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Billy Richling

Billy Richling

Billy Richling is a staff reporter for Bklyner, covering politics, real estate and everything else. He lives in Flatbush, and previously worked for the Times Square Alliance.
Feb
22
New BOE Counsel is a Boundary Breaker—and a Shrewd Political Choice

New BOE Counsel is a Boundary Breaker—and a Shrewd Political Choice

Hemalee Patel at a political event in 2020. Liena Zagare/BklynerLast week, the city’s Board of Elections [https://vote.
6 min read
Feb
22
Remembering Jah Hammed: Musician, Bike Shop Owner, Brownsville Staple

Remembering Jah Hammed: Musician, Bike Shop Owner, Brownsville Staple

Cleveland Smillie, also known as Jah Hammed. (Image courtesy of Quardean Lewis-Allen/Youth Design Center)Cleveland Smillie, a laid-back Jamaican
4 min read
Feb
19
First Lady Chirlane McCray Tells Canarsie Vaccine Site Workers: “You are Loved”

First Lady Chirlane McCray Tells Canarsie Vaccine Site Workers: “You are Loved”

Chirlane McCray, center left, visits a Canarsie vaccination site. Around her, from left to right, are Department of Health First
2 min read
Feb
19
District 39 Council Candidates Talk BQE, Schools and Gowanus Rezoning

District 39 Council Candidates Talk BQE, Schools and Gowanus Rezoning

L-R Top row: West, Hanif, Schneider; bottom row: Haq, Krebs, ReinCandidates for Brooklyn’s Council District 39 (Park Slope, Carroll
6 min read
Feb
18
Brooklyn Politics News Roundup

Brooklyn Politics News Roundup

Brooklyn Borough President and current mayoral candidate Eric Adams. (Image: Todd Maisel/Bklyner)It’s been a busy week in
2 min read
Feb
18
Army Vet Brittany Ramos DeBarros Launches Bid for Malliotakis’ Congressional Seat

Army Vet Brittany Ramos DeBarros Launches Bid for Malliotakis’ Congressional Seat

Brittany Ramos DeBarros (Image: Campaign)Representative Nicole Malliotakis has been in Congress for less than two months. But she’s
3 min read
Feb
17
Masbia’s Brooklyn Soup Kitchens To Double in Size To Meet Unprecedented Demand

Masbia’s Brooklyn Soup Kitchens To Double in Size To Meet Unprecedented Demand

A line forms outside Masbia’s Borough Park location in May 2020. (Image: Alexander Rapaport/Masbia)Masbia, the Borough Park-based
4 min read
Feb
17
After Over a Decade in the Job, Executive Director of Pitkin Avenue BID Moves On

After Over a Decade in the Job, Executive Director of Pitkin Avenue BID Moves On

Daniel Murphy, executive director of the Pitkin Avenue BID, at the Pitkin Avenue Halloween Parade in 2017. (Image provided by
3 min read
Feb
17
New York Muslim Groups Organize To Turn Out Voters In Upcoming Local Elections

New York Muslim Groups Organize To Turn Out Voters In Upcoming Local Elections

Scene from a “Muslims Against Police Brutality” protest [/muslims-against-police-brutality-protest-bay-ridge-to-barclays-center/] in June 2020 (Image: Najm Designs Photography [https://www.najmdesignsny.com/
3 min read
Feb
16
How Will the Next Brooklyn Borough President Improve Community Boards?

How Will the Next Brooklyn Borough President Improve Community Boards?

“Look, I think community boards have huge issues with them that need a lot of reform.” That’s how Brooklyn
4 min read