Good morning! Apologies for the somewhat late edition today. Hello to any new subscribers, and hello-o-ooo to the old. Welcome to this June 18, 2019 edition of East & Creek, the Greenpoint newsletter.
What’s up in Greenpoint?
Let’s start things off with two quick e&c exclusives.
Glenn Merto, the Greenpoint resident arrested in April following a burst of fascist and/or antisemitic graffiti activity in the neighborhood, was arraigned last week on a 25-count indictment. According to a spokesperson for the Brooklyn District Attorney, the charges filed against the 28-year-old avowed fascist include:
aggravated harassment in the first-degree (14 counts)
criminal mischief in the fourth degree as a hate crime (three counts)
criminal mischief in the fourth degree (three counts)
making graffiti (three counts)
and possession of imitation pistols (two counts)
Merto’s next court appearance is scheduled for August.
[Speaking of fascist activity in Greenpoint! If you see something, say something… to NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force (hctf@nypd.org) and, if you will, e&c (eastandcreek@gmail.com).]
Amidst several complaints on social media and in community meetings, ranging from trivial and parking-related (One person at an NYPD Community Council meeting earlier this month: “They take up spaces!”) to serious and safety-related, Revel “suspended indefinitely” seven users on Monday following an incident at McGolrick Park:
In a statement provided to e&c, a spokesperson for Revel said, “Safety is our number one priority and any riders that violate our terms of service or demonstrate reckless behavior are immediately suspended from using the service. Revel is committed to promoting responsible ridership, from having all riders undergo a driving history check when they sign up to offering free lessons and helmets with every ride.”
And so end the exclusives. Onto the links.
Wholesome content alert!! Greenpoint crossing guard George Barrett, who watches over the intersection of Meserole Ave and Eckford St, is NY1’s New Yorker of the Week. (NY1)
This week and next, the Newtown Creek Alliance is leading what will surely be informative water quality canoe trips. e&c will be there! (Tonight’s trip may be particularly stinky — rainfall this week is expected to cause raw sewage to overflow from the sewer system into Newtown Creek. Learn more about CSO here.)
The Brooklyn Public Library will celebration the completion of its Greenpoint Environmental History Project, the subject of a previous edition of e&c, this Thursday at 6 p.m., at A/D/O.
The NuHart development has a long timeline that seems to only be getting longer. First there was concern from citizens regarding a nasty legacy toxin plume under the site, then there was the New York DEC’s plan for mitigation at the SuperFund site, and now… the project is on hold because, according to Ben Solotaire of Councilmember Stephen Levin’s office, the previous owners of the site are suing each other. As Solotaire put it last night at a community meeting: The development “is in a limbo until that case gets settled.”
Meanwhile, a public school that had been planned for the same block as the former NuHart site may end up elsewhere. At the meeting last night, Councilmember Levin said that, in just the past few days, the owner of other land in the Greenpoint landing area has offered to allow construction of the much-needed school on their land. (Such construction may lead to a zoning bonus, perhaps a height allowance, down the road.) As meeting attendees complained of “maxxed-out” Greenpoint schools, with waitlists growing, Levin said, “It’s really worth thinking about.”
Meanwhile in New York City…
The City Council and the Mayor reached an agreement on a city budget. Restraint and “realism” ruled the day. (City & State)
Lawmakers in Albany are “cautiously optimistic” that they will reach a deal on pot legislation before the current legislative session ends on Wednesday. (New York Times) Also likely to receive a vote this week: A bill that will legalize e-bikes, potentially putting an end to NYPD raids that tend to target working-class immigrants. (Streetsblog) Alllllsssooo likely to pass this week: Legislation that will ban floating ad boats. (Gothamist)
And the governor last night signed into law a bill permitting undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. (Daily News)
The New York City Public Housing Authority is launching a pilot program to, for the first time ever, provide free air conditioning to some of its residents. (WNYC) Also, NYCHA is about to get a new chairperson. Transferring public housing to private management? He’s a fan. (The City)
In not so good transit news, in e&c’s humble opinion, Gov. Cuomo announced that he will transfer 500 law enforcement officers to 100 fair-beating “hotspots” within the bus and subway system. (Gothamist)
In very good transit news, this Brooklyn kid rode his favorite subway car to prom. (Daily News)
And one last thing: The 2020 FDNY calendar is here, featuring firefighters and also… dogs.
Thus concludes this June 18, 2019 edition of East & Creek, the twice-weekly newsletter about Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Read the full archives here.
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See you around town,
e&c