Results tagged “bayridge”

Seeing as how it takes the Parks Dept. 3 to 5 years to deal with tree problems, it's unlikely that Bay Ridge resident Richard Mahany will get the gingko tree that's stinking up his neighborhood removed any time soon. The Brooklyn Paper reports that the man is angry that the tree "dumps its foul-smelling fruit on the sidewalk in front of his 78th Street home."

With recent recycling stats released by the Department of Sanitation, we now know which neighborhood gets a (100% biodegradable) gold star for cleaning up after themselves. The Daily News pits the top two, Bay Ridge and Park Slope, against each other — saying when it comes to recycling the former does it better.

The NYPD Hate Crime unit is investigating the latest in a series of incidents wherein Brooklyn sidewalks have been strewn with "Kill Jews" notes. The anti-Semitic notes previously appeared in Boerum Hill and Clinton Hill earlier this month; now they've turned up in Bay Ridge. Yesterday morning, residents along Third Avenue discovered the sidewalk littered with hundreds of two-inch pieces of paper with "Kill Jews" written in black marker.

Just a heads up: Bay Ridge’s community board is now convinced that a 64th Street karaoke bar isn't trying to get you laid in a private booth as you savor the sweet, drunk, cackling crooning of some stranger serenading you with Journey's “Don’t Stop Believin'."

A four-alarm fire at an apartment building on Third Avenue near 68th Street in Brooklyn's Bay Ridge section has left dozens of families homeless. The fire started before midnight in the first floor deli; WABC 7 reports, "Flames spread through all four floors, finally shooting through the roof in an inferno that lit up the night sky. Officials say dozens of residents were forced to flee, many with young children." And according to WCBS 2, "Fire officials say the fire ripped through all 15 apartment, causing significant damage... Deputy Fire Chief James Leonard says the heat and humidity, and a costly delayed call to 911, made for a difficult night fighting the flames." The Red Cross is assisting families with shelter. Additionally, a number of firefighters were injured and the FDNY will be investigating the blaze.

Why is a Bay Ridge man hanging the Confederate flag from his terrace in a dreary 30-story co-op tower at 65th Street? It's NOT because he's racist, y'all, it's to send a message to those "sophisticated snotnoses in the north." You know, the region where he lives. Brooklyn Paper spotted the flag flapping in Union territory recently, and tracked down the rebel yeller, who would only identify himself as Mike. But he was happy to clear up any confusion over why he's displaying the Stars and Bars so far above the Mason-Dixon line: "I do it is because I’m against political correctness. People who are politically correct don’t agree with that flag — it’s my one-man protest. The left likes to say they celebrate diversity. I guess that’s what I’m doing.... [Northerners] make Southerners into bumpkins — and that’s not the case." Absolutely not, but Cletus Mike is kind of scaring the neighbors with that thing, and one nearby resident says, "I want to stay far away from those people [who have Confederate flags]. We’re free to fly any flag we want, but I’m not crazy about it. We won the war." Well, for now, at least.

Over 100,000 counterfeit items worth more than $20 million were seized from a stoarge facility in Red Hook yesterday. Among the 123 bins were impostor Coach handbags, Ralph Loren shirts and most notably 17 pairs of fake Nike sneakers with President Obama's image on them. The Obama Nikes had the words "Change" and "Yes We Can" written on them. Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes said, “It’s frankly just disrespectful to have the president of the United States depicted on these sneakers. Just absolutely disgraceful." Six people were charged with counterfeiting after the year-long sting, two on felony charges and two on misdemeanors. Among the other thousands of items picked up, the Times spotted foam baseball caps emblazoned with rhinestones and slogans like “eternal love.”

A Bay Ridge super is looking for a new job and place to live after new building owners ousted him following some bad press. The Daily News deemed Richard Martin "the crankiest super in New York" earlier this year after he would leave his building's garbage cans on the roof to teach tenants a lesson about improper sorting. He was also known for the angry signs he would leave up calling residents of the building "morons" and "retarded." (When not making colorful signs, Martin also decorated his door with a poster of infamous DA, now TV's "Judge" Jeanine Pirro.) Some residents stick up for Martin despite his antics as a good super and a nice guy who people like to rile up. Martin blames his firing on the News for painting him in such a bad light that the new owners (of Russian descent) let him go. "Fourteen years, 9-1/2 months. The new landlord figured I was too much trouble. You know, Russian people don't mess around," he told the paper.

The double-parking Santa who got a big 'ol ticket as an early Christmas present is speaking out! The Daily News reports that "he appreciates the outpouring of support, but he won't accept any charity to pay the $115 fine." He doesn't, however, want to pay it himself either. Commonly known as Chip Cafiero, he says he is "very appreciative to hear that so many people want to help him out, but as a matter of principle, we have to fight this ticket." Allegedly he'd like to prove a point about parking in the area; "These meter maids are harassing our small businesses in Bay Ridge, and it is time that we make a stand and fight for what's right. All those people who wanted to help Santa may be getting something a little extra special under the tree this year." Cafiero was dressed as Claus to hand out gifts to children when he was ticketed—so many, including Marty Markowitz, have rallied to support him.

