Community Corner
🌱 Save Maimonides + Alleged Comic Shooter + Robbers On A Rampage
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.
Morning, friends. Carlie Houser here with your fresh copy of the Brooklyn Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the things you need to know about what's happening locally, including updates on:
- Who's financing the million-dollar campaign against a struggling Brooklyn hospital?
- Stand-up comedian named suspect in January N train subway shooting
- Group of thieves wanted for string of at least seven robberies in February
But first, today's weather:
🌨 A little wintry mix. High: 40 Low: 35.
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Here are the top stories today in Brooklyn:
1. A protest group has spent $1 million to attack a struggling Brooklyn hospital. A group called Save Maimonides has financed a relentless campaign against Maimonides Medical Center in Borough Park, a hospital whose rock-bottom ranking for cleanliness has raised questions about its leadership, specifically CEO Kenneth Gibbs. Over the past month, Save Maimonides has hired a handful of people from Craigslist to protest outside of the hospital; one of the protestors told The New York Times that he'd found the job listing on Craigslist and was taking home $600 per week to protest and collect petitions. This mysterious campaign was officially founded by Orthodox Jewish businessman and philanthropist Mendy Reiner who says that Save Maimonides is a grass roots effort that simply seeks to improve the quality of care at the hospital for the community that relies on it. Read more at the link below.
Subscription / The New York Times
2. Not so funny after all — a Brooklyn comedian has been named a suspect in a subway shooting. Just after 1 a.m. on January 28, Marcos Cofresi, 30, allegedly shot a passenger twice in the back after a verbal dispute on a southbound N train near the Canal Street Station in Chinatown. Cofresi, as it turns out, is a stand-up comedian who goes by the stage name Leo Cofresi, and was supposed to be performing at LOL Comedy Lounge in Times Square the night of the attack. "He was a good guy," said one of his coworkers, "I don't know what was wrong, but, he didn't show up."
3. Police are seeking a group of thieves wanted for a string of robberies in Brooklyn and Queens. The group is wanted for holding up at least seven businesses between the two boroughs just this month, believing them to be responsible for the string of robberies involving a number of delis, a restaurant, a gas station and even a food truck. According to NYPD, the first heist occurred on Feb. 17 at a grocery store near Meserole Street and Bushwick Avenue; Around 2 a.m., the trio flashed a black firearm and demanded money before going behind the counter to snag $4,000 from the register and a customer's wallet. They fled in a gray Kia Optima. Over the next few weeks, similar robberies occurred at different businesses in Brooklyn and Queens — the group is believed to be responsible for them as well.
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Today in Brooklyn:
- Family Board Game Mondays, West Farms Library, Today @ 3:30 - 5 p.m. | Details
- Open Mic Mojito Mondays, Breuklyn Tequila & Taco Bar, Today @ 5 - 11 p.m. | Details
- Beginner Wheel Throwing, Artshack Brooklyn Ceramics, Today @ 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Details
- February Professionals Mixer, Amarachi Restaurant, Today @ 6 - 9 p.m. | Details
- The First Supper: A Supper For StoryTellers, TBA Brooklyn, Today @ 6 - 10 p.m. | Details
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Featured events:
- Bereavement Group (February 27)
- Isabel Hagen presents: ON A STRING: THE MOVIE: THE SHOW! (February 27)
- Greene Hill Grows Family Program (February 28)
- Buying Into Brooklyn - February 2023 (February 28)
- Legal and Justice Studies Pathways (February 28)
- Free Sneak Peek of Puccini's "Il Tabarro" (February 28)
- As Quiet As It's Kept, We Thrive: Stories & Portraits from the Heart of BedStuy (March 4)
- Comedy Special Taping (BYOB + Free Dinks) - Nick Hopping (March 4)
- Success Academy Presents: NYC Elementary School Admissions Webinar with Alina Adams (March 8)
- The Bloody Mary Festival - NYC (March 18)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at brooklyn@patch.com
