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Community Corner

🌱 Cheesecake Poisoner Convicted + Mental Health Reform + Bye Bye KD

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.

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(Patch Media)

Hey, friends. It's Friday in Brooklyn and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening locally. Today's issue includes updates on:

  • Brooklyn woman convicted of attempted murder after 2006 cheesecake poisoning incident
  • Advocates and local officials push back against Mayor Eric Adams' new involuntary hospitalization policy
  • With Durant headed to Phoenix, the Nets' championship prospects might be gone for good

But first, today's weather: 🌤 Periods of sun; breezy, mild. High: 57 Low: 35.

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Here are the top stories today in Brooklyn:

1. A cheesecake poisoner from Brooklyn has been convicted of attempted murder. Viktoria Nasyrova, 47, was convicted on Thursday after poisoning the cheesecake of a 35-year-old woman from Forest Hills, Queens in an attempt to steal her identity in 2006. Nasyrova, from Brooklyn, was charged with attempted murder and petit larceny after serving a sedative-laced cheesecake to her victim, a friend — the two women, both Russian, had similar features and build, making Nasyrova's victim a 'logical' target. Nasyrova is expected to be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison when she comes back to court on March 21, said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in her statement yesterday.

Patch

2. Mental health advocates in Brooklyn are protesting the mayor's new "ill-conceived" policy which expands involuntary hospitalizations of the homeless and mentally ill. Two months ago, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new policy granting first responders and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene officers the authority to commit someone to the hospital who "appears to be mentally ill and displays an inability to meet basic living needs, even when no recent dangerous act has been observed" — previous policies have only allowed involuntary hospitalization if the patient was a threat to themselves or others. Now, a group of Brooklyn-based advocates are calling for the mayor to rethink this plan, a directive they believe is dangerous and ineffective. Local pols and advocates agree that more attention needs to be given to the homelessness crisis in New York City, but fear that the mayor's new policy is not one that focuses on the homeless themselves; instead, they say, it perpetuates an "out of sight, out of mind" approach.

Brooklyn Paper

3. A Brooklyn business owner is advocating for minority business survival, refusing to concede to the "current closure atmosphere enveloping the city." While new businesses seem to be popping up everywhere in Brooklyn and throughout the rest of NYC, many Black and minority-owned businesses are still struggling to keep their doors open post-pandemic. Joseph Adewumi, owner of Amarachi, a West African Restaurant and Lounge in Brooklyn, is exploring options to keep these businesses afloat, even while his own might be in jeopardy. During the pandemic, Adewumi served as head of the Black Restaurant Coalition, but had to step down in 2022 in order to give more of his time to Amarachi. Like many other businesses he knows, Amarachi was denied a government disaster loan, despite almost going under during the pandemic. He turned to GoFundMe, trying to crowdsource the $100,000 he'll need to make rent and back-end costs on Amarachi. Through the struggle, however, Adewumi hopes to use his experience to empower other Black and minority owned businesses with a similar story, and to educate them about ways to keep their doors open.

EIN News

5. As the NBA trade deadline hit, the Nets' tumultuous superstar era ended yesterday with Kevin Durant heading to the Phoenix Suns. Earlier this week, former Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving ended his tenure in Brooklyn and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. As of yesterday, news that Durant would also be heading west made headlines. With the loss of these two players, the Nets' superstar era seems to have flickered out, without a championship win to boast of (win Brooklyn, that is). In response, the media has been pretty pessimistic about the Nets' future: Dan Wolken of USA Today wrote that the Nets experiment could be "the greatest failure in NBA history," while NY Daily New's Kristian Winfield said that the "superstar days in Brooklyn are over [...] and so are the days of competing for a championship."

Sports Business Journal

Today in Brooklyn:

  • Candle Store Valentine's Day Shop & Sip Event, Nose Best Candles, Today @ 4 p.m. | Details
  • Tivon Pennicott Jazz Trio, Carroll Hall, Today @ 7 p.m.| Details
  • The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, Harvey Theatre at BAM, Today @ 7:30 p.m. | Details
  • Boyz II Men, Barclays Center, Today @ 8 p.m. | Details
  • Brooklyn Penthouse Stand Up Comedy Show, The Tiny Cupboard, Today @ 10 p.m. | Details

🐝 Brooklyn Buzz:

  • Check out the Brooklyn Circus! Brooklyn's very own Ouigi Theodore is a head designer and creative director of Brooklyn Circus, a fashion brand and eclectic shop in BK. Theodore leverages his degree in history and a proclivity for graphic design tom create stunning streetwear and luxury clothing — shop local, shop the Circus! More at the link. (NBC New York)
  • Saratoga Library in Bed-Stuy is re-opening Feb. 13: "The library, which first opened its doors in 1908, had numerous repairs and upgrades performed since it shuttered in November 2020, including HVAC upgrades, an expanded children's and young adult collection, updates to the building's exterior and a new after-hours book drop off." (Patch)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at brooklyn@patch.com

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