City Plans To Narrow Fourth Avenue As Golden, PBA Lobby Against Gentile-Backed Speed Camera Program

By on March 26, 2013  Featured story, Traffic & Transit
Mar 262013
 
A flier from the Fourth Ave safety workshop. (Image source: NYCDOT).

A flier from the Fourth Ave safety workshop. (Image source: NYCDOT).

As the NYC Department of Transportation unveils a series of traffic-calming measures for Fourth Avenue to mixed reactions, State Senator Marty Golden (R) and the police union are lobbying Albany lawmakers to nix a speed camera demonstration program previously approved by the New York State Assembly and supported by City Councilman Vincent Gentile (D).

At a March 21, meeting where city planners showcased the proposals, Bay Ridgites on both sides of the issue voiced strong opinions about the possible changes – which include narrowing a 13-block stretch of the busy thoroughfare from Ovington Avenue to 84th Street, as reported by Will Bredderman for Brooklyn Paper. Continue reading »

Election Results Show Golden Losing His Edge In Bay Ridge

By on January 4, 2013  Politics
Jan 042013
 
The 22nd State Senate district.

The 22nd State Senate district.

Is the so-called “Golden effect” waning in Southwest Brooklyn?

New York City political blog Room Eight recently published an analysis of November’s election results that show victorious Republican State Senator Marty Golden actually lost the two constituencies of the 22nd Senate District that fall entirely within Bay Ridge’s borders. Continue reading »

Undefeated Local Boxer Sadam Ali Preparing For Saturday’s Aviator Fight At Bay Ridge Gym

By on October 25, 2012  Sports
Oct 252012
 

Image source: Google maps.

United States Olympian and Brooklyn native Sadam “World Kid” Ali has been hitting his gym at 6825 5th Ave this week in preparation for a highly anticipated Saturday bout at Aviator Sports Complex [3159 Flatbush Ave] in Marine Park.

Image source: Wikipedia Commons.

Born and raised in Brooklyn by his Yemeni-born parents, Ali has four sisters and a brother. He began boxing at the Bed-Stuy Boxing Club at the age of eight, after being inspired by Yemeni-British boxer “Prince” Naseem Hamed.

After participating in the 2008 Olympics, Ali had his pro-boxing debut on January 17, 2009, handily defeating opponent Ricky Thompson in just 1:42.

Then, right here in Brooklyn less than a year later, the 2008 U.S. Olympic lightweight and first Arab-American boxer to go to the Olympics scored an “overwhelming second-round knockout” of New Orleans’ Gary Bergeron (12-6, 7 KOs), who, according to reports “had no answers for anything Ali threw at him.” Click Here For Details On Saturday’s Fight

LINK: Making The R Train Run On Time – In extensive interview Gounardes talks transit, education, and 14 hours with Joe Biden

By on October 18, 2012  Politics
Oct 182012
 

Image source: Andrew Gounardes via Flickr.

Beginning yesterday, L Magazine published a two-part interview with State Senatorial hopeful and Bay Ridge native Andrew Gounardes by reporter Henry Stewart.

In an extensive discussion over lunch at the Pegasus Diner, Stewart managed to touch on a host of issues with his questions for Gounardes – who for the most part gave complete and, at times, compelling answers.

Some of the topics covered included funding for public services such as education and mass transit [including a personal anecdote by Gounardes about waiting for the R Train], the Fair Pay Act – the passage of which the candidate named as his first priority upon being elected; as well as lingering stereotypes about a district that has undergone drastic political and demographic changes in recent years, all while remaining a relatively safe and stable place.

In short, they pretty much covered everything – from driving around visiting politicos for Senator Bob Menendez earlier in his career, to the meat and potatoes of today’s public policy, and since it’s L Magazine, hipster bars.

The first half of the interview concentrates more on general policy, debating incumbent Marty Golden, and Gounardes’ reasons for running. The second part focuses more on “hot-button” issues such as bike lanes, Brooklyn 11223, hipsters, and food cart wars. Both make for an entertaining and informative read.

Click Here for Part 1, and Here for Part 2.

Continue The Process: A beloved pastime hangs on right here

By on October 2, 2012  Health & Fitness
Oct 022012
 

A co-named street sign in East Harlem carries the torch of generations past (Image source: cuttlefish via Flickr).

One bright autumn day at the age of around nine or ten years old, I was walking down Avenue T on my way towards Marine Park when I spotted a group of barrel chested older men with graying hair standing in the middle of Coyle Street.

They were playing a game that at the time I barely recognized – stickball. It was a term I had certainly heard of, and vaguely knew about but never experienced first hand. After asking a few people, I was told that it was old-timers day or something to that effect. While never a big sports fan, I was still fascinated with this mysterious game – one that had fallen out of favor in the decade or so before my birth. Click Here To Read How Stickball Still Lives In Bay Ridge

Foodtown Goes Loco For Locavores

By on July 19, 2012  Business, Food & Drink
Jul 192012
 

Image source: Wikipedia Commons.

While the current artisinal, locavore food craze has businesses everywhere attempting to cash in on the name Brooklyn, Foodtown [9105-27 3rd Avenue] proves itself an old hand at putting aside shelf space for products made in the County of Kings, according to Simone Weichselbaum in a cruelty-free, locally-sourced article for the Daily News.

The grocery store has been stocking locally-made products for decades – In the case of one Brooklyn business profiled, De An’s Pork Products [899 4th Ave], since at least 1990.

“It is not easy to get your products into large chains, but we have to give people the benefit of the doubt and help them,” Foodtown chain co-owner Noah Katz told the News. “We don’t say no to any local vendor. We put them on the shelf and let the customer decide.” Continue reading »