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 »

Occupy Sandy’s Bay Ridge Kitchen To Close March 1, Volunteers Still Needed

By on February 21, 2013  Featured story, News
Feb 212013
 
Image source: Facebook.com.

Image source: Facebook.com.

Although Occupy Sandy’s Bay Ridge Kitchen at St. John’s Episcopal Church [461 99th Street] will be closing March 1, volunteers are still needed – especially in places like Sheepshead Bay and the Rockaways.

Occupy Sandy volunteers have been preparing hearty meals and delivering them to Hurricane Sandy victims around Brooklyn and beyond since November.

Months after Superstorm Sandy devastated coastal areas, the group continues to feed around a thousand people a day. They also maintain locations in Sheepshead Bay, Staten Island, and the Rockaways.

Click here for a list of places where you can make a difference by volunteering.

Déjà Vu? Amnesia ‘Forgets’ Name, Pretends To Be Another Business

By on December 20, 2012  Business, Featured story
Dec 202012
 
Photo: Brian Hedden/Bay Ridge Odyssey

Photo: Brian Hedden/Bay Ridge Odyssey

In the latest chapter in the saga of controversial mighty morphin’ 4th Avenue nightclub Amnesia, it seems the nightspot’s owners have found yet another way to get around applying for a cabaret license.

Owner Frank Sofia, who recently rechristened the business “Club Cats” said that he is now “lending” the property to Sandy-displaced Sheepshead Bay restaurant New Cats Cafe. Sofia’s promising – among other things – a more subdued space, as well as employment for Hurricane Sandy victims, as reported by Will Bredderman for Brooklyn Paper. Continue reading »

What About Officer Fung? MTA Police Officer’s heroic role in Verrazano suicide save downplayed at ceremony honoring NYPD colleague

By on September 20, 2012  News
Sep 202012
 

Last Wednesday at City Hall, New York City Police Officer Yi Huang received a special proclamation from City Councilman Vincent Gentile for his role in helping to save the life of a despondent man named Lin Huan Quiang, as reported by Denise Romano for the Home Reporter. Lin, an immigrant from China, had attempted to jump off the Verrazano Bridge.

The humble and undoubtedly heroic Officer Huang had responded to a call put out for speakers of Cantonese, the only language Lin is fluent in. He rushed to the scene from the NYPD’s Fifth Precinct in Chinatown, going “above and beyond the call of duty,” as Gentile proclaimed to members of the press. As wind and loud thunderstorms made the task more difficult, Huang and the other first responders were able to save Lin from a premature and needless death.

However, according to at least one account, there is another police officer who also deserves credit. Continue reading »

After a Resounding Primary Victory in the 46th District, a Brief Look at Tom McCarthy

By on September 17, 2012  Featured story, Politics
Sep 172012
 

Image source: assembly.state.ny.us.

After “political newcomer” Tom McCarthy’s resounding 70 percent victory over local district leader Lucretia Regina-Potter for the 46th Assembly District’s Republican primary, some of you might be asking yourselves, “Who is Tom McCarthy?” Continue reading »

Reporter: “Unsung” Officer Fung Not Properly Credited With Talking Down Verrazano Jumper

By on July 31, 2012  News
Jul 312012
 

Image source: jesus-leon via Flickr.

According to one veteran police reporter and author, the NYPD’s Public Information Office likes to credit its own officers for their good deeds over members of other law enforcement agencies, even if that means stretching the truth. A lot.

In his weekly online column NYPD Confidential, Leonard Levitt details a purported insiders account of last week’s heroic talk down of a suicidal man from the edge of the Verrazano Bridge.

The difference between the official story put out by the press and what Levitt says really happened?

Levitt writes that it was in fact MTA Bridge and Tunnel officer Eddie Fung who spent four hours talking down despondent civilian Lin Huan Quiang, not Officer Yi Huang of the NYPD’s 5th Precinct in Chinatown – as had previously been reported by multiple news organizations. Continue reading »

Sheepshead Bay Man’s Attempted Suicide Leap From Verrazano Thwarted By Police

By on July 24, 2012  Featured story, News
Jul 242012
 

Image source: joo0ey via Flickr

Officers from the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit prevented a “despondent” Brooklyn man from taking his own life by jumping off the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge on Monday.

A “marathon negotiation session” began at around 12 when Lin Huan Qiong, 46, from Sheepshead Bay was seen climbing one of the bridge’s metal “fingers,” writes John M. Annese as part of a thrilling rescue story for the Staten Island Advance. Continue reading »

Police Search For Driver In Deadly Hit And Run

By on May 23, 2012  Featured story, News
May 232012
 

Source: Michael Melchiorre via Flickr

Police are currently searching for the hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a 33-year-old man in Bay Ridge on Monday night, reports Rocco Parascandola for the Daily News.

Amjad Barakat, a resident of Sheepshead Bay, was crossing 72nd Street a few minutes before 9 p.m. on Monday – when he was reportedly hit by a beige sedan.

After striking the pedestrian, the driver continued speeding south on 7th Avenue.

Barakat died on the scene from his injuries shortly afterward.