwood. Designed by artist Chris Carnabuci, the 6-foot tall wooden statue of George Floyd will remain at the corner of Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues in Brooklyn for three weeks before moving to Union Square. The statue is a

Education

BELA - Bed-Stuy's All Girl Charter School Graduates It's Inaugural Class

“You need five people who play a different role in your life. I don’t believe in the concept of being self-made. None of us are self-made; we all need someone else. So that’s really what my speech was about.”

Odds and Ends: Pre-Election Day Tidbits from Around the Borough

From top left: Brooklyn Council District 33 candidates Elizabeth Adams, April Somboun, Victoria Cambranes and Sabrina Gates; District 40 Candidates Edwin Raymond and Josue Pierre; District 48 candidate Heshy Tischler; and Kings County Civil Court 7th District candidates Carmen Pacheco and Keisha Alleyne. Election day is tomorrow, June 22nd, and

Prospect Park Alliance Kicks Off Restoration of Lefferts Historic House, Unveils “Juneteenth Way” Designation

The Lefferts Historic House in 2014. (Image: Paul Martinka/Prospect Park Alliance) A 238-year-old structure in Brooklyn’s backyard is getting an update, along with installations intended to recognize Brooklyn’s African and African-American history. The Prospect Park Alliance, the nonprofit that oversees the park, joined city Parks Department leaders

COVID-19

Opinion: Why We Need Emergency Rental Assistance Program

"We live in a delicate housing ecosystem where one person’s rent payment is another person’s income, which becomes a mortgage payment, a water bill payment, and a property tax payment - it's all connected," explains Sen. Gounardes.

jobs

Domestic Workers Rally Seeking Recognition and Protection

bklyn sounds

Juneteenth as a Bklyn Music Holiday + Best Live Events 6/18-24

Black Music Matters, Local Music Matters. Support both!

politics

Some Brooklyn Poll Workers Receive Letter Telling Them to Support Party-Backed Candidates

Politics

In Council District 38, Candidates Seek to Represent a Mosaic of Communities

For the last eight years, this complicated district has been represented by Council Member Carlos Menchaca. Those vying to replace him will have to compete for votes across varied constituencies and geographies.

Letter To The Editor

Why do working class neighborhoods face relentless increases in property taxes, while landlords in upscale, politically connected neighborhoods pay far less?

A reader wonders why the property taxes on their Bensonhurst three family are more than Mayor de Blasio pays on his two Park Slope properties combined.

Education

‘It was a roller coaster’: A job running a Brooklyn after-school program transformed into triage during the pandemic

Schools like P.S. 89 have long served as safety nets for parents and students by forging strong bonds with community organizations. But those needs took on a new urgency during the pandemic.

Education

Parents on NYC School Survey: “There is a strong feeling that none of it matters.”

“My personal feelings on this survey,” she says, “Is that it really did not even begin to ask questions about remote learning, about complications with technology or remote classrooms."

Education

Free Lunch Reimbursements Starting For 2020/2021 School Year

"Children that participated in remote learning for more than 12 school days during a given month will receive $132 for that month; children who learned remotely for at least one school day but no more than 12 days in each month will receive $82 for that month," Governor's office informed.

Newkirk Plaza, overrun with rats and neglect, seeks owner to take responsibility

"Newkirk Plaza is overrun with rats, flanked by neglected properties, and the city still refuses to address the issue of ownership," starts the email from the Executive Director of the Flatbush Development Coalition Robin Redmond with a call to action, informing of an upcoming neighborhood demonstration and press conference this

Gov. Cuomo Lifts Almost All COVID-19 Restrictions

Now that 70% of all adult New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine shot, Governor Andrew Cuomo has lifted almost all of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions across the state as of today. What used to be mandatory - capacity restrictions, cleaning, health screening - is now optional for local

Real Estate

1 Willoughby Square, Downtown Brooklyn’s Tallest Office Tower, Is Open

This morning Mayor Bill de Blasio celebrated along with the owners, JEMB Realty Corporation, Rachel Loeb, President and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation, and local politicians the completion of 1 Willoughby Square in Downtown Brooklyn. Since the area was rezoned in 2004, at least 41 million square

Election 2021

In District 36 Council Race, Will Bed-Stuy’s Political Old Guard Hold Firm?

Progressives versus moderates. Insiders versus outsiders. A generational battle. Candidates and stakeholders have used all those framings to describe the Democratic primary for Brooklyn’s Council District 36, which includes Bed-Stuy and northern Crown Heights. The contest hinges not just on concerns about housing and public safety, but also on

Health

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Stops Admitting Patients as Delayed Shutdown Proceeds

The phased shutdown of a hospital serving eastern Brooklyn hit a turning point Wednesday: It marked the first day in more than 90 years that Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center didn’t admit patients to beds.

Education

‘Una gran familia’: How WhatsApp helped a small Brooklyn school remain a big family in the face of isolation and grief

By Christina Veiga, Chalkbeat New York The messages pinged at all hours, pleas from parents frantically trying to keep up with remote learning as the coronavirus pandemic took hold of New York City. A password for Zoom lessons. The third grade class schedule. Trouble logging into an email account. Each

elections 2021

Billionaire-Funded PAC Calls Progressive Candidates "Too Dangerous" in New Mailers

A PAC funded by real estate and business executives dropped over $300,000 on mailers attacking progressive candidates as "too dangerous for the City Council" while boosting more moderate ones.

bklyn sounds

Bklyn Sounds: Celebrating Celebrate Brooklyn! + Best Live Events 6/11- 6/17

elections 2021

In District 48, a Democratic Stalwart Faces Off Against a Former Republican

It’s been a tough few months for southern Brooklyn’s Council District 48. The district, which includes the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Homecrest, and Midwood, has struggled with stubbornly high COVID rates and pandemic-related misinformation, even as vaccines have become widely available. An increase in