Community Corner
🌱 Students Talk Safety With NYPD + Endangered Landmark + COVID Spike
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.
Hello all. It's me, Carlie Houser, your host of the Brooklyn Daily — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in our community. In today's issue, you'll learn about these stories and more:
- Students have a serious sit-down talk with NYPD
- Brooklyn's oldest property, and why it's in jeopardy
- CDC recommends masks inside amidst COVID-19 spike
But first, today's weather:
🌧 Cloudy, rain, mainly early. High: 58 Low: 47.
⚡️ Attention, local business owners and marketers in Brooklyn! I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to secure your spot now. Click here to learn more.
Here are the top stories today in Brooklyn:
1. Students and NYPD sat down for the first of many talks in new Downtown Brooklyn safety initiative to make after-school streets safer. When 15-year-old Unique Smith was killed by gun violence just blocks from school after his first day of class, a shock wave reverberated through the Brooklyn school district. There's been a major shift on Brooklyn streets since the pandemic, and students have noticed it — more frightening interactions with the mentally ill, more drugs being dealt in plain sight, and more people getting into public altercations. And with NYPD seem to always be lurking outside when school gets out, many students complain that their presence is uncomfortable, intimidation, aggravating, and even criminalizing. In response to these growing concerns, City Council Member Lincoln Restler began a new group where students and police can engage in conversation about both sides of the issue; they discuss why they feel and/or act as they do, and how they might better the situation and make streets safer for kids after school gets out.
2. With a LOT FOR SALE sign marring its facade, Brooklyn's oldest property is threatened by a murky future. Only three families have lived in the Wyckoff Bennett Homestead since 1766, and its last owners were still raising their children on the original dishes and silverware, swords and flintlock rifles, a horse-drawn sleigh, and windows scratched with Hessian graffiti. Today, however, the Dutch Colonial landmark has been emptied of its antiques, damaged by vandalism, on the whole is in a state of disrepair, and officially on the market for $4 million amid development pressure. Who will buy the property is uncertain, and what they can and will do with it is even more of a mystery. The home's landmark status can, in theory, be difficult to contend with; however, it's been rumored that the buyer could request to move the structures from their original plots. But even the property is on the chopping block: A sign on the barn reads "LOT FOR SALE 22,000 SQ. FT. (WILL DIVIDE)."
3. New York Democrats are trying to prevent Republican Lester Chang from representing southern Brooklyn after his shocking win in November. Chang voted in Manhattan last year and has yet to show evidence that he meets the residency requirements to represent southern Brooklyn, Democrats say. The Assembly's Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m. in Albany to weigh the matter ahead of a potential vote by the full chamber in January, according to a letter sent to Chang on Tuesday. A member of the Judiciary Committee said yesterday that investigating the matter "is the appropriate thing to do."
4. Facing a COVID-19 spike, the CDC recommends indoor masks in Brooklyn as well as three other NYC boroughs. You know the story by now: December and January are playground months for the COVID-19. The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island are in orange, meaning high-risk levels, while Manhattan is in yellow, the medium-risk level, according to the latest CDC data. The data shows Brooklyn has seen almost a 14 percent increase in positive cases through Friday, while Queens has seen almost a 16 percent. The Bronx is matching Brooklyn at 14 percent and Staten Island is at about 12 percent. In addition to COVID-19, New York is facing a wave of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which have put a strain on New York hospitals. The tridemic or "tripledemic" concerning enough that Sen. Chuck Schumer on Sunday urged the federal government to be at the ready to lend a hand with rising cases of RSV, which is characterized by respiratory woes.
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Today in Brooklyn:
- "Chunky Shrapnel" [Screening], Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Today @ 4:45 p.m. | Details
- Unwind & Knit Happy Hour, Black Forest Brooklyn, Today @ 6 p.m. | Details
- Brooklyn Poets Book Launch: Courtney Faye Taylor, Zoom [Visit Link], Today @ 6 p.m. | Details
- The Gnarlie Hose Show, Someday Bar NYC, Today @ 6:30 p.m. | Details
- [Free!] Living Room Comedy Show, Postmark Cafe, Today @ 8 p.m. | Details
🐝 Brooklyn Buzz:
- It's barely even winter, but Brooklyn Bridge Park seems hopeful that spring will come early this year... I mean, next year: "Have you noticed the improvements that were made at Pier 6 this summer? New tables, new planters, new lights, new plantings, fresh paint! all ready for a beautiful spring day! 📸 @fotoahoy" (Brooklyn Bridge Park via Instagram)
- Art spotlight! "Guided by the iconic Cutmaster Dc lyric Hey good lookin', you know you gotta be from Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Brooklyn) has selected nine winners of its 2022 Brooklyn Design Awards." Learn more about this years' winners at the link. (The Architect's Newspaper)
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Featured businesses:
- Cool Hand Movers — (Visit website)
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Events:
- We Have Fun: A Free Weekly Comedy Show (December 7)
- Greene Hill School Lower School Tour (December 8)
- Fine & Decorative Arts Auction | Jewelry | Artwork | Furniture | Silver (December 8)
- Thievery Corporation with special guest Emancipator (December 8)
- Holidays on Atlantic Avenue (December 10)
- Christmas in Coney — 6th Annual Winter Wonderwheel Spectacular (December 10)
- You Can't Go WRONG this Holiday Season with Broadway's Funniest Smash Hit! (December 11)
- Please Give A F$%k! (A Comedy Show With A Cause) (December 11)
- Berkeley College Legal and Justice Studies/National Security Career Seminar (December 14)
- Success Academy Crown Heights and Prospect Height In-Person Tours (December 15)
- Mid-Century Modern and Design | Online Auction (December 15)
- Holiday Lights At The Bronx Zoo (December 23)
- Add your event
Other classifieds:
- Behind The Scoreboard — Play Hockey, Ref Hockey, Eat Pizza (Details)
- Add your classified
Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new 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
