What's News, Breaking: Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Polkadot Price Likely to Crash xx% Despite Recent Protocol Upgrade

30 July 2024

Here’s Why UNI and Polkadot (DOT) Holders Are Flocking To Rollblock

28 July 2024

PUBLIC MEETING WILL GIVE UPDATES ON CITY DOT’S TRAFFIC AND TRUCK STUDY

RED HOOK — A PUBLIC MEETING #2 ON THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S RED HOOK TRAFFIC AND TRUCK STUDY takes place this Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m., to provide updates to the community on its findings, Congressman Dan Goldman (D-10) announced over the weekend. Responding to congestion due to the continued growth and changing land uses in the area, NYC DOT launched a study of traffic and trucks in Red Hook and is hosting its second public meeting to present the status and to listen to community members’ transportation issues and concerns. The meeting will be held at the Joseph Miccio Cornerstone Community Center at 110 W. 9th St.; more information is available online.

Other Brooklyn elected officials representing Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and the Columbia waterfront, have written a letter to the NYPD Traffic Bureau requesting an increase in enforcement along Columbia Street after constituents complained about a “noticeable uptick” in commercial truck traffic around the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE).

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MILLION DOLLAR MEGA MILLIONS TICKET SOLD IN GRAVESEND

GRAVESEND — CHECK YOUR TICKETS: A PERSON WHO BOUGHT A MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY TICKET AT 288 SAMS DELI on Avenue U in Gravesend, Brooklyn for the Dec. 1 drawing is a million dollars richer, New York Lottery announced Saturday. The lucky ticket buyer won second prize in the drawing, matching five numbers but not the Mega Ball. No one perfectly matched all six numbers to win the jackpot worth $355 million. Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET.

The winning numbers for Dec. 1 were 12, 47, 49, 52, 65, and the Mega Ball was 12.

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PANEL DISCUSSION ON BARBRA STREISAND’S MEMOIR IN BROOKLYN HEIGHTS WEDNESDAY

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — BROOKLYN NATIVE AND LIVING LEGEND Barbra Streisand’s autobiography “My Name Is Barbra,” (called “chatty and candid” by the New York Times) is the subject of a panel discussion, moderated by filmmaker Ethan Fuirst with panelists Maris Kreizman, Soraya Nadia McDonald and Jonathan Tolins at the Center for Brooklyn History, 128 Pierrepont Street on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Brooklyn Heights Blog reports.

Following the discussion there will be a performance of a “Streisand inspired number” by Brooklyn-based cabaret and drag artist Ella Fartzgerald. More information and RSVP instructions can be found online.

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CRAIN’S: CITY POINT’S RETAIL SECTION NOW 85% LEASED, WITH NEW STORES COMING IN

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — REAL ESTATE LEASING AT THE CITY POINT MIXED-USE COMPLEX IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN HAS REBOUNDED significantly since the departure of anchor tenant Century 21 that closed stores following a pandemic-related bankruptcy proceeding, according to a Crain’s New York Business report. Acadia Realty Trust, based in Westchester, announced last week that it has leased nearly 29,000 square feet of retail space, over separate transactions, at its 1.8 million-square-foot City Point complex at 445 Albee Square West. Brazilian steakhouse restaurant chain Fogo de Chao, the beauty store chain Sephora, the Midtown East-based entertainment group The Escape Room, the primary care provider One Medical and the pet care group GoodVets will open locations at City Point within the next year, Crains reported. AJ Levine, senior vice president of Acadia, told Crain’s that City Point’s retail component is now 85% leased.

These major lease contracts come on the heels of two other deals, with the tennis club Court 16 and restaurant group Dig.

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JAY-Z AUCTIONING OFF CUSTOM LIBRARY CARDS TO BENEFIT BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY

BOROUGH-WIDE — TO WRAP UP BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY’S ‘BOOK OF HOV’ EXHIBITION, which closes Dec. 4, legendary rapper Jay-Z is auctioning off a signed black leather Pinel et Pinel briefcase filled with custom metal library cards showcasing his album artwork from across the decades, Artnet reports. The sale is hosted by Christie’s New York and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation entertainment company, and all proceeds will go toward the Brooklyn Public Library. The Book of HOV installation resulted in a more than 50% rise in new library card registrations.

