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Community Corner

🌱 Judge Blocks Dispensary Licenses + Groper At Large + Your Weekend

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

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(Patch Media)

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Carlie Houser, your host of the Daily. Let's get this weekend started off right, with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Today you'll find news about these stories and more:

  • Brooklyn blocked from giving out licenses to marijuana dispensaries
  • A dangerous intersection for pedestrians might be going car-free
  • Your weekend, and how the subway might effect it

But first, today's weather:

🌧 Tropical rainstorm continues. High: 72 Low: 49.

Here are the top stories today in Brooklyn:

1. Just as the city prepares to approve the first batch of licenses for marijuana dispensaries, a New York judge blocked the ability to issue licenses in Brooklyn and four other regions. Why? because of a company in Michigan who won over a federal judge in Albany. The state's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) recently established the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license, a program that was prepared to award its first group of licenses for retail dispensaries to New Yorkers or their relatives with past marijuana convictions that occurred before March 31, 2021 (when legalization was passed). However, Michigan-based company Variscite NY One Inc. filed a lawsuit that claimed that CAURD was a breach of an old commerce clause that blocks states from discriminating against out-of-state residents. The ruling passed, and at present OCM is barred from issuing CAURD licenses in the Finger Lakes, Central New York, Western New York, mid-Hudson, and Brooklyn.

PIX11 New York News

2. Notoriously dangerous for pedestrians, Grand Army Plaza is about to undergo a major overhaul that may result in the area going entirely car-free. It isn't any sort of surprise that Grand Army Plaza is undergoing renovations, and community members have been complaining of the unsafe walking and biking conditions at the main entrance to Prospect Park for some time now. Along with streamlining traffic and streetlights in intersections of the surrounding area, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is entertaining the idea of making Grand Army Plaza entirely car-free; they may even connect it to the Open Streets on Vanderbilt and Underhill Avenues. DOT is hosting a Zoom workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. to gather specific community feedback on the issue.

Time Out

3. Police are still looking for a man involved in a groping incident in Crown Heights last weekend—they've just released a photo of the suspect. Just past midnight on Nov. 5, a 23-year-old woman was groped while walking on St. Johns Place between Buffalo and Rochester avenues. The stranger grabbed her butt over her clothing then ran away down St. Johns Place towards Buffalo Avenue, police said. Early yesterday morning, police released an image of the suspect from video surveillance footage in the area. Police described the individual as just under 6 feet tall, 195 pounds, with black dreadlocks. Anyone who believes they might have helpful information regarding this case is encouraged to reach out to the Crime Stoppers Hotline at the link below (end of article).

Patch

4. Beloved Brooklyn BBQ joint has overcome more than just the pandemic. Morgan's Brooklyn Barbecue in Prospect Heights has somehow managed to bounce back after three-alarm building fire in 2021 that torched the building like ribs on the grill. Oh yeah, and it survived COVID. Owners Peter and Penny Glazier have weathered a seemingly endless stream of bad luck in their other restaurant endeavors as well: In 2012, Superstorm Sandy flooded their 25,000 square-foot Bridgewater event venue at the South Street Seaport, and in 2018 a duct fire struck the kitchen of the Glaziers' Michael Jordan Steakhouse at Grand Central Terminal. Thanks to their more than 30 years in the restaurant business, the Glaziers were able to re-open the long-shuttered Morgan's BBQ last week.

New York Post

Today in Brooklyn:

  • Wine & Hip Hop Festival, Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen, Saturday & Sunday | Details
  • Medical Marijuana Masterclass Workshop, Hampton Inn Downtown Brooklyn, Today @ 9 a.m. | Details
  • Gowanus Art Walk, Atelier Canal, Today @ 11:30 a.m. | Details
  • World War II Memorial Gathering, The Green-Wood Cemetery, Today @ 3 p.m. | Details
  • Alex Carabano for NY Comedy Festival, BKLN Comedy Club, Toady @ 10 p.m. | Details

🐝 Brooklyn Buzz:

  • Weekend ideas! At the link, check out seven things to do in Brooklyn this weekend, recommend by the Brooklyn Paper. (Brooklyn Paper)
  • Rainy weekend means lots of subway use. At the link, get familiar with the subway changes that could impact your plans, Nov. 11-14. (Patch)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. 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

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