🌱When Will Rikers Close + New Migrant Centers + March Parking Madness

Hello all. It's me, Carlie Houser, your host of the Brooklyn Patch newsletter — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in the community. Today you'll find news about these stories and more...

• NYC's infamous prison might be closing two years past later than planned.
• The mayor announced that the controversial BCT migrant center will be closing.
• How a historic Brooklyn charity organization is celebrating Women's History Month.

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But first, today's weather: ☁️ Windy; cloudy, then clearing. High: 45 Low: 32.

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🗞 Top stories today in Brooklyn:

1. Rikers Island is on the docket this week in Downtown Brooklyn, as city officials discuss why plans to close the prison might be delayed by at least two years. The troubled prison was supposed to be replaced by four borough-based jails as of August 2027; however, construction of the Brooklyn complex could last through the summer of 2029, which puts the Rikers closure more than six years past its start date. All details were reported in a notice on Monday, March 13. Mayor Eric Adams and other officials gathered to discuss the plan which was initially put into action under the de Blasio administration. Many are gunning to stay on track, arguing that by law, Rikers must close by the aforementioned 2027 date. According to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, closing Rikers on time is a matter of both public safety and human rights. (POLITICO)

2. The controversial migrant center at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal it set to close following the opening of two new sites. Officials said Monday that two new migrant centers are opening: one on Jefferson Street in Bushwick and another in Manhattan on West 42nd Street in Times Square. The migrant shelter at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is currently providing shelter for single men — those men will be moved to one of the two new relief centers. Faced with thousands of asylum seekers arriving on NYC shores, Mayor Adams declared a state of emergency in early 2023. Transforming the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal into a relief site was one effort to solve the issue, yet many civil rights activists called the site a "detention center," criticizing Adams for shuttling migrants into a space "so exposed to the elements." (Spectrum News NY1)

3. The Brooklyn Women's Exchange is celebrating Women's History Month with a talk from historian and archivist Martha Foley. On Sunday, March 19 at Saint Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Foley with join members of the organization's leadership to present tales of the past and open a dialogue about the history and significance of a charity organization with roots in Brooklyn dating back to 1854. The organization has had many names over the years but has always worked to adhere to its original mission: supporting the work of local artists. During the Civil War, BWE stock its shop with garments made by Brooklyn women, to be purchased by the U.S. Sanitary Commission and distributed to wounded soldiers. Today, goods sold at the BWE shop have changed to adhere to modern sensibilities, and products made by both men and women are now sold there. Learn more at the link. (Brownstoner)

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📆 Today in Brooklyn:

• Upcycle Clothing crafting class with BYOB drinks at Carroll Hall (6:00 PM)
• Roasted! is a FREE roast battle show at Grove 34 — watch as Dan Wickes pits a bunch of people he knows against each other! (8:00 PM)
• Living Room Comedy Show is FREE at Postmark Cafe (8:00 PM)
• More laughs to be had at Slaps Comedy Show at Young Ethel's (9:00 PM)
• And don't miss MoonRise: A Nouveau and Immersive Circus, an immersive theatrical experience with high-level nouveau circus-based acts, multi-sensory interactive installations, and cocktails. (Ongoing @ 139 Willoughby Ave.)

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🐝 Brooklyn Buzz:

• 🌸 "The first cherry blossoms of the season have bloomed at Brooklyn Botanical Garden after the flowers were spotted growing on the Okame trees, according to a BBG spokesperson. The garden's cherry blossoms can be tracked on its CherryWatch site." (PIX11 New York News)
• 🏠 "Homes in Boerum Hill notched the priciest deals inked last week, including the top three contracts. An analysis by The Real Deal ranked the neighborhood third among Brooklyn's most expensive among Brooklyn's most expensive in the second quarter of 2022, as the market rode 2021 highs into the first half of last year. " (The Real Deal)
• 🚗 "March (Parking) Madness fans will recognize last year's champs, the 84th Precinct and its reprehensible commanding officer, Adeel Rana and immediately remember that its inclusion in this year's contest is not merely a fluke of the rules automatically granting entry to the previous year's winner." (Streetsblog NYC)

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• K. J. Denhert and ilyAIMY in Concert (March 18)
• Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Parade (March 19)
• Buying Into Brooklyn - March 2023 (March 21)
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• Post Nets Game - Live Music at McMahon's (April 7)
• Kids Easter Party Queens NY (April 9)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at brooklyn@patch.com