Community Corner
🌱 Decades Of Damaged Evidence + Turning Legal Tables + College Funds
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.
Hello, neighbors! It's me, Carlie Houser, your host of the Brooklyn Daily — here to impart all the most important things happening in town. Today's issue includes updates on...
- Decades of crime evidence destroyed in Red Hook warehouse fire
- How a Brooklyn lawmaker is using abortion legislation to sue fossil fuel companies
- Kids in south Brooklyn get $1K in college funds
But first, today's weather: Pretty, but cold, again.
☀️ Breezy. High: 42 Low: 31.
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Here are the top stories today in Brooklyn:
1. Decades of biological evidence was damaged in a fire yesterday at a warehouse in Red Hook. According to the NYPD, the evidence documented decades of New York City crimes including burglaries and shootings, some of it going back 20 or 30 years. "The fire, which broke out around 10:40 a.m. at the Erie Basin Auto Pound in Red Hook, a sprawling warehouse on Columbia Street, left a half-dozen first responders and two civilians hurt," and sent plumes of thick gray smoke into the air. It wasn't immediately clear what sparked the blaze, and the investigation could take some time. Firefighters were forced to withdraw from the interior early because of the intense flames and combustible material, as well as the threat of collapse. (NBC New York)
2. A Brooklyn lawmaker is trying to make it easier for New Yorkers to sue fossil fuel companies for pollution... and he's using Texas abortion legislation to do it. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D) is hoping Texas legislation might hold the answers he's looking for. Myrie has proposed a new bill modeled after the Lone Star State's 2021 controversial abortion law, which allows private citizens to bring civil suits against anyone who assists someone seeking an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Flipping the focus of such legislation onto issues of environmental sustainability, Myrie's plan would enable everyday New Yorkers to file civil suits against fossil fuel companies and define "climate negligence" as an act of knowingly or recklessly endangering the health or safety of the public. "Make no mistake — Texas' odious abortion law is wrong-headed and dangerous," Myrie said. "But if legislators can use private rights of action to cause harm and restrict access to health care, we should also be able to use this concept to save our planet and protect our lives."
3. Children of Canarsie and East Flatbush are getting $1,000 in college funds. The money was donated Tuesday by the City of New York, NYC Kids RISE, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the Gray Foundation, the NYC Department of Education, the NYC Mayor's Office of Equity and families and community. "In the geography of School District 18, 86 percent of students attending the school in Canarsie, and East Flatbush are pedimental Black. The largest proportion of any geographic school district in New York City. Nationally, Black families own less than 10 percent of the wealth of white families." "We think that closing the wealth gap for Black and Brown Americans is a huge way towards equity in our country," said Dr. Jocelynne Rainey of the Brooklyn Community Foundation.
Today in Brooklyn:
- Grinchy's, Roberta's, Today @ 5 p.m. | Details
- Brooklyn Heights Christmas Tree Lighting, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Today @ 5:30 p.m. | Details
- Pickleball min Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 2 Pickleball Courts, Today @ 6 p.m. | Details
- In-Person Class: Fresh Pasta 101, Farm to People Kitchen & Bar, Today @ 6:45 p.m. | Details
- [Free!] Living Room Comedy Show, Postmark Cafe, Today @ 8 p.m. | Details
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Events:
- Berkeley College Legal and Justice Studies/National Security Career Seminar (December 14)
- Success Academy Crown Heights and Prospect Height In-Person Tours (December 15)
- Greene Hill School Lower School Tour (December 15)
- Mid-Century Modern and Design | Online Auction (December 15)
- Victorian Carol Sing-Along with Two 19th Century Pipe Organs! (December 15)
- AllIOne Collective's Holiday Fundraising Event (December 17)
- The OMNI Ensemble Continues its 40th Season with a Holiday concert of Quintet and Electronics (December 17)
- Holiday Lights At The Bronx Zoo (December 23)
- Add your event
You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!
— 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