The single-lot sale, “JAY-Z: The Book of HOV Celebrating an Icon at the Brooklyn Public Library,” will take place online at christies.com through Dec. 5, and the lot is on display at Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries.

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CHINESE DEVELOPER TO LOSE CONTROL OF BROOKLYN’S PACIFIC PARK, AKA ATLANTIC YARDS

ATLANTIC YARDS — GREENLAND USA, A SUBSIDIARY OF CHINA’S STATE-OWNED GREENLAND GROUP, is set to lose control of Brooklyn’s controversial 22-acre Pacific Park — formerly known as Atlantic Yards — after defaulting on nearly $350 million worth of loans, The Real Deal reports. Ground was broken on Pacific Park a decade ago but the project became mired in delays. The developer was facing a 2025 deadline to complete Pacific Park’s affordable housing, according to TRD.

The auction is scheduled for Jan. 11.

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OFFICIALS ASK NYPD TO MANAGE SURGE IN TRUCK TRAFFIC ON COLUMBIA STREET

COLUMBIA WATERFRONT — BROOKLYN OFFICIALS REPRESENTING COBBLE HILL, CARROLL GARDENS AND THE COLUMBIA WATERFRONT have written a letter to the NYPD Traffic Bureau requesting an increase in enforcement along Columbia Street, after constituents complained about a “noticeable uptick” in commercial truck traffic around the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE), Councilmember Shahana Hanif said in a release. This has led to increased congestion on local roads, making many of them more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. The problem is particularly noticeable along Columbia Street and Atlantic Avenue to Columbia Street and Hamilton Avenue, Hanif said.

The letter was signed by Hanif, Councilmember Lincoln Restler, Assemblymembers Jo Anne Simon and Robert Carroll, and state Sen. Andrew Gounardes.

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RALLY IN THE RAIN: HUNDREDS SHOW UP TO PROTEST PROPOSED HOMELESS SHELTER

BATH BEACH/GRAVESEND — THE RAIN DID NOT DETER SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE IN BATH BEACH ON SUNDAY, DEC. 3, FOR A RALLY TO PROTEST a planned homeless shelter at 25th Ave. and 86th St. Assemblymember William Colton (D-47/Bath Beach to Bensonhurst) organized the rally as part of his ongoing fight to prevent what he asserts is developer profit at the expense of homeless persons and the neighborhood. Joining Colton was City Councilmember-Elect Susan Zhuang. Assemblyman Colton’s staff collected 100 pages of signatures from rally attendees on a petition opposing the shelter. Meanwhile, a concurrent online petition grew from 2,000 to 3,000 signatures over the weekend. The shelter, planned for 2501 86th St., would enrich only the developer, Colton said, identifying that party as Tejpal Sandhu of 86th Street NY LLC, who was also the developer behind the shelter originally planned for 2147 Bath Avenue. Colton had spearheaded another community protest against opening a shelter at that proposed site.

Assemblyman Colton said the city spends some $8 billion a year on homeless shelters, “Yet there are more homeless people, not fewer.”

Assemblymember Colton speaks from the podium; Councilmember-elect Susan Zhuang stands to his left.
Photo courtesy Office of Assemblyman Colton

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WILLIAMSBURG’S CENTURY-OLD KELLOG’S DINER TRANSFORMING INTO TEX-MEX

WILLIAMSBURG — THE 96-YEAR-OLD KELLOG’S DINER IN WILLIAMSBURG, which has been operating on the corner of Metropolitan and Union avenues since 1928, is turning into an all-night Tex-Mex restaurant with food and cocktails, Eater reports. The bankrupt diner has been sold to Louis Skibar, who owns the Manhattan diners Coppelia and Old John’s, and it will be run by Jackie Carnesi, an alum of the Brooklyn restaurants Nura and Roberta’s. Kellog’s will close soon for renovations and reopen in February. Its retro dining room is getting an update that includes a new cocktail bar, Skibar told Eater.

In the meantime, Kellogg’s is open with a shorter menu that has steak frites, smash burgers, chicken pot pie and more.

