Good morning! Before the newsletter-proper, a quick note: e&c will be away all of next week — engaging in silly festivities and frivolous exercises, no doubt — so there will be no Tuesday edition and no Friday edition. But for now there’s this edition of East & Creek, the Greenpoint newsletter.
What’s up in Greenpoint?
Three trees were removed yesterday from the Greenpoint Playground at Franklin AVe and Dupont St. According to a statement from the Parks Dept., shared with the community by Assemblyman Joe Lentol, the trees were likely damaged by stormwater from Hurricane Sandy. “The crowns of the trees were mainly dead and these trees will pose an increased risk to the public until they are removed,” the Parks Dept. said, promising to replace the much-needed shade trees in the future.
New York City’s public pools, including the McCarren park pool, are now open. (Bklynr)
But elsewhere in McCarren Park, the handball courts remain rundown, even after a significant park-wide renovation. (Patch)
The record sale price for a single home in Greenpoint is now… $4.94 million. (New York Post)
A burst of rainfall Tuesday morning caused some stormwater and raw sewage to seep out of our Combined Sewer System, into Newtown Creek and its tributaries. e&c had the pleasure of witnessing the aftermath firsthand Tuesday evening, on a paddling trip led by the Newtown Creek Alliance. Here’s a photo taken by e&c in Dutch Kills, a Newtown Creek tributary with several CSO outfalls. Note the floating patches of foamy, mixed-up sewer matter:
You hate to see it. (credit: e&c)
And as a perverse palate cleanser, a tank of fuel and the Pulaski Bridge in the setting sun:
You love to see it. (credit: e&c)
Meanwhile in New York City…
How Tiffany Cabán, the presumptive Queens District Attorney–elect, ekked out a win against a candidate backed by powerful establishment figures. (The City)
Earlier this week the NYPD responded to the death of a bicyclist on 6th Ave in Flatiron by… targeting and ticketing cyclists just a half-block away. But yesterday, following continued criticism over this practice, an NYPD leader told the press: “We’ll look at this strategy and it’s something we’re looking to adjust.”(Streetsblog)
The City Council has drafted a measure to end “perp walks,” potentially preventing the NYPD from parading suspects in handcuffs before the media. (New York Post)
In Curbed, a photo-essay that asks, “As the residents of Red Hook mourn the loss of their neighborhood landmarks, and prepare for a truck-heavy future, what can be done to preserve the community’s remaining historic industrial structures?” (Curbed)
And finally, the city’s Rent Guidelines Board approved on Tuesday a 1.5 percent rent increase on one-year leases and a 2.5 percent increase for two-year leases. (City Limits)
Your Subway Weekender
G - Church Ave–bound G trains will skip 4th Ave–9th St, 15th St–Prospect Park, and Fort Hamilton Pkwy.
L - Look for another option.
And also, for those who drive… avoid the Metropolitan Ave Bridge this weekend.
Thus concludes this June 28, 2019 edition of East & Creek, the twice-weekly newsletter about Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Read the full archives here.
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If you don’t like what you’re reading — or if you have any comments or questions — send an email to eastandcreek@substack.com.
See you around town,
e&c