Community Corner
🌱 Selective Admissions Return + A 'No Lying' Election + Friday To-Dos
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.
Hello, Brooklyn! Happy Friday. Today's briefing includes updates on...
- Union workers protest for better wages
- Selective admissions return to NYC
- Apartment building replaces nursery
But first, today's weather:
⛅️ Increasing cloudiness. High: 67 Low: 55.
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Here are the top stories in Brooklyn today:
1. Dozens of Brooklyn Museum workers gathered yesterday evening to demand better wages. Employees at the Brooklynn Museum officially unionized in August 2021 and began contract negotiations with museum leadership in January of this year. Some agreements have been reached, but not those having to do with wages and health care options. Museum workers are frustrated and believe there should be more movement on pay-related negotiations; on Wednesday, the union announced that they had filed an Unfair Labor Practices charge against the museum with the National Board of Labor Relations.
2. NYC has made a shocking reversal, tightening admissions to top schools post-pandemic. Students and parents have been tensely anticipating the admissions verdict that would bring back to the restrictive admissions process in NYC public schools. During the pandemic, the city loosened selection criteria — a decision some deemed unfair while others hoped it would lessen racial disparities. However, in an announcement on Thursday, the city has tightened the reigns once again: Now, selective middle schools can once again use grades to choose which students to admit and selective high schools will be able to prioritize top-performing students.
Subscription / The New York Times
3. History is being made in Brooklyn for the primaries: a 'no lying' election. Former Congressmember Max Rose has challenged Rep. Nicole Malliotakis to an election run free of lies — that's five . . . whole . . . weeks. Rose is the Democratic nominee vying for his old, and highly coveted, Staten Island and southern Brooklyn seat in Congress. Yesterday, Rose took a 'no lying' pledge and hopes his incumbent will do the same. Should Malliotakis accept, any candidate who breaks their pledge (help accountable by independent fact-checkers as well as news and media sources), they will have to donate $500,000 from their campaign accounts to a charity that supports addicts. With Roses' cards out on the table, all eyes are on Malliotakis to make her move.
4. A seven-story apartment building is displacing a longstanding, family-run Kings County nursery in East Flatbush. First opened in 1955 by the Merola brothers, the beloved nursery and landscaping business has been family-owned and run ever since. Records show that Joseph Merola still owns the nursery site, as well as a second lot currently used for nursery parking, however there is also a pending permit for a second seven-story building. Back in 2016, the Merola family listed the site for $10.5 million but pulled the offer last-minute, much to community joy. It seems the same has not happened this time around. When asked about the current state of the site's records, the family did not comment.
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Today in Brooklyn:
- 🍻 OKTOBERFEST 2022, Zum Schneider, Starting today—Oct. 8 @ 5 p.m. | Details
- #BeatsEatsDrinks Afterwork Fridays, Oracle Lounge, Today @ 5 p.m. | Details
- "Ketamine: The Musical," House of Yes, Today @ 6:30 p.m. | Details
- Mind the Apps by Brooklyn Comedy Collective, Eris, Today @ 7 p.m. | Details
- 💃 New York Burlesque Festival Premiere Party, Brooklyn Bowl, Today @ 7 p.m. | Details
🐝 Brooklyn Buzz:
- 📚 Book news: The popular Court St. Barnes & Noble is displacing a Barney's. "'It has been a happy 20 years of bookselling at Court Street,' said James Daunt, the CEO of Barnes & Noble, in an official statement about the news. 'We are very pleased to be moving such a short distance and to inherit the beautiful space created by Barneys. Everyone who remembers their store will appreciate how exciting a building it is within which to be creating a new bookstore. It will be wonderful place from which to continue our bookselling in Brooklyn.'" (Time Out)
- 💜 'Nana of the Neighborhood': "Sometimes seen perched on a chair at the top of her stoop at 188 Howard Ave., [Ethel] Bruce is the woman behind 'Nana Free Things,' a family-run free stand serving the neighborhood on a hyperlocal level." Read more heartwarming bits about Ethel "Nana" Bruce at the link. (Brooklyn Reader)
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Events:
- Van Alen Block Party (October 1)
- The Evil Queen's Halloween Drag Brunch: NYC / Brooklyn / Bushwick (October 2)
- 1ST OPEN HOUSE! Forest Hills Townhouse In A Prime Location! (October 2)
- Regina Opera — Autumn Concert (October 2)
- Greene Hill Grows: A Place for Families (October 4)
- Deconstructing the Best High School Admissions Essay (October 4)
- Vacation mini camps in Spanish and French! (October 5)
- IRL: In Real Life (October 7)
- 8th Annual ENY 5K (October 8)
- Morristown Festival of Books (October 8)
- Celebrate Free Laundry Day at 4 Clean Rite Center locations (October 10)
- Add your event
Housing:
- Beautiful 1 bedroom apartment (Details)
- Add your listing
Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! See you 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
