Community Corner
🌱 Hochul Gives Green Light To BQE Light Rail + 40K With Heating Woes
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.
Hello there, Brooklyn. I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Because community information is power! Today's briefing includes news about:
- The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is getting an eco- and wallet-friendly revamp
- Tens of thousands of people have complained of heat outages in Crown Heights
- Things to do on this wintery hump day ⛸
But first, today's weather:
🌤 Clouds and sun. High: 41 Low: 35.
🏠 If you're a real estate agent in Brooklyn, of course you're looking for a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. We can help you do that with an exclusive sponsorship in the Brooklyn Patch newsletter. Click here to learn more.
Here are the top stories in Brooklyn today:
1. Gov. Kathy Hochul has officially announced plans will be moving forward for Brooklyn-Queens light rail and other MTA expansions. Yesterday, as part of the 2023 State of the State, Hochul announced that the inter-borough expressway will use an existing freight rail line running from Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights to implement a light rail transit system (LRT) — electric-powered single cars or short trains with lighter passenger capacity. After careful planning and environmental study, MTA suggested LRT to the State because it would provide the best service for customers at the lowest cost per rider. This particular freight route connects diverse neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn and Queens. For more on the decision process, and what factors went into the MTA and governor's decision, visit the link below.
2. 40,000 units in Crown Heights and Prospect Lefferts Gardens have made heating complaints, according to a new Comptroller office study. Despite an unusually warm holiday season and transition into the New Year, temperatures are finally dropping in New York. However, tenants in Crown Heights and PLF aren't having an easy go of it, logging 41,000 complaints of heating and hot water outages in the neighborhood. These numbers come from a study that Comptroller Brad Lander's office conducted between 2021 and 2017, and according to the report the number of building violations in the area stands at a little more than 1,500. Lander's report was released on the first anniversary of the fatal Twin Parks fire, where a space heater sparked a blaze that killed 17 residents. Landers hopes that the strategic timing of his report will remind landlords, and the city, the importance of not leaving tenants in the cold and reliant upon space heaters. He is urging the city the press landlords to act.
3. Two of Brooklyn's city college basketball players received player of the week honors for games played during the first week of the year. "One day after earning CUNYAC Player of the Week honors, Brooklyn's Gianna Gotti and CCNY's Yassine Sakhi earned weekly recognition from the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA)." These designations encompass players from all 66 metropolitan-sear schools. During the week of conference play, Gotti helped the Bulldogs to a 2-0 record by averaging 26 points per game and finished with a double-double against Medgar Evers on Friday. Sakhi also led CCNY to two more wins (they're currently unbeaten in conference play), dropping a game-high 22 points along with three rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a pair of steals in a victory over Lehman. Congrats to Brooklyn's own!
City University of New York Athletic Conference
Today in Brooklyn:
- Pop-Up Talks, Brooklyn Museum, Today @ 3-4 p.m. | Details
- Fiesta Flavors Cooking Competition, Barrrow's Intense Tasting Room, Today @ 4-6 p.m. | Details
- Ice Skating, Brooklyn Commons, Today @ 4-5:30 p.m. | Details
- Afterwork Happy Hour, Gems Bar & Event Space, Today @ 6-8 p.m. | Details
- Movie Night (Classics Flicks!), D Garden Caribbean Restaurant, Today @ 10:30 p.m. | Details
🐝 Brooklyn Buzz:
- 🍻 Need some weekend and/or happy hour inspo? Check out Brooklyn Mag's top 11 picks for breweries to visit this winter! (Brooklyn Magazine)
More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!
Featured businesses:
- Cool Hand Movers — (Visit website)
- Add your business here
Events:
- Fun Kids Sports Programs ages 18 mos-6 yrs — Try a FREE CLASS (January 14)
- Berkeley College Honors Program Information Session (January 18)
- Add your event
That's it 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
