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Ben Brachfeld

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
Jun
18
An Assemblyman Accused His Opponents Of Putting “their knees on my neck” During A Debate

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
3 min read
Jun
17
Democratic Socialists Are Counting On Friendbanking To Increase Turnout In June Primary

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
3 min read
Feb
26
Ditmas Park Neighbors Still Homeless a Year After Fire

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
4 min read
Feb
24
Public Ownership Of Utilities Up For Discussion At A Series Of Town Halls

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
3 min read
Jan
31
BQX Community Meetings Ahead Of April Environmental Review: Here’s What’s Proposed

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
6 min read
Jan
21
Assemblywoman Bichotte: The New Queen of Kings Democrats

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
4 min read
Jan
13
‘This Is a Warning,’ Tish James Announces New Task Force Against Deed Theft

‘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
4 min read
Jan
13
Longest-Serving Member of the State Senate Announces Retirement and Endorses Tremaine Wright

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
3 min read
Jan
06
Menchaca Endorses Salmon in Race for Senate District 25 Seat

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
3 min read
Oct
31
NYC Has Planted 34,000 Trees in Brooklyn Since Sandy

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/
2 min read