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Community Corner

🌱NYPD Awards Controversial Actor +Jailed Landlord Given Second Chance

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

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Welcome back, Brooklyn! I'm here in your inbox today to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Today you'll read about:

  • BK precinct community council member resigns over appointment of new deputy chief
  • Genius 7th grade STEM students pique the interest of NYC's transit president
  • How a BK landlord ended up at Rikers, and why more don't

But first, today's weather:

🌤 Times of clouds and sun. High: 47 Low: 40.

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Here are the top stories today in Brooklyn:

1. After more than a decade of service, a Brooklyn precinct community council member and activist has resigned over the promotion of an embattled NYPD commander. Joe Gonzalez has been a member of the 79th Precinct Community Council since 2006 but sent in his resignation letter on Tuesday over the appointment of Inspector John Mastronardi's to deputy chief. During the height of the pandemic Mastronardi was caught on video slamming a man's head into the sidewalk during an arrest; after the incident, the community rallied to have him moved out of the borough. In a text that was sent to more than 30 officials, a saddened and distraught Gonzalez wrote, "I am heartbroken that John Mastronardi will walk across the 1PP stage tomorrow and be promoted to Chief... He assaulted a citizen on video inflicting injury. I am in deep pain."

Subscription / New York Daily News

2. A Brooklyn middle school became state finalists in Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow project, nabbing the attention of NYC's transit president. The Solve for Tomorrow project is a competition that challenges the nation's public school students (grades 6-12) to "explore the role STEM can play in solving some of the biggest issues in their local communities." A group of students at Brooklyn's Liberty Avenue Middle School made it to the state finals for their new "Subway Safety" submission: a technological communication solution to one of the world's largest mass transit networks. Impressed by an article he read about Brooklyn's latest 7th grade STEM wizards, New York City Transit President Richard Davey paid a visit to Liberty Middle School to commend a handful of the borough's future community problem solvers. "I was ecstatic to learn that a group of 7th graders advanced to finals with an idea that involves the Metropolitan Transportation Authority," said Davey. "This goes to show how relevant public transit is to every New Yorker, no matter how old." Good luck to the students at Liberty in the next round of competition!

Samsung

3. Finding fault in NYC's landlords is one thing but making them answer for their mistakes is an entirely different ball game... until now. In a rare occurrence, a Bushwick landlord was sentenced to time in jail — Aron Stark spent eight days at Rikers Island after a judge sentenced him for failing to complete court-ordered repairs at 1422 Greene Ave. Stark let roach infestations and heat and hot water complaints pile up and the city's housing agency responded with steeper fines and heightened scrutiny. Incarceration is an extreme measure taken against landlords, and is usually only used as a last resort punishment in situations where hazards contribute to someone's death. But no one died at 1422 Greene Ave., so what makes Stark an exception? While the complaints filed for 1422 Greene Ave. were nowhere out of the ordinary for NYC buildings, Stark ghosted both his tenants and the court — the court wasn't going to let that slide without penalty. Upon his release just about month ago, Stark has been given yet another shot to fix the violations in his six-unit building.

Gothamist

Today in Brooklyn:

  • Lunar New Year, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Today @ 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Details
  • Sidewalk Record Sale, 26 Prospect Park Southwest, Today @ 11 a.m. | Details
  • Believe In Ghost!, Coney Island Brewery, Today @ 5 p.m. | Details
  • Speed Dating (Ages 29-35), Farewell Bar, Today @ 5 - 7 p.m. | Details
  • Booze N' Brush Next to Naked, 818 Pacific St., Today @ 9 - 10:30 p.m. | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/b...

🐝 Brooklyn Buzz:

  • Founding member of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, makes a special BK appearance: "On Jan. 26, 10 years after the first Joe Russo's Almost Dead concert, Russo, Benevento, Metzger, Dreiwitz, and Hamilton returned to Brooklyn Bowl — a room they had played nearly 30 times in the interim — to celebrate the 10th birthday of a band that was meant to play one show. They took the stage on Thursday night not as a fun idea for a special occasion but as a towering presence both in the Dead universe and in the live music world at large." Read more at the link! (Live for Live Music)
  • Check out Brooklyn Reader's weekend event picks for the last weekend of January. Get rid of those New Year's jitters for good before Feb(BRRR)ruary storms in! (Brooklyn Reader)

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  • Regina Opera presents a Winter Gala Concert (February 5)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you all tomorrow morning 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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