Santa may be able to fly fast through the sky, but when it comes to parking he's got to follow the law like the rest of us civilians. The Daily News reports that one Santa (The Santa?) double-parked his sleigh SUV on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, and "neighbors and politicians demanded the summons be quashed." But James Huntley, "who heads Local 1182, defended the agent who slapped a ticket on Chip Cafiero's SUV." He also added that seeing the driver in a Santa suit wouldn't have changed the law, and notes that calling the agent a Grinch or Scrooge isn't going to make matters better (is that a threat?). Marty Markowitz, whose office sponsored the event that Santa was at, said "It's the holidays. In these situations, there should be a combination of common sense and holiday spirit instead of humbug." Free double-parking at Brooklyn Borough Hall for everyone in a Santa hat!

Earlier this year, 211 dead bodies were removed from the grounds of the Bay Ridge United Methodist Church (aka the "Green Church") in order to make room for demolition of the site, which at the time was to become new luxury (unhaunted) condos. Now the Brooklyn Paper has it that the city is looking to buy the land for a new school. "The School Construction Authority is planning to purchase the former site of the emerald-hued Church to construct a kindergarten- through eighth-grade school that could seat between 600 and 700 students, according to Dena Libner, a spokeswoman for Councilman Vince Gentile (D–Bay Ridge)." Developer Abe Betesh had purchased the land for $9.75 million and made way for a 72-unit apartment building on the site, "but the city rejected his construction permit — and Betesh put up his 'For Sale' sign." The general consensus is to bring in something that would benefit the community, but when the project begins with digging up dead bodies can this really end well?

Man's best friend was saluted as one Bay Ridge's resident savior, as Lexi the bichon frise was honored at St. Patrick's Church yesterday. Last month, when Linda Deutsch was taking the 5-year-old dog for a walk, Lexi refused to go to the elevator and instead dragged Deutsche down the hall. It turned out that Lexi heard the cries of neighbor James Postler--an 85-year-old deacon at the church--who had fallen hours earlier and managed to crawled towards his apartment door to call for help, but only the dog heard him. After the rescue, Deutsch had said, "I was mad at her the day before because I caught her drinking my coffee I left by the sofa," but now, "She makes me so proud. She is a hero."

The NYPD released surveillance footage of the suspect in the Bay Ridge rape on Wednesday. Police believe the man seen running down a street in the video raped a woman in her apartment building on Wednesday morning; he had apparently been lurking in and around the building. He is now described as "white, between 30 and 40, and about 5-foot-10 with brown hair and brown eyes." There is a $12,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Contact Crimestoppers at (800) 577-TIPS or text 274637 and enter "TIP577."

Some creepy details about the Wednesday attack and rape of a Bay Ridge resident: The Post reports the 39-year-old victim spoke to neighbors about the incident. The rapist, who grabbed the woman as she was leaving her apartment for work and dragged her to the basement where he assaulted her, apparently said, "I'm sorry. I'm going through some hard times. I didn't mean to do this. Will you please forgive me?" And he allegedly made the sign of the cross. The Daily News reports that neighbors saw the suspect hanging around the building, "saying hello to residents while he waited for his victim." Police are looking for a white man, between 5'8" and 6' with brown hair in a crew cut.

Police are looking for a rape suspect who attacked a woman in Brooklyn yesterday morning. According to WABC 7, the victim, 29, was on her way to work when she "was surprised by a man near her apartment building along Fort Hamilton Parkway around 8:40 a.m. He struck the victim over the head with a screwdriver and raped her in an alley." A neighbor told WCBS 2, "Basically this morning when I left, the victim, she was on the first floor, and she was really hysterical, and explained that someone attacked her in the basement... A lot of people think Bay Ridge is safe, but you're not safe anywhere you go." A sketch was released of the suspect, who is described as a white man in his 30s or 40s, between 5'8" and 6', 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

The two carriage horses who ran amok through Bay Ridge Sunday are recovering nicely on a Connecticut farm, the Daily News reports. Stormy and Elvis, snow-colored, 2,000-pound Percherons who work pulling buggies for Valentine Carriage, survived with just scratched-up legs. However, driver Richie Valentine Jacobson fractured five ribs after being thrown from the carriage onto a town car's windshield. The buggy was about to pick up bride-to-be Nunzie Lumberto when a pole snapped, spooking the horses, who took off. In spite of his injuries, Jacobson (in Renaissance costume) caught up, grabbed the reins, and steered the carriage into a light pole, totaling it. He's not saying he's a hero, but he puts it this way, "I jeopardized my own life to make sure no one else would be in harm's way."