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ADAMS SIGNS BIOTECH TAX CREDIT BILL AIMED AT STARTUPS

CITYWIDE — MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SIGNED A BILL MONDAY that will bolster New York City’s life sciences and biotech sectors by reviving a tax incentive for growing biotech companies. The bill, sponsored by Brooklyn Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez (Greenpoint, Williamsburg) and Queens Councilmember James F. Gennaro, creates a tax credit for biotech companies with a capped annual benefit of $3 million to target-growing startups, such as biotech firms at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Biotech and life science companies employ 20,000 New Yorkers, Adams said.

“By reinstating this tax credit, we will be able to stimulate growth in this essential manufacturing sector by fostering investment, offering incentives to qualified emerging technology companies, and paving the way for new job opportunities,” Gutiérrez, chair of the Council’s Committee on Technology, said in a statement.

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REPORT: ADAMS ADMIN CANCELED NUMEROUS FDNY INSPECTIONS IN BROOKLYN TO LET FAT CATS JUMP THE LINE

CITYWIDE — THE FBI AND FEDERAL PROSECUTORS are examining a list of VIPs to see if big-money applicants and connected developers like The Related Companies, Vornado and Amazon were allowed to cut the fire-inspection line by the Adams administration in exchange for their financial support of the mayor, THE CITY reports. Fire chiefs raised these concerns soon after Adams was elected, emails show. In the spring of 2022, the department canceled scheduled inspections at 12 sites, nine in Brooklyn, to move up the inspections of fat cats like 50 Hudson Yards. The canceled inspections included diverse, overcrowded P.S. 112 in Dyker Heights, three small multi-family row house conversions in Sunset Park and the Brooklyn Independent Middle School in Fort Greene.

Some of these VIPs contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Adams’ 2021 campaign or financially supported programs championed by the mayor. Others heavily lobbied top mayoral officials, including Adams’ former chief of staff, Frank Carone.

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NEW REPORT FROM SEN. GILLIBRAND SHOWS LAW’S SUCCESS IN GUN SEIZURES

CITYWIDE — A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND REPORT ON ARRESTS AND ILLEGAL GUNS SEIZED UNDER A BIPARTISAN ANTI-GUN TRAFFICKING LAW reveals that more than 1,300 illegal guns have been seized by law enforcement. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released her report on Monday, Dec. 4, at NYPD headquarters, standing with Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and his counterparts in the other boroughs. Gillibrand’s ground-breaking report analyzes the initial successes of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA)’s anti-gun trafficking section and mental health funding distribution. The report also found that 200 defendants have been charged under BSCA’s new gun trafficking statute, at least 190 of the seized guns were AR-15s or AR-style weapons, and at least 151 were ghost guns.

The data also revealed that more than $750 million has been distributed to fund mental and behavioral health services nationwide, which will also support the hiring of over 14,000 new mental health professionals in schools.

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FDA: RECALL ISSUED ON SOME HANUKKAH GELT CANDY BAGS

TRI-STATE REGION — MANISCHEWITZ, A LEADING BRAND OF KOSHER FOODS, HAS ISSUED A PRODUCT MISLABELING ADVISORY AND VOLUNTARY RECALL ON SOME VERY LIMITED UNITS OF THEIR DARK CHOCOLATE COINS, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the FDA announced. The candy coins, which were distributed in the tri-state region, including New York, from Sept. 26-Nov. 28, may contain undeclared milk that could cause serious or life-threatening reactions to consumers with dairy allergies. This recall was initiated on Dec. 1 (a week before Hanukkah, which begins on Dec. 7) after Manischewitz’s Quality Control Department discovered that a limited number of bags labeled as “Dark Chocolate Coins” contained Milk Chocolate Coins, which contain a milk allergen not declared on the label. Thus far, only packages bearing Lot Code 2283 and the Display Box UPC 072700200356 may potentially have gold (dairy) coins in the “dark-chocolate tagged” bag.

Chocolate coins, also called Hanukkah Gelt, are chocolates wrapped in gold foil, and distributed and eaten during the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights, as a sweet lesson in the importance of charity.