The Day: Bill deBlasio in Clinton Hill, a Vigil for Syria and New Plants on Myrtle Avenue

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A graffiti message in the nabe encourages locals to “read more books.” What books will your kids be reading this new school year, locals? (Photo by 11238-bkn)

Good morning, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

The weekend’s beautiful weather reminded us that summer’s not quite over yet. But with high temperatures in the low 70s, according to the National Weather Service, today will feel just like fall. The new school year begins for the city’s public school students today. What are you and your kids looking forward to this school year? And don’t forget to share photos of your child’s first day in The Nabe’s Flickr group.

  • At a rally in Clinton Hill on Saturday, mayoral candidate Bill deBlasio responded to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s recent accusations in a New York Magazine interview that he is running a “racist” campaign and putting his wife, Chirlane McCray, who is black, on display to gain public support. DeBlasio called the interview “very unfortunate and inappropriate,” and said he hoped Bloomberg would “reconsider” his statements, according to a BuzzFeed post. DeBlasio’s daughter, Chiara, who was present at the rally, also spoke against Bloomberg’s statement. “My mom, my brother and I are all capable of making our own decisions,” she said. “Twenty years ago, my dad did not know he was running for mayor and did not seek to marry a black woman to put on display.”
  • Fort Greene Peace and Brooklyn For Peace will hold a vigil at Fort Greene Park today from 7 to 9 p.m. to oppose U.S. military intervention in Syria. Attendees will gather at the southeast corner of the park at DeKalb Avenue and Washington Park. Fort Greene Peace representatives have  attended the Fort Greene Park Greenmarket and have stood outside a local supermarket to collect 200 signatures on a petition against an attack on Syria, Mondoweiss reported. The petition said that “military strikes by the U.S. will not make any Syrians safer,” according to the website. Ed Goldman, an activist with the group, told the site, “We think it’s immoral, we think it’s illegal, we think it’s crazy politically in the region.”
  • New ornamental plants will be planted around Myrtle Avenue tree guards, Myrtle Minutes reported. The perennials, which will be planted in 25 tree beds, include liriope, hostas, creeping thyme and fountain grass, according to the blog. It’s difficult to find the right plants for these tree beds because a building may shade a bed in the spring and fall, but allow the sun in during the summer, exposing the plants to many different climates, the blog reported.