A mother of two says that she witnessed two cops "doing doughnuts" with their patrol car on a Bay Ridge baseball field. While walking around the neighborhood early Sunday evening, January Hagan saw the patrol car revving up in the outfield until it began spinning out of control. She says that the car spun so wildly that the officers almost hit a pair of kids on tricycles, telling the NY Daily News, "The police car came within inches of killing two little children." When her husband asked the officers what was going on, the driver puffed away on a large cigar and sped off. The News reports that tire marks were left on the infield and outfield and still visible the next morning.

Today Bay Ridge is exactly 365 days separated from the tornado that touched down in the neighborhood, and NY1 is reporting that the dust has settled and things are getting back to normal for the most part. The morning of August 8th one year ago, an EF-2 tornado touched down wiping out homes and automobiles with winds of up to 135 mph. One resident reflects on the damage done at the time, while another says "the story has a silver lining. The twister's damage brought the community closer together." Meanwhile, last night there was a Tornado Warning for Suffolk County, which eventually got downgraded.

Others may sit passively by while New York City loses 10 of its precious 235 Starbucks, but Andrew El-Kadi, who lives above a doomed Starbucks in Bay Ridge, is making a stand. He’s turning up the heat on Starbucks by handing out flyers and starting an online petition to keep his downstairs Starbucks open, because "when you feel strongly about something, [it] doesn't have to be limited to starving children in Africa or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” According to the Daily News, El-Kadi has 16 signatures and counting – when he hits the 100 mark, he plans to send the petition to the chain’s district manager, who will then have no choice but to submit to the will of the people! If not, El-Kadi says, "I'm screwed. I guess I will just have to walk the nine blocks to the other one, but who wants to do that before work?"

This is horrible. A 65-year-old man was arrested for sodomizing a 16-year-old boy yesterday morning on a Bay Ridge Street.

Two bodega owners in Bay Ridge fought off a robbery earlier this week by taking justice into their own hands...with machetes. The Post reports that when three thieves tried to rob the S & J Meat Market Monday of $2,000 in cigarettes, brothers and co-owners Mohammed and Sammy Othman confronted them with foot-and-a-half-long machetes. "My knife's bigger than yours!" Sammy yelled at one of the robbers who had pulled a four-inch blade. After containing two of the thieves with the machete, Mohammed was able to lead police to the third by answering the suspect's cell phone, which was left behind at the bodega. He answered pretending to be one of the perp's cohorts and asked where he was. The suspect told him and was quickly apprehended by police.

The Brooklyn community board that covers Bay Ridge is fed up with the food vendors who clog 86th Street – all three of them. “The issue is cleanliness,” asserts the board’s District Manager Josephine Beckmann, whose husband is a police lieutenant. “It would be best to have no vending at all. It just causes problems.” So the board has unanimously urged the city’s Department of Small Business Services to banish them from the block.

Yesterday, police announced they arrested people running a drug den on 93rd Street in Brooklyn, thanks to the help of neighbors who banded together. Resident Jason Miller told NY1 he and his neighbors "came together through a local web forum and there were many neighbors that were feeling much the same fear and issues that we were already observing."

As we all learned from the 1982 film Poltergeist, it is never a good idea to build anything over a burial ground. Seems even developers took this warning to heart, as one just removed 211 bodies from a graveyard that's in the way of their sweet new luxury condos. The NY Post reports:

A Brooklyn church yesterday cleared out the remains of 211 corpses that had been buried for more than a century in an adjacent crypt to help pave the way for a controversial luxury condo complex.

Continue reading "Luxury Condo Evicts 211 Deceased Residents"

Today Frank Bruni reviews Adour (pictured), the four-month-old St. Regis Hotel restaurant conceived by extravagant French chef Alain Ducasse. While it’s not “rapturous” enough to merit the Times’s highest four star rating, it’s still “first-rate: polished service, a knockout wine list, beautiful oil-poached cod, gorgeous roasted lamb and exquisite desserts.” And Bruni does confirm our earlier speculation about some kind of haute bagel on the menu.

Senator John McCain headed visited New York today. He stopped off to appear on The View in Manhattan and discussed a homeowner aid plan in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. And while in Bay Ridge, he went to Verrazano Pizza on 4th Avenue and 91st Street and bought a $3 slice of pepperoni pizza.

Last week a group of concerned Bay Ridge parents and local officials held a rally and picket line outside a neighborhood Verizon Wireless retailer. The group was demanding the company remove the cell phone receivers installed on a rooftop near P.S. 185; they say the receivers emit dangerously high radiofrequency (RF) emissions and should not be placed near schools. They are also calling for legislation limiting where the receivers can be installed.

After the many questions about the unofficial Democratic primary results, the NYC Board of Elections has released the official results for the February 5 primary results, confirming a Clinton victory in the Big Apple. She won 55% of the vote with 527,941 votes, to Barack Obama's 43% (413,898 votes). A total of 955,966 votes were cast, meaning 34% of the city's registered Democrats voted.