Community Corner
🌱 Councilman Switches Parties + Pot-Selling Prosecutor + Your Monday
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.
Happy Monday, Brooklyn! It's me, Carlie Houser, your host of the Brooklyn Daily — here to tell you all the most important things happening in our community. Including news on:
- Democrat to GOP—a Brooklyn Councilman is declaring he's switching teams
- Former D.A. prosecutor pleads guilty to pot selling ring involvement
- Chickens and green slime among other complaints in tenant harassment case
But first, today's weather:
🌤 Mostly sunny. High: 49 Low: 42.
🏡 Are you looking for a way to differentiate yourself from other real estate agents in Brooklyn? Our exclusive newsletter sponsorships help you gain valuable exposure and attract new clients. Click here to learn more.
Here are the top stories in Brooklyn today:
1. Brooklyn Councilman Ari Kagan is expected to switch his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican today, and announce a general election challenge against one of his Democratic colleagues next year. Kagan was elected in 2021 to represent Coney Island and other southern Brooklyn neighborhoods as a Democrat, but anonymous sources say that the Councilman declared in an afternoon press conference that he would announcing that he's becoming a Republican. According o sources, Kagan, as a Republican, has plans to challenge Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan in the Council elections next November. Brannan is a longtime member who serves as the Council's Finance Committee chairman. Kagan declined to comment last night, saying, "I will prefer to discuss it tomorrow."
Subscription / New York Daily News
2. A former Brooklyn prosecutor just took a plea deal after pleading guilty in pot selling ring. Ramy Joudeh, 36, took part in the cross-country marijuana operation both before and during his year-long employment as an assistant district attorney for the Brooklyn D.A.'s office, according to court records. Joudah worked for the Brooklyn District Attorney's office from 2015 to 2016, but was fired over the course of the federal investigation. The investigation began after a 787-pound crate on a truck bound for California was stolen at gunpoint as it left an auto body shop in South Plainfield, New Jersey in March, 2015. The discovery led investigators to the discovery of more crates, the seizure of 550 pounds of pot the next day, and a web of phone records and names—including Joudeh's and another co-conspirator's, Richard Gambale.
Subscription / New York Daily News
3. A landlord is allegedly trying to harass an elderly man out of his $450 rent-stabilized apartment, and his methods are both strange and extreme. Francis Roberts, 77, has lived in his apartment for over 20 years in Crown Heights where is rent is regulated by New York City rent-stabilization laws. He has made harassment allegations against landlord Yehuda Gruenberg and a new tenant in the building, a resident he claims Gruenberg hired to move in an harass him. In his list of harassment claims, Robert included a property full of garbage, live chickens running around the yard, green liquid seeping in from the ceiling, and heat that hasn't worked since the new building owners took over in April. Gruenberg's attorney, Julius Toonkel, denied allegations of harassment, blaming Roberts' "hoarding problem" for the landlord's inability to enter the apartment and make fixes and improvements.
Today in Brooklyn:
- Jr. Zoo Club, Prospect Park Zoo, Today @ 10 a.m. | Details
- Book Discussion: 'The Real Mrs. Tobias,' Park Slope Library, Today @ 1 p.m. | Details
- MOFAD's Vino Talk with Joe Campanale & Joshua David Stein, Ace Hotel Brooklyn, Today @ 2 p.m. | https://acehotel.com/going-on/...
- Jay Clayton with Ed Neumeister, Gary Versace, Jay Anderson, Billy Drummond, Birdland Jazz Club, Today @ 3:30 p.m. | Details
- Elit Condimentum, Secret Project Robot, Today | Details
More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!
Featured businesses:
- Cool Hand Movers — (Visit website)
- Add your business here
Events:
- Block Building Workshop (Ages 0-4 and caregivers) (December 6)
- HSS Online Workshop: De-Stress & Express Yourself with Art! (December 6)
- Buying Into Brooklyn - December 2022 (December 6)
- Berkeley College MBA Information Session (December 6)
- We Have Fun: A Free Weekly Comedy Show (December 7)
- Greene Hill School Lower School Tour (December 8)
- Fine & Decorative Arts Auction | Jewelry | Artwork | Furniture | Silver (December 8)
- Holidays on Atlantic Avenue (December 10)
- Christmas in Coney- 6th Annual Winter Wonderwheel Spectacular (December 10)
- You Can't Go WRONG this Holiday Season with Broadway's Funniest Smash Hit! (December 11)
- Please Give A F$%k! (A Comedy Show With A Cause) (December 11)
- Berkeley College Legal and Justice Studies/National Security Career Seminar (December 14)
- Mid-Century Modern and Design | Online Auction (December 15)
- Holiday Lights At The Bronx Zoo (December 23)
- Add your event
Other classifieds:
- Behind The Scoreboard – Play Hockey, Ref Hockey, Eat Pizza (Details)
- Add your classified
That's it for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!
— Carlie Houser
About me: I'm a recent grad based in Brooklyn, NY. I love to write, run, read, and find new restaurants and venues around the city.
Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Brooklyn Daily? Contact me at brooklyn@patch.com
