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.
Election 2021
This year’s city elections mark the end of an era for Central Brooklyn’s 40th Council District: for the first time in fourteen years, term-limited incumbent Council Member Mathieu Eugene will not be running for the seat. Eugene is the Council’s longest-serving member, and his departure represents many
Politics
Progressive Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced support this weekend for over 20 Council candidates in ten Brooklyn races through her political action committee (PAC), along with a mayoral endorsement for Maya Wiley.
Elected officials, tenants and activists gathered outside a Park Slope building on Friday to announce a divestment campaign against an equity firm that has sought to force Brooklyn renters out of their apartments after buying up residential buildings during the pandemic.
food and drink
A local community organization wants the state to fund a ‘Central Brooklyn Food Hub’ it says would increase access to nutritious food and support minority farmers across the state. And it’s planning to launch pilots in two neighborhoods this summer to demonstrate the concept. The food hub is one
Politics
Update June 20th, 2021: Since this piece was published, candidate Lincoln Restler received the formal endorsement of several Satmar leaders and Hasidic State Assembly Member Simcha Eichenstein, who represents Borough Park. Yang, meanwhile, lost the support of some South Williamsburg leaders to rival Eric Adams. -- The leaders of South
north brooklyn pipeline
A community coalition is calling on Brooklyn residents to withhold National Grid utility payments in protest against a controversial natural gas pipeline in North Brooklyn. National Grid says the 7-mile pipeline, which runs from Brownsville to East Williamsburg, is needed to reinforce the city’s natural gas system. But the
Greenpoint
Mayor Bill de Blasio attends a vigil organized by Families for Safe Streets at McGolrick Park in Greenpoint on May 27, 2021. (Image: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would dedicate funding to redesign a dangerous Greenpoint roadway after a beloved local school teacher was
Central Brooklyn
The Flatbush Savings Bank building in March 2021. (Image: Dann Lawrence)A construction worker has fallen to his death at the site of a half-demolished historic bank building, according to police. The 49-year-old man was part of a crew working inside the former Flatbush Savings Bank building at 1045 Flatbush
Education
The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for parents with school-aged children, who have navigated the perils of remote learning, shifting case-count regulations and changes to admissions processes. So it’s perhaps no surprise that candidates seeking to replace term-limited Council Member Brad Lander in Council District 39 [https://council.
Election 2021
Khari Edwards has snagged the backing of some of Brooklyn’s most notable elected officials in his bid to become Brooklyn Borough President. Edwards [https://khariedwards.com/], a former Brookdale Hospital executive, has been endorsed by Congresswoman Yvette Clake and two Assemblywomen, Diana Richardson and Latrice Walker, in his bid
affordable housing
Does landmarking make neighborhoods more affordable or more expensive? Some Park Slope council candidates can’t seem to decide. At a debate on Sunday, seven candidates seeking to replace term-limited Brad Lander in the Council District 39 seat were asked if they would support expanding the Park Slope Historic District
canarsie
A crowded field of southern Brooklyn candidates agree on at least one thing. All eight candidates running to replace term-limited Council Member Alan Maisel in Brooklyn’s 46th Council District committed at a recent forum [https://www.facebook.com/lucina.clarke.3/videos/10223242705150511] to launching a participatory budgeting program