Heavy Police, Big Crowds in Brooklyn for NYC's 2015 Fourth of July Fireworks

Hundreds of police and terrorism officers took over the streets of Brooklyn Heights Saturday afternoon in preparation for the Macy's July 4th fireworks display.

Cordons and metal fencing were set up on the Promenade, and several streets between Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO were blocked to both cars and pedestrians.

Aviation units patrolled the skies, and the NYPD Harbor Unit guarded the waterway.

All afternoon, the crowd grew on the Promenade -- especially after the drizzle stopped. Police checked bags and backpacks before letting anyone in.

Someone hand-lettered this patriotic sign and propped it up on the Promenade flagpole.

An incredible crowd strolled down Old Fulton Street towards Fulton Ferry Landing, Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO, hoping to land a spot by the water to see the fireworks.

We watched the display from atop a tower in Brooklyn Heights. Brilliant show!

We could hear applause and whoops from balconies and hi-rises across the Heights as the fireworks wound up.

All in all a great day. But the line to get back on the 2 and 3 and A trains ---- Unbelievable!

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn Chamber: Hillary HQ in Brooklyn 'Great for Business'

In this video by the Brooklyn Eagle, Carlo A Scissura, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce discusses the business boost the neighborhood will get if Hillary Clinton sets up her potential presidential campaign HQ at 1 Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn Heights.


Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Turn Williamsburg Fire Site into Park? Harder Than It Sounds...

CitiStorage Bld 380

Community groups are organizing to turn the site of the great Williamsburg CitiStorage warehouse fire into a waterfront park, according to Brownstoner.

The city promised to build a park there a decade ago.  (The Open Space Alliance hosted a meeting last night on the subject; word not in yet on what transpired.)

But locals and community groups worry that CitiStorage's owners will sell the site to a private developer to put up condos.

According to the Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP):

"Our City Councilperson Steve Levin has confirmed that, in the aftermath of the fire at CitiStorage, one thing has become very clear: if our neighborhood does not raise its voice – loud and unified – there is almost zero chance that the City will move to fulfill the promises for this park space made in the 2005 Waterfront Rezoning Agreement.

"And the situation couldn’t be more dire. The 11 acre CitiStorage property – the center and essential core of the promised 28 acre Bushwick Inlet Park – could be sold for private development as-of-right (M31 commercial zoning) tomorrow."

More on Free Williamsburg.

More interesting pieces of the puzzle at the NY World. 

Photo courtesy CitiStorage

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.