Sign in Subscribe

Ben Brachfeld

Ben Brachfeld is a freelance reporter based in Brooklyn. His work has also appeared in Gotham Gazette, City & State, and Gothamist. Reach out to him via email at benbrachfeld@bklyner.com, or on Tw

An Assemblyman Accused His Opponents Of Putting “their knees on my neck” During A Debate

Screenshot of AD51 Democratic primary debate on June 17, 2020Assemblymember Felix Ortiz, fighting to retain his seat against three major challengers in the Democratic Primary, said at a debate on Wednesday [https://www.facebook.com/uproseBk/videos/1377459162444308/] that his opponents were “trying to put their knees on my neck,

Democratic Socialists Are Counting On Friendbanking To Increase Turnout In June Primary

Democratic Socialist candidates for state legislature in Brooklyn are counting on a new, more personalized, but unproven, form of voter engagement, known as “friendbanking,” to turn out votes in their districts and win them seats in Albany in the June 23 primary. Candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America’

Ditmas Park Neighbors Still Homeless a Year After Fire

Tuesday rally. Ben Brachfeld/Bklyner.DITMAS PARK — Tenants and housing advocates protested outside Brooklyn Housing Court on Tuesday, on the one-year anniversary of a Ditmas Park fire at 180 E 18 St that left 18 families homeless [/two-fires-within-hours-at-ditmas-park-building/]. The tenants remain displaced despite a January 31 court-mandated deadline for repairs

Public Ownership Of Utilities Up For Discussion At A Series Of Town Halls

Blackout in Mill Basin, July 21, 2019 (Photo: Todd Maisel)A cascading series of scandals involving local utility providers has more and more New Yorkers clamoring for publicly-owned power, and now they have some powerful allies. City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Assemblymember Felix Ortiz, and several candidates for office spoke Wednesday

BQX Community Meetings Ahead Of April Environmental Review: Here’s What’s Proposed

BQX rendering 2020 via DOTThe Brooklyn-Queens Connector (BQX) [https://www.brooklynqueensconnector.nyc/] proposal to build a streetcar along the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts is moving forward with a community engagement process ahead of an environmental impact review in April of this year. The city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and

Assemblywoman Bichotte: The New Queen of Kings Democrats

Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte (center) with outgoing chair Frank Seddio (right) and Vice Chair, Annette Robinson (left). Ben Brachfeld/Bklyner Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte was selected as the new chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party Monday night, becoming the first woman to hold the position and the first black woman to lead

‘This Is a Warning,’ Tish James Announces New Task Force Against Deed Theft

NYS AG Tisch James by Ben Brachfeld / BklynerAttorney General Letitia James on Saturday led dozens of volunteers around Central Brooklyn to educate vulnerable homeowners, particularly Black homeowners in gentrifying neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights, about the risks of “deed theft.” Deed theft can take many forms, but often ends

Longest-Serving Member of the State Senate Announces Retirement and Endorses Tremaine Wright

Senator Velmanette Montgomery, photo via her official NY Senate Page.Velmanette Montgomery — the longest-serving member of the State Senate, with 35 years under her belt — officially announced her long-rumored retirement on Saturday, and endorsed Assemblymember Tremaine Wright to replace her in her central and western Brooklyn district. Wright announced her

Menchaca Endorses Salmon in Race for Senate District 25 Seat

Jason Salmon. Courtesy of Salmon for Senate.Jason Salmon picked up the endorsement of Council Member Carlos Menchaca in his bid for the 25th Senate District on Monday, gaining his first major backer as he attempts to succeed his former boss, longtime Senator Velmanette Montgomery, in her western and central

NYC Has Planted 34,000 Trees in Brooklyn Since Sandy

A downed tree in Bensonhurst in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Via Flickr user bigmike33x. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigmike33x/8148028948/in/photostream/]The city Parks Department has planted over 34,000 tees in Brooklyn since 2012, far outpacing the 4,000 trees lost in the borough as